GANGSTERS IN ITALY

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27637, 19 April 1955, Page 7

GANGSTERS IN ITALY

Fate Of Deportees From U.S. RUMOURS OF MARCH ON ROME (N.Z. Press Association —Copyright) NAPLES, April 17. Five hundred former members of America’s underworld, deported to Italy since the war as undesirables, are gathering in Naples from all over Italy in preparation for a hunger march on Rome. Plans are being hatched in the Neapolitan slums, where many of the once flashy gangsters are now forced to live. Frank Frigenti, the former right hand man of Al Capone, the Chicago gangland chief, is the principal organiser. “We intend to underline the tragic situation of the deportees who were sent to Italy as undesirables after serving long prison sentences in America, and are now without work, money, and often food,” said Frigenti. “We are watched by the police, shunned by Italians, and forgotten by our friends in America. . We have become men without hope. “Men like that can be dangerous. You get what I mean?” he said.

Coded telegrams are passing between Frigenti’s slum headquarters m Naples and deportees scattered about Italy. Early ones stated: “The canaries are leady to fly. You will, be informed of the hour shortly.” The code has now been changed, and the police have not yet-broken the new one.