GANGSTER’S GOLD COFFIN

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17452, 29 December 1930, Page 11

GANGSTER’S GOLD COFFIN

MURDERED “RACKETEER”

CARS FULL OF FLOWERS & BAND

NEW YORK, Nov. 13

Two funerals, each of them highly significant, 'took place to-day in New York.

One of them, attended by Police Commissioner Mulrooney and 330 men in uniform, was that of a policeman who died two days ago. He was shot by a bandit after he had subdued two others who were robbing a chemist’s shop in Lenox avenue. The second funeral was that of Benny Gallo, an Italian, who, having abandoned a successful spaghetti business, succeeded Vito Bonaventurn as King of the Alcohol “Racketeers” (gangsters who levy blackmail in return for protection) in tlie .suburb of Williamsburg. Bonaventura was shot in June, and Benny, having ascended his throne, was riddled with shot four days ago. Benny died without, divulging the names of his assailants.

He was carried to-day to his grave in a gold-mounted casket,, preceded by eight motor cars full of flowers and a band of 20 instruments.

Thirty-four policemen, with two lieutenants in charge, with their hands on pistols concealed in their pockets, watched the obsequies, listening for scraps of conversation in the huge crowds which might reveal the identity of the murderers.

The two funerals serve to emphasise the fact that since the attempted assassination of Jack Diamond a month ago 89 persons have been shot in New York City. Of these 35 are dead — the remainder are in hospital recovering from serious wounds.