Peter Morello

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Pietro Morello

Born	1870 Corleone, Sicily, Italy
Died	August 15, 1930 New York, U.S.

Peter "The Clutching Hand" Morello (born Pietro Morello; 1870-August 15, 1930), also known as "The Old Fox", was the last leader of the Morello crime family and top advisor to Joe Masseria.

Born in Corleone, Sicily around 1870, Morello immigrated to the United States with his brothers Nicolo and Giuseppe Morello (although it has been argued Giuseppe and Peter may be the same man) and half-brothers Ciro and Vincenzo Terranova arriving in New York in the late 1890s. Taking control of the organization after the death of Nicolo Morello in 1916 during the Mafia-Camorra War, Morello allied with Rocco Valenti against former Morello member Joe Masseria who now controlled a rival faction of the Morello's. After two failed assassination attempts by Valenti against Masseria a truce was arranged between Morello and Masseria. However when neither showed up Valenti tried to escape and was killed by Masseria gunman Charles Luciano. Morello made peace with Masseria shortly afterwards later allying with Masseria eventually becoming his top advisor. One of the first victims of the Castellammarese War, Morello was killed with collector Giuseppe Periano on August 15, 1930 while collecting cash receipts in his East Harlem office. The assassin is still disputed between Albert Anastasia and Frank Scalise, as told by Charles Luciano, and the assassin Buster from Chicago claimed by government informant Joe Valachi.