Ralph Daniello

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Ralph "The Barber" Daniello was a New York criminal who belonged to the Brooklyn Navy Street Gang and participated in a major gang slaying. Daniello eventually became an informant and helped destroy the Camorra crime organization in Brooklyn.

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[edit] Mafia-Camorra War

Daniello was a low-level criminal who participated in labor racketeering and extortion. He was involved in the 1913 Labor slugger war and the 1916 Mafia-Camorra War. He was a member of the Navy Street Gang, made up primarily of Italians who came from Naples, Italy. In November 1916, Daniello participated in the ambush murders of Nicholas Morello and Charles Ubriaco on a New York Street. These killings were part of an ongoing gang war between the Morello crime family, part of the traditional Sicilian mafia, and the Brooklyn Camorra, a Naples crime organization. During this era, a crime organization would usually consist of individuals from the same clan, village, or region in Italy. In later years, the gangs would be based more on individual families and would allow any Italian to become a full member.

[edit] In Hiding

After being acquitted on robbery and abduction charges, Daniello decided it wasn't safe to stay in New York. In May 1917, Daniello and his girlfriend fled to Reno, Nevada. In July 1917, the New York Police Department (NYPD) police issued a warrent for Daniello's arrest for the May 7th murder of Louis DeMarro in Brooklyn. Meanwhile, Daniello and his girlfriend were running low on money in Reno. He wrote the Camorra Gang asking for help, but they ignored his requests. Daniello was eventually arrested in Nevada and extradited back to New York. Facing indictments on murder, grand larceny and perjury, he began to tell the police about the Navy Street crew and its connection to the Morello and Ubriaco murders.

[edit] Informant

New York prosecutors offered Daniello a deal if he would testify against Alessandro Vollero, the Camorra leader. Daniello, who had attended several high level meetings with Vollero, agreed to the deal. In 1917, Vollaro was extradited to New York and indicted in the murders of Morello, Umbracio and Manhattan gambler George Verrizano (which Daniello later claimed he had participated in). Daniello's testimony, along with that of "Johnny the Left" Esposito, Tony Notaro, and other Navy Street and Coney Island gang members, led to Vollaro's conviction. The conviction of Vollaro and his associates marked the end of both the Navy Street Gang and the Camorra organization.

For his cooperation, Daniello received a reduced sentence. Released from Sing Sing Prison on parole, Ralph Daniello was dead a month later.

[edit] External links

[edit] Further reading

  • Eliot, Marc. Down 42nd Street: Sex, Money, Culture, and Politics at the Crossroads of the World. New York: Warner Books, 2001. ISBN 0-446-67993-3
  • Nelli, Humbert. The Business of Crime: Italians and Syndicate Crime in the United States. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1981. ISBN 0-226-57132-7

[edit] References

  • Asbury, Herbert. The Gangs of New York. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1928. ISBN 1-56025-275-8
  • Tells Of New York "Murder Syndicate"; Daniello Confession Leads to 17 Indictments Alieged Gang Accused of 23 Killings--Controlled Italian Gambling. Boston Daily Globe 01 Dec 1917
  • Last Of Old Gang Shot From An Auto; Ex-Convict Sole Survivor of Band Depleted by Killings and Electric Chair. New York Times 17 Jun 1929