"He must have done something. They don't kill you for nothing." - Chicago Gangster Ted Newberry. Rubbed out January 7, 1933

Monday, January 14, 2008

Angie folds

Known as “Angie the controller” twenty-nine year old Angelo Pezzulo worked in the policy racket as a foreman over a staff of number runners and was described by the police as a “petty operator”. Chances are, since Angelo was operating in the Bronx/Harlem territory, he was either working for Dutch Schultz or Ciro Terranova and ripped them off or, if a renegade was visited a few times by ambassadors of the Dutchman and/or Terranova and told that if he knew what was good for him he would turn over his policy business or pay for protection. Either way it appears that Pezzulo didn’t know what was good for him and paid the ultimate price.
The end for “Angie” came on this date back in 1934 in the rear of his brother Fred's candy store. Just before 6:00 am Angelo his brothers Fred and Dominick and two other men were playing their last hand of an all night poker game when two men, one of whom had a gun, entered. The gunman ordered the card players to, “Line up and face the wall.” Assuming it was a run of the mill robbery the men dropped their cards and did as they were told. After the men put their noses to the wall the gunman walked the line pulling each head back to inspect the face. When he got to Angelo he fired into the back of his head and his back. When Pezzulo hit the floor the gunman took another look at him, then, satisfied with his work, placed the gun in his pocket and walked out with his partner.

4 comments:

Unknown said...

How do I get in touch with you pat Angie was my uncle would like to find out more information.

Unknown said...

How do I get in touch with you pat Angie was my uncle would like to find out more information.

Unknown said...

Are there any photos related to this incident.

Patrick Downey said...

Don't have anything else to add to Angie's story. I don't remember what photos went along with the story. If you live in NYC you can go to the library and look up the old newspapers. I think some other guy got in touch with me a few years back saying he was related to Angie as well, so you may have a relative out there researching him too.