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

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

La Barbera La Bootlegger

Eighty-seven years ago today forty-year old Ignacio La Barbera was walking down his street with another man about a block away from where mafia boss Umberto Valenti was killed the month before. As the duo strolled along two men fell into step behind them. When the two trailing men got close enough they each pulled out a pistol and fired into La Barbera’s neck and back. Mortally wounded La Barbera fell to the sidewalk. The man who was with La Barbera ran away as did the gunmen.
The police found a key on La Barbera and used it to open the store over which he lived and found a large copper still and thirty-nine five-gallon jugs filled with alchohol. Since La Barbera lived and died in the same proximity as Umberto Valenti, let's start a rumor that he was bumped off on orders from Joe Masseria as well.

2 comments:

antomarfia said...

Dear Patrick Downey, can you help me to find other elements about Ignazio La Barbera's death? He was My anchestor. Thanks a lot in advance.

Patrick Downey said...

Hello, sorry but I don't have any other info regarding Ignazio. All I can suggest is searching old newspapers. You may also try the new york city municipal archives. They might have a coroner's report. Good luck!