August 17, 1936 saw the demise of Philadelphia gangsters John "Big Nose" Avena, 41, and his cohort 39-year-old Martin Feldstein. Avena, who had been gangstering for nearly twenty-years was the main target. He had been on the spot three times previous; twice in 1926 and once the following year. He was also identified by Anthony "Musky" Zanghi as one of the men who killed his brother and another guy named Vincent Cocazza back in 1927.
By 1936 Avena was one of the top numbers guys in Philadelphia. The end came at about two-twenty in the afternoon while Avena and Feldstein were loitering outside 718 Washington Avenue when a small sedan pulled up and a machine-gunner opened fire. A blast hit Avena in the left chest mangling his heart. He fell to the ground, his head hitting an automobile's running board. With a couple of bullets in the chest and arm, Feldstein crunched over and zig zagged around the corner before collapsing. He died later that night.
After the drive-by, the killers drove about six blocks and dumped the car. Witnesses said that two men exited the car, one carrying a suit case or possibly a trombone case, and split up.
John "Big Nose" Avena Martin Feldstein
