Triplets, I build them a house. Tommy Lucchese Born: December 1, 1899, Palermo, Sicily Died: July 13, 1967, Long Island, New York Nicknames: Three-Finger Brown Associates: Charles "Lucky" Luciano, Tommy Reina, Tommy Gagliano, Carlo Gambino Within 5 miles of your location. In 1957, Lucchese and his allies decided to attack the bosses of the Luciano and Anastasia crime families to gain Commission control. Then-underboss Vito Genovese overthrew his own family head Frank Costello and ordered Anastasia's underboss, Carlo Gambino, to kill Anastasia. Burial vault. On April 13, 1931, Masseria was killed in a restaurant in Coney Island. Lansky died of cancer, aged 81, in 1983. amzn_assoc_title = "Search Results from Amazon"; Murphy is best known for prosecuting accused Communist spy Alger Hiss for perjury in 1949. On July 3, 1958, Lucchese said little before the New York Crime Commission, but did offer a few responses that Bobby Kennedy characterized as a lot more information than any other of the defiant mobster witnesses had revealed, and described the exchange as almost a pleasure. Nevertheless, Lucchese maintained he had no affiliation with the Mafia. All Rights Reserved. Police Record A Mafia Funeral. In August 1965, Lucchese was admitted to Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center with a brain tumour and heart ailment. In his 70s and 80s, Bonanno served a total of two years and two months between 1980 and 1986, for conspiracy to obstruct justice and refusal to testify in a racketeering case. Lucchese moved up quickly in the mob and survived its wars. Federal authorities had been investigating Lucchese since 1943, when his naturalization application was finally approved. When Gagliano died of natural causes in 1951, Lucchese took his place as boss, and the crime family assumed his name. Luccheses faade had largely been that of a low-key, successful garment district entrepreneur (a racket he and Murder Inc.s Louis Lepke Buchalter dominated dating back to the 1930s). The Lucchese crime family was one of the storied Five Families that oversaw organized crime in New York City during the 20th century. Death of New Orleans 1st Godfather (Pt 1), Death of New Orleans 1st Godfather (Pt 2), Dial M For Mob Series: Part 1 Introduction, Dial M For Mob: Part 2 Where It All Began, Dial M For Mob Series: Part 3 Las Vegas, Dial M For Mob: Part 4 The Shooting of Frank Costello, 9 New York Mafia Social Clubs: Then & Now, 9 Restaurants Where Mobsters Were Whacked, 10 Celebs Who Nearly Got Killed By The Mafia, Carabinieri Italys Incorruptible Police Force, The Theft of The Marlborough Diamond Chapter 2, On April 13, 1931, Masseria was killed in a restaurant in Coney Island, on September 10, 1931, Maranzano was murdered in his office, 5 Real-Life Murders, Which Became Popular Worldwide, Top 5 Books about The Mafia, for Students, Louis Campagna: Died On This Day in 1955, Aged 54, New Gotti Film Starring John Travolta Starts Filming July 25. Genovese's humiliation motivated the new alliance of Luciano, Costello, Lansky, Gambino and Lucchese to set up Genovese's later elimination. This is the cost to purchase a burial vault from the funeral home. When Lucchese was 11, his family immigrated to the US, settling in East Harlem, his father provided for the family by working as a hauler for concrete. Tommy Gagliano would keep his family, formerly the Reina family, during a tough time, being outnumbered in the Commission by an alliance of the Bonanno, Magaddino, Profaci and Mangano families. The FBI's theory was that the Five Families' bosses had agreed to have Castellano killed, since his legal troubles were bringing too much attention, and/or that Gotti had grown frustrated with his boss and ordered the hit. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph.. Mostly cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. amzn_assoc_default_search_phrase = "tommy lucchese"; This was enough for Lucchese to leave work and return to a life of crime, he started up a window washing company, of course it was nothing more than an extortion racket. The Lucchese family came to dominate Manhattans garment district and the related trucking industry by gaining control of key unions and trade associations. At our funeral parlor in the Bronx, we offer personalized funeral and cremation services that allow your family to honor your loved one in the way that best suits your unique needs. On May 3, 1957, gunman Vincent Gigante wounded Luciano's street boss Frank Costello. ranch-style home in Lido Beach, Long Island. Lucchese and Luciano specifically forged strong ties with legendary Jewish crime czars Arnold The Brain Rothstein and Meyer Lansky. Thomas Lucchese, better known as "Three-Finger Brown," is shown in 1958 at an unknown location. Hayley is a freelance Journalist who has an interested in writing about notorious Serial Killers to one time hit murderers. Chankalian introduced him to U.S. Attorney Myles Lane. Tommy Lucchese: Died On This Day in 1967, Aged 67 Tommy Lucchese - Criminal Career - Boss of The Family (19511967 Tommy Lucchese Biography - National Crime Syndicate Thomas Gaetano Lucchese [1] (born Gaetano Lucchese; Italian: [aetano lukkese]; December 1, 1899 - July 13, 1967), sometimes known by the nicknames "Tommy", "Thomas Luckese", "Tommy Brown" or "Tommy Three-Finger Brown" was an Italian-American gangster and founding member of the Mafia in the United States, an offshoot . His son went Mourners at Services for Luchese Are Photographed", List of past Lucchese crime family mobsters, List of Italian-American mobsters by organization, Collaborations between the United States government and Italian Mafia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tommy_Lucchese&oldid=1137363878, Deaths from brain cancer in the United States, People with acquired American citizenship, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Thomas Luckese, Tommy Brown, Tommy Three-Finger Brown, Thomas Arra, This page was last edited on 4 February 2023, at 06:41. Everett John (Johnny) Vaughan was born on November 29, 1934, in Seneca, Missouri and passed away peacefully on November 3, 2022, in Antioch. His old friends Charlie Luciano, Frank Costello, and Meyer Lansky had become partners with Jewish gangster Arnold the Brain Rothstein selling bootleg alcohol. In the 1920s,he was arrested for auto theft but avoided prison and also managed to escape trial over three murder investigations. With You didn't need to be the head of one of the Five Families to exert power in the Mafia. In 1957, Genovese called a national mob meeting to legitimize his control of the Luciano family. . East Harlem's Tommy Lucchese Founding Member Of The Italian Mafia 1899 At the time, Castellano had ordered his family to halt narcotics operations, as he felt they were attracting too much attention, which displeased underboss John Gotti. Published: July 13th, 2017 - By Christian Cipollini, Contributing Writer, The Gulf Stream Pirate Rumrunning leads to shooting in Prohibition Era. It was then that he served his only prison sentence a year, starting in 1921, for car theft. He was a founding member of the Mafia in the United States, an offshoot of the Cosa Nostra in Sicily. Placentia Obituaries - Latest Obituaries in Placentia, CA - Echovita And he repeatedly pleaded the Fifth at appearances before the U.S. Senate's permanent subcommittee on investigations, which studies organized crime (among other things.) Lucchese was alleged to have been involved in at least 30 murders. At our funeral parlor in the Bronx, we offer personalized funeral and cremation services that allow your family to honor your loved one in the way that best suits your unique needs. Lane, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York; future Police Commissioner Thomas J. Murphy; and former Mayor Vincent Impelliteri. The Commission, realizing that Bonanno was the real mastermind, ordered both Magliocco and Bonanno to explain. She was . Americans have always been fascinated by the underworld Despite Luccheses generally cryptic or entirely tight-lipped demeanor during questioning, the committee apparently gleaned slivers of useful information, including political ties, sports betting corruption (including strong ties to the Mobs boxing czar Frankie Carbo) and narcotics trafficking. In 1946, Lucchese attended the mob Havana Conference in Cuba as Gaglianos representative. Feedback or questions? A burial vault is required for most cemeteries, but you may choose to purchase one online or elsewhere, if you'd wish. He maintained close relationships with New York City politicians, including Mayors William O'Dwyer and Vincent Impellitteri. On May 3, 1957, gunman Vincent Gigante wounded Lucianos street boss Frank Costello. According to the LA Times, Bonanno took over and renamed the Maranzano family after original boss Salvatore Maranzano was murdered (on Lucky Luciano's orders) in 1931. Signup today! his thumb and forefinger on the job. In return, Lucchese gave Gambino a part of his rackets at Idlewild Airport (now called John F. Kennedy Airport). The tommy lucchese funeral. Shaken by the assassination attempt, Costello soon retired, leaving Genovese as boss. Tommy (Tommy Brown) Lucchese - Family Boss - The New York Mafia On April 8, 1958, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the 1952 denaturalization ruling against Lucchese on a legal technicality. In August 1965, Lucchese was admitted to Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center with a brain tumour and heart ailment. In 1964, facing another trial, he disappeared, turning up 19 months later, claiming to have been kidnapped. Our compassionate . He worked as a laborer in 1915 and one day lost On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Speaking to Nassau District Attorney William Cahn in 1963, Lucchese asserted, I know nothing about any Cosa Nostra. Tommy Lucchese was among Impellitteri's staunchest supporters and had been a frequent guest at Murphy's home. Today's Special Hours: The Mob Museum Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tommy Lucchese Wiki & Bio - everipedia.org The pair established a group of hitmen that later inspired the Mafia's more formal hitmen branch, Murder, Inc. But Lucchese also had a talent for making friends in high places and using those friendships to his advantage. Tommy Lucchese was born on 1 December 1899 in Palermo, Sicily, Italy. Every detail of the wake and funeral was taken care of seamlessly by Joe and his staff, and when all was over, we felt nothing but relief. Along with Gagliano, he pioneered rackets at the newly opened Idelwild Airport (later renamed Kennedy Airport), corrupting unions there to facilitate trucking monopolies, warehouse theft, and hijacking. Our compassionate funeral directors and caring and professional team will walk you through this process every step of the way with kindness and concern. In 1966, Giancana fled to Mexico, effectively giving up his leadership, but he was deported in July 1974. The Lucchese family came to dominate Manhattan's garment district and the related trucking industry by gaining control of key unions and trade associations. Los Angeles Obituaries | Local Obits for Los Angeles, CA - Legacy.com These activities drew attention from the Mafia. tommy lucchese funeral. Lucchese was born on December 1, 1899, to Baldassarre and Francesca Lucchese in Palermo, Sicily. Lucchese married his daughter off to Gambinos son. As a team, Lucchese and Gambino now controlled the airport, the Commission, and most organized crime in New York City. Despite having a relatively demure official rap sheet in terms of volume, the two homicide charges which he deliberately left out of his naturalization application demonstrated Lucchese did not veer from violent resolve. Photo credit: 1) Thomas Gaetano Lucchese. Popular and well-liked by his soldiers, he took his family into new rackets in Manhattan's garment district and in the related trucking industry. [5] It would be Lucchese's only conviction. The Mob Wife Stands for high-quality home decor and accessories such as sculptures, umbrellas, and backpacks in the medium price range. Coll also had an idiotic habit of kidnapping other mobsters for ransom. During Prohibition, Coll became a notoriously violent enforcer for bootlegger Dutch Schultz. The Outfit took control of policy, while a crowd of 7,000 gathered for Roe's funeral. the popular major league pitcher Mordecai Three Finger Brown. They go above and beyond for you and make sure your loved one is taken care of. But the man who supposedly took over some of his gambling interests and later his entire gang, Tony Accardo, never was. Luciano subsequently created The Commission to serve as the governing body for organized crime. Starting in the mid-1940s, the Chicago Outfit murdered and intimidated at least eight kings. They had been secured with the aid of Lansky and Siegel. On Feb. 8, 1932, Coll was shot dead while using a payphone in a chemist's office. But then again, as some of them learned, the mob has its own brand of justice, and it's probably worse than prison. 3) Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. In 1928, Masseria kicked off what the FBI refers to as the Castellammarese War a campaign to take over all the New York families and become the capo dei capi, the boss of bosses. With the death of Gagliano in 1951 (exactly when he died is still a subject of debate), Lucchese rose from underboss to boss and the Mafia family adopted the Lucchese name. The Commission finally selected capo Carmine Tramunti as temporary acting boss until Corallo was released from prison. On April 15, 1931, Luciano had lured Masseria to a meeting where he was murdered at a restaurant called Nuova Villa Tammaro on Coney Island. There was an error processing your request. "Retirement" is not exactly common practice among New York Mafia bosses. But in 1931, two of his intended victims, Charles "Lucky" Luciano and Salvatore Maranzano, teamed up and had Masseria shot in the back of the head while he was eating dinner at a restaurant on Coney Island. [10] The officer nicknamed Lucchese "Three Finger Brown", an alias that Lucchese always disliked. 100 years' imprisonment and fined $240,000 (1987) Anthony " Tony Ducks " Corallo (February 12, 1913 - August 23, 2000) was an American mobster and boss of the Lucchese crime family in New York City. the imprisonment of Frank Costello in 1952, he was believed to have If anyone can get away with being a mob boss for over two decades, it's the guy who may have been involved with the most infamous Mafia crime in history. As the Russell Daily News drily observed, "The gunmen succeeded where countless prosecutors had failed.". However, five years after that FBI report, Anastasia fell victim to his fellow mobsters' power lust. It succeeded in 1952, when he was shot on Michigan Avenue. As Carl Sifakis points out, he may have been Lucky Luciano's "favorite killer," and may have also been involved in some 30 murders. government moved to denaturalize Tommy Lucchese. Criminal penalty. In December 1970, the agency seized a briefcase containing suspicious documents, forcing him to testify before a grand jury. On November 17, 1952, U.S. Attorney General James P. McGranery initiated denaturalization proceedings against Lucchese. It's believed someone in Colombo's family or one of the others ordered the hit, but who and why is unknown. Thomas Gaetano Lucchese, born Gaetano Lucchese; Italian; December 1, 1899 July 13, 1967, was an Italian-American gangster in East Harlem, NY. 2) Lucky Luciano (second from the left). On October 25, 1957, Albert Anastasia was assassinated in a hotel barbershop; Carlo Gambino became the new family boss. Another possible candidate was consigliere Vincenzo Rao, but he too was dealing with criminal charges. Lucchese concentrated on the core Cosa Nostra values of making money, keeping a low public profile, and avoiding criminal prosecution. In its filing, the government claimed that Lucchese did not reveal his entire arrest record when applying for citizenship in the 1930s. Accardo died of heart and lung disease aged 86 in 1992. Lucchese is possibly one of the most notorious bosses of New York City within the 10th century, He was born Gaetano Lucchese on December 1, 1899, in Palermo, Sicily. The New York Times reported that the restaurant owner was so scared that he gave his fingerprints to police in case he was murdered and he was. Luccheses name again made headlines when government informant Joe Valachi divulged the inner workings of Americas Mafia structure in 1963. Shooting Still a Mystery", "Costello is Shot Entering Home; Gunman Escapes", "Hint: It Wasn't the Orange Crme Frappucino", "Ruled 'Family' of 450. [22] Lucchese had maintained a longtime alliance with Trafficante Jr.'s father Santo Trafficante Sr., the former boss of the Tampa mafia family and during the 1940s, helped train Trafficante Jr., in the mafia traditions. [27] Over 1,000 guests attended the wedding, at which Carlo Gambino presented Lucchese with a $30,000 gift. [8][11] On July 18, 1928, Lucchese was arrested along with his brother-in-law, Joseph Rosato, for the murder of Louis Cerasulo; the charges were later dropped.[6][8][11]. The Lucchese crime familys exploits at the airport were depicted in the Martin Scorcese film classic Goodfellas. operating in this country. The War was over, and Salvatore Maranzano set up a new network of crime families in New York City with himself as top boss. He died on July 13, 1967. tommy lucchese funeral. Luccheses second choice, Ettore Coco, was also in legal trouble and served a short time as boss. [12] On September 10, 1931, when Maranzano summoned Luciano, Genovese, and Frank Costello to a meeting at his office, they knew Maranzano would kill them there. The once-mysterious boss would begin seeing his name regularly printed in newspapers by 1952, a direct byproduct of enhanced law enforcement scrutiny and public interest in underworld intrigue. In 1957, he was charged with contempt of court and served seven months over the Apalachin Meeting, a national gathering of Mafia families. That July, a child was killed during a failed kidnap attempt of a Schultz lieutenant that turned into a shootout. Relations with the other families and even his own soured, and in June 1971, he was shot at a rally. Lucchese appointed mobsters Stafano LaSalle as underboss and Vincenzo Rao as consigliere. funeral.com - California Obituaries - Obituaries-Memorials-Resources Genovese Dies in Prison at 71. I would HIGHLY recommend Lucchese Funeral Home to anyone. [22], On November 17, 1952, U.S. Attorney General James P. McGranery initiated denaturalization proceedings against Lucchese. Lucchese was born on December 1, 1899, to Baldassarre and Francesca Lucchese in Palermo, Sicily. It wasnt long before Lucchese was involving himself with street gangs, his first gang he ran with was called the 107th street gang leg by the infamous Lucky Luciano, his parents were unimpressed pressuring him to find honest work and not to get caught up in the crime side of the city, he did working in a machine shop, here he encountered a terrible accident resulting in the loss of his thumb and index finger on his right hand. He killed a made man during a shootout, which only intensified the Outfit's determination to murder him. Tommy Lucchese was so well-respected, nothing would keep them away. For 40 years, Meyer Lansky masterminded the organization's corruption of labor unions, corporations, and politicians while earning millions for himself from illegal operations. We're happy to help you, either online through our contact form or in person at our Bronx funeral home. shabu shabu groupon. Giancana was a driver and hitman for Al Capone. One of the founding fathers of the American Mafia, Tommy Lucchese was a well-connected and widely respected godfather whose name today remains on the marquee of one of New Yorks Five Families. exclusive Malba section of Whitestone for many years. [22] Trafficante Jr. would frequently meet with Lucchese in New York City for dinner. Lucchese Palermo to Harlem L ucchese was born in Palermo, Sicily, the son of Baldassare, a barber, and Francesca Cinquemani Lucchese. Lucchese and Luciano proved to be master schemers during the Castellammarese War between rival crime bosses Giuseppe Masseria and Salvatore Maranzano. During the 1950s, Lucchese controlled a narcotic trafficking network with Santo Trafficante Jr., the boss of the Tampa crime family. Lucchese is buried at Calvary Cemetery in Queens, New York. Lucchese appointed mobsters Stafano LaSalle as underboss and Vincenzo Rao as consigliere. amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "naticrimsynd-20"; Compared with those of his colleagues, Luccheses Mafia family wasnt the biggest, nor was his reign the longest (14 years as actual boss, 22 years as underboss to the familys original boss Tommaso Tommy Gagliano). Lucchese: business sense, banditry, betrayal | American Mafia As a young man, he racked up a long list of arrests, including ones for homicide, but he managed to avoid conviction in every case except for a single grand larceny charge in the early 1920s. Buy this on Ever Loved. As mob bosses go, Lucchese was a worthy namesake for the family he led. In 1921, he was convicted in a Long Island, New York, courtroom for auto theft and did a little more than a year in state prison. In 1985, Castellano was indicted by the federal government on 78 counts of racketeering, murder, car theft, and prostitution, and also faced indictments for extortion, bribery, narcotics, murder, and conspiracy, the New York Times reported. Success! Lucchese along with Charlie "Lucky" Luciano, formed the 107th Street gang. Luccheses first choice as a successor had been Antonio Tony Ducks Corallo, but Corallo was in prison when Lucchese died. Genovese was convicted and sent to prison, where he died in 1969. The crime family that bears Luccheses name today was first the Gagliano family, as Luciano named Tommy Gagliano, another Tommy Reina disciple, as the syndicates inaugural boss. Over 1,000 mourners, including politicians, judges, policemen, racketeers, drug pushers, pimps, and hitmen attended the ceremony. Tommy Lucchese, who lived quietly at 106 Parsons Blvd. Wonderful, kind and professional people. In a secret deal with Maranzano, Luciano agreed to engineer the death of his boss, Masseria, in return for receiving Masserias rackets and becoming Maranzanos second-in-command. Murphy was named police commissioner of the city of New York when Mayor Vincent Impellitteri won re-election in 1950. His daughter He was very understanding and helpful with the process and absolutely professional. The public got to know him as "Three Finger Brown," but you'd never say it to his face. In September 1931, Luciano and Genovese planned the murder of Salvatore Maranzano after Lucchese had previously alerted Luciano that he was marked for death, and prepared a hit team to kill Maranzano first. In 1951, Gagliano died of natural causes. [29][30][31], In 1963, Joseph Magliocco and Bonanno boss Joseph Bonanno hatched an audacious plan to murder Commission bosses Carlo Gambino, Lucchese, and Stefano Magaddino, as well as Frank DeSimone, and take over the Mafia Commission. He died on 13 July 1967 in Lido Beach, New York, USA. in Malba on Nov. 17, 1952, the day the He died in 2002, aged 97 probably a record for a Mafia boss. Colombo either feared for his life, or sensed an opportunity for advancement, and instead reported the plot to The Commission. The Outfit took control of policy, while a crowd of 7,000 gathered for Roe's funeral. Multiple ailments, including heart problems, proved too much for the 67-year-old Mafia boss and he died from a brain tumor at his Lido Beach, New York, home. (For example: The Departed.). Lucchese got his start in organized crime during the Prohibition era, working with Lucky Luciano and Meyer Lansky. Masseria and Maranzano were battling each other for total control of New York. Luciano is known to have said that Lucchese was without a doubt his favourite hitman. In the television miniseries The Gangster Chronicles, Lucchese is portrayed by Jon Polito. Luccheses life in crime began in East Harlem with the 107th Street Gang. [13][12] While they played cards, Luciano allegedly excused himself to the bathroom, with the gunmen reportedly being Vito Genovese, Albert Anastasia, Joe Adonis, and Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel;[14] Ciro "The Artichoke King" Terranova drove the getaway car, but legend has it that he was too shaken up to drive away and had to be shoved out of the driver's seat by Siegel. Marshals harassed Lucchese relentlessly without any Luciano became head of the then-Luciano and now-Genovese family. During an extremely difficult time after losing my Father in law, myself and my husband were immediately put at ease by Joe Lucchese. Carmine Trumunti succeeded Lucchese as boss, but his term was relatively short and undistinguished. Lucchese had not yet arrived in Apalachin and therefore avoided arrest. Members of the gang stole wallets, burglarized stores, and engaged in other hustles. The government felt he basically took up where the Mafias longtime political alliance-maker, Frank Costello, left off. However, things changed when the Italian mob took note of the kings' wealth and wanted in. His funeral was attended by over 1,000 mourners including politicians, judges, policemen, racketeers, drug pushers, pimps, and hit men. Due to Lucianos reforms, the New York City underworld entered a long period of peace. Giuseppe "Joe the Boss" Masseria was famous for dodging convictions. graduated from Vassar College. tommy lucchese funeral - Arrow Mountain Screen Printing Ultimately, the tension led Bonanno to flee New York, leaving his son in charge of the family. The Underground Open Noon to 6 p.m. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. In the 70s, the family was seen by some as second only in power to the Gambinos and was involved in the usual Mafia operations loansharking, hijacking, gambling, and racketeering. [26], In 1962, Carlo Gambino's oldest son, Thomas Gambino, married Lucchese's daughter Frances. He died on July 13, 1967. That's not for lack of trying on the law's side. We at Joseph A. Lucchese Funeral Home strive to provide the very best service to grieving families in the Bronx. He got a stern warning after robbing the Bronx's Sheffield Farms dairy without Schultz's permission. Born - December 1, 1899 Birth Location - Palermo, Sicily, Italy Birth Name - Gaetano Lucchese Died - July 13, 1967 Introduction Tommy Lucchese was born on December 1, 1899 in Palermo, Sicily, Italy and died on July 13, 1967. Example: Yes, I would like to receive emails from Harlem World Magazine. He and an associate latershot their Mafia boss and two bystanders, including a child in front of a police precinct, but the case never made it to court. Not all Mafia bosses came to power by murdering the previous boss (or at least attempting to.) Bonanno went into hiding in Montreal, but a badly shaken Magliocco appeared and confessed everything; he was fined $50,000 and forced into retirement.[32]. The family lived at 104 Parsons Blvd in Malba, Queens before moving in 1950 to Lido Beach, Long Island. His would-be assassin, Jerome A. Johnson, was shot dead on the scene. Thats when he entered a life This is a common price to purchase funeral flowers. The committee had branded Lucchese a top criminal, if not the single most important of Mafia bosses at the time. The New York Times reported that Gambino's Mafia family was made up of about 500 made men and 500 associates and that their territory stretched from western Massachusetts to outer Philadelphia.