Rosario Dispenza Explained

Rosario Dispenza was an Italian-born American mobster. He was head of the Sicilian mafia in the Near North Side neighborhood of Chicago from 1909 to 1914.[1]

Born circa 1870 in Ciminna, Italy, Dispenza immigrated to the United States in 1899 on board the SS Aller. He was a contact of the Morello crime family and known associate of Anthony D'Andrea.[2] [3]

Alongside his business partner Anthony Puccio, Dispenza co-owned the Banca Siciliana, a bank on Milton Avenue, and a saloon on the intersection of Milton Avenue and Hobbie Street.[4] This area was colloquially referred to as the "Black Hand Belt" or "Death Corner".[5] In 1908, Dispenza was fined $100 for allowing patrons to gamble for drinks.[6]

On January 22, 1914, hours after Puccio was murdered outside of the saloon, Dispenza was shot and killed. Although police did not arrive in time to apprehend the assailant, a search of the area revealed two sawed-off shotguns in a neighboring alley. Police suspected that the killings may have been related to the murder of Charles Catalino, which had occurred a week prior.[7]

References

  1. Warner . Richard N. . The Dreaded D'Andrea . The Journal of American Mafia History . April 2009 . 2 . 2 . 17–18.
  2. Book: Critchley . David . The Origin of Organized Crime in America: The New York City Mafia, 1891-1931 . 2009 . Routledge . New York . 978-0415882576 . 56.
  3. Book: Flynn . William James . The Barrel Mystery . September 30, 2020 . Lector House . 978-9390198696 . 207–211.
  4. Book: Lombardo . Robert M. . The Black Hand: Terror by Letter in Chicago . 2010 . University of Illinois Press . Urbana . 9780252076756 . 140.
  5. Book: Adler . Jeffrey S. . First in violence, deepest in dirt : homicide in Chicago, 1875-1920 . 2006 . Harvard University Press . Cambridge, Mass. . 9780674021495 . 186.
  6. News: 125 SALOONS SHUT; CUTS CITY INCOME . Chicago Daily Tribune (1872-1922) . May 5, 1908 . 2.
  7. News: EYE WITNESS TO DOUBLE MURDER FOUND IN HOSPITAL . Chicago Daily Tribune (1872-1922) . January 24, 1914 . 13.