Affidavits of George Provenzano and Joe Provenzano
United States of America, State of Louisiana, ss:
Personally appeared before the undersigned authority George Provenzano, who, being sworn, says his business for the last twenty-five years, until lately, has been that of stevedoring, and that he resides at No. 526 Canal street, in the city of New Orleans.
Affiant further says that he has known Rocco Gerachi, who was killed by the mob in the parish prison March 14, 1891, since his arrival in the State of Louisiana from Palermo, Italy; that he does not know under what name he may have registered as a voter, but affiant knows that he cast his vote in the Sixth ward at the general State election held in April, 1888, and prior to that he voted in the Fifth ward. Affiant knows this, because he himself took him to the polls and saw him deposit his ballot.
Affiant is of the opinion that said Gerachi would not register under his true name, as he was under a charge in Palermo for killing a man when he arrived in this country.
He came to this country on the ship Simento or Siamanto, Capt. Viviano, and jumped the ship as soon as she touched the wharf. Affiant does not believe he had a passport, although his knowledge on this point is not certain.
Affiant further says he was well acquainted with James Caruso and Frank Romero, who were also killed March 14, 1891, by the mob, and that he has seen each of them vote in the Fifth ward of the city of New Orleans at various times, and knows that they otherwise took an active part in politics, acting with the Democratic [Page 696] party. Caruso was at one time a commissioner of elections at one of the voting precincts in said ward, and Prank Romero was once a delegate, with affiant, to a convention of the party at Baton Rouge.
Affiant further says that for some years last past he and his brother have been frequently threatened by the Mafia society, which has its headquarters in New Orleans.
(1) On or about the 30th day of July, 1887, affiant received through the mails the annexed typewritten message, marked Exhibit A. An Italian had been murdered, and affiant had assisted in his burial. This offended the Mafia, and said message was sent.
(2) Prior to this affiant and his brother had received the letter marked Exhibit B, demanding payment of $1,000, and threatening to kill affiant and his brother unless the money was brought to a certain place in the rear of the city within three days.
(3) Affiant and his brother having failed to comply with the demand, they were warned against further delay by the letter marked Exhibit C, in which they were threatened with the vengeance of the Mafia.
Soon after receiving the above demand for money affiant was informed that some of the persons engaged in said blackmailing scheme were in affiant’s employ, engaged in unloading fruit vessels. Acting on this information, affiant discharged from his service Manuel Politz, the same person afterwards tried for murdering Hennessy, and some fifteen others, all of whom affiant believed to have been members of the Mafia society in New Orleans.
(4) A short time before the murder of Hennessy affiant received the letter marked Exhibit D, warning him that the Mafia was putting up a bloody plot to murder affiant and his brother.
Affiant has reason to believe that all the threats and warnings received by him as above detailed came from the Mafia society, which has existed in New Orleans for the last twenty-five years and upwards, and during which the more prominent and well-to-do members of the Italian colony in this city have been subject to constant blackmailing. None dared refuse these demands until lately, for a refusal to pay the sum assessed almost uniformly brought down the bloody vengeance of the Mafia, and the victims of its extortion dared not complain openly, it having been well understood among the Italian population that the society, by methods of its own, would use violence against anyone who might expose its practices.
Affiant and his friends are the first to have the courage to denounce and expose the illegal practices of the society.
Deputy Clerk.
Joseph Provenzano, being duly sworn, says that he has carefully read the foregoing affidavit of George Provenzano, and declares that the facts stated therein are true to his own knowledge.
Deputy Clerk.
