Nicholas Morello
Encyclopedia
Nicolo Terranova also known as Nicholas "Nick" Morello, was one of the first Italian-American organized crime
figures in New York City
. Along with his half-brother Giuseppe Morello
and brothers Ciro
and Vincenzo Terranova
, he founded the Morello crime family
, and was later one of the participants in the Mafia-Camorra War
of 1914-17.
Terranova was born in Corleone, Sicily in 1890 to parents Bernardo Terranova and Angelina Piazza. In 1893, Terranova emigrated from Sicily with his family, including his brothers Ciro and Vincenzo, arriving in New York on March 8, 1893. In 1903, Nicolo's sister Salvatrice Terranova married Ignazio "the Wolf" Lupo, who was running the Black Hand
organization in Little Italy
, Manhattan
. Lupo went on to become underboss
of the Morello crime family. In 1910, when Lupo and Giuseppe Morello were arrested for counterfeit
ing, Terranova, now known as Nicholas Morello, became the boss of the Morello crime family.
In 1915, Brooklyn
Camorra
leader Pellegrino Morano
began moving in on the Morello family's Manhattan territory of East Harlem and Greenwich Village
after a Neapolitan ally of the Morello family, Goisue Gallucci was killed in East Harlem. In 1916, members of the Morello family killed Camorra member Nick Del Guido. Soon after a peace conference was called between the two warring groups, but Morano refused Morello's offer and open warfare continued. The war between New York's Sicilian Mafia and Neapolitan Camorra lasted for over two years. On September 7, 1916, Nicholas Morello and his bodyguard Charles Ubriaco were killed by Morano's men outside Vollero's Cafe, a local Navy Street restaurant in Brooklyn. Morano and Vollero, along with several underlings were soon arrested and in 1917 they were all convicted of Morello's murder. With Morano and top members of the Camorra sentenced to life imprisonment the war ended soon after and the Neapolitan Camorra was assimilated into the Sicilian Mafia by 1919.
Ater his death Nicholas Morello was replaced by his half brother Vincenzo Terranova as the boss of the Morello crime family, with other half brother Ciro serving as underboss
.
American Mafia
The American Mafia , is an Italian-American criminal society. Much like the Sicilian Mafia, the American Mafia has no formal name and is a secret criminal society. Its members usually refer to it as Cosa Nostra or by its English translation "our thing"...
figures in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Along with his half-brother Giuseppe Morello
Giuseppe Morello
Giuseppe "the Clutch Hand" Morello , also known as "The Old Fox", was the first boss of the Morello crime family and later top adviser to Giuseppe "Joe the Boss" Masseria. He was known as Piddu and his rivals the Castellammarese knew him as Peter Morello...
and brothers Ciro
Ciro Terranova
Ciro "The Artichoke King" Terranova was a New York City gangster and one time underboss of the Morello crime family.-Early life:Ciro Terranova was born in the town of Corleone, Sicily...
and Vincenzo Terranova
Vincenzo Terranova
Vincenzo "Vincent" Terranova was a gangster and an early Italian-American organized crime figure in the United States. He served as boss and underboss of the Morello crime family, today known as the Genovese crime family, the oldest of the Five Families in New York City.Terranova was born in...
, he founded the Morello crime family
Morello crime family
The Morello crime family is the direct ancestor of the Genovese crime family, the oldest of New York City's Five Families.-From Corleone to America:...
, and was later one of the participants in the Mafia-Camorra War
Mafia-Camorra War
The Mafia-Camorra War was a gang war in New York City during the World War I era. One side was the Sicilian Morello crime family of Manhattan, the other side was Camorra, an ancient Neapolitan gang with a subgroup in the vicinity of Navy Street in Brooklyn, and the Coney Island gang...
of 1914-17.
Terranova was born in Corleone, Sicily in 1890 to parents Bernardo Terranova and Angelina Piazza. In 1893, Terranova emigrated from Sicily with his family, including his brothers Ciro and Vincenzo, arriving in New York on March 8, 1893. In 1903, Nicolo's sister Salvatrice Terranova married Ignazio "the Wolf" Lupo, who was running the Black Hand
Black Hand
Unification or Death , unofficially known as the Black Hand , was a secret military society formed by members of the Serbian army in the Kingdom of Serbia, which was founded on September 6, 1901. It was intent on uniting all of the territories containing significant Serb populations annexed by...
organization in Little Italy
Little Italy
Little Italy is a general name for an ethnic enclave populated primarily by Italians or people of Italian ancestry, usually in an urban neighborhood.-Canada:*Little Italy, Edmonton, in Alberta*Little Italy, Montreal, in Quebec...
, Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
. Lupo went on to become underboss
Underboss
Underboss is a position within the leadership structure of Sicilian and American Mafia crime families. The underboss is second in command to the boss...
of the Morello crime family. In 1910, when Lupo and Giuseppe Morello were arrested for counterfeit
Counterfeit
To counterfeit means to illegally imitate something. Counterfeit products are often produced with the intent to take advantage of the superior value of the imitated product...
ing, Terranova, now known as Nicholas Morello, became the boss of the Morello crime family.
In 1915, Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
Camorra
Camorra
The Camorra is a Mafia-type criminal organization, or secret society, originating in the region of Campania and its capital Naples in Italy. It is one of the oldest and largest criminal organizations in Italy, dating to the 18th century.-Background:...
leader Pellegrino Morano
Pellegrino Morano
Pellegrino Morano was a leader of the Neapolitan Camorra gangs in Brooklyn, New York. He operated from his Coney Island gang and is considered the American "Grand Master" from roughly 1907-1917.-Background:...
began moving in on the Morello family's Manhattan territory of East Harlem and Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village, , , , .in New York often simply called "the Village", is a largely residential neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City. A large majority of the district is home to upper middle class families...
after a Neapolitan ally of the Morello family, Goisue Gallucci was killed in East Harlem. In 1916, members of the Morello family killed Camorra member Nick Del Guido. Soon after a peace conference was called between the two warring groups, but Morano refused Morello's offer and open warfare continued. The war between New York's Sicilian Mafia and Neapolitan Camorra lasted for over two years. On September 7, 1916, Nicholas Morello and his bodyguard Charles Ubriaco were killed by Morano's men outside Vollero's Cafe, a local Navy Street restaurant in Brooklyn. Morano and Vollero, along with several underlings were soon arrested and in 1917 they were all convicted of Morello's murder. With Morano and top members of the Camorra sentenced to life imprisonment the war ended soon after and the Neapolitan Camorra was assimilated into the Sicilian Mafia by 1919.
Ater his death Nicholas Morello was replaced by his half brother Vincenzo Terranova as the boss of the Morello crime family, with other half brother Ciro serving as underboss
Underboss
Underboss is a position within the leadership structure of Sicilian and American Mafia crime families. The underboss is second in command to the boss...
.