Albert Anastasia
(1903-1957)
New York
racketeer, gangster, and murderer. A feared Mafioso, Anastasia made huge
profits from narcotics smuggling, gambling, and prostitution and by extortion.
He was head of Murder, Inc., and was given the title "Lord High Executioner"
because of his leading role in carrying out syndicate killings. Mayor William
O'Dwyer of NYC tried several times to obtain murder indictments against
Anastasia but failed; key witnesses were always killed at the last moment.
In 1950 and 1951, Anastasia testified before the US Senate Crime Investigating
Committee, chaired by Senator Estes Kefauver, that he was a legitimate
partner in a dress manufacturing business. Two gunmen of Vito Genovese,
a Mafia chief, shot Anastasia to death in the barbershop of Manhattan's
Park Sheraton Hotel on October 25, 1957.