April 19, 1951
Vincent “The Executioner” Mangano was boss of one of New York’s five Mafia families. But there was also another “Executioner” in the Mangano family—Albert Anastasia. These two together in the same gang never saw eye to eye, and since Anastasia was also one of the leaders of Murder Incorporated, it was a foregone conclusion which executioner would come out on top.
The Mangano mob made its wealth through gambling, labour racketeering and the waterfront. In fact Mangano controlled the waterfront, through Anastasia and his labour boss brother “Tough Tony” Anastasia. Because of the two brothers, all goods coming into port on a daily basis were pretty much up for grabs and Mangano could lift whatever he wanted.
So, here’s the rub—Mangano severely resented Anastasia’s moonlighting for the murder squad. He undoubtedly also felt threatened by Anastasia’s elevated position in the group, one which allowed him to pal around with Lucky Luciano and Frank Costello, to name just two. Stories are told as to how Mangano and Anastasia would verbally duke it out on a regular basis, sometimes nearly coming to blows. But both knew the score—best to lie low for the time being and put up with things as long as it was convenient. It was just a matter of time, though, as to who would strike first. This prickly state of affairs lasted until 1951.
Later, Anastasia claimed that Mangano had forced him to do it, that Mangano had put out a contract on him and had left him no choice. Other than that, Anastasia had nothing to say, not to the police, nor the Commission. But everybody knew the real score. In the battle for the Manganos, Anastasia had staged a little family coup.
The first to go was Mangano’s brother Philip, naturally enough also in the mob. His waterlogged body was found in a marsh in Jamaica Bay on April 19, 1951. He had been shot three times. Later that same day it was pretty clear that Vincent was also missing. Both Mangano brothers were gone within hours of each other. The body of Vincent “The Executioner” has never surfaced.
Now Anastasia had to move swiftly to consolidate his position. Meeting with the Commission, Anastasia, backed by Frank Costello, persuaded the group to give him control of the Mangano family. He must have been pretty convincing because when he left the table that day, the entity known as the Mangano family was history—it had just become the Anastasia family. Albert “The Executioner” Anastasia had arrived.