The Akron Beacon Journal from Akron, Ohio • Page 28

B4 Akron Beacon Journal December 20, 1977 ombings, bullets, OFFICIAL bodies fill crime war's calendar Microelectronic Digital Watch by TEXAS INSTRUMENTS 5 FUNCTION LED SPACE AGE WATCH One Button Controls It All HOUR and MINUTE SECONDS MONTH and DATE in Easy-to-read Red Digits 5 FUNCTIONS and The Most Advanced Way to Tell Time. by a Cuyahoga County grand jury on charges of aggravated murder and aggravated arson in the bombing death of Greene. NOVEMBER 15, 1977 A bomb exploded outside Ritson's home. Ritson, 30, reported receiving several cuts. Federal authorities said Ritson was to be investigated by a grand jury examining the series of bombings in the Cleveland area.

NOVEMBER 11, 1S77 The body of Elmer Brittain, 43, was found in a West side Cleveland office building. He was shot to death. Cleveland police described him as an associate of Greene who arranged big-money card games for Greene. Brittain was convicted of negligent homicide following the shooting of a 23-year-old man in a Lakewood poker game. Police said two other men were questioned in the shooting: Kevin McTaggart and Keith Ritson.

DECEMBER 5, 1977 Eight men, including James Licavoli, 73, identified as the top boss of an organized crime family in Cleveland, and John Calandra, 68, his reputed second-in-command, were arrested on federal and state charges in the Greene bombing. Also arrested were Angelo Lonardo, 66, James Fratianno, 64, Ronald Carabbia, 48, Pasquale Cisternino, 38, Thomas J. Sinito, 39, and Alfred Calabrese 34. Limited Quantities STATE ROAD SHOPPING CENTER CUYAHOGA FALLS STORE HOURS: Mon. thru Fri.

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CATALOG SHOWROOM VISA TERMS MASTER CHARGE REVOLVING CHARGE BANKAMERICARD BANK TERMS NO PAYMENTS TILL JAN. 90 DAYS SAME AS CASH The following is a chronology of Cleveland-area bombings and assassinations tied to the struggle for power among Northeast Ohio organized crime figures. MARCH 29, 1975 Alex "Shondor" Birns, one of Cleveland's most colorful racketeers, died in the bombing of his Lincoln Mark IV automobile. The bomb detonated as Birns began driving away from Christy's, a lounge on the near west side. He was 69.

News stories at the time said police were worried that Birns' death "may set off an underworld power struggle in Northeast Ohio." MAY 12, 1975 The Collinwood apartment of Daniel J. "Danny" Greene was bombed. Greene was thrown under a refrigerator, and several of his ribs were broken, but he survived. MAY 13, 1975 A second bomb was found at Greene's apartment, at 15805 Waterloo Rd. NE.

The device, tetrytol wrapped around a three-gallon gas Jean, was defective, but a bomb expert said that if it had detonated, "half of the east side would have exploded." MAY 18, 1975 A bomb was found at the Mayflower Tavern, an Oakwood hangout, of William "Mo" Kiraly, then 54, one of two men indicted in the May 12 bombing of Greene. Kiraly was convicted in November of aggravated arson and attempted aggravated murder. Also charged was Joseph Gallo, 38, but his whereabouts were not known. SEPTEMBER 19, 1975 A friend of Gallo's, John B. Conte, 49, of Mentor, was found dead, his beaten body bound and gagged, behind a motel near Youngstown.

When last seen, he was reportedly going to see Greene to discuss vending machine businesses. MAY 22, 1976 Gallo was arrested in Orlando, in connection with the Greene bombing. JUNE 26, 1976 John T. Scalish, who for more than two decades had been considered the boss of organized crime in Cleveland, died during heart surgery at University Hospital in Cleveland. He was 63.

Scalish was one of 27 top crime leaders sought in connection with a "crime convention" in Apalachin, N.Y., in 1957. JULY 21, 1976 Eugene "The Animal" Ciasulo, 46, a Licavoli lieutenant, was severely injured in a bombing at his Richmond Heights home. The bomb had been placed in a flower pot and was detonated as he was entering the house. No arrests were made. AUGUST 14, 1976 Kevin McTaggert, 20, and Keith Ritson, 29, both close associates of Danny Greene, were arrested in a car camouflaged to look like an unmarked detective's car, in Cleveland.

Inside the car were a shotgun and a pistol, and a map with the homes and businesses of Ciasulo and a second Licavoli lieutenant, Alfred Calabrese circled. Calabrese was one of the eight men arrested this week. Also marked on the map was the home of Joe Kovach, a former Teamster. AUGUST 22, 1976 Kovach, 33, was shot to death in the front yard of his home. SEPTEMBER 1, 1976 An abandoned Lincoln Continental used by Leo "Lips" Moceri of Akron, is found in the parking lot of a Fairlawn motel.

All of the locks have been removed, and in the trunk, there is a pool of blood. Moceri, 70, was last seen on Aug. 22 by his girl friend. His body has never been found and he is still officially listed as missing, but the FBI reportedly has information that he is dead. microwave specialists, sales, service, accessories OEM0MSTRATI0HS mi ask FOR A DEMONSTRATION -A it.

aira.RADARANGE MICROWAVE OVEN HOLIDAY HOURS MON. THRU FRI. 9 AM TILL 9 PM SATURDAY 9 AM TIL 5 PM Md. MR3 Moceri was the cousin of James T. Licavoli and was considered the most powerful crime figure in Akron.

Although he was not charged, his 1952 arrest in Los Angeles in connection with the killing of "Bug-sy" Siegel triggered the roundup of some of the big names in crime. They included Jimmy "The Weasel" Fratianno, one of the men arrested this past week in connection with the Greene bombing. SEPTEMBER II, 1976 Teamster leader John Nardi, a nephew by marriage of Cleveland Mafia underboss Anthony Milano and a reputed rival of James Licavoli, was shot at as he left the Italian-American Brotherhood Club on Mayfield Road in Cleveland's Murray Hill neighborhood. The FBI affidavit filed this week says the gunmen were in two cars. Shots struck Nardi's car, but he was not hurt.

SEPTEMBER 24, 1976 A neighbor of Alfred Calabrese Jr. was killed when a bomb exploded while he moved Calabrese's car from his driveway. The bomb was made of the same type of plastic explosive used in the Birns' bombing. SEPTEMBER 26, 1976 The unoccupied home of Ciasulo was bombed. OCTOBER 7, 1976 The case against Joseph Gallo, on trial for the 1975 bombing of Greene, went to a jury.

Defense lawyers emphasized the testimony of Akronite George Morgan in their closing summaries. Morgan, convicted in connection with home improvement company frauds in May, had his cars bombed two days in succession in 1975. Morgan was in prison with "Mo" Kiraly, and he came forward with his testimony five weeks after entering prison. Gallo was acquitted. JANUARY 1, 1977 Cleveland had more bombings during the previous year than any other American city.

Cleveland had 21, Cuyahoga County had 37. In Ohio, there were 203. APRIL 5, 1977 Rackets figure John DelZoppo, 45, was the apparent object of an unsuccessful bombing attempt. The bomb was placed on DelZoppo's car by Enos Cernic, 28, identified as a former member of the Hell's Angels motorcycle club. Cernic was killed as the bomb exploded prematurely.

DelZoppo was described as an associate of Alfred Calabrese one of the eight men arrested this week. Calabrese and DelZoppo were arrested together in a 1968 bank robbery. MAY 17, 1977 John Nardi, 61, was killed by a bomb as he entered his car after leaving work at a Teamster union hall on East 22nd Street. Nardi was the secretary-treasurer of Teamsters' Vending Machine Local 410. He was described as "the caretaker capo" in a Cleveland newspaper article two weeks before his death.

AUGUST 2, 1977 Former Youngstown crime boss Anthony "Tony the Dope" DelSant-er, 66, died of natural causes at the home of his son in Hollywood, Fla. Within the next six weeks, Ronald Carabbia, a Struthers vending machine company owner, reportedly was named by Licavoli to run the operations in the Youngstown area. OCTOBER 6, 1977 Danny Greene, 47, was killed as a bomb in the car next to his exploded as he entered his car in a Lyndhurst parking lot. The mechanics of the bombing were similar to those of the Nardi bombing. The car Greene was driving, a Lincoln Continental, belonged to aide Keith Ritson.

NOVEMBER 11, 1977 Raymond Ferritto, 48, surrendered to authorities in Erie, his hometown, after being indicted est, according to an Erie, newspaper report. Now that he has been arrested, Ferritto has two primary concerns, according to the newspaper. One is the safety of his 15-year-old son, who has been taken into protective custody. The second is his fear of growing old. Ferritto supposedly is not concerned about what could happen to him, either as a result of the state and federal charges against him or in revenge for those arrested.

FEDERAL OFFICIALS say they have driven a wedge into organized crime in Northeast Ohio and have left a void where there was once a tightly knit, profit-making organization. In Summit County, movement has been detected in the effort to fill the spot left open by Moceri's disappearance. Shortly after Teamster leader Nardi's death on May 17, a man reputed to be the head of the Canton rackets was observed by law enforcement authorities in a meeting with Licavoli in Cleveland. The man reportedly sought and gained Licavoli's approval to take over the territory once controlled by Moceri. MICROWAVE OVEN 15 Minute Automatic Timer Control Black Glass Door Removable Oven Tray 509 Watts Cooking Power 12 minute Automatic Timer Control Solid Side Swing Door Removable Oven Tray Easy to Clean (J I Uj (I 'fig1.

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"This is by no means everything," Griffin said. "This is just the surface." The Ferritto statements make up much of the substance of that affidavit, and for his cooperation, Ferritto reportedly will be allowed to plead to a substantially reduced charge instead of the aggravated-murder and aggravated arson charges. ALTHOUGH the FBI will not discuss the deal made with Ferritto, who is being held outside the Cleveland area for security reasons, it would not be unlikely for the U. S. Justice Department to extend the protection of its witness relocation program to Ferritto.

The program provides money and a new identity to witnesses, allowing them to establish a new life. Ferritto reportedly had two reasons for taking the contract. He reportedly is worried about growing old, and wanted the security which membership in La Cosa Nostra could provide. In addition, a Cleveland friend of Ferritto's reportedly Was killed on property in which Greene had a financial inter- 4 WE SELL WHAT WE ADVERTISE Corner of Canton Rd. And kit.

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