Willie "Two-Knife" Altieri, also called Willie "Two Gun" Altieri, was an American gangster who served as the chief enforcer for Frankie Yale's Italian-American "Black-Hand" gang, one of the most powerful criminal organizations in 1920s New York City. He got his nickname after his preferred method of dispatching a victim. Willie had killed dozens of rival gangsters during the 1920s and was considered an important figure in the "Black-Hand" gang.
Little background information is known about Altieri, including his date of birth, background, or how he died although it is known that an attempted assassination by Pegleg Lonergan led to "Willie" jumping through a window, narrowly escaping death. He was described as standing 5 feet 7 inches, weighing 170 pounds, and having blond hair and blue eyes. Altieri's hands were described as "soft", like a woman's, and he would often be found using his knives to clean his fingernails. Altieri was known for preferring to dispatch his victims via the use of two knives,[1] which he kept in leather scabbards around his waist. His passion was so great for these weapons that he would apparently even sleep with the knives still on his person.
Altieri killed his victims with the same modalities: a rape choking, or a Colt's gunshot close-up to the head of the victim. Each time he threw away the corpse, burying it in the surroundings of New Jersey.[2]
Criminal careeredit
Mob boss Yale used Altieri on many occasions to commit murders. In 1919, Yale sent Altieri to silence an informer within the gang. Altieri stabbed the informer in the torso with both knives, then broke off blades in the victim's body. Altieri later presented the handles to Yale, who mounted them on a plaque and hung it up in his office.
At one point, Altieri himself narrowly avoided being assassinated. The White Hand Gang tried to kill Altieri because they suspected he was responsible for killing gang member Petey Behan. However, the White Hand hitmen accidentally killed Angelo Gibaldi, the father of Vincenzo Gibaldi. Vincenzo Gibaldi later became famous as a Capone gunman and a chief organizer of the Saint Valentine's Day massacre by another name, Jack "Machine Gun Jack" McGurn. In retaliation, Gibaldi with Frankie Yale's consent killed the three hitmen responsible and thus avenged his father's death.
Yale murderedit
On July 1, 1928, Yale was murdered on the streets of Brooklyn. His killing was reportedly due to a falling out with Chicago mob boss Al Capone, Yale's former underling. After Yale's murder, Altieri slipped into obscurity.
Very little is known as to the whereabouts of Willie "Two-Knife" Altieri after the murder of Frankie Yale in 1928.
Referencesedit
^Vincent Di Maio; Ron Franscell (May 17, 2016). Morgue: A Life in Death. St. Martin's Press. p. 30. ISBN9781466875067. OCLC 1051093653. Archived from the original on June 4, 2019.
^Arcangelo Badoladi (Jul 26, 2018). Santisti & 'Ndrine.Narcos, massoni deviati e killer a contratto (in Italian). Luigi Pellegrini Editore. pp. 73–74. ISBN9788868227135. OCLC 8868227134. Archived from the original on June 4, 2019.
Balsamo, William and Carpozi, George Jr. Crime Incorporated True Crime; New Ed edition (February 18, 1993) ISBN0-86369-647-3
January 01, 1970
willie, knife, altieri, this, 2012, includes, list, references, related, reading, external, links, sources, remain, unclear, because, lacks, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, 2012, introducing, more, precise, citations, 2012, learn, when, remove,. This May 2012 includes a list of references related reading or external links but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations Please help improve this May 2012 by introducing more precise citations May 2012 Learn how and when to remove this message Willie Two Knife Altieri also called Willie Two Gun Altieri was an American gangster who served as the chief enforcer for Frankie Yale s Italian American Black Hand gang one of the most powerful criminal organizations in 1920s New York City He got his nickname after his preferred method of dispatching a victim Willie had killed dozens of rival gangsters during the 1920s and was considered an important figure in the Black Hand gang Contents 1 Background 2 Criminal career 3 Yale murder 4 ReferencesBackground editLittle background information is known about Altieri including his date of birth background or how he died although it is known that an attempted assassination by Pegleg Lonergan led to Willie jumping through a window narrowly escaping death He was described as standing 5 feet 7 inches weighing 170 pounds and having blond hair and blue eyes Altieri s hands were described as soft like a woman s and he would often be found using his knives to clean his fingernails Altieri was known for preferring to dispatch his victims via the use of two knives 1 which he kept in leather scabbards around his waist His passion was so great for these weapons that he would apparently even sleep with the knives still on his person Altieri killed his victims with the same modalities a rape choking or a Colt s gunshot close up to the head of the victim Each time he threw away the corpse burying it in the surroundings of New Jersey 2 Criminal career editMob boss Yale used Altieri on many occasions to commit murders In 1919 Yale sent Altieri to silence an informer within the gang Altieri stabbed the informer in the torso with both knives then broke off blades in the victim s body Altieri later presented the handles to Yale who mounted them on a plaque and hung it up in his office At one point Altieri himself narrowly avoided being assassinated The White Hand Gang tried to kill Altieri because they suspected he was responsible for killing gang member Petey Behan However the White Hand hitmen accidentally killed Angelo Gibaldi the father of Vincenzo Gibaldi Vincenzo Gibaldi later became famous as a Capone gunman and a chief organizer of the Saint Valentine s Day massacre by another name Jack Machine Gun Jack McGurn In retaliation Gibaldi with Frankie Yale s consent killed the three hitmen responsible and thus avenged his father s death Yale murder editOn July 1 1928 Yale was murdered on the streets of Brooklyn His killing was reportedly due to a falling out with Chicago mob boss Al Capone Yale s former underling After Yale s murder Altieri slipped into obscurity Very little is known as to the whereabouts of Willie Two Knife Altieri after the murder of Frankie Yale in 1928 References edit Vincent Di Maio Ron Franscell May 17 2016 Morgue A Life in Death St Martin s Press p 30 ISBN 9781466875067 OCLC 1051093653 Archived from the original on June 4 2019 Arcangelo Badoladi Jul 26 2018 Santisti amp Ndrine Narcos massoni deviati e killer a contratto in Italian Luigi Pellegrini Editore pp 73 74 ISBN 9788868227135 OCLC 8868227134 Archived from the original on June 4 2019 Balsamo William and Carpozi George Jr Crime Incorporated True Crime New Ed edition February 18 1993 ISBN 0 86369 647 3 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Willie 22Two Knife 22 Altieri amp oldid 1223036499, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
