Nobody else seemed interested in solving their fathers murder. That may have made it easier for him but his brother Jimmys foray into top echelon informant land more than likely helped Stevie become a CI himself. Wimpy and Fats Buccelli were sentenced to one year in Deer Island for possession of part of the Brinks loot, but in May of 1957 Fats and Wimpy were cleared of being accessories after the fact. Questions or comments, email lara@doubledealpodcast.com or nina@doubledealpodcast.com. Bennett was roughly the right age and height, had a raspy voice, and had a history of committing violent crimes, including two shootings. Cornelius Connie Hughes (died 1966) Connie and his brother Stevie Hughes were by far the most feared members of the McLaughlin crew. Their bodies were buried in the same remote Hopkinton, Massachusetts, area after being taken to Boston's Dorchester neighborhood, Flemmi said. He also appeared on shows like The Facts of Life where he played Jos father. To avoid this, interviewers can do thorough research prior to the interview and formulate questions for the purpose of clarification. By then, the state's star witness, Irene, had been prosecuted for perjury. When he found out his brother George had been beaten senseless by some friends of Buddy McLean, he set out for revenge. His father Arthur Sr. was involved in the McLean-McLaughlin War of the 1960s. Sifting the truth from the lies. Back to the Bennetts and their murders. This was essentially a rehash of the Jerome Sullivan article from 1965 that we mentioned in the Hit Parade of 1965. The war continued to rage after his death. Sweet's first trial ended in a hung jury. Punchy was in front of the Beaconsfield Hotel on Beacon St in Washington Sq in Brookline when he was shot. He would get indicted in the infamous horse race fixing scandal in 1979. Flemmi will be the first witness to say he was there the night DiSarro was killed. Piecing together the stories and the players in Richies tangled tale. vintage bennett brothers blue book of quality merchandise 1951 We were always told to keep our mouths shut.. He became the leader of Bostons Winter Hill Gang. On. Three years later, Walter was still talking to the Postals. Even the FBI does not reveal the names of informers.. Flemmi is expected to testify that he walked into Salemmes Sharon, Massachusetts, home and saw Salemmes son, Frank Salemme Jr., strangling DiSarro as Salemme watched. Nina, who was the first to find themselves in trouble with the law? He was again offered a deal to testify against Bulger and Stephen Flemmi, but he declined and served another nine years. Ok, lets briefly talk about the early lives of the Bennett brothers, their activities and how the three men found themselves murder victims within a year of each other. Years later after Howie Winter went to prison, he took over the Winter Hill Gang with Flemmi as his 2nd in charge. South Boston aka Southie and its neighboring town Dorchester are the Irish mob hot spots in the city, going back at least a century. There were no fingerprints or weapons found at the scene, but a couple of months later Von Maxcys widow Irene came forward to say that her lover Johnny Sweet arranged for the murder of her husband. They dont know if their father was shot or strangled, dumped in the ocean or buried near a Hopkinton gun club, where authorities dug for bodies for weeks. Maybe more memorable because of his nickname than his actions, but nonetheless a duplicitous and complicated character that any author would be proud to claim as their own creation. He couldnt point out his reputed partner in a number of gangland slayings. And when they lost that support, what did they do? None of the sisters has any faith in the so-called new and reformed FBI either. The brothers owned several businesses in Dorchester. All of the usual suspects were/are linked to their murders. Here is a brief history of the Bennett Automobile Agency and the building, by Guy Bennett Jr. 1939 Car lot with cars front to back order 39, 38, 37, 36. he certainly knows how they exited this vale of tears. Indulge me in one of my tirades for a minute. A fifth accomplice shot another cop and fled the scene. Stephen Flemmi was having a great stroke of luck and he could see a clear path to the top of the Boston mob in his future. But he stated that he had never revealed his sources even to his bosses. The force of impact caused the car door to open, and Billys dead body fell out of the car and into the middle of the street in Dorchester. They were roughly a quarter Irish from the Bennett line. Howie Carr: What's so urgent in Holbrook, Mr. Speaker? One of our listeners who is a grand nephew of the Bennetts sent us a pic of a postcard from Walter from 1943. What he will forever carry with him is the memory of eavesdropping on a pair of FBI agents who paid his doomed father a chilling visit shortly before his death. He was linked directly & indirectly to 3 of the largest crimes not only in Boston but the world. There were no fingerprints or weapons found at the scene, but a couple of months later Von Maxcys widow Irene came forward to say that her lover Johnny Sweet arranged for the murder of her husband. Freshman Ryan Dunn played early, primarily for defense . . Hed been with the BPD for 19 years. There was also a monthly payment envelope that had the initials BM on it. I swear telling people that these guys were all cut from the same cloth is like telling a kid that Santa Claus isnt real. They tried to hide in a basement of a local house, but were cornered and sent back to Shirley. And before you say anything, NO that doesnt make any sense either! Maybe thats where Frankie got the idea about the Rabbi costumes! Stevie was driving in Middleton, Mass on September 23, 1966 when a car pulled up beside him and bullets rang out. After showing up at Larry Zanninos social club, they were killed and robbed of the money they had raised. In an interview with the press, he lambasted the prosecution and alleged that the investigation into Billy Bennetts murder had been sloppy because Daddieco had turned prosecution witness so quickly after the indictments. NEW LOWER PRICE $35 1952 Blue Book of Quality Merchandise Bennett Brothers, Inc. $35.00. The only reason Stevie and Co. came out on top is because they had the full support of the FBI! He was given a beating. The pair were indicted again in 1996. . His brother Edward was murdered in 1968. Welcome to Double Deal! He also survived three very high profile attempts on his own life. Related Story: Irish Mob vs. Italian Mafia. of armed robbery while masked and assault with intent to commit murder. A good looking lady willing to have sex with both men lured them back to an apartment. Bodies were being found in the streets on a weekly basis at this time around Boston. That same day he was relieved of his duty as a cop. His FBI contact John Connolly gave him advanced warnings when indictments for racketeering were about to come down in 1994. Joe went on to testify and put Patriarca behind bars, although much of his testimony is proven false. He couldnt! Bodies were being found in the streets on a weekly basis at this time around Boston. Ronald Dermody (died 1965) Dermody was a bank robber who was fresh out of prison in the early 1960s. Not Your Average Joe: Joseph JR Russo & Some North End Tales, Joe Meet Joe: Joseph Barboza - Part 3 - The Final Act, Thanksgiving Bonus Episode - Prison Breaks, California Dreaming - Joseph Barboza - Part 2, Finding Frankie Salemme - The 1972 Arrest, Jack's Justice - Part 3: The Trials Continue. So often, I find myself wishing for the kind of satisfaction they knew back in the days when two men faced each other in a duel. Buick sedan was found in Brookline a week later. One of the boys said his boss named Steve gave him permission to use the car. . The inspiration for this podcast was Lara's late father and his stories. Kelley is still on death row. Only Billy Bennett's body was ever found. Bennett and Rob Gronkowski give the Patriots two 6-foot-6-inch tight ends with a Pro Bowl on their rsum, a combination that could be impossible for opposing defenses to stop. Winter Hill was a Fed project going back to Buddy McLean. The brothers owned several businesses in Dorchester. I do NOT agree. Nee was a supporter of the IRA and spent a significant amount of his efforts raising money to send them firearms. His brother Walter vanished three months later in April. She had last seen him at 10:30pm the previous Tuesday. For example, the Chico Amico, Tashi Bratsos and Tommy DePrisco murders where Patriarca decided to put an end to Barbozas crew once and for all. the Boston Globe ran an article about Wimpys disappearance. FBI SA H. Paul Rico, Stevie Flemmie, Frankie Salemme and so on. But this is far from the only scene carved into Bill Bennett's heart and soul. A third brother, William Bennett, was shot and. William OSullivan (1928-1971) OSullivan was a member of the Killeen Gang. , Larry Baione claimed that Walter Bennett had hired Frankie to take out Larry. Oral history is both the oldest type of historical inquiry, predating the written word, and one of the most modern, initiated with tape recorders in the 1940s and now using 21st-century digital technologies.When using oral history as a source material, several caveats exist. Wimpy disappeared in January and was thought to have been murdered by Stephen Flemmi and Cadillac Frank Salemme. The Irish mob has a stronger presence in Boston than any other city in America. A fifth accomplice shot another cop and fled the scene. With all those supposedly involved, you would expect someone to know where the bodies of Walter and Wimpy are buried. I know, you just found it. But a rural jail wasnt going to hold Wimpy. 1 rat. Joseph Joe Mac McDonald (1917-1997) Joe Mac was the best friend and partner in crime of James Buddy McLean and a mentor to Howie Winter. Bennett Brothers are one of Wilmington's source providers of marine dockage in deep brackish water at Cape Fear Marina. Decades later in the 1980s, Larry Baione claimed that Walter Bennett had hired Frankie to take out Larry. They copped to crimes that werent theirs either to build their street cred or cut themselves a better deal. Flemmis successful flight to avoid prosecution spared Rico, and the FBI the risk of the embarrassment and controversy that disclosure of Flemmis dual status as an FBI informant and an alleged murderer has recently entailed. Steven Boozang, an attorney for Salemme, said in a brief interview with the assembled media outside the Moakley Federal Courthouse that Flemmi was hoping to get out of his extensive prison sentence. The criminals werent the only ones in trouble. And it gets too ugly. On August 4, Wimpys car was found after three boys were arrested while breaking into a grocery store in Allston. Sweet was an associate of Walter Bennetts and a frequent visitor of Walters Lounge on Dudley St. near Uphams Corner in Dorchester. . Supposedly their plan was to kill him and then dump the body with Walter and Wimpy in Hopkinton. At Stuarts trial, an alleged associate of the Bennetts testified that they were paying Billy Stuart $50 a week, but the dates he gave were after both Walter and Wimpy had already disappeared. Walter ended his statement: You guys are on the right track.. Bennett Brothers Stone Company Business Management Mr. Greg Bennett, Manager Contact Information Principal Mr. Greg Bennett, Manager Customer Contact Mr. Gary Bennett, Owner Mr. Norman. In a brutal killing, Martorano actually ran over OToole with his car after walking out of a bar in Dorchester. After a tough street fighter named Tommy Sullivan put a public beating on Punchy McLaughlin in 1957, Hannon hunted down Sullivan and killed him. In October of 2001 former FBI SA Dennis Condon testified: Its also my understanding that Daddeico positively refused to testify against Flemmi, supposedly because he had a dislike for Salemme that he did not have for Flemmi, and refused to testify.. A young Whitey Bulger was part of Killeens crew, as was the feared hitman William OSullivan. But we will probably never know the truth. So their cooperation came naturally to them. He didnt get to that spot without some serious help though. He heeded the warning. He said he was from Mexico and left due to his brother. Or was someone else responsible for their demise? A taxi driver who was passing found Billy, and the assailants couldnt retrieve the body. He went by the name Bobo Petricone in Boston and was close friends with Buddy McLean and an ally of the original Winter Hill Gang. Oral history can also indicate lifestyle, dialect and terminology, and customs that may no longer be prominent. But they knew better. It was a sad year for the Bennett family and put a microscope on just how bad the war had gotten with some 60 men killed. That was one of dads lines, but hed say 4th grade. The Irish King Of Winter Hill is available on Amazon. Hannon was the most feared shooter on the McLaughlin side early on. Can you imagine? In an unexpected move, Barboza decided to testify against Patriarca and the Office after his friends were killed. that there was a tip that a hit had been ordered on Wimpy. Notorious killer Joe The Animal Barboza was the man who killed Connie, but he wasnt done with the Hughes brothers yet. The following day Wimpy met with a friend at 10:00 am and was supposed to sign a company payroll after that, but never showed up. MafiaHitters.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Pilgrims! Donald Killeen would be murdered in 1972. Frankie picked up Stevie and they drove to Revere Beach to meet Rico who had another FBI agent with him. If Flemmi had been prosecuted in 1969 for the Fitzgerald bombing or the William Bennett murder, his role as an FBI informant might have been disclosed, and its legal implications might have been examined, three decades ago. Speaking of Jack, next week were going to be talking about the botched heists of the late 1960s. Back to Frankies rabbi schtick. His first remark was Well what do you want to know about Diaferio? Referring to Sonny. After the cop shot at their car three times, they abandoned the car and took off on foot. His killer was Johnny Martorano. The Winter Hill Gang still operates today and McLean was their first boss. He cut a hole in the roof and off he went. Come on, said Susan of Bulgers homecoming, Whiteys still running the show here., Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), High school tournaments: Winchester stuns No. Bernie and his other brother Ed Punchy McLaughlin were furious at the response. It grew too many formations to ever say that the war has officially ended. But his son didnt report him officially missing until March. He would find out later that two of his gang members, Whitey Bulger and Stephen Flemmi had been informing on him. Murder indictments against Whitey Bulger underworld associate Stephen The Rifleman Flemmi claimed he killed the brothers in turf battle. He would be in his early 90s. and blamed him for having a role in at least 50 of the gangland murders of the 1960s saying that he manipulated people and instigated the hits in an effort to clear out the competition. All Whitey had to do was provide information about the Boston FBIs real target, the Italian mafia. Forty one years later, the Bennett sisters still dont know what happened to their father. McLean initially tried to peacefully resolve the issue until he found that the McLaughlins put a bomb under his family car. As usual, he was congenial and cooperative. was accused of funding one such operation along with Anthony Pino and Vincent Costa of Brinks Heist fame. It is the Irish gangsters like Whitey Bulger who dominated the headlines over the years. Sensing trouble, he grabbed his pistol and ran outside where he spotted two men by his family car. Both have dealt with health issues. His father had passed away the previous summer. Four days later, informant number BS-922-C stated that Stevie Flemmi and Frank Salemme had taken out Walter and Wimpy Bennett. It was hard enough finding the census! A taxi driver who was passing found Billy, and the assailants couldnt retrieve the body. The. Everyone and their mother had at some point in time. Stevie Flemmi - informant. Prosecutors say Salemme was concerned that DiSarro would cooperate with the government about his hidden interest in The Channel, DiSarros South Boston night club.