Empire of Sin (61 page)

35
one even struck her in the face …
 Mayann knocked into old Basin Canal per Armstrong,
Satchmo
, 26.

36
selling newspapers, running errands …
 Armstrong,
In His Own Words
, 9.

37
“I got to be a pretty slick player” …
 Armstrong,
Satchmo
, 25.

38
fearlessness, generosity, and respect …
 For his handling of neighborhood bullies, see Armstrong,
Satchmo
, 30.

39
“In those days …”
Armstrong,
Satchmo
, 11.

40
like a second family …
 For the relationship with the Karnofskys, see especially Armstrong,
In His Own Words
, 11ff.

41
he formed a vocal quartet …
 Singing for coins in Storyville per Armstrong,
Satchmo
, 32.

42
The trumpeter liked their sound …
 The Bunk Johnson incident is per Brothers,
Armstrong’s New Orleans
, 95.

43
“I got to like Louis a whole lot …”
This and following quotes are from Bechet,
Treat It Gentle
, 91–92.

44
“the Mafia moved in on Storyville” …
 For the Italians in Storyville, see Hersch,
Subversive Sounds
, 112; Boulard, “Blacks, Italians, and the Making of New Orleans Jazz,” 56; and Morris,
Wait Until Dark
, 91–92.

45
finding refuge in the bastion of the vice lords …
 Boulard, “Blacks, Italians, and the Making of New Orleans Jazz,” 63, has interesting perspectives on the friendship between black musicians and Italian underworld club owners.

46
regarded by police as the principal figure …
 For Genova as capo, see Dash,
First Family
, 165.

47
Paul Di Christina was now in charge …
 Much of the literature disagrees about who was actually in charge of the New Orleans Mafia at this time. See Chandler,
Brothers in Blood
, 97; Critchley,
Origin of Organized Crime;
and Kendall, “Blood on the Banquette.”

48
the Boss of Bosses traveled to New Orleans …
 For Morello’s trip, see the
New York Times
of April 3, 1910 and the
Washington Post
of April 26, 1914.

49
“Mafia death sign” …
 For Morello’s red handkerchief, see Dash,
First Family
, 166.

50
“Dear Friend …”
For the letter from Morello to Moreci, see Pitkin and Cordasco,
Black Hand
, 132–33. (I have altered some of the diction in the original letter for clarity’s sake.)

51
a native of Termini Imerese …
 For Moreci’s background, see the NODS of March 12, 1910; “banana-checker” as per the Police Homicide Report for Di Martini.

52
“an Italian of the better class” …
 as per the NODP of August 26, 1913.

53
But there was more to Moreci …
 A good roundup of the subsequent killings was in the NODS of May 15, 1921; see also Warner.

54
Moreci was walking down Poydras Street …
 For the assassination attempt on Moreci, see the NODS of March 12, 1910, and the NODI of March 13, 1910.

55
Di Christina was shot and killed …
 Details of the Di Christina killing are from the Police Homicide Report of the incident and the NOTD and NODI of April 14, 1910.

56
Giuseppe Di Martini was also fatally shot …
 For the Di Martini killing, see the Police Homicide Report and the NODP of June 7, 1910.

57
“I’m glad I killed him …”
Manzella shooting details per the NODI and NODS of July 13, 1910. (Josephine Manzella was quoted in the NODI article.)

58
a series of more mysterious murders …
 Crutti, Davi killings per the NODI of May 17, 1912.

59
at two A.M. on the morning of May 16 …
 Schiambra (sometimes spelled Sciambra) killing per the NODS of May 16, 1912, and the NODI of May 17, 1912.

60
“of the latest and most stylish shape” …
 The shoe quote is from the NODS of May 16, 1912.

61
“Good morning, Mrs. Tony …”
The two visitors to the Schiambra grocery per the NODS of May 16, 1912, and the NODP of May 17, 1912.

62
strangely uncooperative …
 Mrs. Schiambra’s attitude toward the DA per the NODI of May 17, 1912.

63
“The Italians of New Orleans …”
as per the NODI of May 19, 1912.

64
“Many theories have been advanced …”
as per the NODS of May 17, 1912.

65
two new laws …
 For the new restrictions in Storyville, see Levy, “Bards and Bawds,” 75–6.

66
prohibition against interracial concubinage
 … See Long,
Babylon
, 209.

67
“No subterfuges [would] be tolerated” …
 Smith’s campaign against Anderson’s ball per Leathem, “Carnival,” 227–29.

68
“Every lover of decency and morality …”
as per the NODP of March 6, 1911.

69
fleeing a potential murder charge in New York
 … For Gyp the Blood’s arrival in New Orleans, see the NODP of March 25, 1913.

70
early-morning hours of Easter Monday 1913 …
 The best account of the Tuxedo shootout is the contemporary newspaper accounts and the Police Homicide Reports for Phillips and Parker. See also Rose,
Storyville
, 68, and Charters, “Storyville,” 3.

71
began verbally abusing the Parkers …
 The argument between Parker and Phillips as per the NODP of March 25, 1913, and the NODS of March 24, 1913.

72
“Come on, give us a drink …”
and subsequent eyewitness quotes in this scene per the NODS of March 24, 1913.

73
no meaningful consensus on who shot whom
 … Conflicting testimony about the shooting melee (as described in later court testimony) per the NODPs of December 20, 1913, and January 14–17, 1914.

74
a black porter named Willie Henderson …
 Henderson wounded per Rose,
Storyville
, 68.

75
“As long as the operators of these resorts …”
is quoted in the NODP of March 25, 1913.

76
“You will at once take up all permits …”
is quoted in the NODS of March 24, 1913.

Chapter 14: Hard Times

  
1
a detrimental ripple effect …
 For the depressed climate in Storyville after the Tuxedo shooting, see especially Levy, “Bards and Bawds,” 84–5.

  
2
“New Orleans seems to have put the kibosh …”
as per the NODP of March 30, 1913.

  
3
an increased police presence …
 Levy, “Bards and Bawds,” 85

  
4
“It is passing strange …”
as per the NODP of March 30, 1913.

  
5
the number of prostitutes working …
700 prostitutes, 8 women at Mahogany Hall, etc., per Rose,
Storyville
, 71.

  
6
bands reduced the number of players in their rosters …
 per Levy, “Bards and Bawds,” 84.

  
7
jazzmen were forced to go back to their day jobs …
 Armstrong,
In His Own Words
, 25.

  
8
New Orleans caught the tango fever …
 For the rise of the Tango Belt, see Levy, “Bards and Bawds,” 85.

  
9
“daylight between the dancers …”
Leathem, “Carnival,” 223–24.

10
Violators were promptly arrested …
 See the NODI of December 10, 1914.

11
“had closed down the lid so tight …”
as per the NODI of March 4, 1915.

12
a new group called the Original Creole Band …
 Reorganization of Tuxedo band per Rose,
Storyville
, 69 and Gushee,
Pioneers
, 76.

13
touring the vaudeville circuit …
 Original Creole Band’s departure per Charters,
Trumpet Around the Corner
, 104–05.

14
spending much of his time on the road …
 Jelly Roll Morton on the road per Reich and Gaines,
Jelly’s Blues
, 55–56.

15
“Boy, listen to that music …”
Frisco and McDermott story as per Charters,
Trumpet Around the Corner
, 112–16 (other versions of the story exist).

16
the name “jass” or “jazz” …
 For the derivation of the term “jazz,” see especially Charters,
Trumpet Around the Corner,117
(who attributes it to L.A. sportswriters) and Lester, “New Negro of Jazz.”

17
“ballyhoo bands” …
 Jack Laine’s ballyhoo bands per Charters,
Trumpet Around the Corner
, 129.

18
“pointing his cornet skyward …”
Brunn,
Original Dixieland Jazz Band
, 43–44.

19
advised James to go hear LaRocca …
 Stein’s Dixie Jass Band story as per Charters,
Trumpet Around the Corner
, 130 (again, other versions exist).

20
a reshuffling of personnel …
 Bechet and Oliver replacing Keppard and Baquet per Chilton,
Bechet
, 19.