The Farmers of South Jersey
Exploring the Philadelphia Family's Cumberland County burial ground
“In the back seat was Gaetano Scafidi. He reached around and choked Cherico’s wife to death. … Informant states it is possible that [Angelo “Skutchie”] Cherico’s wife could have been buried in Rosenhayn, N.J., where the Doggie brothers and others have been buried.”
In 1964, Harry Riccobene revealed that in c. 1952, a man named “Cheech” was a Philadelphia Family Capodecina who controlled “a group in the Bridgeton-Vineland area of New Jersey.” Frank “Cheech” Barrale was born in Belmonte Mezzagno in 1882, immigrated in 1900 and was living in the farming area of Rosenhayn, Cumberland County by 1920. A census report from this year lists his occupation as farmer. He remained a resident of this area until his death in 1958. Barrale’s son-in-law’s Uncle, Bridgeton-based Joseph Scafidi, would succeed him as Capodecina.
In a 1961 report regarding Felix John DeTullio aka “Skinny Razor,” an informant stated in 1946 that, “the “Greaser Mob” had a graveyard near Vineland, N.J., which if located at least fifteen or twenty bodies could be exhumed…”Skinny Razor” was one of the killers of the gang who knew the location of this graveyard.” - *
Informant Rocco Scafidi (nephew of Capodecina Joseph Scafidi) stated in a 1964 file that the “Greaser Gang” burial grounds, Cumberland County, N.J., [are] located approximately two miles from the Parvin State Park on private property. Present occupant not known to source nor agents handling source. Present occupant did not occupy this farm at time of burials.”
In Salvatore Sabella’s FBI file, there is a partly redacted portion detailing a 1968 conversation between Angelo Bruno, Philip Testa and Joseph Scafidi where Scafidi starts to discuss a South Jersey burial ground.
AB: I don’t know about it. Phil (Philip Testa) don’t know about it. This was before our time. This was before we were made. REDACTED Isn’t that right Joe?
JS: I guess so. This all happened when John Avena was Boss.
REDACTED
AB: What we don’t know is better.
REDACTED
AB: How many people know about this thing?
Joseph Scafidi lists himself, Ignatius Denaro, Antonio Pollina, Peter Casella and Harry Riccobene as living LCN members who know of the graveyard. He also listed the following deceased members; John Avena, Mario Riccobene, Sam [Salvatore] Testa, John Capello Sr, Gaetano Scafidi, Sam Scafidi, Frank Barrale, Salvatore Sabella, Anthony Perella and Joseph Giammona (Giammona died in 1930 before Avena was Boss).
Further in the file, an informant (again, Rocco Scafidi), states he “was originally told about a farm in New Jersey being used to bury murder victims by Sam Scafidi (his brother)” and that “the farm was used when Sam [John] Avena was Boss” (1931-1936) and “continued to be used as a burial site at least through the 1940s.” Sam Scafidi also told Rocco that the “Doggie Brothers were buried on this farm and these brothers disappeared from Philadelphia in December, 1940.”
The Philadelphia Inquirer in January 1941 reported that a set of brothers went missing and were “possibly the victims of some unguessed underworld vendetta.” They were: John “Doggie” D’Alessandro, 37, Adolph “Amos” D’Alessandro, 23, and Albert D’Alessandro, 26. When questioned who was associated with John D’Allessandro, an informant (probably Harry Riccobene) stated, “all of us” and it that is was rumoured that “[Peter] Casella had been close to D’Allessandro as had Leonard Nicolletti.”
The three missing had two other brothers, Joseph, who as of 1941 was imprisoned, and Amodei. The most criminally decorated of them was John, who was convicted for narcotics, murder and suspected of felony. In 1939, he was close to being killed when he was shot in the cheek when driving through South Philadelphia. In the two months prior to the shooting, three local gangsters, Frank “Big Frank” Piccolo, Willie Lanzetti and Daniel “Danny Day” Del Giorno had also been killed in the same area. The D’Alessandro brothers were nephews of Murder Inc. member Frederick “The Angel” Tenuto, who was placed on the FBI’s Top Ten list in 1950 and was suspected of being killed via an order of Albert Anastasia.
By 1967, informants has clearly spilled enough, as a report from this year titled, “Philadelphia Family LCN Victims’ Burial Grounds, Rosenhayn, New Jersey,” informs that “Department Attorney MC Millan, Washington, DC advises Justice Dept. has approved affidavit for use in obtaining two search warrants to exhume bodies on target property. Target property is… located in Deerfield Township.” The report later states, “Newark and Philadelphia division are jointly planning execution for early A.M. Monday, November Thirteen next. FBI lab requested to forward available “D-Tex” metal detectors”. One final extract from the file reports that, “Atlanta Division interviewing Philadelphia Family LCN member [and future Underboss] Peter Casella, U.S. Penitentiary, Atlanta…. Casella prime suspect concerning murders and burial of victims in captioned matter.”
On Monday 13th of November 1967, the FBI began their excavation of a farm in Deerfield Township (on the edge of Rosenhayn) looking for the bodies of the D’Allessandro brothers. This was not the first FBI dig at a farm in New Jersey that year. Earlier in 1967, bodies were found at a farm in Jackson Township, Ocean County owned by Joseph Celso, an associate of Joseph Zicarelli.
When reporting on the FBI dig, South Jersey newspapers from 1967 gave information of the location of the burial ground as well as personnel involved. The farm that was excavated was located on Parvin Mill Road, in Deerfield Township. One newspaper article states one of the current occupants of the farm (as of 1967) lived in a building facing Garton Road. Another newspaper stated a neighbour’s farm on Richards Road backed onto the farm in question. A third mentions the farm being on the corner of Parvin Mill Road. Thanks to a post in the comments section, below, the farm can be placed at the corner of Parvin Mill Road and Richards Road, in Deerfield. Newspapers widely suggest the farm is the burial ground of three D’Allessandro brothers.
The dig lasted two days and involved fifteen agents, helpers, an earth mover and a device resembling a mine detector (probably the metal detector mentioned in the FBI report). Areas near a garage and a chicken coop were examined. One newspaper stated, “A neighbour [of the farm] reported that her children noticed “what appeared to be” a green automobile fender being pulled from the ground.” In 1964, Informant Rocco Scafidi stated with regards to the burial grounds in Rosenhayn, N.J., that “the Dogge [Doggie] brothers and their 1941 Buick are buried near the chicken coop at this location.” Official photographs were taken and “something” was taken to an FBI lab for examination.
It could be assumed Frank Barrale, the Rosenhayn Capodecina had previously owned the farm with the burial grounds, but newspaper articles reporting the dig reveal another name. Records of the Cumberland County Courthouse, according to newspaper articles, state the past owner of the farm, from 1927-1949, was a Filippo “Philip” Martorano/a. Martorano was born in 1885 in Belmonte Mezzagno, immigrated in 1909 heading for a brother-in-law (possibly cousin) Pietro Pizzo, in Philadelphia. Sometime after he returned home as he immigrated again to Philadelphia in 1914, this time with his brother Giuseppe, heading for an Uncle, Vincenzo.
By 1922, Martorano was living on Catherine Street, Philadelphia, less than one mile from Belmontese members/future members Salvatore Casella and his son Peter. His wife Giuseppina Buttacavoli had by now joined him. Martorano’s Father was Nicolo, whilst his mother was Agostina Traina, a Belmontense name of LCN significance. No direct link can be made between Martorano’s mother and Giuseppe Traina or, from his father to Philadelphia member Ignazio “Raymond,” “Long John” Martorano who also had Belmontese heritage. Philip Martorano’s maternal Grandmother was a Barrale.
By 1925, Martorano was living at 807 South Hutchinson Street, Philadelphia as was his brother Giuseppe, who’s Mother-in-law was Antonina Scafidi, sister of members Joseph and Gaetano.
Circa 1927, Martorano moved to South Jersey and owned the previously mentioned farm on Parvin Mill Road, Deerfield Township. A 1940 census lists his occupation as Farmer. Also residing on Parvin Mill Road were his brother Joseph, Marco “Mike” Scafidi (brother of Joseph and Gaetano- all three started American residency in Philadelphia, with Gaetano remaining) and Gaspar and Joseph Sparacio, Uncles of future Philadelphia Capodecina Salvatore Sparacio (Salvatore and his family were residing in Camden at this time).
In 1967 newspaper reports, an ex-neighbour of Philip Martorano describes him as “a fine man and a very good neighbor.” In 1942 Philip’s brother Giuseppe took his own life. By 1950, Philip Martorano was back residing in Philadelphia. He died there, in 1954.
A 1968 extract from Salvatore Sabella’s FBI file, states that an informant (Rocco Scafidi) believes “the grave site of the Doggie Brothers and the other unknown victims was on the property owned by REDACTED because when Sam Scafidi originally told the source about the farm, it was during a conversation in which the informant was told that the Doggie Brothers were buried on this farm, and informant was also told that he could live on this farm “free” just to keep curious people away from the property so that they would not find what was buried there.”
However, Scafidi goes on to say, “If it was not REDACTED then it would have been one of the adjoining farms owned by REDACTED or the farm across the street owned by Mike Scafidi, Joseph Scafidi’s son [not a son, but a brother, another farmer]. The graves are within these three farms and more likely on the farm previously owned by REDACTED. If this wasn’t true, then Joseph Scafidi would not have been highly upset at the time the FBI was digging on the REDACTED [and] upset to the extent that he needed medical attention…and would not be upset now just reading in the paper that there was going to be a Federal Grand Jury empaneled and one of the things they would investigate was the FBI’s digging on the farm in Rosenhayn, N.J.”
Rocco Scafidi leans towards the burial ground being at the farm where the FBI had recently completed a dig. However, as the owners of the Farm only had five acres of the 45 previously owned by Philip Martorano, there is a chance bodies may have been buried in one of the adjoining farms and were never discovered.
A year after the dig, an informant (probably Harry Riccobene) said that… “He was told that the FBI had, indeed found what they were looking for. He was also told that there would probably be an FGJ in regard to this FBI investigation.”
Whatever was excavated at the 1967 dig, there are enough reports to suggest more was missed than was found.
Notes:
Higher definition photo of farmhouse can be found here
* Quote regarding Felix DeTullio and “a graveyard near Vineland” was from Joseph D’Allessandro, Miami, Florida. He is almost certainly one of the two surviving D’Allessandro brothers
I took no offense to the article. It’s actually great to see our town in your article. I found it fascinating to be honest and factual. Times were different back then and the history of Sicily warrants why LCN was created as Sicily was a territory that was under constant attack. It was a society created to protect themselves not only in Sicily but here in the US. I commend the article and appreciate you bringing this to light. I look forward for more articles to come.
Very interesting read. Being born and raised in Rosenhayn, 70% of my ancestors immigrated from Belmonte. 30% from very close towns near Belmonte. My brother and I still carry 100% lineage from Sicily. I remember my grandfather telling me story’s of many cars with bodies being buried on various farms in Rosenhayn. A shared amount from Philadelphia and New York City. I’ve actually come across a buried car close to 20 years ago. A new construction was underway and the contractor actually unearthed a car that appeared to be from the 30’s or 40’s. Interesting as I am related to some of the people in the family tree. Belmonte has somewhat of a dark past but the majority of the people were good, God fearing, hardworking family oriented people. Rosenhayn was little Belmonte with most of the town being from Belmonte. Very interesting article but please know that most of the family’s from Belmonte are good honest people and many folks became very successful business people. I still live in Rosenhayn today, I’m very proud of my town and its heritage.