Rosario Dispenza
Rosario Dispenza was an Italian-born American mobster. He was head of the Sicilian mafia in the Near North Side neighborhood of Chicago from 1909 to 1914.[1]
Born circa 1870 in Ciminna, Italy, Dispenza immigrated to the United States in 1899 on board the SS Aller.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". He was a contact of the Morello crime family and known associate of Anthony D'Andrea.[2][3]
Alongside his business partner Anthony Puccio, Dispenza co-owned the Banca Siciliana, a bank on Milton Avenue, and a saloon on the intersection of Milton Avenue and Hobbie Street.[4] This area was colloquially referred to as the "Black Hand Belt" or "Death Corner".[5] In 1908, Dispenza was fined $100 for allowing patrons to gamble for drinks.[6]
On January 22, 1914, hours after Puccio was murdered outside of the saloon, Dispenza was shot and killed. Although police did not arrive in time to apprehend the assailant, a search of the area revealed two sawed-off shotguns in a neighboring alley. Police suspected that the killings may have been related to the murder of Charles Catalino, which had occurred a week prior.[7]
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