Boston Gang Wars- Murdered by the McLaughlins: Russell Nicholson

In early November 1961, Russell Nicholson, a Metropolitan District Commission police officer, was suspended and later dismissed from that police force for “being in the company of persons of ill repute, with whom he admitted having been friendly.” The persons of ill repute were Buddy McLean and Alexander Petricone. Rumor had it that he drove …

Boston Gang Wars-Loan Sharks and Bookies: Fiore DeChristoforo

The last murder in this group is that of Fiore DeChristoforo. He lived in Somerville but owned a variety store in the North End. In the early morning of his murder around 5:15 a.m. after a long night, De Christoforo left the Coliseum Restaurant. He and some other patrons had been let out by Joseph …

Boston Gang Wars-Loan Sharks and Bookies: Edward Rothstein

EDWARD ROTHSTEIN, 41                                                 April 5, 1960 Edward Rothstein’s body was found “stuffed in a trunk” in Merrimac, MA a town on the border of New Hampshire and not too far away from where the body of Goldstein was found in East Kingston, NH. The similarity of the locations is probably more coincidental than otherwise. There …

Boston Gang Wars- Mafia Murders: Loan Sharks and Bookies

While the identity of the culprits behind these murders that follow is difficult to ascertain, the beneficiaries are not. It was the North End Mafia. The following group of murders occur during the time where the control of the North End criminal element was shifting from the old timers into the hands of the new …