|
The Catalanotte Gang formed in 1919 following the elimination of Sam Gianolla effectively destroying what for the previous 3 years had been the most dominate Italian fuedist group in the motor city. Gianolla's death on October 2 preceeded by his brother Tony 9 months earlier left Salvatore Catalanotte as the most respected surviving member of the Gianolla Lieutenants. Catalanotte was known as a fair and practical man whoose keen business sense would make many millionaires out of his associates. Catalanotte restored peace to the Detroit's Italian colony for 10 years before dying on his 36th birthday after a brief bout with pnuemonia.
Sam was replaced by his younger brother Joe with assistance from another another brother Jimmy. Catalanotte's walked a tight rope keeping a working relationship with the Eastside gang and Angelo Meli while forming an alliance with Chester LaMare and Joe Tocco the notorious downriver beer baron. So close were the ties to Tocco and LaMare that several men known to be Catalanotte confidants were arrested in a raid on the home of Joe Catalanotte's Grosse Pointe home in July of 1930 Joe Locano". Some of those detained would be charged in later years with the murder of the Catalanotte's allie LaMare in his Grosse Pointe home. |
