Rocco perri project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. The rabbi did not read from the hebrew book standing ready on the lectern. Besha bessie tobin former name born starkman, 1889 1930 besha tobin former name born starkman. Dean jobb, author of empire of deceptiona rich and fascinating history of canadas first celebrity mobster, rocco perri king of the bootleggersand the man who pursued him, canadas first undercover mountie, for readers of erik larson, dean jobb. Acting potent, story lacking the london free press. How the spectator reported the disappearance of rocco perri.
A poor immigrant, perri along with his commonlaw wife, bessie starkman, built an unequalled crime empire for. Bessie starkman 18891930 was one of the most notorious crime bosses in 1920s canada. But it was a dull life running a boarding house and she dreamed of excitement, money and fame. So great was his celebrity following the murder of his first wife and business partner, bessie starkman, a crowd of 30,000 thronged in the streets of hamilton for her funeral. He was one of the most prominent calabrian mafiosi bosses in canadian history, and the spouse of besha starkman also known as bessie perri.
The first is that the book s author, antonio nicaso, is widely regarded as canadas leading expert in both the past and present of this countrys organized crime racket. Records may include photos, original documents, family history, relatives, specific dates, locations and full names. Perri s partner in crime, bessie starkman, known also as besha starkman, bessie stark, bessie perri, and more. Perri was feared by his enemies and loved by the press, who featured him regularly in splashy frontpage headlines in the toronto star. Bessie perri came to the attention of the police in march 1917, when she was charged under the name rose cyceno with keeping a disorderly house. Rocco started out in the mob neighborhoods of hamilton, ontario and. Rocco perri was called canadas king of the bootleggers and canadas al capone. Bessie starkman was born circa 1892, at birth place, to henry starkman and ida starkman. Her name was bessie perri, alias starkman, the acknowledged financial genius behind her husband rocco s criminal empire, which in 1930 controlled most bootlegging, gambling, and drug smuggling in southern ontario and beyond. Prohibition and rum running on lake erie the lake erie quadrangle shipwreck series, book 4 erie.
This is an excellent, well researched nonfiction account of bessie perri starkman and her pseudohusband rocco perri, who were canadas premier suppliers of liquor both to america and in canada. Mob women the rise and fall of hamiltons own bessie. Even today his name is well known to historians, police and organized crime and especially to the people of the city he called home hamilton, ontario. Rocco perri was an immigrant from plati, calabria, italy, who came to canada in 1908 and eventually became known as the king of the bootleggers during canadas prohibition era. Bessie starkman, built an unequalled crime empire for the time. With her commonlaw spouse, mobster rocco perri, she ran a bootlegging and drugsmuggling enterprise. During the prohibition era she became known as canadas first highprofile female crime boss. The winter before coming to guelph perri had boarded in toronto with bessie starkman and her husband harry tobin. If rocco was the king of bootlegging, bessie was the obvious queen. Download rocco perri or read online books in pdf, epub, tuebl, and mobi format. The story of canadas most notorious bootlegger by antonio nicaso 20050826. With pageturning suspense, this gritty book looks at the brains behind canadian bootlegging and how her cutthroat ways forever changed the landscape.
Immigrants bessie starkman and rocco perri shes jewish, hes italian meet, and she soon leaves her husband and daughters for a life of rumrunning, murder and bootlegging. Beckie starkman, annie starkman and 3 other siblings. The remarkable true story of canadas most infamous bootlegger and the undercover mountie on his trail is a book written by trevor cole. Even today his name is well known to historians, police and organized crimeand especially to the people of the city he called homehamilton, ontario. King of the bootleggers rocco perri the whisky king. Perri was the head of the calabrian mob in southern ontario and his righthand person, was his commonlaw wife, bessie starkman, the only jewish woman in history to command an italian mob. The second reason is that rocco perris life, from humble beginnings in. Very quickly perri and his commonlaw wife bessie starkman, who handled the finance side of the business, started bootlegging out of their. Historical records and family trees related to bessie perri. Heres to hoping someone in hollywood does a biopic about this fascinating woman.
In 1912 an italian immigrant named rocco perri rented a room in their home. Their lives have been captured in author trevor coles book, the whiskey. I think its clear rocco would not have been nearly as successful as he was without bessie and annie, cole said. The first is that the books author, antonio nicaso, is widely regarded as canadas. From the first viking setting foot on what is now canadian soil through to wwii this book brings to life major events from the history of the dominion. A poor immigrant, perri along with his commonlaw wife, bessie starkman, built an unequalled crime empire for the time. In an interview with the cjn ahead of his presentation, cole said that while theres room for some debate over the claims that starkman and newman were the brains behind perri s gang, its clear that they brought skills to the crime world that perri lacked. Bessie starkman historical records and family trees. Bessie starkman had a good life, a good husband and two young daughters. Rocco perri born 30 december 1887 last seen alive 23 april 1944 was an organized crime figure in ontario, canada in the early 20th century. Perri called everything from king of the mob to canadas al capone.
Perri was feared by his enemies and loved by the press. Perri is the head of the calabrian mob in southern ontario and his righthand person, is his commonlaw wife, bessie starkman, the only jewish woman in history to command an italian mob. So great was his celebrity, following the murder of his first wife and business partner, bessie starkman, a crowd of 30,000 thronged in the. The story of canada is the very definition of a living book. King of the mob rocco perri and the women who ran his. A poor immigrant, perri along with his commonlaw wife, bessie starkman, built an unequalled crime empire. Besha bessie starkman perri, organized crime boss born 14 april 1889 or 21 june 1890 in poland. Starkman, besha bessie tobin also known as bessie stark, bessie perri perry, and rose cyceno, organized crime boss.
Hamiltons rocco perri became the king of the bootleggers during. Stories are told in a variety of forms, including plays, diaries, letters and more, ensuring that every story comes to life leaving a lasting impression in the. Perri was jailed from early november 1912 until the trial in april 19. Seventyfive years ago, notorious bootlegger rocco perri. Rocco perri was an italianborn organized crime figure in ontario, canada in the early 20th century. King of the mob rocco perri and the women who ran his rackets. Robin rowland and james dubros king of the mob, which was published in 1988, was the first booklength treatment of rocco perris rise to power in postworld war one canada, his carefully crafted alliances with italian crime families in both canada and the u. The whisky king the ohio digital library overdrive. The coffin is sealed with cement to discourage grave robbers. The story of canadas most notorious bootlegger by antonio nicaso 20050826 antonio nicaso on. During the prohibition years, perri provided alcohol to a thirsty clientele in canada and the united states a business that was very illegal and highly lucrative. Perri was feared by his enemies and loved by the press, who featured him regularly in splashy frontpage headlines.
Hamiltons boardwalk empire the canadian jewish news. Rocco perri came to canada almost a century ago from calabria, italy. Perri is the head of the calabrian mob in southern ontario and his righthand person, is his commonlaw wife, bessie starkman, the only jewish woman in. He is frequently cited as the most successful bootlegger of canada, however, for one important reason. Bessie besha starkman, a jewish immigrant from poland, married baker.
Seventyfive years ago, on april 23, 1944, franks greatuncle, the notorious prohibitionera rum runner rocco perri, said he had a headache and took two pills with his coffee. Bootlegger rocco perri was devastated over the murder of his lover, and partner in crime, bessie starkman. With the 1916 ontario temperance act, and the advent of american prohibition after 1920, she and her commonlaw husband rocco perri exported liquor throughout the provinces and into the united states, establishing the perri mob as preeminent in the world of. Rocco then returned to toronto to get bessie, since he reappeared with her in st. He was one of the most prominent prohibitionera crime figures in canada, and the spouse of bessie starkman. It took over two hours to stage her strange funeral this blazing sunday afternoon. Bessie saw advantages and business opportunities that rocco might. The second reason is that rocco perri s life, from humble beginnings in calabria, italy, to his rise in hamilton, ontario, as one of north americas leading mobsters. Rocco perri, called canadas king of the bootleggers and canadas al capone, is introduced in season of murdoch mysteries, portrayed by stefano dimatteo. World heritage encyclopedia, the aggregation of the largest online encyclopedias available, and the most definitive.
1623 633 660 1120 1544 1569 325 668 765 400 1295 310 83 1201 1346 1279 1250 1500 1466 1060 1206 302 843 1360 930 966 1293 1143 382 396 1051