Philip Testa

Philip Charles Testa (April 21, 1924 – March 15, 1981), also known as "The Chicken Man", was an Italian-American mobster known for his brief leadership of the Philadelphia crime family of the Italian-American Mafia. He became boss of the Philadelphia crime family after the previous boss and his close friend, Angelo Bruno, was murdered by Bruno’s own consigliere, Antonio Caponigro, who, in turn, was ordered killed by The Commission for murdering a boss without permission. Testa's nickname came from his involvement in a poultry business. About a year after Bruno's death, Testa was killed by the blast of a nail bomb at his home in South Philadelphia. The assassination was allegedly ordered by Testa’s own underboss, Peter Casella, as part of the first Philadelphia Mafia War.

Philip Testa
Testa's 1956 PPD mugshot
Born
Philip Charles Testa

(1924-04-21)April 21, 1924
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedMarch 15, 1981(1981-03-15) (aged 56)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Cause of deathBombing
Resting placeHoly Cross Cemetery, Yeadon, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Other names"The Chicken Man", "The Julius Caesar of the Philadelphia Mob", "Philly"
OccupationCrime boss
SpouseAlfia Arcidiacono
ChildrenSalvatore and Maria
AllegiancePhiladelphia crime family

Early life

Testa was born to Sicilian immigrants in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and lived in South Philadelphia with his family in his teenage years. In South Philadelphia he met and befriended future mob boss Angelo Bruno. He later married Alfia Arcidiacono (records show her family owned a farm in Salem County, New Jersey). In early police dossiers on Testa, he was identified by law enforcement as not having a legitimate source of income and was solely dependent from winnings as a "common gambler."

Testa and his wife had a son who also became involved in organized crime, Salvatore Testa, and was killed three years after his father.[1]

In 1970, Testa became underboss of Angelo Bruno. When Bruno was murdered in 1980, Testa became boss, appointing Nicodemo Scarfo as consigliere.

Death and aftermath
Testa's home at 2117 Porter St, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he was assassinated on March 15, 1981

One month before Testa was murdered, he, Frank Narducci Sr., Harold and Mario Riccobene, Pasquale Spirito, Joseph Ciancaglini, and several associates were indicted in a federal racketeering case that centered on gambling and loansharking operations run by the mob. The case was based on an investigation called Operation Gangplank and was one of the first built on the RICO Act by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Philadelphia. On March 15, 1981, Testa returned to his home in South Philadelphia that was across the street from Stephen Girard Park. As he was opening the door to his twin home at 2117 Porter Street, a nail bomb exploded under his front porch.[2] His death was allegedly ordered by his underboss and drug trafficker Peter Casella and capo Frank Narducci Sr., which later resulted in Narducci being gunned down and Casella being banished from the Mob and fleeing to Florida.

Testa's murder sparked a war within the family. Nicodemo Scarfo seized the top position for himself, promoting his long time friend Chuckie Merlino as his underboss and Testa loyalist Frank Monte as his consigliere.[3][4] Scarfo would go on to lead the family for a decade with a bloody rampage, fueled by paranoia and aggression.[5]

Testa's violent death is referenced in the opening lines of musician Bruce Springsteen's song "Atlantic City".[6] He was portrayed by Larry Romano in the film The Irishman.[7]

See also

References
  1. Upi (1984-09-21). "Salvatore Testa, Buried; Reputed to Be Crime Leader". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-04-15.
  2. Capuzzo, Michael (2010). The Murder Room: The Heirs of Sherlock Holmes Gather to Solve the World's Most Perplexing Cold Cases. New York City: Gotham Books. p. 189. ISBN 978-1592401420.
  3. "This Mob Shot Its Brains Out Crime boss Ralph Natale, in rare testimony against his own, tells a tale of murder--and ineptitude". The Los Angeles Times. Tribune Media Services. May 4, 2001. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  4. "Mob Violence Is Personal For Narducci's Sons". Philly.com. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  5. "The Mafia Prince Next Door". Huffington Post. New York City. December 11, 2016. Retrieved March 10, 2016.
  6. Beviglia, Jim (2014). Counting Down Bruce Springsteen: His 100 Finest Songs. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 161. ISBN 978-1-4422-3066-8. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  7. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1302006/fullcredits

Further reading
  • Anastasia, George (2004). Blood and Honor: Inside the Scarfo Mob - The Mafia's Most Violent Family. ISBN 0940159864.
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