Post by Michael on Jun 17, 2016 11:53:46 GMT -5
Placed in the Archives by Admin For feathers
[Originally Created on June 15, 2016]
Milton Gaglio
I am not of the belief that Milton Gaglio had anything to do with the kidnapping or ransom, but he has a more interesting history than it first appears.
His full name was Pellegrino (“Pell”) Milton Gaglio. He was born in New York City on May 3, 1907, to Salvatore Gaglio and Francesca Friscia, both born in Sicily.
Salvatore had a good reputation as a designer of women’s dresses and was a well-to-do clothing manufacturer, a partner in the firm of Brown & Gaglio. With his partners, Joseph Brown and Adolf Ruff, he ran a factory producing women’s skirts on 6th Avenue.
In August 1915, Salvatore became quite ill and eventually was paralysed. On September 29, the doctor informed Frances that he could not last a week.
On September 30, 1915, Salvatore was beaten to death in his home. Frances blamed two mysterious men, and claimed that Salvatore was a member of two or three “secret societies.” Frances also claimed that Salvatore had received Black Hand letters about two years prior to his death, but that he had turned them over to the police and the threats had stopped within six months.
However, Frances was arrested for the crime, the motive apparently being that Salvatore was going to change the beneficiary of his insurance policy from the family to the partnership.
Also arrested as a material witness was Ignacio Friscia, described as a cousin to both Salvatore and Frances. In the 1910 US census, Ignacio had been listed as living with the Gaglios, but he was not there in the 1915 NY census.
Pellegrino/Milton was sent temporarily sent to the Children’s Society. The newspapers do not say what happened to his little brother Leonard.
Frances was soon released on bail and the children returned to her. Eventually the charges were dropped for lack of evidence in April 1917. So Milton had a pretty rough childhood with his mother being suspected of murdering his father.
In the 1920 US census, the family lived at 651 183rd Street. Frances’ brother Americo Friscia (b.1898) lived with the family.
In the 1925 NY census, the family lived at 2079 Cedar Avenue. Ignatius Firsha (born 1896) lived with the family. He was described as a tailor and Frances’ nephew.
On December 16, 1925, Frances married Ignatius Fuscia, probably the same cousin mentioned above.
In 1927, Milton incorporated the Jerome Bottle Co., Inc., and made himself president of the company. I have to say I am somewhat suspicious of someone who sets up a bottle company during the middle of Prohibition.
In the 1930 US census, Milton was still living with his mother Francis and stepfather Ignatius Friscia at 2865 University. The census recorded Milton with the surname Friscia. Milton was the owner of a bottle company and Ignatius was a tailor.
In July 1932, Milton was sued by his uncle, Americo Friscia, for unpaid invoices and loans in the amount of $8400. He claimed that the loans had been made not to him but to his company, the Jerome Bottle Company. He also claimed that the Company had given Friscia stock in the company in exchange for the money, although he later admitted that the stock was given to Milton’s mother, supposedly at Americo’s request. Milton lost the case.
None of that materially clarifies any aspect of the kidnapping, except to observe that in 1932, Milton Gaglio found himself short of cash.
Michael, it is funny that you refer to the “Used Car Salesman” ability, as Gaglio is listed in the 1940 census as a dealer in automobiles.
Contact: lindberghkidnap.proboards.com/user/387