Philip Testa

Philip Testa
Philip Testa
	1956 Philadelphia Police Department mugshot of Philip Testa
Born	Philip Charles Testa; April 21, 1924; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	March 15, 1981 (aged 56); Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Cause of death	Bombing
Resting place	Holy Cross Cemetery, Yeadon, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Other names	"The Chicken Man", "The Julius Caesar of the Philadelphia Mob", "Philly"
Occupation	Crime boss
Spouse(s)	Alfia Arcidiacono
Children	Salvatore and Maria
Allegiance	Philadelphia crime family

Philip Charles Testa (April 21, 1924 – March 15, 1981), also known as "The Chicken Man", was an American mobster known for his brief leadership of the Philadelphia crime family. He became boss after Angelo Bruno was murdered by his own consigliere, Antonio Caponigro, who, in turn, was ordered killed by The Commission for acting 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 allegedly ordered by his underboss, Peter Casella.

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. His son 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. Scarfo seized the top position for himself, promoting his nephew Phil Leonetti as his underboss and 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]

In popular culture

Testa's violent death is referenced in the opening of musician Bruce Springsteen's song "Atlantic City" from his 1982 album Nebraska; "Well they blew up the Chicken Man in Philly last night/And they blew up his house too."

References

Upi (1984-09-21). "Salvatore Testa, Buried; Reputed to Be Crime Leader". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-04-15.
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.
"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.
"Mob Violence Is Personal For Narducci's Sons". Philly.com. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
"The Mafia Prince Next Door". Huffington Post. New York City: Huffington Post Media Group. December 11, 2016. Retrieved March 10, 2016.

External links

Philip "Chickenman" Testa at Find A Grave

American Mafia
Preceded by Angelo Bruno	Philadelphia crime family Boss 1980–1981	Succeeded by Nicodemo Scarfo

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[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: Huffington Post Media Group. December 11, 2016. Retrieved March 10, 2016.