*LARGE LOT OF EPHEMERA RELATING TO THE GANGSTERS THOMAS “YONNI” LICAVOLI AND FRANK CAMMARATA INCLUDING TWO COLT HANDGUNS.

*LARGE LOT OF EPHEMERA RELATING TO THE GANGSTERS THOMAS “YONNI” LICAVOLI AND FRANK CAMMARATA INCLUDING TWO COLT HANDGUNS. 1) Colt Model 1911 Semi-Auto Military Pistol. Cal. 45 ACP. SN 488365. Standard government model issue 1911 completely original in all respects with checkered walnut diamond grips. 2) Colt New Model Army & Navy DA Revolver. Cal. 38 Colt. SN 3530. Early Colt DA with 6″ bbl and last patent date March 5, 95. Mounted with smooth walnut grips. The sling swivel stud and any markings have been removed from butt strap. These two handguns were confiscated from Licavoli & Cammarata when they were arrested for illegal possession of handguns in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Cammarata was Licavoli’s brother-in-law and both were members of the Detroit “Purple Gang”. These two criminals began their career in the St. Louis area with Licavoli coming from Sicily as a child and settling in St. Louis and Cammarata came to America illegally just after WWI and wound up in St. Louis. They were members of the “Hammerhead” gang as young men that evolved from simple muggins & robbery into bank robbery and other more serious crimes. In the mid 1920’s Licavoli & Cammarata left St. Louis for Detroit to get into the rum running business which was, at that time in Detroit, controlled by the Purple Gang, which had been organized in that area around 1918. On Sept. 8, 1927 Licavoli & Cammarata had just returned from a trip to St. Louis and had crossed into Windsor, Ontario when a call came to the Ontario Provincial Police Headquarters that a party at a roadhouse was very disorderly and roughing the place up and that some of the men were armed. Constable Rowe and Constable Oliver went to the roadhouse only to learn that the party had left. They obtained a description of their vehicle and after searching Windsor found the car at the Prince Edward Hotel in Windosr. They obtained the services of two Windsor detectives, McNab & Campbell and simultaneously forcibly entered the two hotel rooms occupied by the two men. Licavoli had the 1911, fully loaded, under his pillow and Cammarata, although unarmed at that moment, was found to have the loaded revolver in his car. For this offense both were sentenced to three years in prison. Upon their release Cammarata was picked up by police and returned to Detroit where he was convicted of bank robbery and sentenced to 15-30 years in prison. While he was in jail things had heated up in Detroit so Licavoli, with a brother & a cousin, headed to Toledo, Ohio where they became the leaders of a very serious and notorious criminal gang. Licavoli organized a gang of forty or so like-minded criminals who tried to take over the liquor and numbers racket in the Toledo area, in the process killing several competitors along with some innocent bystanders. On July 7, 1933 Licavoli’s gang killed Jackie Kennedy, the leader of the rival gang which was the beginning of the end for the Licavoli gang. Several members of the Licavoli gang were arrested and tried for first degree murder including Licavoli himself and in 1934 he was sentenced to life imprisonment. In 1936, after six years in prison, Cammarata was released and ordered to be deported but before the deportation order could be executed he ran away to Cuba. In 1958, Cammarata was arrested by the Cubans for illegally entering the country and in 1959, when Castro came to power, he released him. However, in 1960 Castro changed his mind and decided to deport him. At that time Cammarata was operating a bar in Havana and suddenly disappeared. Cuban officials searched for him and decided that he had left the country, only to learn in 1965 that he had not and had just then died from a heart attack. Licavoli, while in prison, was leading the life of luxury such as one could in prison, with special foods and privileges, entertaining unauthorized guests and making phone calls. In the early 1940’s it was learned that Licavoli had copyrighted 35 songs from behind bars and that some of them had reached the top of the charts. A few of his famous songs were “Alone With My Tears”, “When I Come Home Again”, “I’m Sticking Around”, “I’ll Be With You in the Spring”, with his two biggest hits being “Olga from the Volga” and the immensely popular “Anything Goes”. All the time Licavoli, his family & minions, were continuously trying to get his sentence commuted, a pardon, or anything to get him released. Finally after 37 years in jail, on Jan. 6, 1972, he was paroled. After his parole he opened a shop for rare stamps, coins & antiques, an interest he had developed while in prison. He died at age 70 in 1973 and is buried in Detroit. These handguns were the property of two young men who became notorious through the roaring 20’s and into the prohibition era of the 1930’s and, although never convicted, were suspected of and investigated for killing numerous rivals throughout their career. After these two handguns were confiscated by the Ontario Provincial Police they became the property of the Attorney General’s Office of Ontario Province and much later were given to Mr. William B. Common, QC, who was at that time a member of the Attorney General’s Office. He kept them in his collection for a number of years before selling them to Keith M. Hunter of Orangeville, Ontario, Canada. Mr. Hunter compiled this large volume of information about Licavoli & Cammarata including innumerable newspaper articles, copies of official documents, magazine articles and photographs, even an article from the May 2, 1969 Life magazine in preparation for writing a book. Mr. Common furnished a signed receipt for these two handguns, identified by serial number. Also included is a 5-page letter from Inspector Sidney Oliver (retired) who led the raid that captured Licavoli & Cammarata. There are even numerous authentic photographs of the Purple Gang, most of whom are identified. There are also photographs of labor agitators from 1939, one of which includes James Hoffa. Included also is a photograph of the crew of a schooner suspected of rum running which was sunk in the Gulf of Mexico, a photograph of policeman arresting an agitator and of two women in 1930’s clothing entitled “Knockout Drops”. Includes orig signed letter from FBI Director J.Edgar Hoover on Agency letterhead. PROVENANCE: William B. Common, QC; Keith M. Hunter. CONDITION: 1) Colt 1911. Good to very good. Overall retains a silver/brown patina with blue in sheltered areas showing lots of handling & use. Grips show heavy wear with several chipped diamonds. Mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore. 2) Colt DA Revolver. Good to very good. Overall retains a silver brown patina with blue in sheltered areas. Grips show hard wear with a chip in the left side. Mechanics are crisp, strong bright bore with a couple of spots of pitting. Ephemera is all fine with some of the copies of old official documents beginning to fade and are nearly illegible, otherwise all material is very fine. 4-37651 JR341 (10,000-15,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2009

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	1258	$11,155.00	LARGE LOT OF EPHEMERA RELATING TO THE GANGSTERS THOMAS “YONNI” LICAVOLI AND FRANK CAMMARATA INCLUDING TWO COLT HANDGUNS. 1) Colt Model 1911 Semi-Auto Military Pistol. Cal. 45 ACP. SN 488365. Standard government model issue 1911 completely original in all respects with checkered walnut diamond grips. 2) Colt New Model Army & Navy DA Revolver. Cal. 38 Colt. SN 3530. Early Colt DA with 6″ bbl and last patent date March 5, 95. Mounted with smooth walnut grips. The sling swivel stud and any markings have been removed from butt strap. These two handguns were confiscated from Licavoli & Cammarata when they were arrested for illegal possession of handguns in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Cammarata was Licavoli’s brother-in-law and both were members of the Detroit “Purple Gang”. These two criminals began their career in the St. Louis area with Licavoli coming from Sicily as a child and settling in St. Louis and Cammarata came to America illegally just after WWI and wound up in St. Louis. They were members of the “Hammerhead” gang as young men that evolved from simple muggins & robbery into bank robbery and other more serious crimes. In the mid 1920’s Licavoli & Cammarata left St. Louis for Detroit to get into the rum running business which was, at that time in Detroit, controlled by the Purple Gang, which had been organized in that area around 1918. On Sept. 8, 1927 Licavoli & Cammarata had just returned from a trip to St. Louis and had crossed into Windsor, Ontario when a call came to the Ontario Provincial Police Headquarters that a party at a roadhouse was very disorderly and roughing the place up and that some of the men were armed. Constable Rowe and Constable Oliver went to the roadhouse only to learn that the party had left. They obtained a description of their vehicle and after searching Windsor found the car at the Prince Edward Hotel in Windosr. They obtained the services of two Windsor detectives, McNab & Campbell and simultaneously forcibly entered the two hotel rooms occupied by the two men. Licavoli had the 1911, fully loaded, under his pillow and Cammarata, although unarmed at that moment, was found to have the loaded revolver in his car. For this offense both were sentenced to three years in prison. Upon their release Cammarata was picked up by police and returned to Detroit where he was convicted of bank robbery and sentenced to 15-30 years in prison. While he was in jail things had heated up in Detroit so Licavoli, with a brother & a cousin, headed to Toledo, Ohio where they became the leaders of a very serious and notorious criminal gang. Licavoli organized a gang of forty or so like-minded criminals who tried to take over the liquor and numbers racket in the Toledo area, in the process killing several competitors along with some innocent bystanders. On July 7, 1933 Licavoli’s gang killed Jackie Kennedy, the leader of the rival gang which was the beginning of the end for the Licavoli gang. Several members of the Licavoli gang were arrested and tried for first degree murder including Licavoli himself and in 1934 he was sentenced to life imprisonment. In 1936, after six years in prison, Cammarata was released and ordered to be deported but before the deportation order could be executed he ran away to Cuba. In 1958, Cammarata was arrested by the Cubans for illegally entering the country and in 1959, when Castro came to power, he released him. However, in 1960 Castro changed his mind and decided to deport him. At that time Cammarata was operating a bar in Havana and suddenly disappeared. Cuban officials searched for him and decided that he had left the country, only to learn in 1965 that he had not and had just then died from a heart attack. Licavoli, while in prison, was leading the life of luxury such as one could in prison, with special foods and privileges, entertaining unauthorized guests and making phone calls. In the early 1940’s it was learned that Licavoli had copyrighted 35 songs from behind bars and that some of them had reached the top of the charts. A few of his famous songs were “Alone With My Tears”, “When I Come Home Again”, “I’m Sticking Around”, “I’ll Be With You in the Spring”, with his two biggest hits being “Olga from the Volga” and the immensely popular “Anything Goes”. All the time Licavoli, his family & minions, were continuously trying to get his sentence commuted, a pardon, or anything to get him released. Finally after 37 years in jail, on Jan. 6, 1972, he was paroled. After his parole he opened a shop for rare stamps, coins & antiques, an interest he had developed while in prison. He died at age 70 in 1973 and is buried in Detroit. These handguns were the property of two young men who became notorious through the roaring 20’s and into the prohibition era of the 1930’s and, although never convicted, were suspected of and investigated for killing numerous rivals throughout their career. After these two handguns were confiscated by the Ontario Provincial Police they became the property of the Attorney General’s Office of Ontario Province and much later were given to Mr. William B. Common, QC, who was at that time a member of the Attorney General’s Office. He kept them in his collection for a number of years before selling them to Keith M. Hunter of Orangeville, Ontario, Canada. Mr. Hunter compiled this large volume of information about Licavoli & Cammarata including innumerable newspaper articles, copies of official documents, magazine articles and photographs, even an article from the May 2, 1969 Life* magazine in preparation for writing a book. Mr. Common furnished a signed receipt for these two handguns, identified by serial number. Also included is a 5-page letter from Inspector Sidney Oliver (retired) who led the raid that captured Licavoli & Cammarata. There are even numerous authentic photographs of the Purple Gang, most of whom are identified. There are also photographs of labor agitators from 1939, one of which includes James Hoffa. Included also is a photograph of the crew of a schooner suspected of rum running which was sunk in the Gulf of Mexico, a photograph of policeman arresting an agitator and of two women in 1930’s clothing entitled “Knockout Drops”. Includes orig signed letter from FBI Director J.Edgar Hoover on Agency letterhead. PROVENANCE: William B. Common, QC; Keith M. Hunter. CONDITION: 1) Colt 1911. Good to very good. Overall retains a silver/brown patina with blue in sheltered areas showing lots of handling & use. Grips show heavy wear with several chipped diamonds. Mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore. 2) Colt DA Revolver. Good to very good. Overall retains a silver brown patina with blue in sheltered areas. Grips show hard wear with a chip in the left side. Mechanics are crisp, strong bright bore with a couple of spots of pitting. Ephemera is all fine with some of the copies of old official documents beginning to fade and are nearly illegible, otherwise all material is very fine. 4-37651 JR341 (10,000-15,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2009 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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