Ohio's Black Hand Syndicate: The Birth of Organized Crime in America
Following the release of our book on the Society of the Banana and Faithful Friends, we were contacted by members of the Amicon family as well as the Cira-Vicario family. The photo below is of the John Amicon family. John was the produce vendor who refused to be intimidated by the Black Hand-style extortion attempts.
However, descendants of the Cira-Vicario family provided us with updates an several of their relatives who went to prison for their involvement in the Black Hand gang. We are happy to report that several of them returned to Bellefontaine, Ohio, following their release and went on to become upstanding members of the community.
Anthony "Tony" Vicario, the youngest, became a produce vendor, boilermaker, and union chairman for the New York Central Railroad.
Collogero "Charles" Vicario, a hat maker, opened a shoe repair shop as well as the Home Restaurant.
Charles married Sam Cira's daughter, Mary Cira.
Charles and Mary's son, Richard Vicario, not only expanded Vicario's Shoe Center, but was a police officer, operated the Holland Theatre, owned Vicario's Pizza, and was the long-serving mayor in Bellefontaine history.