Title

1772: The People of the State of New York v. Lorenzo Colora

Abstract

Vito Morendi, the owner of a pharmacy at 314 East 112th Street, testifies that he had received six anonymous letters, all purporting to come from the Black Hand organization, threatening to destroy his store if he did not hand over two thousand dollars.
On August 4, 1913, Lorenzo Colora entered the pharmacy, identified himself as a member of Black Hand and demanded twenty-five dollars. Morendi replied that he did not then have sufficient cash on hand and promised to give Colora the money the next day.
Colora returned to the store on August 5. Several detectives, hiding nearby, arrested Colora as he took the money. As the police subdued him, beating him with their blackjacks, Colora shouted out threats against the storeowner. Two detectives, Felix DeMartini and Emile Panevino, assigned respectively to the 29th and 31st precincts, testify that they arrested Colora as he took money from Morendi.
Colora, 17, a worker at the Shubert Piano Factory, testifies in his own defense, claiming that the storeowner, Morendi, had asked him to act as an intermediary to give the money to the blackmailers. Colora states that he had had no knowledge of the letters and knew Morendi only because he had previously purchased cocaine at the pharmacy.
The jury finds Colora guilty of attempted extortion.

Type of Crime

Extortion See all items with this value

Date of Crime

1913-08-28

Date of Hearing

1913-10-29

Verdict

Guilty See all items with this value

Defendant(s) Name(s)

Lorenzo Colora

Prosecuting Attorney

George Z. Medalie

Defense Attorney

Charles Z. Kiefer

Judge

Joseph F. Mulqueen See all items with this value

Case ID

1772

Location of Crime

Manhattan, New York

Item sets

Extortion

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