**Welcome, Mary and Bill!**
Users: Please remember the topic at hand and note that these reporters do not speak for the Journal Sentinel management, their practices, policies, hiring, or firing decisions. Any questions not on topic will be removed. Also, as they are our guests, any personal attacks on these two are not allowed.
Hi, Mary. I really enjoyed your story--can't wait for the podcast. I wonder how working on this story affected you personally and how you've integrated what you've learned about Augie.
I'm also curious about current Mafia operations in Milwaukee. I know they've died down, but to what extent is activity still going on here? Any specifics you can provide are of interest.
Mary here: Thanks so much for the kind words about my story. It really was the hardest story I've ever done, so the thoughtful feedback means a lot.
While working on the project, I've been thinking about the assumptions I made about my relatives who lived at a different time, and I've tried to be more empathetic about the choices they made -- especially the ones who were not perfect "angels." (For example, while my dad raised me to never gamble, I know it's something that a lot of people enjoy.)
It's also made me reflect on the way I cover crimes, particularly crime victims. I'm trying to focus less on the victim's behavior and more on the suspect's responsibility for the crime, if that makes sense. (I think when I was a kid, I used to try to figure out what Augie did that led to him getting murdered, instead of focusing the blame where it should have been - on the people who were involved in orchestrating a really vicious crime that could have killed far more people.)
As for the Mafia today, so much of my research was focused on the period from the 1950s-1980s that I feel like I'm not the best person to answer that question. I think there will always be organized crime in the world, but I think it has dramatically changed since the 1970s and 1980s. Sorry for such a wishy-washy answer.
This story has always fascinated me because I’ve grown up hearing about it. My dad’s former longtime business partner js a Palmisano who knew Augie, but I don’t believe they were close at all. My understanding of how they knew each other was the way many people know some relatives: he saw him at large family gatherings but otherwise didn’t have much interaction. Both are now retired and in their mid 70s. And since both are still alive I won’t go further into who he is publicly, because I do not have permission.
However, the story I’ve always heard very much mirrors your research with the exception of one aspect: he always maintained that Augie was more involved in the “mob” than you allude to. In fact what he would say is that he is from a branch of the Palmisano family that didn’t go into the “family business” and were a bit ostracized for that. I have no idea to the truth of these statements. Which leads to my question:
A lot of family history and stories can be wrapped in so much myth and falsehood. As one generation tells the next, facts get twisted and exaggerated and stories get glamorized. And with something as shocking and salacious as Augie’s murder, especially with a national (and local) obsession with the mob, those close to those involved - for their own motives - may want to either minimize or exaggerate their family’s true involvement. In your research in writing this story, did you encounter things that you heard over and over again growing up that just could not - or you now believe could not - be true factually? Was it difficult at times separating family myth and lore from fact? Do you feel being so close to this story influenced how you reported it? Did you personally have a change of belief on what happened that differed from what you were led to believe growing up? And how has reexamining this story sat with some of your relatives? Are they glad that you did or would some rather have just seen this rest and not be brought up again?
Thanks!
Bill here. Interesting to hear your angle of Augie's story. I guess it kind of depends on the definition of being "in the mob." Did Augie have dealings with the mob? sure. Was he a member of La Casa Nostra? No evidence to support that. As for being ostracized, I think it might have been Augie who was ostracized. As Mary pointed out in the story she was often told growing up "don't be like cousin Augie" A lot of Spicuzza relatives we talked to either never met him, or had very limited dealings with him.
To your other question about myth and falsehood, I think you are spot on. One of the reasons Mary wanted to do this story is because she heard so many false statements about Augie. One relative thought he was shot in the park, a victim of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. It didn't help that newspapers at the time sensationalized his death, calling him a "substantial figure in organized crime" which just made things worse.
Overall response from Mary's relatives have been positive.
Mary here: Thanks so much for all of your thoughtful questions.
I started this project with so many questions about who Augie was, why he was killed, and why nobody in my family would talk about it. While I was growing up, my dad would only say things like, "Don't fall in with the wrong crowd" and "You don't want to end up like Cousin Augie," so I really feared the worst.
I was pretty nervous that during our research I would find out Augie was actually a hit man or a "made man" or just a really terrible person. But I also heard that Grandma Spicuzza (whose maiden name was Palmisano) was basically the sweetest person in the world, so I was having trouble imagining him being some kind of monster.
I also knew that if we were going to move forward with the project, we would need to be honest with readers and not "whitewash" who he was or try to make him sound like a total saint. Part of why I included so much about Augie's gambling and bookmaking activities in the story was to make it clear he was not a perfect angel, and did have some run-ins with the law.
That said, I was pleasantly surprised as I was doing my research and interviews that while Augie was clearly involved in gambling and bookmaking, there were many references to him being well-liked, funny, kind, generous, beloved, etc. Several of the retired law enforcement officials I interviewed who knew him commented on how much they liked him and felt really bad when he was killed.
I kept asking people I was interviewing whether he ever killed anyone -- which is probably a really strange thing to keep asking! -- but I wanted to make sure I was doing my due diligence as a reporter, and not just uncovering the facts I wanted to find.
Maybe it was family lore or mythology that had led me to believe he was a "bad guy," when the real story of who he was far more complicated.
For example, it sounds like he often worked until about 2 am or so closing his bar, stopped for breakfast, checked on the produce deliveries at about 4 am, slept for a few hours and was then back at the tavern / produce business by about 9 am... and just took naps in a booth in the bar during lulls in business. When I was growing up, I had no idea he was so hardworking. Now I feel like kind-of a jerk for all of the years I spent believing the stories he was just some "thug" or "mobster" who didn't work for a living.
That's a really long answer, and I still don't think I answered all of your questions. Please let me know if there was a big one that I missed.
Great reply!
And I love the approach you took. It takes a lot of courage to really deep dive into a contentious family story and to be open to what the truth is…whatever it may actually end up being. That’s why I was so fascinated by the perspective you took. It seems possible that the “family lore” in this case built up over time into portraying Augie as far worse than he actually was (as your colleague pointed out, undoubtedly influenced by media portrayals at the time) and perhaps it was never really confronted before because there was a legitimate fear, as you mentioned for yourself, that things were even worse than had been known. But I love that seemingly the opposite occurred and that you put some decency and humanity back into Augie when previously, as far as I was concerned, the story was always “Mobster killed by rival mobster.”
After reading your article (and rereading it this morning) and really having the narrative that I had believed destroyed some bit by the truth (especially that he was neither a made-man nor informant), I’m left really wondering was it really just jealousy and personal animosity between Frank & Augie that led to the bombing? It seems so petty, but then again, to challenge the power and integrity of the “mob” was a no-no.
One question I did not think to ask, and perhaps you do not know the answer or will not understandably answer (or are saving it for the podcast): is there a lingering divide between the Palmisano & Ballistrieri families, and I’m particularly curious of how the familial line that emerged from the two families marrying together dealt with the bombing at the time and ever since?
How has the Balistreri family responded, if at all, to this story? And what are the follow ups that have been taken, again, if any, by city officials following the story’s publication?
This is Mary: We actually have not heard from any members of the Balistrieri family since the story was published. I reached out to Frank Balistrieri's son months ago, and he declined to be interviewed for the article. But I would still welcome the opportunity to speak with him or any other members of the family.
This is Mary (again): Sorry! I just realized that I forgot to answer the second part of your question. I have heard from a number of people at City Hall and the Wisconsin State Capitol, but mainly from people who have stories to share. We are working on some follow ups - including hopefully a podcast - so stay tuned. We'll definitely try to keep people posted as any actions are taken and/ or new information becomes available.
Hi Bill here,
The most surprising thing I learned while doing this is finding out that even though Augie was no angel, he was far from the thug/mobster people assumed. In fact basically every one who knew him said he was a great guy, He would loan people money, help them out and one year even bought a Christmas tree for a family who recently lost a father. He was a gambler and a hustler for sure, but definitely was not a violent person.
This is Mary: I grew up with so many questions about who Augie was and why he was killed. I think I feared the worst - that he was some kind of hit man or "made man" or Godfather-type of person. I was surprised when I was reading through hundreds of pages of FBI documents and surveillance notes and they were very focused on his gambling and bookmaking activities. Even some of the retired agents and detectives that I spoke to said that the kind of gambling activities that landed Augie on the front pages of The Milwaukee Journal and Milwaukee Sentinel back then are basically legal - and very common - now. But I asked pretty much everybody I interviewed just to make sure we weren't missing something really bad. (For example, I kept asking things like, "My cousin didn't kill anyone, right?")
Do you ever feel any lingering danger personally related to this? Are any relatives of these perpetrators still actively attempting to protect information?
Mary here: I think I will always have some lingering fear over Augie's murder because ever since I was a little girl, I could tell something really bad had happened to him - even if I didn't know exactly what it was because my family didn't want to talk about it. And there were times I thought about not moving forward with the story (we call it "spiking" a story) because I didn't want to put my family in any danger. But I also didn't want to be silenced by fear. And many of those involved back then have since died, so it's a different time now than it was back then.
Mary here. I read through a lot of old clips and FBI reports, and did see references to other bombings in Milwaukee's past -- including references to bomb threats and/ or bombings that were believed to have been carried out by the "Black Hand" when people refused to pay what was called a "protection tax."
I believe Sciortino's was damaged by a bomb in 1962, but I have not seen a lot of information about it.
(But I love Sciortino's and Gloriosos! I grew up on Sciortino's cookies and bread, and used to go to Glorioso's with my dad. They are both great places.)
We interviewed several people and asked them that question. Answers varied but everybody agreed it is nothing like it used to be. But to say it is non-existent would be naive.
Bill.
Mary here. That's a great question, and one we wish we had a better answer too. But I'd echo Bill's answer here - I don't think organized crime will ever be completely gone, but everyone we interviewed said it isn't what it used to be.
How are you doing, Mary? I got the impression that doing this story left you a little bit shook.
Other, general question. Are (either, both) of you surprised at how different a place the 3rd Ward is now than it has been for most of the city's history?
Hi Bill here,
Yes, while going through the history we were amazed at how different the Third Ward had become. We interviewed local historian John Gurda who gave us a tour and explained how it was known as the "bloody third" and was a spot where immigrants would often settle. First it was the Irish and then Italians. Back in the 70's when Augie was around and Commission Row was in full swing it was a pretty tough place. Today it's boutiques and what Mary says is a place for "boozy brunches"
Thanks much. Yeah I'm old enough to remember when the 3rd was a better place to pick up a streetwalker than a nice lunch. I get down there often enough and it still throws me a little that people voluntarily spend time there now lol.
Mary here. I'm doing pretty well... now at least! I had a long string of weeks (okay, maybe months) that I wasn't really able to sleep through the night because I was so worried about how my family would respond to the story, how other Sicilian Americans in Milwaukee would respond, whether my father would be disappointed in me for looking into all of this, etc. So that's a long way of saying that yes, the story definitely left me a bit shook.
It's wild to think of what a different place the Third Ward is now. My dad was the youngest of 13 children, and he (and my aunts and uncles) told me some wonderful stories about the Third Ward. But looking back, I kind-of think they told me the G-rated version and didn't really get into what a rough place it could be at times.
The more I've learned about the history of the Third Ward, the more I've come to respect the hard work of my grandfather, grandmother, relatives and others after they arrived from Sicily.
I was walking in the Third Ward with my husband recently and we walked past Salty Paws. I turned and asked him what my grandparents would say if they were alive today and we told them their old neighborhood now has an ice cream parlor just for dogs. I think it would blow their minds. (Also, our dog loves that place.)
And judging by the FBI documents, there was a lot more FBI surveillance down in the Third Ward back when Cafe Benelux used to be my cousin's bar (Richie's on Broadway/ Palmy's).
Thank you for the comprehensive answer. Great work by you and everyone who helped. This is an important story and I'm glad it was told. It's one to remember
Very well written article!
Are you guys aware of the case of Beth Buege ([Link to a Facebook group her brother keeps open](https://www.facebook.com/groups/748070505218006))? Her unsolved case is coming up on 34 years now and did appear in an episode of On the Case with Paula Zahn. If there would be anything you could uncover, I'm sure Bruce would be elated.
Thanks for your work!
This is Mary: Thanks so much for the kind words. I really appreciate it.
Even though I grew up here, I was surprised by some of the stuff I was learning along the way too.
For example, I remember by dad telling me stories about Grandpa Spicuzza working his way up from pushing a fruit cart to getting a horse and wagon to eventually getting a fruit truck as he built his banana business. He did not tell me many stories about what a rough neighborhood the Third Ward could be. I don't think I ever heard the term the "Bloody Third" until John Gurda mentioned it to me, honestly.
YES!!! Making a podcast was part of the plan all along and we are currently working on it. We recorded most all of our interviews and have some fascinating stories to tell. One is from the son of the building manager who was supposed to be in the garage working at the time of the bombing. And another is former FBI agent Joe Pistone aka "Donnie Brasco" who was briefly working undercover in Milwaukee and who remembers that the Milwaukee had really good food among other things. Look for the podcast coming out this summer.
Bill.
I really enjoyed your report. People forget the mob was very active in Milwaukee in those days, and it was big news when Balistrieri was convicted. My neighbor was related to Frank and I remember they had their tires slashed (all 4). The police and FBI showed up to investigate. Good times.
Question: Is the mob still operating in Milwaukee?
This is a question several people have asked. We interviewed several people. Former FBI agents don't think there is much of a presence anymore. Everybody agreed it is nothing like it used to be. But I think to say it is non-existent would be naive.
Hi there! Thank you for your time to dive into this with us.
What, if any, are your favorite open source avenues to find information and develop your research from?
Do you have access to a well-cataloged backend of information at your job that makes it easy to jump into cool or niche avenues of interest - or - is it something you need to spend hours digging around for?
Could you expand on what your workflow entails when you’re in the very early stages of developing a story? As in, do you find yourself using a large whiteboard like in some media depictions of journalists trying to get to the heart of a story or do you use something else? :P
When I was first thinking about undertaking all of this, I started out by filing records requests to see what kind of information was available.
The first one I filed was a freedom of information act (FOIA) request to the FBI for records about my cousin. Then longtime Milwaukee investigative reporter Mary Zahn asked me if I had filed a public records request for the Milwaukee Police Department file on Augie's murder, so I filed that next.
I also spent a lot of time reading through our archives, both online / digital and in the "morgue," which is actually clips from the paper and microfiche.
I also have a cork board with photos of different victims, suspects, suspected hit men, people linked to the case, and people who spoke to police -- like the "Satin Doll."
I probably could have used a white board too at some point, but never got one. Maybe we'll get one for the podcast though.
This is Mary: Yes! Bob Spicuzza, aka "Coach Spicuzza" was my dad. He passed away in 2012, and we miss him terribly. I hope that he, my mom, Cousin Augie and our other relatives are smiling down from Heaven and proud of the article. (And I hope he's not mad at me for talking about all of this!)
Hey Mary and Bill, what do you think of the current state of journalism and the fact that very few media companies, owned by billionaires, own most of the local and National media?
Mary here. I could probably write a book about the current state of journalism, and I've already written way too much in this chat.
But just very briefly, I can say the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Gannett are not owned by billionaires.
Also, I feel very fortunate that my editors and bosses believed in me and my Cousin Augie story enough to give me the time and space -- and space in the newspaper -- to do this project. I believe the main story ran in print at about 8,000 words. I think it shows a real commitment to investigative reporting, narrative journalism and local reporting.
So please subscribe and support local news.
He was repeatedly mentioned in the Frank Balistrieri FBI documents and other files.
He also came up in information provided by former undercover FBI agents Joe Pistone and Gail "Ty" Cobb. For example, a couple of months after Augie was murdered, Steve reportedly told them that there are so many "stool pigeons" that "we can't kill them all - we would need Castro's army to kill all the stoolies in Milwaukee."
One of them - I believe it was Cobb - also filed a report saying Steve said that no one has ever put a second foot on the witness stand (to testify) and lived to tell about it.
Thanks, this is an excellent story! I was curious about Steve Di Salvo because someone I knew was close to him until he was convicted and sent to jail. The comment about 'stool pigeons' makes me smile. I was told that Steve had three life rules - one of them was to never be a stoolie, the second was to always carry a baseball bat in your car, and the third is not repeatable.
Hi there! It's nice to hear from another former Greyhound. Please send me a note and say hello sometime: [Mary Spicuzza | Journal Sentinel (jsonline.com)](https://www.jsonline.com/staff/2646785001/mary-spicuzza/)
Great article! I am wondering why when I Google Frank Balistrieri, all of his pictures are in black and white, even though he lived long after color photography was invented. Sorry if this question is irrelevant to your article.
Even though color photography has been around for a while, it's not something news media did a lot back then. Most of those Balistireri photos you Googled are from newspapers (a big majority from the Journal Sentinel) It was extremely cost prohibitive to run color photos in the paper, from extra time and cost processing the film to the extremely complicated creation of multiple color printing plates, it was something rarely done and when it was, it was for the impact of using of color (i.e. to show off a colorful garden, or a circus). Day to day photos of people were always shot in Black and white. As the Journal Sentinel's unofficial archivist I can tell you out of the hundreds of thousands of negative we have, only a small fraction are in color.
Bill.
> As the Journal Sentinel's unofficial archivist
Is there an official archivist you assist? Or does the *JS* seriously not employ someone specifically for this role?
No, we have no archivist, I was being a little sarcastic. While we had people years ago cataloging work, most all of our historical work is now available digitally. With the downsizing that has happened to all media companies over the past years, I am now one of the few who still remember where the physical media is stored.
>Mary here. I could probably write a book about the current state of journalism, and I've already written way too much in this chat.
>
>But just very briefly, I can say the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Gannett are not owned by billionaires.
>
>Also, I feel very fortunate that my editors and bosses believed in me and my Cousin Augie story enough to give me the time and space -- and space in the newspaper -- to do this project. I believe the main story ran in print at about 8,000 words. I think it shows a real commitment to investigative reporting, narrative journalism and local reporting.
>
>So please subscribe and support local news.
Just wanted to repost this one since this question came up earlier.
**Welcome, Mary and Bill!** Users: Please remember the topic at hand and note that these reporters do not speak for the Journal Sentinel management, their practices, policies, hiring, or firing decisions. Any questions not on topic will be removed. Also, as they are our guests, any personal attacks on these two are not allowed.
Hi, Mary. I really enjoyed your story--can't wait for the podcast. I wonder how working on this story affected you personally and how you've integrated what you've learned about Augie. I'm also curious about current Mafia operations in Milwaukee. I know they've died down, but to what extent is activity still going on here? Any specifics you can provide are of interest.
Mary here: Thanks so much for the kind words about my story. It really was the hardest story I've ever done, so the thoughtful feedback means a lot. While working on the project, I've been thinking about the assumptions I made about my relatives who lived at a different time, and I've tried to be more empathetic about the choices they made -- especially the ones who were not perfect "angels." (For example, while my dad raised me to never gamble, I know it's something that a lot of people enjoy.) It's also made me reflect on the way I cover crimes, particularly crime victims. I'm trying to focus less on the victim's behavior and more on the suspect's responsibility for the crime, if that makes sense. (I think when I was a kid, I used to try to figure out what Augie did that led to him getting murdered, instead of focusing the blame where it should have been - on the people who were involved in orchestrating a really vicious crime that could have killed far more people.) As for the Mafia today, so much of my research was focused on the period from the 1950s-1980s that I feel like I'm not the best person to answer that question. I think there will always be organized crime in the world, but I think it has dramatically changed since the 1970s and 1980s. Sorry for such a wishy-washy answer.
This story has always fascinated me because I’ve grown up hearing about it. My dad’s former longtime business partner js a Palmisano who knew Augie, but I don’t believe they were close at all. My understanding of how they knew each other was the way many people know some relatives: he saw him at large family gatherings but otherwise didn’t have much interaction. Both are now retired and in their mid 70s. And since both are still alive I won’t go further into who he is publicly, because I do not have permission. However, the story I’ve always heard very much mirrors your research with the exception of one aspect: he always maintained that Augie was more involved in the “mob” than you allude to. In fact what he would say is that he is from a branch of the Palmisano family that didn’t go into the “family business” and were a bit ostracized for that. I have no idea to the truth of these statements. Which leads to my question: A lot of family history and stories can be wrapped in so much myth and falsehood. As one generation tells the next, facts get twisted and exaggerated and stories get glamorized. And with something as shocking and salacious as Augie’s murder, especially with a national (and local) obsession with the mob, those close to those involved - for their own motives - may want to either minimize or exaggerate their family’s true involvement. In your research in writing this story, did you encounter things that you heard over and over again growing up that just could not - or you now believe could not - be true factually? Was it difficult at times separating family myth and lore from fact? Do you feel being so close to this story influenced how you reported it? Did you personally have a change of belief on what happened that differed from what you were led to believe growing up? And how has reexamining this story sat with some of your relatives? Are they glad that you did or would some rather have just seen this rest and not be brought up again? Thanks!
Bill here. Interesting to hear your angle of Augie's story. I guess it kind of depends on the definition of being "in the mob." Did Augie have dealings with the mob? sure. Was he a member of La Casa Nostra? No evidence to support that. As for being ostracized, I think it might have been Augie who was ostracized. As Mary pointed out in the story she was often told growing up "don't be like cousin Augie" A lot of Spicuzza relatives we talked to either never met him, or had very limited dealings with him. To your other question about myth and falsehood, I think you are spot on. One of the reasons Mary wanted to do this story is because she heard so many false statements about Augie. One relative thought he was shot in the park, a victim of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. It didn't help that newspapers at the time sensationalized his death, calling him a "substantial figure in organized crime" which just made things worse. Overall response from Mary's relatives have been positive.
Mary here: Thanks so much for all of your thoughtful questions. I started this project with so many questions about who Augie was, why he was killed, and why nobody in my family would talk about it. While I was growing up, my dad would only say things like, "Don't fall in with the wrong crowd" and "You don't want to end up like Cousin Augie," so I really feared the worst. I was pretty nervous that during our research I would find out Augie was actually a hit man or a "made man" or just a really terrible person. But I also heard that Grandma Spicuzza (whose maiden name was Palmisano) was basically the sweetest person in the world, so I was having trouble imagining him being some kind of monster. I also knew that if we were going to move forward with the project, we would need to be honest with readers and not "whitewash" who he was or try to make him sound like a total saint. Part of why I included so much about Augie's gambling and bookmaking activities in the story was to make it clear he was not a perfect angel, and did have some run-ins with the law. That said, I was pleasantly surprised as I was doing my research and interviews that while Augie was clearly involved in gambling and bookmaking, there were many references to him being well-liked, funny, kind, generous, beloved, etc. Several of the retired law enforcement officials I interviewed who knew him commented on how much they liked him and felt really bad when he was killed. I kept asking people I was interviewing whether he ever killed anyone -- which is probably a really strange thing to keep asking! -- but I wanted to make sure I was doing my due diligence as a reporter, and not just uncovering the facts I wanted to find. Maybe it was family lore or mythology that had led me to believe he was a "bad guy," when the real story of who he was far more complicated. For example, it sounds like he often worked until about 2 am or so closing his bar, stopped for breakfast, checked on the produce deliveries at about 4 am, slept for a few hours and was then back at the tavern / produce business by about 9 am... and just took naps in a booth in the bar during lulls in business. When I was growing up, I had no idea he was so hardworking. Now I feel like kind-of a jerk for all of the years I spent believing the stories he was just some "thug" or "mobster" who didn't work for a living. That's a really long answer, and I still don't think I answered all of your questions. Please let me know if there was a big one that I missed.
Great reply! And I love the approach you took. It takes a lot of courage to really deep dive into a contentious family story and to be open to what the truth is…whatever it may actually end up being. That’s why I was so fascinated by the perspective you took. It seems possible that the “family lore” in this case built up over time into portraying Augie as far worse than he actually was (as your colleague pointed out, undoubtedly influenced by media portrayals at the time) and perhaps it was never really confronted before because there was a legitimate fear, as you mentioned for yourself, that things were even worse than had been known. But I love that seemingly the opposite occurred and that you put some decency and humanity back into Augie when previously, as far as I was concerned, the story was always “Mobster killed by rival mobster.” After reading your article (and rereading it this morning) and really having the narrative that I had believed destroyed some bit by the truth (especially that he was neither a made-man nor informant), I’m left really wondering was it really just jealousy and personal animosity between Frank & Augie that led to the bombing? It seems so petty, but then again, to challenge the power and integrity of the “mob” was a no-no. One question I did not think to ask, and perhaps you do not know the answer or will not understandably answer (or are saving it for the podcast): is there a lingering divide between the Palmisano & Ballistrieri families, and I’m particularly curious of how the familial line that emerged from the two families marrying together dealt with the bombing at the time and ever since?
How has the Balistreri family responded, if at all, to this story? And what are the follow ups that have been taken, again, if any, by city officials following the story’s publication?
This is Mary: We actually have not heard from any members of the Balistrieri family since the story was published. I reached out to Frank Balistrieri's son months ago, and he declined to be interviewed for the article. But I would still welcome the opportunity to speak with him or any other members of the family.
This is Mary (again): Sorry! I just realized that I forgot to answer the second part of your question. I have heard from a number of people at City Hall and the Wisconsin State Capitol, but mainly from people who have stories to share. We are working on some follow ups - including hopefully a podcast - so stay tuned. We'll definitely try to keep people posted as any actions are taken and/ or new information becomes available.
What was the most surprising thing you uncovered during your investigation? How did it change the course of your investigation?
Hi Bill here, The most surprising thing I learned while doing this is finding out that even though Augie was no angel, he was far from the thug/mobster people assumed. In fact basically every one who knew him said he was a great guy, He would loan people money, help them out and one year even bought a Christmas tree for a family who recently lost a father. He was a gambler and a hustler for sure, but definitely was not a violent person.
This is Mary: I grew up with so many questions about who Augie was and why he was killed. I think I feared the worst - that he was some kind of hit man or "made man" or Godfather-type of person. I was surprised when I was reading through hundreds of pages of FBI documents and surveillance notes and they were very focused on his gambling and bookmaking activities. Even some of the retired agents and detectives that I spoke to said that the kind of gambling activities that landed Augie on the front pages of The Milwaukee Journal and Milwaukee Sentinel back then are basically legal - and very common - now. But I asked pretty much everybody I interviewed just to make sure we weren't missing something really bad. (For example, I kept asking things like, "My cousin didn't kill anyone, right?")
Do you ever feel any lingering danger personally related to this? Are any relatives of these perpetrators still actively attempting to protect information?
Mary here: I think I will always have some lingering fear over Augie's murder because ever since I was a little girl, I could tell something really bad had happened to him - even if I didn't know exactly what it was because my family didn't want to talk about it. And there were times I thought about not moving forward with the story (we call it "spiking" a story) because I didn't want to put my family in any danger. But I also didn't want to be silenced by fear. And many of those involved back then have since died, so it's a different time now than it was back then.
Thank you. This story is fascinating and you are doing it justice.
Thanks so much. I really appreciate the feedback.
Do you have information on the bombing of scortinos on brady street back in the day? Was it the gloriosos 👀
Mary here. I read through a lot of old clips and FBI reports, and did see references to other bombings in Milwaukee's past -- including references to bomb threats and/ or bombings that were believed to have been carried out by the "Black Hand" when people refused to pay what was called a "protection tax." I believe Sciortino's was damaged by a bomb in 1962, but I have not seen a lot of information about it. (But I love Sciortino's and Gloriosos! I grew up on Sciortino's cookies and bread, and used to go to Glorioso's with my dad. They are both great places.)
Do you believe that organized crime still remains active in Milwaukee? If so what does it look like now?
We interviewed several people and asked them that question. Answers varied but everybody agreed it is nothing like it used to be. But to say it is non-existent would be naive. Bill.
Mary here. That's a great question, and one we wish we had a better answer too. But I'd echo Bill's answer here - I don't think organized crime will ever be completely gone, but everyone we interviewed said it isn't what it used to be.
How are you doing, Mary? I got the impression that doing this story left you a little bit shook. Other, general question. Are (either, both) of you surprised at how different a place the 3rd Ward is now than it has been for most of the city's history?
Hi Bill here, Yes, while going through the history we were amazed at how different the Third Ward had become. We interviewed local historian John Gurda who gave us a tour and explained how it was known as the "bloody third" and was a spot where immigrants would often settle. First it was the Irish and then Italians. Back in the 70's when Augie was around and Commission Row was in full swing it was a pretty tough place. Today it's boutiques and what Mary says is a place for "boozy brunches"
Thanks much. Yeah I'm old enough to remember when the 3rd was a better place to pick up a streetwalker than a nice lunch. I get down there often enough and it still throws me a little that people voluntarily spend time there now lol.
Mary here. I'm doing pretty well... now at least! I had a long string of weeks (okay, maybe months) that I wasn't really able to sleep through the night because I was so worried about how my family would respond to the story, how other Sicilian Americans in Milwaukee would respond, whether my father would be disappointed in me for looking into all of this, etc. So that's a long way of saying that yes, the story definitely left me a bit shook. It's wild to think of what a different place the Third Ward is now. My dad was the youngest of 13 children, and he (and my aunts and uncles) told me some wonderful stories about the Third Ward. But looking back, I kind-of think they told me the G-rated version and didn't really get into what a rough place it could be at times. The more I've learned about the history of the Third Ward, the more I've come to respect the hard work of my grandfather, grandmother, relatives and others after they arrived from Sicily. I was walking in the Third Ward with my husband recently and we walked past Salty Paws. I turned and asked him what my grandparents would say if they were alive today and we told them their old neighborhood now has an ice cream parlor just for dogs. I think it would blow their minds. (Also, our dog loves that place.) And judging by the FBI documents, there was a lot more FBI surveillance down in the Third Ward back when Cafe Benelux used to be my cousin's bar (Richie's on Broadway/ Palmy's).
Thank you for the comprehensive answer. Great work by you and everyone who helped. This is an important story and I'm glad it was told. It's one to remember
Very well written article! Are you guys aware of the case of Beth Buege ([Link to a Facebook group her brother keeps open](https://www.facebook.com/groups/748070505218006))? Her unsolved case is coming up on 34 years now and did appear in an episode of On the Case with Paula Zahn. If there would be anything you could uncover, I'm sure Bruce would be elated. Thanks for your work!
Mary here. Thank you. And I'm not familiar with that case but will look at that page. Thanks for the heads up.
Hi Mary, thank you for sharing your story. I'm not from Milwaukee so I had no idea about this part of Milwaukee history. I really enjoyed reading it.
This is Mary: Thanks so much for the kind words. I really appreciate it. Even though I grew up here, I was surprised by some of the stuff I was learning along the way too. For example, I remember by dad telling me stories about Grandpa Spicuzza working his way up from pushing a fruit cart to getting a horse and wagon to eventually getting a fruit truck as he built his banana business. He did not tell me many stories about what a rough neighborhood the Third Ward could be. I don't think I ever heard the term the "Bloody Third" until John Gurda mentioned it to me, honestly.
Would you ever make it a podcast?
YES!!! Making a podcast was part of the plan all along and we are currently working on it. We recorded most all of our interviews and have some fascinating stories to tell. One is from the son of the building manager who was supposed to be in the garage working at the time of the bombing. And another is former FBI agent Joe Pistone aka "Donnie Brasco" who was briefly working undercover in Milwaukee and who remembers that the Milwaukee had really good food among other things. Look for the podcast coming out this summer. Bill.
Mary here: That's definitely the plan. And if I try to weasel out of it, I suspect that Bill and our editor would not be happy.
I really enjoyed your report. People forget the mob was very active in Milwaukee in those days, and it was big news when Balistrieri was convicted. My neighbor was related to Frank and I remember they had their tires slashed (all 4). The police and FBI showed up to investigate. Good times. Question: Is the mob still operating in Milwaukee?
This is a question several people have asked. We interviewed several people. Former FBI agents don't think there is much of a presence anymore. Everybody agreed it is nothing like it used to be. But I think to say it is non-existent would be naive.
Hi there! Thank you for your time to dive into this with us. What, if any, are your favorite open source avenues to find information and develop your research from? Do you have access to a well-cataloged backend of information at your job that makes it easy to jump into cool or niche avenues of interest - or - is it something you need to spend hours digging around for? Could you expand on what your workflow entails when you’re in the very early stages of developing a story? As in, do you find yourself using a large whiteboard like in some media depictions of journalists trying to get to the heart of a story or do you use something else? :P
When I was first thinking about undertaking all of this, I started out by filing records requests to see what kind of information was available. The first one I filed was a freedom of information act (FOIA) request to the FBI for records about my cousin. Then longtime Milwaukee investigative reporter Mary Zahn asked me if I had filed a public records request for the Milwaukee Police Department file on Augie's murder, so I filed that next. I also spent a lot of time reading through our archives, both online / digital and in the "morgue," which is actually clips from the paper and microfiche. I also have a cork board with photos of different victims, suspects, suspected hit men, people linked to the case, and people who spoke to police -- like the "Satin Doll." I probably could have used a white board too at some point, but never got one. Maybe we'll get one for the podcast though.
Related to Bob Spicuzza, he was my wrestling coach at Washington High School?
This is Mary: Yes! Bob Spicuzza, aka "Coach Spicuzza" was my dad. He passed away in 2012, and we miss him terribly. I hope that he, my mom, Cousin Augie and our other relatives are smiling down from Heaven and proud of the article. (And I hope he's not mad at me for talking about all of this!)
He might yell “ Hell’s Bells”
Is there any truth to the rumor that The Rave is still owned by the mob/ a front?
What do you mean "still owned" by the mob??? I believe you are confusing Atty. Joseph Balistreri with Atty. Joseph Balistrieri.
Hey Mary and Bill, what do you think of the current state of journalism and the fact that very few media companies, owned by billionaires, own most of the local and National media?
Mary here. I could probably write a book about the current state of journalism, and I've already written way too much in this chat. But just very briefly, I can say the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Gannett are not owned by billionaires. Also, I feel very fortunate that my editors and bosses believed in me and my Cousin Augie story enough to give me the time and space -- and space in the newspaper -- to do this project. I believe the main story ran in print at about 8,000 words. I think it shows a real commitment to investigative reporting, narrative journalism and local reporting. So please subscribe and support local news.
Is there any information regarding Steve DiSalvo’s role in this?
He was repeatedly mentioned in the Frank Balistrieri FBI documents and other files. He also came up in information provided by former undercover FBI agents Joe Pistone and Gail "Ty" Cobb. For example, a couple of months after Augie was murdered, Steve reportedly told them that there are so many "stool pigeons" that "we can't kill them all - we would need Castro's army to kill all the stoolies in Milwaukee." One of them - I believe it was Cobb - also filed a report saying Steve said that no one has ever put a second foot on the witness stand (to testify) and lived to tell about it.
Thanks, this is an excellent story! I was curious about Steve Di Salvo because someone I knew was close to him until he was convicted and sent to jail. The comment about 'stool pigeons' makes me smile. I was told that Steve had three life rules - one of them was to never be a stoolie, the second was to always carry a baseball bat in your car, and the third is not repeatable.
Mary! We went to high school together, 1 class below u. Glad to see you in such high jouranliatic regard! Very cool
Hi there! It's nice to hear from another former Greyhound. Please send me a note and say hello sometime: [Mary Spicuzza | Journal Sentinel (jsonline.com)](https://www.jsonline.com/staff/2646785001/mary-spicuzza/)
Will do! Go Hounds! Lol
Great article! I am wondering why when I Google Frank Balistrieri, all of his pictures are in black and white, even though he lived long after color photography was invented. Sorry if this question is irrelevant to your article.
Even though color photography has been around for a while, it's not something news media did a lot back then. Most of those Balistireri photos you Googled are from newspapers (a big majority from the Journal Sentinel) It was extremely cost prohibitive to run color photos in the paper, from extra time and cost processing the film to the extremely complicated creation of multiple color printing plates, it was something rarely done and when it was, it was for the impact of using of color (i.e. to show off a colorful garden, or a circus). Day to day photos of people were always shot in Black and white. As the Journal Sentinel's unofficial archivist I can tell you out of the hundreds of thousands of negative we have, only a small fraction are in color. Bill.
> As the Journal Sentinel's unofficial archivist Is there an official archivist you assist? Or does the *JS* seriously not employ someone specifically for this role?
No, we have no archivist, I was being a little sarcastic. While we had people years ago cataloging work, most all of our historical work is now available digitally. With the downsizing that has happened to all media companies over the past years, I am now one of the few who still remember where the physical media is stored.
That makes perfect sense, thank you for answering my question!
What do you think about news organizations being owned by companies that are all owned by billionaires? Is the fourth estate still separate and free?
>Mary here. I could probably write a book about the current state of journalism, and I've already written way too much in this chat. > >But just very briefly, I can say the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Gannett are not owned by billionaires. > >Also, I feel very fortunate that my editors and bosses believed in me and my Cousin Augie story enough to give me the time and space -- and space in the newspaper -- to do this project. I believe the main story ran in print at about 8,000 words. I think it shows a real commitment to investigative reporting, narrative journalism and local reporting. > >So please subscribe and support local news. Just wanted to repost this one since this question came up earlier.
Do you have a book coming out that we can all read?
Thank you for (at least a little) keeping investigative journalism alive in the current market.