Which public execution was more brazen and and was more surprising at the time it happened. Considering each had the reputation and history of as being brutal and the power they had as head of their groups which do you think was a more daring killing and why? Figured I'd ask an opinion questions to hear others thoughts. I think the Dutch Schultz murder was a bit more daring. He was clearly a lunatic without boundaries, willing to kill anyone including T. Dewey. Had a temper, and was taken out in a restaurant in another city. The hit team had to get to Newark, kill him and then escape back to NYC which wasn't as easy as today. Not to mention Charlie "the bugs" Workman reportedly was left behind by the rest of the hit team and walked back to NYC on the train tracks. In Anastasia's case, the team just had to escape out into the city. Obviously I simplified both cases to state my opinion quickly.

Dutch Schultz by far, and it is a miracle that no one was caught even with leaving one man behind, a cop following them after getting close to new york city so they made a detour and the cop was just on routine patrol, a mad mistress who told the cops but they did not follow up or may have been on the pad.

Anastasia, IMO. Although Shultz wasn't a small-timer, Anastasia was the Don of a major family and was a brutal killer in his own right. The mechanics and getaway of the Charlie the Bug team may have been more complex, but I think whacking Don Umberto was more audacious.

Turnbull, what's your thoughts that Anastasia's family wanted him dead, therefore it wasn't as audacious as it may seem on the surface? Schultz was so out of control Luciano and Lansky wanted him dead, also he had a lot 100-150 in his organization as well.

My understanding is that Shultz's mob actually pulled a strike on him after he cut their take to pay for his legal defense. And, his killers also whacked his three top guys who remained loyal to him. I don't think he was missed.

Anastasia became the boss after getting rid of the Mangano brothers, then showed up at the next Commission meet and plopped down in the Mangano chair. Nobody said boo to him. Obviously Genovese wanted him dead because he was Costello's protector and ally, and the main deterrent to Don Vitone moving Costello out. I'm assuming Gambino found enough support among the hierarchy and rank and file to assure a safe transition. They may not have wanted Anastasia dead, but apparently they didn't object.

I'm guessing that. because Anastasia outranked Shultz, his murder could have caused more impact, and therefore more risk than Shultz's demise. But it seems that neither murder had any major repercussions.

This is an interesting thread. Thanks for starting it.

Turnbull, interesting reply. As far as the first part i wasn't aware of Schultz mob was kinda in disarray at the time he was killed so maybe it was easier than I thought. However, what I find really interesting is the point you made last neither murder caused any major uproar. Hopefully some of the other posters will chime in with their thoughts and reasoning.

Schultz for me don't forget those early days were bloodthirsty.

Maranzano drew up a list of people to kill. The list included Lucky Luciano, Al Capone, Frank Costello, Vito Genovese, Joe Adonis and Dutch Schultz. Maranzano hired the Irish hitman Vincent "Mad Dog" Coll to do the job. Tommy Lucchese, Luciano's insider, found out about this and informed Luciano. Luciano then acted quickly and was one step ahead of Maranzano.

Hollander, so assuming you're throwing Maranzano's murder into the mix, I'd agree with you his murder was more brazen and far reaching.

With The Mad Hatter's position and his reputation, you know that the order definitely came from the top. And wasn't Dutch Schultz ordered killed because he wanted to take out Prosecutor Dewey? Was that ever confirmed or what's the final word on the reason for his killing?

That's the story, Lepke Buchalter was allegedly assigned the “task” of taking care of Schultz.

Schultz was not as big as Anastasia. However these stories of lists being drawn up contradict each other at times. I don't think Schultz wanting to kill Dewey has been proven, but I can believe that it is true. He also may have been killed by a small timer who had a problem with him. As soon as a big time gangster is killed all sorts of stories are put out, often by law enforcement. Look at the Frank Cali killing and all the false stories put out after he was killed.

As Turnbull said, Dutch Schultz's killers also killed his top 3 guys. That sounds like it was something bigger than just some small timer having a problem with him. As for Frank Cali, we all know what happened now. It's only natural for a lot of speculation to occur just after a murder of such a prominent mobster.