Joseph Petrosino

On the record

• 1903 — A Library of Congress photograph from the World-Telegram & Sun collection, dated 1903 by the Library, shows him with Inspectors Carey and McCafferty escorting Tomasso Petto; the Library's devised title calls him "Detective Lt."
• 16 April 1903 — The New-York Tribune names "Detective Sergeant Petrosino, the Italian sergeant" among the officers who, with Secret Service men, had kept the group arrested on 15 April under watch. The Sun of the same day reports his view that the barrel killing was the work of counterfeiters he had shadowed, and that he was not prepared to say it was a branch of the Mafia. Newspaper reports.
• 21 April 1903 — The New-York Tribune and the Sun report that he showed a photograph of the barrel victim to a counterfeiter in Sing Sing, Joseph Deprimo, who recognised his brother-in-law; the Sun says he had obtained the names of counterfeiters from Secret Service Chief Flynn. Newspaper reports.
• 12 March 1909 — A wire report datelined Palermo, 13 March, printed in the Bismarck Daily Tribune, says "Lieutenant Joseph Petrosino, head of the Italian squad at the New York police headquarters, was shot to death at 9 o'clock last evening" in Marina square, and that "The identity of the assassins has not been disclosed."
• 9 April 1909 — Bain News Service negatives captioned "Petrosino's remains arriving at his widow's home Apr. 9/09" and "Arrival Petrosino's remains" (Library of Congress).
• 20 February 1910 — The New-York Tribune reports a belief among detectives and Secret Service agents, based on a convicted man's remark to a government witness, that Morello, Lupo and their associates were responsible for his killing. Flagged as unproven press speculation; no record filed here supports or tests it.
• 19 June 1911 — Calicchio v. United States, 189 F. 305, quotes a defence cross-examination question about "Lieut. Petrosini of the New York police force" and a dock at Hoboken, which the court treated as harmless. A lawyer's question, not a finding.

The records filed here spell the name Petrosino, Petrosini, Petrosiino and Petrisino. The birth year 1860 comes only from the Library of Congress subject heading “Petrosino, Joe,–1860-1909”; no record filed here gives his date or place of birth. The date of death is that of the wire report of 13 March 1909, which places the shooting at about nine o’clock the previous evening.

Role. The newspapers call him a detective sergeant in 1903 and a lieutenant, head of the Italian squad, in 1909, and the Library’s devised titles call him “Detective Lt.” No federal record filed here states his rank or post, so the role field is left empty and the press descriptions are given above with their sources.

Who killed him is not established in any record filed here. The Tribune’s suggestion of February 1910 is filed only as flagged speculation, and the Second Circuit’s opinion in the Morello and Lupo appeal does not address his death. The 1912 Day Book items mention him only in passing.

Records