How Did Lucky Luciano Get that Scar?



A Scar Is Born: Mysterious Tales of a Gangland Legend | Cigar City Magazine:

This chapter addresses the numerous myths and folklore tales that circulated after Luciano was found in a bloody state in 1929. From the scars to the nickname to the possible culprits in the attack–all are discussed, but the following section truly adds yet another convoluted piece to the puzzle.




Lucky’s version of events on the night of October 16th 1929 varied over the years, depending on with whom he spoke to. He told the original investigators that he had no idea who abducted and beat him, but it was three men. Sometimes he told the story as though two or four men manhandled him. He told others that it was cops behind it, seeking information on his criminal cohort Jack “Legs” Diamond (this is the version he remained most consistent in telling). He even went so far in detail, once, describing how he planned to get retribution on the police, but they paid him another surprise visit (claiming he narrowly escaped), forcing him to simply just renege the vengeance talk.

The media, and even many respected researchers, took a slew of inconsistencies and improbabilities for fact throughout the years as well. For quite some time the evildoers were considered to be fellow gangsters, sent on the order of Salvatore Maranzano. That particular tale is filled with horrific torture–Lucky strung up by his thumbs, beaten and having his throat slashed while dangling. Another version, arguably the most pejorative of them all, mentioned in the book The Luciano Story by Sid Feder and Joachim Joesten (and on the back of press circulated mug shot found in the author’s collection), reported his trademark scars and droopy eye were a result of an angry father, or the more subversive–“beating by the father of the girl he tried to rape.” This particular theory took on a life of its own, ranging from a simple date with the wrong girl to rape to pregnancy...

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Comments

  1. The book the Luciano Story is widely used in a lot of good mob books, such as Five Families. Yet it was written in the 1950s. There are a lot more recent books written about Lucky, I wonder why a lot of writers return to the Luciano Story...Any thoughts?

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    Replies
    1. I can only assume it's used because it holds up in terms of accuracy. I have a copy and find it fascinating.

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