NYPD True

Yesterday we talked about the goof who was caught porch-pirating from the Police Commissioner of Baltimore City.

So let's talk today about Willie King, the New Yorker who mugged a 94-year-old lady in 1996, getting away (but not far) with her wallet with family pictures and $90 inside.

The little old lady was out for a walk with her son, Louis Gigante, as in the Rev. Louis Gigante, a priest.

Father Gigante did mention this to his brother, the lady's other son, Vincent "The Chin" Gigante, who was, at the time, the city's most feared Mafia don. Although Vince, or "Vinnie," as he liked to be called, was at one time an amateur boxer, he didn't come by his nickname for taking punches on his chin. Seems that as a boy, he was called "Chenzo," a short form of Vincenzo. 

Vince, 1957.

In much the same way, pugnacious Yankee manager Billy Martin, born Alfred Manuel Pesano, was such an adorable child (!) that his grandmother called him "Bello,"  meaning "beautiful" in Italian. Other people in the area, refusing to see Alfred as handsome, guessed she was trying to say "Billy," and it stuck.

Anyhow - naturally Willie was a little scared when he found out whose mom he knocked down while stealing her purse. But not to worry: Father Louis told him "the Chin" was a forgiving sort:  “This is stupidity,” he told the press. “I know you like to talk about my brother. I just want to be left alone. My brother is sick enough to be what he is. He’s home with mama.

During his arraignment later, King, 37, was all loose and smiley, and his defense attorney, Steven Wershaw, saw no reason to ask for protective custody for King.

“He does not seem to have any fear,” Wershaw said. “Mrs. Gigante was not injured in any way, and other than the alleged reputation of the family, I don’t think he has anything to be worried about.

Other than that, Mrs Lincoln, how did you enjoy the play?

The Chin had his own legal problems. The government was trying to try him on murder and racketeering charges, so Gigante took to wearing a bathrobe and walking around the streets in a bid to mount an insanity defense.

A heck of a town, New York is.