The Gangsters of Saratoga

04/25/2026

In 1947, New York State Police Inspector Charles LaForge (L) conducted a "survey" of the gambling situation in Saratoga County and found wide-open gambling conditions at the Spa. Superintendent of the State Police John Gaffney put the report in his desk and did not notify Governor Dewey of the contents of the report. As Superintendent Gaffeny testified before the Kefauver Committee, "...when one gets to be the Superintendent of the State Police, he is supposed to have enough savvy or understanding to leave gambling in Saratoga alone unless he is told to go in.

04/22/2026

In the 1930's, Anthony "Little Augie Pisano" Carfano, who once shot the night watchman at one of the lakehouses, was partners in a horse racing stable with Al "Scarface" Capone. Carfano managed the stable at the Spa for several years, all the while rising through the ranks of the Genovese Crime Family.

04/20/2026

Prior to the formation of the police department, law enforcement in Saratoga Springs was provided by a combination of constables, night watchmen, the Broadway Squad and private detectives. It was often a dangerous job. Constable William Mitchell was killed in the line of duty in 1862 at a house at the corner of Matilda and Van Dam. In 1869 Constable Esmond was stabbed breaking up a fight at the corner of Lake Ave and Willow Walk. Night watchman William Mahedey was shot while chasing a burglar on Henry Street in 1874. And Constable Eugene Andrus was shot in front of the police station in 1885 as he brought in a murder suspect who he had picked up hiding in a rail car near the D+H rail yard.
The photo is of Officer Edward Morrison keeping watch along Broadway around the turn of the century. Photo courtesy of The Bolster Collection at the Saratoga Springs History Museum.

04/14/2026

According to his testimony before the Kefauver Committee, Frank Costello explained how he came to be a part-owner of the Piping Rock Club in Saratoga Springs. "This Joe Stein come to me with the proposition, and I was not interested. So, he practically insisted, because he wanted to make some money, and I said, 'all right, then I will finance you. And whatever you do, we will go 50-50.' So, I personally had no interest in the Piping Rock."
Costello Photo: Library of Congress
Piping Rock Photo: Saratoga Springs History Museum

04/11/2026

On this date in Gangsters of Saratoga History: April 11, 1918, George Blodgett, Saratoga Springs' first Chief of Police, died peacefully at his home in St. Petersburg, FL. Blodgett once arrested Richard Canfield for being a common gambler. He is seen here, seated with light colored pants, in the oldest known group photo of the members of the Saratoga Springs Police Department (possibly 1895).
Photo: Saratoga Springs City Historian

04/09/2026

One week from today. Hope to see you there!

💰 Murder. Gambling. Scandal. Saratoga wasn’t always so proper…

Step into the wild side of the Spa City with More Gangsters of Saratoga 👀

Join former Police Chief Greg Veitch for an unforgettable evening of true crime and hidden history as he dives into Saratoga’s most notorious past. Drawing from real cases and his acclaimed books, Veitch reveals a world where underground gambling rings thrived, horse races were fixed, and bootleggers operated in plain sight.

These aren’t just stories; they’re the real events and larger-than-life characters that once defined Saratoga behind the glamour.

If you think you know Saratoga… think again.

🗓 Thursday, April 16
🕖 7 PM
📍 Saratoga Springs History Museum
🎟 Free for members | $10 general admission

Spots fill fast—don’t miss this one.

04/07/2026

Martin Foy, who murdered his common-law wife on the streets of Saratoga Springs in 1892 was one of 26 men who were electrocuted at Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, NY. Photos of Foy and the electric chair provided by the Dannemora Museum. www.dannemoramuseum.org

04/03/2026

Adam Parillo, the Saratoga hoodlum who testified against high level Mafia men after participating in a gangland robbery and shootout in Montreal (see our previous posts) had quite the rap sheet.

04/02/2026

Yesterday marked the 102nd anniversary of the robbery that Saratoga native Adam Parillo committed along with several members of the Montreal Mob. (see yesterday's post) Pictured here, from La Prarie newspaper of April 2, 1924, are Harry Stone and Ciro Nieri. Harry Stone was the bandit killed in the shootout with the bank guards, while Ciro Nieri was arrested and turned state's evidence. He was deported back to Italy after he testified where it was reported that he was immediately kidnapped, tortured and killed by the Italian Mafia.

04/01/2026

On This Date in Gangsters of Saratoga History: April 1, 1924. Saratoga native Adam Parillo joined with top members of the Montreal Mafia in pulling a hi-jacking of a bank car carrying the payroll for local businesses. The bandits stopped the bank car under a railroad overpass on Ontario Street East (pictured) in Montreal and robbed the bank guards of several hundred thousand dollars. During the subsequent shoot out, one gangster and one bank guard were killed. Five top members of the Montreal Mafia were given death sentences for their part in the crime, in part because of Parillo's cooperation with authorities. The condemned men, Tony "The King" Frank, Louis Morel, Frank Gambino, Mike Valentino and Leo Davis are shown in an illustration from La Prarie newspaper from June 1924. Leo Davis had his death sentence reduced to life in prison, the other four were hanged at the Quebec gallows in October, 1924.