The North Bergen Beer Baron
It is no secret that North Bergen has a long list of neighborhood tough guys. Every reader can think of someone that was deemed a fighter or bruiser in their hey day. And those tough guys varied from neighborhood to neighborhood and era to era. The tough guys of my time, are much different from my fathers and his from his father. Now this article is not going to highlight several possible candidates for the crown of toughest person to walk the streets of North Bergen. The crown has been claimed for nearly 100 years and no one will ever come close claiming it. Our story starts at the onset of Prohibition with a very unassuming character. His story develops quickly and ends bloodily. The town of North Bergen during this time was not for the meek. Prohibition caused a black market of liquor dealing to develop in the shadow of New York City and North Bergen was an epicenter. Couple this with the onset of the Great Depression to create a very bleak setting This mild manner man will start as the law and then break every law in the book. He will become known as the North Bergen Beer Baron who kept the town and northern end of Hudson County soaked during Prohibition and would meet his untimely death at the hands of a rival North Bergen bootlegger.
On January 17th 1920 the 18th Amendment was enacted. Not sure what it does? Well...
"After one year from the ratification of this article the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited."
In laymen's terms, it ruined a good time. The 18th Amendment effectively turned the United States into a dry country, meaning no booze...for anyone...kind of. But I am getting ahead of myself. Our story doesn't start in 1920 but on October 20, 1894 when Paulo and Lucia Affuso, two Italian immigrants, had their second son, George. The Affuso's lived in "The Jungles" section of town. An area defined by the hardened working class immigrants who called it home. This community like all immigrant communities was made of people all chasing the illusive American Dream, a dream young George desperately wanted. George, like all those who lived in the area attended Lincoln School. He learned the Golden Rule but was also educated by life living in The Jungle. Aside from his schooling, not much is known about Affuso early life. We know his father, like many during the time, worked as a day laborer and odd jobs. Times were tough for the Affuso's, like others, both George and his older brother, John, were expected to work as well. We know that in 1917 George becomes employed by the North Bergen Police Department, Officer 31, and by the following year his life turns upside down.
Vincent Gaffney was one of the most influential racketeers in New York City. A member of the Gopher Gang based out of Hells's Kitchen, he was a known murderer who escaped the Tombs in New York City on June 12, 1918. He was arrested in North Bergen in October of 1918 after a lengthily manhunt. Upon his capture a conspiracy arose. When Gaffney was turned over to the New York Police Department he was armed with a loaded revolver and five extra rounds in his pocket. Both Gaffney and the NYPD claimed a North Bergen officer gave him the gun. It was at this time the blame was laid at the foot of Officer George Affuso. Chief Leonard Marcy defended the young officer, yet still suspended him "for courtesy's sake." Lieutenant George Cash said "I've known [Affuso] a long time and he is perfectly trustworthy." Cash went on to claim the NYPD was scapegoating Affuso because Gaffney "made them look like boobs." Captain John Semmen of the NBPD touted, "Affuso's record is one of which to be proud." So the real question is how did the blame fall at Affuso's feet. Affuso himself denied the accusations. He claimed to have never spoken a word to Gaffney while he was held in North Bergen. Chief Marcy even placed the blame on the NYPD officers which collected Gaffney.
Over the next several days, the Gaffney Incident as it was referred to was being investigated by County Prosecutor Pierre P. Garven. Garven was a tough as they came, and in a short time would become the man tasked with keeping Hudson County dry during Prohibition. Garven promised if enough evidence was provided, Affuso would face a jury. Upon the investigation Garven sided with the NYPD officers. They claimed that Affuso passed the revolver to Gaffney. Lieutenant-Detective McGann and Detective Louis Barrett found the pistol on Gaffney and "recalled" seeing Affuso act strangely around the door of the holding cell. They also claimed there was no need for Affuso to be near the prisoner as NYPD detectives were stationed outside the cell. Testimony from a Manhattan District Attorney gave Gaffney's confession in which he claimed Affuso gave him the gun was entered as evidence. Because the stories of the detectives never changed, along with the testimony of the Manhattan DA, Garven planned to bring Affuso to trial. In an attempt to sway public opinion the North Bergen Township Committee, headed by Mayor James Nolan, cleared Affuso of any charges in the township in the following days.
Affuso would face a jury in February 20, 1919. After the first day of the trial the jury was in complete disagreement about Affuso's role in the Gaffney Incident. On the second day, a courtroom bombshell exploded. A man by the name of Peter Costello, of Hoboken, came forward and stated he was the one to give Gaffney the gun several weeks before he was arrested in North Bergen. The jury mulled over the evidence for 24 hours but never agreed and showed no signs of breaking the deadlock. Affuso was a free man for now and a retrial was set for later that year. However, Affuso's troubled were not over. Sometime after he returned to work, there was an incident between him and patrolman Frederick Geiger. Geiger accused Affuso of passing the gun to Gaffney which lead to a scape between the two, leaving Geiger in the hospital for several weeks and having a metal plate added to his skull. Another police officer who witnessed the fight sided with Affuso. He would get his day in court on June 2, 1919. He would face two separate juries that day, the first for the Gaffney Incident and the second for the charges brought up by Gieger. In both cases Affuso was acquitted.
It was after these events that Affuso left the NBPD. Now we do not know if that was under his of choice or not. But the following year Affuso purchased a storefront near present day 59th Street and Kennedy Boulevard. He turned it into the 101 Ranch. The 101 was a very well known speakeasy. Affuso fixed it with up to date amenities and North Bergen's "largest" dance floor. Business was good for George Affuso. The bar was a popular watering hole and busy every night of the week. It was here that he became a major player in the beer running game that was starting to be established in preparation for Prohibition. The bad news for Affuso was Prosecutor Garven had it out for him. Unable to except the verdict of the court, the 101 Ranch was raided on June 8, 1921. The raid was to find alcohol but what they found was a gambling den. Now, Affuso was never charged with hosting a gambling resort, but his employees, Joseph Maltese of North Bergen and Andrew Hunter of West New York were. In fact Affuso was never charged or implicated in the gambling activities as both men took the punishment for the crime. It was then that Affuso began to emerge as the defacto kingpin of North Bergen and northern Hudson County.
In the fall of 1923 Affuso faced a judge for assaulting two men in Jersey City (1921). Judge Charles Egan of Jersey City let Affuso walk due to his ties to the community but threatened a six month sentence in county jail the next time he appeared in a courtroom. That appearance would not be delayed. In June of 1923 Affuso, now dubbed a "bad man" in the press was arrested on the charge of highway robbery, they stuck up multiple delivery trucks along Hudson Boulevard, Hackensack and Paterson Plank Roads. Affuso, along with his gang Joseph Maltese and Timothy O'Mara were all held without bail. The trial was held in January of 1924 in which Affuso was found guilty and sentenced 2 to 3 years in the state penitentiary. The sentence given was not just for the 1921 incident but due to Affuso's rise to power in the criminal underworld of Hudson County. At this point Affuso was in control on the booze flowing in and out of northern Hudson County. He controlled the stills that operated in the area and dictated to who and where the alcohol went to. Affuso and his base of operation was the "Jungles." His home on Newkirk Avenue and business on Kennedy Boulevard. There, Affuso even went to war with "The King of the Jungles" Albert Runne over control of the wells that serviced the community. The water war even lead to both Affusos and Runnes ending up in jail. Al Runne's daughter, Ida Runne, who was dubbed "The Princess of the Jungles" was even locked up. However, when the dust settled, Affuso controlled the water and the respect of residents in the area, this only propelled his operations.
Affuso's influence in the area grew stronger every day and it seems that the law had finally caught up to him. After his sentencing Affuso was released on $10,000 bail. While out on bail Affuso and his crew looked to make one more big score before being put away. Affuso and his boys broke in and robbed a real estate office in Palisade Park. The Pal Park police were called and exchanged words with Affuso outside of the real estate office, he stated to the officers,
"Hadn't I better look for safer quarters if there is going to be any shooting."
At that point Affuso took off in his car leaving the police behind. The chase was wild. Affuso took random corners, speed down side streets and caused a few police to crash. Affuso was arrested at his home by Lieutenant-Detective Cash, the same man that defended him in 1918. George Affuso then spent the next 5 years in a Trenton jail cell. His operations fell to his rivals, especially James Egan (No relation to Judge Charles Egan) and all he could do was wait to be released. He returned to North Bergen in the fall of 1929.
Affuso's return was not a quite one. In fact upon his return to "the Jungles" he was met with much fanfare, as it was reported the entire neighborhood came to greet him. During his time away the area grew more and more dilapidated and was always the point of redevelopment discussion.. On October 12th of 1929 the Perryman Electric Company of North Bergen, which was once located near 54th and Kennedy Boulevard, was robbed. The company had moved to North Bergen earlier that year. Three men each carrying a gun entered the factory's office
Stolen radio tubes were the treasure taken, along with $11,000 dollars that made up the Perryman payroll. The money was found in a Bronx apartment and the radio tubes were later discovered in Affuso's store, which sold odds and ends. Affuso was picked up by the NBPD and labeled the "finger man" who engineered the burglary. The Jersey Journal reported extensively on the incident and made no attempt to hide Affuso's criminal past,
"Affuso, who has a criminal record, according to the police, and served two terms in the penitentiary, is reputed to be a hijacker."
"Affuso's record, according to the North Bergen police files, dates date to September 1910, when he was 16 years old. He was fined $5 for disorderly conduct. Next year he got a suspended sentence on the same charge, and in 1918, was held for the Grand Jury for assault and battery. There was no disposition ...
In December, 1920 he was arrested for maintaining a disorderly house and for violating the prohibition laws but the charges were dropped after he was held for the Grand Jury. In October 1922 he was arrested for driving an auto while drunk, reckless driving, driving without a license and assault and battery. The first three charges were dismissed and the fourth dropped after being referred to the Grand Jury ...
In June, 1923, he was sentenced to three years in the state's prison for highway robbery but served less than a year. In February of the next year he was again arrested for burglary and safe cracking in Bergen County and sentenced to three years in prison."
They continued that he must be resorting to hijacking as an early winter has set on causing a fall in the consumption of beer, his main revenue source. Along with Affuso, five others were arrested. One of them men explained how Affuso's restaurant, now called the The Rendezvous, was were the heist was planned. During the investigation Affuso entered a not guilt plea at the county courthouse in Jersey City, before his bail of $15,000 was posted. Six days late, Tuesday October 29, 1929 the stock market crashed and the Great Depression began.
While awaiting trail Affuso kicked his beer running business into high gear. Prohibition was still being enforced but with the onset of the Depression, beer and alcohol became an in demand provision. He was linked to a truck with five and half barrels of 5% beer was stopped outside of a café on Bergenline Avenue in West New York, how was he linked to the truck? His brother was driving it. There was also another truck found with 28 half barrels found in Union City, abandoned shortly after the beer was found in West New York. Several days later a truck with 177 barrels of beer was found, again, with an Affuso driving it. It was no secret George was the man in control of northern Hudson County. Anything that could have been needed or wanted, he could get it. But there was still competition in the area, and Affuso wanted full control.
It was during 1930 that Affuso began to retake control of North Bergen. To the people of "the Jungles" and the surrounding neighborhoods, he wasn't just a criminal. Affuso was seen by many as the unofficial mayor of North Bergen, even more so now as North Bergen entered the early days of the Great Depression. Affuso was even more generous than the North Bergen Poormaster held the responsibility of giving out relief funds to town residents, however the position was usually held as a political office. Mayor Juluis Reich had the North Bergen Police watch Affuso and the Jungles around the clock. At any time the North Bergen Police could be found in the Jungles, and often times they were found in Affuso's speakeasy. Affuso was known to offer aid to anyone who asked. Affuso knew that being a man of the people help protect him and his growing business venture in beer running. But, on December 20, 1930 that would all come to an end.
Affuso was to meet with James Egan at the Hamilton Chateau, located at present day corner 76th Street and Tonnelle Avenue. Egan, was another well known bootlegger and beer runner from Secausus looking to expand in the northern end of the county. He was also part the owner of the Hamilton Chateau which was his main venue in North Bergen. Several night earlier four men attempted to set the building on fire. It seemed to start as a robbery of the night watchman and have escalated. There was a war brewing between the two men for control over the area. The meeting was set to discuss the division of the speakeasies and road houses in North Bergen. Other beer racketeers, Anthony D'Agostrino and Joseph Mazzio both of Bergen County were in attendance. The meeting did not go well. Affuso and his body guard, Philip Rovelli, were both shot. In total 10 shots were fired in the crowded restaurant, 2 of which hit Affuso, the stomach, and Rovelli, the leg. Egan was hit once in the chest but the bullet struck a pocket watch in his breast pocket. When police arrived, everyone was arrested, 35 people in total: men, women, the band, bus boys, every person in the building.
There are three theories to what happened that night according to North Bergen Police Chief Leonard Marcy:
1. Affuso either provoked the attack by D'Agostino's friends
2. D'Agostino's friends provoked the attack from Affuso
3. Affuso stood accused in the gangster code of hijacking D'Agostino's beer trucks.
Chief Marcy personally investigated the Affuso shooting. He interviews Affuso as he lay in North Hudson Hospital in Weehawken. Affuso told him;
"I don't know where I was shot, inside, outside or where."
Affuso also, didn't name names. Marcy knew these two were attempting to "muscle" in on each others territories and ordered both the Hamilton Chateau and The Rendezvous closed until further notice. West New York Chief of Police, Charles Hangley also close another one of Affuso's establishments at the corner of Jackson and 62nd Street. On December 23rd James Egan was charged with shooting George Affuso. The same day, Affuso told reporters:
"I don't know who shot [me], but I'll take care of the man who did the shooting."
He continued after being pressed;
"I don't know who shot me and I wouldn't tell you if I did."
Affuso remained in the the hospital under a strict security detail. Weehawken, North Bergen, County and State officers all held posts throughout the building. However, time would not be on his side. Affuso was shot in the abdomen and he was not going to survive. He would die from his wounds on December 29, 1930. After the autopsy a .32 caliber bullet was removed from Affuso and the county began working on finding the gun which fired it. Two guns were found at the scene of teh shooting, however neither a .32. The county took some of Chief Marcy's theories but added that Rovelli shot Affuso in the fray. While the investigation was underway a funeral was held for Affuso. The Catholic Churches of the area denied to hold his funeral. This was due to a recently adopted practice in the church which prevented funerals for known lawbreakers. The funeral was instead held at his home.
Affuso's casket rested on an elaborate flower-decked stand in the parlor if his home. The funeral was attended by "a number of well-known characters as well as a number of less prominent persons from the North Bergen jungles section." There were 40 cars in the funeral procession along with eight cars for flowers. The procession was given a police escort. He was buried in Grove Church Cemetery, which the Journal described,
"A narrow grave in Grove Church Cemetery received all that remained yesterday of the grinning, rowdy bad boy of gangland who violated all the rules even of his own conferees excepts that one not to be a squealer."
As the funeral procession made its way through North Bergen and down Hudson Boulevard many people lined the streets to see the Beer Baron one last time. During the burial, Father Leonard Borgetti of Our Lady of Libera blessed the silver colored coffin. Plain clothes North Bergen Police made up members of the crowd. Almost 250 people crowded Affuso's grave that day. The quiet sobbing of his wife was reported as they lowered the casket. There was a noticeable absence of big name New York gangsters from that funeral but that is because Affuso was often as odds with them, perhaps because he knew the value of North Bergen as a gateway to and from New York City.
While the investigation into Affuso's death continued the state of New Jersey started a crackdown on Hudson County speakeasies closing down 25 of them by January 12 1931. By January 23rd James Egan posted $10,000 bail, which was "fundraised" by a relative. Egan then reopened the Chateau as a Chinese restaurant, Moy Pai's. However, after several long months of investigating, there was not enough evidence to hold James Egan. Egan was acquitted by the Grand Jury and the murder charges were dropped. By this time Prohibition was ending and James Egan lost most of his influence in the county. He slowly drifted from limelight of the Hudson County bar scene and became a thug that was in and out of jail until his death in 1937.
Today George Affuso is lost to history. His reputation disappeared with time and the ever shifting demographics of the township. But Affuso was the stuff gangster movies are made of. He operated at least three speakeasies, that we know of: The 101 Ranch, the 49 Club and Radio Frank's. He controlled the flow of beer and liquor into north Hudson County and fought to the death to keep it that way. He was a racketeer, bootlegger, heist-man. He made North Bergen his territory, he took it for his own. Now we shouldn't be celebrating a criminal, but Affuso's story is just to interesting to overlook. A lawman turned gangster, a story not often heard. The gangsters of the 1920s are pieces of American culture, Chicago has Al Capone, New York City has "Lucky" Luciano and Memphis has "Machine Gun" Kelly, but North Bergen will always have the "Beer Baron", George Affuso.
Sources:
“Gaffney Is Beaten Up In Attempt To Escape.” New York Tribune, 21 Oct. 1918, pp. 14
"Gaffney, Who Escaped Tombs, Caught Here." The Jersey Journal, 21, Oct. 1918, pp 2
"Inquiry Order to Learn How Gaffney Got Gun in Cell." New York Tribune, 22 Oct. 1918 pp. 12
"Gaffney Held Off From Sing Sing By Charge of Escape." The Evening World, 22 Oct. 1918, pp. 12
"Prosecutor To Investigate Gaffney's Gun." The Jersey Journal, 22 Oct, 1918, pp 2
"Grand Jury Told How Gaffney Received Gun." The Jersey Journal, 23 Oct. 1918, pp 9
"Clear Affuso In Pistol Incident." The Jersey Journal, 30 Oct. 1918, pp 10
"Jury Disagrees In Policeman Affuso's Case." The Jersey Journal, 20 Feb. 1919, pp 3
"Admits He Gave Gun To Slayer." The Jersey Journal, 21 Feb. 1919, pp 3
"Affuso's New Trial Put Off." The Jersey Journal, 5 Mar. 1919, pp 7
"Acquit Cop Affuso of Assault." The Jersey Journal, 2 June 1919, pp 8
"Acquit Cop Affuso Twice On Same Day." The Jersey Journal, 3 June 1919, pp 2
"Cop Affuso Acquitted." The Jersey Journal, 9 June 1921, pp3
"Dr. Norton Has Ex-Policeman Found Guilty." The Jersey Journal, 24 Apr. 1923, pp 9
"Waits Sentence, Nabbed Again." The Jersey Journal, 25 Apr. 1923, pp 8
"Jail Threat For Ex-Policeman." The Jersey Journal, 26 Apr. 1923, pp 17
"Ex-Cop Held on Robbery Charge." The Jersey Journal, 12 June 1923, pp 10
"Former Cop Is Found Guilty of Assault." The Jersey Journal, 31 Jan. 1924, pp 7
"Affuso Gets 2 to 3 Years." The Jersey Journal, 31 Jan. 1924, pp 6
"Man Facing Jail Term Is Held In New Robbery." The Jersey Journal, 9 Feb. 1924, pp 10
"Daughter of "King" Lands in Police Cell." The Jersey Journal, 9 Oct. 1924, pp 16
"Court Free The Princess." The Jersey Journal, 10 Oct. 1924, pp 16
"Find Stolen Goods in Official's Store in North Bergen." The Jersey Journal 19 Oct. 1929, pp 1 & 12
"Payroll Holdup." The Jersey Journal, 23 Oct. 1929, pp 14
"Affuso Makes Not Guilty Plea." The Jersey Journal, 24 Oct. 1929, pp 19
"Arraign Pair For Perryman Holdup." The Jersey Journal, 25 Oct. 1929, pp 8
"No Bail For Pair in Radio Holdup." The Jersey Journal, 23 Oct. 1929, pp 29
"Radio Holdup Case Is Delayed." The Jersey Journal, 14 Nov. 1929, pp 10
"2 Brought Here in Perryman Holdup." The Jersey Journal, 15 Nov. 1929, pp 26
"Bring Gunmen In Radio Holdup Here In Irons." The Jersey Journal, 26 Nov. 1929, pp 20
"3 Pleas Not Guilty to Perryman Holdup." The Jersey Journal, 27 Nov. 1929, pp 12
"Gets 10 Years For Perryman Holdup." The Jersey Journal, 21 May, 1930, pp 3
"Early Trial of Radio Holdup Suspects Seen." The Jersey Journal, 7 June, 1930, pp 16
"Abandoned Truck Has Beer Cargo." The Jersey Journal, 15 July 1930, pp 1
"Say Seized Beer Has More Than 5% Alcohol." The Jersey Journal, 15 July 1930, pp 8
"Affuso and Aide Shot In Chateau Gun Battle." The Jersey Journal, 20 Dec. 1930, pp 1 & 10
"Police Seek Blonde In Affuso Shooting." The Jersey Journal, 22 Dec. 1930, pp 1 & 12
"2 Sough In Shooting of Affuso, Aide." The Jersey Journal, 22 Dec. 1930, pp 1 & 12
"Egan Charged With Shooting of Racketeer." The Jersey Journal, 23 Dec. 1930, pp 1 & 10
"Affuso Is Still Critically Ill." The Jersey Journal, 27 Dec. 1930, pp 4
"Affuso Dies, Turn to Autopsy For Slayer." The Jersey Journal, 29 Dec. 1930, pp 1 & 12
"Experts To Aid Hunt For Slayer." The Jersey Journal, 30 Dec. 1930, pp 1
"Catholic Burial Denied Affuso." The Jersey Journal, 31 Dec. 1930, pp 8 & 10
"Curious Watch Affuso Funeral." The Jersey Journal. 2 Jan. 1931, pp 7
"Saloon of Affuso Closed by Police." The Jersey Journal. 2 Jan. 1931, pp 14
"Chateau, Scene of Affuso Slaying, Faces Padlocking." The Jersey Journal. 12 Jan. 1931, pp 1
"Affuso and Varone Murder Witnesses Released Under Bail." The Jersey Journal. 23 Jan. 1931, pp 22
"Bullet Mixup Delays Kazia Murder Trail." The Jersey Journal. 29 June 1932, pp 8
"Probe Death of Former "Waxey" Aide." The Jersey Journal. 11 Mar 1944, pp 1 & 8
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