There are many stories of mystery and intrigue involving the underworld, no matter what city the underworld dwells in. One such story revolves around notorious Miami gangster, Lou “Babe” Silvers, who, like many gangsters, was here one minute but gone the next. So, what happened?
Button Guys is pleased to welcome our newest guest author, renowned organized crime expert Scott M. Deitche, to tell this particular story of underworld intrigue.
Scott has penned numerous books and articles on organized crime, specifically about the mob in Tampa and South Florida. His works include Cigar City Mafia: A Complete History of the Tampa Underworld, The Silent Don: The Criminal Underworld of Santo Trafficante Jr., and his latest, Hitmen: The Mafia, Drugs, and the East Harlem Purple Gang. Scott is also the co-founder of Tampa Mafia, a one-of-a-kind walking tour of Tampa’s underworld. It’s a must-do if you’re in the area.
January 23, 1960, was the last time anyone saw Louis “Babe” Silvers alive. Early in the evening, Silvers stopped at the Tahiti Bar on 23rd St. in Miami Beach. The Tahiti was owned by Chicago Outfit figure David Yaras. Babe reportedly got into an argument with several underworld figures, including Tampa mob associate Benny Husick and John Tronolone, the future boss of the Cleveland Mafia.
After leaving the Tahiti, he walked across the street to the Chi-Chi Club. After a few drinks there, Silvers left the Chi-Chi, ostensibly walking to his car. He was never seen again.
Louis Silvers was born on January 20, 1915, in Brooklyn, NY. Babe had a short stint as a professional boxer, making his debut at the Luna Park Arena in Coney Island, on June 21, 1935, with a loss on points to Herbie Fields. His boxing career lasted only three more fights, two wins in 1935, and ending with a disqualification on January 6, 1940, for holding in a bout against Johnny Fonfara.
Lou operated “between Miami Beach, Florida, and Brooklyn, New York, and was known as a notorious shakedown man from the Brownsville Section of Brooklyn.”[1] He had a long criminal record, “dating back to 1932 with crimes including homicide (gun), extortion, assault (gun), attempted robbery, petty larceny, attempted assault, violating parole, and many others.”[2]
In June 1944, Babe was arrested with three other men in the sidewalk slaying of Jack “The Mayor” Finkel, a notorious Brooklyn loanshark and bookie. Babe was described by the New York Daily News as an “ex-fighter, ex-convict and muscle-man long known to authorities.”[3] The murder charge didn’t stick.
On April 14, 1951, Lou and his new bride came to Miami for an extended honeymoon. As a convicted felon he had to register with the Miami Beach Police Department. He told the police that he was only planning on staying for one month, listing an address in the Prospect Lefferts Garden neighborhood of Brooklyn. But Silvers and his wife evidently liked the weather and stayed for good.
The Criminal Intelligence Division of Miami-Dade PD took note of Silvers’ arrival and started a file on him, noting that “since his arrival in this area derived an income from bookie and shylock information.”[4] Jack Kofoed, a Miami Herald gossip columnist (and one-time pulp magazine author who was friendly with Al Capone) even mentioned Silvers in one of his articles, noting that Silvers was working with the Central Theatrical Agency.
According to the Miami-Dade Police Criminal Intelligence Division, Silvers associated with several Miami area underworld figures:
- David Yaras – Chicago Outfit associate and hitman.
- Thomas Altamura – Trafficante family associate. Murdered on October 31, 1967, in North Bay Village.
- Mickey Grasso – Per the FBI, a “stick-up man from Chicago.”
- Benny Husick – Trafficante family associate.
- John “Peanuts” Tronolone – future boss of the Cleveland Mafia.
- John Parisi – Chicago gambling figure.
The Morning After
The morning after Silvers left the Chi-Chi, in January 1960, his wife began to worry. She was aware of Babe’s criminal associations and became concerned that Silvers was not coming back. His car was still parked near the Hideaway Bar, an establishment that Silvers had a financial interest in, indicating he never made it that far before disappearing.
By February, the newspapers in Miami were running headlines about Silvers’ possible location, with most wondering if he was dead. The Miami Herald was a little less kind to the missing Silvers, referring to him as a “chunky one-time Beach grocer accustomed to frequent visits from state bookie raiders.”[5] But soon the trail, and headlines, went cold.
On April 9, 1961, a 17-year-old Miami boy was walking around the shoreline of Kobe Lake, looking for an ideal place to fish. His attention was diverted by two men in a pickup, driving near the oval-shaped lake. They dropped a canvas bag into the water and took off. The kid ran over to where the bag was dumped, reached down, and brought it up. Curious as to its contents, he opened the bag and discovered a skull, and arm and leg bones. Dental records confirmed that the body belonged to Babe Silvers.
Among those called in by police was Agostino Amato, a Gambino family member who was also very close to Santo Trafficante Jr. and often seen with him in both Miami Beach and Tampa. Amato’s son, Vincent, later became a member of the Trafficante family’s Miami faction in the 1980s and early 90s. Vincent was also a close associate of the prime suspect in the Silvers’ murder, Joseph Farinella.
Police believed that Joseph Farinella was behind Babe’s murder and issued a warrant for his arrest on April 20, 1961. This was primarily based on similarities between the man identified by the witness, the 17-year-old fisherman, and the fact that Farinella’s house was only two blocks from the lake where the bones were thrown.
After the warrant for his arrest, Farinella went into hiding and police were on the hunt for him throughout the summer of 1961. Finally, on September 29, Farinella turned himself in. Police put Farinella in a line-up hoping the witness could identify him. But he was unable to conclusively ID Farinella as the man he saw drop the bag of bones. Without the ID, police had very little physical evidence and the case against Farinella was dropped on October 2, 1961.
The murder of Lou “Babe” Silvers remains officially unsolved.
Notes:
[1] Hastings, SA James E. 1961. “Michael Coppola, Aka.” Miami Field Office: Federal Bureau of Investigation.
[2] Kappel, Frank. 1960. “Louis “Babe” Silvers.” Criminal Intelligence Division: Miami-Dade Police Department.
[3] Kiernan, Joseph, and Art Smith. 1944. “Boss of 4F Killer Gang Nabbed after B’klyn Hoodlum’s Slaying.” New York Daily News, June 12, 1944.
[4] Kappel, Frank. 1960. “Louis “Babe” Silvers.” Criminal Intelligence Division: Miami-Dade Police Department.
[5] Finkelstein, Al. 1960. “Ex-Con Missing; Search Going On.” The Miami Herald, February 5, 1960.
