I didn't see the movie because I don't watch movies, but I did read the book(Casino). In the book Chicago was purported to have taken out one of their own when they beat Spilotro and his brother to death. Supposedly because he had become too high profile. In Bill Roemer's book he claims that the Bonnano family from New York did the deed. Roemer is the legendary FBI agent who probably listened to more mob conversations and talked to more mob informants than anyone in history. He claims that Paulie Primosa, "Clean" Imacculata, and "Ape" Annunciata were the culprits. This occurred during the time the Bonnanos were battling Chicago for control of Las Vegas. The Bonnanos were also the ones that attempted to blow up Rosenthal.

My question concerns another event that Roemer describes in his book. When the Bonnanos decided to try to muscle in on Vegas, Joe Bonnano went to Meyer Lansky before he died and got him to persuade Moe Dalitz to switch sides. He had been with Chicago for a number of years. Part of the deal involved Dalitz receiving a bevy of bodyguards for obvious reasons. "Joe Batters" Accardo ordered the hit on Dalitz no matter what the circumstance. Joe Ferriola(AKA: Joe Negall) was the underboss, I believe, at the time and was given the assignment. Dalitz had 4 bodyguards with him all day and 2 while he slept. They tailed him over a period of time to determine what would be there best opportunity. Dalitz had taken a keen interest in the construction of the Mirage at the time and would go there almost daily and observe from out in front while looking at building plans that he carried with him. Ferriola and the 3 with him decided to take Dalitz in front of the Mirage because that was when he was most vulnerable. The 3 with Ferriola were assigned to take out the bodyguards while Ferriola shot Dalitz. Roemer claimed in the book that all Dalitz's bodyguards and all 3 with Ferriola died during the shootout. Dalitz and Ferriola were the only survivors although Dalitz was wounded badly. Ferriola was not hit by any bullets. Dalitz eventually recovered, but before he was discharged from Sunrise Gussie Alex paid off a hospital worker to poison Dalitz. So, according to Roemer that's how Dalitz left this world.

Does anyone have any knowledge of this shootout in front of the Mirage? I didn't do an exhaustive internet search for any corroborative information on this incident, but what searching I did came up with nothing. It would seem that something this major would have plenty of information on it. Roemer did day in the introduction that he fabricated some incidents out of necessity for obvious reasons. Namely that he wasn't present during most of the incidents. There would be no reason to make the Dalitz hit up though. It is a question that nags at me when ever it pops into my head.

I live in Vegas part time. One of my problems with the city is that it won't let go of it's mob past. Occasionally you'll hear someone who's lived here for years say how much better everything was when the mob ran things. Dalitz is still held in high regard. Frank Fertitta(Station Casinos) and the Lowdens(ex-Santa Fe) were mob connected and maybe still are. Benny Binion is another example of pure thuggery. Lastly, if you believe John L. Smith's book about Steve Wynn(Running Scared), he had a mob friend or two himself. The current mayor, for crying out loud, is a former mob attorney, the lowest of the low in the legal profession, just below non-mob defense attorneys.