On December 8, 1952, Anna filed a lawsuit against Vito Genovese in Superior Court in Freehold, seeking $300 monthly “separate maintenance” financial support for her and son Philip, and $5,000 in attorney’s costs. In the initial hearing before the Chancery Court in Trenton, she alleged that the $200 monthly payments Vito had made were “barely ample to maintain plaintiff in the station of life to which she had become accustomed to live during the marriage.” In her lawsuit, Anna claimed that she was “compelled to leave her husband…because of prior cruelty from which her ‘health was endangered and her life made of such discomfort and wretchedness as to incapacitate her to discharge her marital duties.'” She further stated that Vito had a substantial income and is “reputed to be worth a lot of money.”
On December 20, 1952, Anna’s case was heard before the New Jersey Superior Court Chancery Division in Trenton. Vito testified that he only earned $125 per week as a scrap paper dealer, but Anna said he made $20,000 per week just from the proceeds of the “Italian Lottery” numbers racket in New York City. She testified that Vito owned nightclubs, horse racing tracks, and dog tracks. The suit claimed Vito spent $250,000 on their Atlantic Highlands home. Vito testified that he had invested in the “Atlantic Highlands Wharf Corporation” and that he had spent some of the money made from that venture on Anna. Vito also said he planned to countersue Anna for divorce. Vito was ordered by the judge to pay Anna $300 per week until the trial in March. On February 20, 1953, the judge stated that Vito might be held in contempt of court for nonpayment of the temporary financial support.
On March 2, 1953, Anna Genovese took the stand in her “separate maintenance” case and testified before the judge in Superior Court in Freehold County Courthouse. Anna’s attorney was Osie M. Silber, a deputy attorney general. She asked the judge for $350 per week from her estranged husband. For the wife of an organized crime leader to testify in open court was unheard of at that time, and her court appearance was a national sensation. The Asbury Park Press described Anna as “Fashionably attired and sporting an upsweep hairdo, Mrs. Genovese presented an appearance belying her admitted 48 years.”
During four hours of testimony, Anna alleged that Vito was “a key figure in lottery, racing, narcotics, pier and prostitution rackets.” Anna testified that Vito “makes $20,000 per week from the Italian Lottery and that he owns nightclubs, race tracks, and dog tracks.” Anna said she had handled $20,000-30,000 per week in racket money, keeping it in safe deposit boxes in Red Bank, New York and Europe. She described her many trips to Italy, delivering large sums of money to Vito while he remained in exile. Anna claimed Vito invested $175,000 in the Atlantic Highlands company that was “supposed to be a gambling boat and a gambling pier, but it never went through.”
Of their marriage, Anna stated that “money was no object,” and that the couple lived “lavishly both at home and abroad.” Anna testified that “…outside of this parade of women at their Atlantic Highlands home, she had a very good life and was given $20 to $1,000 for shopping trips whenever she wanted it.” She said her wardrobe included “six fur coats, including the $4,500 mink she wore to court – tho she wore no stockings.” Anna claimed that “…under an assumed name, she purchased 30 evening gowns at $300 to $1,200 each, many cocktail and ‘street dresses’ at $150 to $300 and never paid less than $35 for a pair of shoes.”
Anna and Vito were “entertained by very big people throughout Europe,” e.g., Count Cianco, Benito Mussolini’s son-in-law. Anna testified that she and Vito were the only American guests of Nazi Luftwaffe leader Hermann Goering. Mrs. Genovese said the couple “entertained extensively” in Atlantic Highlands, and guests included mob leaders such as Albert Anastasia, Frank Costello, the Morettis, Abner (Longy) Zwillman, and other syndicate members.
Anna said Vito had wanted a divorce since 1947 because he was in love with Anna Calandriello, wife of Thomas Calandriello of Shrewsbury, an associate of Vito’s who allegedly provided a front for his operations at the Navy Pier, including “shylocking, gambling, liquor and salary kickbacks.”
Anna says she was “compelled to leave” their luxurious Atlantic Highlands home, alleging that Vito beat her frequently, once breaking her nose, setting her hair on fire with a cigarette, and on another occasion he “blacked both her eyes.” She added, “he threatened to put me in an insane asylum, drive me to suicide or kill me.” Anna stated she was warned that if she testified to Vito earning anything beyond the $107 per week he claimed, Thomas Calandriello “would come with a shotgun and blow my head off.”
Anna’s testimony was substantiated by her mother, who spoke through an interpreter, as well as by her daughter Marie from her first marriage. In counter-testimony, Vito’s witnesses attempted to discredit Anna’s character, describing Anna as an “untrustworthy, hot-tempered” woman who slept with other women. Talking to reporters at the close of the day’s testimony, “she was anxious about one thing. Be sure to say she is a brunette, she urged, for newsmen have always called her a blonde.”
Sources:
Wife Sues Vito Genovese For Separate Maintenance. (1952). The Daily Record, Long Branch, N.J., December 9, 1952, P. 3.
Wife: Genovese Gets $20,000 Per Week. (1952). The Daily Record, Long Branch, N.J., December 20, 1952, P. 1, 2.
Genovese Must Pay His Wife $300 Weekly. (1953). Asbury Park Press, Asbury Park, N.J., January 31, 1953, P. 1.
Judge Considers Contempt Charge Against Genovese. (1953). Asbury Park Press, Asbury Park, N.J., February 20, 1953, P. 10.
Vito Key Racketeer Wife Says in Court. (1953) Asbury Park Press, Asbury Park, N.J., March 3, 1953, P. 1.
Judge to Decide Genovese Case. (1953). Asbury Park Press, Asbury Park, N.J., March 4, 1953, P. 1, 2.
Wife Fears Genovese, Rejects Reconciliation. (1953). The Record, Hackensack, N.J., March 4, 1953, P. 1.
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