Featherstone's penchant for violence and intimidation caught the eye of Coonan and Featherstone became Coonan's right-hand man by 1976. He served in the Vietnam War as member of the support unit of the special forces aged just 17 after lying about his age. [2] Featherstone did time in the Medical Center for Federal Prisoners in Springfield Missouri on the psychiatric ward in 1982. Featherstone was born on West 43rd St., one of nine children. [3] To his disappointment, he was pulled from combat duty, he was involved in criminal mischief with his friends and was disciplined for many drunken pranks. His mother helped with the Veterans of Foreign Wars and his father was a customs officer. Coonan's whole purpose was to restore his father's honor… Mickey, whose memories of Vietnam torture him daily, is his enforcer. [4], Featherstone was convicted in March 1986 for the April 1985 murder of Michael Holly, despite being innocent of this particular murder, which was a revenge attack probably carried out by another of the Westies, Billy Bokun. The Westies were a bloodthirsty Irish American gang who ruled over the Hell's Kitchen area of New York in the 70s and 80s. [1] Rather than serving his sentence he instead told prosecutors that Bokun had committed the murder, and he became an informant. The police suspected him of a series of mob contract killings. Coonan and Featherstone During the late 1970s, Coonan tightened the alliance between the Westies and the Gambinos, then run by Paul Castellano. In September 1986, Judge Alvin Schlesinger overturned Featherstone's conviction. All these years later, the legend of the wild, wild Westies -- the Gaelic gangsters of the ‘80s and ‘90s, led by the likes of Jimmy Coonan and Mickey Featherstone -- lives on. Featherstone committed several mob killings before he was convicted in 1986 of a murder he had not committed. It was interesting to read about their links to the Mafia, but it was never in detail. His testimony at Coonan's racketeering trial during 1987-8 helped to bring down Coonan's gang. Featherstone's penchant for violence and intimidation caught the eye of Coonan and Featherstone became Coonan's right-hand man by 1976. The Westies: Inside New York's Irish Mob (English Edition) eBook: English, T.J.: Amazon.de: Kindle-Shop Wählen Sie Ihre Cookie-Einstellungen Wir verwenden Cookies und ähnliche Tools, um Ihr Einkaufserlebnis zu verbessern, um unsere Dienste anzubieten, um zu verstehen, wie die Kunden unsere Dienste nutzen, damit wir Verbesserungen vornehmen können, und um … The most prominent members have included Eddie McGrath, James Coonan, Mickey Featherstone, James McElroy, and Edward Cummiskey. Beattie recounted how Jimmy Coonan and Mickey Featherstone were once summoned to a meeting with Paul Castellano, boss of the Gambino crime familywho wanted to meet the Westies leaders at a restaurant in Manhattan to arrange a partnership with them and to talk to them about they're brash and wild manner of operating. Featherstone's penchant for violence and intimidation caught the eye of Coonan and Featherstone became Coonan's right-hand man by 1976. He began spending time in saloons like Club 596 and Sunbrite that were hangouts for the Westies. Featherstone … This book is a lot more focused on one man's role (Mickey Featherstone) in the Westies, rather than the Westies as a whole. Also, I have read quite a few true crime … Spillane years In the early 1960's Mickey Spillane -- no relation to the author of the same name -- had stepped into a power vacuum that had existed in Hell's Kitchen since gang leaders had fled the area in the early 1950's to avoid prosecution. Featherstone was born on West 43rd St.,[1] one of nine children. Facing almost 25 years in jail, he became an informant and brought down Coonan's gang. Westies … Jimmy, a charismatic sociopath, is the leader. Coonan and Featherstone however were skeptical about the meeting and thought it could have been a setup to have them killed. [5], "Books of The Times; The Rise and Fall of a Thoroughly Vicious Gang", "New York Stories: Hell's Kitchen Killers", "Admitted Westies Killer Who Informed Is Free", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mickey_Featherstone&oldid=1007254275, United States Army personnel of the Vietnam War, People who entered the United States Federal Witness Protection Program, Overturned convictions in the United States, Pages using infobox criminal with motive parameter, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 17 February 2021, at 04:49. Coonan and Featherstone fearing it could be a set up … [1] He spent time in a series of mental hospitals, being released in 1975. When a group from New Jersey entered Hell's Kitchen and a fight started with the outsiders, Featherstone returned with a rifle and shot one of them in the side, for which he was arrested and put on probation. The Westies were bossed by Jimmy Coonan, a vicious thug and killer determined to take over the neighborhood rackets. [1][2] He began spending time in saloons like Club 596 and Sunbrite that were hangouts for the Westies.[2]. Featherstone committed several mob killings before he was convicted in 1986 of a murder he had not committed. This was a racket that Spillane ran to collect a ransom from the victim's family. After the Westies murdered the biggest loan shark in New York City, Ruby Stein, Jimmy Coonan and his top lieutenant Mickey Featherstone were summoned to a meeting at a Brooklyn restaurant by the boss of the Gambino family, Paul Castellano. [2] He had blond hair and was often said to be baby-faced. The police suspected him of a series of mob contract killings. [2] After borrowing Coonan's gun, he shot dead Linwood Willis in a confrontation outside a bar in 1971, but was found not guilty due to insanity. Featherstone and Coonan had a falling out over the latter's alliance with the Gambino crime family, which Featherstone saw as a betrayal of all the Irish-Americans in Hell's Kitchen. It was interesting to read about their links to the Mafia, but it was never in detail. https://mafia.wikia.org/wiki/Mickey_Featherstone?oldid=35429. In February 1982, he was sentenced to six years in jail for counterfeiting. Mickey Spillane, the mob leader in Hell's Kitchen at the time, was shot five times outside his apartment in August 1977, and Featherstone was arrested but acquitted for his killing. Coonan's main contact was Roy DeMeo. The Westies: Inside New York's Irish Mob (Audible Audio Edition): T. J. English, James Anderson Foster, Tantor Audio: Amazon.ca: Audible Audiobooks Mickey Featherstone stood trial for the murder and was found not guilty. Francis T. "Mickey" Featherstone (born September 2, 1948) is a former Irish American mobster and member of the Westies, an organized crime syndicate from Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan in New York City, led by James Coonan. It was interesting to read about their links to the Mafia, but it was never in detail. Sissy had been secretly recording conversations with Kevin Kelly, … He spent time in a series of mental hospitals, being released in 1975. [1] He served in heavy combat and then as a stock clerk. [2] His mother helped with the Veterans of Foreign Wars and his father was a United States Customs Service officer. The Westies began to unravel exactly one year ago, when Francis T. (Mickey) Featherstone decided to sing. He served as a store clerk and did not see much combat. Francis "Mickey" Featherstone (born c. 1947) was an Irish American mobster and member of the Westies, an organized crime gang from Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan in New York City. The title should be changed to 'The True Crime Classic About Mickey Featherstone's Time As Part Of New York's Notorious Irish Mob'. It was the end of the Westies, Featherstone had previously been charged and acquitted of three murders he did actually commit but found guilty of the one he didnt. In the mid-1970s, these two longtime friends take the reins of New York’s Irish mob, using brute force to give it hitherto unthinkable power. [1][5] His wife Sissy co-operated with the District Attorney's office to tape incriminating conversations with gang members, including Bokun. His wife Sissy co-operated with the District Attorney's office to tape incriminating conversations with gang members, including Bokun. Mickey Featherstone and his wife Sissy had decided they wanted out and turned states witness, testifying against his former friends. He was shocked at receiving his sentence of 25 years in jail, and concluded that he had been framed by his own gang. Featherstone and Coonan had a falling out over the latter's alliance with the Gambino crime family, which Featherstone saw as a betrayal of all the Irish-Americans in Hell's Kitchen. He was a model prisoner, seen daily picking fine lint off of his perfectly made bunk to pass inspection, and starting arguments with others for not polishing their door frame brass. [1] His testimony at Coonan's racketeering trial during 1987–88 helped to bring down Coonan's gang. He went on trial with Coonan for the killing of a barman, but they were acquitted in December 1979 after … I just finished reading the book The Westies and realized that alot of their woman were involved in their crimes and stuff.Well except for the murders.but these woman played a major role in their husbands buisness.I didn't like Jimmy's wife's chracter she seemed to be very ruthless and selfish whereas Sissy seemed like she was more for her husband and kids,which … Featherstone's penchant for violence and intimidation caught the eye of Coonan and Featherstone became Coonan's right-hand man by 1976. Also, I have read … Rather than serving his sentence he instead told prosecutors that Bokun had committed the murder, and he became an informant. In 1979 both Coonan and Featherstone were acquitted of … Featherstone was convicted in March 1986 for the April 1985 murder of Michael Holly, despite being innocent of this particular murder, which was a revenge attack probably carried out by another of the Westies, Billy Bokun. Francis T. "Mickey" Featherstone (born September 2, 1948) is a former Irish American mobster and member of the Westies, an organized crime syndicate from Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan in New York City, led by James Coonan. The police suspected him of a series of mob contract killings. Even among the Mob, the Westies were feared. He returned state-side after his one year tour of duty. He shot dead Linwood Willis in a confrontation outside a bar in 1971, but was found not guilty due to insanity. Coonan's criminal career began to take of at the age of eighteen, when he swore to seek revenge against Mickey Spillane, the boss of Hell's Kitchen because Spillane had kidnapped and pistol whipped Coonan's father who was an accountant not involved in criminal activity. In 1979 both Coonan and Featherstone were acquitted of … [2] His conviction eventually came in February 1982, after using counterfeit currency at a massage parlor - he was traced because the girl remembered seeing his name tattooed on his forearm, and he was sentenced to six years. The police suspected him of a series of mob contract killings. [4] Mickey Spillane, the mob leader in Hell's Kitchen at the time, was shot five times outside his apartment in August 1977, and Featherstone was arrested but acquitted for his killing. Featherstone's penchant for violence and intimidation caught the eye of Coonan and Featherstone became Coonan's right-hand man by 1976. He pleaded guilty to a racketeering charge and received a suspended sentence of five years probation from Judge Robert W. Sweet due to his co-operation with the authorities. In retaliation and to set Mickey Featherstone up to take the fall, Billy Bokun, John’s brother got a car identical to Mickey Featherstones and put on a long haired wig and fake mustache to look like Featherstone. [1] In September 1986, Judge Alvin Schlesinger overturned Featherstone's conviction. Out of a partnership between two sadistic thugs - James Coonan and Mickey Featherstone - the gang dominated the decaying slice of New York City's West Side known as Hell's Kitchen in the 1970s and '80s. Coonan's main contact was Roy DeMeo. How Irish whiskey saved the Italian mafia from destruction by an Irish mob. According to Westies gangster Mickey Featherstone, Castellano gave them the following directive: Paul Castellano-Wikipedia. It’s men like Jimmy Coonan and Mickey Featherstone who gave Hell’s Kitchen its name. Featherstone had risen to become Coonan's right-hand man by the middle of the 1970s. Also, I have read quite a few true crime … He was freed in December 1988 and went into a witness protection program. He had blonde hair and was often said to be baby-faced. Irish Mob-Wikipedia. So Coonan arrang… [2] The police suspected him of a series of mob contract killings. The institution kept Featherstone working on the ward, out of General Population, for his own safety. He was finally jailed after using fake currency at a massage parlor - he was traced because the girl remembered seeing his forename tattooed on his arm. C'mon you know damn well that Mickey was the one that fucked her up and everybody knows that.How many times did he cheat on her and never give her money for those kids.Jimmy and Edna she blamed them for everything that happened.Mickey was a screwball.I even heard that she left him.I mean he was not a good husband or a father.He spent all their money on drugs.I … [1] He served in the Vietnam War as member of the Green Berets aged just 17 after lying about his age. BIOGRAPHY OF THE NOTORIOUS WESTIES GANG..plz rate n leave ur comment! Together they make … Facing almost 25 years in jail, he became an informant and brought down Coonan's gang. An off-duty policeman in the bar saw John Bokun shoot Michael Holly, then he shot and killed John Bokun. [3][4] He received a medical discharge in 1967 after just a year, claiming to have hallucinations.
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