Philip Testa

Philip Testa
Testa's 1956 PPD mugshot
Born
Philip Charles Testa

(1924-04-21)April 21, 1924
DiedMarch 15, 1981(1981-03-15) (aged 56)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Cause of deathBombing
Resting placeHoly Cross Cemetery, Yeadon, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Other names"The Chicken Man", "The Julius Caesar of the Philadelphia Mob", "Philly"
OccupationCrime boss
SpouseAlfia Arcidiacono
ChildrenSalvatore and Maria
AllegiancePhiladelphia crime family

Philip Charles Testa (April 21, 1924 – March 15, 1981), also known as "The Chicken Man", was an Italian-American mobster known for his brief leadership of the Philadelphia crime family of the Italian-American Mafia. He became boss of the Philadelphia crime family after the previous boss and his close friend, Angelo Bruno, was murdered by Bruno’s own consigliere, Antonio Caponigro, who, in turn, was ordered killed by The Commission for murdering a boss without permission.

Testa's nickname came from his involvement in a poultry business[citation needed]. About a year after Bruno's death, Testa was killed by the blast of a nail bomb at his home in South Philadelphia. The assassination was allegedly ordered by Testa’s own underboss, Peter Casella, as part of the Second Philadelphia Mafia War.