|
Salvatore Albert Cotillo (November 19, 1886 – July 27, 1939) was an Italian-born New York lawyer, Democratic Party politician and judge. Elected in 1912, he was the first Italian-American to serve in both houses of the New York State Legislature and the first who served as Justice of the New York State Supreme Court. Nominated to the court in the First District, he sat on the bench from 1924 until his death in 1939. Cotillo was a strong proponent of social and pro-labor legislation. He defended ethnic Italians against the stereotyping by Americans not of Italian descent, but also urged the need for Americanization of the Italian community. As such, he stood between the mores of the Italian ethnic ghetto in East Harlem where he grew up, and the judgment and norms of American society where he made his career. ==From Naples to New York== Born in Naples, Italy,〔Cottilo, ''Italy During the World War'', (p. 28 )〕〔Henderson, ''Immigrant Politician: Salvatore Cotillo''〕 he came to the United States in 1895 with his parents at the age of nine.〔Ferber, ''A New American'', p. 1〕 His father Francesco Cotillo, had been a caterer in Naples. The family originally came from Avellino (Montella), in the hinterland of Naples.〔Ferber, ''A New American'', p. 71〕 The family settled in East Harlem in East 113th Street among the increasing numbers of Italian immigrants. His father took up catering again and opened a popular pastry and confectionery shop.〔Gill, ''Harlem'', p. 204〕 He has been credited with introducing the Italian ice cream spumoni into the United States.〔(Justice Cotillo's Father Dies ), ''The New York Times'', November 7, 1938〕 The oldest of four children, the young Salvatore did not speak English and went to Public School 83 and later to DeWitt Clinton High School and Manhattan College.〔 During those formative years he worked in the family's pastry shop, where intellectuals of the neighborhood gathered in the evening to discuss social and political issues with his father. Those debates gave birth to Cotillo's early social consciousness that formed the basis of his adult devotion to social reform legislation.〔 The young Cotillo was passionate about baseball and became a New York Giants fan. In return for free tickets he used to clean the stadium seats.〔〔Ferber, ''A New American'', p. 7〕 In 1911 he completed a law degree from Fordham University〔(Forty-Eight Law Graduates ), ''The New York Times'', June 11, 1911〕〔Constantine N. Katsoris, (A Tribute to the Fordham Judiciary: A Century of Service ), ''Fordham Law Review'', Volume 75, Issue 5, 2007〕 and was admitted to the New York State bar in 1912.〔(Admissions To The Bar ), ''The New York Times'', May 9, 1912〕〔(Justice Cotillo Dead Here at 53 ), ''The New York Times'', July 28, 1939〕 As a young attorney Cotillo had to distance himself from the local underworld that incorporated many members of the Camorra from Naples who tried to impose their "services". When the so-called King of Little Italy, the Camorra boss Giosue Gallucci, was arrested for carrying concealed weapons, Cotillo was asked to testify as a character witness on his behalf, but refused.〔〔Shaffer & Shaffer, ''Lawyers as Assimilators and Preservers''.〕 Cotillo felt that Gallucci looked at others as if they "were either hirelings or payers of tribute."〔 According to Cotillo "it was a matter of concern in the neighborhood if you were looked down upon by Gallucci."〔Ferber, ''A New American'', p. 20〕 Despite the temptation of attractive fees, he refused to help men of Gallucci's disposition to secure gun permits.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Salvatore A. Cotillo」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|