Philip Charles "the Chicken Man" Testa (21 April 1924 – 15 March 1981) was boss of the Philadelphia crime family from 1980 to 1981, succeeding Angelo Bruno and preceding Nicky Scarfo. In 1981, he was killed by a nail bomb planted by his own rebellious lieutenants.
Biography[]
Philip Testa was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on 21 April 1924, and he once depended on his winnings as a gambler to pay for his daily needs. Testa would later join the Philadelphia crime family, and he became known as an old-fashioned mobster; he was staunchly Catholic, did not keep a mistress, and schooled his son Salvatore Testa in the ways of the old Mafia. Testa was nicknamed "The Chicken Man" for his involvement with the poultry business, one of his legitimate rackets.
Death[]
Testa's home after being blown up
In 1980, Testa took over the Philadelphia family after Angelo Bruno's murder by his own consigliere, Antonio Caponigro, who was consequently murdered by The Commission. Testa faced dissent within the family ranks, however. On 15 March 1981, he returned to his South Philadelphia home, across the street from the Stephen Girard Park, and he was killed when Rocco Marinucci detonated a nail bomb under his porch. Testa's body parts were found blocks away, and many thought that a nearby oil refinery had blown up due to the extremely loud sound caused by the bombing. Testa's death led to a mob war between New York City and Philadelphia's families.