Winter tells story in ‘Citizen Somerville’
*

Author Bobby Martini in front of the site of his father's old club The Pointer Post. - Photo by George P. Hassett

By George P. Hassett

Bobby Martini has the perfect resume for a true crime writer.

“I’m a criminal turned cop, turned back to criminal, turned regular guy with a good story to tell,” Martini says over grilled chicken wings at the Powder House Pub when speaking about his new book, Citizen Somerville: Growing Up with the Winter Hill Gang.

Martini says the book is the first reliable account of four decades in the history of the largest non-Mafia gang in New England.

“This is the first Somerville book straight from the horse’s mouth, Howie Winter, he is the common thread throughout the whole book. He just wanted the truth out there,” Martini said.

Interviews with Winter, who had never told his stories in a courtroom or for the camera, are the foundation of the book but Martini is also qualified to document Somerville’s underworld history. His father operated the auto shop at the gang’s headquarters Marshall Motors, and his sister married crew member Brian Halloran who was eventually murdered by James “Whitey” Bulger. A former MDC cop, Martini was jailed in 1990 after admitting to a check cashing scheme.

Co-author Elayne Keratsis provided the writing expertise to keep the story crisp and complimented Martini’s knowledge of local criminal circles. After less than a month in print, the early returns point to success: the book has sold almost 1,000 copies in three weeks and recently earned rave reviews from the BBC in England.

Martini says his book shows a different side of Winter and associates such as Sal Sperlinga without glorifying the criminal lifestyle.

“They were bookmakers. They took book, if they claimed taxes it would be legal. Sal Sperlinga took care of our family and other families at Christmas when we didn’t have money. When he got killed it was like the whole city lost something,” Martini said. “But we tell about the pain the women and the families went through too. We interviewed Howie’s wife and Sal’s daughter who had to deal with the loss when Howie was in jail and when Sal was murdered.”

The book begins with Winter describing his early friendship with James “Buddy” McLean – an integral figure in the Irish Gang Wars of the 1960s who was murdered outside the Capitol Theatre in 1965. As 12-year-olds, they worked shining shoes and delivering newspapers until they joined Teamsters Local 25 at the age of 14. McLean’s willingness to brawl and Winter’s “gentleman” style made them a perfect match in launching a bookmaking endeavor, Martini writes.

The book reveals some hidden aspects of the often told Winter Hill Gang story including new accounts of the beginnings of the Irish Gang War, Winter’s horse race fixing conviction and the gang’s link to the Genovese crime family in New York City. There is even Winter’s description of an out-of-body experience he had after being stabbed in a barroom brawl.

For Martini, the book was a labor of love. He originally had a publishing deal with Penguin Berkley but after getting dropped from the major publisher decided he would go the independent route and self-publish.

He interviewed 30 people over four years and borrowed $9,000 to finish the printing. Now that the book is out, Martini said it is a testament to Somerville and its unique traditions of loyalty and toughness in the face of hard times.

“Originally we wanted to make it Howie’s story. That didn’t work and we realized we needed to tell the whole story including Sal [Sperlinga] and Brian [Halloran]’s stories and the whole community,” he said. “This book is a real icon and keepsake for Somerville people who remember those times.”

Citizen Somerville will hold its book release party Jan. 13 at the Dante Club.