by Red Snapper
Memoirs of a Creole Crime Cartel:
The Origin of Tangie Laurie
By
“Redsnapper”
Prologue
September 1961
Lake Charles, Louisiana
It was excessively warm on that September day in 1961, but then it was always warm in the Bayou Region of Lake Charles, Louisiana. I being an expecting father was pacing the floor as my young wife had been in labor for the last four hours. This was her third attempt at childbirth, since in the past, she had not been successful, carrying our first child for only two months and our second for three and a half, I hoped that a third time would be a charm as I stood nervously outside the bedroom door, waiting on some news, any news concerning my wife and newborn child. My wife, Sadie Marie Laurie, also known as Lil’ Momma, was a very fragile young woman. At only twenty-three years old and in tremendous pain, she tried so desperately to provide me that one gift that I’d dreamed of for so very long, a child to call me Papa. As I waited with anticipation for the midwife to come out with good news, I gazed at my mother and said, “Momma, I know I need to relax, but I just want everything to be alright.” “I don’t understand why Sadie Marie didn’t want me in the room for the delivery.”
She answered, “Sometimes women don’t want their husbands to see them in such a way Andrew.” “You must understand she wants you to see her in her most exquisite manner.”
All of a sudden, one the midwives rushed out the bedroom, asking me to quickly boil some water for the delivery. I immediately glanced at my mother, as I instinctively rushed outside the house to the well and pumped up two buckets of water, hurried back into the house, placing them on the hot stove and immediately threw more wood on the fire beneath the stove. All the while, my mother was trying to calm me down as I heard the screams of my beloved wife in the bedroom. As the intensity of the moment continued to escalate, I was concerned whether Sadie Marie could hold up after such a long labor session, as my wife’s screams became louder, it became more apparent that something was terribly wrong. I gazed at my mother with concern as I hoped my stare would trigger her to investigate the situation. As she glanced back at me, she quickly went to the bedroom to inquire about Sadie’s condition. After about ten minutes, she returned and informed me that there was no change in the situation.
Another hour passed, when suddenly I finally heard a joyful noise coming for the bedroom. It was the sounds of my newborn infant crying, letting the world know that they were here. I smiled at my mother, gazing at the door with anticipation, as I wanted terribly to go into the room to see my newborn baby and my extremely fatigued wife. Suddenly, that same midwife slowly emerged out of the room with an overindulgence amount of blood all over her clothing. She stared at me as she slowly strolled over toward me. I could tell my mother knew by the expression on the midwife’s face that something was dreadfully wrong. The midwife stood in front of me as she began to speak, “We tried everything to stop the bleeding but we just couldn’t…we did the best we could, but…we couldn’t stop the bleeding, Andrew.”
The midwife gazed at my mother and said, “Big Momma…It’s a baby girl.”
After I heard the news, I immediately ran into the bedroom, where I noticed my new baby girl in the arms of another midwife. I immediately turned to face my wife, staring at the bed, noticing that she was lifeless. Although this was supposed to be a joyous occasion, the room smelled of death. Sadie Marie was lying there in the bed, covered in blood, which indicated what I knew deep down in my soul, she had passed away from complications during delivery. As I continued to look at her with disbelief, I slowly walked over toward the bed and sat down in the chair next to her, grabbing Sadie’s left hand as I responded, “My Sadie…oh Sadie, I’m so sorry.” “I’m so sorry for being so damn selfish…It’s my fault…I made you go through this…making you give birth to this here child!” “This was not the way it was supposed to be honey…you were supposed to be here with me too!”
My tears ran down from my eyes on my cheeks as I closed my wife’s eyes with my right hand. As I stood up, looking down at her motionless body I made this vow to her, “Baby, I promise…I’ll make sure our child has everything she needs and more… just you wait and see!”
I turned slowly around facing the midwife holding my child, walking over toward my newborn child, immediately taking her from the midwife. I held my young infant daughter in my arms, gazing down at her, smiling at her appealing face as I slowly strolled into the living room. I walked over to my mother and presented my daughter to her and said, “She’s gone Momma…Sadie left me here with this child.” “What do I do Momma…I got to raise this child alone!”
She glanced at the baby, than she looked at me and said, “You won’t raise this child alone as long as I got breath in my body…I’ll be here for you and the child.”
She smiled as tears ran down her cheeks, “Look here…give me this child…you go now, make plans to bury your lovely wife, don’t you worry none about this here child.” “We Laurie’s are a close family and we take care of our own!” “When you get back from making the arrangements…I promise…we’ll have a solution.”
She took the baby, handing her back to the midwife. The midwife took the young child back into the adjacent bedroom, cleaning her up and dressing her in a cloth diaper and some new clothes. All I could do was to walk outside on the porch as I lit my Camel filter-less cigarette. Immediately, all kinds of thoughts ran through my mind, thoughts like did one of the midwives purposely murder my wife or was this some type of hit from my enemies. Soon I let those thoughts falter as I began taking a drag from my cigarette. My brother and sister-in-law drove up in their truck, getting out immediately running up to the porch.
“We got here as fast as we could, is Sadie alright?” “How’s the baby?”
As they continued to ask me those dumb ass questions, I continued smoking my cigarette, not saying a word, as my sister-in-law gazed at me and then ran into the house. Suddenly, the sound of her screams were heard as she received the news that Sadie had passed away. That’s when it really hit me. That’s when I knew I was alone. My brother Jesse gazed at me as the sound of his wife’s screams echoed in the house. When that happened, he stood next to me putting his hand on my shoulder as he said, “Whatever you need me to do brother, don’t hesitate to ask!”
I just continued to smoke my cigarette as tears rolled from my eyes, down my cheeks. I continued to stand there, trying to be strong as I was beginning to feel resentment for my newborn child, blaming her for taking my loving wife from me, but as I thought about it more I soon realized that this child was not at fault, as I began to put the pressure on myself for making my wife go through the child bearing process. I remembered the words of my late Papa as I stood there. “No matter what the situation, a man always takes care of his family, if he didn’t, than he wasn’t a man at all.”
At that point, I closed my eyes as I finally responded, “Jesse…I need you to go with me to the funeral parlor so we can make the arrangements.”
“Are you sure you want to do this now?”
“Yeah man…I just want my wife to rest in peace…it’s the least I can do for my Sadie.”
I looked at Jesse and suddenly broke down crying profusely as he quickly embraced his weeping brother, trying his best to console me. After about thirty minutes, we strolled over to Jesse’s truck and got in. Jesse started the engine and we quickly drove down the old country dirt road that led to town. I was truly hurt that day because a large part of me left me that day. Every since then, my life has not ever been the same.
Suzette
As I watched my sons drive down the road, I walked over to the telephone an
d dialed a private number. As I waited for someone to answer, I thought, “He really needs a change of scenery.” “I must get the Don to understand.”
Suddenly, an unidentified man answered the phone on the other end.
“Hello…who do you wish to speak with?”
“This is Suzette… Suzette Maria Bouvier-Laurie, widow of Don Joseph Weldon Laurie.” “Is Don Lefevre available?”
“Ah Mademoiselle Laurie…I’ll inform the Don that you are calling on him…please wait while I inform him that you are on the phone.”
She waited for a few minutes than suddenly the Don answered the phone.
“Mademoiselle Laurie…what a pleasant surprise…normally I don’t accept any calls on this line, but very few patrons have access to this private line so It would be an honored to chat with you.” “Is everything alright?”
“No…that is the reason why I’m calling…my eldest son just lost his wife about an hour ago and I was calling to inform you as well as ask a favor of you.”
“First of all…please accept my deepest sympathy for such a tragedy.” “It’s unfortunate that Andrew’s wife passed so unexpectedly.” “I knew she was with child and I guess it was too much for her.
“What do you wish for me to do…anything I can do just name it?”
“Yes…there is something you can do… as you know Andrew and Jesse have been loyal to you and the family for many years, but they’ve been struggling with their business ventures here in Lake Charles…I was just wondering if you had anything for them or perhaps consider moving them to a more vibrate location...somewhere that the family’s interest are met with their assistance?”
The Don laughed as he answered, “There is such a need in the Midwestern town of Kansas City.” “The family has some business interests there and if Andrew would be interested to travel there, settle in and make some strong connections for us…it would be greatly appreciated.”
I smiled as I replied, “I believe this would be an excellent place for my boys to grow in the family business…I’d really appreciate it if you would please consider them for this move.”
“Suzette…your family has always been loyal to my family…consider it done.”
“Thank you sir, please do me another favor…please don’t mention this conversation to them…I will repay you in my own way…understood?”
The Don laughed as he replied, “Of course…I’ve always loved the way you pay ME for your favors…I will be in touch real soon!”
She hung up the phone as she stared out the window. She thought, “I always take care of my own…Andrew you will be alright, just you wait and see!”
Andrew
A week had passed since she died. I felt brave, full of hope when I left the house that morning to go to my wife’s funeral, but by the time I reached the parlor, I felt weary and discouraged. I really took my wife’s death extremely hard as I tried to cope with losing her. I loved her very much and I knew I had to get myself together if I was going to progress. My business depended on my tough judgment and stalwart business savvy, so I had to get over her death and I had to do it today. As the family limousines and flower cars pulled in front of the funeral parlor, My mother glanced over to me and said, “Andrew…I know you’re a strong man…but just remember a strong man lets his tears run!”
I glanced at her with a smile on my face as I replied, “You always know what to say at the right time, Momma.” “I’ll remember that.”
I quickly motioned for the driver to open the door of the limousine, put on my sunglasses and stepped out of the car. As I stepped out of the car, I was immediately greeted by several close business associates, members of the elite group known as the Creole Cartel, as well as members of the Costantino Crime Family. As they approached me, they all, one-by-one embraced me, each sliding an envelope containing large sums of money in it to me. It was done this way. Family took care of family business this way. The Creole Cartel always made sure that they took care of their own, ensuring that their family was taken care of and my family and me were the center of attention that day.
As I went in and walked slowly to observe her body, I noticed that the funeral director did an excellent job, making her look as if she was just sleeping. She was very beautiful as I stared at her for a long period. I just stood there for what seemed like an eternity before Momma walked up slowly and stood next to me. As she slowly put her hand on my left shoulder, she responded, “Andrew…let’s go sit down…she would want you to sit down.”
I shook my head in the affirmative as I slowly turned my head, looking down at my mother, speechless as I began to follow her back to our seat. I kept my sunglasses on as I sighed, sitting there gazing at my wife’s shell. As the funeral services went on, I did not say a word. I just sat there, taking in the whole service. This was my way of coping; this was my way of letting go. Several people stood up and paid their respects, reminiscing on the many good times they had with Sadie over the short years of her life. After hearing this, I could not hold back my tears when her cousin Mildred stood up and sung “Amazing Grace.” I tried but could not hold on as my Mother consoled me.
After the funeral was over, Jesse came over and sat down next to me as he said, “Brother…We need you…your child needs you!” “You must snap out of it and lead us.” “Lead us Andrew!”
I looked at him and replied, “Tomorrow…I will tomorrow, but today is Sadie’s day…today is for her!”
After the services, the funeral procession moved to the graveyard where Sadie was to be put to rest. Jesse walked over to me to give him some important news.
“Andrew…the Don just informed me that he wants you to take a little vacation, about a week or two, then he wants you to move your interests to the Midwest.”
I looked at him amazed as I replied, “Where in the Midwest…Chicago?”
“Naw…he wants you to run operations in Kansas City.” “He says it will do you some good…a change of scenery.”
“Kansas City…huh…well that would be a change…okay.” “Tell the Don…I would be honored to look out for his best interests in Kansas City Metropolitan area.”
*****
Several years lapsed since that day Sadie Marie pass away. I had been busy expanding my bogus textile empire, while my mother, Suzette Maria Bouvier-Laurie was raising my now sixteen-year-old daughter. The textile business was growing but not fast enough for my brother and my brother Jesse. I wanted my family to have more as I always searched for ways to make my money spread out. When I my made the command decision to relocate north to Kansas City to expand my resources under the directions of the Creole Cartel, it was a great idea. Of course, the textile business was just a front for this business. That business was my involvement in organized crime. You see I was part of the famous New Orleans Crime Family, one of the oldest American criminal organizations in activity which was based in New Orleans and parts of Southern Louisiana. My brother Jesse and I are active members, brought into the family by our deceased Papa, the late Don Joseph Weldon Laurie. My Grandpapa, Jefferson Chester Laurie was a one-time crime boss and Consigliere for the Northern sector, based in Lake Charles, Louisiana, until his death in 1947. My Grandpapa was a close associate of the great Renaldo Prentice Malveaux who was brought to the United States from France in 1911 and his family settled in a decaying Plantation house near Metairie, Louisiana. Renaldo, however, later turned to petty crimes in the French Quarter, which was then New Orleans' Little Italy. He was later imprisoned for leading a crew of teenage gangsters who carried out armed robberies in the small towns near New Orleans. These charges were later dropped, but the following year he was convicted of assault and robbery, and was sentenced to the State penitentiary for ten years, eventually serving just four.
In 1938, Malveaux was arrested and charged with the sale of more than 25 pounds of marijuana. Despite receiving another lengthy prison sentence and a $106,850 fine, Malveaux served less than ten months in prison. On his release from prison, Malveaux became a
ssociated with Frank Costello, the leader of the Genovese Crime Family in New York. By the end of 1939, Malveaux had taken control of Louisiana’s gambling network. He had also joined forces with the infamous mastermind, Martin Lee LeBlanc in order to take over and split the profits from some of the most important gambling casinos in the New Orleans area. Malveaux was also assigned a cut of the money skimmed from Las Vegas casinos in exchange for providing muscle in Florida real estate deals. By this time, Malveaux had been crowned as the Godfather of the Mafia in New Orleans by the family’s capos and the Commission. He held this position for the next 30 years. Rumor has it that my Grandpapa, Jefferson Chester Laurie was against this major effort and was assassinated for providing his strong opposition on the Commission’s choice. This occurred the same year that I was born. On March 24, 1959, Malveaux appeared before the Senate Committee investigating organized crime. Serving as chief counsel to the committee was Robert F. Kennedy; his brother, Senator John F. Kennedy, was a member of the committee. In response to committee questioning, Malveaux again invoked the Fifth Amendment by refusing to answer any questions relating to his background, activities, and associates.