The Philadelphia poison ring was a murder for hire gang led by Italian immigrant cousins, Herman and Paul Petrillo, in 1930s Philadelphia, where the Italian community had more than doubled in 20 years from 76,734 in 1910 to over 155,000 by 1930 - just before the murder ring began operations. The activities of the ring came to light in 1938 and the cousins were ultimately convicted of first degree murder and executed by electric chair in 1941.