He dropped out of school in the sixth grade and was arrested for the first time at age 15. On June 27, 1933, Humphreys was indicted by the Federal grand jury in Chicago on a charge of income-tax evasion. Did they ever recover any of it? Since Frank Nitti committed suicide in 1943, Tony Accardo has frequently been considered the leader of the Capone syndicate. Sam "Golf Bag" Hunt, whose real name is Samuel McPherson Hunt, has been closely associated with many prominent members of the Capone syndicate including Murray Humphreys, Ralph Pierce, Jack Guzik, Charles Fischetti, and others. You say that happened in Wisconsin? Meet Tony Accardo, The Elusive Chicago Mobster Who Succeeded Al Capone. On June 7, 1934, when he was arrested, he was in the company of Matt Capone, Ralph Capone, brothers of Al, and Denis Cooney, who was a powerful figure in the Capone syndicate. At the time of Mangano's death he was riding in a car owned by Cavaliera. It was claimed that Joe Adonis had an interest along with members of the syndicate. It is quite a long statement, and it is understandable that he couldn't do it; but he did try to do it. Peskin's principal office for juke-box distribution in southern California is located at 2663-67 West Pike Boulevard, Los Angeles, where he did business under the name of J. Peskin Distributing Co. Another important syndicate man is Rocco De Stefano, alias Rocco Nicholas De Stefano. Mr. Peterson's statement will take approximately 4 or 4 1/2 hours more and he has to leave at 5 o'clock tomorrow afternoon; so, much as the committee hates to work overtime and anybody else hates to work overtime, we will have to go on for 30 minutes this afternoon. The CHAIRMAN. But Nitti quickly found himself in a tangle of legal issues, and he died by suicide in 1943. That was the Retail Clerks International Protective Association, Local 1248. The thing is, Accardo wasn't the type of guy you made fun of, and the burglars would find outvery soon. And he and Swanson also had their throats slashed. On July 30, 1931, O'Hara was indicted by the Cook County grand jury on a charge of conspiracy. I believe Mr. Newton from Denver. Mr. PETERSON. Among the most important syndicate members operating out of Cicero at the present time are Joseph Aiuppa, Claude Maddox, Joseph Corngold, and Willie Heeney. Feedback or questions? Many of them remained in the same field following prohibition. In the opinion of at least the chairman of this committee, you are outstanding in the work that you have done in your experience and you are well qualified to be of service to the committee in telling us not only the matters about the situation in Chicago but in other sections of the country. But despite his violent tendencies, Accardo also had a reputation for a quiet and calm demeanor that allowed him to climb the ranks of the Outfit faster than anyone had ever done before. I do not think you have been sworn. Numerous others have grown to power and have become influential within the organization. In the first place, in order to have an understanding of organized crime in America today, it is necessary to review the growth and development of some of the major criminal gangs of approximately three decades ago. On May 29, 1936, the charges against De Stefano were nolle prossed on the grounds that there was not sufficient evidence of identity as to the robbery but that he probably did assist in disposing of the stolen goods. Capone had already established himself as a tough gunman with the Five Points gang of New York City. On October 27, 1934, Humphreys pleaded guilty to income-tax evasions and was sentenced to serve 18 months in the Federal penitentiary and was fined $5,000. He was also alleged to be the owner of the Turf Club, Touhy and Western Avenues, a gasoline station across the street from the Turf Club, and a two-flat building in Skokie, Ill. It appears that he did proceed to New York City and was grilled by the grand jury in connection with that case. Anthony Spilotro was a soldier and enforcer for the Chicago Outfit who was . On December 22, 1943, Nick De Grazio appeared as a witness for a defendant in a rape case. Regardless of the truth of that allegation, it is definitely known that, upon the death of Colosimo, John Torrio became the lord of Chicago's underworld. HEARINGS BEFORE THE The heat on Accardo intensified after that when the FBI searched his house and found $275,000, with some money bundles wrapped in bank wrappers from the Valley Bank in Las Vegas. I have the one extra copy that I gave to your committee here. This killing was in connection with the street-cleaners union. Pat Manno has been in association with a number of nationally known gangsters at hotels in Miami Beach, Fla., during the past season, and that Manno also owns a residence at 5812 Pinetree Drive, Miami Beach, Fla., which is in his wife's name, Dorothy Manning. Taran was finally located in Brainerd, Minn. De Lordo was named by James Egan, the payoff man in the gang killing of Martin (Sonny Boy) Quirk, which killing occurred on September 18, 1943, as having been implicated with John Joseph Williams and others in the killing. No, that was not the name. Senator WILEY. And this year who is the president? The De Grazios. The Italian-American Mafia, known as La Cosa Nostra, was doing great. No, it was a State-wide trade liquor association. This evidence was not considered sufficient to sustain a conviction. As I understand it, today you are testifying on behalf of the American Municipal Association. Anthony De Lordo, another Chicago hoodlum, is reported to have been in Florida and to have been in contact there with Sam H. Taran. That is the King's Ransom Scotch. Chicago History Museum/Getty ImagesThe St. Valentines Day Massacre saw seven associates of Chicagos North Side Gang gunned down. The St. Valentines Day Massacre sent shockwaves throughout Chicago, causing the government to crack down harder on organized crime in the city. Steven Garcia's throat had also been slashed from ear to ear, but instead of being shot, Garcia had multiple stab wounds. It was also understood that Epstein visited Mexico City in the early part of 1949, where he met Virginia. In 1924 he began operating the Evans Co., at 311 Curtiss Street. Other members of the Capone family include Mafalda, a sister, who is married to John Maritote, who is a brother of Frank Maritote, commonly known as Frank Diamond, who was also involved in the million dollar extortion plot on the movie industry. He is a close friend of Tony Accardo, and was also closely associated with Nick Circella, alias Nick Dean, one of the Capone gang members convicted in the extortion case. He has also been known to maintain close relations with some of the individuals who have been prominently identified with the underworld on the east coast. He was later indicted in connection with this matter, but not convicted. And if you think Al Capone was a ruthless gangster, take a look at his bloodthirsty brother Frank Capone. That is right. As a matter of background, he is a cousin of Al Capone and has been an important member of the syndicate for the greater part of three decades. He is a felon, having been sentenced to the Federal penitentiary to serve 1 1/2 years for violation of the National Prohibition Act in 1932. He was in partnership in one gambling joint with Tony Accardo. He is known as a gunman and dangerous. They forced the chief of police out, as a matter of fact. Thank you very much, Mr. Peterson. This man's name is Lester A. Kruse. However, that association began before that time, where both the Fischettis and the Kings have spent a large amount of time recently. In recent years August Circella owned and operated the Gold Coast Lounge, on North Rush Street. That was their testimony. On May 12, 1920, the press reported that the Chicago headquarters for race information for the entire United States was located in the office of the General News Bureau operated by Mont Tennes at 431 South Dearborn Street, Chicago. Another individual who should receive the attention of the committee is Joseph Epstein, a big betting commissioner in Chicago who has been very close to Virginia Hill, the girl friend of Benjamin (Bugsey) Siegel of the New York mob for many years. Mr. SHENKER. On November 20, 1930, he was found guilty and sentenced to a term of 5 years in the Federal penitentiary and fined $7,500. Mr. PETERSON. He was 86 years old a remarkable achievement for someone who had spent most of his life in such a dangerous business. In October, Accardos houseboy, native Sicilian Mike Volpe, vanished weeks after testifying in front of a grand jury investigating the slayings linked to the January break-in. He also has been associated with important racketeers in various parts of the country. It will be noted that Epstein is a big betting commissioner; and, in view of the fact that Virginia Hill has been so closely identified with Benjamin (Bugsey) Siegel of the New York mob and Allen Smiley, Epstein assumes some importance with reference to the Nation-wide gambling set-up. The CHAIRMAN. Anthony John Spilotro (May 19, 1938 - June 14, 1986), nicknamed "Tony the Ant", was an American mobster and high ranking member for the Chicago Outfit in Las Vegas during the 1970s and '80s.. Spilotro managed the Outfit's illegal casino profits (the "skim") when four of the casinos, The Stardust, The Fremont, The Hacienda, and The Marina, were managed by Frank Rosenthal, replacing Outfit . In 1947 on financial records Peskin listed the name of his company as the Chicago Automatic Music Co. Aiuppa was also arrested in connection with the slaying of James D. Larrisen, on April 7, 1944, in the tavern of Matt Capone. Of course, Torrio is no longer active. At the time, he passed his days playing with his grandkids, including his daughter Marie's. One of the early bodyguards of Capone was Louis (Little New York) Campagna. Throughout the United States the mob held sway. Needless to say, Accardo bought the house for a very nice price. In his later years, Tony Accardo would fiercely deny that he was ever a mob boss. I have no control over anybody, Accardo testified. The price for the misdeed would be paid in blood. They changed the ordinance to read differently than it had before, which took his control over the chief of police. Show more Show more. Mr. PETERSON. Campagna was convicted in Federal court in New York City again with Paul Ricca and John Roselli from California and Louis Kaufman from the East, and others. I would have to check on that. The CHAIRMAN. The CHAIRMAN. All Rights Reserved, Copyright 2019, Thomas P. Hunt, Whiting, VT 05778. And so he bought a twenty-two room mansion at 915 Franklin Avenue for $125,000. Phil was an intelligent and fair gangster. In recent years Humphreys has been associated with Guzik, "Little New York" Campana and many other prominent members of the Capone syndicate. Sedway's testimony apparently did not carry a whole lot of weight, as the final 11,500-page Kefauver Committee report included just four pages from the Las Vegas proceedings. Sedway's testimony apparently did not carry a whole lot of weight, as the final 11,500-page Kefauver Committee report included just four pages from the Las Vegas proceedings. On September 25, 1932, a doorman to a road house located on Lake Street west of Mannheim Road was killed. This Lester A. Kruse, the fellow I am talking about, on April 26, 1940, a Federal grand jury returned three indictments before Federal Judge James A. Wilkerson, naming Western Union and 18 gamblers and horse-race-news distributors as operators of schemes to take over the lucrative racing information business abandoned by Moe Annenberg. He claims that he is a citizen. They bought 150 juke boxes which they distributed and took about 70 spots away from Peskin. I will be glad to do that when I get back. On June 26, 1931, Lawrence Imburgio was arrested in a roadhouse near Wheaton, Ill. in company of Claude Maddox, Tony Capezio, Rocco De Grazio, and Doc Stacey. It was said that the syndicate maintained an iron-hand control over the Chicago union and that the president of the union had been handing envelopes containing money for a long period of time to Nick Circella alias Nick Dean, and later to Ralph Capone. I can check it through our files. The first floor contained a saloon, cafe, and the office of Torrio. Then Michael Volpe, the man responsible for watching the house, was called to testify. And for a while, it was unclear who the best man for the job would be. Accardo was vacationing in California at the time of the robbery. Claude Maddox has been a prominent member of the syndicate for many years. His father left unfulfilled a dying promise to arrange for Buddy's care after he was gone. He has exerted a considerable amount of political influence there. The CHAIRMAN. In 1946 it was alleged in a statement made by James M. Ragen to the State's attorney that Guzik, together with Tony Accardo and Murray Humphreys as representatives of the Capone syndicate were attempting to muscle into the Continental Press. In 1941 the press reported that on the North Side and in the northwest suburbs the juke-box industry was under the control of Eddie Vogel, an important Capone syndicate member. Hetogs was the final member of the crew of burglars who could have been or were involved in the burglary of Accardo's home. Levinson had a successful jewelry store on North Clark Street. On April 1, 1924, there was virtually an armed invasion of Cicero. By all accounts he still was the most powerful mobster in Chicago, and thus a good man to have as a friend. TESTIMONY OF VIRGIL W. PETERSON, OPERATING DIRECTOR, CHICAGO CRIME COMMISSION, REPRESENTING THE AMERICAN MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION. Bettmann/Contributor/Getty ImagesA young Tony Accardo in 1930, when he was still moving up in the ranks of the mob. Harry Russell, proprietor of the Silver Bar, 400 South State Street, Chicago, is a big-time gambler with affiliation with some of the most important, members of the Capone syndicate. The Government interpreted pari-mutuel betting odds and racing results as lottery price lists and alleged these defendants conspired to decentralize Nationwide News Service.and take over its business through the formation of Continental Press Service of which Arthur McBride was then director. In this infamous incident, four unknown men viciously gunned down seven men who worked for George Bugs Moran, Capones most notorious rival. Campagna was one of those restrained in that order that I mentioned a few moments ago from looting the treasury of the Bartenders and Beverage Dispensers Union, Local 276 in 1940. "Tony Accardo is Joe Batters" takes place in 1920s America and introduces the title character, Tony Accardo, a brutal associate of Al Capone and notorious hired killer for the mob. He called 911 straight away. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Long-lost ship found at the bottom of Lake Huron, confirming story of tragic collision, TikTok to set default daily time limit of up to 60 minutes for minors, Jaguars, narcos, illegal loggers: One mans battle to save a Guatemalan jungle and Maya ruins, TikTok faces bans in a number of countries over security fears. He has been prominently identified with big-scale gambling by James M. Ragen up until recent years. The following year he was convicted for robbery in St. Louis, Mo. The CHAIRMAN. Kastel received large sums of money for the promotion of William Whitely liquors in the United States through the Alliance Distributors, which was controlled by Irving Haim in 1934 Costello obtained the agency contract for Whitely brands which he transferred to Alliance Distributors, of which Irving Haim was the principal owner. Mr. Peterson, what are the Whitely brands? Campagna originally came from New York City, and at first it is claimed that he hung around Taylor and Halsted Streets in the old "bloody twentieth" ward in Chicago. The indictment was dismissed after Al Capone was convicted of income-tax evasion and sentenced to the Federal penitentiary. Some sources claimed that Torrio, who had already established himself as a tough gangster in New York, was sent to Colosimo by Frank Uale. ORGANIZED CRIME IN INTERSTATE COMMERCE, UNITED STATES SENATE I don't know whether the "A" stands for Arnold or not. "Chew Tobacco" Ryan, Hymie "Loud Mouth" Levin - I think that should have been Jack - Harry "Greasy Thumb" Guzik, the owners of the 400 Club at 29 West Randolph, and Maurice L. Goldstein operated an unlicensed radio-broadcasting station in violation of the Federal Communications Act in 1934. The third indictment named Edward M. Dobkin, Cornelius J. Sullivan, James Rossi, alias James Ross, all Chicago gamblers, and charged them with receiving Continental Press News and distributing it from the Victoria Hotel to numerous bookies. All of you remember him undoubtedly. In 1946 Hunt had an interest in a tavern at Sixty-third and Cottage Grove Avenue, Chicago. The CHAIRMAN. Other big betting commissioners in Chicago include Edward M. Dobkin, who has maintained offices at 325 West Madison Street, Chicago, as well as at other addresses. Another important individual who apparently has had a falling out after the Moving Picture Operators Union, but his name should be remembered, is Nick Circella, alias Nick Dean. The CHAIRMAN. I have no control over anybody, he said. He was taken to the Jackson Park Hospital in Chicago, where he recovered. De Stefano controls a chain of retail liquor stores in which Fusco is supposed to have an interest or did have an interest. Several years ago August Circella was one of the owners of the notorious Colony Club on Chicago's North Side. Torrio was arrested and so were numerous other individuals. 1 and the czar of business rackets in Chicago. Hunt was indicted for murder and his chauffeur, Hyman Gottfreed, alias Hy Godfrey, was indicted as an accessory. He returned to Chicago after having served his Federal sentence on February 27, 1934. Hunt has been prominently identified with the underworld as a gunman for many years. For a while, Frank Nitti stepped up to take Capones place as boss. 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