.....also, THE Outfits prime overseer during the 50s and 60s of both the policy and prostitution rackets on the South Side, Ralph Pierce, followed by his close associate Hyman Godfrey...


Pierce


Godfrey

Sam Young - Born in Huntsville,AL in1858 played baseball as a teen and traveled with a team between Memphis and other Southern cities. One thing he enjoyed more than baseball was gambling as the legend goes. He was known as an avid gambler who loved riverboats, especially in New Orleans. He would learned a numbers game while in New Orleans and later would reinvent it. He married Ada Miller in 1885 and moved to Chicago.They first lived on 29th & Federal St, later moved to 31st & S Rhodes Ave.

Sam hustled bets in the neoghborhood but more frequently at the downtown corner of State & Madison. When not there, he was at "Whiskey Row" on State street. Sam would be hustling Policy bets and pulling winning numbers from his hat. Additionally at 311 S Clark St in which this gambling house was owned by Al Bryant, George Whiting, & John " Mushmouth" Johnson. It was here that most likely Sam Young & John Johnson struck a deal and around 1890 Johnson sold his interest in 311 & opened the Emporium Saloon ( 464 S State St). Sam's Policy game became a featured attraction. The Emporium flourished with the political protection of the local Democratic Party especially from Michael Kenna and John Coughlin. The Policy stirred up a gambling fever at the beginning of the 1900s that people were being robbed at gunpoint in the streets. Things got so bad that in 1903, Reverend Reverdy Ransom of the Institutional AME Church And Settlement House at 3825 S Dearborn St attacked the evils of Policy gambling and it's evil influences in the communitu from his pulpit. In an attempt to shut Ransom up, somebody firebombed his church. Citizens took the streets in protest and even Policy Sam embraced Ransom with full support. The firebombing of the church led to the passing of Illnois Senate Bill #30: An Act for the Prevention of Policy Playing: The Anti Policy Law of 1905 (rev.1949).

Edward Morris ( Attorney) met with Ransom and together recruited Ed Green( Republican/ IL House Of Representative) in which Green drafted and introduced the bill. The bill succeeded in having the law passed. Green deplored the Policy racketeers of those days and on the floor of the House proclaimed:
[" The Policy trust has established its lures near the schools in Chicago and it's owners grow rich on the pennies they steal from the school children...money given them to buy lunch.. Under present law, Patsy King walked out of the criminal court in Chicago snapping his fingers at the judge." ]
When the Anti Policy Law pass, the game went underground and Policy Sam went into bail bond business.

To be continued*

Sorry for bumping my post again, but the psycho bitch with multiple accounts is stalking me again.
-----------------------------------
Cool detailed info @BlackFam and tnx.

Few questions...some sources say that even though the policy game was always considered black mans racket, still legend goes that King was allegedly the one that devised the game. Sam Young was allegedly a simple porter on the gambling boats when he met King who in turn taught Sam on how the game worked and so they started operating together. Is this true?

Also, by 1903 Mushmouth Johnson, King Patsy, Sam Young, King Foo and one of Mike Kenna’s underlings and gambling operator, Tom McGinnis, they all controlled the policy wheel companies called the ''The Union and the Phoenix'', which were headquartered at The Emporium. So, who was the "boss" or was this a simple business partnership?

Btw, was Bob Motts white or black racketeer? Im asking this because he was one of Johnsons first gambling partners but later some type of bad blood between them and so as a sign of retaliation, Motts used his connections with Illinois congressman Edward Green to press anti-policy legislation.

1st Question:
Within the book it states : Patsy King was a White riverboat gambling buddy of Sam's, who hit town looking to get in on the action not long after Sam arrived. Patsy could have been the first guy that Sam tested the game on. In fact, it is noted that Patsy invented the Policy game, but stronger evidence and memories of old-timers still around as of this writing credit Sam Young with originating the game. The two were friends and became business adversaries when Patsy opened a flower shop as a front for Policy and other gambling action.

2nd Question:
Business partnership.

3rd Question:
Bob Motts? There's no-one of that name that i came across unless you meant Robert T. Motts ( Black racketeer). He used to work for Mushmoth at the Emporium but as the profits grew, he put his own bankroll together and launched his own theater: The Pekin Theater (2700 South State St).

In 1906 Mushmouth shutdown the Emporium and opened the Frontenac Club on 22nd Street and continued to operate until the day he died in his home( Sept 13,1907).

Ok and thanks again.

Regarding "Bob Motts"...we might be talking about the same person (Robert aka Bobby etc.)...obviously if he was the one who went against Johnson and his buddies..

.....yup, we are talking about the same guy....

Ah! So it's his nickname, make sense. Are you using the newspaper archives by chance?

Yup (since the days when the Chi Tribune used to be free or in beta version lol) mainly regarding cases and individuals from the early days when there wasnt any FBI files or special surveillances. Also, the whole MCClellan hearings from the early 50s are also quite useful regarding the early period, since they went way back by researching more than 40 years in the past. In fact, these were also the prime sources for most books regarding black policy in Chicago, mainly because by the 1960s the racket was on the downfall and was slowly being replaced with narcotics and prostitution. I mean, dope and hookers goes the same way as gambling and loan sharking.

.....btw, here are two more articles regarding Motts...in addition, one grand in those days was around $35,000 in todays cash....and btw who the hell was Al Brown during the 1900s? Ive seen his name more than few times and I got interested because more than a decade later Capone used the same allias...

....some additional info on the Manno bros....

......and this one too since the CCC or the government had listening devices during the 1940s, way before the FBI...

Sorry again for bumping my post for the second time, but as @DiLorenzo once said, the psycho stalker bitch with multiple accounts is after me again.

....also, Im trying to find the recordings from the 1940s, but if anyone else can do it, please post them. Thats probably some quite rare and spectacular info especially regarding the Outfits invasion on Dallas

Mushmouth Johnson was known as the " Millionaire Black Policy King" though at the time of his death , it was believed his fortune was at $250K. A different account claims Mushmouth told a friend: " I have spent more than $100K for fines and a hugh sum for police protection. I have had to pay out $4 dollars for every ond i took in at the game". After his death, Robert Motts became the new gambling big shot and held title until his death in 1911. Henry Teenan & Charlie " Giveadamn" were later run out of Hyde Park by a reform group and relocated their business to State street.

The Elite Club ( 3100 block) & Elite #2 ( 3445) were jazz clubs owned by the brothers ( Henry & Charlie). At this moment the Policy racket had remained underground and penny ante street hustle. Until the election of Big Bill & Oscar DePriest in 1915 and alliance with Committeeman Martin Madden gave city jobs to many Blacks. Policy started to fliurish free from police interference. Policy Sam re-entered the racket and partnered up with Julius Benvenuti. Julius offered Sam the opportunity to run the game from his family's store and the first organized Policy game was created: Blue Racer Policy.

Patsy King would soon later launched the Frankfort Henry and Kentucky wheels. Others will start their own wheels such William " Bill" Bottoms & Virgil Williams who owned 2 of the hottest spots in Bronzeville. Bottoms owned the Dreamland Cafe at 35th & State & Virgil owned the Royal Gardens at 459 East 31st Street. Lucrative wheels but short lived due to not having enough bank to sustain a large payoff. Policy Sam dropped out again due to being generous to a fault ( giving money away to anyone with a just need).

Great stuff @H and thanks again.



Thanks again @BlackFam for the additional and detailed info.

Interesting that the old racketeers like McDonald, Tennes, O'Leary, Johnson, King, the Gazzolos, Benvenutis or Young were involved in numerous conflicts, including bombing wars, but there were only few victims (if any) and they always helped the poor population, while on the other hand they took their money with the help of false hope. My point is that before the 1920s, the richest racketeers rarely killed someone but instead they mainly targeted their rivals' most lucrative joints and operations, and also kept the trust from the poor population. With the southern Italians was always different aka more brutal.

Your welcome TooDoped and more to come. One thing though is that they did carried weapond on themselves of course.

Thats right since Ive seen at least few articles in which some of those rich black racketeers were robbed (stickup style) by low level street thugs, although by the 1960s things changed with trigger happy individuals like Mack, Riviera and Shaky Tom.

1960s is the shift for the entire Chicago underworld. Continuing the Policy racket era with more highlights from the book.

After Policy Sam left the game , Giveadam Jones was the front runner. The next city elections came with a challenge for the Thompson-DePriest machine due to the State's attorney Maclay Hoyne. This resulted in DePriest being indicted by Grand Jury and Henry Teenan turned state witness. DePriest beat the case but dropped out the political race. Despite this turn of event, Policy Sam returned to the game in 1923 via a bankroll from Julius Benvenuti. Sam launched the Interstate-Springfield Policy Wheel.

Next part covered your area of research involving the fued between Capone & the Northside Mob. A comment on Al Capone & his association with the Black Belt by Charles E Gaines: " Al Capone was the greatest friend that Black folks ever had..he lived down the street from my fathet...If Capone would have listened to his Black lawyers, like Ed Morris, he'd never have gone to jail."

Again, great stuff and thanks.

Thats right, during the 60s a shift occurred within Chicago's underworld, mainly because of the feds and also because of confidential informants. Believe it or not, Ralph Pierce gave a lot of info on the policy operations and other Outfit-connected gambling schemes. And its quite interesting that the large number of policy runners "transformed" into street drug dealers and in fact, the leading black racketeers already had their game set up and they only needed to change their "product" or "satisfaction" for the poor population. Thats why, during that same time, some Outfit leaders wanted to control the dope trade with the help of their black associates, but the Outfits top admin said "No!". In fact, that was one of the main breaking points between the Outfit and their former black associates.

Regarding Capone...yes, I think ive seen that comment before and we all know its because of Torrio's/Capone's Italian and Irish political connections which largely contributed to the prostitution, policy and numbers, clubs and other rackets that were controlled by black racketeers, including their music. In return, the black gangsters gave their ppls votes. Neither Colosimo, Torrio, Capone nor Ricca ever had any problems with black OC, until the younger and more greedy Italian generation came on the scene. And if you think about it, even after Giancana's so-called "attack" on the black rackets, there was still some type of "peace" and business agreement between the two ethnic crime groups. Some of the black crime groups already had the power to go against the Outfit but they didnt do it, not until the late 60s/early 70s.

Probably the Italians back then,if alive today ,would rather be around some of the Black mob guys back then,than around some of the Italians in the mob today
For one thing ,just the way they dressed alone

No doubt! LOL

True the old timers didn't have any prejudices Italians, Blacks, Irish, Jewish, Greek, Germans etc...

Those were the norm in that timeframe of this country. I cannot overstate every single time it's brought up here or other online platforms. Please look at how EVERYONE dressed in that era, rather it's plain to luxury tailor made. What we call casual attire/church clothes now was the everyday attire a hundred years ago.

Today the whole dressing code is fucked up in both the private and public sectors, even in the mob (except for the yakuza maybe). People are wearing "rainbow" shirts under suits and also some type of funny sneakers and pink socks, or they come dressed on meetings or at work like they live in some jungle or walked in their local bar or something.

Back in the old days, most of the old racketeers came from very poor background and when they made their riches, they wanted to express it by wearing expensive tailor-made suits, with the golden clips and diamond belts, including pinky rings and white or green fedoras. It was their mentality at the time because of their poor history, same as when some of the old black drug dealers and later old hip hop artists became rich and famous and also began wearing thick gold chains, diamond rings, gold teeth and fur coats. If you want to test poor man's character, give him money and power and you'll witness a different picture, although to be honest the old racketeers and atists were the "lesser evil" but still they created the base of all future OC in the US, especially in Chicago.

1920s Highlights Pt.1:

* One of Capone's methods of shipping booze to his southern allies was via coffins carrying deceased Blacks home for their burial. Dan Gaines ( a bookie) & John Wooley ( beer truck driver) was employed by Capone.

* During the "Pineapple Primary" ( Dec 1927- April 1928),  Attorney Octavious Granady along with his passengers were fired upon by unknown assilants on the primary election day. He died but his 2 friends survived, one of them being Euclid Taylor. Octavious was running against Morris Eller ( Capone backed) for 20th Ward committeeman.

* Daniel " The Embalmer"Jackson awas elected to 2nd Ward committeeman during the 1928 primary. He was a close ally & friend with Bill Thompson. He owned legit businesses and several gambling joints. He employed Robert A. Cole to managed one at 35th & State. Cole also owned a couple of gambling joints as well.

* Dan Jackson replace Illinois Commerce Commissioner via chose by the Illinois Govener Len Small. This  allowed him to be the principal liason between the Policy Kings & every branch of municipal, county, & state government.

* The Kelley brothers benefited significantly from Dan's influence. Louis B. Anderson also provided protection as he was the 2nd Ward alderman after DePriest and father-in-law to IIy ( pronounced eye-lee). Walter was a stockholder in the Binga State Bank.

* Among other connections Walter & Ily have included the Everleigh sisters. Their Tia Juana Wheel became the leading wheel in Bronzeville earning $3,000 a day in 1927. They only experienced one significant raid that in which Ily & 95 others were hauled off from their HQ at 29th & State.

* The Kelley Brothers used their networking skills and donations for election time supporting the Republican Party's slush fund - America First. The combo of Jackson-Anderson-Keely alliance paid off multiple officials - judges, precinct captains, cops, government administrators,& even clergy members.

* In July of 1928 , Dan Jackson was indicted and arrested for vote fraud. Despite the investigation and later upwards to 50 people being arrested including the Benvenuti brothers, Policy Sam, and James " Jimmy" Williams; the defense attorney motioned all of the evidence to be suppressed on grounds that police had no search warrant.

Thanks for the additional info buddy and please keep it coming.

Btw, was alderman Louis Anderson on the same level as DePriest previously was? Meaning in power and stuff...

Absolutely TD.

1920s Highlight Pt.2 ( end)

* In late 1928, a grand jury summones by Sheridan Bruseaux ( Chief Investigator) aimed at Policy Sam, Julius Benvenuti, Walter Kelley, Dan Gaines, Charles Ferrill, DePriest, and Clarence "Pop" Lewis. Clarence owned the Monte Carlo Policy Wheel & Platinum Lounge inside the Vincennes Hotel at 601 E 36th St. None of the subpoenas reached due to everybody skipping town to Detroit.

* While in Detroit, the Policy Kings establish partnerships with locals such as the Kelley brothers operating the Tia Juana Interstate Policy Wheel with Ledell "Lee" Williams and Floyd " Bee" Mitchell.

* A new grand jury was sworn in and another probe into the Policy activities in the 2nd, 3rd, & 4th wards. This time a star witness emerged by the name of Harry Lewis. He was the former secretary of Dan Jackson and gave the testimomy that dealt a heavy blow to the Policy operators. He exposed how payoffs were made ( $50-300 to cops & politicians) , named prominent politicians whom was taking bribes, and exposed the revenue of the Tia Juana wheel ( $80,000 a day over 4 drawings).

* Harry's testimony led to the indictment of DePriest, Charlie Ferril, Bennie Hirshberg, Maxie Barbour, Frank " Bat" Lewis, Patrick Brady, Dan Jackson, Jack Hardy, and Carter H. Hayes. The remainder of the investigation was put on hold due to Jackson's wife pasting away from health complications in October. Along with the holiday season during the interim, the grand jury was dismissed.

*In 1929, John Swanson , as State Attorney, continued the focus on the policy operators picking up where the grand jury had left off. At that time it was an estimated 200 policy wheels active from 22nd to 79th streets and payoffs were disguised as campaign contributions through the America First Campaign. Yet a significant event would shift focus away from the policy racket and put the full attention of the public, law enforcement , and State's attorney: St. Valentine's Day Massacre.

*On May 15th, 1929 Dan Jackson died from acute flu. The grand jury was dismissed and central control of his Policy racket was up for grabs. Al Capone being jailed in Philly on phony gun charges and congress soon repealing the Volstead Act marked a shift in the 1930s. Chicago would have more than 10,000 gambling joints, 30 alone in the Loop within steps of each other with the city streets littered with gambling receipts. The 30s will develop a major Policy syndicate.

Thanks again @BlackFam for the great info.

Still cant believe the cash which those guys made during those days ONLY from gambling and policy, and if we also include their income from bootlegging, prostitution and narcotics, they were obviously billionares. The Outfits street tax was probably "nickles and dimes" for the black racketeers at the time, which was probably the main reason for the long and peaceful collaboration between the two ethnic crime groups.

Also, the Loop and South Side were probably the main areas regarding the previous peaceful collaboration between the syndicates, hence the close connections of the so-called Outfit southsiders like Guzik, Hunt, Alex and Pierce with the black racketeers. As we already know, later Giancana, Volpe and Campagna from the West Side realized that they were able to get more money with the help of brutal force, instead of receiving only street tax.

Ive seen Dan Jackson's name in more than few articles from the old days and it seems he was one of the prime players, as you already stated. Also, I always wondered on whether the black syndicates who were loyal to the Outfit had some involvement in the whole corruption regarding the St. Valentines Day massacre, mainly because of their political and criminal contacts around the Midwest?!

Btw, here are few interesting articles from the 1920s.....

From 1923...







From 1922...



From 1929....



From 1930....

....another article from 1921...

Thanks for sharing all of these archival gems, especially the Crowe raids. I'm not confident in any influence the Black racketeers had around the St. Valentines Massacre since the rivalry between the Capaone Mob & Northside Mob didn't impact them directly. An attitude was that their violence was outside of bronzeville and didn't concern bronzeville per say.