Great stuff @H and thanks again.
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).
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.
