Born in Huntsville, Alabama in 1858 was the Godfather & Prime Minister of Chicago Policy. He was introduce to the numbers game while in New Orleans during his travels throughout the South. He later moved to Chicago's near Southside in 1885 on 29th & Federal St then later to 3135 S Rhodes Ave.
In the original Policy days, Sam hustled bets from would be gamblers in the neighborhood but more frequently at the downturn corner of State & Madison. When not there, he could be found in a section of State St known as Whiskey Row. Whiskey Row was a two block stretch on the west side of the street from Van Buren on the north to Harrison on the south. He was quite a gambler himself and would often be found at 311 S Clark St. in a gambling house. That house was owned by 3 people: Al Bryant, George Whiting, and John " Mushmouth" Johnson. This is where he mostly met Mushmouth and struck a deal.
In 1890, Johnson sold his interest in 311 and opened the Emporium Saloon at 464 S State St. with Sam's policy game became a featured attraction. The business flourished with political protection from 1st ward bosses Alderman Michael " Hinky Dink" Kenna and Committeeman John " Bathhouse" Coughlin.
By the turn of the century, Policy became good business with everybody playing from poor to wealthy. Policy stirred up gambling fever to a pitch comparable to the frenzy of the gold rush days. People were robbed at gunpoint in the streets. With this and the fire bombing of a church led to the Illinois Senate Bill #30: Anti Policy Law of 1905.
With the passing of the Anti Policy Law, the game went underground and Policy Sam went into the bail bond business. A year later in 1906 Mushmouth shut down the Emporium. But things changed political with William Hale " Big Bill" Thompson becoming Mayor in 1915. One of his quotes: " if you wanna gamble, go ahead and gamble! My police will have better things to do than worry about a little crap game". In that same year Chicago's first black city council member Oscar DePriest was elected Alderman of the 2nd ward. With an alliance between DePriest, Martin Madden, and Thompson the policy racket would flourish free from police interference. Sam got back in the racket and hooked up with Julius Benvenuti to open the first organized game was launched the Blue Racer Policy Wheel. Benvenuti's family store was the front.
But Sam being a generous fellow to a fault often gave away money to anyone with a need, went broke and dropped out the game. This continued for a few more times. He later jump back in the racket in 1923. He would attend the policy kings meeting later down the road in which was the formation of the Policy Syndicate but wasn't a member. Sam Young continued to be involved in the Policy racket until his death on May 18, 1937. He died in his sleep in his at 3155 Rhodes at the age 76. The Benvenuti brothers paid all expenses for the funeral and pick up the tab for shipping Sam's body to Louisville for the burial.
My source is Kings: True Story of Chicago's Policy Kings & Numbers Racketeers. I'll be posting more general summaries on other individuals and scenarios later. For anybody interested in the Policy racket in Chicago, I recommend this book for it's informative notes. Many events/people that you can't find in-depth information on the net.
