Colosimo was basically a small-timer--a former streetsweeper and pimp. The Black Handers were shaking him down unmercifully, which is why he had to call on his nephew, Johnny Torrio, to come to Chicago and protect him. He was also smitten, head over heels, with Dale Winter, a singer in his supper club, and wasn't paying attention to the upcoming possibilities of the booze trade.