Who was Frank Nitti, and why does his name still echo in the annals of American organized crime? Frank Nitti, born Francesco Raffaele Nitto on January 27, 1886, in Angri, Italy, rose from humble beginnings to become one of the most feared enforcers in the Chicago Outfit during Prohibition. Known as "The Enforcer," Nitti was Al Capone's right-hand man, managing the gang's finances and orchestrating ruthless tactics. His life, marked by a blend of financial acumen and brutal enforcement, saw him survive assassination attempts, extort Hollywood studios, and ultimately take his own life to avoid prison. Nitti's legacy remains a testament to the complexities and dangers of organized crime during that era.
Key Takeaways:
- Frank Nitti, also known as "The Enforcer," rose from a humble beginning in Italy to become a feared gangster in Chicago. His financial acumen and leadership within the Chicago Outfit during Prohibition left a lasting impact on American organized crime history.
- Despite his brutal methods, Frank Nitti's role as an enforcer and leader within the Chicago Outfit during Prohibition has been extensively documented in media and historical accounts, showcasing the complexities and dangers of organized crime during that era.
Early Life and Immigration
Frank Nitti, known as "The Enforcer," was a key figure in the Chicago Outfit during Prohibition. His journey from a humble beginning to a feared gangster is fascinating.
- Early Life: Born Francesco Raffaele Nitto on January 27, 1886, in Angri, Italy, he was the second child in his family.
- Immigration: At 12, Nitti emigrated to the United States, settling in Brooklyn, where his family lived near the Capone family.
- Name Change: In the U.S., he adopted the name Frank Nitto, later Americanized to Frank Nitti.
Career Beginnings
Before becoming a notorious gangster, Nitti had a different career path.
- Career as a Barber: Nitti worked as a barber in Chicago. His shop became a hub for buying and selling stolen goods.
- Entry into Organized Crime: Around 1913, he joined Johnny Torrio's gang in Chicago, a prominent figure in the underworld.
Rise with Al Capone
Nitti's association with Al Capone marked a significant turn in his criminal career.
- Rise with Al Capone: His association with Capone began when Torrio brought Capone to Chicago. Nitti quickly became one of Capone's most trusted lieutenants.
- Bodyguard and Enforcer: He served as both a bodyguard and enforcer for Capone, arranging gangland murders and ensuring they couldn't be traced back to him.
- Financial Acumen: Known for his financial skills, Nitti managed the distribution of liquor from Canada to Chicago speakeasies, earning the gang hundreds of millions of dollars.
Legal Troubles and Leadership
Nitti faced legal issues but continued to rise in the ranks of the Chicago Outfit.
- Tax Evasion Conviction: In 1930, Nitti pleaded guilty to income-tax evasion and served an 18-month prison sentence. During his imprisonment, he was placed in charge of the syndicate controlling Chicago's gambling, prostitution, and other rackets.
- Succession to Capone: After Capone's imprisonment for income tax evasion in 1931, Nitti took over as the acting boss of the Chicago Outfit, managing the organization's operations effectively.
Extortion Schemes and Assassination Attempts
Nitti's criminal activities included several high-profile extortion schemes and surviving assassination attempts.
- Extortion Schemes: In the 1930s, Nitti was involved in several extortion schemes, including one targeting Hollywood studios, extorting millions from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and 20th Century Fox.
- Attempted Assassination: In 1932, Nitti was the target of an assassination attempt by police detectives who claimed they were acting on orders from the mayor to break up gangsters' meetings. The attempt was later revealed to be a cover-up, and Nitti was acquitted.
- Survival of Assassination Attempt: Despite being shot three times in the back and neck by Detective Harry Lang, Nitti survived. Lang then shot himself to make the shooting look like self-defense.
- Trial and Acquittal: During his trial, testimony revealed that Lang had received $15,000 to kill Nitti. Another officer testified that Nitti was unarmed at the time of the shooting. Nitti was acquitted of attempted murder charges.
Hollywood Extortion and Final Days
Nitti's involvement in Hollywood extortion schemes led to his downfall.
- Extortion in Hollywood: In 1943, Nitti was charged with extorting millions from Hollywood studios, accused of threatening union trouble unless the studios paid him.
- Indictment and Suicide: On March 19, 1943, just hours before a New York federal grand jury handed down an indictment against him, Nitti shot himself while wandering drunkenly along a railroad track in a Chicago suburb. The indictment jeopardized the entire organization, and Nitti was expected to take the fall.
- Final Days: Nitti's severe claustrophobia made the prospect of serious prison time unbearable. He drank himself into a stupor before leaving his house with his revolver. Witnesses reported him drunkenly weaving around a railyard before he took his own life.
- Death: Nitti's death resulted from two self-inflicted gunshot wounds. The final shot went through his jaw and out the top of his head, leaving a smoking hole in his fedora.
Legacy and Media Portrayals
Despite his brutal methods, Nitti's legacy endures in popular culture and media.
- Legacy: Nitti is remembered as a strategic and financially savvy gangster who played a crucial role in the Chicago Outfit's operations during Prohibition.
- Portrayals in Media: Nitti has been portrayed by several actors in various films and TV shows, including Bruce Gordon in The Untouchables, Harold J. Stone in The St. Valentine's Day Massacre, and Sylvester Stallone in Capone.
- Influence on Popular Culture: Nitti's image has been used in various contexts, including an ice hockey goaltender named Antero Niittymäki who used an image of Nitti on his helmet due to the similarity of their names.
Relationship with Al Capone
Nitti's relationship with Al Capone was crucial to his rise in the Chicago Outfit.
- Relationship with Al Capone: Nitti and Capone were not cousins, despite media reports suggesting otherwise. However, their families lived nearby in Brooklyn and shared a common Italian heritage.
- Capone's Trust: Capone trusted Nitti with his life, placing him in charge of cash flow and other critical operations within the gang.
- Murder Arrangements: Nitti was responsible for arranging gangland murders, ensuring they could never be pinned on him or Capone. His organizational skills made him invaluable to the gang.
- Financial Management: Under Nitti's management, the gang earned hundreds of millions from liquor distribution and other rackets. His financial acumen helped stabilize the gang's operations during intense competition.
Extortion Tactics and Hollywood Schemes
Nitti's extortion tactics were brutal and effective, earning him the nickname "The Enforcer."
- Extortion Tactics: Nitti used various tactics to extort money from businesses, including threatening union trouble. His methods were often brutal and effective.
- Hollywood Extortion: In 1943, Nitti was accused of extorting millions from Hollywood studios. This scheme was uncovered, leading to his indictment and eventual suicide.
- Indictment Details: The indictment against Nitti included charges of trying to extort $1,000,000 from four motion-picture companies (Loew’s, Paramount, Twentieth Century–Fox, and Warner Brothers) under threat of "union trouble."
Leadership and Final Moments
Nitti's leadership in the Chicago Outfit and his final moments reveal the complexities of his life.
- Leadership Role: After Capone's imprisonment, Nitti took over as the acting boss of the Chicago Outfit, managing the organization's operations effectively.
- Ricca's Role: Paul "the Waiter" Ricca played a significant role in Nitti's final days. Ricca and other underbosses drove to Nitti’s house in the Chicago suburb of Riverside, urging him to plead guilty to limit the Outfit’s exposure.
- Balance of Power: The balance of power within the Outfit was evident in Ricca's insistence that Nitti plead guilty. This indicated a shift in leadership dynamics within the organization.
- New York Indictment: Just hours before the New York federal grand jury handed down the indictment, Nitti received a call from his lawyer informing him of the charges. This news led to his decision to take his own life.
- Final Moments: Witnesses reported Nitti drunkenly weaving around a railyard before he eventually sat down and used his revolver to take his own life. His severe claustrophobia made prison time unbearable.
- Death Scene: Nitti's death resulted from two self-inflicted gunshot wounds. The final shot went through his jaw and out the top of his head, leaving a smoking hole in his fedora.
Media Portrayals and Historical Significance
Nitti's life and career have been extensively documented in media and historical accounts.
- Media Portrayals: Nitti has been portrayed by several actors in various films and TV shows. These portrayals often highlight his role as an enforcer and his strategic involvement in the Chicago Outfit's operations.
- Historical Significance: Nitti's life and career are significant in understanding the history of organized crime in America during the Prohibition era. His rise to prominence and eventual downfall provide valuable insights into the dynamics of gangster organizations.
Personal Life and Legacy
Nitti's personal life and legacy continue to intrigue historians and the public.
- Personal Life: Nitti's personal life was marked by financial struggles. His wife, despite having a substantial illicit income, spent it on dice, cards, roulette, and horse racing. This led Nitti to pour his own money into the organization to keep it afloat.
- Legacy in Popular Culture: Nitti's image has been used in various contexts, including an ice hockey goaltender named Antero Niittymäki who used an image of Nitti on his helmet due to the similarity of their names.
- Historical Impact: Frank Nitti's impact on American history is substantial. His role as an enforcer and leader within the Chicago Outfit during Prohibition has been extensively documented in media and historical accounts.
- Significant Figure: Despite his brutal methods, Nitti remains a significant figure in American organized crime history. His life serves as a testament to the complexities and dangers of organized crime during that era.
Nitti's Enduring Legacy
Frank Nitti's life paints a vivid picture of the Prohibition era's underworld. Rising from a humble barber to Al Capone's trusted enforcer, Nitti's journey was marked by ruthless tactics and financial savvy. His role in the Chicago Outfit, especially after Capone's imprisonment, showcased his strategic mind and brutal enforcement methods. Despite his criminal activities, Nitti's influence on organized crime remains significant. His involvement in extortion schemes, particularly targeting Hollywood studios, highlighted his reach and ambition. Nitti's tragic end, driven by the fear of imprisonment, underscores the intense pressures faced by gangsters of his time. His story, filled with power struggles, loyalty, and ultimate downfall, continues to captivate those interested in the darker chapters of American history. Frank Nitti's legacy, though tainted by crime, offers a compelling glimpse into the complexities of the criminal underworld.
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