Guzik and Humphreys

Chicago or anyone else, did any of your sources tell you anything about the role of Jack Guzik? Most sources say he was the connection guy before Humphreys, but I wonder if they actually overlapped in different roles. Humphreys was also a killer and a labor racketeer. I'm wondering if they were actually equal, but that when Guzik died Humphreys took over his jobs too. Humphreys seems to have been one of a very small group of non-Italians who had top roles in the Outfit. I'd like to hear different opinions.

I'll weigh in here for some comments. I'm sure Chicago has lots of info about this.

IMO, Humphreys had a great criminal mind. According to the literature he would much rather "pay someone off" as opposed to killing them . He also detested publicity. He was apparently a likable person who got along well with just about everyone.

Humphreys was involved in the famous Ricca pardon that resulted from the Hollywood Extortion case. A lot of strings were pulled to get Ricca an early pardon. Accardo was also heavily involved. I would highly recommend reading this story.

Humphreys also spoke freely to the top echelon guys. He appeared to have no problem expressing his opinion to Ricca, Accardo and others. He cautioned Accardo about the big mansion saying, "you'll stick out like a sore thumb." "The good money doesen't go to the suburbs." Accardo didn't listen and later regretted he purchased the house. He (Accardo) said he should have listened to Hump.

Mad Sam was another person who irritated Humphreys. Sam's erratic behavior drew too much attention and Hump expressed his displeasure to Ricca and Accardo. He also cautioned Ricca and Accardo about Giancana not showing up for meetings and creating a lot of publicity for The Outfit. There's also an incident at the Armory Lounge where Giancana had one of his men go to the parking lot and talk to FBI agents.

Accardo was another benefactor of Humphreys' talent. Accardo was convicted of falsifying his tax return in the late 50's, and was convicted for counting his little red Mercedes as a tax write-off. Judge Julius Hoffman sentenced Accardo to something like 6 yrs in prison and fined him $15,000. The Hump went to work on the appeal, and in the fall of '62 Accardo's conviction was overturned. Paul Ricca was not as lucky. He was convicted (income tax) in '59 and served about 27 months in prison. Ricca would be charged for income tax problems again in 1965.

M. Humphreys is another example of why The Outfit was so successful (IMO). He was not eligible for the top position in The Outfit because he was not Italian, but his talent was certainly a factor that could not be ignored. He died in 1965 from a heart attack. The FBI just about drove him crazy. They followed him everywhere and "dogged' him for years.

There is an abundance of info in the FBI files about M. Humphreys. Gus Russo also devotes a large section of his book to Humphreys. All the above listed info came from FBI files and Russo's book- The Outfit.

I believe most people Would agree that Murray Humphreys was the greatest political fixer of all time.

I'm not sure about Jack Guzik. I've read about Jake Guzik who was the financial wizard for Capone and later Ricca, Accardo and Giancana.

There's an interesting story about Jake Guzik being kidnapped in the 30's or 40's.
Apparently Accardo and Giancana didn't think Guzik's math was right, so Giancana "grabbed him." He was held for a short time and released. Someone reported to police that he had been kidnapped. When questioned about the incident, Guzik said he was visiting a family member. Not sure about this story, but I did read it somewhere.

Theres alot of confusion concerning guzik, in my opinion I believe he was one of the top bosses for the outfit, he use to go to commission meetings, back in those days the jews had alot of say so in the underground world, some might even say they still do

With Ricca as the boss,Guzik's financial skills and Humphreys connections and visionary skills started together from squeezing money out of businessmen for some labor relations to targeting unions for takeover and sent guys like Sam Giancana and his crew for shakedowns.They had their fingers in every union you can think of.Theres a story about Humphreys that if there wasnt a union,than he made one up.

Theres also story that Guzik was a big player in the racing wire service takeover

Capone loved Guzik like a father. From what I have read, Hump and Guzik were cast from the same clothe - smart, business like approach and well liked.

Hump probably had more polish than Guzik, who was noted for horrible personal hygiene and table manners. There was a saying that you could tell what Guzik had eaten for the last week by looking at his shirt.

I don't believe guzik was kidknapped

Jake Guzik wasnt a killer.He had soft eyes and didnt have the stomach for blood.So maybe theres a possibility for harassment...

Humphreys was a Top Echelon Outfit guy. He could never be one of the top three because he wasn't Italian. Other than that, he was the top guy. He was also in charge of all the non Italian guys. Alex, Pierce, Kruse etc. were all partnered with him. They were his crew. He was like a Capo and those guys were like made men who were with him. He was brilliant and very well respected.
He dealt with all the other Capos and made men in the Outfit directly when needed. I do not believe he killed anyone, but I could be wrong.

I don't know much about Guzik, but I recall reading where Fed Bureau of Narcotic agents spotted Accardo and Guzik boarding a plane together (about late 1940's) and attending meetings at a restaurant in NJ with other mob bosses in attendance. They supposedly made multiple trips together. My guess is the meetings had something to do with west coast activities (perhaps Bugsy?). Guzik was considered one of the Big 6 at that time.

There's a famous story that in the early days some drunk slapped Guzik at a bar and Capone went back to the bar and shot the guy right in the head right there.

Thanks for the opinions. I know that Guzik was a "top echelon Outfit guy" and I know that Humphreys was, but were they equal top echelon guys at the same time? That's really what I'm looking for. According to some of the transcripts it is clear that Hump inherited some of Guzik's responsibilities when he died in 1956, but I'm not sure if Humphreys reported to Guzik or if they were equals during Guzik's lifetime. It seems that Guzik was a financial adviser and a political fixer, but maybe not a "capo" of the connection guys like Alex and Pierce, etc. But maybe Guzik was the head of the connection guys but we lack confirming information.

Im not sayin that this is true but theres a story that Giancana orchestrated the kidnaping of Guzik,while Accardo and Ricca had some legal problems,Jake was taken to a basement and was offered cash and he needed to give his loyalty to Giancana or else.There r rumours that after the Browne-Bioff earthquake case and therelease of Jake Guzik the rest of the old timers got in line.After that many ppl stepped to the other side,guys like Alex The Greek,political fixer,Art Greene,Abe Pritzker,Capone cronies,Eddie Vogel and Ross Prio.

is it true that accardo, aiuppa, and gus alex ran the outfit as a trio?

that being before it was turned over to aiuppa/cerone

That's a Roemer myth, Cook County. I know there has been a lot banter on here about the real power of Accardo, but believe you me - Aiuppa was the boss. Gus Alex was a VERY respected connection guy/fixer but was never anywhere near the level of the other 2.

Wasn't it "greasy thumbs" who mentored in Frank Rosenthal in to book-making (story goes that Rosenthal was a teenage odds-making prodigy and a big guy-Guzik- hired him)? Or am I thinking of someone else?

They showed that on Boardwalk Empire last season, except Capone stomped the shit out of him in the bar.

Cook County, No, It was Auippa, Accardo & Cerone (From prison). Cerone went away for a couple of years on a gambling charge along with a few Cicero guys: Ferriola, Cortina & Angelini.

Alex WAS NEVER nor COULD HE EVER be on their level. STOP READING ROEMER'S BOOKS!

Faithful1, I know you and I know what you're after with your question. Here is the answer:
Humphreys was under Guzik. Humphreys was Guzik's top man. When Guzik died, Humphreys took over as Boss of the Non Italian faction of the Outfit. After Humphreys died in 1965, Gus Alex became Boss/Capo of this faction. This faction was as powerful as any of the other factions not counting of course Taylor St.

These guys were Outfit men in every sense of the word. They had less muscle, but they had more political connections. That was the trade off. Also, since they were not Italian, they could never be one of the Top 3 guys in the Outfit.
So What!

You got it bro! That is exactly what I was looking for. After I put up the question I found confirmation in an FBI file.

Faithful1, My pleasure. I knew what you were looking for with your question. I like your questions because they're specific and right to the point.
I'm glad the old F.B.I. Report coincided with what I told you.
Years ago, the Feds were not as good as they've been in say the last 13 years, since 2000. Years ago, like in 1962, they were hit and miss on a lot of things. They've got a lot better picture of it now.

Don't discount the old stuff. First, the files from the 1960s that were sent to the National Archives have fewer redactions than the newer ones. I've gotten relatively recent files where so much info is redacted (electronically whited out) that they might as well have sent me a blank page. Second, there are a lot of transcriptions from hidden mikes in those old ones. So instead of reading the interpretations from the agents, I can read what the mobsters said for myself. I found previously unknown connections between Jack Ruby and the Outfit that the commission to investigate JFK's death were unable to figure out. There's a lot of great stuff if you just read their own words.

While were on the topic of old information, do any of your relatives/contacts have any inside info passed down to them on the St. Valentine's Day Massacre?

Faithful1, To be honest, no. The St. Valentine's Massacre was never discussed in any detail with me or in front of me.

By the way, if you're listening to the actual tapes, that is good. What I was saying was that in the past, an agent's OWN INTERPRETATION was hit and miss. Example: Roemer.

During Roemer's time the FBI was just learning how Italian organized crime operated, and to confuse things more, Chicago operated a little different than other crime families. It's too bad none of them understood history and didn't know how to ask the right questions.

On the transcripts, these aren't tapes that I'm listening to, they are typed out from tapes. Sometimes names and words are spelled wrong because the agents didn't know, but with what we know today we can look back and get things right.

Did the non Italian crew die out with Gus Alex I'm assuming?

Lenny patrick was considered to be alex right hand man but he snitched, thats a very good question

I don't know whether or not that specific "crew" died out, but all the crews had non-Italian (or part-Italian) soldiers. Guys like Harry Aleman, Frank Schweihs

Aleman was half Italian

You didn't see the part where I wrote "(or part-Italian)"?

Frank The German belonged to Grand Ave. He was born and raised around that area. He was Lombardo's boy.

As Far as the very talented non Italian Guys in the past who had strong political connections, they basically died out and vanished from attrition. Alex, Pierce, Kruse, etc.

Aleman may actually have been made. His Uncle was Ferriola. If he wasn't, it didn't matter because he behaved exactly like a Made guy and they even paid his family money when he was gone and they paid money to get him out of Jail. Sounds Made to me.

Ferriola may have pushed him through. All he had to do was have Auippa agree, which is probably what happened. After all, Marcello was technically half Italian and he was made by Auippa into the Cicero crew with Carlisi as his sponsor.

Believe me, They knew Marcello's Mom was Irish. Nobody fucking cared.

There was also a question whether or not Richard Cain was made. He was very close to Giancana and told people that his father's name was Scalzetti (it was his mother's). I don't think he was.

I believe he was probably made. He was half Italian like Jimmy Marcello. I believe if Giancana wanted him to be, it could be done.

Only a hunch.

Cain was not made. I don't care what Roemer or Cain's brother said about him. Cain's mother's maiden name was Scully. She was of Irish descent.

I thought his real name was Ricardo Scalzetti.

Yep they paid judge Wilson the whopping sum of $10,000. LOL. When Cooley delivered it to him in the bathroom he said "That's all I'm getting?" Cooley felt bad for him and tried to get him more, as he'd thrown his entire career away letting Aleman walk (the papers knew it was an obvious fix) but Pat Marcy wouldn't budge, so Judge Wilson only got the $10K.

As GAMBAT unfolded and he realized he was going to be caught he killed himself.

No idea why he agreed to do it for $10K in the first place.

Correct. But Faithful1 said that Scalzetti his mother's maiden name. No, his mother was Irish. his father was Italian.

Richard Scully Cain was born in Chicago on October 4, 1931 to John Cain, of Irish heritage, and Lydia Scully (Scalzetti or Scalzitti). She was the daughter of Olympio Scalzitti (who became Ole Scully) and Vincenza. This is verified by his brother Michael J. Cain.

Wow! Faithful1, All these years I was under the false impression that Cain's mother was Irish because her name was Scully! I never knew they changed the name to Scully to make it sound Irish. Unbelievable! Thanks Faithful. Very good.

That's something my family would have NEVER done: Pretend to be Irish? are you fucking kidding me.

According to Michael Cain, his grandfather changed his name to get a new start, to escape creditors, and to avoid prejudice against Italians. I can think of some other Italians connected with the underworld who changed their names but never denied their heritage, but only a few from Chicago come to mind. Francesco Castiglia became Frank Costello, Alberto Anastasio became Albert Anastasia, Al Capone's older brother Vincenzo became Richard Hart, Vincenzo Gibaldi became Jack McGurn, Filippo Sacco became John Rosselli, and Marcellino Caifano became Marshall Caifano then legally changed his name to John Marshall.