Chicago's 42 Gang 1920's

Maybe the worst juvenile gang ever produced in the U.S. the 42 Gang out of the "Patch," or Littly Italy,section of Chicago became a source of recruits for the Chicago’s underworld.Formed mostly by crazy,ruthless teenagers,at first involved in petty crimes and later in bombings and murder.White gangs such as the 42 gang ,Grand Avenue Nobles or the Taylor Street Dukes produced some of the biggest icons in organized crime.

The 42's came from the patch on Chicago's West Side.In the early 20's these young criminals stole food from vendors,stole clothes and sold them on street corners, knocked over cigar stores, held up nightclubs and also stole cars.They were held responsible for about 80 percent of the auto thefts in Chicago at the time and they were just graduating into the big-time rackets.The 42’s used to sell cars at prices from $75 to $200 per car-Fords $75, Buick or Chrysler for $150, a Peerless and Packard for $200.They also used to do dirty work for big time gangsters.First they used to work for Diamond Joe Esposito,Joe Fosco,The Gennas and Jack McGurn and later for Paul Ricca and the Capone gang.In the early 20’s the 42’s had more than 50 members.

The 42's had a good getaway method with a car and their ability to "whip" corners on two wheels with fast speed.They were also know for raping a lot of teenage girls and sending death threats by letters and phonecalls.Six blocks from the 42’s headquarters,8 girls were raped in one year.During the early 20's the 42's used to do dirty work for the Genna's.In 1923,each week,the 42's together with the taylor street boys collected cash from bootlegers for the Gennas.When the war occured story goes that the 42's turned their back at the Genna's and did some of the hits on them.The gang was also connected with the Red Bolton gang.The two gangs were known for stealing and selling booze.During this period they started working for Paul Ricca and the Capone gang.Rumours that they also did the Torrio hit in 1925.Some of their headquarters were the Goldsteins Delicatessen,Mary's Restaurant or Bonfiglios Pool Hall and they all wore white fedora hats and were like a farm team for the Chicago Outfit.In the late 20's,the cops raided many of the 42's warehouses wich were filled with stolen goods and most of the members were arrested.Story goes that they were also involved in the Pineapple Primary.The name was given to the primary election held in Illinois in 1928. 62 bombings took place in the city with the help of the 42’s under the rule of James Belcastro.Also theres a rum,our that they were involved in the Granady murder,a representative in the 20th ward, was chased in his car and murdered.By the mid 30's,over 30 members of the gang were murdered or went to jail.

Here's a list of some the most prominent members of the 42 gang:

Joey Coralo aka Babe Ruth was one of the oldest leaders of the 42's.Joey used to take 10 dollars from every member,every mounth,in case of "hard times",for example to “fix” the cops.He was considered the king of fixers.Later his was shot and killed by the police.

Pete Nicastro another older member and a ruthless youngster.In March 1925,a car chase occured for attempted robbery,between the cops and Pete Nicastro and another 42.Shots were fired along the streets and later Nicastro and 17 other members were thrown in jail.Later he was killed by his own gang.

Sam Giancana,also once a leader of the 42's,was the best wheelman in whole of Chicago.He also did a lot hits for the old dons and story goes that he alsokilled some high profile mafiosi.He joined the 42's when he was 13.In the mid 20's he was a driver for Jack McGurn.On September 27 1928 a bomb explodes near the ice salon of Sam Giancana's father.Police suspected that it was a revenge for the murder of Edward Divis a gangster boss in West Chicago and suspected was Giancana.

Paul Battaglia,once a leader of the gang,during the 20s he did a lot of holdups and stickups in his life.He was also known for robbing stores.Paul also owned a saloon at 819 West Madison, where he conduced a successful bail bond business. In 1938 Paul Battaglia was shot to death.His murder was ordered by Frank Nitti because he robbed outfit joints.

Augie Battaglia was a good natured thug who during the 20s was one of the leaders of the 42's and was worshipped by the gang's younger members.Augie was killed in a shoot-out with police during the labor wars of 1931, when he was the leader of the 42's.

Frank Battaglia is best known for the robbery shooting of a pregnant women named Mrs. Maria Pelletier. The mother of four, Mrs. Pelletier refused to allow Battaglia to steal her purse and fought back. Battaglia shot her through the head, took her purse and fled by car with other 42 gang members.

Sam "Teets" Battaglia was a burglar and muscle man, who joined the 42's in the mid 20's.Sam was a good looking, huge teenager when he smashed onto the headlines in 1930, when he was charged with robbing, at gunpoint, the wife of Mayor William "Big Bill" Hale Thompson of $15,500 in jewelry and taking the shield and pistol off of her police bodyguard-chauffeur, Officer Peter J. O'Malley. He was arrested a few days later and released for lack of evidence.

Dominic Caruso,a boyhood friend of Giancana,in July 1925,Caruso together with Sam burglarized an expensive north side dress shop.THey stole more than 50 dresses and in the end there was a car chase.They got caught and sent to jail.Diamond Joe post the bond.

Mad Sam DeStefano,crazy since birth,on August 19th, 1927 Sam had a plan for some entertainment for himself and some other 42 Gang members.He and another member grabbed a teenage girl from a movie theater and brought her into a garage where there was seven other gang members waiting.They were going to rape her but minutes later the police broke into the garage based on a tip from a witness that seen “Mad Sam” cart the girl off.

Leonard "Needles" Gianola,also boyhood friend of Sam Giancana.It is rumoured that Needles did the botched hit on Johnny Torrio in 1925.

"Crazy" Patsy Steffanelli(or Tardi) was one of leaders of the 42's.In 1928, a number of 42's were arrested all over Chicago.Patsy,mad at the law,sent a letter to the chief of the police,wich stated "Unless you let our pals go, we'll come down there and kill everybody we see. We've got plenty of men and some machine guns."Several days later he was jailed.

Louis Clementi was a young but successful bankrobber.He robbed Chicago’s Main State Bank and The South Holland Trust and Savings Bank.

Frank Petitto,one of the best thieves in the gang,entered the gang when he was 17.He was known for stealing booze and preying on bootlegers.One day he was murdered because of that.

Diego Ricco also older member of the 42's.In April 20 1927 Diego Ricco killed a shop keeper as a witness in an upcomming trial.

Joe Pape,another ruthless member,in September 1926 together with Diego Ricco,Pape robbed a store and also shot the shop keeper.25.000$ bond was set and it was paid by Diamond Joe.

Joseph Muscato was known as the gangs extortionist.One day while taking extortion money from a store owner,he was chased by the police and was shot and killed during the process.

Frank Tufano was known for robbing VIP patries.Once he robbed a party and escaped with 150.000$ in jewelry.

Other high ranking members were: Rocco Marcantonio,Vito Pelleteri,Fat Leonard Caifano, Rocco Capra,Ralph Greco,John Bolton(brother of Red Bolton),Pete Gallichio

Other members: Marshal Caifano,Joey Sypher,Fiore Buccieri,Chuckie Nicoletti,Felix Alderisio,Willie Daddano,the other two DeStefano brothers,the English brothers Butch and Chuck,Albert Frabotta ,William Aloisio,Frank Caruso ,Joe Caesar DiVarco,Rocco Potenza,Vincent Inserro,Mugsy Tortorella,Joseph Perello,Paul Ross,Nick Maentanis Mibs Gillichio,Louis Pargoli,Carl Trosieillo,Albert Woodrick, Tumpa Russo and many more.


This short article is completed from various internet infos and other sources.

so the great sam giancana was a fucking rapist huh

He was the "ladies man" alright

You mean Mad Sam DeStefano, right?

Great article. Not enough is written or known about that gang. Literally a who's who roster of the future outfit.

Great post

Thanks guys it was my pleasure.Yes theres not much info on the 42's,for example who was who in the gang,but I managed to gather some info from e-books,articles and books that i have.

@LittleMan most of the 42's were rapists.I even think that Giancana,during his early age,was sent to prison for some time because of that.

The 42's produced some heavy hitter.

And politicians as well...John Bolton was a Illinois state representative and story goes that he was a former member of the 42's.Later he served to Nitti and the rest of the Outfit but one day he failed and ended up dead

very nice list, thanks a lot!

No problem Mickey2, its my pleasure.

I have some additional infos on this subject...

There was another member of the 42's named Sharkey Eulo who was a close friend of Pete Nicastro and Carl Torsiello(i missspelled his name in the first post).Giancana was the leader of the trio.Torsiello's wife was sister of Nicastro and Torsiello in later life became legit.

Also Giancana was the best wheelman alright but he wasnt just personal driver for McGurn he used be chauffeur for many Outfit big shots,for example Paul Ricca.McGurn was mostly connected with the Circus gang.

As for Needles Gianola being the hitman in Torrios botched hit...i think thats just a myth.But who knows?!General opinion is that Torrio was hit by the Irish but some say that he was hit by his own gang.

Heres a link about the Circus gang but ill suggest that you guys should take this list with a "few grains of salt" because the Circus Cafe boys were a different kind of a gang and its very hard to know who were the real members... http://www.gangsterbb.net/threads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=775229

Weren't the majority of these guys pretty much undiagnosed psychopaths?
Lots of sick bastards came out of this group of guys here who not only enjoyed killing but got off on torture.

Sam Giancana
Willie Daddano
Chuck Nicoletti
Sam DeStefano
Sam Battaglia
Felix Alderisio
Fiore Buccieri
Marshall Caifano

joey, yeah, is everybody on that list a 42? I wonder who's Idea it was to make them? and all of them being taylor street

it had to be paul ricca. right?

[quote=joey_doves]Weren't the majority of these guys pretty much undiagnosed psychopaths?
Lots of sick bastards came out of this group of guys here who not only enjoyed killing but got off on torture.

Sam Giancana
Willie Daddano
Chuck Nicoletti
Sam DeStefano
Sam Battaglia
Felix Alderisio
Fiore Buccieri
Marshall Caifano

IMO - ABSOLUTELY !

They sure did they should be more Books about them Well there books on Sam Giancana and Mad Sam By tony dark

The 42's were like an independent juvenile gang and were hired by by many Outfit figures to do their dirty work.Later some were brought into the Outfit by guys like Mangano,Belcastro and Ricca and sometimes they were also killed by this high profile gangsters.In later years the ones that survived fell under the rule of Paul Ricca and became the Taylor Street crew.Paul loved these guys because he was a ruthless killer also.He had many people killed and made a lot of money,same as these guys.

These young criminals were very crazy ruthless and also sick in their minds.They used to kill each other very often.There was also this story about some 42 gang member killing his own girfriend in a very gruesome way.Also one of the Battaglia brothers robbed at gunpoint, the wife of Mayor William "Big Bill" Hale Thompson,the Outfit's ally.They also used to shoot cops,kidnapped people and raped many girls.

Well said Toodoped your on the Ball with your Info when your Book coming out be good if u did do One TopMan

The Patch was 42 gang main area in the 1920s and now 90 years later it's currently the Insane C-Note$ area ( Dead Prez City) in the Smith Park surroundings.

i wonder were this "got off" myth came from? joe fosco? i never saw ever a scrap of evidence to this claim.

They probably got it from the Action Jackson murder where they caught some old 42'ers discussing it on a wire. Buccieri stuck a cattle prod up the poor guy's ass while he was hanging on a meat hook. They also stuck ice picks in his balls.

Sam DeStefano was also well known for his brutality.

i read the transcripts to that. can't remember any going off shit.

Can't remember any what? You don't remember what the transcripts said or you can't remember any specific mentions of torture? Sorry, I just didn't understand your post.

Does anyone have a clue to the Jack McGurn and his brother murder ?

thank you toodoped, accurate info, as always,
looking for your book. can't wait.

This is really one of the best threads on GangsterBB. This type of thread could really branch out into a discussion on what made these guys tick.

Did unexpressed sexual desires find expression as sadism and violence in some?

Why does every major organized crime group seem to have a "farm team" or junior mafia? Is it just for recruiting, or is it also for the commission of crimes against which minors are often immune?

Who creates these gangs of little ruffians? Do they form themselves, or are the founding members actually adults or older kids recruited by some adult member of organized crime to be the founding member of a new street gang?

The Patch,the gangs territory, was a very poor and dirty place.They lived in a very hard conditions which brought them into the life.Back in the 1910's the Patch was a place filled with bad smells,muddy streets and wooden sidewalks.Diseases were spreading very quickly and many people died because of that.The huge Italian families squeezed between Taylor and Mather streets.It was a place filled with filthy criminals, disgusting brothels and saloons.Brawls and bloody battles between the residents was a daily routine.

So by living in these conditions,some of the kids started to reach to each other and formed a gang.It was the only way to survive.The 42's were characterized by the youthfulness of its members.The average age was between 16 and 23.Most of these boys ran from home,slept in abandoned cars or locals or beneath back porches and also survived by stealing food from vendors and pickpocketing.Most of their parents didnt care about some of their children because they had bigger problems of their own.So the gang was the only home and family for these kids.They organized themselves and started stealing eveything,from clothes and food to cars and jewelry.

All of these boys had records in juvenile and boys courts.Their types of crimes differ with their age,for example the older gang members were mostly involved in robbery and stick ups and younger ones were mostly involved in larceny.They were different from the other gangs because they were very well organized.Legend goes that the gang came to the name "42's" from a "more literate" gang member who recounted the story of Ali Baba and the fourty thieves.The gangs "school" was a reformatory named St.Charles.

As time passed by the people in the Patch started having a strange mixture of awe,respect and fear for the gang.With that the gang became more notorious and started terrorizing the streets of the Ptach.They got involved in many thefts,murder,kidnappings and they even extorted their own families.The leaders of thegang used to collect five to ten dollars from their members every month so they can make a pay off if some gang member get caught by the police.

The boys didnt had much females arounf them because they didnt look good and were trashy as always.So for their sexual release,they used to rape many young girls or they often engaged public musturbatory contests to determine who could ejaculate first.

The 42's started making the newspaper headlines and were noticed by the big time gangsters.First the young boys would do anything for two bits,a beer or a cigarette.Later the gangsters started to throw money at these boys and making them as their "farm teams" for their dirty work.The young boys would do everything to impress the gangsters.Soon they greaduated in high profile murders,bombings and vice enterpises.As i said before the gangs usual headquarters was Mary's Restaurant or Bonfiglio's Pool Hall on Taylor Street.

The most prominent gangsters on Taylor Street at the time were Diamond Joe Esposito and the Genna crime family.Diamond Joe besides paying bonds and using them as soldiers for his dirty work like extortion,he also used to employ them in legitimate businesses,like selling sugar.As for the Gennas,they taught these young criminals in making illicit moonshine and selling it.But the Bloody Gennas were known for carrying a crucifix in one pocket and a gun in the other.So they used these young kids in many murder plots and also bombings.

So Diamond Joe and the Gennas can be considered as the fathers of the ruthless Taylor Street crew.Paul Ricca aslo used to work for Diamond Joe and the Gennas so he also knew these young boys.Legend goes that with the comming of the Capone gang and later with the forming of the Outfit,Ricca took advantage of the 42's by making them his own enforcers and turned them against the old bosses.

where do you get this from? if i recall it exactly, at leaast in "double cross" was stated that the gang was more of a teenage/boyhood gang with an average age between 9-13/14/15, what would be make much more sense to me. In an environment like the patch you are a man with 16.

Yes you are right.Al capone became a boss in his mid 20's but the thing is that most of the 42 gang members were born in the late 1900's.Something like 1905 to 1909,so if they started in the gang as 9 year old kids that would be the 1910's and the gang was formed in the early 20's.So by that time i think that most of the gang mebers were in their teens and some in their 20's.Sam Giancana was 25 when the Outfit was formed in the early 30's.Same goes for Sam Battaglia.Battaglia had older brothers which were leaders of the gang at one point

I don't mean "got off" in a sexual way. Maybe for Mad Sam idk. But these guys got a high it seems for long drawn out torturous hits where the victim was mangled or just plain beaten to death. Think the end scene of Casino in the cornfield. It wasn't just shooting a guy in the head unsuspectingly, quick and easy. But I'm sure they did that type of hit as well.

The Patch was actually the area in between Halsted & Western along Grand Avenue, a good deal northwest of the Taylor Street neighborhood.

John Landesco was the recognized expert on the 42 Gang. He interviewed several members in the 1920s and 30s and is the source for most of the info we have on them today.

*Leaders were called "Smart Heads," and there were several smart heads at any given time.

*Landesco came up with a list of members from his informants, after all, it wasn't a secret organization like the Mafia. Giancana and Sam DeStefano were among them, but others that were later claimed to be members were not in his list. Chuckie English and Willie Daddano, for example, were not listed, making their membership unverified.

*These guys didn't just rape women, they also had sex with each other. Yes, they admitted to this and Landesco documented it.

*Here is a link to one of his articles. It's very informative.
https://tigger.uic.edu/depts/hist/hull-m...co/landesco.htm

This is an article by Professor Robert Lombardo (no relation to Lumby) that updates Landesco's information:

http://ecommons.luc.edu/criminaljustice_facpubs/13/

Click where it says "download."

Freaky!

toodoped, in brashler's book about giancana" the don" he goes into a little about the 42's and he mentions how the 42s would "bang" [meaning sexualy] each other. its right in his book.

thanks faithful 1 read all about the 42 telling his story.

Yeah i used to read about that but to tell you the truth,first i thought it was too much but who knows?!After all these guys were real psychos.But i dont get because they also had female members in the gang,which they had sex all the time.

Thanks to the previous poster for the articles but looks like Landesco is talking about the older members of the gang,so that doesnt mean that younger members like Chuck English and Daddano were not members of the gang.

Family relatives and some mob historians said that English and Giancana knew each other since they were kids.In other words since the old days in the 42 gang

"Willie Doody" could be Willie Daddano.

Theres also a proof of young Mad Sam being a member of the gang.Like a photo of him and few other guys wearing the white fedoras during that time period

As additonal info Vito Fosco was the older brother of Armando Fosco

"Sharkey" is Sharkey Eulo(Lombardo or Landesco had misspelled the name).Eulo was also a close frined with Giancana's brother,Chuck.

Same goes with Babe Ruth Calaro...its Coralo.

thanks for the info toodoped, your the best on the board.

Thanks Binnie.I appreciate your support,cheers

'

Too Dope is a wellspring of information about organized crime. Instead of doubting him, some of the posters here should use his commentary as a springboard for new research.

alfa, well said.

On Chuckie English, Daddano, etc, didn't say they weren't members, just that it was not verified that they were. Willie Doody definitely was not Willie Daddano, despite the similarity of their names. Doody was older (born in 1900) and his parents were of Irish origin. Here are some articles on him:
http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1930/...n-hunt-for-gang
http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1929/...killing-suspect
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1314&dat=19290813&id=nhVWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=luIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6215,3136310

Here is a cool video that I found on Youtube called:
The Forty-Two Gang. Click on the link below to view the video. Enjoy. 😀

https://youtu.be/GXgG0d8vJ5U