Johnny Torrio

Johnny Torrio was a highly influential figure in American organized crime. He was known for his incredible organizational skills and cunning mind. Many people in the criminal underworld respected his ability to manage large groups. Because of his cleverness, he earned the nickname "The Fox." He helped build the Chicago Outfit, a powerful criminal organization. This group was later led by his protégé, Al Capone. Torrio was not just a leader, but a mastermind of administration.

Torrio was born in Irsina, Italy, in 1882. His father, Tommaso, worked on a railway and died in a work accident. When Torrio was two, he moved to New York City with his mother. He started working as a porter and a bouncer in Manhattan. As a teenager, he led a street gang on James Street. He eventually opened a billiards parlor for his group. This business allowed his gang to grow through illegal activities. These activities included gambling, loan sharking, and opium trafficking. His business sense eventually caught the attention of Paul Kelly, a gang leader.

In 1909, Torrio moved to Chicago to work for Big Jim Colosimo. Colosimo ran a large criminal empire in the city. Torrio helped Colosimo deal with extortionists known as the Black Hand. By 1914, Torrio had risen to the position of underboss. In 1919, Al Capone arrived in Chicago and began working for the gang. Capone worked as a bouncer and a bartender at the Four Deuces. Torrio became a mentor to Capone, teaching him how to lead. When Prohibition began in 1920, Torrio pushed for the gang to enter bootlegging. Bootlegging is the illegal manufacture and sale of alcohol.

In May 1920, Big Jim Colosimo was shot and killed in his cafe. Many believed Torrio was responsible because Colosimo refused to profit from bootlegging. After Colosimo's death, Torrio took control of the organization. He tried to prevent violence by creating a city-wide cartel. This was an agreement between most of the bootlegging gangs in Chicago. However, a rivalry grew with the North Side Gang. This group was led by Dean O'Banion and was of mixed ethnicity. In 1924, Torrio was arrested during a police raid on a brewery. He believed O'Banion had conned him out of $500,000 during this time.

Conflict between the gangs escalated significantly in 1924. After O'Banion was killed in his flower shop, the North Side Gang sought revenge. In January 1925, members of the North Side Gang ambushed Al Capone. Twelve days later, they attacked Torrio and his wife outside their home. Torrio was shot several times and nearly died from his injuries. Following his recovery, he decided to resign from the criminal world. He handed total control of the Chicago Outfit to Al Capone. Torrio then moved to Europe with his wife and mother. He left behind an empire that earned about $70,000,000 every year.

Torrio returned to the United States in 1928. He helped organize a group called the "Big Seven" on the East Coast. He also worked to create a national body to prevent gang wars. In May 1929, Torrio helped host a famous conference in Atlantic City. This meeting led to the creation of the National Crime Syndicate. He worked alongside other major figures like Lucky Luciano and Meyer Lansky. This syndicate was designed to stop all-out turf wars between different gangs.

In 1936, Torrio was arrested for income tax evasion. He was sent to prison in 1939 and served two years. After his release, he lived a quiet life in New York City. He died on April 16, 1957, from a heart attack. He was sitting in a barber's chair when the attack happened. He passed away several hours later in a nearby hospital. Torrio's life shows how organized crime changed during the Prohibition era. His methods of organization influenced how criminal groups functioned for many years.