Frank Nitti: The Enforcer Of Al Capone's Chicago Outfit

Was Frank Nitti, a figure shrouded in shadow and infamy, truly the "Enforcer" who dictated the grim realities of Chicago's underworld? The legacy of Frank Nitti, born Francesco Raffaele Nitti, is indelibly etched in the annals of organized crime, a testament to his ruthlessness, cunning, and ultimately, his tragic end.

From his humble beginnings as a barber, Nitti ascended through the ranks of Al Capone's Chicago Outfit, becoming a key player in the empire built on illicit activities. He was the right hand, the strategist, the one who kept the money flowing and the bodies hidden. He was also Al Capone's cousin and bodyguard.

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Category	Details
Full Name	Francesco Raffaele Nitti
Known As	Frank Nitti, "The Enforcer"
Born	January 27, 1886, in Angri, Salerno, Italy
Died	March 19, 1943, in Chicago, Illinois
Cause of Death	Suicide (shot to the head)
Parents	Luigi and Rosina Nitto
Step-Father	Francesco Dolendo
Criminal Activities	Racketeering, Murder, Extortion, Bootlegging, Income Tax Evasion
Associated With	Al Capone, Chicago Outfit
Role in Chicago Outfit	Chief Enforcer, later Boss
Burial	Mount Carmel Cemetery, Hillside, Illinois
Legal Issues	Convicted of income tax evasion, Indicted on charges of racketeering, mail fraud, and conspiracy
Imprisonment	18 months for income tax evasion
Noted For	Ruthlessness, Orchestrating Murders, Monetary Matters, "The Enforcer"
Noteworthy Events	Took control of the Chicago Outfit after Capone's imprisonment.
Legacy	Feared enforcer, Leader of the Chicago Outfit
Reference	Wikipedia - Frank Nitti

Nitti's story begins in the small town of Angri, Italy, where he was born in 1886. His life took a dramatic turn when he immigrated to the United States. He would eventually find his way to Chicago, a city teeming with opportunity and corruption. He started in legitimate work as a barber but soon became involved in the city's underworld, beginning with fencing stolen goods. His rise within the Capone organization was swift, marked by his efficiency and, of course, his willingness to do what needed to be done. He quickly joined Capone's gang around 1920.

Nitti's influence grew. He was in charge of the money matters, a trusted advisor, and Capone's chief enforcer. He orchestrated many murders for the Outfit, ensuring that Capone's empire remained unchallenged. He was the silent hand, the unseen force that kept the gears of the criminal machine turning. He was a quiet man, and his calculated demeanor hid a mind that made him a formidable figure in the criminal world.

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His role was so crucial that during Capones trial in 1931, Nitti acted as an intermediary, trying to prevent incriminating evidence from surfacing. When Capone was sent to prison, Nitti, though not necessarily the most charismatic figure, stepped into a position of power. The newspapers viewed him as the one taking over, though the reality of power dynamics in the Outfit was and remains a matter of debate among historians. He was often boss in name only, but that name held significant sway.

His life wasn't without its hardships. He hated his 18-month prison sentence for income tax evasion, partly due to his claustrophobia. He was also involved in the legal troubles of the Outfit, including a 1943 indictment for racketeering, mail fraud, and conspiracy.

The pressure of maintaining the Outfit, of facing the possibility of long prison time, and of the threat of being eliminated, ultimately led to Nittis tragic end. On March 19, 1943, in a Chicago railyard, Frank Nitti took his own life, ending a chapter of organized crime that remains a grim reminder of power, ambition, and the consequences of a life lived outside the law.

The details of his final moments, as recorded, paint a picture of desperation. He was reportedly told to "take the fall" for the Outfit's crimes or face death, and he took an alternative route. He was found with a loaded weapon, the trainmen at the scene debating whether to charge him, finally putting the gun to his own head. The image of a man once feared, reduced to his ultimate decision. He died at the age of 57.

Frank Nitti's legacy is more than just a story of crime. He was portrayed in numerous films and television shows, perhaps most notably in "The Untouchables", where he was a character of cold efficiency. He was the subject of true crime books that tried to uncover the truth behind the man known as "The Enforcer".

The city of Chicago, built on industrial might and teeming with immigrants, provided the fertile ground for organized crime. His story is a dark reflection of the American Dream gone awry. His grave, located in Mount Carmel Cemetery in Hillside, Illinois, remains a destination for those who seek to understand the era of Prohibition, of the roaring twenties, and the rise of organized crime. His story is a warning against the pursuit of power, a testament to the fragility of human life, and a reminder that even those who seem invincible are, in the end, mortal.

The story of Frank Nitti remains a subject of fascination and debate. His role in the Chicago Outfit and his ultimate demise capture the attention of people to this day. His existence shaped an era in American history, a time of both lawlessness and transformation, where the lines between right and wrong blurred and the criminal underworld rose to unforeseen levels of power.

Frank Nitti's name continues to be associated with violence, a time of corruption, and the story of a man caught in the web of his own ambition. The life of Frank Nitti is a reminder that even in a world defined by crime, the end is always the same: Death.