Atlantic City Conference
The Atlantic City Conference is a four-day meeting of high-ranking mobsters of the American Cosa Nostra and Kosher Nostra , which is said to have taken place between May 13 and 16, 1929 in Atlantic City . Most crime historians consider this gathering to be the earliest summit of the criminal underworld to be held in the United States and the first step towards the establishment of the so-called National Crime Syndicate .
Clear details of the conference in question are difficult to prove today. However, it is believed that many influential mobster talked about at the conference, how to continue the violent wars in the bootlegging business in New York City and Chicago avoids and also on the strengthening of other illegal operations to the loss of profit according to the probable repeal of Prohibition balance to be able to.
The conference
The conference was convened by Meyer Lansky , "Johnny" Torrio , "Lucky" Luciano and Frank Costello . The conference was organized by the corrupt and highly influential politician Enoch "Nucky" Johnson , who provided hotel accommodation and entertainment, and also ensured there would be no interference from local authorities. The mobsters were housed in the Ritz-Carlton and the Ambassador Hotel . The first three days there was a constant round of parties in the hotels and Nucky Johnson provided loads of booze, food, and girls for entertainment.
The largest delegation to the conference came from the New York area . The most influential gang in the Midwest was represented by the gang of "Al" Capone of Chicago . Two of the most powerful leaders of the criminal underworld, "Joe" Masseria and Salvatore Maranzano from New York City, but were not invited because it as so-called Mustache Pete wanted to always maintain the traditional ideals and practices of the old country and the cooperation with other ethnic gangs outside tolerated the Italian underworld only to a small extent.
They conducted their private conversations in the hotel's conference rooms. However, not all meetings were held in one room at the long table, but also while walking outdoors and on the beach. This fact made the conference a little secret to the local newspapers and so newspapers were adorned with photos of Al Capone and other prominent delegates, for example walking on the New Jersey waterfront or dipping their feet in the water on the beach.
Daily Topics
There were some important points to be discussed among the participants. They talked about the constant competition in the smuggling business and how best to divide the profits among the gangs. It was decided not to fight each other during the remainder of the Prohibition Period and to work together to maximize resources and profits and develop a national monopoly in the illegal liquor business.
They talked about the possible lifting of prohibition and thus making larger investments in future gambling businesses such as bookmaking, horse racing and casinos. There was talk of creating more legitimate breweries, distilleries and a new liquor import business model, investing in the legitimate liquor business and selling alcohol by owning discos, bars and restaurants, thereby maximizing profits.
They also talked about growing violence in Chicago and growing pressure from the media and authorities through acts of violence such as the so-called Valentine's Day massacre and how to counter it. After much discussion and refusals, Al Capone agreed to be arrested as the elected “sacrificial lamb” on minor charges in order to ease the pressure on the underworld, while his former boss of Al Capone named Johnny Torrio takes over the provisional leadership and Luciano and the other bosses support him. After the conference ended, Capone and his bodyguard "Frank" Rio went to Philadelphia , where they were arrested by two friendly police officers. Capone and Rio were sentenced to one year in prison but were released after just a few months.
Attendees
| Surname | Assignment | city | position | annotation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enoch Lewis "Nucky" Johnson | Atlantic City | boss | organizer | |
| Charles "Lucky" Luciano | Masseria family | New York City | Lieutenant | initiator |
| Frank Costello | Masseria family | New York City | Soldato | initiator |
| Joe Adonis | Masseria family | New York City | Soldato | |
| Vito Genovese | Masseria family | New York City | Soldato | |
| Guarino "Willie" Moretti | Masseria family | New York City | Soldato | |
| Francesco "Frank" Scalice | Al Mineo clan | New York City | Lieutenant | |
| Vincent Mangano | Al Mineo clan | New York City | Lieutenant | |
| Albert Anastasia | Al Mineo clan | New York City | Soldato | |
| Carlo Gambino | Al Mineo clan | New York City | Soldato | |
| Tommaso "Tommy" Gagliano | Reina gang | New York City | Underboss | |
| Thomas "Tommy" Lucchese | Al Mineo clan | New York City | Lieutenant | |
| Alphonse Gabriel "Scarface Al" Capone | Chicago outfit | Chicago | boss | |
| Francesco Raffaele "Frank" Nitti | Chicago outfit | Chicago | Underboss | |
| Giovanni "Johnny" Torrio | Chicago outfit | New York City | silent advisor | initiator |
| Franklin "Frank" Rio | Chicago outfit | Chicago | Soldato | |
| Jake "Greasy Thumb" Guzik | Chicago Outfit Associate | Chicago | Associate | |
| Frank McErlane | Saltis-McErlane gang | Chicago | boss | |
| John "Brother John" Lazia | Kansas City family | Kansas City | Lieutenant | |
| Santo Trafficante, Sr. | Tampa Mafia | Tampa | Underboss | |
| Sylvestro "Dam" Carolla | Matranga family | New Orleans | Lieutenant | |
| Frank "Butsey" Morelli | New England family | Providence | boss | |
| Frank "The Cheeseman" Cucchiara | New England family | Boston | Lieutenant | |
| Charles "King" Solomon | Seven Group | Boston | ||
| Max "Boo Boo" Hoff | Seven Group | Philadelphia | ||
| Harry "Nig" roses | Seven Group | Philadelphia | ||
| Waxey Gordon | Philadelphia | |||
| Irving Bitz | Philadelphia | |||
| Charlie Schwartz | Philadelphia | |||
| Samuel Lazar | Philadelphia | |||
| Morris Barney "Moe" Dalitz | Little Jewish Navy | Cleveland | ||
| Louis Rothkopf | Little Jewish Navy | Cleveland | ||
| Leo "Charles Polizzi" Berkowitz | Little Jewish Navy | Cleveland | ||
| Abe Bernstein | Purple gear | Detroit | boss | |
| William "Bugs Bill" Bernstein | Purple gear | Detroit | ||
| Meyer Lansky | Bugs and Meyer Mob | New York City | boss | initiator |
| Benjamin "Bugsy" seal | Bugs and Meyer Mob | New York City | boss | |
| Dutch Schultz | Bugs and Meyer Mob | New York City | boss | |
| Abner "Longy" Zwillman | Bugs and Meyer Mob | New Jersey | ||
| Louis "Lepke" Buchalter | Brownsville Boys | New York City | boss | |
| Jacob "Gurrah" Shapiro | Brownsville Boys | New York City | boss | |
| Owney Madden | New York City | boss | ||
| Frank Erickson | New York City |
Individual evidence
- ↑ 80 years ago, the Mob came to Atlantic City for a little strategic planning . Press of Atlantic City. Retrieved August 6, 2012.
- ↑ Sifakis, pp. 21-22
- ^ Mob Fest '29: The True Story Behind the Birth of Organized Crime
- ↑ English, p. 172
- ^ Sunrise House - The History of the Mafia's Hand in Drugs & Crime in Atlantic City
- Jack McPhaul: Johnny Torrio: The First of the Gang Lords . Arlington House, 1970.
- Hank Messick: Lansky . Berkley Medallion, 1971.
- Martin Gosch & Richard Hammer: The Last Testament of Lucky Luciano . Dell Publishing Company, 1974.
- George Wolf: Frank Costello: The Prime Minister of the Underworld . William Morrow & Company, 1974.
- Jean Pierre Charbanneau: The Canadian Connection . Optimum Publishing, 1976.
- Willie Fopiano John Harney: The Godson: A True Life Account of 20 Years Inside the Mob . St. Martins Press / Thomas Dunne Books, 1993.
- Time Life Books: True Crime: Mafia . Time Warner, 1993.
- Carl Sifakis: The Mafia Encyclopedia: Second Edition . Checkmark Books, 1999.
- Thomas Reppetto: The American Mafia: A History of Its Rise to Power . Henry Holt & Company, 2004.
- TJ English: Paddy Wacked: The Untold Story of the Irish American Gangster . Regan Books, 2005.