The 1931-32 winter season in Chicago marked a time for change within the upper command of the Chicago Outfit. With Alphonse Capone in federal prison for income tax evasion, Paul Ricca became the Outfit’s new leader. I state this full well knowing that this position is controversial, but, because of my exhaustive research on the matter, I believe it to be true.
Paul Ricca (left) and Louis “Lefty” Campagna (right)
Paul knew he could not rule over the Outfit without help. He very heavily relied upon one of his most trusted friends and confidants, Louis “Lefty” Campagna, to keep things running smoothly. Paul met Lefty through Al Capone. The three of them had known each other as far back as their days in New York City. Ricca was very impressed with Lefty’s professional-criminal abilities, and so he was trusted to dole out Paul’s orders to the Outfit’s capos. For a short period, an additional high-level gangster by the name of Frank Rio assisted Paul and Lefty in this process. These orders would often be handed directly to the capos or sometimes to their top lieutenants.
Lefty periodically used his farm in Berrien Springs, Michigan, to conduct meetings with the Chicago Outfit’s capos or their lieutenants and other high-level affiliates. Lefty’s farm-property in the State of Michigan was vast, though I am not aware of the actual acreage. It consisted of a single large two-story farmhouse sporting a sizeable kitchen, parlor, several bedrooms, and a cellar for storage. The multiple bedrooms were used by the Chicago Outfit’s capos and/or their lieutenants, who presented themselves for their orders and/or other meetings. These visitors often stayed for a couple of days at a time. The property also had four to six large barns that were arranged in a military barrack style lineup. The only phone line on the property was a closed-circuit system. Lefty’s wife, Charlotte, would use this system to contact him when supper was ready or if a visitor arrived.
Lefty loved his farm and spent as much time as he could there. He spent a good portion of his summers on the farm. From time to time in the 1940s Romie Nappi, my now late uncle through marriage, and Armando Fosco, Sr., my now late father, visited Lefty’s farm, primarily to accompany Outfit heavyweights like the late Tony Iorii and Sam “Teets” Battaglia. Other Chicago Outfit hoods who routinely visited Lefty’s farm include Frank Nitti/Nitto, Anthony “Joe B” Accardo, Ralph Nappi, Sam Giancana, Joseph Aiuppa, Bobby Ansani, Anthony Capezio, and John “Jackie” Cerone.
After Lefty’s death in 1955, Paul relied on Anthony “Joe B” Accardo, Sam Giancana, and Sam “Teets” Battaglia to handle the Outfit business that was primarily handled by Lefty.
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For those unfamiliar with Mafia Report: Chicago Outfit, you may access it by clicking here.
6/4/20 – Mafia Report: Chicago Outfit – Addendum Two
6/24/20 – Mafia Report: Chicago Outfit – Addendum Three
7/18/20 – Mafia Report: Chicago Outfit – Addendum Four
