Jake Guzik

Jake "Greasy Thumb " Guzik (* May 20, 1886 near Krakow, † February 21, 1956 in Chicago) was an American mobster and close Associate of the Chicago Outfit, which he for a long time as a top financial, legal and later policy advisers served.

His nickname "Greasy Thumb " ( lubricating thumb) he received, because his consulting work especially consisted in influencing the political environment, police, judiciary and politicians with bribes.

Life

Born probably near Krakow, he came in 1902 in the United States. His parents came from Katowice. Later he was - partly together with his brother Harry Guzik - active in the business of prostitution, forced prostitution and protection rackets in the South Side of Chicago, which he increasingly supplanted his rival Jack Zuta.

In the early 1920s he learned of plans to assassinate Al Capone, informed him and soon became his closest allies and associates. Guzik was treasurer and fundraiser of the organization until his death in 1956 had his word weight in the full members of the outfit.

Small of stature, short-sighted, overweight and physical violence averse, unable to use a weapon, he was superior Capone and most Mobstern mentally far that provided this superiority as little as, his loyalty to the organization and his personal devotion to Capone himself, the Guzik always towards anyone took into custody. Indicative of this is an episode that 1924 happened: At the time Guzik in a bar beaten by a man and insulted as "Jewish lout ," said Al Capone this man later to task and began to rebuke him, why he was " the little Jew to cry " would have brought. When he replied, "Go back to your girl, you wop Pimp " Al Capone moved wordlessly his revolver, held it at his head and emptied the entire magazine. "

Guzik died while eating a heart attack. Chicago's largest synagogue was fully occupied with his funeral service and counted it more Italian descent - and thus usually Christian / Catholic - visitors than ever before.

Literature (selection )

• Robert J. Kelly: Encyclopedia of Organized Crime in the United States. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 2000
• Carl Sifakis: The Encyclopedia of American Crime. New York: Facts on File Inc., 2001
• John Binder: The Chicago Outfit. Arcadia Publishing, 2003
• Oz Almog: Kosher Nostra Jewish Gangsters in America, 1890-1980; Jewish Museum of Vienna, 2003
• Carl Sifakis: The Mafia Encyclopedia. New York: Da Capo Press, 2005

Weblinks (selection)

• Seize The Night: Jake Guzik
• Find A Grave

• Kosher Nostra
• Americans
• Born in 1886
• Died in 1956
• Man