The Untold Story of Bumpy Johnson: Harlem's Most Powerful Gangster (1905-1968)

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Al Capone may have ruled as a dominant
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figure in Chicago and lucky luchano
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might have overseen most of New York but
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when it concerned Harlem there was no
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alternative but to engage with bumpy
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John
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despite the name not resonating widely
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bumpy was among the most prominent
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gangsters in American organized crime
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history he held the title of the
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Godfather of Harlem from the 1930s to
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the
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1960s exerting control over this uptown
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Manhattan neighborhood Frank Lucas the
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infamous drug trafficker portrayed by
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Denzel Washington in the film American
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Gangster once stated if you wanted to
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conduct business in Harlem you dealt
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with Bumpy Johnson or faced dire
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consequences his influence in Harlem was
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so profound that law enforcement
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politicians and even the mafia sought
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him out when necessary Bumpy Johnson was
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the key figure with no other gangster of
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the time especially of African-American
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descent boasting such power and sway in
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Harlem Ellsworth Raymond Johnson known
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as Bumpy Johnson or bamp because of a
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bump on the back of his head was born on
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October 31st 1905 in Charleston South
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Carolina given the prevalent racial
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segregation in the United States his
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family settled in the city's black
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neighborhood the Johnson's were a
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respected modest family deeply rooted in
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their community and devoutly religious
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attending church regularly among the
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eight children in the Johnson family was
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Ellsworth or bumpy who exhibited
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exceptional intelligence and eloquence
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in school I considered him remarkably
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bright having skipped two grades in the
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Charleston Public School System however
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paradoxically he never completed High
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School which was a source of Shame for
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bumpy considering his family's strong
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emphasis on education Bumpy's initial
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encounter with trouble occurred at 10
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when his elder brother Willie faced
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issues this incident marked the
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beginning of his journey through the
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complex world of crime and power
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dynamics in Harlem accused of killing a
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white man despite not having direct
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involvement in the crime Bumpy Johnson
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and his siblings eventually became
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potential targets for retaliatory attack
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tax from the victim's family their
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parents moved the family to Harlem in
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Manhattan New York about 250 km away
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from Charleston I considered Harlem a
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Haven for black families in the early
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20th century however the environment and
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lifestyle in this new place were
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markedly different from what Johnson and
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his siblings they accustomed to in
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Charleston at 14 bumpy now rebellious in
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spirit and of relatively short stature
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for his age faced one of his initial
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confrontations on his first day at a
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harlem school just two blocks from
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school he encountered six other
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teenagers on the corner their offensive
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and challenging words agitated the
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Adolescent bumpy who without hesitation
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threatened to strike one boy in the face
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if they continued provoking him
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following several offensive exchanges
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between both sides bumpy found himself
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entangled in a physical brawl with one
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of the insulting group members after a
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few minutes of intense fighting bumpy
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defeated his opponent leaving him
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severely injured the situation became so
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dire that the other youths had to
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intervene to prevent the injured boy
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from being beaten to death by bumpy
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following this incident bumpy formed
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friendships with some boys from the
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group and over time these bonds of
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friendship strengthened significantly
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this enduring friendship lasted until
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the end of their lives after this
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encounter bumpy never set foot in school
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again instead every morning he left his
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sister's apartment to meet his Newfound
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friend
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they engaged in various activities to
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make money such as playing Billiards
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dice or selling newspapers eventually
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they started sweeping sidewalks in front
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of businesses in Harlem further
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increasing their earnings Bumpy's
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transition to life in Harlem marked a
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pivotal moment redirecting his path away
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from formal education towards the
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streets where he cultivated
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relationships and began his journey into
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a world teaming with challenges and
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opportunities he was evidently The
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Mastermind of the group quickly
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realizing that he and his comrades could
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enhance their earnings by providing
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protection to some of the burgeoning
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businesses in the neighborhood it was in
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this capacity that he encountered Bob
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huitt huitt belonged to the audacious
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toughs of Harlem who never ventured out
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without a knife a baseball bat or a
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pistol any excuse was ample reason to
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wield their weapons against the police
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or the Irish gangsters who dared to step
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foot in their territory among all these
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criminals bad was the most ferocious
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Standing Tall at 1.85 M with an imposing
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build he was someone you didn't want to
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mess with his livelihood came from
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extorting money from local businesses
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for protection against the area's
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bullies this led to an encounter one day
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between him and bumpy stemming from a
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minor conflict of protecting a store at
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that moment he could have easily knocked
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bumpy out with a single blow however
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contrary to expectations he admired the
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boy's bravery this led to a proposal of
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partnership marking the beginning of
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Bumpy's Ascent into the underworld of
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Harlem in the 1920s bumpy and his crew
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sustained themselves through extortion
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and theft they didn't limit themselves
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to safeguarding grocery store or
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restaurant owners they extended their
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protection to the Proprietors of covert
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clubs and bars Bob hwit who had by then
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developed a fondness for bumpy proposed
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diversifying their operations by
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offering protection to the owners of
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clandestine lotteries in Harlem some of
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these Proprietors were among the
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wealthiest in the neighborhood earning
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thousands of dollars weekly they spared
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no expense for protecting their money
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seeking the toughest bodyguards in the
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area seeing an opportunity to further
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enrich himself bumpy grasped it he
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became instrumental in providing
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security to these affluent Lottery
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owners solidifying his position and
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expanding his influence in Harlem's
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criminal sphere this move opened new
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avenues for both wealth and power
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marking the beginning of Bumpy's
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exponential rise in the Underworld
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hierarchy he quickly Rose to become one
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of the best in his field becoming one of
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the most sought-after bodyguards in
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Harlem day by day his reputation grew
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and he soon took off thanks in part to
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someone known as the queen of the
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underground Lottery Stephanie
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stclair Stephanie a French gang leader
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in Harlem was deeply involved in the
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gambling business and by the 1920s had
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established an extend ensive Empire
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within the neighborhood she hired bumpy
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to safeguard one of her many clandestine
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lotteries impressed by his protection
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skills she appointed him as her personal
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bodyguard this marked the rapid forging
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of a friendship between the two in St
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Clair's residence bumpy admired not only
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her Elegance but also her Readiness to
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fight fiercely to protect what was hers
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the underground Lottery generated
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substantial Revenue in this part of New
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York making it a target for the mafia's
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intervention Dutch Schulz a gangster
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associated with New York's five families
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took charge of the situation operating
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in the Bronx Schulz had amassed a
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fortune through alcohol smuggling during
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prohibition however with Prohibition
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repealed in 1933 he sought other income
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sources it didn't take long for Dutch
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Schultz to recognize an opportunity here
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his goal was to secure a share of the
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profits for those familiar with Schulz
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they knew better than to take this
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threat lightly Schulz was a paranoid
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figure who could kill for pleasure
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and responded to everything with
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violence Stephanie stclair had genuine
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reasons to worry Schulz began sending
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his men to Harlem approaching Lottery
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owners with offers to join forces
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promising protection against the police
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and specifically safeguarding them from
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kidnappings with schulz's menacing
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advances tensions escalated the looming
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threat posed by Schultz's aggressive
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tactics raised alarms among the lottery
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Proprietors they felt compelled to
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consider his proposal seriously given
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schulz's notorious reputation for
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ruthlessness and violence Stephanie
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stclair and bumpy given their roles in
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safeguarding these lotteries found
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themselves at the Forefront of this
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escalating confrontation the threat
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actually carried out by his own men
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allowed bumpy to establish himself in
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Harlem's gambling business his Empire
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expanded considerably which did not sit
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well with the queen of the underground
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Lottery the war between the two clans
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became in inevitable despite this
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Brewing conflict bumpy remained under
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the orders of Stephanie stclair in the
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1920s bumpy faced multiple arrests
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initially sentenced to a 2-year term out
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of the original 10 for theft someone
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later sentenced him in 1927 to an
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additional 2 years for assault shortly
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after serving this sentence I again
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imprisoned bumpy after being convicted
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of robbery but things took a serious
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turn for him after he completed this
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sentence in the late 1931 bumpy
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completed a 2 and a halfe term in prison
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and was released during his absence
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Stephanie stclair received a visit from
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huet who now worked for Schulz Bob aimed
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to convince Clare to join schulz's
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organization which now included most of
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Harlem's Lottery owners a proposition
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that infuriated her pressure mounted on
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her clan constant attacks ensued after
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her dispute with Schulz they became
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regular targets of driveby shootings
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her employees faced brutal assaults and
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dire threats from unknown individuals
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who warned them against continuing to
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work for
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her despite these daunting challenges
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the queen of the underground Lottery
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maintained her gambling Empire many of
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her men remained loyal to Harlem's Queen
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however many couldn't withstand the
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intense pressures exerted by Schulz and
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his men they had tried to resist as much
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as possible but the continuous threats
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eventually wore down their desire to
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continue working with Sinclair she was
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cornered but there was still a glimmer
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of hope she knew someone familiar would
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return in Harlem a familiar figure was
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about to return someone always ready to
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fight especially when a white man tried
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to take something from the
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African-Americans bumpy was on the brink
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of making his comeback 2 days had only
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passed since they released bumpy from
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prison when he unexpectedly ran into Bob
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hullet at a bar he had to decide whether
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to align himself with the well-funded
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army of thugs supported by Dutch Schultz
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or with the cornered but fiercely
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determined Stephanie stclair of course a
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rebellious Bumpy Johnson wouldn't openly
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support a white man over the interests
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of the African-Americans in Harlem after
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Consulting with the queen of Harlem and
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realizing the economic and Human
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Resources disadvantages they faced
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against Schulz Bumpy's first task along
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with his men was to secure weapons bumpy
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was the strategist and Nat his childhood
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friend was to settle scores with their
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small band of men facing schulz's
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soldiers considerably outnumbered bumpy
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had no choice but to opt for Guerilla
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tactics if they were to have any chance
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of winning and they executed it
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remarkably well unlike schulz's men
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bumpy and his crew seamlessly blended
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into the crowd as African-Americans in
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Harlem giving them an immense Advantage
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when facing Bee's gang however it was a
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different story for bab he had many
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scores to settle with bumpy and vice
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versa the two clans clashed several
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times but neither gained the upper hand
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in April 1933 the final showdown between
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bumpy and bab eventually ended when Bob
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in an unrelated matter to the Schulz
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stclair Feud received a prison sentence
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of 2 to 5 years after his imprisonment
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most of his men abandoned him the battle
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against bumpy was almost over most of
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them surrendered except for a few die
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hards like ulyses Rollins who replaced
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Bob as schulz's Chief Confidant in
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Harlem schulz's intentions were clear he
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wanted to defeat bumpy despite not
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underestimating his new opponent's
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reputation for danger bumpy recognized
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the challenges of facing Schulz Schulz
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rarely visited Harlem frustrating bumpy
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as he had never had the chance to
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confront him directly Schulz also always
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moved with multiple bodyguards making
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the task even more complicated despite
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these difficulties bumpy had a card up
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his sleeve he his strategy involved
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contacting someone acquainted with
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Schulz the boss of all New York's Mafia
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Charles Lucky
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luano in late 1934 bumpy reached out to
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luano to discuss the escalating war in
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Harlem luano aware of the situation in
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that part of New York listened carefully
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to bumpy but declined direct involvement
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if he intervened he had conditions to
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regain control of the gambling business
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in Harlem and have bumpy on his payroll
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for a weekly sum of around $5,000
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disappointed with the response bumpy
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warned Luciano that if he tried to harm
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the managers of the clandestine
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lotteries he would have no choice but to
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face him personally Luciano laughed off
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the threat asserting bumpy had no chance
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of winning a war against him bumpy with
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a smile retorted Schultz said the same
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thing yet here I am 3 years later
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talking to you though impressed by
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Bumpy's audacity Luciano stood firm in
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his positions and for the time being
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both men left things as they were
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meanwhile in Harlem tensions continued
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to brew awaiting the outcome of this
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impending conflict the ongoing War
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continued claiming victims in the summer
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of 1935 bumpy and Rollins faced each
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other for the first time the
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confrontation occurred while bumpy was
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out dining with a girl walking calmly
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bumpy noticed Rollins pulling out a
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knife and charging at him both men
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fought on the ground for a while and
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then bumpy stood up adjusting his tie
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Rollins had severe cuts on his face and
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body lying on the ground ligaments
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barely held one of his eyeballs almost
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out of its socket after the scuffle
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bumpy casually circled around and
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mentioned having a sudden craving for
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spaghetti and
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meatballs they took Rollins to the
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hospital after he suffered severe
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injuries true to his tough reputation he
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left the same night covered in bandages
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seeking bumpy when he spotted him he
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didn't hesitate Rollins pulled out his
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gun aimed at Bumpy's head fortunately
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for bumpy the bullet only pierced his
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hat tragically ending its journey in an
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innocent woman's life killing her
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instantly they finally arrested Rollins
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by a police officer who was at the
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restaurant that night he received a
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severe sentence Bumpy Johnson still
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longed for Schultz's downfall and they
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would fulfill this wish in October
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1935 Luciano and other members of the
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American organized crime syndicate
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decided it was imperative to eliminate
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Schulz Schulz was was being pursued by
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the law and to evade the situation and
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appease things assassinated a prosecutor
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named Thomas
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deway however this solution was entirely
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unacceptable to Luciano and his
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associates I gunned Schultz down in a
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New Jersey restaurant and later passed
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away in a hospital
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bed afterward Bumpy's Clans saw some
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changes as they continued navigating the
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tumultuous underworld of Harlem the
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queen of Harlem had triumphed Harlem was
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once again free and the war had finally
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ended however people still had questions
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about who would organize the clandestine
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lotteries now that Schulz was dead luano
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would take over potentially sidelining
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bumpy from the game soon bumpy would
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find answers to these queries about a
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week after schulz's demise bumpy had
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another meeting with Luciano with Schulz
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out of the picture they met again this
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time at the behest of the Italian mob
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boss Luciano allowed bumpy to speak
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first and they discussed several points
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bumpy expressed his concern
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acknowledging he couldn't win a war
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against Luciano but couldn't sit idly by
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and allow the gambling business in
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Harlem to slip from the hands of
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African-Americans after listening to
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bumpy Luciano declared he would leave
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all the gambling actors in Harlem alone
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at least those who had supported him
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during the war however he added that any
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new Lottery opening in the neighborhood
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would fall under Mafia control
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subsequently bumpy requested to become
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Luciano's partner in Harlem ensuring
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that the mafia wouldn't attempt anything
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without his consent and participation in
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the business hours of negotiation
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followed between bumpy and Luciano on
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these terms then Luciana remarked don't
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you realize I'm doing you a favor I
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could kill you right here and take
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control of everything smiling bumpy
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replied knowing Luciana was too astute
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for such an act they continued
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negotiating shared laughter and finally
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reached an agreement bumpy achieved
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Peace With Honor challenging New York's
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most prominent boss it was an
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accomplishment the Harlem residents
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wouldn't easily forget following the
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meeting with Luciano everyone wanted to
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be friends with bumpy Bumpy Johnson
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relished his Newfound status in Harlem
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the attention and respect he received
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were palpable every time he entered a
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bar or club people offered Bumpy Johnson
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complimentary drinks and women including
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some celebrities approached him however
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what he cherished most about his new
18:02
status was witnessing the respect that
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Italian gangsters showed for the deal he
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struck with Luciano none of them could
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interfere with Bumpy's lotteries without
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facing him personally the amicable
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relationship continued until 1936 when
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authorities imprisoned Luciano for
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pandering years later authorities
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arrested bumpy for assault after he
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defended one girl under his protection I
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sentenced him to 10 years in prison and
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sent him to the damura correctional
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facility there were rumors that luchano
18:33
was serving his sentence there there
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were rumors that at some point bumpy
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saved Luciano in the prison yard by
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confronting a man who attempted to stab
18:42
him this act supposedly allowed him to
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enjoy good Italian food during his
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incarceration I released a bumpy from
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damura in
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1947 however Upon returning to Harlem he
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noticed significant changes when bumpy
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expressed his desire to open a new
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lottery in Harlem he received warnings
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about the Italian influence the Italians
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rule everything now they might not even
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allow you to open a lottery was the
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sentiment he encountered faced with this
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situation he met with Joe Adonis
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Luciano's interim leader in operations
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although he wasn't particularly fond of
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Adonis bumpy recognized his skills and
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loyalty the Italian mafia now in control
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of Harlem welcomed bumpy with luxurious
19:28
gifts as a a gesture of Goodwill they
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clarified that he couldn't do as he
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pleased anymore he wasn't the king of
19:34
Harlem anymore and his dealings with the
19:36
Italian mafia in the past had changed
19:38
the dynamic significantly after the
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leadership change bumpy refused to be
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intimidated he emitted a small laugh
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stood up with his men and glanced at
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Adonis saying you should let our mutual
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friend know what's happening I'm not
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quite content with the situation please
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convey my regards to him in your next
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contact and let him know it was a
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pleasure to assist him during our mutual
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absence this reference was clearly about
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the time he saved Luciano in damura in a
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subsequent meeting Adonis questioned why
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didn't you tell me about what you did
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for our friend in prison to this bumpy
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responded it wasn't my place to say
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following this bumpy reasserted his
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dominance in Harlem after his agreement
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with the Italians he opened his Lottery
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on the chosen Street a business that
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would yield significant profits for a
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long time his reputation continued to
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soar in the streets of Harlem and
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everything seemed fine until he met a
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young man named flash Walker a friend
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who knew bumpy as the Godfather of
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Harlem introduced flash Walker an
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orphaned and penniless young man seeking
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to work for bumpy on a December night in
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1948 bumpy out of compassion hired flash
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to assist his wife with household chores
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flash 19 was described as talkative with
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an almost hypnotic charm by some bumpy
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genuinely liked Flash and the feeling
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was Mutual this affection almost made
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his two daughters jealous such was the
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fondness between them bumpy gradually
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started trusting flash more eventually
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offering him a position in one of his
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lotteries flash knew how to enchant
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people coaxing them into betting more
21:17
than they should quickly becoming
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Bumpy's most profitable employee then
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came when bumpy trusted flash enough to
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allow him to accompany him to important
21:25
meetings including those with the
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Italians
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trouble brewed in 1949 when flash Walker
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encountered a pimp proposing a lucrative
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deal the pimp asked him to cash
21:38
apparently stolen checks discreetly a
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means for Flash to earn some extra cash
21:43
on top of what he made with bumpy 4
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months later bumpy received a call from
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his bank requesting him to discuss his
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account there he learned about the fraud
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but resolved the issue Furious he
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returned home nervously pacing a room
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realizing that flash could have caused
22:00
him serious trouble adding to this one
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of Bumpy's daughters mentioned that
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flash had touched her buttocks and not
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just hers but also her sisters and it
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wasn't the first time as they spoke
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bumpy stormed out headed for his
22:13
Cadillac determined to find Flash
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without uttering a word he exited the
22:18
car and landed a punch on Flash's face
22:21
before flash could comprehend what was
22:23
happening bumpy pounced on him hitting
22:25
him and calling him names afterward
22:27
bumpy discussed the situation with his
22:29
old friends who suggested he should have
22:31
killed flash you've earned an enemy for
22:34
life and he shouldn't stay
22:36
alive despite his friend's advice bumpy
22:39
continued to ignore them perhaps he
22:41
still felt some affection for his
22:43
Protege he would bitterly regret that
22:45
choice when he discovered what flash was
22:47
planning against him flash was planning
22:49
to hide a package of heroin somewhere in
22:51
Bumpy's residence and then call the
22:53
police to incriminate him upon learning
22:56
of Flash's plans bumpy and his friends
22:59
held an emergency meeting to discuss
23:00
what to do once the meeting concluded
23:03
they set out together to track down
23:05
flash unfortunately it was too late two
23:09
undercover drug agents later arrested at
23:11
his home bumpy they took him to the
23:13
narcotics office where he discovered
23:15
that flash had framed him and served as
23:17
a witness in a heroin case during that
23:20
time flash told the police that he was
23:22
selling drugs for bumpy an accusation
23:25
that nobody not even the narcotics
23:27
agents believed no one had ever heard of
23:30
bumpy being involved in the drug
23:32
business Federal authorities intervened
23:35
in the case knowing that by arresting
23:37
him they could clean up Harlem by
23:39
forcing him to give up the local drug
23:41
dealers he spent a fortune trying to
23:43
prove his innocence but unfortunately it
23:46
wasn't enough the feds were Relentless
23:48
pressuring him for names to drop the
23:50
case but bumpy repeatedly told them to
23:53
leave eventually in June 1952 the trial
23:57
took place throughout this time he
24:00
remained free on bail the jury
24:02
deliberated for only 3 hours before
24:04
announcing the verdict I found bumpy
24:06
guilty on two counts of drug trafficking
24:09
it shocked his loved ones as the judge
24:11
sentenced bumpy to 15 years in prison I
24:14
spent most of his time in Alcatraz a
24:16
Penitentiary that housed some of the
24:18
country's most dangerous criminals
24:21
guards referred to prisoners by their
24:22
identification numbers rather than names
24:25
to dehumanize them Bumpy's moral compass
24:28
was a topic of discussion for many
24:30
eventually the authorities sentenced
24:32
bumpy to only 10 years in prison and
24:35
they released him on parole in
24:37
1963 the news of his return spread like
24:40
wildfire through Harlem the streets were
24:43
bustling with people who cheered for him
24:45
clapped and showered confetti as his car
24:46
passed by it seemed like he was the
24:49
president of the United States parading
24:51
with tears in his eyes he stood up and
24:53
greeted the crowd the people of Harlem
24:55
hadn't forgotten him even after all that
24:58
time
24:59
however this scene seemed to foreshadow
25:01
a sort of farewell that wasn't far off
25:04
bumpy had cardiac problems that began in
25:06
1967 and would ultimately end his life a
25:09
year later on July 7th
25:11
1968 he was dining at a harlem
25:14
restaurant that night when his heart
25:15
failed him he was 62 years old the
25:18
sudden death of bumpy shocked everyone
25:21
it marked the end of one of Harlem's
25:23
most memorable underworld figures many
25:25
described him as a gangster with a
25:27
social conscience a criminal who seemed
25:29
to play the role of a philanthropist by
25:31
helping those in need within his
25:33
neighborhood nearly a hundred people
25:35
gathered to pay tribute to what they
25:37
considered the Robin Hood of Harlem a
25:39
Robin Hood who remained an extortionist
25:41
pimp and drug dealer yes even though
25:44
bumpy insisted until his death that
25:46
someone had falsely incriminated him for
25:48
drug trafficking allegations in the
25:50
1950s he eventually got involved in the
25:53
drug trade later in the
25:55
1960s bumpy was at last a smart
25:57
individual ual who could have become a
25:59
lawyer or doctor but ended up as a gang
26:02
leader it said that he regretted not
26:04
continuing his studies I will remember
26:07
him as the humble African-American Who
26:09
Rose to the Pinnacle of New York's
26:11
criminal world with just a handful of
26:14
loyal men he stood up against the
26:16
powerful Italian mafia becoming their
26:18
only Ambassador in Harlem a gangster who
26:21
spent 26 years of his life Behind Bars
26:24
described by the prosecutor in his trial
26:27
as one of the most danger ous criminals
26:29
in the history of Harlem

The Untold Story of Bumpy Johnson: Harlem's Most Powerful Gangster (1905-1968)

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The Untold Story of Bumpy Johnson: Harlem's Most Powerful Gangster (1905-1968)

Survival Horror Channel