27 Facts About Frank Nitti

Bodyguard of Al Capone, Nitti was in charge of all money flowing through the operation.

Frank Nitti later succeeded Capone as acting boss of the Chicago Outfit.

Frank Nitti was born Francesco Raffaele Nitto on January 27,1886, in the town of Angri, province of Salerno, Campania, Italy.

Frank Nitti was the second child of Luigi and Rosina Nitto.

Frank Nitti's father died in 1888, when Frank was two years old.

Frank Nitti's mother gave birth to his half-brother Raphael in 1894 and another child, Gennaro, in 1896.

Al Capone's family lived nearby, and Frank Nitti was friends with Capone's older brothers and their criminal gang.

Frank Nitti may have worked in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn around 1911.

Frank Nitti probably moved to Chicago around 1913, working as a barber and making the acquaintance of gangsters Alex Louis Greenberg and Dion O'Banion.

Frank Nitti married Chicagoan Rosa Levitt in Dallas, Texas, on October 18,1917.

Frank Nitti quickly renewed his contacts with Greenberg and O'Banion, becoming a jewel thief, liquor smuggler, and fence.

Frank Nitti, being a newcomer, and familiar with the Texas area, became a partner in the Galveston crime syndicate run by Johnny Jack Nounes.

Frank Nitti is reported to have stolen a large sum of money from Nounes and fellow mobster Dutch Voight in 1924, after which Nitti fled back to Chicago.

Frank Nitti ran Capone's liquor smuggling and distribution operation, importing whisky from Canada and selling it through a network of speakeasies around Chicago.

Frank Nitti was one of Capone's top lieutenants, trusted for his leadership skills and business acumen.

Frank Nitti was head of operations, with Jake "Greasy Thumb" Guzik as head of administration and Tony "Joe Batters" Accardo as head of enforcement.

In earlier days, Frank Nitti had been one of Capone's trusted personal bodyguards.

When Frank Nitti was released on March 25,1932, he took his place as the new boss of the Capone Gang.

Frank Nitti then shot himself to make the shooting look like self-defense, claiming that Nitti had shot him first.

Frank Nitti survived the shooting and in February 1933 was acquitted of attempted murder.

Frank Nitti married Annette Caravetta on May 14,1942; she was widowed almost a year later when he committed suicide.

The day before his scheduled grand jury appearance, Frank Nitti had breakfast with his wife in their home at 712 Selborne Road in Riverside, Illinois.

When his wife was leaving for church, Frank Nitti told her he planned to take a walk; then he began to drink heavily.

The workers spotted an oblivious Frank Nitti walking on the track away from them and shouted a warning.

The workers thought Frank Nitti was shooting at them but then realized he was trying to shoot himself in the head.

Frank Nitti died on March 19,1943, at the age of 57.

Frank Nitti is buried at Mount Carmel Cemetery in Hillside, Illinois.