Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-03-20
NiMi Kills Himself
After Indictment on
Extortion Charge
Copone Gong Chieftoin
Accused Of 81 600, 900
Movie-Union Rocket
b n. Assoc is,<d Press

b n. ASsocls '<d Press.
CHICAGO, March 20. Death
by suicide has ended Frank Nittis
gangster career.
The chief OF the Capone syn
dictate, ruler Of the city's under
world and acknowledged brains
Of one of the Nations major
gangs, shot and killed himself
yesterday, few hours after he
learned he was one of nine men
indicted by New York Federal
grand jury on charges OF extor-
ton.
The 56year- old gang boss. known
as The Enforcer' by virtue of his
authority in racketeering. went to
his death by his own hand near
a railroad embankment in suburban
Riverside. only short distance
from his home.
Three members of railroad
freight crew saw Nitti die by firing
two bullets into his head. Police
Sergt. William Grove reported. I'm
aware Of the mans identity, the
trainmen reported the shooting to
police. Police Chief Allen Rose Of
North Riverside said he found Nitti
lying on his back, his head against
the post of fence. There were
two bullet wounds in his head. In
his right hand was a .32-caliber
revolver.
Indicted With Eight Others.
An attorney for the slain gang
leader told police that Nitti had
consulted him earlier yesterday and
was advised Of the indictments in
New York. He said Nitti. who had
promised to come to his office later,
did not appear to be distressed when
he was given the news of the ill.,
dictment.
The New York indictments charged
Nitti and six other Chicagoans on
Federal charges of violating the
Misunderstanding Act and of mail
fraud and conspiracy. The nine
men. including two from New York
who Federal officials said were allied
with the Nitti gang, were charged
in the indictments with extorting
more than $1,000 900 from movie
firms and labor union.
The indictments were the largest
legal blow ever aimed at the gang
and Federal officials here promised
further developments.
j. Albert Vol. United States At
torney. asserted this is not the end
OF the episode" while Federal in
vestigator said the Chicago investi-
CATION would be directed toward the
organizations relations with any
other labor unions. He explained
that the New York indictments were
limited to charges that the Defend
ants extorted more than $1,000 900
from movie companies and the IN
ternational Alliance of Theatrical
Stage Employees.
Native Of Italy.
The syndicate, founded by AL
Capone but taken over by Nitti when
the former gangster was sent to
prison for income tax evasion. has
been charged by States Attorney
Thomas J. Courtney with controlling
vice and gambling in Chicago Nitti,
native Of Italy and one time member
OF a Brooklyn gang. was generally
credited with taking over Capone's
financial interests.
He came to Chicago after the
World War, following Capone from
Brooklyn, and during the prohibition
era when Capone ruled the Midwest
beer trade. Nitti was his chief lieu
tenant. The money he made In the
Illicit liquor traffic brought Nitti his
first prison sentence. Nitti. whose
true name was Nitto. served IA
months in the Leavenworth Peniten-
tiary in 1881 and 1882 for evading
S277 $40 in taxes on an income OF
s742,887 in the 1925-27 period, when
the Capone gang made fortunes In
beer running
The little gang leader-he was
feet, inches tall-had numerous
other brushes with the law, but
escaped being sent to prison.