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Frank ‘The Enforcer’ Nitti

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The body of Frank "The Enforcer" Nitti is carried away from the scene after it was found on March 19, 1943, near a railroad embankment in North Riverside, a Chicago suburb. Police Sgt. William Rowe said the chief of the Capone syndicate killed himself. Nitti was facing extortion charges when he took his life.
Associated Press
The body of Frank “The Enforcer” Nitti is carried away from the scene after it was found on March 19, 1943, near a railroad embankment in North Riverside, a Chicago suburb. Police Sgt. William Rowe said the chief of the Capone syndicate killed himself. Nitti was facing extortion charges when he took his life.

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Frank ‘The Enforcer’ Nitti

Chicago Tribune
By | Chicago Tribune
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Frank Nitti, center, known variously as the chief lieutenant of Al Capone, and as the real power of the gang “of which Capone is but a figurehead,” was arrested in 1930. He was seized by Bureau of Internal Revenue agents. Nitti is flanked by, from left, Sgt. John Greer, Lt. Julius Siegan and Sgt. David Lavin in 1930.
Assistant State's Attorney Harry Ditchburn, from left, Assistant State's Attorney James Brown, Frank Nitti and attorney Mike Goldberg stand before Judge Lyles in court in 1930. Nitti was released on a $10,000 cash bond after a day in custody.
Assistant State’s Attorney Harry Ditchburn, from left, Assistant State’s Attorney James Brown, Frank Nitti and attorney Mike Goldberg stand before Judge Lyles in court in 1930. Nitti was released on a $10,000 cash bond after a day in custody.
John Grace fingerprints Frank Nitto, who went by the alias Frank Nitti, in 1930. Nitti, a cousin of Al Capone's, was treasurer of Capone's gang. Nitti had a vagrancy charge pending against him.
John Grace fingerprints Frank Nitto, who went by the alias Frank Nitti, in 1930. Nitti, a cousin of Al Capone’s, was treasurer of Capone’s gang. Nitti had a vagrancy charge pending against him.
Frank Nitti, center, known as the chief lieutenant of Al Capone and also as the real power of the gang “of which Capone is but a figurehead,” was arrested in 1930. He was seized by agents of the Bureau of Internal Revenue. Nitti was flanked by, from left, Pat Roche, chief investigator at the state’s attorney’s office; Sgt. John Greer; Lt. Julius Siegan; and Sgt. David Lavin.
Frank Nitti is hospitalized after being shot three times. Dr. F.J. Fara, right, looks on at Bridewell Hospital in 1932. Nitti was shot by Sgt. Harry Lang during a raid on the downtown headquarters of Nitti's gang.
Frank Nitti is hospitalized after being shot three times. Dr. F.J. Fara, right, looks on at Bridewell Hospital in 1932. Nitti was shot by Sgt. Harry Lang during a raid on the downtown headquarters of Nitti’s gang.
Browned by the Florida sun, cheerful and fully recovered from his gunshot wounds, Frank Nitti jests with his attorneys Rocco De Stefano, left, and Ben Short in 1933. At times, he lost his carefree manner and was nervous and fidgety.
Browned by the Florida sun, cheerful and fully recovered from his gunshot wounds, Frank Nitti jests with his attorneys Rocco De Stefano, left, and Ben Short in 1933. At times, he lost his carefree manner and was nervous and fidgety.
Frank “The Enforcer” Nitti at the criminal courts building after surrendering on a conspiracy indictment in 1940.
Frank “The Enforcer” Nitti, left, with Louis “Little New York” Campagna in 1936, was considered the man who organized hits for Chicago mob boss Al Capone and then took over the crime syndicate after Capone’s conviction on tax evasion.
The scene on March 19, 1943, as police gathered around Frank Nitti's body along a railroad embankment in North Riverside after Nitti committed suicide. This photo was taken looking north along the Illinois Central Railroad tracks, south of Cermak Road.
The scene on March 19, 1943, as police gathered around Frank Nitti’s body along a railroad embankment in North Riverside after Nitti committed suicide. This photo was taken looking north along the Illinois Central Railroad tracks, south of Cermak Road.
Frank Nitti had a knack for staying out of jail for most of his career and was even said to be claustrophobic. Rather than face trial and possible prison time on extortion charges, Nitti took his own life on March 19, 1943. After his wife left for church, Nitti walked along railroad tracks near Harlem Avenue and shot himself.
Frank Nitti had a knack for staying out of jail for most of his career and was even said to be claustrophobic. Rather than face trial and possible prison time on extortion charges, Nitti took his own life on March 19, 1943. After his wife left for church, Nitti walked along railroad tracks near Harlem Avenue and shot himself.
The body of Frank “The Enforcer” Nitti is carried away from the scene after it was found on March 19, 1943, near a railroad embankment in North Riverside, a Chicago suburb. Police Sgt. William Rowe said the chief of the Capone syndicate killed himself. Nitti was facing extortion charges when he took his life.
The .32-caliber Colt revolver and slug used by Frank “The Enforcer” Nitti to kill himself March 19, 1943, shown at the county morgue.
Mrs. Annette Nitti, widow of Frank Nitti, circa 1946 when she was embroiled in a tax controversy surrounding Frank's estate. Editors note: this historic print has some hand painting on it.
Mrs. Annette Nitti, widow of Frank Nitti, circa 1946 when she was embroiled in a tax controversy surrounding Frank’s estate. Editors note: this historic print has some hand painting on it.
Mrs. Annette Nitti, widow of Frank Nitti, walks in to the Federal Building on April 10, 1957, after her appearance before a grand jury investigating the income tax returns of Paul Ricca.
Mrs. Annette Nitti, widow of Frank Nitti, walks in to the Federal Building on April 10, 1957, after her appearance before a grand jury investigating the income tax returns of Paul Ricca.

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