Bumpy Johnson

[Don_Peppino]

Bumpy was one of the more fascinating and mythical associates of the LCN. I don't think he has ever really gotten his due within the genre and maybe it's because (other than the obvious thing in being African-American) some of the historical facts are unclear. Has anyone in the forum been able to clarify his association (if any) to Lucky Luciano?
Do we know, who exactly he was associated with in Harlem? What the actual facts are behind the numbers war with Dutch Schultz and the fallout? And who he was connected too when he was on the streets in the 50's/60's?

[Wiseguy]

The late Lt. Remo Franceschini discusses Johnson at length in his autobiography. He said through the investigations they found Johnson was essentially the middle man for the Italians (primarily the Genovese family - the bankers) in the black areas of Harlem. This was after Dutch Schultz had been eliminated, of course, and the Italians had moved in.

[JeremyTheJew]

The late Lt. Remo Franceschini discusses Johnson at length in his autobiography. He said through the investigations they found Johnson was essentially the middle man for the Italians (primarily the Genovese family - the bankers) in the black areas of Harlem. This was after Dutch Schultz had been eliminated, of course, and the Italians had moved in.

What about the dope

[Wiseguy]

The late Lt. Remo Franceschini discusses Johnson at length in his autobiography. He said through the investigations they found Johnson was essentially the middle man for the Italians (primarily the Genovese family - the bankers) in the black areas of Harlem. This was after Dutch Schultz had been eliminated, of course, and the Italians had moved in.

What about the dope

I don't recall Franceschini mentioning heroin specifically in regards to Johnson but, considering the Italians more or less controlled the heroin supply throughout the timeframe of his criminal career, so I imagine the arrangement was the same.

[JeremyTheJew]

The late Lt. Remo Franceschini discusses Johnson at length in his autobiography. He said through the investigations they found Johnson was essentially the middle man for the Italians (primarily the Genovese family - the bankers) in the black areas of Harlem. This was after Dutch Schultz had been eliminated, of course, and the Italians had moved in.

What about the dope

I don't recall Franceschini mentioning heroin specifically in regards to Johnson but, considering the Italians more or less controlled the heroin supply throughout the timeframe of his criminal career, so I imagine the arrangement was the same.

Interesting tho bc now he is actually more known for dope now due to Frank lieing Lucas and also shows like king of Harlem

I would be interested to know if all the other organizations in the tv show were real - I forgot all there names but I’m sure they were probably mostly made up

That tv show (king off Harlem) pretty much rapes the truth

[Don_Peppino]

So can we assume that Bumpy's point of contact may have been "Trigger" Mike Coppola, who was the Genovese power in harlem during that time? And also, was there any association to Steve Lasalle ( Lucchese), who was also a power on harlem during the 30s/40s in the numbers racket?.

Bumpy could definitely use a through biography.

[Wiseguy]

The late Lt. Remo Franceschini discusses Johnson at length in his autobiography. He said through the investigations they found Johnson was essentially the middle man for the Italians (primarily the Genovese family - the bankers) in the black areas of Harlem. This was after Dutch Schultz had been eliminated, of course, and the Italians had moved in.

What about the dope

I don't recall Franceschini mentioning heroin specifically in regards to Johnson but, considering the Italians more or less controlled the heroin supply throughout the timeframe of his criminal career, so I imagine the arrangement was the same.

Interesting tho bc now he is actually more known for dope now due to Frank lieing Lucas and also shows like king of Harlem

I would be interested to know if all the other organizations in the tv show were real - I forgot all there names but I’m sure they were probably mostly made up

That tv show (king off Harlem) pretty much rapes the truth

The revisionist history started with the 1997 movie Hoodlum and has apparently continued in the King of Harlem series.

So can we assume that Bumpy's point of contact may have been "Trigger" Mike Coppola, who was the Genovese power in harlem during that time? And also, was there any association to Steve Lasalle ( Lucchese), who was also a power on harlem during the 30s/40s in the numbers racket?.

Bumpy could definitely use a through biography.

If I remember right, the investigation into the Harlem numbers racket Franceschini talks about was in the 1960s. I don't recall any specific mob names.

[Amershire_Ed]

Bumpy’s family members were pretty outspoken about Frank Lucas and the American Gangster story. Lucas kinda combined three stories (Bumpy, Frank Matthews, Ike Atkinson) and made it his own. I think the only reason they never sued him is because he was perpetually broke. He got caught at one point stealing his own sons social security. Even with the American Gangster check he was a brokester.

[outfit guy]

There was a gentleman on here that was from Harlem that could set this straight. An intermediary to the Italians was the 1920s and 1930s. As that poster makes clear, by the 50s, Puerto Ricans ran most of the major rackets on Harlem (Angelet brothers, Spanish Ray, etc.). The Italians had their own spots for sure, but so did the Cubans, Blacks, people from the Islands, PRs, etc. There was no overarching payment to the Italians besides a token for the daily number payed by Spanish Ray. Where they shared mutual spots, I'm sure they shared profits with other ethnic gangs.

[aleksandrored]

The late Lt. Remo Franceschini discusses Johnson at length in his autobiography. He said through the investigations they found Johnson was essentially the middle man for the Italians (primarily the Genovese family - the bankers) in the black areas of Harlem. This was after Dutch Schultz had been eliminated, of course, and the Italians had moved in.

Interesting, what is the name of the book?

[Wiseguy]

The late Lt. Remo Franceschini discusses Johnson at length in his autobiography. He said through the investigations they found Johnson was essentially the middle man for the Italians (primarily the Genovese family - the bankers) in the black areas of Harlem. This was after Dutch Schultz had been eliminated, of course, and the Italians had moved in.

Interesting, what is the name of the book?

A Matter of Honor: One Cop's Lifelong Pursuit of John Gotti and the Mob (1993)

[aleksandrored]

The late Lt. Remo Franceschini discusses Johnson at length in his autobiography. He said through the investigations they found Johnson was essentially the middle man for the Italians (primarily the Genovese family - the bankers) in the black areas of Harlem. This was after Dutch Schultz had been eliminated, of course, and the Italians had moved in.

Interesting, what is the name of the book?

A Matter of Honor: One Cop's Lifelong Pursuit of John Gotti and the Mob (1993)

Thanks!!

[Ivan]

I don't think he has ever really gotten his due within the genre

they did make a Hollywood movie about him though

[Don_Peppino]

I don't think he has ever really gotten his due within the genre

they did make a Hollywood movie about him though

Agreed, but I guess I mean in print. There has never been a historically accurate definitive biography written about him. Or the context of the fight over the numbers with Dutch Schultz. The aftermath of that would result in the Luciano (eventual Genovese) Family acquiring a large portion of that market in Harlem. I believe Tony Salerno would inherit this empire later on.
There were several millionaire policy bankers in the 1920s. Alex Pompez, Casper Holstein, Jose Miro, Stephanie St. Claire, and a few others to name a few. Schultz was a power in his own right. Supposedly 40 murders and several kidnappings happened diring their street war 1934/1935. In my opinion this makes Bumpy a big leaguer (in the aspect of being a true "american gangster"). And some of the myths, jist need some clarification. Like, Did Bumpy and Luciano actually ever meet??? And there's a blank spot in Johnson's history during the 40s and 50s. I know he was in jail alot but some of that street time is undocumented, to my knowledge.

[faffy444]

Try this book about Bumpy
Harlem Godfather: The Rap on My Husband, Ellsworth "Bumpy" Johnson