Don't Bite the Hand That Feeds You

On this date in 1927, Frank Selvaggi, a member of St. Louis' Cuckoo gang, was shot in the cigar store of Bennie Greenberg. Benny was also a bookie whom, Selvaggi had been shaking down. He visited the cigar stand twice that day. On one visit he helped himself to a cigar and on the second a free pack of cigarettes. On the third visit Selvaggi, age 23, was drunk and had two confederates with him.

Greenberg was counting up his gambling receipts of the day when Selvaggi came in the third and final time. Waving his gun he told Greenberg to "Stick 'em up." and started to fire. His shots went wild as Greenberg grabbed his own pistol and fired back hitting the gangster three times. Twice in the chest and once in the leg. Selvaggi stumbled from the store and collapsed about a hundred feet away.

Fearing reprisal, Greenberg ran to a nearby saloon owned by his brother and waited until the cops came before returning to his cigar store. " I had to shoot," he told the cops, "Selvaggi was drunk and he was shooting at me. I was lending him money and we both knew he would never pay it back, but that was all right. When your in this business you expect to get preyed upon." Greenberg was freed after it was determined he acted in self defense.

 Frank Selvaggi

Bennie Greenberg