Knocked Out of the Presidential Race

Chicago - On this day in 1928 Peter Rizzuto*, a Sicilian big wig, was loading near beer onto a truck outside his place of business. His place of business was a beverage supply company that not only manufactured the stuff he was loading onto the truck, but also supplied hops, sugar etc. all the things one would need to make alcoholic beverages. One of his top customers was the Aiello gang.

In addition to his business interests, Rizzuto was being groomed by said Aiellos to take over the presidency of the Unione Siciliana. The previous month the former president Joe Lombardo, a Capone ally,  had been shot to death while walking with his bodyguards. Most likely at the behest of the Aiellos. Rizzuto had been on the phone with Lombardo a few moments before the shooting and was considered a suspect in the killing.

As Rizzuto was loading his near beer, two men, each armed with a sawed off shotgun, crept around the side of his truck and cut him down. Perhaps somebody else suspected him in the Lombardo killing as well.

Peter Rizzuto

*Rizzuto was spelled numerous ways in the press. This may not be the actual spelling.

You shouldn't horse around

Originally from St. Louis, gambler Milton White Henry - Milsey to his pals- made his way to Washington D.C. circa 1926 and opened a gambling joint. On this date in 1932 he was pulling up to his home when he was cut off by a milk truck. As he patiently waited for the truck to move, a man with a sawed off shot gun got out of a nearby car and crept up to Henry's auto. He fired twice into Henry then, climbing onto the running board of the victim's car, fired three more times making sure Henry was officially out of business.

It was speculated that Henry was rubbed out by Jersey gunmen hired to bump him off by local bookmakers. It seems that Henry had fixed a number of horse races and made a killing. Then, finding out the truth, the bookies decided to make a killing of their own.

Milton White Henry

Your dirty rat, you killed my brother...and me.

Alexander "Red" Applequist and his brother, Ernie, were  tending bar in their Chicago speakeasy.  Adorning the walls of their establishment were posters supporting the Republican candidates of an upcoming election. Red had a history of political activism having been arrested for killing a guy during some election day terrorism back in the teens. He got off on plea of self-defense. Ernie was said to have had close ties with North Side gangsters Dean O'Banion and George Bugs Moran. In addition to co-owning the speakeasy, Ernie was also the head of the City Chauffeur's union.

In recent weeks, Red confided to a friend that Capone henchman, Lawrance "Dago" Mangano had stopped by and told him to stop selling beer. Red told the friend that he did stop, but was hoping that if the politician he was promoting won the election, he'd be able to operate without worrying about the Capone forces.

On this night back in 1932, a couple of guys stopped in the Applequist speakeasy. Moments later both Applequist' lay behind the bar, each with a shotgun blast to the head. Police found four glasses of beer on the counter. Apparently Red didn't actually stop selling.

Two theories given for the double murder- Bumped off for defying Mangano or possibly troubles within the Chauffeur's union.

L: Alexander Red Applequist R: Ernie Applequist

Shots for the Doc

Sam "Doc" Miller was a Kansas City gangster who made his way to the twin Cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis. As a member of Solly Weisman's gang back in K.C., it was reported that Miller took part in hijackings as well as kidnapping underworld characters and holding them for ransom. This was on of the motives given for his murder. Supposedly had had been involved in snatching Chicago hoodlums around the time of his execution.

Miller came to Minneapolis sometime in 1928 with some associates and opened a roadhouse called "The Belles", which offered gambling. It closed a short time later. According to police, at the time of his death, Miller had just cancelled a lease on a St. Paul apartment that he intended to use as a gambling joint, after being warned by the St. Paul underworld to stay out.

The end came for Doc Miller at around 1:00AM on this date back in 1930. He phoned his wife from a pool hall saying that he was on his way home. On his way he noticed that he was being followed by two cars. He attempted to lose the tail by going around the block near his house. As he came around the second time, one of the cars pulled out and cut him off. The car following him pulled up and some words were exchanged. One witness stated that Miller cried out, "Don't shoot!"

Miller, who had taken to carrying a pistol a week or so before hand, managed to fire a couple shots just as a sawed off shotgun was fired at him. He was struck by the blast, which was followed up with numerous pistol shots, seven of which, landed in the gangsters.

The killers pulled away and drove around the block and came back around slowly passed Miller's auto to make sure that their job had been successful. It was.

The top three theories for the murder given by police were-
1) Revenge for a previous gangland killing.
2) Chicago or Kansas City gangsters getting even for a kidnapping.
3) St. Paul gangsters not wanting any competition in the gambling racket.

Sam "Doc" Miller