Southside Johnny

Johnny Genero was called a minor Southside racketeer. Southside of Chicago that is. For a minor racketeer he was involved in some major trouble. In addition to whatever nefarious activities he took part in, he was brought in for questioning regarding the murder of Brooklyn mob boss Frankie Yale as well as being indicted (but exonerated) for election day terrorism.

Genero also kept bad company. He was involved somehow with James Belcastro, aka "King of the Bombers." This relationship went south however because Belcastro set up a meeting with Genero  on January 29, 1930. The reason? Belcastro wanted Johnny to meet a few guys. They met at a restaurant and a few minutes after Belcastro left, Genero walked out to his car and met the two men. Instead of handshakes, the two men greeted Johnny with bullets. Five of them. Genero went to the hospital and the family gathered. He was given the Last Rites. We know Belcastro set up Johnny because Johnny sang to the police. Assuming that he was dying he told the law that Belcastro "Put him on the spot" and that the shooters were, Louis De Lucca and Angelo Lucia. To everyone's surprise Genero pulled through. Apparently Johnny got amnesia during his recovery, because nothing came of his statement.

About a year later on January 11, 1931, Belcastro was shot numerous times by two guys as he entered his car outside his brother in-laws house. Was Genero behind the shooting? Who knows, unlike Johnny, Belcastro didn't talk. However, a few months later, eighty-eight years ago tonight to be exact, Genero was driving his car, a companion in the seat next him, when a roadster containing four men, two in the front, two in the rumble seat pulled up. After a short chase the roadster caught up to Genero's car and the men opened fire. This time the Last Rites were for the last time.

Johnny Genero