American black gangster and criminal authority Johnson Ellsworth: biography, activities, life history and interesting facts

Johnson Ellsworth is one of the most authoritative black American gangsters. This man was very respected in the gangster world, he was recognized even by the notorious racists - white gangsters. He spent most of his life in prison, but this did not stop him from being the most influential person in the underworld.

Childhood and Youth

Johnson Ellsworth Was born in the city of Charleston, South Carolina. The future bandit was born on October 31, 1905.

Soon the family changed their place of residence, moving to New York. In addition to Johnson, the family was brought up by children. Researchers living gangster note this fact - his older brother was accused of murdering a white man. Our hero was then only 10 years old, but this incident left a huge imprint on his negative attitude towards people with white skin color.

The brother, whose name was Willy, was eventually sent to live with relatives to save him from social abuse. And when Ellsworth Johnson reached the age of 14, his parents sent him to Harlem, live with Mabel's older sister. The reason for this decision was the same intransigence with the whites.

The nickname, which became a visiting card gangster

Throughout the world, Johnson Ellsworth known as Bumpy, or simply Bumpy. This nickname he received is not accidental. From birth, the future criminal authority had a noticeable build-up on his head - a cone. It was this defect that served the appearance of a well-known nickname.

Bumpy was considered a very dangerous person. He was afraid, because he never went out without a gun or a knife. At any opportunity he skillfully used them. The results did not take long to wait: for illegal possession of weapons, he was tried in his youth.

The beginning of a criminal career

A huge role in the formation of Ellsworth as a gangster was played by Stephanie St. Clair. This lady was known throughout Harlem as the owner of popular at that time game clubs. She was looking for courageous and fearless people, ready for anything for the sake of money. Bumpy was just like that.

Entering her service, eventually he began to receive the most important tasks. The murder of people who interfere with the affairs of gambling establishments is the work that Johnson Ellsworth was doing. Biography Gangster from this moment began to rapidly replenish with new criminal cases.

Handsome Bumbi

In the environment of Stephanie Clair, there were many hard-nosed thugs, but she trusted Eulsworth. What did conquer such a sophisticated lady Bumpy?

Witnesses say that Ellsworth Bampi Johnson, in addition to being very strong and strong, himself worshiped Stephanie. But she was subdued by the fact that he was sufficiently educated, read a lot, loved Shakespeare and heard music by Beethoven. Perhaps, if it were not for craving for murders, Bumpy would be a famous poet. Some of his poems were even published.

By the age of 30, a black bandit boasted that he spent half of his years in prison. There he did not waste time. It was behind the bars that he studied history and philosophy, wrote poetry.

In 1932, after coming to freedom, Johnson learns that during this time the situation in Harlem has changed somewhat. On the criminal scene, a new gangster - Dutch Schulz (Dutchman). His hostess, Stephanie Claire, stayed in prison, and now she is in danger.

The conquest of authority

The Dutchman very quickly established control over the game business. People who refused to cooperate with him were killed.

Johnson Ellsworth understood - in order to survive, he must seek protection from someone who can stop the Dutchman. Soon such authority was found. It was Lucky Luciano, then known as the brain of the underworld. He was engaged in the reorganization of the Cosa Nostra and turned it into a well-organized criminal organization.

When in 1935 the Dutchman was killed, Bumpy went to Lucky Luciano. The fact that a black man concludes deals with the Italian mafia, instantly raised the authority of Johnson in the criminal world.

Luciano, too, impressed the education of Bumpy, so he gave Ellsworth very great powers, as for a black gangster. Thanks to this, our hero took control of all the banks of Harlem. But it was this patronage that made Johnson completely dependent on the Cosa Nostra. Luciano now took the lion's share of his income.

King of Harlem

But nevertheless, the power of Bumpy began to grow rapidly. Now he was in charge of all affairs on the territory entrusted to him, gave permission for various frauds with money in gaming houses, controlled all incomes.

His powers included the control of drug trafficking. If too much of their party was bought, he could track down and seize the participants in the operation. At one time he even had the nickname Chaser. At the request of bandit groups for a fee, he could deal with drug dealers without involving the press.

Contemporaries of the black gangster note that during his reign in Harlem there was an ideal order. He completely controlled prostitution, gambling and drug supplies.

In 1951, Bumpy again went to jail. The reason was the testimony against him by Flash Walker. Flash Walker - personal driver Johnson, with whom he had a very warm relationship. But getting caught on a heroin deal to make his term shorter, the driver gave the police all the information about his boss.

Walker eventually disappeared without a trace, and Johnson was sentenced to 15 years. Nevertheless, his authority in the criminal world was so high that he successfully led Harlem directly from behind the bars.

Good gangster

Being a ruthless killer, Johnson Ellsworth Often manifested himself as a compassionate, kind person. True, only people from his closest circle knew about this side of the bandit's identity.

The facts of his assistance to poor and needy people are known. He often gave money free of charge, paid for the studies of young talents who could not pay for their education. He gave loans, was the organizer of charity holidays. Thanks to him, the poor, who had nothing to pay for housing, received paid rent bills at home (it used to happen that the bandit had to negotiate with the owner of the house with a pistol).

About these aspects of one of the most brutal bandits, almost no one knew anything. His upbringing did not allow him to talk about his good deeds. All that he did, helping others, was done in secret.

Death of authority

Death, as always comes unexpectedly. The most famous black gangster of America Ellsworth Raymond Bumpy Johnson died, at the age of 63, while in a restaurant. The cause of death was a heart attack.

The life of the King of Harlem was interrupted on July 7, 1968 in the restaurant Wells. Johnson ordered his food and coffee. At about 2 am he grabbed his heart. According to eyewitnesses, Bumpy smiled and lost consciousness. The ambulance took him to the hospital, where the doctors stated death.

Woodlon Cemetery was his last refuge.

Bumpy Johnson is the true son of his era and his place of residence. This man united in himself good and bad. He became the cause of the appearance of drugs in Harlem and at the same time controlled the school in troubled teens. He was called in different ways: a thief, a murderer, a pimp, a bandit, a scientist and a gentleman.

The fate of the black gangster was so remarkable that in 1997 the world saw the feature film "Gangster", which tells of the ups and downs, crimes and benefits of the criminal authority of Ellsworth Johnson .