Charles Nicoletti
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Charles "Chuckie" Nicoletti (December 3, 1916 - March 29, 1977) known as Chuckie or The Typewriter. was one of the top Chicago Outfit hitmen for Salvatore "Sam," "Mooney" Giancana.
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[edit] Early years
Growing up in a poor, dysfunctional family in Chicago, Nicoletti murdered his father in what was deemed as, "justifiable homicide." Dropping out of school in the eighth grade, Nicoletti soon joined the 'Forty-Two Gang.' This Chicago street gang, whose members included Giancana, Sam "Teets" Battaglia, and Felix "Milwaukee Phil" Alderisio, trained many future members of the Chicago Outfit.
[edit] Mob Triggerman
By the late 1950s, Nicoletti was one of the most feared triggermen in Chicago and was drawing attention from the FBI and the police. A number of times Nicoletti and Alderisio teamed up for a "hit," including the time they were found by police sitting in a car dubbed, "the hitmobile." This car had special compartments where guns were stored and special switches to turn lights off at certain times. When questioned by police the two said they were, "....waiting for a friend."
In 1962, Nicoletti participated in an infamous torture case. Nicoletti, Alderisio, and Anthony "Tony the Ant" Spilotro had kidnapped James Miraglia, a thug who had killed two of their friends. The three men started torturing Miraglia to find out the name of his accomplice. Spilotro had placed the man's head in an industrial vice and started squeezing it tighter and tighter. Suddenly, Miraglia's eye popped completely out of its socket. At that point, Miraglia revealed his accomplice's name. Years later, Frank Cullotta was telling this story to a friend. Cullotta was impressed by Nicoletti's reaction to the gory scene; "Boy, this is a heartless guy. He was eating pasta when Billy's eye popped out." This scene was re-enacted in Martin Scorsese's 1995 film Casino.
During his career as a hitman, Nicoletti was involved in as many as 20 mob hits. It was alleged that Nicoletti was involved in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy [1]. However, this claim has never been substantiated.
Also in the '60s, Nicoletti was questioned by FBI Agent William F. Roemer, to find out if Nicoletti had proof of employment. Supposedly, Nicoletti gave Roemer the names of several car dealerships he worked at. Apparently, all the leads checked out.
[edit] Final Hit
On March 29th, 1977, Nicoletti received three .38 slugs to the back of his head and was killed. The car he was waiting in then was set on fire. The mob reportedly "whacked" the hitman because he had complained three times about the Giancana killing. Some said that Nicoletti was murdered in retaliation for a hit on a Milwaukee, Wisconsin, mob leader, but that is a reported cover story.
Nicoletti was supposed to appear before the House Select Committee on Assassinations. Chauncey Holt, the old tramp in the infamous "Three Tramps" photo, claims that he drove Nicoletti into Dallas from Licavoli Grace Ranch on the morning of the assassination.
[edit] Further reading
- Giancana, Sam and Chuck. Double Cross: The Explosive, Inside Story of the Mobster Who Controlled America. New York: Warner Books, 1992. ISBN 0-446-51624-4
- Groden, Robert J. and Livingstone, Harrison Edward. High Treason. New York: Berkley Books, 1990. ISBN 0-425-12344-8
- Hinckle, Warren and Turner, William W. The Fish is Red: The Story of the Secret War Against Castro. New York: Harper & Row, 1981. ISBN 0-06-038003-9
- Marrs, Jim. Crossfire: The Plot That Killed Kennedy. New York: Carroll & Graf, 1990. ISBN 0-88184-648-1
