Vincent Drucci

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Vincenzo D'Ambrosio
Born	1898 Caltagirone, Sicily, Italy
Died	April 4, 1927 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

Vincent "The Schemer" Drucci (1898–April 4, 1927) was a Chicago mobster during Chicago's Prohibition era who served a lieutenant under Dean O'Banion's North Side Gang and later as gang boss. Drucci was one of the few gangsters to ever be killed by law enforcement.

Born Vincenzo D'Ambrosio, Drucci was a leading member of the North Side Gang and an associate of George "Bugs" Moran, Earl 'Hymie' Weiss, and O'Banion. Drucci was one of the few Sicilian members of the predominantly Irish gang. Known for his inventive and detailed plans from bank robberies to kidnappings of prominent Chicagoans, Drucci earned the nickname "The Schemer". Drucci was involved with the attempted murders of both Al Capone and Johnny Torrio in the turf wars of the 1920s. After the murder of Weiss, Drucci became the leader of the North Side Gang. Unlike his two predecessors, Drucci was not killed by the rival Capone faction, but rather was shot four times and killed during an altercation with Chicago detective Dan Healy on April 4, 1927. Given a lavish funeral at Mount Carmel Cemetery, typical of gangland fashion at the time, Drucci's silver casket cost $10,000 and more than $30,000 in flowers adorned the funeral rooms.

[edit] Early Life

After serving his country in the military, Vincent Drucci at a young age became involved with crime. He began by robbing telephone coin boxes, when he was noticed by the Northsiders. Nicknamed "The Schemer" for his various plans, such as how to overthrow the government by killing everyone in command and becoming president of the U.S., Drucci is a wacky fun gangster, at least to his co-horts. To others, especially rivals, he was one tough torpedo to tangle with. One episode has him dressed as a priest on the sidewalk, and as a couple walks by, Drucci blurts out "You have a nice ass!" As soon as they turn around to face the insulting Drucci, he blurts out, "Not you, lady, your fellow!"