1921 in organized crime

Events

Upon his election as Governor of Illinois, Lennington Small would issue over 1,000 pardons to Chicago criminals most notably Edward "Spike" O'Donnall during his seven years in office before his own indictment for fraud.
James Sweeney, a Chicago gang leader and professional bomber, is arrested imprisoned for his criminal activities. Despite his imprisonment, his organization is soon replaced by Sangerman's Bombers.
Former Black Hand bomber Andrew Kerr is arrested and charged with conspiracy to bomb several union offices.
Chicago Black Hand leader, Sam Cardinelli, and fellow mobsters Nicholas "The Choir Boy" Viana and Frank Campione executed for the murder of saloon owner, Andrew P. Bowman.
A major gang war breaks out in California between the Suey Ying, Bing Kong, Suey Don, and Jung Ying Tongs.
Carlo Gambino, the future founder of the Gambino crime family, arrives in New York as a stowaway from Palermo, Sicily at the age of 19.
February 6 - Vito Guardalabene, head of the Milwaukee's Guardalabene crime family, dies of natural causes and succeeded by his son, Peter Guardalabene.
May 12 - Chicago mobster and president of the Unione Siciliane, Anthony D'Andrea, is gunned down only hours following a card game the previous night. He is succeeded by Mike Merlo.
May 20 - Labor racketeer Cornelius Shea is accused of leading a bombing campaign during a stationary engineer's strike, in 1920. Charges are never filed due to lack of evidence.
July - Steve Wisniewski, a Chicago gunman who had recently hijacked a North Side Gang beer shipment, is last seen with Hymie Weiss and presumably taken outside Chicago and killed. Upon Weiss's return he explained "I took Stevie for a one way ride." This is the first time a gangland killing is used as the phrase "one way ride" is still commonly used today to refer to this method.
August 14 - Joseph Sinacola is gunned down in front of his two children during the long running feud between Jim Powers and Phillip D'Andrea. A previous attempt on his life on July 6 left him recovering in a local hospital until his release only two weeks prior to his death.

Arts and literature

Season 2 of HBO's Boardwalk Empire

Births

January 19 - William Devino, high-ranking member of the Gambino crime family
February 24 - Peter Marcello, Sr., owner of the French Quarter's Sho-Bar club and younger brother of Carlos Marcello
July 28 - Frank Balistrieri "Frankie Bal", Milwaukee Mafia leader

Deaths

February 6 - Vito Guardalabene, Milwaukee mobster and Guardalabene crime family founder
May 12 - Anthony D'Andrea, Chicago mobster and Unione Siciliane President
July - Steve Wisniewski, Chicago gunman
July 15 - Frank Campione, (Chicago) Black Hand member
July 15 - Sam Cardinelli, (Chicago) Black Hand leader
July 15 - Nicholas Viana "The Choir Boy", (Chicago) Black Hand member
August 14 - Joseph Sinacola, murder victim