Johnny Torrio and the Dream of Real Organized Crime
one would not be as easy as the Big Jim hit. O'Banion was always armed and distrusted everyone - somehow Yale would have to get close enough for the hit and make sure O'Banion could go for one of his guns. O'Banion operated a flower shop and provided many of the flowers for gangster funerals like Big Jim's. The plan was to make the hit in his flower shop where he felt secure and would be more willing to deal with strangers.
Three men rode up to the flower shop in a car and approached the shop door. O'Banion recognized one as John Scalise who had placed an order for flowers. He motioned them in and picked up the flower order to turn over to him. As he started to hand over the order Scalise reached out to shake hands. O'Banion reciprocated and as they shook hands he became aware that Scalise would not let go of his hand. He also became aware of the other two men pulling out pistols and taking aim at him. Before he could free his hand to reach for his own weapon the bullets began to reach his body. Six bullets would hit their mark in the face, neck and chest. The three men, Yale, Scalise, and Albert Anselmi then left the shop returned to their car and drove off. Needless to say, O'Banion had one of largest funerals in the history of Chicago. O'Banion's successor, Hymie Weiss swore that he would pay Torrio back for the life of O'Banion.
In the meantime war was also taking place against the Genna Family. O'Banion's gang dispatched Soldiers to hunt down the Genna Brothers. Angelo Genna was the first to go, when he wrecked his car after a high-speed car chase, was trapped in his auto and could only watch as gunmen approached to finish him off. Mike Genna was next when he was taken for a ride by two of his own men, Albert Anselmi and John Scalise, who decided to switch over to the Torrio camp. Tony Genna was betrayed in much the same manner and the remaining three brothers decided that Chicago was no longer a town in which they wished to remain. The "Beer Wars" were causing violence throughout the streets of Chicago and Torrio was beginning to believe that his choice to utilize violence to solve problems was not providing any workable solution. One of
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