Mike Merlo
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| Mike Merlo (Michelangelo Merloi) | |
 Mike Merlo in a 1921 passport application
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| Born | January 4, 1880 Sambuca, Zabot, Italy |
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| Died | November 8, 1924 (age 44) Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| Other names | Mickele Merlo, Michelangelo Merloi |
| Known for | labor leader whose death precipitated Chicago's infamous gang wars |
Mike Merlo (January 4, 1880-November 8, 1924) was a Chicago political figure associated with the Johnny Torrio-Al Capone organization who, as head of the Unione Siciliana, held considerable influence both in local Democratic politics and within Chicago's underworld during the early years of Prohibition. Although he was able to keep peace among the city's numerous bootlegging gangs for a number of years, particularly between the North Side Gang and the Genna Brothers, his death would mark the beginning of the bootleg wars which would plague Chicago for nearly a decade.
Born Michelangelo Merloi in Vizzini, Sicily, (in a 1921 passport application he gives his birthplace as Sambuca, Zabot) at the age of 9 he immigrated with his family from Palermo to New Orleans and then in 1900 to Chicago (The family name was shortened to Merlo). In 1905, his father died of a stroke at the age of 48, leaving the 17 year old Merlo and his sick mother alone[citation needed]. Merlo later became involved in the Chicago chapter of the Sicilian-American fraternal society the Unione Siciliana and, although participating in its eventual transformation as a front for organized crime prior to Prohibition, was reportedly concerned for the welfare of the residents of Chicago's Little Italy, using his position to keep all out warfare from breaking out between the rival bootlegging gangs of the underworld, brokering peace between the hostile Northsiders, the Gennas and the Torrio-Capone organization.[1]
Although he frequently worked with Johnny Torrio in advocating peace during spring and summer of 1924, Merlo died on of cancer on November 8th, 1924. He was given one of the most spectacular funerals in Chicago mob history, with floral arrangements alone at a cost of $10,000 as well as a $5,000 life size wax statue in his likeness, his burial was attended by an estimated 10,000 (including Mayor William E. Dever, State Attorney Robert E. Crowe, Chicago police chief Morgan A. Collins, and the Cook County board president and future mayor, Anton J. Cermak, who served as pallbearers) as he was buried at St Clement's Church five days later. His death two days later opened the door for the murder of Dean O'Banion by Johnny Torrio's men, John Scalise and Albert Anselmi, who arrived at O'Banion's flower shop on the pretense of picking up flowers for Merlo's funeral.[2]
Later, Merlo was reinterred at Mount Carmel Cemetery in Hillside, Illinois, in a mausoleum bearing the name 'Michele Merlo'.
His son, John Merlo (1921-1992), became an alderman of Chicago's 44th Ward, and served 8 terms in both the House and Senate of Illinois. A Lakeview branch of the Chicago Public Library was renamed in his honor.
[edit] In popular culture
Merlo was portrayed by Vince Viverito in 1987 film The Untouchables.
[edit] References
- ^ Part II: Chicago's Unione Siciliana, 1920 - A Decade of Slaughter. Allan May. Retrieved on November 26, 2006.
- ^ Sifakis, Carl. The Mafia Encyclopedia. New York: Facts on File, 2005. ISBN 0-8160-5694-3
[edit] External links
- Late for the Opera - "Samoots" Amatuna. Allan May. Retrieved on February 23, 2005.
- Alphonse (Scarface ) Capone.. "Taste of the Family Page". Retrieved on February 23, 2005.
- Charles Dion "Deanie" O'Banion (1892-1924) Gang Leader and Capone Rival. Seize the Night. Retrieved on February 23, 2005.
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