James McLain
Encyclopedia
James "Revolvers" McLain (1903 – September 23, 1934) was a member of Jack McGurn
's crew, in the Chicago Outfit
, and believed to be involved in the 1929 St. Valentine's Day Massacre
.
, Sicily
. His family emigrated to New York
three years later, arriving at Ellis Island
on July 18, 1906. He later moved to Chicago
with his family and girlfriend. One time he and a few of his friends were in a movie theater, when local Irish
police raided it. He changed his name to James McLain to avoid being beaten up.
members, They were fighting with him telling him that it was a Jewish area. One of them pulled a gun and shot at him. Both of them missed, but hit and killed his girlfriend.
McLain got back at the Purple Gang
with the help of Jack "Machine Gun" McGurn. He started work in McGurn's speakeasy
, the Green Mill
, as a bartender. He later became involved with McGurn's crew inside the Chicago Outfit
which at the time was run by Johnny Torrio
and Al Capone
.
McLain helped McGurn kill Frankie Yale
in 1928.
in 1929, which was meant to bring the war of the North Side Gang
to an end by killing George Moran. Six members of the North Side Gang were killed, but Moran survived. He was not suspected for the killings because a local flower shop owner claimed he was with McLain at the time.
golf championship began at Olympia Fields Country Club
in the far south suburb of Olympia Fields, Illinois
. McLain entered the competition, using his birth name. When McGurn was arrested, McLain thought it would be a good idea to leave as well, as someone could easily find out who he was.
When Frank Nitti
took control of the Chicago Outfit
, he didn't think McLain was going to keep his mouth shut about the happenings on St. Valentine's Day. However, Paul Ricca
thought that McLain was a good assassin and gunman, so he kept him on board.
, Illinois
. Louis Campagna
is believe to have fired the machine gun that killed him.
Jack McGurn
"Machine Gun" Jack McGurn was an Italian-American mobster and key member of Al Capone's Chicago Outfit.-Early life:...
's crew, in the Chicago Outfit
Chicago Outfit
The Chicago Outfit, also known as the Chicago Syndicate or Chicago Mob and sometimes shortened to simply the Outfit, is a crime syndicate based in Chicago, Illinois, USA...
, and believed to be involved in the 1929 St. Valentine's Day Massacre
St. Valentine's Day massacre
The Saint Valentine's Day massacre is the name given to the 1929 murder of 7 mob associates as part of a prohibition era conflict between two powerful criminal gangs in Chicago: the South Side Italian gang led by Al Capone and the North Side Irish gang led by Bugs Moran. Former members of the...
.
Early life
He was born Antonio Trangorello in TrapaniTrapani
Trapani is a city and comune on the west coast of Sicily in Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Trapani. Founded by Elymians, the city is still an important fishing port and the main gateway to the nearby Egadi Islands.-History:...
, Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
. His family emigrated to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
three years later, arriving at Ellis Island
Ellis Island
Ellis Island in New York Harbor was the gateway for millions of immigrants to the United States. It was the nation's busiest immigrant inspection station from 1892 until 1954. The island was greatly expanded with landfill between 1892 and 1934. Before that, the much smaller original island was the...
on July 18, 1906. He later moved to Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
with his family and girlfriend. One time he and a few of his friends were in a movie theater, when local Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
police raided it. He changed his name to James McLain to avoid being beaten up.
Prohibition-era
McLain took a run-in with a few Purple GangPurple Gang
Purple Gang can refer to:*The Purple Gang, Jewish American bootleggers and hijackers in the 1920s*The Purple Gang , British rock band active intermittently since the 1960s*East Harlem Purple Gang, Italian American gang of drug dealers and hitmen...
members, They were fighting with him telling him that it was a Jewish area. One of them pulled a gun and shot at him. Both of them missed, but hit and killed his girlfriend.
McLain got back at the Purple Gang
Purple Gang
Purple Gang can refer to:*The Purple Gang, Jewish American bootleggers and hijackers in the 1920s*The Purple Gang , British rock band active intermittently since the 1960s*East Harlem Purple Gang, Italian American gang of drug dealers and hitmen...
with the help of Jack "Machine Gun" McGurn. He started work in McGurn's speakeasy
Speakeasy
A speakeasy, also called a blind pig or blind tiger, is an establishment that illegally sells alcoholic beverages. Such establishments came into prominence in the United States during the period known as Prohibition...
, the Green Mill
Green Mill
Green Mill may refer to:-*The Green Mill Jazz Club, Uptown, Chicago*Green's Mill, Sneinton, a windmill in Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom*De Groene Molen, Joure, a windmill in Friesland, the Netherlands...
, as a bartender. He later became involved with McGurn's crew inside the Chicago Outfit
Chicago Outfit
The Chicago Outfit, also known as the Chicago Syndicate or Chicago Mob and sometimes shortened to simply the Outfit, is a crime syndicate based in Chicago, Illinois, USA...
which at the time was run by Johnny Torrio
Johnny Torrio
John "Papa Johnny" Torrio , also known as "The Fox", was an Italian-American mobster who helped build the criminal empire known as the Chicago Outfit in the 1920s that was later inherited by his protege, Al Capone...
and Al Capone
Al Capone
Alphonse Gabriel "Al" Capone was an American gangster who led a Prohibition-era crime syndicate. The Chicago Outfit, which subsequently became known as the "Capones", was dedicated to smuggling and bootlegging liquor, and other illegal activities such as prostitution, in Chicago from the early...
.
McLain helped McGurn kill Frankie Yale
Frankie Yale
Francesco Ioele , better known as Frankie Uale or Frankie Yale, was a Brooklyn gangster and original employer of Al Capone before the latter moved to Chicago...
in 1928.
St. Valentine's Day Massacre
James suspectedly helped plan the St. Valentine's Day MassacreSt. Valentine's Day massacre
The Saint Valentine's Day massacre is the name given to the 1929 murder of 7 mob associates as part of a prohibition era conflict between two powerful criminal gangs in Chicago: the South Side Italian gang led by Al Capone and the North Side Irish gang led by Bugs Moran. Former members of the...
in 1929, which was meant to bring the war of the North Side Gang
North Side Gang
The North Side family Gang, also known as the North Side Mob, was the dominant Irish-American criminal organization within Chicago during the Prohibition era from the early to late 1920s and principal rival of the Johnny Torrio-Al Capone organization, later known as the Chicago Outfit.- Early...
to an end by killing George Moran. Six members of the North Side Gang were killed, but Moran survived. He was not suspected for the killings because a local flower shop owner claimed he was with McLain at the time.
Later years
On August 25, 1933, the Western OpenWestern Open
The Western Open, a professional golf tournament, was first played in 1899. At the time of its 2006 playing, the Western Open was the 3rd oldest active PGA Tour tournament, after the British Open and U.S. Open...
golf championship began at Olympia Fields Country Club
Olympia Fields Country Club
Olympia Fields Country Club is a golf club in Olympia Fields, Illinois, which is a suburb of Chicago, about 25 miles south of The Loop. It is a private club with two eighteen-hole courses, the North and the South. The North Course is considered one of the top three courses in the Chicago area, and...
in the far south suburb of Olympia Fields, Illinois
Olympia Fields, Illinois
Olympia Fields is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 4,732 at the 2000 census. It is the location of the prestigious Olympia Fields Country Club, and is also noteworthy as one of the wealthiest majority black communities in the United States...
. McLain entered the competition, using his birth name. When McGurn was arrested, McLain thought it would be a good idea to leave as well, as someone could easily find out who he was.
When Frank Nitti
Frank Nitti
Francesco Raffaele Nitto , also known as Frank "The Enforcer" Nitti, was an Italian American gangster. One of Al Capone's top henchmen, Nitti was in charge of all strong-arm and 'muscle' operations...
took control of the Chicago Outfit
Chicago Outfit
The Chicago Outfit, also known as the Chicago Syndicate or Chicago Mob and sometimes shortened to simply the Outfit, is a crime syndicate based in Chicago, Illinois, USA...
, he didn't think McLain was going to keep his mouth shut about the happenings on St. Valentine's Day. However, Paul Ricca
Paul Ricca
Paul Ricca, also known as "The Waiter" , was a Chicago mobster who served as the nominal or de facto leader of the Chicago Outfit for forty years.-Early life:...
thought that McLain was a good assassin and gunman, so he kept him on board.
Death
On June 12, 1934 James McLain was gunned down outside his apartment in CiceroCicero
Marcus Tullius Cicero , was a Roman philosopher, statesman, lawyer, political theorist, and Roman constitutionalist. He came from a wealthy municipal family of the equestrian order, and is widely considered one of Rome's greatest orators and prose stylists.He introduced the Romans to the chief...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. Louis Campagna
Louis Campagna
Louis "Little New York" Campagna was a New York mobster and a high ranking member of the Chicago Outfit for over three decades.-Early years:...
is believe to have fired the machine gun that killed him.