HERE'S A GLIMPSE INTO THE LIFE OF A FAMOUS GANGSTER OF THE PROHIBITION ERA.

Jake was Big Al Capone's bookkeeper, plus his political go-between (bagman) and he was good at what he did. He never got gunned down.

But, that was a long way from his humble beginings as a child pimp and later a "flesh peddler". He was born May 20,1886 in Karkow, Russia and kicked the bucket February 21, 1956. He wound-up working for Al when the "BIg Fellow" took over his brothels.

Jake spend many years paying off Chicago's politicians for Al and lived a fairly long life (age 70) because of it. In fact, he was well liked by almost all of Big Al's associates and here's a story of his demise to prove it.

Jake and a few of Chicago's city hall boys were having dinner after they received their monthly "toll' at Jakes favorite eating restaurant the Old English Grill on Federal Street in the Loop. And, if it don't beat all to hell, Jake has a massive heart attack while eating and plops face-down into his dish.

Well, Murray "The Camel" Humphreys was also sitting at the table when Jake took his nose dive into a plate of mashed potatoes and a steak. Of course, all the boys jump-up in surprised and sure as hell didn't want the newspaper to get wind of their little din-din meeting.

The Camel, being a passionate man immediately took the task in hand and within fifteen minutes had four of Big Al "spaghetti benders" tote the 275 pound Guzik out the back door to a waiting car. What a lump of lard he must have been??

Now, what do you do with a good friend that just kick the bucket natural like?? The obvious, take him home. They arrived at Jakes (5492 Everett) house in Chicago's South Shore area and haul him up the steps.

Being polite, they rang the doorbell and to his wife Rose's surprise they brush pass her and dump ol' Jake on the parlor couch. Boy, that must have been some chore.

Their words of condolences were, "Call the cops and tell those S.O.B.s he died here" and hurried out the door.

Guess you could see that long ride jesture as respect to an ol' friend. Hell, all's well that ends well, isn't it??

Oh, it's best that you know why Big Al like Jake so much. In the early 20's Guzik supposedly heard of a plot to kill the "Big Fellow" and told Al.  As the story goes, on May 8, 1924, a guy named Joe Howard was in a saloon on Wabash Avenue and was bragging about the contract and Guzik must have said something and Howard slapped Jack around a bit.

Well, Jake immediately ran to Al and told him the story and, as the rumor mill has it, Capone himself went to the joint and shot the S.O.B. Howard in the head. Jake had a another bump in his life. He did a nickle in the "joint" for tax evasion in 1930, he kinda forgot to mention in his tax return that he earned over a $million buckerooos the year before.

Watch for more storys of Chicago's gangsters.

Now, go softly into the night. Michael G'Francisco, The Merry Gangster.