Gary Johnson - Bumpy Johnson: Harlem Gangster

BUMPY JOHNSON : HARLEM GANGSTER

GARY JOHNSON

Ellsworth Raymond Johnson was calledBumpy by most. The nickname is the first of many mysteries surrounding the Harlem legend. Some claim he got the name as a child due to a bump on the back of his head. Others say it comes from his violent reputation and refers to him bumping off people. Others still claim Johnson gave himself the name, referencing his ability to bump people around on the basketball court. Some have another nickname for Bumpy, to this day, they refer to him as the Godfather of Harlem.

Bumpy Johnson was many things in his life, to many people. He was a stick up man, a burglar, a pimp, a drug dealer, a numbers runner, a bookmaker, a hood and a thug. He was also a husband and a father and a doting grandfather. He was the conduit between Harlem and the Genovese Crime Family. He was a respected friend of Lucky Luciano. He was a man of Harlem, giving to the needy, the hungry, and children. He was a staunch advocate for education, urging neighborhood children to stay in school and make something of themselves. He was a friend to the actors, starlets, and musicians who came from Harlem and who spent their late nights partying there. He spent time with the activists of the era, such as Malcolm X. He was a legend, all of Harlem knew him, many of Harlem still do. Yet, he never rose to the stature of fame that so many other gangsters of his era did. He was all these things, but he was also a private man, one who kept his secrets close, and to this day it is hard to find much information on him.

Johnson was born in Charleston, South Carolina on October 31, 1905 and spent most of his childhood there. He was not born to a poor family, instead his family was relatively middle class for the time period in the South. A smart boy, he had skipped two grades by the time he was 8 years of age. When Bumpy was only 10 years old his older brother, Willie, was accused of the murder of a white man. Bumpys parents, fearing southern justice in the form of a lynch mob, sent Willie up north to live with family. Four years later Bumpy was showing all the signs of having a temper worse than his brother. Fearing Bumpys insolence towards whites they sent their son off to live with his elder sister, Mabel, in Harlem.

While living with his sister Bumpy graduated from Brooklyns Boys High. He then went on to attend City college for a few semesters. While in college Bumpy set his aspirations high and studied pre-law. Finishing college wasnt in the cards though. Bumpy fell in with a rough and wild crowd. He left school and began a career in robbery and burglary. He found that he had quite the talent as a stick up man. His penchant for violence and other criminal activities caught the eye of Madame Stephanie St. Clair.

Stephanie St. Claire was one tough lady. Outside of Harlem she was known as Queenie but the people of Harlem referred to her as Madame St. Clair. St. Clair had been associated with the gang The Forty Thieves until she decided to branch off on her own. With 10,000 dollars of her own money St. Clair started her own numbers game, and took over Harlem with authority. The Madame dominated the numbers racket and much of the other criminal enterprises in Harlem. In fact, she ran one of the biggest and most profitable numbers operations in all of New York City. Bumpy began working for St. Clair as a leg breaker and enforcer. Of course, he was quite good at making sure the message was received when he paid someone a visit. He quickly became a trusted associate of hers, rising fast in the ranks. Eventually he became her principal lieutenant. Though she was 20 years older than Johnson, many believed the two were lovers for sometime.

Bumpy was no stranger to the wrong side of the law or prison. When he was released from Sing Sing in 1933 for an attempted grand larceny conviction he had already spent nearly half of his life behind bars. He wasnt even 30 years old yet. His proclivity for violence towards both inmates and guards caused Bumpy to be transferred frequently to different prisons. Thoroughout his criminal career he would spend time in Sing Sing, Alcatraz, Leavenworth, and Dannemora Prison. When he left Sing Sing he was broke and desperate for employment. He went back to working with St. Clair. And, it was upon that release that would begin to his ascent from criminal to legend and folk hero.

While Johnson was in prison Jewish mobster Dutch Schultz had moved in on the entire Harlem territory. Most of the Harlem bookmakers had turned their racket over willingly to Schultz, as they had no interest in a war. Madame St. Clair and a few others were still holding out. With Bumpy now out of prison and back at the Madames side they waged a violent war against Schultz.

The war for control of Harlem was a bloody one. Over 40 people were murdered. Several kidnappings occurred. It was also a very lopsided war. Bumpy and St. Clair were ruthless and smart. However, Dutch Schultz had both connections in City Hall and had the backing of several Mafia allies. With control over police protection also in Dutchs back pocket Madame St. Claire, Bumpy and the other independent operators in Harem stood no chance. Dutch managed to gain and keep control over Harlem and its profitable numbers racket.

That should have been the end of it, and likely no one would remember Bumpy Johnson. Fortunately for Bumpy and St. Claire Dutch Schultz was a wild card with a terrible temper and poor impulse control. Dutch was federally indicted numerous times and becoming the prime target of the federal government and United States Attorney Thomas Dewey. Sensing weakness in Dutchs operations, and assuming a conviction was imminent, the Luciano and Genovese family began to move in on his territory, claiming they were only going to watch over it in case Schultz was sentenced to prison.

The relationship between Lucy Luciano and Dutch Schultz was one of mistrust. Luciano knew Schultzs reputation for violence and had no doubt that Dutch would try to take his territory back by force when an opportune moment presented itself. Not shockingly Luciano had little interest in giving Dutch back his very profitable territory. The opportunity never came. Schultz sought permission from the Mafia Commission to assassinate U.S. Attorney Dewey. The commission refused to approve the move. They felt an assassination of a federal attorney would bring too much unwanted federal attention to the entire organization. When Schultz left the meeting in a violent rage Luciano saw his opportunity to cement his familys control over Dutchs former operations.

Luciano ordered a hit on Dutch Schultz and he was gunned down on October 23rd, 1935. The moment was sweet revenge for St. Clair and Bumpy. While Schultz lay dying in the hospital St. Clair sent him a telegram. It read simply, As ye sow, so shall ye reap.

Bumpys moment to ascend to legend would very soon come. In 1940 Johnson met with Lucky Luciano and made a deal with the Italian Mafia that would stand for the next 28 years. The deal gave St. Claire, Bumpy, and the other Harlem operators who had fought with them control over the Harlem numbers racket once again. Bumpy reused to negotiate on behalf of those Harlem operators who had handed their operations over willingly to Dutch, he had no interest in helping those who refused to fight for themselves. Bumpys and the others operations would still participate in the Mafias central gaming pool and Johnson became the conduit between Harlem and the Italian Mafia. In addition all of their operations were now under the protection of Luciano himself.

This bold move made Bumpy an instant folk hero in Harlem. No other black man had been able to step up and cut a deal with the Italians. That he had the courage to even attempt to meet with the Italians was stunning. That he met with the Italians and came away with a deal and their respect was the stuff of legends. It wasnt long after St. Claire and Bumpy regained control of the Harlem numbers racket that St. Claire decided to retire. She gave her entire operation to Bumpy. Bumpy Johnson was now the uncrowned crime boss of Harlem. From this point until his death no one could or would dare to run an illegal operation in Harlem without clearing it with Johnson first, and cutting him in, of course.