|
Dixie Davis (1905–1969)
Davis was a New York lawyer who became entangled in the world of organized crime. Initially, he had a legitimate law practice, but he began representing Dutch Schultz, a powerful bootlegger and mobster. Over time, Davis transitioned from being Schultz's lawyer to becoming more deeply involved in his criminal empire, acting as a frontman for Schultz's racketeering operations, particularly the policy racket (an illegal lottery targeting Black communities in Harlem).
Davis's role became increasingly precarious as tensions grew within Schultz's organization and among rival gangs. After Schultz was assassinated in 1935, Davis became a government informant, helping authorities build cases against Schultz's associates. His cooperation with law enforcement spared him from harsher legal consequences, and he eventually left the criminal world, leading a relatively quiet life afterward.
George Weinberg (1901 – January 29, 1939 by suicide while under protective custody) was an American gangster and the brother of Bo Weinberg, a notorious lieutenant of Dutch Schultz. While not as infamous as his brother, George was involved in organized crime, particularly during the Prohibition era when criminal enterprises related to bootlegging flourished.
He operated within the Schultz crime syndicate, where he was a trusted associate. The Weinberg brothers were both instrumental in Schultz's criminal activities, including extortion, bootlegging, and the Harlem numbers racket. George was known to be deeply involved in the day-to-day operations of the gang, but he largely operated in the shadow of his more famous sibling.
In the turbulent world of gangland power struggles, George faced significant danger after the assassination of Dutch Schultz in 1935. Following Schultz's death, the power vacuum led to infighting and retribution among rival gangs. George, fearing for his life and possible retaliation from other mobsters, notably Charles "Lucky" Luciano's faction, became an informant for law enforcement.
His cooperation with authorities helped expose certain details about Schultz's operations, although he did not achieve the same level of notoriety as his brother Bo, whose grisly demise—being allegedly encased in cement and dumped in a river—cemented his legend in mob history. George's eventual fate is less documented, and he faded from the public eye after his involvement as an informant. His life reflected the precarious position of those deeply entrenched in organized crime, where loyalty was often short-lived, and survival uncertain.
Offered is This TYPE I photo is from 2/2/1938 of Dixie Davis who was representing George Weinberg (paper caption mistakenly labeled him as his deceased brother, Bo Weinberg). Covering her face is Bo Weinberg’s widow, who would end up marrying Davis. This is something out of a gangster episode of Jerry Springer. Photo measures 9” x 6.5”
Item: 13671
|