- Sam “Momo” Giancana, circa 1963. Editor’s note: This historic print shows a newsprint crop notation on the left. (Police Department)
Sam “Momo” Giancana covers his head with a newspaper in the corridor of a U.S. Courthouse in October 1959. He was later taken in tow by secretary of state police. (Chicago Tribune historical photo)
The gun used to kill crime syndicate chieftain Sam "Momo" Giancana was altered for the murder by an expert, gunsmiths said in 1975. The High-Standard .22 caliber Dura-Matic automatic pistol was found Aug. 19, 1975, by River Forest employees as they mowed grass in the wooded area across the street from 135 N. Thatcher Ave. in River Forest. Gunsmiths point out the pistol had been skillfully shortened and threaded for a silencer, shown above, and then 42 holes were drilled in its barrel to make the silencer more effective. (William Yates/Chicago Tribune)
A police file photo, for identification purposes, shows Tony Accardo, left in both photos, and Sam “Momo” Giancana, on the right in both photos, circa 1955. (Chicago Police Department)
Sam “Momo” Giancana leaves a courtroom in the Federal Building after appearing before Judge Campbell before being locked up in jail on June 1, 1965. (William Yates/Chicago Tribune)
Singer Phyllis McGuire is at the Federal Building on May 19, 1965, where she appeared to testify before a grand jury investigating Chicago’s crime syndicate. Also appearing before the grand jury that day was Sam Giancana, the operating head of the Chicago crime syndicate and McGuire’s frequent traveling companion. McGuire was a member of the famous McGuire Sisters singing group. (George Quinn/Chicago Tribune)
Sam Giancana, left, and his attorney George Callaghan enter the Dirksen Building, where Giancana was to appear before a federal grand jury, on July 23, 1974. (James O'Leary/Chicago Tribune)
Sam Giancana is cornered by television cameras and newsmen in the Dirksen Building elevator on July 23, 1974, in Chicago. Giancana was to appear before a federal grand jury. (James O’Leary/Chicago Tribune)
Sam “Momo” Giancana was in the Federal Building for questioning by a grand jury about his activities since he left the country years ago in a self-imposed Mexican exile, circa 1974. (Frank Berger/Chicago Today)
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Sam “Momo” Giancana, circa 1963. Editor’s note: This historic print shows a newsprint crop notation on the left. (Police Department)
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By Ron Grossman | grossmanron34@gmail.com | Chicago Tribune
UPDATED:
Fifty years ago, a Tribune reporter got an overnight tip that led to a scoop of one of the biggest hits in Chicago mob history.
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Originally Published:
