James H. Boyd (politician)
| Jimmy Boyd | |
|---|---|
| Atlantic City Fourth Ward Alderman | |
|
In office Late 1920s – Early 1970s | |
| Atlantic County Legislator on Atlantic Board of Freeholders | |
|
In office 1930s – 1970s | |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
James H. Boyd November 5, 1906 Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States |
| Died |
April 11, 1974 (aged 67) Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Marie E. Boyd[1] |
| Occupation | Racketeer, bootlegger, soldier, bellhop |
| Awards |
World War II Victory Medal EAME Medal Bronze Star |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | US Army, 79th Infantry Division |
| Years of service | 1942–1945 |
| Battles/wars |
World War II Normandy Northern France Rhineland Central Europe |
James H. “Jimmy” Boyd (November 5, 1906–April 11, 1974) was an Atlantic City politician and crime and political boss, who served under corrupt Atlantic County treasurer Enoch “Nucky” Johnson and New Jersey Senator Frank S. Farley.
Early life
James Boyd was born on November 5, 1906 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States.[2]
Prohibition
Boyd was working as a bellhop at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel during the time Prohibition went into effect in 1920. But, soon Boyd started to get up to the chain of command in corrupt Atlantic City treasurer and Southern Jersey Irish Mob boss Enoch “Nucky” Johnson's organization.[3][2]Boyd and Johnson met around the time that Johnson and Charlie Luciano were forming the Big Seven and they took an instant liking to each other; Johnson began grooming Boyd to become the next boss in his organization. He later became Johnson's right-hand man.[2] He oversaw speakeasies, brothels, illegal casinos, and the numbers rackets.[3] Boyd was also Johnson's and future boss Farley's top enforcer.[4]
Atlantic City Conference
From May 13 to May 16, 1929, Nucky hosted the Atlantic City Conference. The conference was a meeting that established the National Crime Syndicate and Murder, Inc.. Former Chicago South Side Gang Johnny “The Fox” Torrio and Masseria family lieutenant Charles “Lucky” Luciano held the meeting to create the new form of organized crime. The Mustache Petes of the American Mafia, Joe “The Boss” Masseria and Salvatore Maranzano, were not invited because of their “old world views” on organized crime (not working with non-Italian gangsters). Jewish mobsters Meyer Lansky and Benjamin Siegel worked as the muscle for the meeting.[5][6]
Delegates included: Al Capone (South Side Gang leader), Abner Zwillman (Newark Jewish mob boss), Dutch Schultz (Newark numbers rackets), Lansky and Siegel (The Bugs and Meyer Mob bosses), Frank Costello and Joe Adonis (official members of the Masseria family), Harry “Nig” Rosen and Max Hoff (Philadelphia Jewish mob bosses), Louis “Lepke” Buchalter (Murder, Inc. boss and Bugs—Meyer Mob hitman), Moe Dalitz (Cleveland mob), and many more.[6]
There’s no evidence of Boyd being at the conference, but it’s likely he was there, serving as a bodyguard or an adviser for Johnson, since he was his right-hand man and Johnson was there at the meeting.
Personal life
Boyd was married to Marie E. Boyd.[1]
Frank Farley
After Johnson was convicted of tax evasion in 1941, New Jersey State Senator Frank S. Farley took control of Atlantic City's political machine. In order to create a “bridge” between the new and old regimes, Boyd was appointed the overseer of all operations in Atlantic City.[3] He also became the executive chairman of the Fourth Ward Republican Club and assistant clerk and clerk of the Atlantic Board of Freeholders and boss of the fourth ward.[1][7][2] Under the regime of Farley, Boyd was known as a vicious man.[8][4]
World War II
Boyd enlisted in the Army during World War II. From 1942 to 1945, Boyd was a soldier in the 79th Infantry Division.[1][7] He served in the Normandy battles, Northern France campaign, the Rhineland battles, and in Central Europe.
Death
Boyd died in his home on April 11, 1974 of cancer, at the age of 67.[7][1][2] His wife, who is still alive, has established the James H. Boyd Memorial Scholarship at the Atlantic Cape Community College, worth $10,000.
Television adaptation
One of the main characters in the first two seasons of the HBO show Boardwalk Empire is, to some degree, based on Boyd, portrayed by Michael Pitt. The fictional version of Boyd in the show is named James Darmody, a World War I veteran with a son and a wife. In the show, his father is Louis “Commodore” Kaestner (based on Louis “Commodore” Kuehnle) and his one-time mentor is corrupt Atlantic City treasurer and political boss Enoch “Nucky” Thompson (based on Enoch L. Johnson)).
In the show, Darmody's associates/friends include: Lucky Luciano, Meyer Lansky, Al Capone, Johnny Torrio, Richard Harrow, and Mickey Doyle (based on Mickey Duffy).
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 "ACCC Receives $10,000 in memory of Jimmy Boyd". April 2007.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Real Nucky Thompson, Jimmy Darmody". April 2015.
- 1 2 3 "Is Jimmy Darmody based on a real person?". September 2010.
- 1 2 "Boardwalk Empire Book". April 2015.
- ↑ This You Call a Stick-Up?, The New York Times, April 12, 1998 (Review of Tough Jews by Rich Cohen)
- 1 2 Sifakis, Carl (2005). The Mafia Encyclopedia. New York: Da Capo Press. ISBN 0-8160-5694-3
- 1 2 3 "Political Figure-James Boyd dies". April 1974.
- ↑ "Lords of Corruption". 2002.