Downtown Gang

The Downtown Gang was one of the two gangs that dominated the organized crime world in Galveston, Texas, United States, mainly during prohibition. The gang was founded by Johnny Jack Nounes in 1910. The gang became a large profiteer and leader in the Galveston Crime Syndicate while fighting for control of the island. The gang operated many clubs along the island while even having some barges that floated on the gulf to keep the law away from the illegal gambling and alcohol.

Downtown Gang
Founded byJohnny Jack Nounes
Founding locationGalveston, Texas
Years active1910–1935
TerritoryDowntown Galveston, Texas
EthnicityMen of various ethnicities
Membership30-40 members
Criminal activitiesbootlegging, illegal gambling, prostitution, hijacking, conspiracy, assault, robbery, bribery, contract killing, and murder
AlliesChicago Outfit and New York Jewish Mob
RivalsBeach Gang and Maceo Crime Syndicate

Origins and Pre-Prohibition

Johnny Jack formed the Downtown Gang in 1910. This is about the same time Ollie Quinn and Dutch Voight's Beach Gang was formed. Before prohibition, Dutch and Ollie usually controlled gambling on the island. They decided to use Broadway to set the boundaries of their territories. As prohibition was approaching Johnny Jack looked for a partner to get in with him, and so he found a Houston boy by the name of George Musey. Musey was a Syrian who was not even old enough to take drink and he was from a family of immigrants, just like Nounes. As the country went dry in 1920, the gang began to make it rain with booze.

Prohibition

Among the gang's suppliers were schooners from Cuba, Jamaica, and the Bahamas. They had money overflowing the cash registers from speakeasys owned up and down Downtown Galveston. The gang was making more money than ever, encouraging them to buy fancy clothing, cars, houses, and food. Some of the gang's popular business partners were the Chicago Outfit's Frank Nitti and allegedly New York Jewish mob boss Arnold Rothstein. Therefore, Nitti became a good business partner of Johnny Jack which created a good connection with the Downtown Gang and the Chicago Outfit. Gangland shootouts was something that came around every once in a while since the gain of the island led to more business. The Downtown Gang sold bootleg hooch and had connections from New Orleans, Louisiana, all the way up to Montreal, Quebec, Canada.[1]

Furthermore, Johnny Jack wouldn't take any nonsense from anybody, he wasn't afraid of a fight. He would even lead the gang into hijacking the Beach Gang's liquor trucks and so gang shootouts were common. Also, George Musey became the gang's top enforcer. He was also a person you didn't want to cross paths with, apparently somebody crossed him and found themselves with their head buried in the ground covered with quick lime. Every now and then for business purposes the gangs would negotiate like the majority of the mob does with their counterparts. Dutch Voight would bring some guys and go on rum-runs with George Musey. However, if business was shady or unreal, they would be back to fighting and war would be declared. This is like what every other mob organization does, but things don't always go how they are planned. Therefore, the Downtown Gang ran a tight shift, and for a time they were untouchable.

Decline of the Downtown Gang

However, as Nounes served his time in federal prison and Musey was on the run from the law in Canada, the gang was headed at the moment by Big Jim Clark. However Big Jim betrayed the gang by giving the Beach Gang shipments Musey had scheduled. It is assumed that there was a woman involved between the two men which is likely to have caused the tension. However, after Big Jim's betrayal, Fatty Owens took control of the gang and a few weeks later a shootout occurred between the Downtown and Beach Gangs. Members of each gang died in the shootout on Tremont Street. Furthermore, not long after, Fatty Owens would go on to 23rd Street with his assistant Jimmie Crabb to kill Kye Gregory and Mitch Frankovitch, also betrayers of the gang, however Frankovitch survived the shootout. With Nounes in prison, Musey in Canada, Big Jim's betrayal, and Fatty Owens' court trial, there was nobody to lead the Downtown Gang. Fred Musey most likely stepped up to the plate but with the main leaders gone, the gang wasn't strong enough to battle out the Beach Gang and the Maceos, their upcoming successors.

Post-Prohibition and Defunction

After prohibition ended the long-running organized crime gang eventually fell apart. They operated some clubs doing gambling but it officially was over by late 1935. Johnny Jack was fresh out of federal prison and George Musey was assassinated by the Beach Gang's successors, the Maceo Crime Syndicate. The Downtown Gang did not wield the strength like they did back in the old days, and so it deceased. However, boss Johnny Jack Nounes would go on to make a living operating different clubs and restaurants along the way being what he will always be, Galveston's Beau Brummel.

Historical Leadership

Boss

  • 1910 – 1935 – Johnny Jack Nounes
    • Acting 1925 – 1927; 1930 – George Musey
    • Acting 1930 - 1931 – Marvin "Big Jim" Clark
    • Acting 1931 - Theodore "Fatty" Owens
    • Acting 1931 - 1932 - Fred Musey

Associate Boss

  • 1919 - 1935 - George Musey

Lieutenants

  • 1920s - 1931 - Marvin "Big Jim" Clark
  • 1920s - 1935 - Theodore "Fatty" Owens
  • 1920s - 1930 - Mitch Frankovitch
  • 1920s - 1930 - Kye Gregory

Notable Associates

  • Francis Nonus (Bartender)
  • Fred Musey (Promoted to Acting Boss after Owens' arrest)
  • Sam Musey
  • J.J. Davis
  • H.J. Kriger
  • Joe Marrero
  • Robe Owen
  • Lawrence “King Coal” Balkey
  • Tom Lera
  • Joe Varnell
  • Morris "Kid" Ross
  • Otis Skains
  • Jimmie Crabb
  • Harry G.
  • T.R. Davis
  • George Etie
  • Douglas Etie
  • Tony Vadello
  • Asia Stein
  • R.R. Owen
  • Charlie Mushmach
  • Joe Rees
  • Marshall Ballard
  • Marion Ballard
  • Sam Alena
  • Harry Evelt
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See also

References
  1. Cartwright, Gary (1998). Galveston: A History of the Island. ISBN 9780875651903.
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