Charles McKay Wall (March 10, 1880 – April 18, 1955)[1] was an American businessman, mobster, and political figure who was a rival of reputed mobsters Santo Trafficante Sr. and Santo Trafficante Jr. His parents were John Perry Wall and Matilda McKay, a former Tampa Mayor and daughter of a former Tampa Mayor. Wall rapidly gained status within the criminal underworld from his early endeavors in the operation of several gambling, prostitution, and illegal numbers rackets. He was killed, beaten with a baseball bat, and his throat slit, on April 18, 1955. He is buried in Tampa'sOaklawn Cemetery .[2]
Charlie Wall was the son of John P. Wall. He was Tampa's first well known crime boss, and rivaled the Trafficante Family. He was bludgeoned to death in his Ybor City, Tampa, home and had his throat slit as a result. Known as "The White Shadow".
Charles McKay Wall was born on March 10, 1880, in Tampa, Florida, to John Perry Wall, a local physician and former mayor of the city, and Matilda McKay, a member of the prominent McKay family. Due to the abuse, he suffered at the hands of his stepmother, Wall developed mental health issues and eventually shot his stepmother, killing her. As a result, Wall was sent to military school, despite showing promise as a student. He was expelled from the school, due to visiting a brothel.
Crime boss of Ybor City
The young Charlie spent much of his formative years, frequenting the gambling dens of Tampa and, at some point, he took over the city's criminal and political underworld.[2]
Wall ran Tampa from the Ybor City neighborhood and employed Italians, Cubans and Irish into his organization.[2] His closest associate was Evaristo "Tito" Rubio, a Cuban mobster and co-owner of the El Dorado Club. Additionally, Wall was prominently involved in organized corruption of judges, politicians and other government officials, facing little opposition from the law or other criminals.[2]
Turf wars and death
During the late 1920s, a turf war began between Wall and Ignacio Antinori. They fought each other, as well as the Trafficante's, for control of the numbers rackets in the Tampa area.[2]
By the 1930s, Ignacio Antinori and Charlie Wall were in a bloody war for ten years, which would later be known as "Era of Blood".[2] Eddie Virella, Rubio's former partner at the Lincoln Club, was gunned down on 31 January 1937, and Rubio himself was killed by a gunman while on the porch of his home on March 8, 1938. [2]
The feud between Wall and Antinori came to a head between factions of Antinori Gang, dissatisfied members of Chicago and St. Louis criminal outfits to whom Antinori was supplying narcotics, and Wall's organisation. On the morning of October 23, 1940, Antinori was shot dead at a local restaurant while sipping his morning coffee by two gunmen. Wall himself had seen an attempt on his life go awry earlier that spring, possibly by some members of Antinori's outfit or even by some in Antinori's ties to St. Louis mobster Thomas Buffa and/or Kansas City mobsters Nicolo Impostato, James DeSimone and Joseph Deluca.[2]
Wall was murdered on April 18, 1955, possibly on orders from the Trafficante's.[2]
In popular culture
The Ghosts of Ybor City: Charlie Wall film
The account and rise and fall of Wall was depicted in the 2008 documentary film The Ghosts of Ybor: Charlie Wall which starred actors John A. Schakel as Wall, Gene Siudut as Joe Bedami, Chris Pardal as Johnny "Scarface" Rivera, and Rod Grant as the lead detective in the Wall murder investigation.
References
^. Find a Grave. Archived from the original on 2012-11-09. Retrieved 2011-06-19.
^ abcdefghiDeitche, Scott M. (May 2005). Cigar City mafia : a complete history of the Tampa underworld. ISBN1-56980-287-4. OCLC 226152404.
External links
The Mob - A Drive-by History of Tampa's Most Notorious Wiseguys, by Scott Deitche for cltampa.com (Creative Loafing), 4/26/2001.
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This article s tone or style may not reflect the encyclopedic tone used on Wikipedia See Wikipedia s guide to writing better articles for suggestions July 2011 Learn how and when to remove this template message Charles McKay Wall March 10 1880 April 18 1955 1 was an American businessman mobster and political figure who was a rival of reputed mobsters Santo Trafficante Sr and Santo Trafficante Jr His parents were John Perry Wall and Matilda McKay a former Tampa Mayor and daughter of a former Tampa Mayor Wall rapidly gained status within the criminal underworld from his early endeavors in the operation of several gambling prostitution and illegal numbers rackets He was killed beaten with a baseball bat and his throat slit on April 18 1955 He is buried in Tampa s Oaklawn Cemetery 2 Charlie WallBornCharles McKay Wall 1880 03 10 March 10 1880Tampa Florida U S DiedApril 18 1955 1955 04 18 aged 75 Tampa Florida U S Cause of deathBeaten and bludgeoned to deathOther names The Dean of The Underworld Occupation s Racketeer political figure money launderer mafia associateParentJohn P Wall father Charlie Wall was the son of John P Wall He was Tampa s first well known crime boss and rivaled the Trafficante Family He was bludgeoned to death in his Ybor City Tampa home and had his throat slit as a result Known as The White Shadow Contents 1 Early life 2 Crime boss of Ybor City 3 Turf wars and death 4 In popular culture 4 1 The Ghosts of Ybor City Charlie Wall film 5 References 6 External linksEarly life EditCharles McKay Wall was born on March 10 1880 in Tampa Florida to John Perry Wall a local physician and former mayor of the city and Matilda McKay a member of the prominent McKay family Due to the abuse he suffered at the hands of his stepmother Wall developed mental health issues and eventually shot his stepmother killing her As a result Wall was sent to military school despite showing promise as a student He was expelled from the school due to visiting a brothel Crime boss of Ybor City EditThe young Charlie spent much of his formative years frequenting the gambling dens of Tampa and at some point he took over the city s criminal and political underworld 2 Wall ran Tampa from the Ybor City neighborhood and employed Italians Cubans and Irish into his organization 2 His closest associate was Evaristo Tito Rubio a Cuban mobster and co owner of the El Dorado Club Additionally Wall was prominently involved in organized corruption of judges politicians and other government officials facing little opposition from the law or other criminals 2 Turf wars and death EditDuring the late 1920s a turf war began between Wall and Ignacio Antinori They fought each other as well as the Trafficante s for control of the numbers rackets in the Tampa area 2 By the 1930s Ignacio Antinori and Charlie Wall were in a bloody war for ten years which would later be known as Era of Blood 2 Eddie Virella Rubio s former partner at the Lincoln Club was gunned down on 31 January 1937 and Rubio himself was killed by a gunman while on the porch of his home on March 8 1938 2 The feud between Wall and Antinori came to a head between factions of Antinori Gang dissatisfied members of Chicago and St Louis criminal outfits to whom Antinori was supplying narcotics and Wall s organisation On the morning of October 23 1940 Antinori was shot dead at a local restaurant while sipping his morning coffee by two gunmen Wall himself had seen an attempt on his life go awry earlier that spring possibly by some members of Antinori s outfit or even by some in Antinori s ties to St Louis mobster Thomas Buffa and or Kansas City mobsters Nicolo Impostato James DeSimone and Joseph Deluca 2 Wall was murdered on April 18 1955 possibly on orders from the Trafficante s 2 In popular culture EditThe Ghosts of Ybor City Charlie Wall film Edit The account and rise and fall of Wall was depicted in the 2008 documentary film The Ghosts of Ybor Charlie Wall which starred actors John A Schakel as Wall Gene Siudut as Joe Bedami Chris Pardal as Johnny Scarface Rivera and Rod Grant as the lead detective in the Wall murder investigation References Edit Charlie Wall listed a Find A Grave Memorial Find a Grave Archived from the original on 2012 11 09 Retrieved 2011 06 19 a b c d e f g h i Deitche Scott M May 2005 Cigar City mafia a complete history of the Tampa underworld ISBN 1 56980 287 4 OCLC 226152404 External links EditWho Killed Charlie Wall article written by Gary Mormino Cigar City Magazine posted 1 11 2011 The Mob A Drive by History of Tampa s Most Notorious Wiseguys by Scott Deitche for cltampa com Creative Loafing 4 26 2001 Charlie Wall at Find a Grave Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Charlie Wall amp oldid 1161029819, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
