Jack Zuta

Jack Zuta (1888 – August 1, 1930) was a Polish-American organized crime figure active in Chicago during the Prohibition era. He was primarily known as a financial backer, strategist, and fixer for various Chicago outfits, rather than a frontline enforcer.

Zuta was born in Poland and immigrated to the United States as a child. He rose to prominence in Chicago's underworld through his connections to various gangs and his ability to provide resources and logistical support. He was a skilled negotiator and often acted as a liaison between rival factions, attempting to mediate disputes and maintain a fragile peace.

Zuta was deeply involved in the lucrative bootlegging industry, providing capital and organizational expertise to smaller gangs that lacked the resources to compete with larger organizations like Al Capone's Chicago Outfit. He was known to work with both the North Side Gang, led by George "Bugs" Moran, and smaller independent operations.

His involvement in numerous criminal enterprises made him a target for rival gangs. He was particularly vulnerable due to his extensive knowledge of the city's underworld and his connections to multiple factions.

Jack Zuta was shot and killed on August 1, 1930, while dining at a resort near Delafield, Wisconsin. The assassination was believed to have been orchestrated by members of the Chicago Outfit, possibly in retaliation for Zuta's support of their rivals or his perceived role in instigating violence between gangs. His death was a significant blow to the anti-Capone factions in Chicago and further consolidated Capone's control over the city's underworld.