William E. "Billy" Dauber (June 30, 1935-July 2, 1980) was a

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

mobster A gangster is a criminal who is a member of a gang. Most gangs are considered to be part of organized crime. Gangsters are also called mobsters, a term derived from ''mob'' and the suffix '' -ster''. Gangs provide a level of organization and ...

hitman Contract killing is a form of murder or assassination in which one party hires another party to kill a targeted person or persons. It involves an illegal agreement which includes some form of payment, monetary or otherwise. Either party may be ...

and associate in the

Chicago Outfit The Chicago Outfit (also known as the Outfit, the Chicago Mafia, the Chicago Mob, the Chicago crime family, the South Side Gang or The Organization) is an Italian-American organized crime syndicate or crime family based in Chicago, Illinois, tha ...

's South Side

chop shop A chop shop is a business, often mimicking a body shop, that illicitly disassembles stolen motor vehicles and sells their parts. Chop shops are often linked to car-theft rings as part of a broader organized crime enterprise. In the United Sta ...

ring. Born in Chicago and moved to

Blue Island Blue Island is a city in Cook County, Illinois, located approximately south of Chicago's Loop. Blue Island is adjacent to the city of Chicago and shares its northern boundary with that city's Morgan Park neighborhood. The population was 22,558 ...

, Dauber was brought into the Chicago crime syndicate by mobster James "Jimmy the Bomber" Catuara, who operated illegal gambling and vice in Chicago's Southside. One of only a few southerners within the syndicate, Dauber quickly proved to be a valuable member of "The Outfit." As Catuara's protégé, Dauber was suspected in over 20 unsolved

homicide Homicide occurs when a person kills another person. A homicide requires only a volitional act or omission that causes the death of another, and thus a homicide may result from accidental, reckless, or negligent acts even if there is no inten ...

s, between 1969 and 1980, in the decade-long struggle for Steven Ostrowski's lucrative South Side chop shop operation. In 1973, Dauber was convicted of

mail fraud Mail fraud and wire fraud are terms used in the United States to describe the use of a physical or electronic mail system to defraud another, and are federal crimes there. Jurisdiction is claimed by the federal government if the illegal activit ...

and the

interstate The Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, commonly known as the Interstate Highway System, is a network of controlled-access highways that forms part of the National Highway System in the United States. Th ...

transportation of a stolen car used in an unsolved murder. After his release in 1976, Dauber joined rival mobster Albert Caesar Tocco as a top

enforcer Enforcer or enforcers may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Comics * Enforcer (comics), a Marvel Comics character * Enforcers (comics), a Marvel Comics team * New Enforcers, another Marvel Comics team Film and television * ''The Enforcer ...

who had slowly gained control of the Southside. Shortly after Dauber's defection, Catuara was found shot to death in his red

Cadillac The Cadillac Motor Car Division () is a division of the American automobile manufacturer General Motors (GM) that designs and builds luxury vehicles. Its major markets are the United States, Canada, and China. Cadillac models are distributed i ...

on July 28, 1978. During the next several years, relations between Dauber and his former associates would become increasingly strained, as voiced by his wife Charlotte. He reportedly was becoming disgruntled over his treatment as well as his facing several federal indictments for which others may have come to suspect Dauber had agreed to become an informant. It was also well known that Dauber was a "hot-head" and believed he should have had more power in the rackets he was involved in. He was suspected of running several "competing" rackets that were not sanctioned by The Outfit and for which he did not "kick up" for. On July 2, 1980, the Daubers received a continuation from Judge Angelo Pistilli on charges accusing the couple of concealing

cocaine Cocaine (from , from , ultimately from Quechuan languages, Quechua: ''kúka'') is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant mainly recreational drug use, used recreationally for its euphoria, euphoric effects. It is primarily obtained from t ...

and weapons in their suburban residence. While leaving the

Will County Will may refer to: Common meanings * Will and testament, instructions for the disposition of one's property after death * Will (philosophy), or willpower * Will (sociology) * Will, volition (psychology) * Will, a modal verb - see Shall and will ...

courthouse, Dauber answered to reporters regarding his criminal activities, "I just live quietly in this country, that's all." While driving home from the courthouse, unidentified gunmen (in the Family Secrets case it was said that the hitmen were Frank Calabrese Sr., Ronnie Jarrett, Butch Petrocelli and Gerry Scarpelli) driving a

Ford Ford commonly refers to: * Ford Motor Company, an automobile manufacturer founded by Henry Ford * Ford (crossing), a shallow crossing on a river Ford may also refer to: Ford Motor Company * Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company * Ford F ...

van drove up alongside them and began firing at the car. Dauber, attempting to avoid the gunfire, crashed the car into an apple tree where, after being set on fire, it was later found by two farmers (the van was later found abandoned only a mile up the road). The incident was confessed to by Geri Scarpelli—a longtime associate of The Outfit.

References

*Sifakis, Carl. ''The Mafia Encyclopedia''. New York: Da Capo Press, 2005.

External links

Chicago Tribune: Grand jury lifting veil on unsolved mob hits
by Rick Jervis and Liam Ford

by Richard Lindberg * ttp://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4155/is_20060607/ai_n16457246 Chicago Sun-Times - Tapes reveal mob's secrets: Prosecutors move to keep alleged hitmanby Steve Warmbir {{DEFAULTSORT:Dauber, William 1935 births 1980 deaths Murdered American gangsters Chicago Outfit mobsters People murdered by the Chicago Outfit People murdered in Illinois Male murder victims Deaths by firearm in Illinois

Further reading

References

External links