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Stephanie St. Clair

Stephanie St. Clair

Criminal

1886

Birth Place : Martinique, Fort-de-France, France


Stephanie St. Clair Biography, Life, Interesting Facts

Stephanie St. Clair was a far-reaching name in gambling during the reaping years of the 20th century. Simultaneously, her fame called as soon as she took the CEO title of terrorism enterprises. Stephanie St. Clair fierceness and prowess led her to decline the Mafia partnership. He battled with notorious look-alikes including Lucky Luciano and Dutch Schultz. In short, Clair with her partner Bumpy Johnson controlled gambling in Harlem, NY. Corrupt individuals and police were her closest friends. Above all, she was fabulous in her style and ways. Let alone St. Clair's most feared personality, did you know that she was also an activist? Stay put for more.

Personality

Stephanie St. Clair held the most captivating personal traits. From afar, her intelligence fetched even the unknown. She carried herself as an unapologetically damsel with rich-like moves. That's the number one reason she fought with the mob but in the end, winning to the tens. With a daring soul, she attached her enemy's photos in the newspaper's ads to have her way.

In a jiffy, you'd proof that her gossips indicated how temperate she was. On her moody terms, the scandal wasn't her thing but enjoying a stiff drink was her best bet yet. Another reason for her input and sobriety was that she counted on what was required of her. First of all, she saw herself in a "perfect mess"- owning active gambling sites in Harlem. Second, She defeated her opponents with her refined three languages; French, Spanish and English. Third, her sense of fashion spread far beyond her criminal expertise. Clair pinned others down in seconds, and that's how names like "Queenie," Madam St. Clair, Madam Queen, and Queen of the Policy Rackets carved.

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Background Check

Sources claim that Stephanie St. Clair saw her first in 1886. Well, there's little to unknown info about where he was born, but several biographers claim it was in a Caribbean Island in Martinique. Without fail, Stephanie maintained that France was her very first motherland. To accept her point of view, Clair spoke fluent Spanish and French.

In 1912 at 16 years of age, Clair relocated to Harlem. By 1920s her name came to limelight. This was after her purchasing several illegal lottery thus policy. It was a profitable deal considering the impression it brought in Harlem and Chicago. Of course, in return, Clair wanted to have the billions at her disposal.

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The Numbers Game

Still in 1920's Stephanie St. Clair started to live her dream life in Harlem. The gambling roots gave her a plus to have what she wanted. She lived with content in Sugar Hill's apartments. Soon, "Numbers Game" took the locals by storm.

Daily, Clair counted chums whether the client loses and win the placed bets. It was an easy-peasy process where players set stakes by guessing on the numbers of the lottery draw. Stephanie made billions when participants lost in between.

Aside from her gambling techniques, the crime Boss style attracted even the unknown. Her short-tempered trait gave her a knack to skate smoothly in life. At the same time, Madam Queen understood press power. She made it look like a close ally to her when needs arise. It acted as an additional communicator to both her friends and more so enemies.

Early in the 1930s, Stephanie showcased her prowess when the Mafia stated to take-over her enterprises. While this may be true and that's why it drips down to the following…

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Clash with the Mafia

In addition to the money making deals, St. Clair knew that someday rival would come and take what she had sweat for, for years. But that wasn't the case for this beauty queen. The white mafias didn't withstand Stephanie St. Clair's profitable adventures.

One such ruler was none other than Dutch Shultz. He ruled an alcoholic enterprise in the Bronx area. In the dilemma of seeking other ventures, that's how he met with the Queen of the Policy Rackets.

Schultz made a move in 1931 in Harlem. Not only did he make himself known but also give compulsory rules and laws to the gamblers famously called the Black Kings and Queens. His aim was for them to surrender and take over as the next Black King (lottery king).

There's no chance or time that Stephanie St. Clair would accept to give up on her enterprise. She agreed to fight and bow to Schultz orders. Clair hated to see Harlem's money flowing to the Bronx just like that. A time came when she wished she was a street light in Harlem than a Board member in NY.

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Hail to the Black Kings and Queens

To have peace of mind, Clair communicated through newspapers advertisements. She furthered her conservation saying that backing down was for the faint at heart and that wasn't her service. She encouraged the locals to decline to use Dutch's services but instead place the bets with the Black Kings and Queens. Being afraid was something that was out of her dictionary.

As soon as Dutch heard her narration, he started to kill Clair's men one by one. He even paid the corrupt police to imprison her and diminish her business. In return, Stephanie did the unthinkable: She spent the locals to destroy the Mafia's business stores. She partners with police to know his spot and points. Just like that, fourteen Dutchez men got arrested, and he ended up losing half of his wealth.

It wasn't that long that Schultz got killed by mob leading members. He took the message with kind regards claiming that he reaped what he saw.

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The Boss Woman was an Activist

Instead of taking gambling as the next future course, Stephanie St. Clair invested in black people. While still in business, he launched an investment forum where locals spent the little they had for an agreed time. They would then be paid back with an additional top-up thus interest. That was the only way where African Americans kept the little for the rainy day.

With loads of setbacks and monikers, Stephanie proved that at times actions for the weak speak the loudest. Not once or twice that Clair took the newspaper's space to talk about black people rights. In the same manner, she made the fund available for French immigrants as well as taking the upfront seat in several programs.

A Bumpy Union

At some point, the boss woman wanted someone to lean on. It all happened in July 1936 where the one; Stephanie St. Clair said "I do" to Sufi Abdul Hamid and advocate for African Americans. In a real sense, it was a contract, and the two had to abide in them. The end bargain was that a lay down of both of their earned assets as soon as they age 99 years, wait, what? *sigh* Alright. Abdul entrusted &10,000 to Clair while she entrusted her resources to him.

As stated above, something unusual was cooking. The locals and the whole neighborhood didn't swallow the pill of how this noble woman could marry. What was his motivation? The crime boss was ever one step ahead.

Speaking of Which…

The pairing received all manner of mocks starting with the journalist. People couldn't understand whether she was threatened or it was love. Whatever the case, she was good at it and pretense was her cup of tea.

Nevertheless, it wasn't an upright union. Hamid received all manners of status considering his Jewish line of storylines in Harlem. Like Clair, Hamid defended the black people with might. In between the couple fought consistently.

Time passed, and the two settled even with commotions. After some time, St. Clair realized that Hamid had an affair with a younger woman. Her anger added when she realized that the two drew off huge money from her savings.

Along the edge, news spread that Sufi Abdul Hamid got bruises from three shots that targeted him by an unknown mob while with St. Clair. After trying to hide behind his mask, Stephanie was found guilty for owning a weapon that wounded "the black Hitler" as he was known.

The Final Straw

Stephanie St. Clair spent three years at Bedford's Hill prison in NY. Local dailies reported catchy titles for readers. The case aroused loads of unanswered responses including how women would do anything not to complicate their future.

Out of sight, Harlem economy declined, and external forces fought to keep the communities investments. Times passed, and Hamid died in a plane crash.

After her release St. Clair lived a quiet life and got more active on fighting for her people's rights. From there, henceforth little is known about her whereabouts. She saw her las in 1969 at 73 years of age.

At 13 years of age, Stephanie knew loads of things including being empowered with intelligence. The natural spark and gut that she instilled was an example of how far a woman or preferably black women could achieve. At the end of it all, she was glad she made her way known and heard.

Ooh, wait! A sketch Stephanie's character appears in 1997 movie called the Hoodlum. There's also a fictional film coming up soon at the HBO films. Watch this space.


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