Chapter 20 - 1928, Guilford Street

The small hauls weren't doing it for Korney anymore. He had a taste of the good life and he was a man determined to make a name for himself. He had ideas, plans, schemes, and he was going to see them through. He was bringing in about $250 ($3,046) a week from his bootlegging operations, a pretty big take for a small time crook.

He lived the fast life, big cars, flashy suits, and women. He frequented the saloons of many of his customers on Broadway, Fillmore, and Sycamore streets. His money went as fast as he made it. But the profits were not enough for him. How could he become big time?

“I've got a plan,” he said one day while they were having a beer in the back room of 1123 Broadway. “We're going for a big touch. This will be bigger than anything we done. We're gonna get some respect and more money than we ever seen.”

He decided to stage a daring, daytime hold-up. He had noticed an armored car coming and going from the Duffy Silk Mill Company on Guilford Street, just a few blocks from his home.

The Duffy job would be their biggest to date, add a notch to Korney's belt, another job where he could prove to be Buffalo's smartest gangster. He figured the Italians had nothing on him. He was inching closer towards that one big job that would make him rich.

For several weeks they cased the joint, watching the comings and goings of the payroll deliveries by armored car. This would be the biggest job they had ever done and would require more men than they usually worked with to make it a smooth robbery.

Korney, Bolly, Kornacki, Ziggy, and Smithy from Chicago were all preparing for the payroll Duffy heist. Kalkiewicz wasn't working with them so Korney recruited another boy he knew.

After several weeks of preparation, Korney felt they were ready. At 8 o'clock A.M., Saturday March 16, 1928, they gathered at Korney's place at 42 Littlefield, which was owned by Albert K. Golata, Korney's godfather. Guns were doled out, including two sawed-off shotguns.