March 12th, 1954 seven fifty eight PM Raymond Quick Lewis arrived at Small’s Paradise 30 minutes early like always that’s why they called him quick not because he was fast because he was prepared always thinking ahead always anticipating always protecting he’d been Bumpy Johnson’s bodyguard for eight years never failed never hesitated never questioned his job was simple keep bumpy alive at any cost Raymond checked the restaurant every entrance every exit every window every person waiters cooks customers anyone could be a threat

he took his position 3 feet behind Bumpy’s usual table close enough to protect far enough to give privacy 8:14 p m bumpy arrived with Mamie sat at his table Raymond stood behind him silent watchful a waiter approached Italian guy new Raymond’s instincts fired who’s that Raymond asked the manager Tommy Marciano started last week good references we’re from the Bronx Raymond’s jaw tightened the Bronx Genevieve’s territory keep an eye on him the manager nodded walked away Tommy brought menus smiled good evening Mr Johnson Mrs

Johnson what can I get you tonight bumpy didn’t look up the usual bifeck rare mashed potatoes green beans Tommy nodded and for you Missus Johnson same Tommy walked to the kitchen Raymond watched him something felt wrong what’s wrong bumpy asked quietly don’t know yet just a feeling your feelings are usually right Raymond kept watching twenty minutes later Tommy returned two plates steak potatoes beans he set them down bumpy reached for his fork Raymond’s hand shot out stopped him what let me check it first bumpy

it’s fine it’s my job Raymond took Bumpy’s plate cut a piece of steak standard protocol Raymond had been food taster for eight years ate before bumpy ate drank before bumpy drank that’s how you stay alive he put the steak in his mouth chewed swallowed tasted normal maybe I’m paranoid he took another bite to be sure then his throat started burning not bad just odd you OK Mimi asked Raymond nodded yeah just then the pain hit like fire starting in his stomach spreading fast Raymond stumbled grabbed the table his face went pale quick

bumpy jumped up caught him Raymond collapsed convulsing foaming at the mouth his eyes rolled back someone call an ambulance Mamie screamed bumpy held Raymond trying to stop the convulsions but Raymond was seizing violently quick stay with me Raymond’s eyes found Bumpy’s tried to speak but couldn’t just blood coming from his mouth his nose his ears poison the realization hit bumpy like a bullet someone poisoned the food Raymond took the bite meant for him Raymond saved his life the ambulance arrived in four minutes

paramedics rushed in started working on Raymond what did he eat steak when three minutes ago they loaded Raymond onto a stretcher bumpy tried to follow sir you can’t I’m coming sir family only I’m his family bumpy climbed into the ambulance held Raymond’s hand the ambulance raced to Harlem Hospital Raymond’s vitals were crashing BP dropping heart rate erratic breathing shallow he’s going into shock paramedic shouted start an IV push fluids they worked frantically but Raymond was dying and everyone knew it eight forty two PM Harlem Hospital emergency room

doctor Morris Chen met them what happened poison in his food what kind don’t know symptoms seizures bleeding from orifices organ failure Doctor Chen’s face went grim arsenic mixed with cyanide how long ago 25 minutes then we don’t have much time they rushed Raymond to treatment pumped his stomach gave him activated charcoal antidotes but the poison had spread into his bloodstream his organs his brain Raymond’s body was shutting down bumpy stood outside the treatment room watching through the window watching his friend die Mamie arrived

ran to him is he still alive barely this is my fault no this was meant for you which makes it my fault if he dies Mamie’s voice broke it’s my fault Junie and Willie arrived heard what happened rushed over boss who did this Bumpy’s voice was Ice Genevieve’s how do you know because Raymond checked the waiter Tommy Marciano from the Bronx Genevieve’s territory this was an assassination attempt Junie’s fists clenched we need to move on Genevieve now not yet why not because quick is still alive and I’m not leaving until I know he’s going to make it

what if he doesn’t then Genevieve dies slowly nine thirty PM Doctor Chen came out how is he alive but barely the poison damaged his liver kidneys heart we’re doing everything we can but he stopped but what even if he survives the night the damage might be permanent what does that mean it means he might never wake up or if he does he might not be the same can I see him Doctor Chen nodded five minutes bumpy entered the room Raymond lay in the hospital bed tubes everywhere machines beeping his face was grey lifeless

but his chest was still moving barely bumpy sat beside him took his hand quick I don’t know if you can hear me but I need you to fight you’ve been with me for 8 years protected me saved me more times than I can count and tonight you saved me again but I can’t lose you you’re not just my bodyguard you’re my brother so fight please Raymond’s hand twitched just slightly but bumpy felt it that’s it fight ten PM Maria Lewis arrived Raymond’s wife eight months pregnant she ran into the hospital crying where is he where’s Raymond

Mimi intercepted her held her Maria you need to calm down the baby I don’t care about the baby where’s my husband he’s in treatment room four Maria ran burst through the door saw Raymond collapsed no no no bumpy caught her helped her to a chair Maria he’s still alive but for how long I don’t know what happened someone poisoned my food Raymond ate it first he saved me Maria looked at bumpy tears streaming he was doing his job his job is going to kill him Maria I’m sorry sorry doesn’t bring him back I know I’ll fix this

I’ll make them pay that doesn’t help me she was screaming now that doesn’t help my son my baby she put her hand on her pregnant belly he’s supposed to meet his father he’s supposed to grow up with him and now she couldn’t finish just sobbed bumpy knelt beside her Maria I promise you if Raymond doesn’t make it I will take care of you and your son and little Raymond they’ll never want for anything I don’t want your money I want my husband I know and I’m going to do everything I can to give him back to you eleven forty seven PM Doctor Chen came in

he’s stabilizing what his vitals are improving heart rates up blood pressures rising he’s fighting can I talk to him he’s unconscious but he might be able to hear you go ahead bumpy approached the bed quick you’re doing good keep fighting we need you Maria needs you your kids need you so don’t you dare give up Raymond’s eyes fluttered opened slightly bumpy his voice was barely a whisper I’m here the food was it meant for you yes good then I did my job you saved my life that’s what I’m here for you’re more than that your family

Raymond smiled weakly then treat me like family how get the bastard who did this I will promise me I promise Raymond closed his eyes rested but he was alive March 13th, 1954 2 a m bumpy left the hospital Junie and Willie were waiting time to move time to move where do we start the waiter Tommy Marciano find him they found Tommy at a boarding house in the Bronx dragged him out of bed brought him to a warehouse in Harlem Tommy was terrified tied to a chair bumpy walked in calm quiet terrifying Tommy Bumpy said you poisoned my food

I don’t know what you’re talking about don’t lie my friend is dying because of you I didn’t I was just doing what I was told who told you Tommy hesitated bumpy pulled out his razor opened it slowly I’m going to ask one more time who told you Vito Genovese he paid me $10,000 to poison you how he gave me the poison told me to put it in your steak said it was tasteless odorless that you’d be dead in an hour but your guy tasted it first I didn’t know he’d do that nobody told me so it’s your fault he’s dying Tommy started crying I’m sorry

I needed the money my family your family Raymond has a family a pregnant wife a 5 year old son and now they might lose him because you needed money please I’ll do anything you will you’re going to testify against Genevieve what you’re going to tell everyone what he did that he ordered this and then then I’ll decide if you live or die 6 a m bumpy returned to the hospital Doctor Chen met him how is he worse the poison damaged his kidneys they’re failing we’re trying dialysis but it’s not enough what are his chances honestly

20% and if he survives he’ll need a kidney transplant maybe a liver his life will never be the same bumpy sat down put his head in his hands this is my fault no Doctor Chen said this is Genevieve’s fault maybe but quick took that bullet for me 8:00am Raymond woke up asked for bumpy bumpy rushed to his bedside quick bumpy his voice was weak how you feeling like I’m dying you’re not dying we’re going to get you through this bumpy listen I need to say something don’t save your strength no I need to say this while I still can

bumpy sat down listened I’ve been your bodyguard for 8 years best job I ever had you treated me like family not an employee family and last night when I tasted that food I knew something was wrong but I ate it anyway why because that’s what family does we protect each other at any cost Raymond you didn’t have to yes I did because if I didn’t Maria would be a widow little Raymond would grow up without a father and this new baby he’d never meet me but if I took that poison maybe you’d survive maybe you’d take care of my family

and maybe my sacrifice would mean something Raymond started coughing blood Doctor Chan rushed in you need to rest Raymond grabbed Bumpy’s hand promise me something anything take care of them Maria the kids make sure they’re OK I promise and bumpy kill the bastard who did this I will Raymond smiled then I can die in peace you’re not dying yes I am and that’s okay because I did my job I protected my family Raymond closed his eyes the monitors started beeping erratically Doctor Chen checked them we’re losing him no bumpy grabbed Raymond’s hand quick

stay with me don’t you dare give up but Raymond was fading his breathing shallow his pulse weak Maria burst into the room Raymond she ran to the bed held him baby please don’t leave me Raymond’s eyes opened one last time looked at Maria love you always then he looked at bumpy nodded once and died 4:00am March 13th 1954 Raymond Quick Lewis age 32 dead from poison meant for Bumpy Johnson Maria collapsed on his body screaming crying begging him to wake up but he was gone bumpy stood there frozen his best friend his brother his protector

dead because of him Mimi held him whispered this isn’t your fault yes it is no this is Genevieve’s fault and you are going to make him pay bumpy looked at Raymond’s body at Maria sobbing at the machines that had stopped beeping yes bumpy said quietly I am March 13th, 1954 5 a m Bumpy Johnson walked out of Harlem Hospital Junie and Willie were waiting by the car boss Raymond’s dead the words hung in the air like smoke Junie’s face went hard Willie’s fists clenched when do we move now they drove to Bumpy’s house inside 40 men were waiting

every soldier every enforcer every person who owed bumpy loyalty bumpy stood in front of them his eyes red his voice steady Raymond Lewis died this morning poisoned the poison was meant for me he took it to protect me did his job paid the ultimate price silence heavy painful Vito Genovese ordered this gave the poison to a waiter named Tommy Marciano told him to put it in my food Raymond ate it first saved my life lost his murmurs of anger through the room so here’s what’s going to happen we’re going to war not a small war

not a territorial dispute a war of annihilation Genevieve dies everyone who helped him dies everyone who knew about this and said nothing dies we’re going to burn his empire to the ground and we’re going to do it in 48 hours the room erupted men shouting weapons being checked plans being made but bumpy raised his hand silence fell one more thing Raymond’s funeral is tomorrow we’re going to give him the biggest funeral Harlem’s ever seen every person in this room will be there in your best suits showing respect

because Raymond wasn’t just my bodyguard he was family and family gets honored everyone nodded dismissed the men filed out started preparing Junie stayed behind boss how do you want to handle Genevieve I want him alive alive for now I want him to see what’s coming want him to feel it then I’ll kill him myself what about Frank Costello what about him he’ll try to negotiate let him try this isn’t negotiable Raymond’s dead Genevieve dies end of discussion 10:00am the first strike Bumpy’s men hit six Genevieve’s operations

simultaneously a gambling house in the Bronx raided cash taken three enforcers hospitalized a loan shark office in Queens burned to the ground records destroyed a drug warehouse in Brooklyn inventory stolen 2 guards killed a speakeasy in Manhattan shut down owner beaten a Protection racket in Harlem ended collectors chased out and Genevieve’s favorite restaurant where he ate lunch every day bombed nobody inside but the message was clear we’re coming by noon Genevieve got the reports all of them his concierge was panicking

boss they hit us everywhere how much did we lose 300,000 in one morning yes and it’s not stopping Johnson’s got men everywhere what do you want to do Genevieve thought then made a call get me Frank Costello two PM Frank Costello arrived at Genevieve’s social club sat across from him Vito what did you do what I had to you tried to kill Bumpy Johnson and and you killed his bodyguard instead Raymond Lewis a father a husband you made this personal it was already personal no before this it was business territory money but you killed a man’s brother

now it’s blood Costello leaned forward do you understand what you’ve done Bumpy Johnson has spent 30 years building respect in Harlem building loyalty and you just gave him a cause a martyr Raymond Lewis died protecting him that makes Raymond a hero and heroes inspire wars I can handle Bumpy Johnson no you can’t why not because he’s not coming after your money he’s coming after your life let him try Costello stood up I came here as a courtesy to warn you Bumpy’s not going to negotiate he’s not going to settle he’s going to kill you

and I’m not going to stop him why not because you broke the rules you poisoned food that’s coward shit and cowards don’t get Protection Costello walked out left Genevieve alone Vito Genevieve for the first time in his life felt fear four PM Bumpy visited Maria Lewis Raymond’s widow she was at home family around her trying to comfort her but she was inconsolable bumpy knocked Maria’s mother answered saw bumpy her face hardened you can I speak with Maria she doesn’t want to see you I understand but I need to why

so you can apologize apologizing won’t bring my son in law back I know but I made him a promise and I need to keep it the mother hesitated then let him in Maria was sitting in the living room holding Raymond’s wedding photo five year old Raymond junior was beside her confused mama when’s daddy coming home Maria couldn’t answer just cried bumpy knelt in front of her Maria she looked up eyes red swollen you killed him no Genevieve killed him same thing he died protecting you that makes it your fault you’re right it is my fault

and I’m going to spend the rest of my life making it right how by taking care of you and your kids and by making sure the man who did this pays Maria’s voice was venomous paying isn’t enough I want him dead he will be by tomorrow night promise I promise bumpy pulled out an envelope handed it to her what’s this $50,000 blood money no it’s not payment it’s support for you for little Raymond for the baby Raymond made me promise to take care of you so I am Maria stared at the envelope this doesn’t make it better I know but it’s a start

she took the envelope then spoke quietly make him suffer I will six PM Bumpy’s men found Tommy Marchiano the waiter who poisoned the food brought him to Frank Costello Costello questioned him recorded everything then called bumpy I’ve got your waiter good he confessed everything Genevieve paid him gave him the poison told him exactly how to do it I need him to testify to who the commission what I’m calling a meeting all five families tomorrow morning you are going to present your case and they’re going to decide

decide what whether Genevieve’s lives or dies I’ve already decided he dies bumpy if you kill him without commission approval you start a war with all five families so so you’ll lose even you can’t beat all of us then they better approve it eight PM the commission meeting was set tomorrow 10:00am neutral location all five bosses Frank Costello Vito Genovese Carlo Gambino Tommy Luchese Joe Banano and Bumpy Johnson Genovese tried to argue I’m not sitting at a table with a Frank cut him off you’ll sit or you’ll die

tonight your choice Genevieve sat March 14th, 1954 9 a m Raymond Quick Lewis’s funeral Abyssinian Baptist Church packed over 2,000 people Raymond’s casket at the front draped in flowers Maria in the front row holding little Raymond’s hand eight months pregnant Reverend Adam Clayton Powell junior gave the eulogy Raymond Lewis was a protector not just of one man but of a community he stood between danger and safety between chaos and order and yesterday morning he made the ultimate sacrifice he gave his life so another could live

that’s not just duty that’s love the congregation wept bumpy sat in the back couldn’t bring himself to sit up front felt too guilty Mamie beside him holding his hand this isn’t your fault she whispered yes it is he died because of me he died because of his choice to protect you honor that choice don’t let guilt destroy you bumpy said nothing just stared at the casket after the service they carried Raymond to the cemetery lowered him into the ground Maria threw a flower on the casket then collapsed bumpy caught her

helped her to a chair I can’t do this she sobbed yes you can how because Raymond needs you to for your kids you’re their mother their protector now Maria looked at him then you better keep your promise make him pay I will Today 10:00am the commission meeting a warehouse in Queens five Italian bosses Bumpy Johnson Tommy Marciano in chains Frank Costello spoke first we’re here because Vito Genovese violated our rules he ordered a hit using poison that’s against our code Genovese stood up I had every right bumpy Johnson has been encroaching on my territory

so you poison his food like a coward I did what was necessary and you killed an innocent man Raymond Lewis wasn’t the target exactly you killed the wrong man and now you owe a blood debt to who to Harlem Bumpy stood up Raymond Lewis was my bodyguard my friend my brother he had a wife eight months pregnant a five year old son and yesterday he died eating poison meant for me doing his job protecting me bumpy walked to Tommy this man Tommy Marciano confessed Genevieve paid him $10,000 gave him arsenic and cyanide

told him exactly how to poison me Tommy nodded it’s true I did it he paid me Genevieve stood up this is a setup you tortured him made him lie Frank pulled out a recording played it Tommy’s voice clear unprompted confessing everything Genevieve went pale the commission listened then Carlo Gambino spoke Vito you’re a disgrace what you used poison you killed an innocent man you brought shame on all of us this is not how we operate Joe Banano agreed if we allow this we’re no better than animals there must be consequences

what kind of consequences Tommy Lukasi looked at bumpy what do you want justice define justice Genevieve’s life for Raymond’s the room went quiet Frank spoke carefully if we approve this it sets a precedent any boss can be killed for violating the code good bumpy said that’s exactly the president we need the five bosses looked at each other then nodded one by one Genevieve’s face went white you can’t do this we just did you have 24 hours to get your affairs in order then bumpy decides how you die no this is murder

this is justice Genevieve tried to run Bumpy’s men blocked the door it’s over Vito you lost March 14th, 1954 Bumpy brought Genevieve to the same warehouse where Raymond had been poisoned tied him to a chair Genevieve was crying now begging bumpy please I’ll give you anything money territory anything you can’t give me what I want what do you want my brother back and since that’s impossible I’ll settle for your life please I have a family so did Raymond a pregnant wife a young son did you think about them when you ordered the poison

that was business business you call murdering a father business I didn’t mean to kill him I meant to kill you then you failed twice first you failed to kill me second you failed to avoid consequences now you pay how the same way Raymond died poison bumpy pulled out a vial arsenic mixed with cyanide same dosage you gave Tommy you are going to drink it and you’re going to die slowly painfully the way Raymond did no please bumpy forced the vial to Genevieve’s lips drink Genevieve tried to resist but bumpy was stronger he drank

the poison hit his system within seconds he was convulsing foaming at the mouth bleeding dying bumpy watched no emotion just waited it took 43 minutes the same amount of time Raymond suffered when Genevieve finally died bumpy stood up walked out it’s done March 15th, 1954 Maria Lewis went into labor gave birth to a healthy baby boy 8 pounds perfect the nurses asked what’s his name Maria looked at the baby thought about Raymond about his sacrifice about Bumpy’s promise his name is Raymond Johnson Lewis the nurse wrote it down that’s a strong name

it is Maria said because he’s named after two strong men one who died protecting his family and one who avenged him March 20th, 1954 Bumpy visited Maria met the baby held him he looks like quick he has his eyes Maria agreed bumpy handed her another envelope what’s this a trust fund for both kids college business whatever they need it’s all there you don’t have to yes I do I made Raymond a promise this is part of it what’s the other part making sure they know who their father was a hero a protector a man who gave his life for what he believed in

Maria cried thank you for what for keeping your promise it’s the least I could do years later in 1975 Raymond Johnson Lewis graduated from Columbia University top of his class at graduation he gave a speech my father died when I was born giving his life to protect a friend I never met him but I know who he was because Bumpy Johnson made sure I knew told me stories showed me pictures taught me what it means to be a man my father was Raymond Quick Lewis a bodyguard a protector a hero and I’m going to spend my life living up to his legacy

the crowd applauded bumpy now 70 sat in the audience tears streaming down his face Mamie beside him you kept your promise I had to for quick he saved your life and you saved his family that’s what brothers do if this story of loyalty sacrifice and a debt paid in blood moved you hit that subscribe button drop a like if you believe real friendship means protecting each other at any cost share this with someone who needs to hear about the bodyguard who took a bullet meant for his boss and the boss who spent his life honoring that sacrifice

what would you have done in Bumpy’s position let me know in the comments and remember loyalty isn’t just words it’s action Raymond Lewis proved that and Bumpy Johnson never forgot

The Italian Mob POISONED Bumpy’s Food — His Bodyguard Ate It First and THIS Happened DD

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