# Sam Vettori — Little Caesar character guide > Sam Vettori in Little Caesar by W. R. Burnett. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Machiavelli Little Caesar Part I I Sam Vettori, Vettori, Sam, the old Sam Vettori, old Sam **First appearance:** 0002-little-caesar ## Snapshot Fat as a hog and cunning beneath his lethargic bulk, old Sam Vettori runs his gang from a Halsted Street window seat, dragging out a huge gold watch while his lieutenant grows too big for him. ## Who they are Vettori is the old-school chief of the Vettori gang, sullen and bad-tempered under a mask of good-nature, dependent on Gentleman Joe's front and increasingly wary of Rico's hunger. He warns Rico, "You are getting too big for us," and the informer Scabby predicts it will be Rico or Sam, one or the other. His refusal to see that the world has outgrown him makes him the fixed point against which Rico's rise — and the gang's fracture — will be measured. ## Relationships ### [Rico](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_caesar_se/characters/rico) _professional_ Sam Vettori is Rico's boss and mentor in the criminal underworld, with a tense but necessary working relationship. ### [Scabby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_caesar_se/characters/scabby) _professional_ Sam Vettori uses Scabby as a low-level informant and errand runner in his criminal network. ### [Tony Passa](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_caesar_se/characters/tony_passa) _professional_ Sam Vettori is Tony Passa's boss, giving him orders and using him for dangerous jobs. ### [Joe Sansone](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_caesar_se/characters/joe_sansone) _professional_ Joe Sansone works under Sam Vettori's command, with a relationship based on mutual respect and criminal necessity. ### [Big Boy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_caesar_se/characters/big_boy) _rivalry_ Big Boy and Sam Vettori are rival crime bosses vying for control of the city's illegal enterprises. ### [Rico](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_caesar_se/characters/rico) _professional_ Sam Vettori is Rico's boss and mentor in the criminal underworld, with a tense but necessary working relationship. ### [Rico](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_caesar_se/characters/rico) _professional_ Sam Vettori is Rico's boss and mentor in the criminal underworld, with a tense but necessary working relationship. ### [Joe Sansone](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_caesar_se/characters/joe_sansone) _professional_ Joe Sansone works under Sam Vettori's command, with a relationship based on mutual respect and criminal necessity. ### [Scabby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_caesar_se/characters/scabby) _professional_ Sam Vettori uses Scabby as a low-level informant and errand runner in his criminal network. ### [Tony Passa](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_caesar_se/characters/tony_passa) _professional_ Sam Vettori is Tony Passa's boss, giving him orders and using him for dangerous jobs. ### [Scabby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_caesar_se/characters/scabby) _professional_ Sam Vettori uses Scabby as a low-level informant and errand runner in his criminal network. ### [Big Boy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_caesar_se/characters/big_boy) _rivalry_ Big Boy and Sam Vettori are rival crime bosses vying for control of the city's illegal enterprises. ## In the story ### [Little Caesar Part I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_caesar_se/chapters/little-caesar) The current gang leader whose authority is challenged by Rico's rising influence. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_caesar_se/chapters/part-i-i) The gang leader; cunning and bad-tempered, orchestrates the Casa Alvarado robbery. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_caesar_se/chapters/part-i-ii) Sits in his office, pleased with his crew, eats spaghetti and wine, and meets with Scabby to discuss plans. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_caesar_se/chapters/part-ii-i) Gives orders to avoid gunplay, hands over control of the job to Rico. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_caesar_se/chapters/part-ii-ii) Panics after learning Rico killed Courtney, tries to assert authority but ultimately capitulates to Rico's demand for an even split. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_caesar_se/chapters/part-ii-iii) Nervous and playing solitaire; questioned by detectives about the stolen Cadillac and Courtney's murder. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_caesar_se/chapters/part-ii-v) Mentioned as one who offered Tony money to participate in stickups. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_caesar_se/chapters/part-iii-iii) Nervous and drinking whisky, seeks help from the Big Boy, worries about the gang's safety, and expresses fear about Tony Passa. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_caesar_se/chapters/part-iii-ii) Impatiently questions Blackie about Tony's condition and gives him money to keep watch. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_caesar_se/chapters/part-iii-iv) Reluctantly cedes control to Rico, showing weakness and fear. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_caesar_se/chapters/part-iii-vii) Visibly weakened and anxious; mourns Tony but defers to Rico's judgment; worried about police heat. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_caesar_se/chapters/part-iv-i) Losing his grip on the gang, he reluctantly agrees to Rico's terms to avoid being killed. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_caesar_se/chapters/part-iv-ii) Hosts the banquet, outwardly affable but inwardly calculating, aware that Rico is the real power now. He reflects on surviving as a gang leader. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_caesar_se/chapters/part-iv-iii) Vouches for the newspaper men and takes the Big Boy's place in the photograph. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_caesar_se/chapters/part-v-i) Former gang leader who has lost power due to lethargy and love of trickery; now docile under Rico, valuing prosperity over revenge. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_caesar_se/chapters/part-v-ii) Celebrates wildly at The Palermo when Rico returns safely. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_caesar_se/chapters/part-v-iv) Mentioned as slipping and lethargic, not interfering with Arnie's decline. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_caesar_se/chapters/part-vi-v) Sam is shown in decline—fat, lethargic, and indecisive—as he learns of Joe Massara's confession and faces arrest. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_caesar_se/chapters/part-vi-vii) Reported as having been captured; Rico dismisses him. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_caesar_se/chapters/part-vii-iii) Sentenced to be hanged; Rico reads about his trial and reflects on his own rise and fall. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_caesar_se/characters/sam_vettori - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_caesar_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_caesar_se/characters