NJ man who as a kid befriended ‘Boardwalk Empire’ boss Johnson recalls role in vice business

NJ man knows secrets of genuine ‘Boardwalk Empire’

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — The nation will be introduced this weekend to Enoch “Nucky” Johnson, the legendary Atlantic City, N.J., political and rackets boss, thanks to the new cable TV series “Boardwalk Empire.”

Meanwhile, a New Jersey man is looking forward to seeing how HBO portrays the man who befriended him in real life.

Ed Devlin is 89 years old now. But he recalls tagging along with Johnson all around town in the 1930s when Johnson made sure the resort’s illegal gambling, prostitution and bootlegging operations all ran smoothly.

Devlin says he saw Johnson every other day for about 10 years.

As a 16-year-old, Devlin ran numbers for local bookmakers. He says Johnson was revered in Atlantic City as a god for taking care of poor residents, whose loyalty he demanded in return.