Bernie Bernbaum is a bookie and Verna's brother who skims money from Johnny Caspar's match-fixing operation. Leo's protection of Bernie triggers a mob war. Tom fakes his execution at Miller's Crossing, but Bernie secretly kills Caspar's henchman Mink and uses the body as a decoy. He later blackmails Tom to kill Caspar, only to be killed by Tom after surrendering his gun.
Verna's family connection to Bernie drives Leo's decision to protect him.
Bernie is explicitly described as Verna's brother.
Leo shields Bernie and thereby triggers the mob war.
Leo extends protection to Bernie despite Bernie's theft from Johnny Caspar's match-fixing operation.
Caspar treats Bernie as a thief who must be eliminated.
Bernie skims money from Caspar's match-fixing scheme, and Caspar demands that he be killed.
Tom is ordered to kill Bernie but initially chooses deception and mercy.
Tom leads Bernie to Miller's Crossing for execution but fires into the ground and lets him escape.
Bernie uses Mink's corpse to fake his own death.
Bernie secretly kills Mink and places his disfigured body at Miller's Crossing as a decoy.
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