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Al Capone — Part 28
Page 26
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CRIME
“Who Wouldn't Be Worried?”
Ttoshlamos Jczed in Chicago's crowded
Fedeia; wwurts i =: week Goard> banged
shut the duors. Beginning was the deeieis a,
hoetoie che Pe lec! Government. fons
campaizn te pur Alphomse U Scartace” to
stranzers O snorkes” to Trends OU apone
in prvon For three yeats the Govern-
ment had waged its campaign, spent over
$195.000 on it. For almost as long Gane-
ater Capone had been trying to sidestep
charges that he failed to pay a Federal tax
B70.
nh OCBEV ae
cofrg {31
7 he ae
on $1,038,654 income during the years
1923-29. Now Scarface Snorkey waa on
trial.
The was bushy-browed James
Herbert Wilkerson, no friend of Capone.
It «as he who. two months ago. exposed
and repudiated a “deal” between prose-
coin, and defense altormeys whereby
Capone was te pied guilty bo tax evasion
in return for a mcommendation that he
be given a Licht sentence. In court
Capone's attorney had asserted that the
agreement was approved by Altomey
General Mitchell and “an Assistant Secre-
tary of the Treasury.” In Washington the
Department of Justice had «dmitted ap-
proving this deal, insisted t ¢ procedure
was customary. Underseccr. ary of the
Treasury Ogden Livincston Mills bad de-
nied knowing anything about it. Judge
. a a eee . =
iy ae
_ - Z ‘ -
| ae .
is ° .
: :
'
Lame pe, sewers te teem
» &- wer
* a
jack Gusick. a Capone ijieutenant, hed
given five years in prison, other im-
ey gangsters were behind the bara
i Scarface Saorkey:
“Who wouldn't be wormed?”
The Prosecution was beaded by soft-
spoken, wild-haired U.S. District Attorney
Geore- Emmerson Q (for nothing) John-
son. Beeld marshal of the Government's
forces sccking to break up gang rule by
the left-handed method of jailing gang-
sters jor tax evasion, his success would be
measured by bis ability to & of
Capone. Frankly disappointed when the
“deat” fell through, he was now excited,
eager, mysterious. So far he had kept
pecret the list of his “surprise” witnesses.
The Defense “bad wanted that list.
Longs had adroit Lawyer Michae! Ahern
protected Capone's legal interests, kept
carte ptnentninatamatil, Aon we ee
Covxsee Antex, Cuext Caroxz. Cotxset Fixe
Mr. Fink: “Ok, my conscience! Neiled to the cross!”
Wilkerson had upset the plans by declar-
ing: “The court will listen to recommenda-
tions, but it is utterly impossible to bar-
gain with a Federal cour.” Then be bad
allowed frightened Capone to ghange hi:
pies tu not guilty. had sought—and tailed
—to hive a grand jury indict bim under
the Jones (“5 & 10°) Law for violation
of the Volstead Act (True. Scpt. 2: ef
ante). Leaving off his judicial rebes.
Judge Wilkerson leaned over bis desk in
4 business suit, showed that he took more
than a passing interest in the case.
The Defendant was sweating. uncom-
fotiable. For the second time in his life
be was uniertain of “beating the rap”
(staying out of jail).* Lf convicted -be
might be sentenced to 32 years in the
penitentiary, fined $$6.000. Before him
he had the example of his brother Ralph
(Bottles) Capon. who haf been scu-
tenced to three vears in Leavenworth on 2
similar charge (hut bad obtained a stay
of mandate until Oct, 20 to file an appeal }-
“First tine war in tesa when Conve was
tiie{ aed qorckted i Philadelphia fur garry-
dae eg pistol, Ble spent ten menths in pil, bi-
analy oposan term ota dan. Mut wod-me orld
lerend soy he went to jail that tise en pur:
pot, to avaid being deawinate! ia Chicuee.
him ou: of serious trouble (Tiare. Sept.
217, He. too, had been disappainted when
his chert had to stand trial. Well he
realized that this was his hardest case.
To asix him be bad owlish Albert
Fink. whose jovis! voice was frequently
heard exclaiming: “Ob, my conscience!”
Mr. Ahern was irascible, objected to
crowding by . - .
The Press, which was having a field
day. Local papers covered the trial from
all angl:s. out-of-town papers sent apecial
writers. Hearstpapers. evidently consider-
ing ita better spectacle than the World
Series (see p. 22), sent Colyumist Daman -
Runyon. who began by interviewing Ca-
pone in the grandest manner: “I found -
ee
Al Capone at Colosimo’s restaurant. . . .
Other newshawks reported the details of
Capone's attire from tie (bluc-sttiped! to
fedora «white}. noted the fact whon he
Jchanece bis suit (blue ‘9 grey). Gaudiest
rast of the trial was coined by the New
fark Evening Pest’ correspondent,
Michael W. Straus. who referred to
Ciceru’s cambling houses a3 “gold-belching
pits of evil.” The Press soon became in-
leresied in
The Jury: one farmer. two retired mer-
TT
ae ge Ree yg TA RRR ce”
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