◆ SpookStack

-Z2- killed at C:icigco, an’ since that time Conn himself has received several comminications wernirg him to discontime his activities fer the%grsve growers. On ohe occasion 2 gangsters made a personal céll on hin in his hotel room et Chicago and again warned him not to return to Chicago. Mr. Conn stated that there is no doubt but what the Cavone crowd know of his connecticn with Ferrera and therefore sre out to “get” him. when Mr. Doids observed that Itr. Ixyfgang had called on him the dey before, Mr. Conn immejiately stated that’ Irrgang was tied up hand end fist with the Aire ionigys gang and that Irrgang has not only been fully infcrmed of all Whe ciycumstances .ith regard to this racket but has him- self been a party to it, thet now eposrently the only reason he is complain- ing is because in addition to the €20 assessment against each cer, which Irrgang himself has participated in, the Moran gang is adding a $20 assess- went, maxing $50 in all anc, of course, Irrgang is now squealing because the shoe is on the other foot. He st: tei that Messrs. Wille and God ’ who accomp nied kr, Irrgang to the office of ity. Dodds, the day bef¥re, and hed previously been in conference with Mr. Teague of the Farm Board, were henchmen of Irrgang, fully acyueinted with ell of the fucts and parties to them. kr. Conn dic, however, s-ate chat Irrgang's facts were correct and thet the vepartrent might look with profit to Irrgang for his side of the story. Mr. Con. was particularly apxious tc hive the Denertzent and Bureeu place Agents in the freight yards at Chicego for the purpcse of observing the e-tuel >. nt of the 3¢ lug assessment on all persons buying grapes. There is no doubt in my mind but whst hie real puroose was, end in fact he auritted the seme, to make s display of force on the part of the Federal Government in order to enhance the prices cf his grapes and obtain a better tet therefor. Ix fact, h2 stated, that on the thousande of carloads of grepes vhich sed recent-y teen slipped t< the kast from Califprnia, no ship er had yet made any prol1it in iect practically e.1 cf them bad lost money cn grip2s shipned to the Jact; and thet they would continue to lose money unless sowe- thing were done to braak up the activities of the gangsters psarticulerly in Chicago. li. kKerritt endeavored to argue that the Departmen+ had a right under the law to essign a man or men to the larm Board for any use thet they might desite to maxe of them. Mr. Dodds, Mr. Osees end the writer combatted that contention and it wes thersfore dismissed. Mr, Merritt, however, argued thet the rovernment end perticulerly the Farm Board hed a property interest in the life and person of >. Conn inasmuch as he, Mr. Conn, head been desip- nated .fter careful selection to disburse a million dollare for the Farm =oerd in allevieting the conditions in the grepe industry. Fe related the fect that although the Farm Board had seen fit to take over four hundred thousand tons of grepes out of the market in order to take up the surplus by diverting these grepes to the mexing of medicinal wine for which hr. Doran of the Treasury Vepurtuent had issued a special pemit, nevertheless, the retail rrize of craves in tae ast this year is lover then ever before, end the Fern Be rats ple :i eource, will prove an abs lute failure unless drastic ection de teen.