◆ SpookStack

abe terminals, including those peddlers engaged in business on the Rock Island; the Sante Fe and the Northwestern tracks, to purchase =~ grapes exclusively from Mr, Irrgang and the U. S. Fruit auction Company. Mr. Irrgang stated he explained that the juice grape market to date had been unprofitable for all concerned, and thst since the season was nearing e close, and in view of the further fact that the prospects for good prices between now and the close of the seeson were very poor, he did not consider thet it would be worth the while of a11 concerned to agree upon any plan for the remainder of the present sesaon. Mr. Irrgang explained that he did not wish to enter into negotiations with the organization at this time and used the last above argument as 6 means whereby to postpone any def- inite arrengements with the Capone organization. Mr. Irrgang further stated that he went to some pains to point out to Byrnes and his two canpanions that the Goverment, while in- terested in the juice grape situation, was concerned chiefly with the past activities of Joe Farrara and the Aiello organization, and thet his, Mr. Irrgeng's, trip to Washington was made in comection with the Government investigation which has been in progress for a long period of time and had nothing to do whatever with the situation as it has existed during the present juice grape market. At thie point in the conversation Byrnes re- marked that the organization has been eware for some time that the Govern- ment was conducting an investigation and had reliable information, and that for some time past the Government had opened seven or eight cars of juice grape on the tracks of the Northwestern Railroad. Byrnes stated further, according to Mr. Irrgang, thet the organization was fully able to deal, not only with the city Government and the States Attomey's office, but with the Federal Government as well, ami stated that sven “the Government men st Wesbington mst earn a living". Mr. Irrgang stated that the three parties above mentioned freely discussed the murders of Tony Farrara and Joe Aielio and rather plainly indicated that both were brought about through the Capone organ- ization. Frequent mention was made by Byrnes of machine guns and millions of dollars in capital and strong arm methods which have in the past been emplayed, not only on the juice grape tracks but in other rackets in Chicago by the Capone organization, citing these instances as an indication of the great etrength end power of the Capone gang. Mr. Irrgong stated thet Byrnes seemed to be fully conver- sant with the juice grape industry, including the growing of the grepes in Celifornia, the shipment of carlosad shipments to Chicago, and other points , of distribution in the East, and cited the fact that 450 carloads of juice . /]