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Al Capone — Part 28
Page 48
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Tevme jo/a6 3/
Argument. Assistant U. S. Attorney
Jacob 1. Grossman estimaced the Capone
income at $120,000 in 1924: $250,000 in
1925; $195,000 in 1926, $270,000 in £
$140,000 iN 1928; $104,000 in 1929—toral
$3.024.000. Declared be: “When thay
[the defense) put thosc gamblers on as
witnesses they admitted that we bad
proved our case. Why prove deductions
if we have not proved income?"
‘Mr. Fink, still feeling burt, thought the
language of the indictrhent was “vague.
indefinite, uncertain,” felt that a great
injustice had been done to Snorkey in
charging him with “attempting” to evade
gax payments. Snorkey. be said. bad only
“omitted” to do his duty. In Washington,
Treasury officials punched a bole in
Snorkey’s only defemme by pointing out
that race track losses could not be de-
ducted his income. If he lost con-
sistently, they explained, the money be
iost must have come from other sources
than the track, and therefore he must pay
income on it. Lawyer Ahern deplored tbe
“great public ¢lamor” aczinst Snorkey
calicd him a “mythical Rotin Hood.”
Prosecutor Johnson indiznantly insisied
the Government was presenting the case
with “high purpose.” :
“Charge. Judee Wilkerson hitched his
chair towcrd the jury bex ond leveled his
bushy brows at the jurymen. to deliver
his charze. Excerpt
“Mere failure to file an income tax does
not constitute ‘attempt’ to evade or defeat
the tax... . To convict vou must find
beyond rea
inient to defraud und alo seme act deag
in furtherance of that intent... .”
Snorkey looked blissfully content« ¢ as
the jury filed out. In a brich: gree: suit
($135) and grecn-spotted tie he sted in
the corridor and smiled. Also pleatd with
Judge Wilkerson’s dispessionate charge
were Counsel Ahern & Fink. A moment
later Snorkey disappeared. It was 2.49
Pm
able doubt that there was ,
Verdict, At 0:50 p.ni. the jury was
ready, but Snorkey was nowhere to be
seen. Lavyer Ahern rushed to a telephone.
Fifteen minutes later in popped Snorkey.
ting, sweating. He tossed a green coat
hat on the counsel table, mopped his fat
bead with a green handkerchief. In ame
athe jury.
“We, the jury. find the defendant puilty
on counts 1, 5. G. 13 & 18 in the second
indictment, and mot guilty oa counis 2, 3,
Erbe ee 36, 17, 59, 36, 21
22.
Judge Wilkerson looked puzaled, So did
Messrs. Abern & Fink “Inconsistent.”
mumbled the prosecution. Snorkey
grinned broadly.
Soon the meaning of the verdict became
apparent. The jury had decided Snorkey
feloniously “attempted to evade & defe:
the income tax in 1925, 1926. 1927, but in
1924 & 1935 be only “failed” to pay up.
The jury apparently thought be bad tricd
his best in 1929
The prosecurion huddled and counted
up. For each of the two years Capone
had merely neclected to pay his tar. be
_ might be sentenced to a year in the peni-
tentiary; for each of the other three years
he could be given a five-year sentence;
on every count he could be fined $10.00;
total. 13 years. $30.60. Inconsistent ot
not. the Government was satistied with
the verdict. moved to attach his worldly
possessions in bev of the $215,000 be
owed.
Snorkey did mot think Judge Wil
kerson would sive him the maximum
penalty. He erinteed in all directions around
the courtroom. then got to his feet, hur-
ried to an elevator. descended to the street.
jumped into 3 waiting automobile and
disappeared into che sprawling city whose
thousands of illicit night haunts were his
Empire. :
“Ps oa!
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