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Ing kddnaping for rensom. then threats of torture and death. He de at himself « bodyguard o New York for the pur was absnt 1920 BRL bec’ & Byearois med Johary Torrio whom wn ag one of the elder he Five Points gang 3 said (nal ne wn uffian, He had ty, Business Sagacity al Imagination. He Chicago police commissioner from (923 to 1927, front. And he was... ambitious.” On Torrlo’s arrival in Chicago, Colosimo’s persecution teased — at Jenat temporarily, Tortio lived by the gun. It was bis profession. ‘When shortly after his arrival throe Black Handers demanded that Cato. imo meet them with $2800 under an Archer evenue viaduct, Torric sent four men to the spot with wed-off shotguns, When the Black Mand leader approarhed the dark ouring ear, asking, " Where is our Package?” he suddenly found him: self looking down e i2gauge muc zie, For the Black Handere it war soared. Torrlo, the business man, shrewdly left the retatl businses to others and began to expand a vast wholesale business which rapidly took oa the proportions of « south side monopoly. ‘To operate an industry big enough to satisfy Torrto’s ambition would require able Meutenants and « pol- Sey of ruthlessness toward all oppo- sition. Who could Torrlo get to help him? Torrlo was an expert enced manager, and he thought the problem over carefully—then picked the sleek Neapolitan boy who had been doing sowell in Burnham. Tor rio knew that Al Capone was big and strong and qulek in action, that he was intelligent, that he drank Wile, that he could be smooth oo occasion, and that he wes a natural lender of men. “How would you ke $25,000 « year." said Torrio to Capone one evening tn the rear ot a 224 street dance hatl, “and to be my partner tn the beer and booze business? We'll split the Uguor profits ftty- Atty. What do you say?” wee 10. K., Johnny.” grunted big AL ‘The deal was on. Capone stepped into his new position with con: Sdence and alacrity. Soon he began to make hip mark. Mon learned to fear and respect him. Ha never Aiked a map.to do anything that ‘he couldn't ér wouldn't do himaelt He could be as tough as a mad ele pbant one moment and as playful As a puppy the next The collection of Hessorted crooks and crtminals that he and Torrlo were able 10 enlist from all over the clty quickly took on a measure of discipline Under his drill sergeant brand of Yeadership. Hie remarkable alr for organizing built up a machine admirably suited to the task et for It The drivers, sharpshooters, spies watchmen, lawyers, and others on the pay roll knew what was expect: Few: turned traitor ed of tham. and they did It. ever deserted vied wan to most cara wots Dh ibe toconsder in woes vane, the O/Donnelis would grant ‘Bim 2 tweaty-four-hour stay, at the 406 of which, Sf he was stil stub ern, they would emphasize thelr argument with fists or revolver battc. Few speakeasy owners held - sut further, 2 ‘An exception was Jacob Gels, who said, “S uy my beer from Capone amt Torsie.end Tm satistod oh ~ 1 Biven ists could not change Taka ‘walnd, for his burly frame war 8 Aktle too much for O'Donnel’s two drummers, who got bounced elabo- + palely obt Jnke's foor. Bo three WDennel brethers, with O'Connor, F: ‘Meertan, aed Bucher, catted -wt- ~ Geir neighborhood anion at RSL West Gist street early ia the eve yo Blea of Sop} 21M ali ye cesul | Chat Gels was taken to a hosp! with @ fractured skull and lay at the point of death for wetle. After thelr argument with Cels that eve ning the aroused O’Donnalia Inved- od Ave other recaleltrant boer sell ers, administering various treat- ments, and then repaired to Joseph Klepka’s exloon et 5356 South Lite cota street, « sort of headquarters, ‘to partake of refreshments, ‘It was while they were relaxing in Kiepka's place that five men en- tered and tha leader, brandishing Dig 38, roared: “Blick up your hands ar Tt blow you to hell.” ‘The ODonnelis scattered for the doors and were pursued closely to the street, where, shooting wildly at thelr attackers, they made their eacape~all except Jerry O'Connor, who lay dead on the sidewalk, shot through the heart. In the official records Jerry O'Con- nor's death is indexed as the first killing of the bootleg war. It was followed ten days Inter, Sept. 17, by the murders of his associates, Mee han and Boucher. ‘The repercussions of the O-Don- nell purge, Rewever, would have* been enough to worry i commander Of lesser stature. The tate William E, Dever, then six montha in office aa mayor, was s0 shocked by the killings that he revoked the licenses of 2000 “soft drink partors,” sum moned Chief of Police Collins to his office, and astumed pervonal charge of the situation. Fle official state: ment said “The police will (éllow this case fo & Gnlth ax they do all others, ‘This guerrilla war between hijack. ers, rum runners, and ilictt beer Peddlers can and will be crushed.” It was a brave utterance—but it was almost equally futlle, There were to be @ more Klitings similar to that of O'Connor in the fall of 1023, 16 tn 184. 46 in 1925, and 64 in 2905, Mr, Dever's last year In ofice. In this total of 135 gang murders during the rise of the young poct Player from Brooklyn only six men ware to be brought to trial. Of the atx all ware to be acquitio? save one—Sam Vinv., who chase the ve» caslon of a coroner's inquest to dis patch John Minattl with « 4c ber automatic. His. explanation Br