◆ SpookStack

\epciina a i aor = Sa ‘ f) -c- 8) Capone who had Killed Joe Howard for taterfering with the Capone-Torrie bootleg bear busines. Te obtaln enough evidence "¢6 conviet Capone seemed = aimple matter. And po, thirty minutes after the murder, 9 general order was Tiashed te all police stations te ar rest him. But Al Capone was nowhere to be found, and at the inquest the next day the witnesses to the crime were all gsiricken with mysterinuz afi. siticke! wilh myrierous ments. Helnie Jacohs thought i¢ over, Then he took the witness stand and testified as followa: “T was called to a rear room to answer a telephone Just before the shooting. I don't know nothing ebout it” Runelsbeck quiveringly insisted: “T wouldn't be able to ifentify Capone even if brought face to face with him” Bilton could not be feund. Two olher possible witnesses to the kcill- ing, sald to have been in Jacobr waloon at the time, were Tony “Mouth” Bagnola and one Clifford Eaton, Moth denied having jeer there, and no one emule give proof to the contrary, - The inquest had to be continued indefinitly, and # month Jater, when things had quieted down, Capone sauntered into the Cottage Grove police gtatton to remark to Captgin McMahon: “T hear the police are Jooking for me. What fort? wane The catisin wusdsd Canons down eee Maritain ee be questioned by a young assistart state's attorney named Wililam EL McSwiggin. “oui wanted for the mirder of doe Howard,” sald McSwiggin, “Who, me?” replied Al with a purzied look. “ Why. I'm a respecia: ble tusinese man. I'm a second- brat furettire degler,” This was in 1073, after the pork- faced Capone already waa well on ic votd ly success. How was he able to fix the witnesses an surely that he could walk info the hands of tha puice a few weeks later with- out the slightest fear of taking the rap? Whet wee bis background’ What sort of Gui.ing qualified ibis man to win out over all others in the frevzie 7 geramile 1g control the 360,000,000 wear booties Uquor busi- ness which started with the advent of orehibition in gp city that war . 4Tribune photo) Alphonse Capone, boss criminal, af the height af his career, Capone's first ialery & riner of Johnny Torrie in the beer and boors busi- oss we %: 7000 9 your. Seon hit organization was dealing in miltions, nest was $25. already a quarter to 8, and Al fpl- Towed an iron- bound rule about going home at 10:30, . “Tl lay twe hundred ena game of straight,” proposed Al to the confident sileker. “Want to play + met” ; “It’s s bet,” grinned the other, “How about ‘a - hundred more on the fifteen bat” “0. KL" gsald Al. The two set to work, The specta- tors peered excit- edly Irom adjoin- ing “‘“ebles, By 10°30 Al hed fhe ~ $800 back and $156 of the stranger's money--and then he said he must £0, ag he was due home. The atran- ger wat naturally resentful] at being left in ‘this hu- miligting porition and demanded that Al remain, but Al put on hig coat and smooth gray hat. Without = word the siranger pulled a long-bladed knife from hin pocket, opened H, and gave A! to understand he'd play pool or else! Al di not hesitate one second His righ’ out to the man's chin with all his 200 pounds behind ic The man dropped ane fa. motion less. AJ tan for home. Twenty minutes Ister a misin formed friend from ihe poolrooni Courtroom scene at trial of Sam Vincl for the Krueger, Vinel, Deputy Sherif William Galta He nieant ft, and shartly sold his broom for a job in a café, He al- ready wee learning how to turn his Trlendships with “ Bathhouse John" and “Hinky Dink” mis = golden- ege-taying goose, and in short ordec he owned his own poolroom. A year or two later caw young Jim a pre cinct captain with various privileges appertaining to the old levee district located within the boundaries of the ward and bisecte-] by the aight: whoopec spots of 224 street. Fron: Poolroom proprietor he became honkytonk owner, then partner in éTribyme phate.) murder of John Minatti. Left to right: gher, and (standing) Vinci's attorney, F certain red-light anterpriges, a) finally Big Jim of hia own Colus tao’ café at 2128 South Wabes avenue. Eveniually Big Jim became thy, acknowledged boss of the south sich underworld, and his revenue cam not only from the resorts he owne himself but also in the farm of trii ute from all other illegal resorts } the disirict. But wealth brought with it bo! comfort and complications 2B: Jim was victimized ty the America Mae Us = ae na eee a f)