CRIME: Generalissimo for Chicago

In Chicago last week the trades unions on which levies were laid by racketeers numbered 33. Draftsman Edward Ceslik of the Board of Education was beaten because he refused to pay union "dues." Druggist William Fiddelke was shot dead by gangsters because he could give them only $40. Six racketeers, identified as henchmen of Alphonse ("Scarface Al") Capone were seized by police far out of Caponeland in the North (Aiello-Moran gang) Side, and observers deduced that Capone was carrying out a rumored plan to rule bloodily the underworld of the entire city.

Legal and civic authorities determined anew to drive the gangs from Chicago. The Association of Commerce's Committee for Prevention & Punishment of Crime last week elected Colonel Albert Arnold Sprague their executive chairman, named him "Generalissimo of Chicago's forces in behalf of law & order." They said he would "back up the efforts of Colonel [Robert Isham] Randolph and his five unknown associates ['The Secret Six']." U. S. co-operation was indicated by the questioning on income-tax evasion of Gangster John J. ("Boss") MacLaughlin. The September grand jury, charged by Superior Court Judge John Peter McGoorty to rid Chicago of racketeers, invoked an ancient law by which all vagrants (men unable to earn an honest living) may be jailed. The jury indicted two vagrants. Both were released on writ of habeas corpus, rearrested, released again.