Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-05-23
CHICAGO CRIME WAVE |
IS NOW RECED|NC.
BY JAMES w. KESTER

gat, tie sawed-off shotgun, the black
lack and the bomb. Now the torch.
Gang terrorists apparently stop al
nothing to hold Chicago in thei"
grasp and they operate now in the
name of union labor.
A seige of robbery and sluggings,
bombings and shootings as pro-
test gainst the union wage award for
the building trades fixed by Judge
Lands, reached it's climax few
nights ago in the wanton killing OF
two policemen and the wounding of
a third by a gang Of bombers out
on q dynamiting expedition. Since
then Chicago has what is perhaps
the most gigantic drive against out
lawry since the days of the famous
Haymarket riot of the SOS.
More than $50 cnieftains and their
lieutenants were rounded up in a
sensational daylight raid on union
strongholds and dozens of gunner
and thugs We're seized in an effort
to run to earth the killers and end
the reign of lawlessness here. Among
the eight men subsequently indicted
for killing the policemen were a trio
of most prominent labor leaders and
all Chicago gasped when Chief of
Police Fitzmorris dared to arrest
them. One was big Tim" Murphy,
long a powerful and picturesque fig
ure in the labor world here, now
under sentence to six years in prison
for a daring $350,000 mail holdup at
Dcarboarn Street station last year.
The "uncrowned king" of the build
ing trades, the newspapers call him.
Another was Fred Maderer, presi-
dent of the council, with a term in
Joliet penitentiary for labor con-
spiracy behind him. The third is
Cornelius C'Con') Shea, union sec
rotary, once sentenced to Sing Sing
for carving up his sweetheart Will:
drinking.
These, with the other five indict-
ed, lesser labor lights, are accused
of murder, under an Illinois statute,
which makes anyone who incites or
induces murder, guilty with those
who commit the act. It is admitted
that none of the eight had part IN
the actual Staying. The police also
have arrested John Miller, a police
character, who was confessed driver
of the death car.
Following arrest of labor men,
spirited court battles were started to
obtain their release. Most of them
were soon freed on habeas corpus
writs but the principal ones were
held. It was hoped that this stroke
would, IN turn, strike terror to the
hearts of the terrorists. Threats of
death then began to pour in on the
chief of police, sheriff and other Of
ficials unless the labor chieftains
were released.
One message gave warning that IL
the leaders were not freed fire would
break out in every section of the
city. This threat was not taken
seriously until a few days later. AT
about 7'o'clock in the evening, fire
started in a half million dollar 72-
apartment hotel nearing completion
at fashionable Rogers Park. This
building was practically destroyed. 1t
was being erected partly by non
union men working under the Lands
award. - Officials are convinced that
the fire was the work of terrorists
It is not the law enforcement Of
ficers alone who blame the unions
for the outlawry. Speaking before
St. Louis Mems club last Friday,
Chief Justice Kykam Seaman, of the
criminal court, said:
There have been eighteen bombs
thrown in Chicago in the last sixty
days. If Mayor Thompson would
call in big Tim" Murphy and Fred
Nader and say: One more bombing
and one more shooting and you men
will hang most of this trouble would
be done away with. Many union
leaders are splitting in the face of
justice. Leaders must be bribed be-
fore a building is put up"
Charges of lgrafting of union
agents in Cnicag go became so general
that the legislature appointed spe-
cial investigating committee last
summer. Evidence was uncovered
that thousands Of dollars had been
paid out by builders to prevent
strikes. Indictments were many
but convictions nil. Among those
tried were Simon O'Donnel, former
head of the building council, and
William F. Quenze, chairman of the
flat janitors' union. Both are being
retired after acquittal because
jurors confessed to being bribed to
vote mot guilty"
Meanwhile the grating goes mer-
rily on. Builders must either sub
nit or suspend work.
Immediate relief from the reign
of terror is not looked for although
Judge Scanlon sees an improve
ment over conditions sixty days ago.
about 400 of Chicago's worst
criminals have been shipped out of
town." he said today, land by July
the city will be about half civilized"
Chief Fitzmorris declares there is
to be no let-up in the war of the
police on the terrorists despite the
fact that they have marked him for
assassination. Guards have been
placed on buildings being erected
under the Lands award with orders
to shoot to kill all persons seen
prowling around the premises after
dark.