St. Tammany farmer., 1922-10-21
TAMANY FARMER CONVICTION SATURDAY OCTOBER 2 1922

MY dear Gram0nt, yOu eXhlD1r
youthful confidence in human nature
Let me topple your clay-footed idol
from its pedestal in a hurry. Mention
to the governor that you have me un
der arrest, and that have asked him
to speak with Judge Forester and Sen.
ator Flaxman before confirming the ar
rest. I'll wager you five hundred dol
lars"
The telephone rang sharply. Taunt-
ed almost beyond endurance. Gramont
seized the instrument and made an
! swer. In moment he had the COVER
nor On the wire. His gaze went ex-
ultantly to Fell.
Governor, this is Henry Gramont
speaking" he said. I've just succeed
ed in my work, as l wired you this at
ternoon-no, hold on q minute! This
Is important.
"The head Of the entire gang Is q
man here In New Orleans by the name
| Of Jachin Fell. Yes, Fell. find 1t
very hard to get him arrested. Fell
boasts that his influence is superior to
any that l can bring to bear. He asks
that you speak with Judge Forester
and Senator Flaxman before confirm
ing the arrest, and boasts that you will
order me to keep my hands of.
"Speak with them, governor! II
they're in the gang, too, don't you
| worry You confirm this arrest, and
TIL put Fell behind the bars If have
to turn all New Orleans inside out.
Go ahead! 1 know you can't be
reached by any Of these crooks-rm
merely calling Fells bluff. We have
the chief Of police here, and he's
sweating. Eh7 Sure. Take as long
as you like, governor"
He smiled grimly at Jachin Fell as
he waited. Two minutes passed
three-four. Then he heard the voice
Of the governor again.
"Yes?'
"Dont arrest him, Gramont."
"What2" Gramont gasped.
"Don't touch him, said! Get In all
the others, no matter who they are,
but leave Fell alone"
"You id coward!" shouted Gra-
mont, in heat of fury. $50 this 10
the way you keep your promises, is it1
And thought you were above all in
huences real American! You're a
HI Of a governor-oh, I don't want
to hear any more from you"
He jerked up the receiver.
nv, . - mfr
in. the room. The chief mopped his
brow, In evident relief. Jachin Fell
sat back In his chair and scrutinized
Gramont with his thin-lipped smile.
Gramont sat helpless, wrung by cha
grin, rage and impotency. There was
nothing he could say, nothing he could
do. The man behind him had failed
him. The entire power Of the state,
which had been behind him, had failed
him. There was no higher power to
which he could appeal, except the
power OF the federal government. His
head jerked up sharply.
"Fell, I've got evidence on you, and
I've got the evidence to put this lot.
terry business into federal hands. Boys!
come in here!"
At his shout the door opened and
two of his men entered Gramont
looked at the chief.
''You're willing to take care of all
the rest of the gang, chiefY'
'Sure,' assented. the officer.
GAN right. Boys, turn over the
whole crowd to the chief, and I'll trust
you to see that they're properly
booked and Jailed. Turn over all the
evidence likewise, except that mail
sack. Have that brought up here, to
this room, and see that the corridor
outside is kept guarded. Get me?'
The two saluted. "Yes, sir"
"Good. Send to the federal build
ing, find out where there's an agent
Of the Department of Justice, and get
him here. Have him here inside Of
fifteen minutes"
my dear Gramont, your devotion
to duty is Roman In spirit" said ia
chin Fell, lightly. II really regret that
circumstances so conspire to defeat
you! Why can't you be satisfied with
bagging so many other victims? You
can't bag me-"
Cant II" said Gramont, taking a
cigar and biting at it. He was cooler
now. "By heavens, Fell, there's one
thing in this country that you and no
other man can reach with any influ-
ence, political bribery Or crooked con-
nections-and that's the government
Of the United States! You can reach
judges and senator's and governors,
but you can't reach the unknown and
humble men who carry the badge Of
the Department Of Justice!'
Fell made a slight gesture.
"Human nature, my dear Gramont.
It is quite true that have not estab-
lished this gang Of criminals, as you
call them, without taking proper pre-
cautions. Memphis IzZy, for instance,
has influence that reaches far and
wide. So have I. So have others in
the party. give you my assurance
that your Department of Justice man
will not arrest me-"
Gramont tpaled.
Jachin Fell glanced at his watch.
"Lucie will be here at any minute
now," he observed. Il suppose your
sense of duty will force you to dis
close everything to her?'
Gramont merely nodded, tight
Tipped. A knock at the door, and one