The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-04-29
COOK COUNTY
IS WAGING WAR
ON GANGSTERS
''Beer Racket" Theory Given
Most Credence For Lat
est Triple Staying
200 ARRESTS ARE MADE
Union League Club President
Demands Thorough Clean
up of Chicago
200 ARRESTS ARE MADE

Chicago, April 29.--(R)-Thc cheer
racket" today had supplantcd all 9th.
er theories as supplying the motive
behind the latest triple staying by
machine gun gangsters, with the
death Of William II. McSwiggin,
Hanging prosecutor" Of the states
attorneys staff, regarded as Incl.
dental to the alcohol war.
But the death Of the youthful
prosecutor who, with James j. Dohcr.
ty and Thomas Duffy, fell before q
murderous fusillade of bullets in
Cicero Tuesday night, brought one
of the most energetic campaigns
against gangstcrs ever wagcd in
Cook county.
Almost every scrap Of information
in the hands of police pointed to the
fact that the killing of Dohcrty was
long planned by rival alcohol and
beer purveyors from whom Doherty
was wrestling control Of business in
Cicero. and that McSwiggin and Duff
fy were killed merely because they
happened to be in Doherty's COM
pany when the machine gunners
pumped 100 bullets into Doherty's s
automobile. y
Clues Are Sought
The machine gun, n type designed
for police use and capable of firing
l 800 bullets a minute, offered one
of the best available clues to the
slayers, as police raidcd hundreds of
places in Cook county in search of
Doherty's rivals.
One such weapon was traced to the
store Of Alex V. Korccck. He said
he had bought it on an order from
two men whom he did not know, and
an all night grilling failed to wrcst
any different information from him
His place of business is in the
heart Of the valley" where at least
20 murders due to beer runners
rivalry have been committed. He
was unable to pick the pictures of his
customers from portraits at the bur
eau Of identification.
The theory that McSwiggin was
out seeking evidence for the trial
Of Martin Durkin was abandoned |;
likewise that he was slain in revenge
for his activity as a prosecutor lie
was friendly with Doherty and Duffy
and their presence together was mere
ly social.
The campaign against gangstcrs
and their resorts was in progress all
night.
Arms and Ammunition Seized
There was persistent effort to
ferret out the killers Or-more I'M
portant- men who hired them and
armed them with deadly Thomp-
son machine gun. All law enforce
ment agencies of the city and county
have been enlisted in the search but
after hours Of investigation not a
single clue to tho identity Of the ac-
tual slayers had been found. Mum
crous raids resulted in 200 arrests
and the seizure of many arms sand
much ammunition.
Police so far have no direct in
formation as to the identity Of one
and possibly two other men who were
in the automobile in which McSwig-
gin and his two companions were
slain. One Of them is believed to
have been Myles O'Donncll, friend of
Doherty. He also was believed to
have been marked for death.
The underlying causes of the triple
Staying will be investigated today by
coroner's jury of six prominent
business men and civic workers, en-.
listed by Harry Eugene Kelly. presi-
dent Of the Union League Club. Mr..
Kelly, in a statement, urged a special
grand jury with special states at.
torncy to "clcan up the city" He as
serted States Attorney Robert e.
Groves hands "are tied by politics
and declared "citizens cannot expect
Mr.. Grove to prosecute the kind of
an investigation this city requires