Evening star., 1928-12-18
WITNESS IS KILLED;
JUDGE RAPS POLICE
Ranieri kidnapping Case
"Star" Is Victim of
Gang Bullets.
NJ thn Associated Press

CHICAGO, December 18.-Drastic
action, following the Staying of wit
ness and severe beating of several
others, was urged today by Judge
Robert E. Gentzel at the opening of the
trial of three men charged with kid
naping 10-year-old Billy Ranieri.
The judge promptly ordered the
crowded courtroom cleared and ad-
dressed himself to police officers:
"Kidnapings, extortion and the slay-
ing of States witnesses could not nap
pen in Europe or in Italy. 1t is time
for the police to take drastic action.
Such things as have occurred In con-
nection with this case are a terrible
indictment of the police department.
The crowd, driven from the court
room, quickly formed in line outside ana
pressed toward the doors, anxious 10
gain admittance to hear the testimony
of Billy himself, expected to be the
first as well as the States star.
They were forced to submit to ques-
tioning and search for weapons before
being re-admitted.
/, Ole Scully was the witness VINO was
killed. He received two bullets through
the head. another in the body as he ran
the gantlet of guns in West Taylor
street restaurant last yesterday.
The State had been six weeks in pick
ing Jury to try three men for the ab-
tiuction of the l0-year-old boy. 1t had
chosen carefully, for it wanted IL men
who would not hesitate to impose the
Death sentence it is asking for the men
on trial-Angelo Petitti, Andrew Cap
pellano and Tony Cappellano. 1t got
death-Ole Scullys.
Message Received.
Assistant States Attorney Samuel
Hoffman had just completed his open
ing statement to the jury when this
message was received in Judge GentzelS
courtroom:
"Ole Scully was hot dead and the
heads or arms of five of his companions
were broken with base ball bats by five
men who followed them into a restau-
fant on West Taylor street."
! The message created a sensation.
, "None of our lives is safe," exclaimed
the prosecutor, "ours or the witnesses"
s"This is a challenge to all law en-
forcement," said States Attorney Swan
son. "and it will be answered as such"
Those who were beaten severely while
Scully was being killed were: Narceno di
Limonico, restaurant owner; Joe Ma
lone, sewer contractor (as was Scully)
Jack Devito, Joe Sabello, and Frank
Pantalone. Devito is brother OF Mike
Devito, another State witness IN the
Ranieri trial.
Armed Men Enter.
The men had come to the restaurant
from a funeral, riding in Scully's car,
which they parked outside. Suddenly
the door few open and four men en-
tered. Three carried pistols, the fourth
was armed with base ball bat.
who owns that car in front?" they
demanded to know.
Scully and his companions denied
knowledge of the car, whereupon the
man with the bat. cursing, began beat
ing them. Scully, defying the guns.
ran for the front door. Triggers were
pressed as he reached it, and he fell
dead.
The man with the base ball bat stood
over Scully's body and struck it several
times.
Even with a dead man on the floor,
and the sound of their revolverS echo
ing down the street, the men did not
run, They set upon the others, using
the bat and the butts of their pistols
rs clubs.
Gunmen Drive Away.
Pantalone managed to reach the
street, screaming: "Helpi Murder!"
One of the gunmen jabbed a pistol
against him and told him to shut bis
trap" The other gunmen came rum
ming out, got into their car and drove
away.
Last Friday Scully counseled with
Assistant States Attorney Hoffman.
i've got plenty of money Hoffman
quoted Scully as saying, land I'll spend
It all to keep Petitti in Jail the rest Of
his life. My life won't be worth nickel
If Petitti gets out
The extent of alarm felt in official
circles over the Scully Staying was evi-
denced today by the elaborate precau-
tionS taken to safeguard the lives OF all
persons involved in the trial. Assistant
States Attorney Hoffman announced
that he would take immediate steps to
send his children out of the city, and
that he and Mrs. Hoffman will move TO
"a hotel until the trial is over.
Guards Are Doubled.
Double guards were placed at the
Ranieri home, protecting every ap-
proach. Almost at the time Scully was
being shot down special delivery letter
was received by Ranieri threatening his
life if he persisted in the prosecution.
Police guards were given Judge Gent
zel. all State witnesses and members of
the prosecuting staff. The precautions
against harm were described as the
most elaborate ever taken by Chicago
police.
The Ranieri case Is down in the po-
lice records as the climax to years OF
Mafian extortion which has kept many
Chicagoans of Sicilian birth in constant
fear Of their lives.
Ten-year-old Billy was snatched into
an automobile on his way home from
school last September, taken to the
country and kept prisoner 10 days. He
was released shortly after Petitti had