The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-07-03
AL CAPONE'S
HOLD ON GANGS
is WEAKENING
WpheaVaI May Change En-
tire Map of Domains Held
by RaCketeerS.
BACK TO BEER RUNNING
Stopping of Open Gambling
by Police Leading to
New Crisis.
BACK TO BEER RUNNING

5y United Press
CHICAGO. July 3.-The threat
of new war in gangland lowered
over Chicago today.
Menaced by a drive to crush it's
political protection and finding it.
self weakened by a breakdown of
the old alignments, the underworld
prepared for an upheaval that may
change the entire map of the crime
domain and toppIe the present beer
barons, alky lords and racketeer
kings from their thrones.
For months the present rulers
have been powerful enough to quell
minor uprisings from ambitious ri
walls. Machine-gun killings were
scarcely more than sporadic. But
events of the past few weeks have
led police and others to believe
that the situation today was more
tense than it has been for nearly a
year.
EAAAs a AShS sRs OhfDAO
Among the factors which entered
INTO it we're:
1. big" Joe Salts, notorious beer
runner, was reported organizing the
rivals of Scarface Al Capone for a
coup d'etat to overthrow the power
full Cicero lord, while Capone, angry
over the recent killing of three
friends, was said to be back from
Florida girding for the threatened
outbreak.
2. With open gambling stopped by
the police, beer running has been
re-establshed as the most lucrative
and most Sought-after racket" of
the gangs.
3. Chicago citizens have raised
more than 100000 for a new special
grand jury investigation to smash
the alleged "politico- criminal" COM
bine which gave the underworld
protection from the law
4. Intense rivalry has developed
among gangsters for control of
various highly priced business
Brackets" which, unlike beer run
ming, specifically are within the
law.
5. Solution of election day crimes
numerous kidnapings and the
murder of Octavious Granady, ward
committeeman candidate-was be-
lieved nearly at hand.
Gang Chiefs Power Wanes
The reported rift between Salts
and Capone was said to have sprung
from Salts disregard of Scarface
AIS beer. territory.
All sources seemed agreed that
Capone's power has waned mate
rally in the past year. John Oliveri,
his chief of operations on the north
side, was assassinated two weeks
ago. Joe Salamone was killed with
him. Jack Cusick, his most able
lieutenant, has not recovered from
a recent illness. Jack McGurn,
another right-hand man is suffer-
ing from wounds received in three
attempts on his life.
Thus, it was believed that should
nOSLlllCleS preaK OUT, IL would De d
war between Capone and group
of lesser beer lords who encroached
upon his trade while he was occu-
pied with his gambling concessions
now loSt-and with establishing
a residence where he would not be
driven out by police or indignant
city councils.
u. S. to Take Action
The Federal government also is
known to be preparing for drive
against Capone and other Chicago
gangsters, using the income tax
law as it's strategem for prosecution.
The outstanding development of
&he last twenty-four hours was the
arrest of Sam Kaplan, alleged
election hoodlum, and his indenti-
f1cation by twelve witnesses as a
leader in kidnapping, sluggings and
riots on last primary day.