The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-06-01

LIKE BAKkUS,
AL Capone, suspected of being SO willing to enter prison
that his melodranatic sentencing at Philadelphia was
merely a bluff to cover the real fact of the case and that
he was actually counting the laws penalty as a means
of protection from rival %gangsters, lends additional color
to the suspicion by discouraging his family from trying
to obtain his release.
When his wife, mother and sister visited him in
Moyamensing jail Tuesday. he disapproved Of any move
ment looking to his discharge at the present time.
Now there could be no virtue in such disbursement
except that Capone needs the protection of the Jail and
prefers not to risk his life by ~forsaking it. With Chicago
gangland continuing to pop off lesser henchmen of the
rival racketeering organizations, it is conceivable that
the scarfaced person who ruled as leading potentate of
the lake citys lawless gunner may feel his own skin
scarcely safe outside his prison refuge.
The nation which was dazed by this swarthy Sicnian's
theatrical sentencing to a year in Moyannensing jail may
now emerge from its coma and cease trying to figure
what it all means.
Capone. travelling through the east ION business
paused in Philadelphia long enough to attend a movie.
As he came out Of the theater q detective halted him,
found a pistol in his pocket and took him to jail.
Less than "a hours later Capone had been indicted,
brought to trial and sentenced to a years imprisonment:
and before the day was out he was beginning his SEN
tence.
1t all looks very pretty, on the surface. But in Chicago
1t is reported that Al Capone was the most willing prison.
er the Pennsylvania penitentiary ever sheltered. He
himself. it is said. planned his own arrest. Things had
been breaking badly for him. His Chicago principality
was getting unduly turbulent. He had oppressive debts,
besides, certain resolute men were only waiting for q
sight OF him to shoot him dead.
go. according to the story, Capone decided that the
safest Of AL places for him, everything considered, was
the prison: and to prison he went, jauntily and undis-
mayed.
For something like eight years. unless all men have
lied about him. Capone has been the countrys leading
candidate for imprisonment. II one-tenth Of the UNDER
world lore about him in Chicago is true. he is and has
been the nations most dangerous criminal. Yet no prison
ever opened It's DOORS to him-until. finally. he went there
voluntarily to let the law he had 50 brazenly flouted
protect him.
This IL the most ironic part Of the whole business. The
law. that never could catch Capone when It wanted him.
now acts . his defender and guarantees his safety 1t I
time when his own Illegal empire got too hot for him.
Yet. after III. the situation has its redeemiug features.
Il proved. no matter what lay back Of It. that il Is
ridiculously easy for the police to send saussters Of the
capone type to jal. no matter how great the difficult
ttss q getting evidence h the reticsnt streets Of the
underworld.
No eanester ever soes out unarmed. Carrying con-
cea1ed weapons = . crime. II Chicago O elsewhere. A
potice 1oroe that had both the desire and the nerve could
- IT, gangstsss h esls ~ thu score On . moment,s
notice. II knows who they IRE and 1t knows where 70
~ them; and 4 + can't conytct than q the natm