The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-01-07
LAW CLAMPS
ON LAIR Of
CAPONE AIDS
Army of Agents Sweeps
Down on Notorious
Chicago Heights.
POLICE FORCE SEIZED
Smashing Blow Struck at
Rule of Beer Car in
Spectacular Raid.

CH14O<- H. cdii- = - NlllCdSO
Heights, built by steel and democrat
lied by alcohol, awoke : lay to find
its leading gangSters in jail, its po-
lice department under fire and its
entire local government temporarily
disposSessed by combination of
federal and county authorities.
In the most spectacular raid in
the history of Illinois, the town of
$4,000 inhabitants, birthplace of
gangland and scene of scores of
gang murders, virtually was sacked
by twelve squads of Chicago police
and 100 federal agents who swept
through its business and residential
districts. seeking the fountain heads
of vice and crime which have made
the suburb moe notorious than
Cicero.
Twenty-Five men seized in the
raid, including Oliver J. Ellis, al
legged pay-of man for liquor and
slot machine syndicate which con-
trolled millions of dollars in gam
bling concessions in Chicago's steel
town neighbor. Among those held
were racketeers and beer chieftainS
said to be underlings Of Scarface Al
Capone, lord of Chicago's gangland,
whose virtual rule of Chicago
Heights has existed since the alb
dication of the notorious Johnny
Iorrio.
Seize Alcohol Depot
John Siege, deputy commissioner
of police. said the raiders had seized
men who would aid in the solution
of several of the sixty-two murders
which have occurred If Chicago
Heights since it became the hub Of
the alcohol war.
Siege said he believed murderers
of Leroy Gilbert, Chicago Heights
chief of police, who was slain few
weeks ago. now were in custody.
The distributing depot of one of
the districts largest alcohol rings
also was seized.
Terrified citizens, surprised by the
raid. saw armed squads patrolling
every street.
They saw their own police officers
taken into custody on their beats.
They saw private homes entered
and occupants removed under ar
rest.
: Twenty homes we're entered by
force and the equipment of guns,
ammunition and gangster para
phernalia seized.
Chases Through Streets
Street pursuits after those who
sought to escape served to throw
the quick city into even greater
confusion.
The raiding squads struck stimuli
taneously. as had been planned by
George E. G. johnson. United States
district attorney. and William E.
Russell. Chicago, commissioner of
police.
The raiders gathered at dawn in
the south side of Chicago. War
rants based on evidence secured
over a months investigating by
federal agents, we're distributed and
the procession started for its first
obiective-the Chicago Heights po-
lice station.
There. Deputy Commissioner
Siege demanded the keys for the
city hall and the Jail.
He ordered out of the jail three
women and two men, remarking,
wen need all the room we have
In a few minutes
who are you and what do you
think you're doing" demanded a
desk sergeant.
Police Chief in Cell
We're running the place for a
while" Siege answered.
Chicago Heights new police chief,
John Costabele, objected and with
his desk sergeant he was showed
into a cell. One by one as they re-
ported on their beats or at the sta
ton, the entire city police force
was seized.
BY that time the raids were
progressing throughout the city.
Far from the stencil of the steel
mills the raiders came to the Ellis
home. a large country estate sur
rounded by high iron fence. With
in a building in the rear were 423
slot machines, nine telephones, and
8 list of names and addresses which
we're expected to prove important
evidence against Ellis and his aids.
Whisky, alcohol and beer also we're
confiscated.
ArSenals Arc Taken
. Ellis confessed that 100000 in
cancelled checks which we're placed
before him represented slot machine
profits for fourteen months. He
implicated several others, some of
whom. agents said, might lead the
Investigation into Chicago's munich
pal buildings.
In the homes of the men arrested
officers found ten loaded douhie-oar-
relied shotgunS, sixteen reyolvers,
500 rounds If shotgun ammunition,
and several hundred cartridges
The luxurious home of the PiazzaS,
reputed gang leaders, was sur
rounded; Rick and John Piazza and
four of their henchmen we're arrest
ed. These men and Sam and Tony
Costello. agents said. may lead to
the solution of the city'S latest gang
killing, that OF Joseph MARITIME.
The MARITIME and the Gilbert STAY
fngs were the latest of more than
sixty killings which have occurred
since Chicago Heights became the
center of tn, war over rich beer and
alcohol privileges in 1920, . few
months after prohibition went into
eject