The Washington times., 1929-02-22

Vi GuC AAhASAAso -
IL am sick and tired of publicity" ;"
said Capone. II want no more OF
It. 1t puts me in a bad light. 1
Just want to be forgotten"
Capone had just taken a plunge
in his private swimming pool He
was sitting on the porch. Attired
In a striped bathrobe when this re-
porter accompanied by IZzy Kaplan,
one of the nerviest photographers in
L the country, entered the Capona
estate. Kaplan wanted to take pic
lures of Capone, but he would not
allow it. although he did permit
the cameraman to take outside
"shots" of his magnificent $230,OOO
mansion.
Doesn't Pack Gun
els it true?" l asked Capone,
THAT you always carry body
"It is not" he replied quickly.
"Why should I? / am a peaceable
citizen. No, do not carry Iun.
If / did, I would be breaking the
law, and / am not breaking the
law"
Capone reiterated that he knows
nothing whatever of the massacre
of men in a mysterious Chicago
gangland killing recently. He said
his chief interest at present Is real
estate. He has purchased 35 acres
in st. Petersburg. He owns dog
track in Illinois and has other prop
erty. These matters keep him busy,
he asserted,
His main worry right now Is the
illness of his only son.. Al Capone
jr., 10 years old. who has under
gone mastoid operations. The
boy is at the estate here, recuperat-
ing, with his mother and father
giving him every attention. Capone
is very affectionate toward his son.
kissing and fondling him almost
every time they meet.
Treated hW MayOs
II had him in Mayo Brothers Hos
pital at Rochester, Mimi, and 1
saw to it that he received the best
of medical attention" remarked
Capone. 81 even had noted sur
geon from France treat him. His
case was most unusual, but he Is
feeling better now and my mind is
somewhat relieved"
Capone had a tutor for the boy
but has dismissed him as the child
needs rest more than anything else.
Capone said he would give Al Junior
a college education-"the best edu-
cation that money can buy" Capone
said he knows what it is to miss a
good education.
II only went as far as fourth
grade in grammar school," he re-
marked regretfully.
All questions dealing with the
underworld were parried by Ca
pone. He does not want to discuss
his past. He would not talk about
his war record either, even though
he is said to have made a splendid
record during the World War.
People don't want to read about
me-" he said. "And l don't want
to talk about myself. 1 am retired,
except for my real estate activities
and the less see my name in the
newspapers the bettes it suits me-"
Sharkey Visits Him
Capone receive a certain re-
stricted number of visitors at his
secluded home. Among his callers
was Jack Sharkey, who fight Young
Stribling at Flamingo Park, next
Wednesday night. On Sharkey's
account, Capone broke his rule
never to be photogra phed. and Kap-
Ian took pictures of the two Of
them together.
Il pick Stribling to win, although
for personal reasons 1 would like
to see Sharkey win," Capone said
in reply to my question. Il think
the many fights that Stribling
has had recently will stand him in
good stead. He has fought him
self into condition"
"Will you be at the ringside?"
Capone was asked.
Yes" he replied. "Why not?"
Capone made it plain that stories
that he is always surrounded by
a heavy bodyguard are exagger.
ated. While he conversed on the
veranda he revealed that he planned
later in the day to attend the
horse races at Hialeah Park.
Lost $27,5OO on Race
I'm out there nearly every after
noon, and don't take any body
| guard with me-" he said, smiling.
| d
tended the races and lost $4S,5OO on
one horse. Capone himself put
$27.5OO on the horses nose. AL
| lSWifty'O Morgan, manager of Frank
Moran, the former heavyweight con-
tender and guest of Capone's,
! bet $18,500. Another guest dropped
$4,000, and still another lost $4,000.
How long do you intend to re-
main in Florida?" Capone was asked.
Until April" he replied. Then
I will return to Chicago, where 1
will stop at the Lexington Hotel"
Capone and Mrs. Capone, their
son AL, and four of Capone's broth
ers-Albert, Minnie, Matte ard
Ralph-are staying at the beautiful
Capone mansion here.
The home, which is located on an
artificial island, is magnificently
| furnished and the owner is a
gracious host. Costly oil paintings
adorn the walls. The drapings are
elegant, the carpets thick and vel
vety. The library worthy of the
attention of a scholar and in a
corner Of one of the rooms is an
expensive baby grand.
Outside there is a spacious lawn,
shaded by palm trees a tennis
court. a putting green and an open
air swimming pool.
One leaves the dark-complexioned
heavy-set Capone with a feeling
that here is g. man who is an
enigma, man whom nobody knows.
not even his closest intimafes