Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-29
.GANGLAND AGAIN
7. HARNESSES CHICAGO
RacketeerS, Menacing Coal
Industry, Even Extend Ex-
tortion Activities to Actors.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
CHICAGO, December 2S-Familiar
tricks Of the racketeer and the rule
OF the gun again have disturbed the
orderly march of certain Chicago
unions and even of actors.
Ihree hoodlums. lured by the mirage
OF easy fortunes through extortion and
mastery OF the tire and rubber workers
union, were shot dead in an ambush
by detectives yesterday.
Christmas "beneflt" racket came
70 light today In the report of actors
at downtown theaters that they had
contributed sums from $25 to 500 for
charity funds and dinners that never
existed.
Control of the local coal teamsters'
union by former convict seemed to-
night to threaten termination of coal
deliveries on the advent of a new year
without new contract between
teamsters and employees.
Police Praised for Killings.
The single bright spot In the pic
ture was the settlement today Of q
long quarrel between the Master
Cleaners and DyerS Association and
the union Of cleaners, dyers and pres
serS. The 100000 cleaning and dye
ing plant projected by the union will
be disposed of In such manner that it
will not be a competitor Of the en-
ployers. A University of Chicago pro-
lessor becomes chairman of an i'm
partial body to administer the agree
ment. The arbitration plan was re-
guarantee that the cleaning industry
will be free of the stigma of racketeer-
ing.
A coroner's jury today branded the
shooting Of the trio Of racketeers yes
terday as justifiable homicide and
praised the bravery and efficient marks
manship of Sergt. Patrick B. O'Don-
nell's detective squad. John Siege, dep
uty police commissioner said the squad
had rid Chicago Of three notorious
gangsters and hijackers. He predicted
further "shakedown" ventures in the
labor union field.
William "Dinky" Guam and William
Wilson, old timers in the bootlegging,
cunning and racketeering industries,
were two OF the dead, and the third,
after lying in the morgue unidentified
for nearly "A hours, was finally identi-
ned by Charles Rein as his son, Frank
w. Rein, 80. The elder Rein refused to
explain how he learned that his son was
the one slain.
weeks" he told the morgue attendant.
He moved so fast I could not keep
track of him"
Rein and his two companions were
trying to extort $4,000 from Michael
Powers, president Of the tire workers,
when they were killed
Blamed for kidnapping.
Recent kidnapings of gamblers and
racketeerS were laid by police today at
the door of the slain trio. Offlcers
were told that the men, finding dimin-
ishing returns in their kidnapping BUSH
ness, had turned to the more profitable
activity Of extortion.
Authorities asserted that. only two
weeks ago Abe Goldman, reputed gam
bier, was kidnapped and held for $40 900,
which his brother is reported to have
paid. Milton Held, also known as q
gambler, was seized about the same
time and had to pay $4,000 for his
freedom, police aver. Several months
before, the underworld story goes, he
was abducted and forced to pay an even
larger sum. other gamblers and rack
eteers have been kidnapped in recent
months and have been forced to pay
from s25. 900 to 100000 for their release,
police investigators declare.
Theatrical Shakedown Barred.
Genteel masculine voices soliciting do
nations to Christmas benefits by tele-
phone started of the pre-holiday shake
down of theatrical performers. The
Daily News said that Charles Winninger
and several fellow members Of the cast
OF current musical show had paid
500 to be rid of charity dinner ticket
statesmen. Bill Robinson, colored tap
dancer, saved himself $50 by refusing
to meet the solicitors in a barber shop
and inviting them to his room. They
never came. Managers of several thea
ters admitted actors had been annoyed
similarly.
Allan Campbell, on the cast with Win
ringer, refused to buy a ticket, received
a threatening telephone call, and. ac-
cording to the theater manager, forth
with resigned from the show and left
for New York.
A breach between the coal transfers
and the employers seemed nearer to-
night with the statement of James D.
Rooney, executive vice president of the
Chicago Coal Merchants Association,
that the merchants could not vet enter
a new agreement with the teamsters.
The present contract expires December
81, and without a new one Chicago will
be without coal deliveries.
The controversy arose from the domi-
nation of George Barker, former con-
vict, as business agent of the union.
The Merchants Association has de-
manded his dismissal, and the union
has replied that the employers have no
right to dictate.