The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-02-22
HUNT AvENGER
AS KEY MAN
IN MASSACRE
Chicago Police Search Is
Centered on Ex-Member
of Moran Mob.
CHECK CAPoNE CALL
Telephone Message Went to
Florida Shortly After
Seven Were Killed.
downright, 1929, by United Press)
CrYIG hGO Enh % All Theories

Copyright, 1929, by United Press)
CHICAGO, Feb. 22.-AIl theories
as to who killed seven gangsters in
a machine gun massacre here a
week ago faded into the background
of the beer war picture today as city
and county authorities secretly con-
centrated all resources on finding
one man they believe responsible for
the entire affair.
This man is known as a wanton
killer and although police are trying
to screen their activities behind
statements dealing with irrelevant
clues the United Press has learned
on good authority that the search
has narrowed down to one man.
An old trick of gangland-"plant-
ing" murder evidence against their
enemies-was believed to be respon-
sible today for the presence of a dis
mantled ''firing squad" automobile
in the heart of "Scarface Az Ca
pone's beer territory.
In a north side garage police
found an automobile believed to
have been the one in which five
gangsters escaped.
A mysterious telephone call to
Scarface AL Capone in Florida was
placed at the Congress hotel here
on st. Valentines day within twenty
minutes after the massacre, federal
authorities said they learned.
Brewery Is Raided
The car had been sawed and
hacked apart. Some one had set fire
to it and the smoke attracted the
attention of police.
After taking serial numbers OF the
automobile and it's siren, police ar
rested five men for questioning.
Answers of the suspects was said
to have turned up a theory that the
automobile had been planted" in
the garage in an attempt to throw
the blame for the massacre on the
Capone gang.
Behind the mass murders, accord
ing to high authority, appears the
probability of dissension in the
ranks of the George (Bugs) Moran
mob, running back to the days more
than two years ago when federal
authorities closed a west side brew
cry owned by frankie Lake and
Terry Druggan, former twin kings
Of the beer racket.
The naultimillio Lake-Drug-
gan combine had working agree
nent with the Moranites to furnish
them with beer.
When the brewery was raided, the
individual who was running it was
arrested. The Lakes, Druggans and
Moranites agreed that he should
"take the rap" in other words that
he should stand trial and if neces-
sary go to prison for the sins of his
fellows.
This he did, with the usual prom
ises from his superiors in the
racket that he would be paid well
for the lost time.
Fails to Collect
A little more than month ago,
the man who "took the rap" was
released from LeavenWorth perli-
tentiary. He came back to Chi
cago to collect the money he had
been pronised-$30,0 900.
He arrived at a time when the
federal government was on the
verge of cleaning out the whole
north side organization which
Moran heads.
The Moran gang had been tipped
as to what was coming and they
were moving rapidly.
Conditions when this man re-
turned made it a poor time for a
man who had taken the rap" two
years ago to try and collect $4,000
from Moran.
He was put off several times, and
according to present information
decided upon revenge.
Aided by Ex-Cops
The ex-convict is said to have
carried his lament to two former
policemen, who, at about the same
time the brewery was raided, had
been indicted for violation of the
prohibition law. They, too, had been
promised protection by the north
side man, but they were put of the
same as was the brewer.
Thus was formed by the man who
had taken the rap" and the two
policemen an alliance Of revenge
which police now believe led to the
massacre.