The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-02-25
.SCARFACE AL
GIVES SELF Up
IN U. 5. COURT
Appears Before Federal
Judge to Plead Not Guilty
in Contempt Case.
CITY CHARGE is FACED
During Noon Recess Gang
Leader Posts Bond on
Vagrancy Allegation. !.
BIZ United Press

BIZ United Press
CHICAGO, Feb. 25.-The elusive
Scarface Al Capone, public enemy
No. l." appeared in federal court to-
day, pleaded not guilty to contempt
charges, then during the luncheon
lull in his trial surrendered to city
police on a vagrancy warrant.
The gang leader was hustled amid
great commotion from the Federal
building to the South State street
police court, where he arranged
bond, in time to eat a sandwich
before resumption of his federal
appearance.
StenographerS, mail clerks and
office boys, deserters from their
posts in federal building offices.
gaped when Capone was stopped by
a patrolman as he started from
Judge James H. Wilkerson's court
room.
Come on along now, Al, will
you?' the patrolman asked, push
ing aside the spectators.
Sure, I'll go along" Capone re-
Piled
Shouts of excitement echoed
along the sixth-f1oor corridors of
the federal building. A dozen DO
licemen rushed forward, formed a
circle around the gang leader, and
gently pushed him into a freight
elevator.
Bond Is Posted by AL
Another crowd, clustered at the
street level all morning, hoping to
see the gang king had only
glimpse Of Capon'e weather-beaten
face and sparkling diamonds as he
was crowded into an automobile and
driven away.
Sirens screaming, the automobile
was driven to the detective bureau
on South State street through the
midday traffic.
The posting of bond took only a
few minutes, and Capone was
freed.
Capone's appearance in Federal
Judge James H. Wilkerson's court
room today was the first occasion
the gang leader has made court
room appearance as a defendant
since a Philadelphia judge in 1929
sentenced him to a one-year prison
term for pistol carrying.
Capone served ten months of that
sentence. His present difficulties
started year ago when he lodged
down to Miami as the federal grand
jury expressed an interest in his
underworld dominance, and re-
manned there despite a supena COM
handing his return.
Leaves BodyguardS at Home
He countered all the governments
efforts to force him back before the
grand jury, sending lawyers and
physicians to plead that he was too
Ill to stand the trip. The contempt
citation was issued when witnesses
declared Al was shamming.
Pleas for further delays having
failed, Capone flew from Florida to
Illinois over the week END, remained
in hiding near Chicago" during
Wednesdays primary, and made
dramatic appearance today.
Capone was accompanied only by
his attorney. If any of his dozen
bodyguardS were around, they re-
manned discreetly in the background
as the gang leader slipped into the
federal building, evaded detectives,
reporters and cameramen in the
corridors, and walked into the six
floor courtroom twenty minutes
early.
Feeling Fine" He Says
A squad of deputy marshals
moved Immediately into the hall
outside, threw up a temporary bar
ricade, and permitted none to pass
through the narrow passageway to
the courtroom door until searched
for guns-and cameras.
Capone smiled and chatted as he
waited for Judge Wilkerson to take
the bench. He wore neat-f1tting
blue suit, perfect background for
the diamond-studded chain across
MS vest 'front.'. On his little finger
was platinum ring with one three
karat diamond and two smaller
stones.
I'm feeling fine" Capone re-
marked. Il took off eighteen pounds
down in Miami"
He slipped his fingers inside his
collar to demonstrate how loosely
it fitted.
Its good to be back here, and
I'm going to stay" he continued.
What about the election?" a re-
porter asked.
Well" Capone replied slowly,
Judge Lyle wanted to make me
an issue but I guess the people
outSpoke him"
Then he added quickly:
Il don't want to say anything tc
hurt anybody's feelings"