The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-10-08
SCARF ACE AL
BRANDED BOSS
OF Dice DENS
Witnesses Declare Capone
Revealed Himself Owner
of Gaming Dive.
RACKET KING IS SHAKY
Minister Tells U. S. Court
of Gang Lords Plea
for Compromise.
BY RAY BLACK
United Press staff Correspondent

CHICAGO, Oct. 8.-Jury and
spectators in United States district
court, where "Scarface Al'' Capone
is on trial, charged with income
tax fraud, were given a glimpse to-
day behind the cigar store fronts
of Capone's chain Of gambling
houses.
Rattle of dice, hum of roulette
wheels, clink of poker chips and
jabber of race wire tickers became
overtoneS in the trial Wednesday
and additional witnesses were ready
to add their versions today.
A Congregational minister, for
mer gambling house keeper, and
two members of a suburban citi-
zens' raiding committee led the way
in testimony to Cicero, busting out
skirts city that out-Klondiked the
gold rush gambling towns in the
Capone regime.
Won't Involve AL
The government struck a Snag IN
attempting to draw from the gam
bling place proprietor admission that
AL Capone was the owner. Other
witnesses testified that Capone adj
mitted I'm the owner of this joint"
when they encountered him in pa
jana coat and street trousers on a
raid in May, 1925.
The trial, in which Capone
specifically is charged with defraud-
ing the United States of -$215,000
tax on an income of $1,038,653 be-
tween 1924 and 1929, went into its
third day with prosecution and de-
Tense lines sharply drawn.
Through scores of witnesses,
ranging from ministers and promi-
nent citizens down to gang lead
ers, gamblers, vice agents and I'M
derworld toughS, District Attorney
George E. @. johnson and his aids
seek to prove that Capone dissi-
pated his vast collections in lavish
living and kept his money out of
banks to thwart income tax collec-
tors.
Defense Attorney Albert Fink an
nounced he and his colleague,
Michael Ahern, would contend the
statutes under which their client is
charged are unconstitutional.
Quizzing Is Related
Sam Clawson, assistant district
attorney opening today's proceed
i~gs by reading transcripts of con-
versations alleged to have taken
place between Capone and officers
of the internal revenue department
in 1890, when the gangster was at
tempting to adjust his differences
with the government.
The questions recorded we're said
by Clawson to have been asked by
R. w. Herrick, chief of the internal
revenue agents in Chicago. The
answers were declared to have been
Capones.
Q.-How long have you enjoyed a
large income?
A.-Never.
Q.-Do you own any properties?
A.-No.
Q-Do you have a checking &C
count?
A.-No.
Capone arrived even earlier to-
day His nervousness seemed more
pronounced. He mopped his fore
head as he walked to the court
room with his bodyguard, Phil
D'Andrea.
Minister Barred Bargain
The Rev. Henry c. Hoover, Con-
gregational minister, last witness
Wednesday, told of accompanying
raiders to the Cicero gambling pal
ace.
"Capone came up to me and said.
Listen, Reverend, why can't you
and me get together? If you let up
on me in Cicero, I'll get out Of
Stickney.'"
The minister said he refused to
bargain with Capone.
Chester Bragg, insurance sales
man, and David Morgan, machinist,
also members of the raiding party,
testified they were both slugged by
touts.
Bragg testified that "big, power
full man" pushed past him into the
gambling hall, shouting: I'm the
owner of this joint"
Then I tumbled to the fact he
was Capone," said the insurance
man.