The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-10-17

H. Wilkerson, whom Capone en- countered last summer when he sought to bargain with the United States and tHade g plea ot guilty for a two ands one-half veal prison sentence.
 Defending Capone were two ot the best criminal lawyers in the midwest. slim, dynamic Michael Ahern, and Albert Fink, grave cane-carrying "inrier office" lawyer
 Sure, I'm worried. Who wouldn't be?" Capone commented as the trial opened. His uneasiness grew as the trial progressed.
 A jury of small town tradesmen, farmers and business men from northern Illinois heard the case.
 One of the highlights was the "confesison letter, in which Ca pone's Washington attorney. Law renee Mattingly, admitted ths gangster had an income of $266,- 900 in four years and was willing to settle" with the government on that basis.
 The letter, written to an agent of the internal revenue bureau here, was admitted as evidence over the opposition of the defense It portrayed Capone as a $75-a- week handy man for an "organiza- ton" (the Capone gang), who was the sole support of his wife 12-year-old son, widowed mother and brother and sister.
 You have already nailed Ca pone to the cross," cried Attorney Fink.
 The next phase of prosecution IA n Hinnrn hucf lin n outskirts city of 70,O00 inhabitants where Capone was allegedly the owner of a number of profitable gambling places.
 The Rev Henry c. Hoover, one of a group of suburban indignants who raided a Cicero gambane house, told of Capone approach ing him and saying: "Why don't we get together, reverend? Ii you'll leave me alone in Cicero I'll get out of Stickney (anothei suburb.)"
 The prosecution then turned te his expenditures.
 | On the Palm Island, Florida es. tate he is supposed to have bought for $40,000 and on which he spent $100,000 for Improvements, Capone was pictured as living the life of 2 retired capitalist with spendthrif' tastes.
 His $12,5o0 specially built auto. mobiles, his $6,500 butchers bill his $S,O0O telephone bill, his $4,. | 900 outlay for swimming pool and his $7,500 worth of furnishing: were described.
 There were stories of Capone'! | $1,500 weekly hotel bills in ar eight-room suite at the Metropole and later the Lexington hotels 1T Chicago. His $3,000 splurge for two-night party on the occasion oi the Dempsey -Tunney fight, and the $5 tips he scattered.
 l Other witnesses told how he spent $135 each for suits in lots q SIX, SIP a garment for glove silk | underwear, $S,000 in a year and half for jewelry novelties, and $8,- 300 in one Christmas season foi diamond -encrusted belt buckles, SC of which he gave to friends. I The government sought to show that he spent money with a free hand, peeling bills from roll tha; one witness described as "bie enough to choke an OK" and yel never paid a cent income tax. II needed to prove only that Capont had an income of $5,ooo in any one year.
 Capone's cronies of the race tracks testified the gangster had mania for playing the ponies that he bet on four or five races every day of the meets. sometimes as much as $10,000 on a single horse.
 By the time eight bookmaker, from Chicago and Florida tracks had recounted his bets with them the total was $375,000 for the six, year period covered by the income | tax case,