The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1933-07-14
Kansas City Turned
Into Crime Capital
And Gunner Refuge

The rackets built up by these
gunner and their local allies cover
wide field. Slot machines pro-
vide more income than any other
single line Of business. and so thor
oughly does syndicate control
their distribution that stores are
only allowed restricted numbers
and in many cases are required to
nay for the privilege Of having O
machine. The take" Is divided
fifty-ffty between the store-owner
and the gang. Cigar stores. drug
stores, almost every type of shop
has become a field for slot ma
chimes, though the state anti-gam-
bling law prohibits them.
Nobody but sucker would put
put a nickle, dime or quarter into
a slot machine" says City Manager
McElroy. III the slot machines
didn't get the sucker money some
thing equally foolish would"
SO the police, of which McElroy
Is the acting head under Kansas
City's corporate set-up, seldom In
terfere with the coin devices, and
some 100000 q year goes into
them.
A recently profitable racket in
the linen supply business yields
$1,000. 900 annual profit.
Hotels, restaurant men and
others renting aprons, white coats,
table cloths and towels are requir-
ed to patronize the fright estab-
| llshments, and the bills for weekly
service are not restricted by the ac-
tual number Of pieces used.
Bills frequently are doubled or
| -
complains Is visited by thugs.
Cleaners and dyers are as profit
able In Kansas City as In other
Of frozen dainties has been organ.
lied, and pays its toll to tn goIfins
gunner. Night clubs and gambl.
ing resorts are controlled by syn.
dicates'' Of political power, and sci.
dom face interference by police.
John Lazia, former convict, who
has wide political prestige among
italian residents, controls a might
club ginger ale racket, requiring
the cabarets to use his product. He
has almost a super-pQ1ice force OF
his own. When Men DonnelIey
garment manufacturer. was kid
mapped for 100000 ransom Lazia's
men patroled the streets in auto.
mobiles to prevent trouble, and
helped obtain her release without
payment. When Mary McElroy
was kidnapped, Lazia was called Il
the McElroy home and aided ir
negotiating her release.
| 1.-THE trouble 49," to quote Cit.
Manager McElroy again. that W,
have too many people whose cour
age Is In their mouths. They have
the spines Of angleworms. Wher
you put them up against guns
| they're out"
The white-haired former Judg,
scored victims who would not com
plain and witnesses who would no
| testify.
1--WE talked this kidnapping cas-,
over with my son and daughter,
he said, land we are going to ties
tify when the trial comes. M.
daughter will identity the three meI
now held and will tell her expert
ence. Il is a simple duty. though
the kidnapers threatened all Of u
with death II we took actor
against them"
McElroy revealed how he. n
head Of the police force. had call
ed In few OF the best men In tn
department when his daughter wa
abducted. but had restraine then
from any immediate action. II,
then called the managing editor
of the city's newspapers. told then
what had happened, and ENACTED
pledge that they would publish no
thing until he released the story
Then he established communica
tion with the kidnapers. persuaded
them to cut the ransom from $50.
600. 20 $4,000 ana bought bacl
his daughter.
TIVE have reached the last I'm
Of defense IN tho war against Grim
\ -~~fhe federal xovefuu1eut.v com
/ mnutad Colonel Charles HaWAr01