The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1934-04-09

One of these was pride in his
war record. Another was that the
American Legion was a fine or
ganization, composed of men, who
like himself, had cheerfully faced
death a thousand times in various
No Mans Lands, and other men,
millions Of them, who had been
perfectly willing to do the same
thing.
Eddie was one Of the charter
mem bers of an American Legion
Post and had remained a fully
paid-up member in good standing
until the appearance of his name
on the prescribed list of the city
for the killing of a Prohibition
Agent who had exhibited a morbid
curiosity as to truck-l0ad of
booze Danny was conveying auto
matically dropped him from Le-
gion membership.
This regrettable fact, however,
didn't prevent him from wearing
the blue and gold Legion button.
And when fellow gangsters pointed
out that it was a potential betray-
er, happening to be seen In his
lapel while on a job OF killing
Danny regretfully removed it from
his coat. But he had it gold plated
and made into q pin, and from
then on wore it on his undershirt
just over his heart.
Another idea of his was that he
must never owe anybody anything
any longer than it took him to pay
| the debt. That went for anything
from money to ravors. His associ-
ates, bootleggers and politicians,
early. learned that his word was
his bond and loaned him any
amount he asked for. He asked
for plenty because he spent every
thing he had on two of the three
things that take all criminals
money, blondes and gambling in
all it's forms.
ONE OF HIS BIGGEST
LENDERS WAS HYMIE
One of his biggest lenders was
Hymie Scholtz, the citys Big Shot,
Gear of Booze, Rajah of Rack
eteers and Viceroy of Vice. Danny
was always on Hymie's cuff, owing
him anywhere from G note to
couple Of grand through the Pc
riod of the fourteen years during
which prohibition cast it's pail over
decent UoOplC anu Tie CIlHlllldl UC-
came almost respectable.
But he owed only one man a
favor. That was the young Cap
tain of his company who had shot
German through the head as he
drew back with his club to beat
out Danny's brains in a trench
during the big push which envel-
oped the Hindenburg Line. AS the
roJI IN en- font
and addressed the Captain.
Listen Cap. he said. That's
one I owe you. It's my life, and
you can call on me for everything
1 got, and that goes for my life,
too, any time you want it."
The young Captain only laughed
and went on forward, the lust OF
battle in his eye. But Danny al
ways remembered. Often he
wished that circumstances would
arise that would allow him to pay
that debt. 1t worried him.
Now, you mustn't get the idea
that Danny Lafrage was a good
man gone wrong. There was moth
ing good about Danny Lefrage. He
was criminal and rat and one
of the most efficient killers that
the last two war-torn decades have
produced. He was as dangerous to
society as cobra and he, for four
teen years. waxed fat in the booze
racket and it's subsidiary activities.
He was fated to die by violence
and the sooner the better.
Meanwhile, he was respected in
his trade. He was Hymie Scholtz's
trigger man and chief gunner's
mate, meaning that he not only
guarded the Shiny person of Hymie
himself, but he went out and
killed. impersonally and cruelty at
Hymie's bidding.
So the years went by with Dam
ny Lafrage guarding booze ship
ments and wreaking gang ven
geance on anY unfortunateS who