Evening star., 1935-12-30
SECOND Staying
ST|RS CHICAGO
Leo PanzoreIla Killed in
Ward Where Legislator
Was Shot Down.
By The Associated Pres,

tentatively ldentlI1eQ as Leo PanZa-
rella, IS, was found shot to death in
a truck today near the southern
boundary of the bloody twentieth"
ward, where State Representative AL
bert ]. Prignano was slain last night.
The body of Panzarella. with bull
let in the abdomen, was found by his
brother Angelo. The Panzarella
brothers were in the fruit business.
Police began an investigation to de-
termine whether there was any con-
nection between the two killings.
Although a Democrat, PrignAno
was at one time friend Of Scar
face AL" Cspone, public enemy No. /,
now in Federal prison. Capone was
allied with the Republican factions.
Shot four times in the back and
twice in the head. Prignano fell dead
on the doorstep OF his home.
Its a stick-up," one Of the three
killers told Prignano as the Repre-
sentative, his wife and son John. 8,
walked toward the door OF their home
last night.
give them everything you got, "
Mrs. Prignano called to her husband.
The Representative emptied his
pockets and walked away As he
turned the gunner opened fire.
Victor Galanti. his chauffeur, who
witnessed the shooting, said one Of
the killers calmly stood over the body
and fired two more shots into Prig-
nano'S head.
The assassins, Galsnti said, fled on
foot after they were unable to start
their automobile. Police said the car
had been stolen.
Lieut.. Barry said that $35 and a
gold watch were found in Prignano's s
clothing.
Prignano who was elected State
Representative in 1894, was at home
to visit his family during Q recess Of
the State Legislature.
During his long political career,
Prignsno's name was frequently linked
with "Scarface Al" Capone, now serv-
ing a l0-year Federal sentence for
income tax evasion. In 1881 Prig-
nano was Capone's companion at a
Notre Dame Northwestern foot ball
game.
Lieut.. Barry said Prignano was
threatened with assassination in 1929
when he was a candidate for alder
man.
Gangland Assassination.
Lieut.. Barry said he was convinced
the staying was a gangland assassina-
ton and not a robbery. He said the
supposed robbers addressed their VIC
tim by uame. Around their car
enough cigarette butts were strewn to
indicate they waited for him at least
an hour.
The victims widow was hysterical
when the police arrived. and said
while she thought her husband recog-
nized the men. she did not. She said
they also pointed a gun at her, but
that Galanti then began firing at the
trio. His action, the police said, might
have saved her life.
Prignano, A, was born in the former
bloody twentieth ward" where he
started his political career. He was
the teuth child of a family Of 13
and as a boy knew many in the dis
trict who later became notorious as
sangsters and gunner.
During the prohibition era. the ward
became an infamous battle-ground Of
gangland and the scene Of many muir
ders over racket spoils, which earned
for it the soubriquet Of the bloody
twentieth ward"
The section was the stronghold Of
the Infamous Genna gang. one of the
most powerful of the early gangs.
Morris Eller, once city collector and
ally Of former Mayor william Hale
Thompson, once ruled the district
politically. The ward also was the
scene Of the assassination of Octavius
Granady, colored. who opposed Morris
Eller for ward committeeman. in 1928.
Election terrorism was common in
the ward. During the election in 1928.
scores Of election workers testified they
had been beaten, slugged or kidnapped
by men whom they identified in court
dS GACL "OAAOlSs NoCNCA al bOAA O1 OCAAAB
taken to "jail" near the home Of Eller
and held overnight.
Indignant citizens demanded in
vestigation and raised 100000 by
popular subscription. Frank J. Loesch
headed the staff of special prosecutors.
More than 100 indictments, naming
so persons, were returned, but no con-
victions were obtained.
Known as q Fighter.
Prignano was known as fighter. At
one time he was an enemy Of Capone.
but their differences later were patched
up. The dead man lost out in the 1929
election to a Republican with the
backing of City Sealer Daniel Ser
ritella. an alleged Capone ally, who
was also aligned with the Eller faction.
The Municipal Voters League in
dorsed Prignano as the best alderman
the twentieth ward had had UP to that
time. He later became ward commit
teeman and then State Representative.
During the time he served in the
City Council, he was bitter opponent
of Mayor Thompson.
In 1922, Prignano married Gladys
Beardmore Of Charles City, Iowa.
singer known professionally as Jean
Gibson. Their son, John A, was born