Evening star., 1936-07-13
POLICE EXPECTING
z ARRESTS SOON IN
SLASH|NG OF GIRL
Gang RepriSaI for New York
Vice Probe Testimony
Is Charged.
MAN VICTIM NAMED
IS HUNTED IN GOTHAM
Police Checking Report She Re-
ceived $500 for Luciano State.
ment She Never Wrote.

BACKGROUND
Charles lucky Lucania, or
Luciano, a year ago sought to es-
taohsh a personal monopoly ouer
all OF NeW York City's Uice. By
February of this year the sallo1c
rdcketeer WdS one of Americas
most famous and most sought
criminals. In March he UaS seized
in Arkansas and brought to NeU
York under $4,000 bond. Thomas
E. De,Cey began a vigorous prose-
cution. Eighty prostitutes told
stories OF Lucky's polCer to a Spe-
ctol grand jury. For sir UeekS the
parade OF shady characters took
the stand against the uice czar
and four henchmen in court. Four
Ueeks ago Lucky uds sent to Sing
Sing for 80 to so years, uhIe the
States witnesses feared reprisalS.
Police said today they hoped to
make two arrests shortly in connec-
ton with the mutilation of henna-
haired Margaret Louise Bell, %, who
said she was the victim of gang ven
geance for having testified recently
before a New York grand jury in
vestigating vice charges against
Charles Lucky Luciano.
One of the suspects, the man named
by Miss Bell as having scratched the
initials &C L" on her and turned
on the gas in her apartment in an
attempt to kill her, is an "out-of-
town" man, according to Chief of De-
tectives B. w. Thompson. He was
presumed to be in New York. The
other has a Washington address,
Thompson said.
Reported Paid for Statement.
Police were checking report that
the girl had been paid $500 to sign
statement declaring Luciano was
the victim of a "frame-up," but had
failed to comply The statement was
to have been used by Luciano's counsel
in appealing his conviction, it was
reported.
Capt. Ira E. Keck, assistant chief
Of detectives, and Detective Sergts.
Robert Barrett, j. K. Baker and Frank
Brass went to the girls apartment to-
day to take photographs and search
for flngerprints and other possible
clues.
New York authorities have con-
f1rmed the girls statement that she
was a grand jury witness.
A girl Of many aliases and a police
record here, Miss Bell-or Margaret
Lewis or Mrs. Costello or Jean Arnold
was found early yesterday in her
partially gas-f1lled apartment at 1890
New Hampshire avenue, the Bond
Apartments. The &C. L." had been
scratched on her right thigh and on
her abdomen, the numbers "3-12."
Miss Bell herself pointed out that
the initials are those of Luciano. who
recently was sentenced to 80 to so
years in Sing Sing for organizing
dealers in women on a chain store"
scale. The numerals represent the
position of the letters in the alphabet.
Plane Passenger Answers Description.
Police said a man of the description
furnished by Miss Bell left here by
plane for New York early yesterday, a
few hours after the girl was found in
her apartment.
Miss Bell said she had testified be-
fore the grand jury which returned
the indictments against Luciano and
his aides, but had given no damaging
evidence. The name she used was
Margaret Lewis, she said Other
aliases which she gave here were not
recognized by New York authorities
as those Of any woman connected with
the vice investigation.
Connection to Trial Uncertain.
Chief Thompson, before conferring
today with New York officers sent
here to question the woman, said he
was uncertain of her connection with
the Luciano vice trial. He is investi-
eating the case as an attempted
murder.
Miss Bell was arrested here in March,
(see MUTILATIoN, Page A-5.J