The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-08-12

Ol SA1AS0SOs
 Mayor Tony Cermak, they ax- plain. had transferred the control of Chicago's gambling industry from the Capone gang to a friend- Her group. So Zangara was coked up by the Capone gang to shoot Cermak.
 This may or may not be true. But it does appear to be true that today Chicago's gambling is un- der the suzerainty of William R. Billy" Shidmore and associates, and that the federal government, steered by the crime-crusading, red-headed gentleman in the Jus tice Department, Frank Murphy, is determined to put the skids under them.
 Furthermore, 1t also appears to be true that the Chicago grand jury investigation of Moe Amen berg conducted by Murphy's men will be seriously embarrassing to some of Roosevelt's strongest third term rooters.
 ROOSEVELT CLEANUP
 The paradoxical fact about the situation is that it is Roosevelt's advisers who precipitated the whole Chicago proceedings and who apparently are intent on cleaning up Chicago. Obviously they could not have acted without the o. K. of the President him- self.
 The White House campaign began late last fall when Tom Corcoran, No. 1 Brain Truster, flew out to Chicago and select cd William J. Campbell to be U. s. District Attorney. This is the fortnight youngster who has been conducting the grand jury investigation of Annenberg, Skidmore and others, and the Corcoran strategy in selecting him was political genius.
 For young Campbell is the pro tege of Bernard J. Shiel, Catholic Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago and the right arm of Cardinal Nun. delein. He was also the attorney for the Catholic Youth Organiza- ton which Bishop Shiel founded.
 Now, 1t is the habit of city boss es to insist rather vigorously that they control the federal district attorney in their city. Boss Pen- dergast of Kansas City felt strong ly about Maurice Milligan, the U. s. Attorney there; and Mayor Kelly had his own ideas about the successor to William Igoe. the former U. s. attorney in Chicago.
 The White House, knowing this, was smart enough to nom- mate . protege of Bishop Shieps and Cardinal Mundelein's, whom Mayor Kelly could not possibly oppose.
 Campbell still Is in his lower thirties, lacks the Harvard polish of the Brain Trust, went to night school, and has had little trial experience. However, he has the gambling world of Chi cago staying awake nights with worry.
 The grand jury investigation centers on income tax invasion. The case of Moe Annenberg, wealthy publisher and distributor of race track information. has been outlined in a previous col- umn. Another important de- fendant is the famous Billy Skid- more, whose ostensible income comes from operating a junkyard. SKIDMORE'S EGGS
 In order to check the activities of Billy Skidmore, the Internal Revenue Bureau sent its star agent, Clarence Converse, to stand outside the junkyard and watch the license tags of the automobiles which entered. Most of them were sleek roadsters and limousines not ordinarily used by junkmen. In fact, their license tags showed their owners to be operators of gambling joints.
 Later Internal Revenue agents summoned the owner of each car. A conversation somewhat like this took place:
 "You are the owner of . Pack ard. number s0-and-so?"
 sYes."
 sYou drive your car to skid- more's junkyard about oncs . week?"
 "Yes."
 "Why do you 70 on te sec Mfr. Skidmore?"
 "To buy eggs.s
 sTe buy eggs"
 sYes. You see, MT. 9kidmoFe is in Che farming business and I go up Co buy eggs from him."
 The answers of tho gamblers