U.S. BLACKMAIL RING.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 281, 27 November 1925, Page 10

U.S. BLACKMAIL RING.

OPERATIONS IN CHICAGO. IU SYSTEMATIC SWINDLING. ,vc, (From Our Own Correspondent.) SAN FRANCISCO. November 4. ' TT T " ° f the of Eastern United States systematic swindling is carried on in devious manners on a scale, but the happy hunting ground Is . not in Xew York, as many might suspect hut principally in Chicago and rcvela-X-tions in the "Windy City" recently -,?how that blackmailers preying on bootleggers, gamblers and others who, like themselves have defied the law, have exacted a tribute of $1,000,000 from wealthy Chicagoans in the last few months. While reluctant to reveal the extent of ■the blackmailers' operations, some of their victims have been mulcted to such an extent that they have taken their to Federal agents, and, as the of a Federal investigation, arrests in large numbers are anticipated. Dan Perry, bootlegger, is among those, according to the -''Chicago Herald and Ex- ■ nminer," -who. settled with the blackmailers, and sailed to Florida after he liad been shot and wounded, and H. J. Callan, who was shot and wounded, was also reported 'by Federal agents to have settled with the gang of blackmailers _who had hunted him for months. One j.tyootlegger disposed of alcohol valued at pearly 1,000,000d01s within the last six ,jTionths, paid $70,000 of his profits to the ' blackmail band, and fled to Canada. ~ Louis Smith, proprietor of an automobile supply store, and victim of two hold-ups and three burglaries in recent months, complained to the police that ha lad been given the choice of paying out iiOOOdols or bringing death to himself and his family. Those who threatened him, he said. themselves as' friends, of ,:Albert Anselini and John Scalice, mera"trial * the Gen,la S an S and now on * tola «•« murde r of a policeman, and S r S S nc the »onqr was to be used for down forT-'^ nd thafc lle " ha( i toen put «*>• d afeSS?" The P° lic e were unP»rt of theTb£T heth er this was a breakers black ma 1 l plot against lawTta■ «jm«iu«. A»,kta" n a