Shock For Capone

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6627, 14 August 1931, Page 5

Shock For Capone

INCOME TAX CHARGES JUDGE ADJOURNS CASE CHICAGO, August 3. For ouec gangland has failed to “put over” its carefully-arranged plans, and, as a consequence, its notorious leadex - , “Scarface” Al. Capone, may serve a great part of the rest of his life behind stono walls. Those plans failed to take the trial judge into account, and ho has exploded a verbal bombshell that has rocked the underworld. Always ready to take advantage of any “racket” that his lawyers could devise, Capone six weeks ago pleaded guilty to the falsification of his income tax returns and dramatically announced that he would “take'his medicine.” Kis dose, it appears, had boon already fixed at two and a-half years’ imprisonment. His astute lawyers secured the virtual agreement of the district attorney to ask for that maximum from the Court, in consideration of Capone’s free admissions of guilt. The corpulent overlord of Chicago gangland jauntily appeared for sentence. Everything was fixed! Capone had “thrown” his final party before going to prison, after chartering the entire accommodation of a big hotel for his great banquet- and champagne spree for his loyal followers. He would go into temporary seclusion while his lieutenants ran his huge business during his sojourn in Levenworth Penitentiary. Meanwhile, the newspapers were filled with stories of how the Government sleuths had outwitted him, securing such amazing evidence that the redoubtable Capone simply threw up his hands. Everything thus went according to tho best fixings of gangdom—until Federal Judge Wilkerson started to speak. “I have been reading somewhere about a bargain for the sentence of this accused man, who has been officially designated ‘Public Enemy No. 1’ ” saidi the Judge. “I just wish to say that I am pot recognising any . arrangement whereby this defendant shall get a. short sentence by reason of his plea of guilty.” This declaration fell like a bombshell on the astonished courtroom. Capone, pale and thoroughly scared for once in his life', his thick lips bloodless and trembling, . whispered to his lawyers, who instantly demanded that they bo allowed to change the plea to “Not guilty.” The Judge then adjourned the Court and later he announced that the -trial would proceed in September on the new basis. Altogether, it looks as if Judge Wilkerson has set himself to banish Capone for the next 10 or 20 years, if Uncle Sam’s detectives are able to prove their charges.