SOFT-HEARTED GUNMAN

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 886, 1 February 1930, Page 26

SOFT-HEARTED GUNMAN

SCARFACE AL CAPONE IN GAOL LOSING REPUTATION Scarface A 1 Capone, Chicago’s most picturesque gunman, who is serving a year’s sentence in Philadelphia penitentiary for illegally carrying arms, spends his time in prison reading Balzac and Victor Hugo, says the New York correspondent of the “Daily Mail.” It was reported at the time of his arrest that Capone—he likes his name to be pronounced as two syllables—sought prison as an escape from greater dangers outside. If so, he must have regretted his decision, for he has made six unsuccessful attempts through his lawyers to secure release. For exercise Capone plays handball. His wife is allowed to visit him. She leaves their young son behind, for the Chicago war lord says: “I wouldn’t have him come to the prison for anything. My hoy thinks that I am in Europe. Whenever he sees a picture of a big boat he asks his mother if that boat is bringing daddy home.” That Capone has his soft moments is revealed in another story of a young man brought wounded to the prison hospital after being sentenced for participating in a hold-up. The doctors were advising an amputated arm to save the patient from bloodpoisoning. It is reported that Capone said: “Save the boy’s arm. If it takes money I will be glad to pay for It.” This tender-heatedness has earned Capone a reputation among his fellow prisoners of being a lesser gunman than they thought. As one remarked, “Capone ain’t so big. I know a man in Philadelphia who has seen as many melt taken for a ride (abducted In a motor-car and murdered) as they say Capone has.” Described as a model prisoner the late Tsar of gunland shares his cell with another man. The floor is covered with rugs, but the general furnishing is not luxurious. Someone sought his opinion of modern women and Capone was emphatic in his condemnation. “The trouble with women today,” he cried, “is their excitement over too many things outside their home. A woman’s home and children are her real happiness. If she would stay there the world would have less to worry about the modern woman.”