Beschreibung:

CAPONE, ALPHONSE. ("Al" or "Scarface"). Typed deposition signed four times ("Alphonse Capone"), consisting of a 4-page typescript transcript of Capone's interrogation by police in their investigation of the attempted murder of his former mentor and crime associate John Torrio; Capone's deposition is part of an extensive archive of police interviews, testimony and notes in the case, each signed by the witness (two of whom include Capone's chauffer, Robert Barton and his accountant, Jake Gusick), Chicago, Illinois, 24 January 1925. Capone's statement: 4 pages, folio, typed on rectos only of four sheets, each signed in ink at lower right hand corner by Capone. The remainder of the archive consists of 50 pages, 4to and small folio, typescripts and carbons, plus a few handwritten statements of police and witnesses, some chipping at edges, paper yellowed. CAPONE'S INTERROGATION IN A GANGLAND SHOOTING WHICH MADE HIM KING OF THE CHICAGO UNDERWORLD A remarkable archive an an attempted murder of a Capone associate which ironically propelled Capone to the top of the Chicago rackets. Capone's police interrogation took place the same day as Torrio's near fatal shooting. Torrio, described as a "retired restauranteur," while "alighting from his automobile from the front of above address was assaulted by three men, two of the men fired several shots at him...The assailants then jumped into a dark Cadillac touring car, no license...." The victim, John Torrio, was the young Capone's mentor and sponsor in their previous criminal activities in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, where both had grown up. When Torrio moved to Chicago to manage a string of brothels for "Big Jim" Colosimo, he brought along his protege, "Scarface" Capone. The pupil soon outpaced his teacher. Capone had Colosimo killed, and Torrio took over the brothel empire; meanwhile Capone moved into the enormously lucrative bootleg whiskey business. Dion O'Bannion, an Irish mobster and his lieutenant, Earl "Hymie" Weiss, became their chief rivals. Conflicts between them escalated and in November 1924, O'Bannion was shot to death. On January 24, 1925 "Hymie" Weiss, with his sidekicks "Bugs" Moran, Vincent Drucci and Frank Gusenberg, seeking revenge, came upon Torrio and his wife unloading groceries in front of his home. Torrio fell in a hail of bullets, but Moran's gun jammed as he was about to deliver the coup de grace. When Torrio recovered, he fled to Italy, leaving Capone the undisputed boss of Chicago crime, a position he enjoyed until he was convicted of tax fraud and finally jailed. Capone's statement is captioned: "...Statement of Alphonse Caponi [ sic ]. 7244 Prairie Avenue...relative to the shooting of John Torrio...about 3:30 P.M. Jan 24th, 1925." Highlights are as follows (Capone's answers italicized): Q. What is your business? A. Furniture business. 2224 Wabash Ave. Q. What is [the] name of store? A. Antique furniture. No name to store.... Q. How long do you know John Torrio? A. About three years. Q. Where did you meet him.? A. In Chicago, at the Race Track, I met him at the Bennie Leonard fight in East Chicago, about three years ago.... Q. Were you ever in trouble in New York? A. No.... Q. How many times were you arrested in Chicago? A. Everytime something happens I get arrested.... Q. Did he [Torrio] tell you who did it, or did you ask him who did it? A. I did not ask him and he did not tell me because he was in no condition to talk. Q. Would [you] have any idea who did it? A. No. Q. Would you tell us if you did know who did it? A. No, I value my life too much to tell if I did know.... Q. Can you give any reason for the shooting? A. No I cannot. Q. This statement is true and if you were called to testify this would be your statement and you will be willing to sign this statement? A. Yes, sir." Information was virtually impossible to collect in regard to the shooting. The few witnesses seemed fearful; none would conclusively identify the gunmen, although "Bugs" Moran was init