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St. Valentine's Day Massacre investigation in a Chicago newspaper...
St. Valentine's Day Massacre investigation in a Chicago newspaper...
Item # 725369
March 16, 1929
THE NEW YORK TIMES, March 16, 1929
* Jack "Machine Gun" McGurn & John Scalissi
* St. Valentine's Day Massacre investigations
* George 'Bugs' Moran & Al 'Scarface' Capone
Page 21 has a somewhat discrete report with a one column heading: "Two Are Indicted In Chicago Slayings" with subhead. (see images)
Complete with all 40 pages, light toning at the margins, irregular along the spine, otherwise in very nice condition.
background: On March 15, 1929, a Chicago grand jury handed down a murder indictment against Jack "Machine Gun" McGurn and John Scalise, marking the first major legal strike against the Al Capone organization following the St. Valentine's Day Massacre. Despite being identified by several witnesses as a key planner and participant in the execution of seven rival gang members, McGurn successfully evaded the gallows through a combination of legal maneuvering and high-profile theater. His defense centered on the testimony of his girlfriend, Louise Rolfe, who provided the infamous "Blonde Alibi" by swearing they were sequestered in a hotel room together during the time of the shootings. This romanticized narrative captivated the press and effectively neutralized the prosecution's case; the charges were eventually dropped in early 1930 due to a lack of corroborating evidence. While the indictment failed to result in a murder conviction, it permanently linked McGurn to the massacre in the public eye and led to his designation as "Public Enemy No. 4," ultimately signaling the beginning of the end for his career as Capone's top enforcer.
Category: The 20th Century
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