A CHICAGO FUNERAL

Hokitika Guardian, 17 January 1925, Page 4

A CHICAGO FUNERAL

HYMNS BY JAZZ -MEN AND A SILVER COFFIN. NEW' YORK, November 10. Chicago is suffering from what the president of its recently appointed Crime Commission describes as all

“ alarming murder crisis.” Its condition is illustrated in an amazing fashion by the scenes at the funeral of Dion O’Bannion, the -3'2vea rs-old ruler of its under-world who, according to the Chief of Police, was responsible for 2d recent murders, and who himself was murdered early last week-without anyone being convicted. 22 LORRIES OF WREATHS.

More than 10,000 bootleggers, eiocks, and professional murderers were present at the cemetery when the remains of the great and wealthy bootlegger ” Hijacker,” or robber of bootleggers, and murderer were lowered in a silver coffin, which cost the widow more than €2.000 into a gorgeous vault. Mourners—friends and enemies—of the deceased came armed to the funeral in a thousand motor-cars. Floral tributes filled 22 lorries. ’When ranged round the valt they covered an acre of ground. To the great grief of the widow the use for the occasion of the Cathedral of the Holy Name, where, the dead man once served as a elmir-boy, was forbidden. So the services were held in the undertaker's chapel. Is. SEATS ON THE ROOKS. Inside this building, beside the gorgeous coffin, ranged of the most noted assassins of Chicago. The master of ceremonies was Louis Alticre, the chief lieutenant of O’Hannon, who. after the murder, publicly proclaimed his wish to “shoot the quarrel out.” By his orders the windows of the chapel were opened so that the vast crowds assembled in the streets and on the reefs, where seats for the ceremony were sold for -Is apiece, could hear the hymns played by a stringed orchestra composed of the most accomplished jar./, artists in Chicago.

The crowds doffed hats when the cortege moved in a procession in which armed police in motor-cars rode ehcek-by-iowl with noted criminals. The only disturbance occurred at ihe graveside when Inewspaper photographers tried to take pictures ot the unique scene. They were attacked

and hunted away, and their plates •wove smashed by mourners who bate the camera worse than they do the Bertillon finger-print system. The Moral tributes were covered with pious and sentimental inscriptions in violets and forget-me-nots. The biggest of them was a seven-foot wall ol carnations hearing in gigantic letters Hie words,“To our pal : from the gang.” Amid the sobs of hundreds of spectators. th(‘ splendid coffin was finally lowered. Even Chicago, the scene of recent Murder for Snort, which created a sensation throughout the world, admits that the problem presented by these amazing scenes is an appalling one. Luminous commentary is oll'ered in the shape of a “Survey of Gang Lite ’ piVpa red, by Professor Frederick Thrasher of the University of Chicago. He states that fully 100,(100 hoys and young men in the city are organised i«tu clubs and gangs, of. winch there now exist 1.313. Each gang has its different orders, its invslcries, and its secret signs and handshakes. One of the most notorious gangs is called “The Rollers of the Dinos.” Its members devote tliemselvcc to fleecing drunkards. Others are “The Risky Night Riders” “dung Shags." who pounce upon people going home late at night. Many of these gangs have organisations 'throughout the country. The possession of a great number ol motor enables them to extend their operations in the rural districts and m ~it 11 vine limns Ol the - surveyed the !"■•'< reports that 579 meet in streets and ~||evs 117 in vacant lots on the canal and river hanks or lake fronts, 3(>S m club rooms rented or given. 15,1 111

“ soft drink parlours.” “ Strangely enough,” adds the professor " the membership lists include the sons of reputable families u> good neighbourhoods.” ' NEW DETECTIVE I’ORC E. .Many politicians, realising their power seek to ingratiate themselves with the gangs. The rise ol the criminals to wealth he attributes to •°_ ;i.ition and tluj opportunities cieated h v bootlegging. . The chief of -.police is dealing mi the murder crisis in characteristic fashion . „e has dismissed half the oin of the detective bureau and organised special squads with orde.s trouble about taking gangs L, cotut but to mete out jnst.ee lo then • levs and soft drink parlours m uhe i ever tl.ev are found.” Rv these methods ho is quoted a savipo " Work will he furn,shell not f','. lawyers hut for the hospital.