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Story
November 14, 1939
Imperial Valley Press
El Centro, Imperial County, California
What is this article about?
Two unsubstantiated letters give Chicago police first leads in the gangland slaying of millionaire race track owner Edward J. O'Hare, implicating Al Capone as overlord who threatened his life. One found on stabbed ex-bodyguard in LA, another in victim's effects. Investigations underway. (Nov. 14)
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Gangland Letters Point Clues in Chicago Slaying
CHICAGO. NOV. 14. (UP)—Two letters, one uncovered at Los Angeles, the other at Chicago, gave police their first definite leads today in the gangland assassination of Edward J. O'Hare, millionaire race track impresario.
One gave clues to the actual killers; the other said Scarface Al Capone had sworn to kill O'Hare and indicated he still is overlord of the Chicago underworld.
Both letters were unsubstantiated. Police at Los Angeles and Chicago began immediate investigations to ascertain their authenticity.
Police found one letter on the person of Russell Stoddard, 21, who was attacked and stabbed six times on a Los Angeles street late last night by two unidentified men. He said he was a former jockey at Tia Juana race track and had been O'Hare's bodyguard until recently.
The letter indicated the writer knew the identity of assassins who shot and killed O'Hare last Wednesday as he drove toward Chicago from Sportsman's Park race track, of which he was president. Stoddard was held as a material witness.
The second letter was found in O'Hare's effects by Chief Deputy Coroner Anthony Prusinski. It said two convicts released from Alcatraz had heard Capone, while still in Alcatraz, made threats against O'Hare and that "the big Dago swears he is going to have O'Hare, or will see that some of his friends score for Eddie." (In underworld argot "scoring" means killing.)
The letter found on Stoddard's person was mailed to him from Little Rock, Ark., Saturday from a "Fred Young," who gave a return address of the Paddock club, a tavern. Said he had made inquiries at the Paddock club and would "await developments."
"He did the right thing by leaving" when he did, spoke of a "couple of C's reward," and concluded with a warning. "Carry little Oscar with you wherever you go and remember a guy named Eddie."
Chicago and Cicero police had no record of a Fred Young. A man who answered the telephone at the Paddock club said he knew a Fred Young. He said Young had not been at the club for two days and that he didn't know where he was.
Lieut. Thomas J. Kelley of the Chicago police said he had not determined whether O'Hare had had a bodyguard named Fred Young. He
CHICAGO. NOV. 14. (UP)—Two letters, one uncovered at Los Angeles, the other at Chicago, gave police their first definite leads today in the gangland assassination of Edward J. O'Hare, millionaire race track impresario.
One gave clues to the actual killers; the other said Scarface Al Capone had sworn to kill O'Hare and indicated he still is overlord of the Chicago underworld.
Both letters were unsubstantiated. Police at Los Angeles and Chicago began immediate investigations to ascertain their authenticity.
Police found one letter on the person of Russell Stoddard, 21, who was attacked and stabbed six times on a Los Angeles street late last night by two unidentified men. He said he was a former jockey at Tia Juana race track and had been O'Hare's bodyguard until recently.
The letter indicated the writer knew the identity of assassins who shot and killed O'Hare last Wednesday as he drove toward Chicago from Sportsman's Park race track, of which he was president. Stoddard was held as a material witness.
The second letter was found in O'Hare's effects by Chief Deputy Coroner Anthony Prusinski. It said two convicts released from Alcatraz had heard Capone, while still in Alcatraz, made threats against O'Hare and that "the big Dago swears he is going to have O'Hare, or will see that some of his friends score for Eddie." (In underworld argot "scoring" means killing.)
The letter found on Stoddard's person was mailed to him from Little Rock, Ark., Saturday from a "Fred Young," who gave a return address of the Paddock club, a tavern. Said he had made inquiries at the Paddock club and would "await developments."
"He did the right thing by leaving" when he did, spoke of a "couple of C's reward," and concluded with a warning. "Carry little Oscar with you wherever you go and remember a guy named Eddie."
Chicago and Cicero police had no record of a Fred Young. A man who answered the telephone at the Paddock club said he knew a Fred Young. He said Young had not been at the club for two days and that he didn't know where he was.
Lieut. Thomas J. Kelley of the Chicago police said he had not determined whether O'Hare had had a bodyguard named Fred Young. He
What sub-type of article is it?
Crime Story
Mystery
What themes does it cover?
Crime Punishment
Revenge
What keywords are associated?
Gangland Assassination
Edward O'hare
Al Capone
Underworld Letters
Chicago Police Investigation
What entities or persons were involved?
Edward J. O'hare
Al Capone
Russell Stoddard
Fred Young
Anthony Prusinski
Thomas J. Kelley
Where did it happen?
Chicago
Story Details
Key Persons
Edward J. O'hare
Al Capone
Russell Stoddard
Fred Young
Anthony Prusinski
Thomas J. Kelley
Location
Chicago
Event Date
Nov. 14
Story Details
Two letters provide police leads in the gangland assassination of Edward J. O'Hare: one on stabbed ex-bodyguard Russell Stoddard in Los Angeles identifies killers, mailed from Little Rock by Fred Young; the other in O'Hare's effects reveals Capone's threats from Alcatraz to kill him.