OCR Text |
Show CHICAGO MINISTERS : TRICKEDBY THIEVES Tom Costello Tells How Parson Was Innocent Tool in Hands of Grafters. CHICAGO. Doc. 21. TTow an organization organiza-tion formed to profit from gambling ; tricked Ohieaero ministers into pulling its i chestnuts out of the well-known fire was: told today by Tom Costello, under cross- i examination in the trial of former Chief of Police Healey and others charged with exacting money from vicious characters on the west and south sides of the city. Costello said the "West Side Business Men's association was formed to control gambling' and to exact profits from high rents to persons who were conducting their business outside the law. The association as-sociation held frequent meetings and adopted solemn resolutions of protest against gambling houses which did not meet their approval, the purpose being, he said, to close rival houses or force them to rent, buildings from the club members. On one occasion a minister was imported who made an address in a downtown theater attacking the house the association was after. Jdls expenses were paid, Costello declared, by "Mike the Pike" Heltler, a prominent member of the club. This was not known to the speaker, however, he said. Members of the club passed the collection box and took up a considerable sum in support of the .cause, it was testified. The ministers' association associa-tion attended in a body, and approved the. work. The cross-examination is not expected to finish for at least two clays. |