Salt Lake Telegram | 1939-08-25 | Page 5 | Lepke, Racket Fugitive, Surrenders to Hoover

Lepke Racket Fugitive 1 1 Surrenders to Hoover NEW YORK Aug 25 Flat UPI UP Flat Flat- nosed Louis Lepke Buchalter the fugitive racketeer with a 50 price on his head who gave himself up in a surprise surrender to J. J Edgar Hoover was questioned questioned questioned ques ques- today in guarded closely-guarded se se- se crecy Ending a year two-year search that cost the federal government and New York state the 43 year-old year gangster voluntarily put himself In Hoovers Hoover's custody last night at an undisclosed place in Manhattan He had gained weight and grown a dark mustache to hide his identity Hoover said and appeared appeared appeared ap ap- ap- ap healthy and contented Lepke was taken to a cell in the federal building and subjected to rigorous a night all questioning by federal agents who barred city police and prosecuting officials from the room and refused even evento evento evento to let them see the prisoner Hoover said he and Lepke were alone when the latter surrendered He surrendered There was no money promised or paid by the F FBI B I. I We made him no promises of immunity or anything else The surrender apparently saved both the FBI B I and New York City the rewards each had posted posted posted post post- ed for the capture of the man whom Hoover listed as Public Enemy No 4 and District Attorney Attorney Attorney ney Thomas E E. Dewey assailed as the most dangerous industrial racketeer in America Lepke also has been accused by Dewey of waging from hiding a war of extermination against his former associates that cost five livesA lives A clash between law enforcement enforcement enforcement enforce enforce- ment authorities appeared likely over who would get the first opportunity opportunity opportunity op op- op- op to prosecute the prisoner charged with operating a year a extortion racket in the garment fur and bakery industries indus indus- tries Lepke missing since he jumped bond in federal court in 1937 faces sentences ranging from 55 to years if convicted on extortion and conspiracy charges brought against him by I Dewey 1 t tv v t tW 2 W t C LOUIS BUCHALTER Picture taken by men G-men