Al Capone and His American Boys: Memoirs of a Mobster's Wife

11 The Toledo Killing

The Toledo Killing There is no honor among thieves. I can prove it, although much has been said and written about crooks refusing to take advantage of each other. If there is a code I have never seen it work. Thieves distrust each other. I do not mean “thieves” in the specific senseoftheword—Imeanracketeers,gamblers,andalltheotherprofessions coming under the general heading of crime. Take for example the underworld attitude toward “squealing.” Any criminal who “talks” to the police knows that he is losing the respect of his gang. He knows what the result probably will be. He knows his act may send his friends and companions to prison for life. The word “squealer” is the acme of contempt in gangland vernacular. But the majority of criminals will squeal in the hope of beating a rap, and will not hesitate to try to pass it on to someone else. Lawrence Daugherty proved that point in his accusations against Gus and Fred Burke which on top of everything else were utterly false. Gangsters will shoot each other down. Why? Distrust. Many organized gangs are caught after “pulling a job” because they didn’t separate. In fact they didn’t separate because they didn’t have time to split the swag, and risked capture rather than take the time. Distrust turned one of the biggest robberies in the world into one of the most ridiculous “boners” known to gangland. I refer to the American Express Company robbery in Toledo, Ohio, on April 16, 1928, in which $2,000,000 was stolen but recovered. For a time it appeared that Gus had given up crime as a means of livelihood, although he seemed to have plenty of money. 11 62 The Toledo Killing 63 When I asked how he managed it he explained that it was borrowed money and amplified that with: “We’re in debt plenty, too, and don’t think we’re not.” Whether the money was the proceeds from past crimes or the result of Al Capone’s largess I did not learn. However, I chose to believe the boys really were having hard times when Ray Nugent announced he was going back to Toledo, Ohio, to live with his wife and two children. But I was too complacent, for not long afterward Gus went on one of his trips. One evening, while having dinner at the Goetz home, I asked why George was not there. “Why, he and Bob Carey went with Gus. Didn’t you know?” was Mrs. Goetz’ reply. No, I didn’t know, and immediately the old sick feeling came back. Three weeks went by. The first keen edge of fear had worn away, and I had settled into a state of dull uneasiness. One evening I sat reading when Gus came rushing into the house, and without greeting me broke out with: “What the devil are you doing here, didn’t anyone tell you to leave?” Before I could say no he rapped out: “Pack your bag and make it snappy, there’s no time to lose.” In a fever of excitement I threw a few articles into a grip while Gus telephoned a taxi, and a few minutes later we were installed in a West Side rooming house. To my surprise both Mr. and Mrs. Goetz were there, and before I could find out what it was all about, Ray Nugent and Bob Carey arrived. Then I knew without being told that whatever had happened had taken place in Toledo. Gus, Carey and Nugent were at each other’s throats in bitter argument . I never saw my husband so angry, and after hearing the abuse he heaped on the other two I expected someone to draw a gun at any minute. “Of all the dumbbells I ever saw, you guys take the cake,” Gus said during the argument. Then they were at each other again, each blaming the other for a slipup in some plan. When the first heat of anger died out they began to discuss the matter with more compo- 64 al capone and his american boys sure. They seemed oblivious of the fact that Mrs. Goetz and I were present. I learned what the argument was about. It was the $2,000,000 Toledo holdup. From what I overheard, and from what I was told later by Mrs. Goetz and my husband, here is what happened: Shortly after arriving at...