CRIME: $104,000 of Freedom

Last fortnight in Manhattan Federal agents arrested stubby, mild-mannered John Torrio, Chicago’s No. i racketeer in the early 1920’s and Al Capone’s onetime boss, for an ordinary revenue law violation (TIME, May 4). Bail was set at a supposedly prohibitive $100,000. Last week a plump, elderly woman walked into Manhattan’s U. S. District Court, dipped deep into her black purse, pulled out a fat wad of bills, carefully peeled off 97 crisp $1,000 bills, four $500 bills, ten $100 bills. A gaping clerk counted them, recounted them, made out a receipt for the bail of John Torrio, paid in full.

Released, John Torrio swung gaily out of court with Mrs. Torrio. Once off Federal property, New York City detectives arrested him on an old forgery indictment, carted him off to headquarters. Unable to furnish $4,000 bail, he was whisked to the Tombs prison. Within 30 minutes Mrs. Torrio bustled back with the cash which set her husband free for the second time in one day.