Article by Tracy Holbrook: There was heat the other night at
Club Ivory, and not the kind that one expects in such an
establishment. The incident started when Nunzio Botticelli, a frequent
visitor at the club, grabbed Mimi Scarlatti, in an effort to get Miss
Scarlatti's attention. The unwanted physical contact caused Miss Scarlatti
to throw her highly alcoholic drink in Mr. Botticelli's face. She also
grabbed a cigarette lighter from someone close to the incident, flicked the
lighter to create a flame, and promptly set Mr. Botticelli's face on
fire.
The flame consumed the alcohol from the drink and Mr. Botticelli's
eyebrows before burning out. Mr. Botticelli suffered very little damage.
Neither side is pressing charges, although Miss Scarlatti has made it
clear that Mr. Botticelli is never to touch her again.
Councilor Tate Says No to New Liquor Licenses
Article by Jackie Pischetti: Councilor Tate spoke eloquently at
last Thursday's City Council meeting against increasing the number of city
liquor licenses.
"There is no reason to rush headlong in the opposite direction," the
Councilor said. "It should be clear there is already more than enough
drinking in the city. I fully support the will of the people in the
efforts to repeal Prohibition. The shady characters who are involved in
the liquor trade must not legitimize their thuggery at the expense of our
city." This reporter has learned of several threats against Councilor
Tate. The Councilor dismissed them as "business as usual."
Next month's Council vote is expected to be very close. A number of
local businessmen are anxiously awaiting the outcome.
Obituary Albert B. Rains
Article by Chris West: Once employed by Hughes Laboratories, the
noted scientist and inventor Albert B. Rains was an unfortunate victim of
the inferno at the O'Malley Brothers Liquor warehouse last night. Mr.
Rains' charred remains were removed this morning from the office that
adjoined the warehouse. Funeral services will be held at Forest Lawn on
Thursday.
Mr. Rains was the holder of several US patents. He was most noted for
his public spat with Mr. Howard Hughes, over the patent rights for a new
metal alloy with significant industrial applications. Claiming that the
alloy was developed after his dismissal from the facility noted for many
pioneering advances, Mr. Rains boldly predicted that he would make millions
from his efforts. Mr. Hughes and his team of legal experts insisted that
the alloy was developed by an independent team at Hughes Laboratories.
Mr. Rains had set up an independent laboratory in the warehouse district,
to continue his research. The legal case has yet to be resolved. It is not
clear how this will be resolved given Mr. Rains' death.
Former Speakeasy to Raise Money for Orphans
Article by Chris West: As a sign of the changing times,
philanthropist and successful businesswoman Celia Billings is going to use
alcohol in her efforts to raise funds for the orphans of St. Basil's Home
for Wayward Girls.
Tonight, at Club Ivory, formerly a notorious speakeasy on
Mulholland Drive, Mrs. Billings is going to collect objects to be auctioned
off next week. These objects will be donated by the upper-crust of Los
Angeles society, who have made Club Ivory into a trendy
night-spot.
Last Two Imprisoned Dirty Shields Killed in Prison
Riot
Article by Tracy Holbrook: Ryan "The Icepick" Smatt and Scotty
"Apeman" Lutzini, the last of the 'Dirty Shields' in jail, were killed
during a riot in the exercise yard of their prison in Alameda. The Dirty
Shields were a vigilante group of local police officers named for their
flagrant graft and brutality. Their reign of corruption came to a bloody
end in 1922, after a massacre at a speakeasy on Mulholland.
The six senior officers of the group were convicted of a lengthy list of
criminal activities and sent to prison. Three of the Dirty Shields were
paroled after their sentence, rehabilitated into society. The fourth,
Harrison Enfield, the ringleader, committed suicide shortly after his
release.
Warden Wensley of the Alameda Prison blamed the riot on tensions between
various inmate groups trying to gain "turf," a form of power and currency
in the unforgiving prison yard.
"The guards stopped the fighting before it got too out of hand," said the
Warden. "It's a shame that two of them were killed, but this is prison. It's
a dangerous place. The ringleaders of the groups are learning what it means
to be punished even more, as I've thrown them each into solitary
confinement. They won't see the light of day for at least three months, if
I'm feeling generous. More than likely," the Warden laughed, "I'll forget
and leave them there for six months or a year."
Skeletons Found in Mrs. Filbert Pickle Plant
Renovation
Article by Tracy Holbrook: When Mrs. Filbert wanted to expand her
San Bernadino pickle plant, the engineers said that two important support
pilings were failing and had to be replaced. They were failing because
there was a body entombed in each one. There is little that can be
determined from the remains, except that both were shot in the head. Other
bodies found entombed like this have been associated with Mob executions. So
far, the Los Angeles Police Department refuses to make that link in this
hard case.
Mobsters in Shootout With G-Men
Article by Tracy Holbrook: Last night, the sound of machine guns
and other arms shattered the quiet Valley evening. It is not clear why
Mobsters from the infamous Scarlatti family attacked a mansion used as an
undercover office of Federal Bureau of Investigation G-men, although the
FBI is denying that they are working with a high-level informant providing
details on Scarlatti operations. The Mobsters were clearly not expecting
the intense amount of gunfire they got in response. The Mobsters did manage
to set the building on fire, which spread quickly and threatened to jump to
the nearby hillside.
Six of the Mobsters died, along with four G-men.
Firefighters were unable to bring the building fire under control due to
the amount of ammunition stored in the house. Neighboring houses were
evacuated for safety as bullets exploded randomly in the fire. Two
firefighters were injured as result of these random shots. Fortunately,
these brave men were able to prevent the fire from spreading.
A spokesman for the FBI made it clear that they would "get vengeance for
their brothers" and that the "Scarlatti family would feel the wrath of
justice."
Investigators are still seeking a motive in the attack. "This is not
normal operation for the Mob," explained Greg Orsolini, noted Assistant
District Attorney. "They are usually more discreet and contained in their
violence. This is very out of the ordinary. The only explanation I have is
that, despite their denials, the FBI is actively protecting a valuable
witness with detailed information on the Scarlattis and their
operations."