October 9 marks the
anniversary that Chicago bootlegger Roger "The Terrible" Touhy
escapes from Illinois' Stateville Prison by climbing the guard's tower. He was recaptured several months later. During Prohibition, he
realized he could make more money by bootlegging. Touhy began brewing his own
beer and shipping it to speakeasies statewide. When organized crime kingpin Al
Capone heard about Touhy's operation, he wanted to get in on the action. Capone helped orchestrate a fake kidnapping, which he pinned on Touhy.
In 1933, Touhy was convicted and sent to prison. Shortly after his escape in
1942, Touhy was captured and returned to prison. Touhy was
finally released in 1959. However just three weeks later, as he was entering
his sister's home, Touhy was hit by several shotgun blasts. Before he died, he
was reported to have said, "I've been expecting it. The bastards never
forget." No arrests were ever made. The Dao never forgets either and it
always arrives on time.
