Judge, 1926-10-09 · page 8 of 36
Judge — October 9, 1926 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Explanation for Modern Readers This page satirizes organized crime in Chicago, depicting two criminals ("Mick" and "Mac") casually discussing their "business" — stealing and robbery. The humor relies on treating violent crime as a commercial enterprise with standard workplace complaints: too much competition, encroachment on territory, and unreliable "employees" ("weak sisters") bungling jobs. The cartoons show a Chicago visitor asking directions to "the Loop" (downtown) while being robbed, and criminals being chased by police. The dialogue mocks how criminals operate openly in Chicago with apparent impunity, contrasting this with Eastern cities where murderers face execution ("hangs a guy"). The satire critiques Chicago's corrupt police and judicial system, suggesting authorities tacitly allow organized crime to flourish. The criminals feel safer in Chicago than anywhere else — a damning commentary on civic corruption. The final exchange between a New Yorker and "Other One" reinforces that Chicago's lawlessness is notorious and notorious.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
JUDGE +, how's things with ighborhood offerin’ much these day “Tell th’ truth, Mick, they ain’t; I've hadda go outside my own district to keep in business. I told Tiger Smith t’ put some high-pressure foot- pads in my district, and give me a couple weeks in his territory, free- lance like.” “Yeah? Well, I'm jus’ br even myself—jus’ breakin’ They’s too much compe go fer a good guy ever t’ get what he deserves—too much com- petition altogether. Wish t’-ell th’ bulls *ud run some o’ th’ small fry out.” “You said it; too many weak sis- ters runnin’ around bunglin’ things. They don’t get nuthun’ t’ shout about —whyn’'t they doa real jot awful, Mick. an’ no joke. Gettin’ so a guy lays out a schedule an’ before he c’n get around, half his places is clean done picked. Y" know, I been thinkin’ ‘bout goin’ East.” “Have ya reclly, Mac? Y'might be right, at that, but I dunno. After all, us guys gets wunnerful co-opera- tion from th’ authorit’es. Y" reelly couldn’t ask a sleepier bunch than we got right here in little ol’ Chi. An’ y’ know what I heard not long ago, Mac? Lissen, I heard ‘at once in a while they hangs a guy out there East! Yeah, sure—fer nuthin’ but murder—ca a beat it? Hangs "em, and gi m th’ chair!” “On th’ level, Mick, no kiddin’? Must be a bunch 0’ damned hard courts out there with no regard whatever fer human life, ‘at’s what. I guess mebbe you're right about stickin’ where they treat you right. Well, slong Micky, gotta run along an’ bust a guy what cleaned out a poker game up street. See ya in court—ha-ha-h uve itt” guys as can Wayne G. Haisley New YorKker—I see there’s another daylight robbery in Chicago OtuEer OnE—Yeah—heck of a city ain't it! sass De cS i ncaa inter ASN Sr AA comicbooks.com