Judge, 1931-11-28 · page 9 of 36
Judge — November 28, 1931 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis for Modern Readers This page satirizes Chicago's criminal underworld during Prohibition, specifically the 1931 "Public Enemies" rankings—an actual FBI/press list of most-wanted gangsters. **The Main Cartoon:** Joe Paladino, a minor mobster, petitions Police Commissioner about his ranking dropping from #8 to #19. He complains he's been unfairly overlooked despite his "accomplishments"—murders, shootouts—while arguing rivals like Zuccaro didn't deserve higher rankings. He names actual gangsters: Capone (still #1) and Diamond. **The Satire:** Judge mocks both the criminals' vanity and the public's obsession with gangster rankings, treating violent felons like sports players. Paladino's indignant tone—demanding "justice" for being ranked too low—absurdly applies corporate fairness complaints to criminal status. **Historical Context:** This reflects 1930s media sensationalism around organized crime, when newspapers published actual "Most Wanted" lists, making gangsters into celebrities. The piece ridicules how seriously these criminals took their public rankings.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
JUDGE or he wouldn’t have a handle like that. What did he ever do? Who'd he ever rub out, hey? Bet they couldn't tell sked them Playing fa- vorites, that's what they're doing, Commissioner! you if you I nate better treatment on my ree- {if ord since last year. Maybe [didn’t getimy picture in the papers as much as some of the others, but I can't help it if 1 tak bum picture, can 1? After all, Commissioner, it ain't pie- tures in the papers but results what should count, Who were the cops looking for when Frankie Segretto was bumped off, hey? No one else but me, Joe Paladino! Who'd they say shot up the Golden Slipper and eft a couple of Little M full of lea Joe boys, that’s who! Z for the Nickey Stedberg killi Paladino! . I could go on for pages, Commis- sioner, but I think I and that when you re the rap x? Joe said enou ize the injus- tice I've been done you'll do your best to sce they put me back in the First Ten, where T belong. Thanking you in advance, Tam Yours trul When the Moon Comes Over the Mountain. Joe Molallina, | | “The First Ten” No. 2, and Schultz No. No. +. But after that the lis hell. Who ever heard of Alfred M. Kreutz, No. 5?) Th Commissioner of Police, Police Headquarters, City. ran Comaissioner: I know you're a busy man and I shouldn't be bothering you like this, but I haven't » to get a break from any body else and, knowing your rep for I thought if anyone could my rights you could. at Um . Commissioner, is some justice from the Public Ene- nies Committee in their 1931 rank- ings. Last year you remember I got pretty good ranking. I was Public Enemy No, 8, and that was O. K. ex- cept they might have put me ahead of Zuccaro. That Wop never did any- thing to deserve to be ranked No. 7. But anyway, what happens? The ] papers come ‘out with the new rank- i guy's a pansy ings last week, and where am 1? No. 19, that’s where Iam! Me, Joe Pala- dino, 19! Well, Commissioner, I could hard- ly believe my eyes when I saw myself No. 19 and a lot of punks like Stub , Cueball Klauber, and Louie the first ten. It's a crime, ’s what it is! They knew better than to fool around with Capone. He's still the No. 1 guy, and I sce Diamond's still Ganvexer—Beg pardon, sir—there’s a student pilot in the greenhouse! 7 comicbooks.com