The Untouchables (1959–1963): Season 1, Episode 25 - Portrait of a Thief - full transcript
Eliot Ness and the Untouchables have put a sizable dent in Al Capone's operation but they now find that legitimately produced alcohol is making it's way onto the illegal booze market. With the help of the Federal District Attorneys in Chicago and New York, they trace the liquor to Brawly Mills, a major food and beverage manufacturer located in the city of Brawley, New York. The president of the company, E. Carlton Duncan denies any wrong doing, as does his senior executive Brooks Wells. Ness however finds a connection to bootlegger and criminal Johnny Torrio who the agents recently killed in a liquor raid. Looking for any definitive tie between Duncan and the mobster, he finds that Duncan and Wells are actually assumed identities and that they may have met Torrio in prison fifteen years before.
Federal officers!
Stay where you are!
This is a raid!
MAN: It's Ness! Get him!
(groans)
Keep your hands in the air!
(theme music plays)
Tonight's episode...
Starring Robert
Stack as Eliot Ness.
Co-starring Henry Jones...
Charles McGraw...
and Edward Andrews.
And narrated by Walter Winchell.
WALTER WINCHELL: 1931
found America and the world
hitting the depths
of depression.
Men begged for jobs when
there were none to be had.
In the larger cities,
bread lines formed
and soup kitchens fed the
hungry and the homeless.
Apples were sold
on street corners.
But 1931 also saw man
soaring to the heights.
The Empire State Building
was rising 1,400 feet
to tower above the
island of Manhattan.
In Chicago, Eliot Ness
and his Untouchables
had cracked the bootleg
empire of Al Capone,
only to learn that thousands
of gallons of illegal alcohol
were flowing into the city
from some mysterious source.
Ness took his problem
to Beecher Asbury,
the federal district attorney.
There's enough of this
stuff pouring into Chicago
to float the entire Navy.
All top quality, 190-proof
pure grain alcohol.
It must be coming
from the East Coast.
(splashing)
The name's stamped
right on the can:
"Brawley Mills,
Brawley, New York."
I took the trouble to
have an analysis made.
"Sample submitted:
190-proof, pure grain spirits.
"It was undoubtedly distilled
by a reputable manufacturer
"operating under a United
States government permit.
"Absence of lethal
denaturants is proof
"that it was intended
for human consumption.
"Signed A.O. Walters,
"Director Analytical Laboratory,
Public Health Service,
Chicago, Illinois."
Capone must have
found a way of buying
from some of the big
Eastern manufacturers,
probably through
middlemen in this area.
Small amounts could be explained
by hijacking or raiding
government warehouses,
but nothing like this.
And knowing where
the stuff is coming from
is one thing,
putting a stop to it is another.
The only way to dry up a river
is to build a dam at the source.
Most of Capone's stuff
comes from New York,
from manufacturers in that area.
Then that's the place
to build your dam.
How many men will you need?
I'll take Allison and Rossi.
Excuse me.
Get me the federal district
attorney in New York.
I'll tell John Carvell
you're coming.
Yes, thank you.
How soon can you leave?
Tell him I'll be
there in the morning.
Good luck.
(phone rings)
Hello?
Yes, hello, John.
Beecher Asbury here.
WINCHELL: In a matter of hours,
Eliot Ness and Agents
Allison and Rossi
were on their way to New York.
There, they reported
at once to John Carvell,
the Federal District
Attorney for Manhattan,
the Bronx and the area on
both sides of the Hudson River.
I've had a couple of
men compiling a list
of manufacturers in my district,
along with the names of all
warehouses licensed and bonded
by the federal government
for storage and transshipment
of alcohol and
alcoholic beverages.
This should give us a line on
who's buying the stuff in quantity.
What's more important,
who's selling it to them.
Hmm. And when you find
that out, your toughest job
will be to prove that what
they're doing is illegal.
We'll sure try, Mr. Carvell.
Thanks for your help.
We'll be in touch.
All right.
Good-bye, Mr. Carvell.
Bye.
Oh, Miss Thompson,
will you get me Beecher
Asbury in Chicago, please?
Here's a list for each of us.
Cam, take that area.
Rico, that way.
WINCHELL: There were 52
government-bonded warehouses on the list
given to Ness by John Carvell.
For three days the federal
agents combed Manhattan,
Brooklyn and the Bronx checking,
questioning, examining.
The last name
on Eliot Ness' list
was the Eastside Warehouse
and Storage Company,
one of the largest
in New York City.
Be glad to show you
anything else you want to see.
Good.
The stuff you're looking
for is over this way.
We've been busy
around here lately.
Stuff's been going
through here so fast,
we can't hardly handle it.
Yeah, so I noticed.
Well, there it is.
This stuff being transshipped?
That's right.
When's it move out?
As soon as we get
the shipment order.
It's all from Brawley
Mills, too, huh?
Yes, sir.
That load I saw
going out as I came in,
was that alcohol?
Probably. You got the
manifest in your hand there.
Ah, yes, here it is.
5,000 gallons of alcohol
from Brawley Mills
to M&M Drug Company,
Cleveland, Ohio
via United Trucking Services.
5,000 gallons;
it's a lot of alky.
Oh, that's nothing.
I've seen shipments of
ten, maybe 20,00 gallons
go through here.
Really? You betcha.
When it comes to booze, brother,
there ain't no depression.
You think this stuff is
going to bootleggers?
You're the one
who said it, not me.
Somebody has to say
it. It might as well be me.
WINCHELL: A thorough
check of the warehouses
had shown that more
than 50% of the alcohol
shipped from the New York area
was manufactured
by Brawley Mills,
one of the country's
largest and most respected
food-processing firms.
Most of this legally
manufactured alcohol
was finding its way
into the illegal hands
of the Capone mob.
The next step was to
discover if the executives
of the Brawley Mills
Company knew or if they cared.
You'll notice every
drop of this stuff
is hauled by United
Trucking Service.
I noticed that.
And I picked up
some very interesting
information on that outfit.
You think this is
enough to go on?
Brawley Mills is
the biggest company
of its kind in the world.
If you ask me,
they're also the
biggest bootleggers.
What'd you start to say
about United Trucking?
Well, it's owned by Tommy Hanes,
the most powerful
politician in New York City.
Also the most crooked.
He's a political protector
of Johnny Torrio
and Lucky Luciano.
The light begin to
shine through now?
It sure does.
If they know it or not,
Brawley Mills is doing business
with the top gangsters
in the country.
What's our next move?
We play being detective.
Dig up everything you
can on United Trucking
and Tommy Hanes.
I'll take a run up to Brawley
in the morning myself.
WINCHELL: The following
morning, Eliot Ness drove
to Brawley, New York, a
small city on the Hudson River
near West Point.
I'm Eliot Ness.
I have an appointment
with Mr. Duncan.
WINCHELL: Ness' appointment was
with the president of Brawley Mills...
His name: E. Carlton
Duncan... And the vice president
and general sales
manager, Brooks Wells.
Mr. Duncan will
be in in a moment.
Fine.
Oh, well, I am sorry to
have kept you waiting...
Mr. "Ness."
It's quite all right.
My secretary tells me
that you're interested
in checking our alcohol
sales procedures, eh?
That's right.
Well, Mr. Wells here,
our sales manager,
is more familiar with that
phase of our procedure
than I am.
I'm sure he'd be glad to
answer any of your questions.
I'll try to be brief.
Investigation shows that large
amounts of alcohol manufactured
by Brawley Mills is getting
into the hands of Chicago
gangsters and bootleggers.
I was wondering if
you'd care to comment.
Well, I can't imagine how.
We certainly...
Brooks, let me
answer that question.
Mr. Ness, Brawley Mills
products are handled
by more than 350,000
stores and agencies
of various kinds.
My interest is confined
to your alcohol
customers, Mr. Duncan.
Yes, yes, yes. I
was coming to that.
Most of the alcohol we
make we use ourselves.
It goes into our food flavors:
vanilla, lemon
extract and so forth.
Our federal permit allows us
to sell any excess.
A limited amount goes
to certain drug, perfume
and cosmetic
dealers, all of them
regular customers of ours. And just
how much would you say was a limited
amount, Mr. Duncan?
Hmm. Well, I don't know,
without the figures before me.
Perhaps a half
a million gallons.
500,000 gallons?
Isn't that a rather
large excess,
Mr. Duncan?
It represents a gross
of about $5 million.
In the overall volume of
sales of Brawley products,
well, that's a very
modest amount.
Wouldn't you say so, Brooks?
Yes, I would, Mr. Duncan.
It's not a modest
amount when it passes
into the hands of
the Capone mob.
$5 million worth of alcohol
becomes $100 million
worth of bootleg booze.
I'd still like to know
how they get their hands on it.
Mr. Ness,
what our customers
do with our merchandise
after we sell it to them is
their business, not ours.
Yes, yes, yes, per... perhaps a
certain amount does find its way
into illegal uses.
I wouldn't know about that.
(chuckles)
Might be a good
thing if I did, eh?
Certainly improve
the quality of the liquor
on the market, huh?
Perhaps it'll be simpler
if I ask the federal grand jury
to subpoena the
Brawley Mills books.
That way, we can ascertain
just who your customers are
and begin the
investigation from there.
That won't be
necessary, Mr. Ness.
Our books are always open
to government examination.
Would it be possible
to bring some government
accountants here tomorrow?
Certainly.
I'll tell our comptroller
to expect you.
Thank you, Mr. Duncan.
I'll be here first
thing in the morning.
Good-bye, Mr. Wells.
WINCHELL: Eliot
Ness wasted no time.
Taking E. Carlton
Duncan at his word,
he returned the following
morning with a battery
of government accountants.
Ledger by ledger, the
books were examined,
but as Duncan had predicted,
everything was in order...
except for one seemingly
insignificant item.
Here's a little item
that caught my eye.
"10,000 gallons of Brawley
Mills alcohol will be delivered
to the Lorelei Perfume Company
in Chicago day after tomorrow."
Is that supposed
to mean something?
The address is 816
South Halsted Street.
816? Wait a minute.
Didn't we raid that
address about a year ago?
We sure did.
It's one of
Capone's alky fronts.
Well, let's put a tail
on that shipment.
Let's do better than that.
We'll go back to Chicago
and arrange a welcome for it.
WINCHELL: The following
morning, Ness, Rossi and Allison
flew back to Chicago
to prepare a reception
for the shipment they
knew was on its way.
Shouldn't be much longer.
Look.
(horn honks three times)
That was a Capone truck.
It was Guillermo Torrio,
Johnny Torrio's nephew,
sitting next to the driver.
United Trucking Service
ought to be pulling in
any minute to meet it.
We'll wait.
(horn honks three times)
Let's move.
We'll wait till they transfer
the stuff to the Capone truck.
Saves having to do it ourselves.
Do we bust in? No.
Cam, give it three
beeps on the horn.
Might work at that.
(horn honking three times)
Get set.
Federal officers.
Stay where you are.
This is a raid.
It's Ness. Get him.
(groans)
Keep your hands in the air.
ROSSI: Let's move out.
Get moving.
Call police headquarters.
Have them send the
morgue wagon. Right.
Bill, you and Rossman
take the trucks.
We'll handle the prisoners.
Right.
Come on. You three, let's go!
WINCHELL: While Guillermo
Torrio lay dead on the floor
of a warehouse at
816 Halsted Street,
his uncle, the man who
sent Al Capone to Chicago
was attending a gay
birthday party in a private room
at the Club Diablo
in New York City.
Guillermo's uncle
was the notorious
gangland leader Johnny Torrio.
(piano playing "Happy Birthday")
Everybody, quiet, quiet,
quiet, quiet, everybody, quiet.
We're going to sing
the birthday song.
(knocking)
First, I'm going to blow
out those 96 candles.
(laughter)
Happy birthday, Johnny.
(laughter and cheering)
Oh, go on.
What?
Quiet! Quiet!
Don't nobody sing.
Don't nobody
sing till I get back.
I got to answer the telephone.
Get out of my
way, will you, guys?
(cheering)
Let's have a party.
(cheering, laughing)
Start the conversation.
Guillermo?
You sure?
How'd it happen?
(cheering continues)
Little Guillermo was only a kid.
Look, look, I-I got
to hang up now.
Somebody's going
to pay for this.
Somebody's going to pay plenty!
(thud)
Come down off of there.
MAN: What a party!
WINCHELL: The following day,
Ness, Allison and Rossi
returned to New York.
Ness was certain that the
death of Guillermo Torrio
and the capture of
$100,000 worth of alcohol
would force the Torrio-Capone
syndicate into action.
And this report sums
it all up, Mr. Carvell.
Hmm, you stirred up
quite a hornet's nest.
Proved our point.
The Torrio-Hanes-Luciano
mob is tied up with Brawley Mills.
You know, it's
fantastic to think
that a tremendous
organization like Brawley
would be affiliated
with gangsters.
These are fantastic
times, Mr. Carvell.
There's no argument there.
Well, what's next
on your program?
I sent Rossi up to Brawley to
keep an eye on things up there
while Allison and I work the
other side of the street down here.
Just be careful.
Because you're
up against an outfit
with powerful
political connections.
We'll try not to
step on any toes
that don't deserve stepping on.
Good-bye, sir. Good luck.
And now back to...
WINCHELL: While Enrico
Rossi was working undercover
to find out what he could
about the offices of Brawley Mills,
Ness and Cam Allison
had staked out the
Royal Arden Hotel,
where Lucky Luciano
had his headquarters.
(horn honking)
I think the meeting's
about to break up.
You see Johnny Torrio?
No. But a couple
of the smaller fry
were hanging
around like something
very important
was on the agenda.
Maybe there is. Look.
I see Torrio.
But who are the other
two guys with him?
Must be his bodyguards.
That meeting must
be pretty urgent
to bring Johnny
Torrio out in daylight.
I'm sure it wasn't
a social call.
Maybe what we did in Chicago
had something to do with it.
There's one way to find out.
Let's go.
WINCHELL: Eliot
Ness and Cam Allison
trailed the gangsters
from New York
to a road house speakeasy
called the Dew Drop Inn
on the outskirts of Brawley.
Not wanting to
reveal themselves,
and according to a prearranged
plan, they went directly
to Agent Rossi's hotel.
(car drives away)
(jazz music playing inside)
Hello, Eliot.
I followed Duncan
and Wells to the spot,
and who do you think
just drove up and went in?
I know, Cam and I
tailed him from New York.
Stick there, but be careful.
We'll wait for you here.
Right.
That's for my nephew, Guillermo.
That's for 10,000 gallons
of alky and two trucks.
MAN: Please don't...
That's for tipping
off Eliot Ness.
That's enough. No more.
You think I'm stupid?
I wouldn't tell Ness anything.
Ness came to see you, didn't he?
Yeah, yeah, sure, Johnny.
The very next day, he
flew out to Chicago, right?
All right, what does that prove?
I'll tell you what it proves!
As soon as he got
there he set a trap
of 10,000 gallons of alky
and gunned down
my nephew Guillermo.
Yeah, Johnny, we
read about Guillermo.
I'm sorry, I'm...
Now, Brooks, you see
that we send flowers.
You see that we
send lots of flowers.
It's going to take
more than flowers.
You must have said
something or done something.
No, Johnny, I swear I didn't.
Look, ask Brooks.
Brooks was there.
Brooks, did I say anything?
You think I'd take the
word of that drunken bum?
The books... it must
have been the books.
The books, of course.
You know Ness always
goes for the books.
You let him have a look at 'em.
I couldn't help
it. He's gonna ask
for a grand jury investigation!
Why you fool... you stupid fool.
Why do you think we
let you play big shot?
If we didn't need
you to play big shot,
you'd be fishing
in a concrete boat.
Look, Johnny, please...
Now you listen to me.
You shut up and you listen good.
First thing you do tomorrow
is put back that alky.
For free.
Yeah, sure, sure,
Johnny. Anything you say.
Then you pay Haynes
ten G for his trucks.
To Guillermo's mama
you give 100 grand.
One more thing.
From now on, instead
of 150 grand a month
you're going to
give us 300 grand.
That's right, 300 grand.
Johnny, I-I can't
get any more money.
Already I paid over $30 million
of the company's money.
It's your business to pay
and my business to collect.
You know what happens
if you don't pay, Aristide?
Yeah.
Sure, Johnny.
I need a little more time to
get the rest of the money.
I've only got $150,000 in here.
Vince, take care of it.
Pigs... swine... butchers...
Choke on the money.
(hammer cocks)
Well, if we've got to choke,
I can't think of nothing better
to choke on then money.
Can you, boys?
(laughing)
You have the rest of
the money by tomorrow.
Martin will stay
around to pick it up.
(music, raucous
laughter in distance)
You drunken fool.
You idiot.
Why'd you have to tell
them about the books?
What difference does it make?
Could get us both killed.
We're dead anyway.
Where you going?
To get drunk.
(music plays
faintly in distance)
(playing slow jazz)
Hey.
A double.
Better take it easy,
hadn't you, Mr. Wells?
Don't tell me what to do.
Bring me the bottle.
You're the doctor.
There you are, Mr. Wells.
Keep the change.
Thank you.
Mind if I sit down, Mr. Wells?
I know you?
We never met.
My name's Angelo...
Angelo Fusseli.
Italiano, huh?
That's right.
Max, tell the band
to play "Bella Napoli."
Sit down.
Napoli's a beautiful city.
You're from Napoli, huh?
Are you Italian, too?
Shh.
With a name like Wells?
Names can be changed.
(band playing "Bella
Napoli") Have a drink.
But everybody in Brawley
knows you as Brooks Wells.
Sure, Brooks Wells,
big shot vice president.
Lots of money, lots of friends.
You want to know something?
It's all a lie.
Big lie.
Anything the matter, Mr. Wells?
Can't a man get a little drunk
without something
being the matter?
Sure, he can.
("Bella Napoli" playing)
Give me a shot of
bourbon. Angelo, my friend...
you need a drink... a big drink.
Who's the guy with Brooks Wells?
I don't know. I never
saw him before.
Oh, I'm drunk, paisano.
Believe me, I'm drunk.
I want to stay this way
till I don't feel
anything anymore.
If there's anything I can do...
There's nothing anybody can do.
They're too big, too powerful.
Did you ever see a grown
man whipped, slapped...
humiliated, degraded?
(door opens and
closes) Thieves, butchers,
murderers, that's what they are.
And the biggest thief,
the biggest butcher
is that Torrio.
I'll bust you, Torrio.
(glass shatters)
I'll bust you, Torrio.
Mr. Wells? He's drunk.
We better put him in a cab.
You know where he lives?
Yeah, a big white house a
couple of blocks down the street.
Help me take him outside.
Easy does it, Mr. Wells.
(combo playing slow jazz)
Vince, let me talk
to Johnny right away.
I'll bust ya! I'll bust ya...!
That Torrio... is a butcher.
I'll bust you, Torrio.
I'll bust you, Torrio.
Hello, Johnny.
Now listen, Wells was
talking to one of Ness' men.
Yeah, yeah, his name was Rossi.
Sure, I'm sure. I recognized
him from Chicago.
That drunken jerk was
blabbing his head off.
Yelling and cursing your
name all over the place.
Yeah.
Yeah, okay, Johnny.
WINCHELL: Rossi went
at once to report to Ness
on the results of his
encounter with Brooks Wells.
And he was just opening up
on the subject of Johnny Torrio
when he passed out.
Sounds like a real alcoholic.
If he is, he should be easy to
break down under questioning.
I think it's worth a try.
This could be the
break we're looking for.
Let's pick him up, now.
(mumbling)
Torrio... Butcher...
I swear...
(muttering)
(sobbing and muttering)
(muttering)
(brakes squeak)
(footsteps)
Hold it.
WINCHELL: The Untouchables
were a moment too late.
All of the answers
to Ness' questions
had gone down the drain
with Brooks Wells' blood.
The brutal gang-style murder
of the Brawley Mills executive
had established a connection
between the huge corporation
and the crime
syndicate beyond doubt.
But any possibility
of early proof
had been eliminated
along with Brooks Wells.
One thing is certain...
Wells was not his real name.
He spoke Italian too well.
Like a native.
There's nothing in the files
under the name of Brooks Wells.
It's hard to believe
a man in his position
was a criminal.
He sure died like one.
Whatever his name was, if
he was ever booked anywhere
his fingerprints will be on file
in Washington.
While waiting for the report,
I think I'll try E.
Carlton Duncan again.
Maybe the shock of
what happened to Wells
will make him more cooperative.
WINCHELL: Leaving
Allison and Rossi to await
the fingerprint report
from Washington,
Ness drove alone to Brawley.
At almost the same hour...
E. Carlton Duncan delivered
the penalty payments
to the Dew Drop Inn in person
as he had been
ordered by Johnny Torrio.
Everything in there?
Take care of Haynes?
Guillermo's mama?
Alky shipped?
I asked if the alky was shipped.
Yeah, yeah, sure, Johnny.
Okay, we go.
There you are, Vince.
Johnny. Uh... Uh... please,
before you go, why?
Why did they do that to Brooks?
You ask me a straight question,
I give you a straight answer.
He asked for it, and he got it.
Why? What did he do?
He was a drunken bum.
Sooner or later a bum who
knows too much begins to talk.
This one talked to
one of Ness' men,
so now the score is even.
And don't you forget,
you cost me a nephew.
Johnny... it was an accident.
I said the score was
even. Now, that's a warning.
Oh... (nervous chuckle)
Now you don't have to
worry about me, Johnny.
Haven't I proven
to you that I'm loyal?
Do-Don't I always take good care
of you and the other principals?
Yeah, sure, you
take good care of us...
or we'll take care
of you, right, Vince?
So long as you
do as you're told,
come up with the dough on
time, keep your mouth shut,
we'll get along fine.
Won't we... Aristide?
WINCHELL: When Duncan
returned to his office at Brawley Mills,
he found Eliot Ness waiting.
(knocking)
Mr. Duncan, Mr. Ness
is waiting to see you.
Well, I don't want to see him.
Get rid of him.
Yes, sir.
I'll try not to take too much of
your valuable time, Mr. Duncan.
All right, Miss Evans.
I have no information
to give you, Mr. Ness.
Well, perhaps I have
some to give you.
Please be brief.
The vice president of this
organization was killed by gangsters.
Do you know why?
Of course not.
I've already told the local
police everything I know.
Have you, Mr. Duncan?
What do you mean by that?
And how does this concern you?
Murder is not a federal matter.
It is when a conspiracy exists
to violate the Volstead Act.
Did you know that Brooks
Wells is not his real name?
That he was associated
with Johnny Torrio?
That's absurd.
Wells was rubbed
out, Mr. Duncan,
because he knew too
much and was ready to talk.
Whoever had him silenced
silenced him too late.
Now you're going to have to
explain to a federal grand jury
why Brawley Mills is selling
alcohol to bootleggers.
And why company
executives are consorting
with known gangsters
like Johnny Torrio.
That's outrageous.
You've no proof of
such an accusation.
I'm going to friends
in Washington.
They'll break you, Ness.
You can't threaten me
and get away with it.
It's not a threat, Mr. Duncan...
it's more like a promise.
Good day, sir.
WINCHELL: E. Carlton
Duncan wasted no time.
He went immediately
to the Dew Drop Inn
for another conference
with Johnny Torrio.
You have got to believe me.
You've got to believe me,
I see the handwriting
on the wall.
This whole business is
beginning to tick like a time bomb.
It's getting ready to
blow right up in our faces.
Why? Why should it
blow up in our faces?
Because I think that Ness
has found out about Brooks.
And if he's found
out about Brooks,
he's going to find out about me.
Ness couldn't have found no record on
you or Brooks, 'cause there ain't none.
Tommy Haynes took
care of that a long time ago.
Then how did he know
about Brooks? Answer me that.
Ness was bluffing.
It's just one of his tricks.
No, no, no, no, he isn't.
He suspects the truth.
He's going to keep
on until he gets it.
Well, what do you want
we should do about it?
I want to quit... disappear.
Why?
Why should you want to run?
You're a big man,
president of a big company,
Got a big office, a big house.
I got nothing.
I've been running this
thing for you for five years,
and what have I gotten
out of it? Not a dime.
What do you want, I should
have tears in my eyes?
Okay, I got tears in my eyes.
No, I don't want any sympathy.
I just want one simple favor.
Let me grab a few
hundred thousand for myself
and disappear.
That... th-that's
not too much to ask
after all I've done
for you, for all of you.
Please, Johnny.
I'm begging.
The answer's no.
All right.
Then I'm through with you.
I'm through with all of you.
I'm through with you
and Haynes and Capone.
I'm going to go
to the grand jury,
and I'm going to
tell them everything.
I'll name names until the
record looks like the city directory.
Why, you lousy punk.
You open your mouth
and you'll never live
long enough to close it.
You'll get the same
as Wells, but quick.
No, no, Johnny, no.
Now you listen and listen good,
'cause I'm only
gonna say it once.
Before we close the
door on this party,
you're gonna do
one more job for us.
Anything you say, Johnny.
I say one million bucks.
One million?
That's impossible.
I, I could never
get away with it.
Nothing is impossible
for a big man like you.
Well, wha-what about Ness?
We'll take care of Ness.
That's a promise.
This ain't Chicago.
I'll need time to get
that much money.
Sure, take all
the time you want.
Take 24 hours.
Have that dough
here tomorrow night.
I'll do my best.
Vince... keep an eye
on him. He may run.
WINCHELL: The following
morning, Eliot Ness was summoned
to the federal district
attorney's office
and found that the strange
case of Brawley Mills
had broken wide open.
Word had just been
received from Washington
that fingerprints taken from
the murdered Brooks Wells
matched those of
a convicted swindler
whose name was Demos Brittano.
Demos Brittano.
Now we're getting somewhere.
"Convicted 1916: embezzlement.
"Convicted of same
crime at same time
"as brother Aristide Brittano.
For full information, see
New York City Police."
Thanks, Mr. Carvell.
WINCHELL: Ness rushed to
New York Police Headquarters,
where he was to receive
a temporary setback.
The names of the
Brittano brothers
and the date of their
arrest were indexed,
but all records,
including their rogues
gallery photographs,
had been removed from the files.
Someone used a lot
of political influence
to get that job done.
Tommy Hanes?
Could be.
There's still one
place you can check.
Where's that? The Tombs Prison.
The Brittanos must have
spent some time there,
even if it was only
while they were waiting
to put up bail.
It's worth a check. Thanks.
You're welcome.
WINCHELL: At the
New York County Jail,
known throughout the
world as "The Tombs,"
Ness met Deputy
Warden Charles Carroll,
who had a strong recollection
of the older Brittano
brother called "Aristide."
Ah, sure, Aristide
served his time here;
four years.
You see, he was a stool
pigeon for the district attorney.
That's why they never sent him
off to Sing-Sing or Dannemora.
You know a place like this
is a lot easier on the con
than a state prison.
What about his brother Demos?
Well, now he spent
about a month here
as I recall.
You see, Aristide took the rap
for both of them
when he pleaded guilty.
Now this is the record
room we're looking for.
You know, I remember one time...
Let me see... back in 1916,
in 1917 I think it was.
They put a guy in with Aristide.
They wanted to see
if Aristide'd get him
to open up and talk,
you know. Mm-hmm.
Ah, he was too smart for him.
You know, Brittano couldn't
get a word out of him?
Who was the man?
Johnny Torrio.
Mind you, this was
before he went on
to become a big-time hoodlum.
There. Here we are.
This is Demos Brittano?
That's right.
This is Aristide Brittano.
This should clinch it.
E. Carlton Duncan, Aristide
Brittano are one and the same.
Well, you know,
you can borrow those
if you want to.
Thanks.
WINCHELL: With final proof
of E. Carlton Duncan's identity
in their hands,
Ness and the Untouchables
drove immediately
to the Brawley Mills,
only to be informed that
Duncan had gone to his home.
Mr. Duncan,
I have a federal
warrant for your arrest.
Are you going
somewhere, Mr. Duncan?
I have nothing to say
until I consult my attorney.
Very well.
Does this money belong
to you or the company?
I have nothing to say
until I consult my attorney.
When you consult your
attorney, Mr. Duncan...
I suggest you use
your right name:
Aristide Brittano.
Okay.
All right, Mr. Ness...
I'll tell you whatever
you want to know.
I am Aristide Brittano.
And Brooks Wells was
your brother Demos.
He was.
This money, were
you paying blackmail?
Yes, but I want you to
know that I bought control
of Brawley Mills
with my own money,
and I made money
for the stockholders.
I'm a good businessman.
How much have you
stolen from the stockholders
for Johnny Torrio
and the syndicate?
That was a mistake.
That was all a terrible mistake.
You see, I went to
him to sell the alcohol.
Well, he helped me
sell quite a lot of it.
Only trouble was he
knew about my record;
who I really was.
And he's been
blackmailing you ever since.
Yes, he, Tommy Hanes,
Capone, my principals.
(chuckles ruefully)
My beloved principals.
Between them, they've taken
nearly $30 million from me.
You mean from Brawley Mills.
Yes, from Brawley Mills.
Mr. Brittano... Please,
call me "Duncan."
I'm used to that name.
You realize you're
going to prison,
possibly for a long time?
Yes.
If you're willing to
testify for the government
against Torrio and Hanes...
Testify? I-I couldn't
testify against them.
They'd kill me first.
Mr. Ness, I-I couldn't do it.
You'd be protected;
guarded day and night.
You could never
protect me against them.
You have no alternative.
Mr. Duncan, it's
your only choice.
Only choice.
All right, Mr. Ness.
Now, Torrio says not to miss.
We're to get 'em all:
Ness, Duncan, all.
Cam, check the suitcases
while I call Carvell.
New York City Federal
District Attorney John Carvell.
No, no, his residence.
(screams)
♪ ♪
WINCHELL: E. Carlton
Duncan, born "Aristide Brittano,"
never lived to testify
against his principals.
His death ended
one of the most notorious
swindles of modern time.
But Eliot Ness had accomplished
what he set out to do.
He ended the supply
of illegal alcohol
going from the East to the
Capone mob in Chicago,
and he saved Brawley
Mills from bankruptcy
by stopping the fantastic
drainage of its assets...
A drainage that
exceeded $30 million.
The Untouchables.
Stay where you are!
This is a raid!
MAN: It's Ness! Get him!
(groans)
Keep your hands in the air!
(theme music plays)
Tonight's episode...
Starring Robert
Stack as Eliot Ness.
Co-starring Henry Jones...
Charles McGraw...
and Edward Andrews.
And narrated by Walter Winchell.
WALTER WINCHELL: 1931
found America and the world
hitting the depths
of depression.
Men begged for jobs when
there were none to be had.
In the larger cities,
bread lines formed
and soup kitchens fed the
hungry and the homeless.
Apples were sold
on street corners.
But 1931 also saw man
soaring to the heights.
The Empire State Building
was rising 1,400 feet
to tower above the
island of Manhattan.
In Chicago, Eliot Ness
and his Untouchables
had cracked the bootleg
empire of Al Capone,
only to learn that thousands
of gallons of illegal alcohol
were flowing into the city
from some mysterious source.
Ness took his problem
to Beecher Asbury,
the federal district attorney.
There's enough of this
stuff pouring into Chicago
to float the entire Navy.
All top quality, 190-proof
pure grain alcohol.
It must be coming
from the East Coast.
(splashing)
The name's stamped
right on the can:
"Brawley Mills,
Brawley, New York."
I took the trouble to
have an analysis made.
"Sample submitted:
190-proof, pure grain spirits.
"It was undoubtedly distilled
by a reputable manufacturer
"operating under a United
States government permit.
"Absence of lethal
denaturants is proof
"that it was intended
for human consumption.
"Signed A.O. Walters,
"Director Analytical Laboratory,
Public Health Service,
Chicago, Illinois."
Capone must have
found a way of buying
from some of the big
Eastern manufacturers,
probably through
middlemen in this area.
Small amounts could be explained
by hijacking or raiding
government warehouses,
but nothing like this.
And knowing where
the stuff is coming from
is one thing,
putting a stop to it is another.
The only way to dry up a river
is to build a dam at the source.
Most of Capone's stuff
comes from New York,
from manufacturers in that area.
Then that's the place
to build your dam.
How many men will you need?
I'll take Allison and Rossi.
Excuse me.
Get me the federal district
attorney in New York.
I'll tell John Carvell
you're coming.
Yes, thank you.
How soon can you leave?
Tell him I'll be
there in the morning.
Good luck.
(phone rings)
Hello?
Yes, hello, John.
Beecher Asbury here.
WINCHELL: In a matter of hours,
Eliot Ness and Agents
Allison and Rossi
were on their way to New York.
There, they reported
at once to John Carvell,
the Federal District
Attorney for Manhattan,
the Bronx and the area on
both sides of the Hudson River.
I've had a couple of
men compiling a list
of manufacturers in my district,
along with the names of all
warehouses licensed and bonded
by the federal government
for storage and transshipment
of alcohol and
alcoholic beverages.
This should give us a line on
who's buying the stuff in quantity.
What's more important,
who's selling it to them.
Hmm. And when you find
that out, your toughest job
will be to prove that what
they're doing is illegal.
We'll sure try, Mr. Carvell.
Thanks for your help.
We'll be in touch.
All right.
Good-bye, Mr. Carvell.
Bye.
Oh, Miss Thompson,
will you get me Beecher
Asbury in Chicago, please?
Here's a list for each of us.
Cam, take that area.
Rico, that way.
WINCHELL: There were 52
government-bonded warehouses on the list
given to Ness by John Carvell.
For three days the federal
agents combed Manhattan,
Brooklyn and the Bronx checking,
questioning, examining.
The last name
on Eliot Ness' list
was the Eastside Warehouse
and Storage Company,
one of the largest
in New York City.
Be glad to show you
anything else you want to see.
Good.
The stuff you're looking
for is over this way.
We've been busy
around here lately.
Stuff's been going
through here so fast,
we can't hardly handle it.
Yeah, so I noticed.
Well, there it is.
This stuff being transshipped?
That's right.
When's it move out?
As soon as we get
the shipment order.
It's all from Brawley
Mills, too, huh?
Yes, sir.
That load I saw
going out as I came in,
was that alcohol?
Probably. You got the
manifest in your hand there.
Ah, yes, here it is.
5,000 gallons of alcohol
from Brawley Mills
to M&M Drug Company,
Cleveland, Ohio
via United Trucking Services.
5,000 gallons;
it's a lot of alky.
Oh, that's nothing.
I've seen shipments of
ten, maybe 20,00 gallons
go through here.
Really? You betcha.
When it comes to booze, brother,
there ain't no depression.
You think this stuff is
going to bootleggers?
You're the one
who said it, not me.
Somebody has to say
it. It might as well be me.
WINCHELL: A thorough
check of the warehouses
had shown that more
than 50% of the alcohol
shipped from the New York area
was manufactured
by Brawley Mills,
one of the country's
largest and most respected
food-processing firms.
Most of this legally
manufactured alcohol
was finding its way
into the illegal hands
of the Capone mob.
The next step was to
discover if the executives
of the Brawley Mills
Company knew or if they cared.
You'll notice every
drop of this stuff
is hauled by United
Trucking Service.
I noticed that.
And I picked up
some very interesting
information on that outfit.
You think this is
enough to go on?
Brawley Mills is
the biggest company
of its kind in the world.
If you ask me,
they're also the
biggest bootleggers.
What'd you start to say
about United Trucking?
Well, it's owned by Tommy Hanes,
the most powerful
politician in New York City.
Also the most crooked.
He's a political protector
of Johnny Torrio
and Lucky Luciano.
The light begin to
shine through now?
It sure does.
If they know it or not,
Brawley Mills is doing business
with the top gangsters
in the country.
What's our next move?
We play being detective.
Dig up everything you
can on United Trucking
and Tommy Hanes.
I'll take a run up to Brawley
in the morning myself.
WINCHELL: The following
morning, Eliot Ness drove
to Brawley, New York, a
small city on the Hudson River
near West Point.
I'm Eliot Ness.
I have an appointment
with Mr. Duncan.
WINCHELL: Ness' appointment was
with the president of Brawley Mills...
His name: E. Carlton
Duncan... And the vice president
and general sales
manager, Brooks Wells.
Mr. Duncan will
be in in a moment.
Fine.
Oh, well, I am sorry to
have kept you waiting...
Mr. "Ness."
It's quite all right.
My secretary tells me
that you're interested
in checking our alcohol
sales procedures, eh?
That's right.
Well, Mr. Wells here,
our sales manager,
is more familiar with that
phase of our procedure
than I am.
I'm sure he'd be glad to
answer any of your questions.
I'll try to be brief.
Investigation shows that large
amounts of alcohol manufactured
by Brawley Mills is getting
into the hands of Chicago
gangsters and bootleggers.
I was wondering if
you'd care to comment.
Well, I can't imagine how.
We certainly...
Brooks, let me
answer that question.
Mr. Ness, Brawley Mills
products are handled
by more than 350,000
stores and agencies
of various kinds.
My interest is confined
to your alcohol
customers, Mr. Duncan.
Yes, yes, yes. I
was coming to that.
Most of the alcohol we
make we use ourselves.
It goes into our food flavors:
vanilla, lemon
extract and so forth.
Our federal permit allows us
to sell any excess.
A limited amount goes
to certain drug, perfume
and cosmetic
dealers, all of them
regular customers of ours. And just
how much would you say was a limited
amount, Mr. Duncan?
Hmm. Well, I don't know,
without the figures before me.
Perhaps a half
a million gallons.
500,000 gallons?
Isn't that a rather
large excess,
Mr. Duncan?
It represents a gross
of about $5 million.
In the overall volume of
sales of Brawley products,
well, that's a very
modest amount.
Wouldn't you say so, Brooks?
Yes, I would, Mr. Duncan.
It's not a modest
amount when it passes
into the hands of
the Capone mob.
$5 million worth of alcohol
becomes $100 million
worth of bootleg booze.
I'd still like to know
how they get their hands on it.
Mr. Ness,
what our customers
do with our merchandise
after we sell it to them is
their business, not ours.
Yes, yes, yes, per... perhaps a
certain amount does find its way
into illegal uses.
I wouldn't know about that.
(chuckles)
Might be a good
thing if I did, eh?
Certainly improve
the quality of the liquor
on the market, huh?
Perhaps it'll be simpler
if I ask the federal grand jury
to subpoena the
Brawley Mills books.
That way, we can ascertain
just who your customers are
and begin the
investigation from there.
That won't be
necessary, Mr. Ness.
Our books are always open
to government examination.
Would it be possible
to bring some government
accountants here tomorrow?
Certainly.
I'll tell our comptroller
to expect you.
Thank you, Mr. Duncan.
I'll be here first
thing in the morning.
Good-bye, Mr. Wells.
WINCHELL: Eliot
Ness wasted no time.
Taking E. Carlton
Duncan at his word,
he returned the following
morning with a battery
of government accountants.
Ledger by ledger, the
books were examined,
but as Duncan had predicted,
everything was in order...
except for one seemingly
insignificant item.
Here's a little item
that caught my eye.
"10,000 gallons of Brawley
Mills alcohol will be delivered
to the Lorelei Perfume Company
in Chicago day after tomorrow."
Is that supposed
to mean something?
The address is 816
South Halsted Street.
816? Wait a minute.
Didn't we raid that
address about a year ago?
We sure did.
It's one of
Capone's alky fronts.
Well, let's put a tail
on that shipment.
Let's do better than that.
We'll go back to Chicago
and arrange a welcome for it.
WINCHELL: The following
morning, Ness, Rossi and Allison
flew back to Chicago
to prepare a reception
for the shipment they
knew was on its way.
Shouldn't be much longer.
Look.
(horn honks three times)
That was a Capone truck.
It was Guillermo Torrio,
Johnny Torrio's nephew,
sitting next to the driver.
United Trucking Service
ought to be pulling in
any minute to meet it.
We'll wait.
(horn honks three times)
Let's move.
We'll wait till they transfer
the stuff to the Capone truck.
Saves having to do it ourselves.
Do we bust in? No.
Cam, give it three
beeps on the horn.
Might work at that.
(horn honking three times)
Get set.
Federal officers.
Stay where you are.
This is a raid.
It's Ness. Get him.
(groans)
Keep your hands in the air.
ROSSI: Let's move out.
Get moving.
Call police headquarters.
Have them send the
morgue wagon. Right.
Bill, you and Rossman
take the trucks.
We'll handle the prisoners.
Right.
Come on. You three, let's go!
WINCHELL: While Guillermo
Torrio lay dead on the floor
of a warehouse at
816 Halsted Street,
his uncle, the man who
sent Al Capone to Chicago
was attending a gay
birthday party in a private room
at the Club Diablo
in New York City.
Guillermo's uncle
was the notorious
gangland leader Johnny Torrio.
(piano playing "Happy Birthday")
Everybody, quiet, quiet,
quiet, quiet, everybody, quiet.
We're going to sing
the birthday song.
(knocking)
First, I'm going to blow
out those 96 candles.
(laughter)
Happy birthday, Johnny.
(laughter and cheering)
Oh, go on.
What?
Quiet! Quiet!
Don't nobody sing.
Don't nobody
sing till I get back.
I got to answer the telephone.
Get out of my
way, will you, guys?
(cheering)
Let's have a party.
(cheering, laughing)
Start the conversation.
Guillermo?
You sure?
How'd it happen?
(cheering continues)
Little Guillermo was only a kid.
Look, look, I-I got
to hang up now.
Somebody's going
to pay for this.
Somebody's going to pay plenty!
(thud)
Come down off of there.
MAN: What a party!
WINCHELL: The following day,
Ness, Allison and Rossi
returned to New York.
Ness was certain that the
death of Guillermo Torrio
and the capture of
$100,000 worth of alcohol
would force the Torrio-Capone
syndicate into action.
And this report sums
it all up, Mr. Carvell.
Hmm, you stirred up
quite a hornet's nest.
Proved our point.
The Torrio-Hanes-Luciano
mob is tied up with Brawley Mills.
You know, it's
fantastic to think
that a tremendous
organization like Brawley
would be affiliated
with gangsters.
These are fantastic
times, Mr. Carvell.
There's no argument there.
Well, what's next
on your program?
I sent Rossi up to Brawley to
keep an eye on things up there
while Allison and I work the
other side of the street down here.
Just be careful.
Because you're
up against an outfit
with powerful
political connections.
We'll try not to
step on any toes
that don't deserve stepping on.
Good-bye, sir. Good luck.
And now back to...
WINCHELL: While Enrico
Rossi was working undercover
to find out what he could
about the offices of Brawley Mills,
Ness and Cam Allison
had staked out the
Royal Arden Hotel,
where Lucky Luciano
had his headquarters.
(horn honking)
I think the meeting's
about to break up.
You see Johnny Torrio?
No. But a couple
of the smaller fry
were hanging
around like something
very important
was on the agenda.
Maybe there is. Look.
I see Torrio.
But who are the other
two guys with him?
Must be his bodyguards.
That meeting must
be pretty urgent
to bring Johnny
Torrio out in daylight.
I'm sure it wasn't
a social call.
Maybe what we did in Chicago
had something to do with it.
There's one way to find out.
Let's go.
WINCHELL: Eliot
Ness and Cam Allison
trailed the gangsters
from New York
to a road house speakeasy
called the Dew Drop Inn
on the outskirts of Brawley.
Not wanting to
reveal themselves,
and according to a prearranged
plan, they went directly
to Agent Rossi's hotel.
(car drives away)
(jazz music playing inside)
Hello, Eliot.
I followed Duncan
and Wells to the spot,
and who do you think
just drove up and went in?
I know, Cam and I
tailed him from New York.
Stick there, but be careful.
We'll wait for you here.
Right.
That's for my nephew, Guillermo.
That's for 10,000 gallons
of alky and two trucks.
MAN: Please don't...
That's for tipping
off Eliot Ness.
That's enough. No more.
You think I'm stupid?
I wouldn't tell Ness anything.
Ness came to see you, didn't he?
Yeah, yeah, sure, Johnny.
The very next day, he
flew out to Chicago, right?
All right, what does that prove?
I'll tell you what it proves!
As soon as he got
there he set a trap
of 10,000 gallons of alky
and gunned down
my nephew Guillermo.
Yeah, Johnny, we
read about Guillermo.
I'm sorry, I'm...
Now, Brooks, you see
that we send flowers.
You see that we
send lots of flowers.
It's going to take
more than flowers.
You must have said
something or done something.
No, Johnny, I swear I didn't.
Look, ask Brooks.
Brooks was there.
Brooks, did I say anything?
You think I'd take the
word of that drunken bum?
The books... it must
have been the books.
The books, of course.
You know Ness always
goes for the books.
You let him have a look at 'em.
I couldn't help
it. He's gonna ask
for a grand jury investigation!
Why you fool... you stupid fool.
Why do you think we
let you play big shot?
If we didn't need
you to play big shot,
you'd be fishing
in a concrete boat.
Look, Johnny, please...
Now you listen to me.
You shut up and you listen good.
First thing you do tomorrow
is put back that alky.
For free.
Yeah, sure, sure,
Johnny. Anything you say.
Then you pay Haynes
ten G for his trucks.
To Guillermo's mama
you give 100 grand.
One more thing.
From now on, instead
of 150 grand a month
you're going to
give us 300 grand.
That's right, 300 grand.
Johnny, I-I can't
get any more money.
Already I paid over $30 million
of the company's money.
It's your business to pay
and my business to collect.
You know what happens
if you don't pay, Aristide?
Yeah.
Sure, Johnny.
I need a little more time to
get the rest of the money.
I've only got $150,000 in here.
Vince, take care of it.
Pigs... swine... butchers...
Choke on the money.
(hammer cocks)
Well, if we've got to choke,
I can't think of nothing better
to choke on then money.
Can you, boys?
(laughing)
You have the rest of
the money by tomorrow.
Martin will stay
around to pick it up.
(music, raucous
laughter in distance)
You drunken fool.
You idiot.
Why'd you have to tell
them about the books?
What difference does it make?
Could get us both killed.
We're dead anyway.
Where you going?
To get drunk.
(music plays
faintly in distance)
(playing slow jazz)
Hey.
A double.
Better take it easy,
hadn't you, Mr. Wells?
Don't tell me what to do.
Bring me the bottle.
You're the doctor.
There you are, Mr. Wells.
Keep the change.
Thank you.
Mind if I sit down, Mr. Wells?
I know you?
We never met.
My name's Angelo...
Angelo Fusseli.
Italiano, huh?
That's right.
Max, tell the band
to play "Bella Napoli."
Sit down.
Napoli's a beautiful city.
You're from Napoli, huh?
Are you Italian, too?
Shh.
With a name like Wells?
Names can be changed.
(band playing "Bella
Napoli") Have a drink.
But everybody in Brawley
knows you as Brooks Wells.
Sure, Brooks Wells,
big shot vice president.
Lots of money, lots of friends.
You want to know something?
It's all a lie.
Big lie.
Anything the matter, Mr. Wells?
Can't a man get a little drunk
without something
being the matter?
Sure, he can.
("Bella Napoli" playing)
Give me a shot of
bourbon. Angelo, my friend...
you need a drink... a big drink.
Who's the guy with Brooks Wells?
I don't know. I never
saw him before.
Oh, I'm drunk, paisano.
Believe me, I'm drunk.
I want to stay this way
till I don't feel
anything anymore.
If there's anything I can do...
There's nothing anybody can do.
They're too big, too powerful.
Did you ever see a grown
man whipped, slapped...
humiliated, degraded?
(door opens and
closes) Thieves, butchers,
murderers, that's what they are.
And the biggest thief,
the biggest butcher
is that Torrio.
I'll bust you, Torrio.
(glass shatters)
I'll bust you, Torrio.
Mr. Wells? He's drunk.
We better put him in a cab.
You know where he lives?
Yeah, a big white house a
couple of blocks down the street.
Help me take him outside.
Easy does it, Mr. Wells.
(combo playing slow jazz)
Vince, let me talk
to Johnny right away.
I'll bust ya! I'll bust ya...!
That Torrio... is a butcher.
I'll bust you, Torrio.
I'll bust you, Torrio.
Hello, Johnny.
Now listen, Wells was
talking to one of Ness' men.
Yeah, yeah, his name was Rossi.
Sure, I'm sure. I recognized
him from Chicago.
That drunken jerk was
blabbing his head off.
Yelling and cursing your
name all over the place.
Yeah.
Yeah, okay, Johnny.
WINCHELL: Rossi went
at once to report to Ness
on the results of his
encounter with Brooks Wells.
And he was just opening up
on the subject of Johnny Torrio
when he passed out.
Sounds like a real alcoholic.
If he is, he should be easy to
break down under questioning.
I think it's worth a try.
This could be the
break we're looking for.
Let's pick him up, now.
(mumbling)
Torrio... Butcher...
I swear...
(muttering)
(sobbing and muttering)
(muttering)
(brakes squeak)
(footsteps)
Hold it.
WINCHELL: The Untouchables
were a moment too late.
All of the answers
to Ness' questions
had gone down the drain
with Brooks Wells' blood.
The brutal gang-style murder
of the Brawley Mills executive
had established a connection
between the huge corporation
and the crime
syndicate beyond doubt.
But any possibility
of early proof
had been eliminated
along with Brooks Wells.
One thing is certain...
Wells was not his real name.
He spoke Italian too well.
Like a native.
There's nothing in the files
under the name of Brooks Wells.
It's hard to believe
a man in his position
was a criminal.
He sure died like one.
Whatever his name was, if
he was ever booked anywhere
his fingerprints will be on file
in Washington.
While waiting for the report,
I think I'll try E.
Carlton Duncan again.
Maybe the shock of
what happened to Wells
will make him more cooperative.
WINCHELL: Leaving
Allison and Rossi to await
the fingerprint report
from Washington,
Ness drove alone to Brawley.
At almost the same hour...
E. Carlton Duncan delivered
the penalty payments
to the Dew Drop Inn in person
as he had been
ordered by Johnny Torrio.
Everything in there?
Take care of Haynes?
Guillermo's mama?
Alky shipped?
I asked if the alky was shipped.
Yeah, yeah, sure, Johnny.
Okay, we go.
There you are, Vince.
Johnny. Uh... Uh... please,
before you go, why?
Why did they do that to Brooks?
You ask me a straight question,
I give you a straight answer.
He asked for it, and he got it.
Why? What did he do?
He was a drunken bum.
Sooner or later a bum who
knows too much begins to talk.
This one talked to
one of Ness' men,
so now the score is even.
And don't you forget,
you cost me a nephew.
Johnny... it was an accident.
I said the score was
even. Now, that's a warning.
Oh... (nervous chuckle)
Now you don't have to
worry about me, Johnny.
Haven't I proven
to you that I'm loyal?
Do-Don't I always take good care
of you and the other principals?
Yeah, sure, you
take good care of us...
or we'll take care
of you, right, Vince?
So long as you
do as you're told,
come up with the dough on
time, keep your mouth shut,
we'll get along fine.
Won't we... Aristide?
WINCHELL: When Duncan
returned to his office at Brawley Mills,
he found Eliot Ness waiting.
(knocking)
Mr. Duncan, Mr. Ness
is waiting to see you.
Well, I don't want to see him.
Get rid of him.
Yes, sir.
I'll try not to take too much of
your valuable time, Mr. Duncan.
All right, Miss Evans.
I have no information
to give you, Mr. Ness.
Well, perhaps I have
some to give you.
Please be brief.
The vice president of this
organization was killed by gangsters.
Do you know why?
Of course not.
I've already told the local
police everything I know.
Have you, Mr. Duncan?
What do you mean by that?
And how does this concern you?
Murder is not a federal matter.
It is when a conspiracy exists
to violate the Volstead Act.
Did you know that Brooks
Wells is not his real name?
That he was associated
with Johnny Torrio?
That's absurd.
Wells was rubbed
out, Mr. Duncan,
because he knew too
much and was ready to talk.
Whoever had him silenced
silenced him too late.
Now you're going to have to
explain to a federal grand jury
why Brawley Mills is selling
alcohol to bootleggers.
And why company
executives are consorting
with known gangsters
like Johnny Torrio.
That's outrageous.
You've no proof of
such an accusation.
I'm going to friends
in Washington.
They'll break you, Ness.
You can't threaten me
and get away with it.
It's not a threat, Mr. Duncan...
it's more like a promise.
Good day, sir.
WINCHELL: E. Carlton
Duncan wasted no time.
He went immediately
to the Dew Drop Inn
for another conference
with Johnny Torrio.
You have got to believe me.
You've got to believe me,
I see the handwriting
on the wall.
This whole business is
beginning to tick like a time bomb.
It's getting ready to
blow right up in our faces.
Why? Why should it
blow up in our faces?
Because I think that Ness
has found out about Brooks.
And if he's found
out about Brooks,
he's going to find out about me.
Ness couldn't have found no record on
you or Brooks, 'cause there ain't none.
Tommy Haynes took
care of that a long time ago.
Then how did he know
about Brooks? Answer me that.
Ness was bluffing.
It's just one of his tricks.
No, no, no, no, he isn't.
He suspects the truth.
He's going to keep
on until he gets it.
Well, what do you want
we should do about it?
I want to quit... disappear.
Why?
Why should you want to run?
You're a big man,
president of a big company,
Got a big office, a big house.
I got nothing.
I've been running this
thing for you for five years,
and what have I gotten
out of it? Not a dime.
What do you want, I should
have tears in my eyes?
Okay, I got tears in my eyes.
No, I don't want any sympathy.
I just want one simple favor.
Let me grab a few
hundred thousand for myself
and disappear.
That... th-that's
not too much to ask
after all I've done
for you, for all of you.
Please, Johnny.
I'm begging.
The answer's no.
All right.
Then I'm through with you.
I'm through with all of you.
I'm through with you
and Haynes and Capone.
I'm going to go
to the grand jury,
and I'm going to
tell them everything.
I'll name names until the
record looks like the city directory.
Why, you lousy punk.
You open your mouth
and you'll never live
long enough to close it.
You'll get the same
as Wells, but quick.
No, no, Johnny, no.
Now you listen and listen good,
'cause I'm only
gonna say it once.
Before we close the
door on this party,
you're gonna do
one more job for us.
Anything you say, Johnny.
I say one million bucks.
One million?
That's impossible.
I, I could never
get away with it.
Nothing is impossible
for a big man like you.
Well, wha-what about Ness?
We'll take care of Ness.
That's a promise.
This ain't Chicago.
I'll need time to get
that much money.
Sure, take all
the time you want.
Take 24 hours.
Have that dough
here tomorrow night.
I'll do my best.
Vince... keep an eye
on him. He may run.
WINCHELL: The following
morning, Eliot Ness was summoned
to the federal district
attorney's office
and found that the strange
case of Brawley Mills
had broken wide open.
Word had just been
received from Washington
that fingerprints taken from
the murdered Brooks Wells
matched those of
a convicted swindler
whose name was Demos Brittano.
Demos Brittano.
Now we're getting somewhere.
"Convicted 1916: embezzlement.
"Convicted of same
crime at same time
"as brother Aristide Brittano.
For full information, see
New York City Police."
Thanks, Mr. Carvell.
WINCHELL: Ness rushed to
New York Police Headquarters,
where he was to receive
a temporary setback.
The names of the
Brittano brothers
and the date of their
arrest were indexed,
but all records,
including their rogues
gallery photographs,
had been removed from the files.
Someone used a lot
of political influence
to get that job done.
Tommy Hanes?
Could be.
There's still one
place you can check.
Where's that? The Tombs Prison.
The Brittanos must have
spent some time there,
even if it was only
while they were waiting
to put up bail.
It's worth a check. Thanks.
You're welcome.
WINCHELL: At the
New York County Jail,
known throughout the
world as "The Tombs,"
Ness met Deputy
Warden Charles Carroll,
who had a strong recollection
of the older Brittano
brother called "Aristide."
Ah, sure, Aristide
served his time here;
four years.
You see, he was a stool
pigeon for the district attorney.
That's why they never sent him
off to Sing-Sing or Dannemora.
You know a place like this
is a lot easier on the con
than a state prison.
What about his brother Demos?
Well, now he spent
about a month here
as I recall.
You see, Aristide took the rap
for both of them
when he pleaded guilty.
Now this is the record
room we're looking for.
You know, I remember one time...
Let me see... back in 1916,
in 1917 I think it was.
They put a guy in with Aristide.
They wanted to see
if Aristide'd get him
to open up and talk,
you know. Mm-hmm.
Ah, he was too smart for him.
You know, Brittano couldn't
get a word out of him?
Who was the man?
Johnny Torrio.
Mind you, this was
before he went on
to become a big-time hoodlum.
There. Here we are.
This is Demos Brittano?
That's right.
This is Aristide Brittano.
This should clinch it.
E. Carlton Duncan, Aristide
Brittano are one and the same.
Well, you know,
you can borrow those
if you want to.
Thanks.
WINCHELL: With final proof
of E. Carlton Duncan's identity
in their hands,
Ness and the Untouchables
drove immediately
to the Brawley Mills,
only to be informed that
Duncan had gone to his home.
Mr. Duncan,
I have a federal
warrant for your arrest.
Are you going
somewhere, Mr. Duncan?
I have nothing to say
until I consult my attorney.
Very well.
Does this money belong
to you or the company?
I have nothing to say
until I consult my attorney.
When you consult your
attorney, Mr. Duncan...
I suggest you use
your right name:
Aristide Brittano.
Okay.
All right, Mr. Ness...
I'll tell you whatever
you want to know.
I am Aristide Brittano.
And Brooks Wells was
your brother Demos.
He was.
This money, were
you paying blackmail?
Yes, but I want you to
know that I bought control
of Brawley Mills
with my own money,
and I made money
for the stockholders.
I'm a good businessman.
How much have you
stolen from the stockholders
for Johnny Torrio
and the syndicate?
That was a mistake.
That was all a terrible mistake.
You see, I went to
him to sell the alcohol.
Well, he helped me
sell quite a lot of it.
Only trouble was he
knew about my record;
who I really was.
And he's been
blackmailing you ever since.
Yes, he, Tommy Hanes,
Capone, my principals.
(chuckles ruefully)
My beloved principals.
Between them, they've taken
nearly $30 million from me.
You mean from Brawley Mills.
Yes, from Brawley Mills.
Mr. Brittano... Please,
call me "Duncan."
I'm used to that name.
You realize you're
going to prison,
possibly for a long time?
Yes.
If you're willing to
testify for the government
against Torrio and Hanes...
Testify? I-I couldn't
testify against them.
They'd kill me first.
Mr. Ness, I-I couldn't do it.
You'd be protected;
guarded day and night.
You could never
protect me against them.
You have no alternative.
Mr. Duncan, it's
your only choice.
Only choice.
All right, Mr. Ness.
Now, Torrio says not to miss.
We're to get 'em all:
Ness, Duncan, all.
Cam, check the suitcases
while I call Carvell.
New York City Federal
District Attorney John Carvell.
No, no, his residence.
(screams)
♪ ♪
WINCHELL: E. Carlton
Duncan, born "Aristide Brittano,"
never lived to testify
against his principals.
His death ended
one of the most notorious
swindles of modern time.
But Eliot Ness had accomplished
what he set out to do.
He ended the supply
of illegal alcohol
going from the East to the
Capone mob in Chicago,
and he saved Brawley
Mills from bankruptcy
by stopping the fantastic
drainage of its assets...
A drainage that
exceeded $30 million.
The Untouchables.