Frank Koza Collection > SERIES I: Newsfilm > SUBSERIES V: Crime & Law Enforcement

Touhy Killing

Transcript (Download)

In the case of Nathan F.

Leopold, Jr., a definite sentence parole has been granted.

The location and occupation of the subject will be investigated by parole supervision immediately.

Well, that's good.

You're still a young man.

You can go out and make a lot of things in life.

Young? At 60, he's catching right up on me.

I don't know how young he is.

Well, Rod, will you tell us what kind of a prisoner Roger's been all these years? Yeah, he's been a good prisoner.

He's stayed with the rules of the institution.

He's got along all right.

We've had no trouble with him at all.

How'd you find a warden, Roger? Not the same.

I'm glad you're here.

Leopold gave me this statement this morning.

I have two things to say, that I am grateful and that I am determined.

I am grateful first of all to God, for men can only do what God permits them to do.

I am grateful to the parole board for giving me the opportunity.

I am grateful to my many, many friends who have given me their help, their good wishes, and their prayers.

I am grateful to the press and to the other mass media of communication for fair and charitable coverage of my case.

I am determined to do my utmost to justify the face shown in me.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Roger was happier tonight than I've ever seen him in my whole life.

He felt that he's accustomed himself to civilian life.

He felt real good.

There was no reason for Roger Tooe to be killed except one.

And when you go up against the criminal mob in the United States, and you talk too much, and you defy the mob, you get killed.

And that's why Roger Tooe was killed, and for no other reason, because he defied the mob.

There is no other possible explanation for it.

He stated he saw two men run across the street to the west and disappear through a passageway.

Before they hit the street, he had fired several shots at them, and believes he hit the taller one of the two.

He was shot in the head.

He was shot in the head.

He was shot in the head.

He was shot in the head.

He was shot in the head.

He was shot in the head.

He was shot in the head.

He was shot in the head.

He was shot in the head.

He was shot in the head.

He was shot in the head.

He was shot in the head.

However, the worries were not concerned with physical violence.

He was very deeply worried, concerned, and he has been ever since he's been out of the pentatats around parole, that somebody would in some way frame him or make it a fear that he had violated his parole and he would be sent back to the pentatats.

For that reason, Roger Toohey in all these three weeks never left his home alone.

He never came to downtown alone.

He regarded Dan Gilbert and he said so publicly and many, many times.

He was the worst enemy of his life.

Have you any specific knowledge that people that are being named here could have anything to do with this sort of thing? Absolutely no knowledge of him.

No knowledge? I'm simply telling you that who would here say knowledge to the fact that Roger Toohey said many, many times that the people he regarded as his worst enemies, the list was led by Dan Gilbert, John Factor was number two, and Thomas J.

Courtney was number three.

I'm not going to say anything against John Factor.

John Factor is not a man of violence so far as I have ever known.

I would like to affirm that I said no such thing, and I'm not trying to duck out of a libel suit because if I thought Jake Factor killed him, I'd say so right here now.

I object to Mr.

Brennan's statement that I was his enemy number two.

In one breath he says that I'm not a man of violence.

Well, hate and violence are both together in my opinion.

And I testified in front of the pardon board and I said that I have no objection to his parole if the pardon board feels that he has rehabilitated himself and can live as a good citizen.

Because that is our system of parole.

Let me ask you this question.

Would you take a lie test on this? I sure would.

You would? Yes, sir.

Okay.

Thank you.

Identifier
F.2012-03-0081
Date Of Production
1959
Abstract
Newsreel footage from three different news stories regarding the release and subsequent death of Roger Touhy, an Irish-American mob boss from Chicago who was imprisoned at Stateville Prison for 26 years. Touhy and his bodyguard were gunned down by mob hit men on December 16, 1959, 22 days after his release from prison.
Description
The film begins with black-and-white footage of news reporters discussing the parole of convicted child murderer Nathan Leopold, Jr., who was released the same day as Touhy. Followed by a news conference with Touhy and the warden of Statesville Prison, who discuss Touhy's behavior as a prisoner. A man then reads a statement from Leopold. Silent footage of Touhy holding his autobiography, The Stolen Years, which was released that fall. 

This is followed by silent footage of newspaper headlines announcing Touhy's death, including one from the Chicago Sun-Times that reads "TOUHY SLAIN - Ex-Cop Shot In Ambush - 2 GUNMEN ESCAPE." Silent footage of the scene of the murder at 125 N. Lotus Avenue. Shot of a bloody staircase followed by footage of police investigating the area. Silent footage inside a morgue, including a shot of a body, presumably Touhy's, under a sheet. A man is interviewed about why he thinks Touhy was murdered. Footage in a police station, and an interview with a detective describing the crime. More silent footage of detectives at the scene of the murder. A large crowd at the Coroner's Inquest Room as men answer questions from reporters.
Run Time
0:08:24
Format
16mm
Extent
300 feet
Color
B&W
Sound
Optical
Reel/Tape Number
1/1
Has Been Digitized?
Yes
Language Of Materials
English
Element
Print
Genre
Crime
Form
Newsreels
Subject
Crimes
Gangs
Prisons
Police
Chicago (Ill.) Police Dept.
Related Collections
SUBSERIES V: Crime & Law Enforcement

Related Places
North America ➜ United States ➜ Illinois ➜ Chicago

Distributor
Telenews (Firm)

Main Credits
Koza, Frank (is filmmaker)

Participants And Performers
Touhy, Roger (is participant)

 
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