"Hi, Billy!"

William J. ("Wild Bill") Rooney, Chicago Sheet Metal Workers' Union boss, paced the sidewalk in front of his house one afternoon last week. A dark blue sedan drew up to the curb. One of the three occupants shouted: "Hi, Billy!" Boss Rooney, expecting his own car, turned. Three shots racketed through the street. Boss Rooney slumped to his knees. His cigar fell from his mouth and rolled along the sidewalk, with him sprawling after it. He was the second labor leader to be murdered in Chicago in five weeks.

Police, checking up on Mr. Rooney's career, brought to light this record: In 1907, aged 18, he was sent to the House of Correction for larceny. Ten years later he was acquitted of murdering a man during a labor meeting. In 1922 he was present at the slaying of two other men, for which Thomas J. Walsh, then union leader, was tried. Boss Rooney succeeded Boss Walsh.

Through his brother-in-law he controlled the Flat Janitors' Union, and his activities also extended into the Meat Cutters' Union. One brother, Edward, was recently indicted for forcing contractors to pay the Sheet Metal Workers' Union 5% on contracts. Another brother, Danny, is serving 14 years in Joliet Penitentiary (see p. 9) for killing a saloonkeeper.

In the present Mayoralty campaign. Boss Rooney switched allegiance from the Thompson faction to the Democratic candidate, Anton J. Cermak. Observers wondered if this had been Boss Rooney's fatal mistake.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.