H istorical d ocument

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Profiles in History
   
Historical Document Auction 63
35. Capone, Alphonse (Al or 
“Scarface”
). Typed deposition 
signed four times 
(“Alphonse Ca
pon
e”), 4 pages (8.5 x 11 in.; 215 x 
279 mm.), being a typed transcript of Capone’s interrogation by police 
in their investigation of the attempted murder of his former 
mentor and crime associate John Torrio. 
Chicago, Illinois, 24 January 1925. 
Capone’s deposition is part of an extensive archive of police 
interviews, testimony and notes in the 
case, each signed by the witness (two of whom include Capone’s chauffeur, Robert Barton, and 
his accountant, Jake Gusick), Each of Capone’s statements are signed in ink at the lower right. The remainder of the archive consists of 50 
pages, (8.5 x 11 in.; 215 x 279 mm.)
, typescripts and carbons, plus a few handwritten statements of police and witnesses, some chipping 
at edges, paper yellowed.
 
Al Capone’s deposition relating to the 1925 attempted hit on his former mentor and crime associate John Torrio – signed 
four times by the mafia boss.
A remarkable archive 
of a 
failed investigation of an 
attempted 
murder of a Capone associate, which 
ironically propelled Capone to the 
top of the Chicago rackets. Capone’s police interrogation took place 
the same day as Torrio’s near fatal shooting. Torrio, described as a 
“retired restauranteur,” while “alighting from his 
automobile from the front of above 
address was 
assaulted 
by three men, two of the men 
fired several shots at him . . . The assailants then jumped into a dark Cadillac touring car, no license ...” The victim, John Torrio, was the 
young Capone’s mentor and sponsor in their previous criminal activities in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, where both had grown up. When 
Torrio moved to Chicago to manage a string of brothels for “Big Jim” Colosimo, he brought along his protege, “Scarface” Capone. The 
pupil soon outpaced his teacher. Capone had Colosimo killed, and Torrio 
took over the brothel empire. Meanwhile, Capone moved into 
the enormously lucrative bootleg whiskey business. Dion O’Bannion, an Irish mobster and his lieutenant, Earl “Hymie” Weiss, became 
their chief rivals. Conflicts between them escalated and in November 1924, O’Bannion was shot to 
death. On 24 January 1925 “Hymie” 
Weiss, with his sidekicks “Bugs” Moran, Vincent Drucci and Frank Gusenberg, seeking revenge, came upon Torrio and his wife unloading 
groceries in front of his home. Torrio fell in a hail of bullets, but Moran’s gun jammed as he was about to deliver the coup de grace. When 
Torrio recovered, he fled to Italy, leaving Capone the undisputed boss of Chicago crime, a position he enjoyed until he was convicted 
of tax fraud and finally jailed in 1931.
Capone’s statement 
is captioned: 
“
Statement of 
Alphonse 
Caponi [sic]. 
7244 Prairie Avenue … relative to the shooting of John Torrio ... 
about 3:30 P.M. Jan 24th, 1925.” Highlights are as follows (Capone’s answers italicized): “Q. What is your business? A.
 Furniture business. 
2224 Wabash Ave.
 Q. What is [the] name of store? A.
 Antique furniture. No name to store
 . . . Q. How long do you know John 
Torrio? A. 
About three years. Q. Where did you meet him.? A. In Chicago, at the Race Track, I met him at the Bennie Leonard fight in East Chicago, about 
three years ago
 ... Q. Were you ever in trouble in New 
York? A. No ... Q. How many times were you arrested in Chicago? A. Every time 
something happens I get arrested . . . Q. Did he [Torrio] tell you who did it, or did you ask him who did it? A. I did not ask him and he did not 
tell me because he was in no condition to talk.
 Q. Would [you] have any idea who did it? 
A. No. Q. Would you tell us if you did know who 
did it? A. No, I value my life too much to tell if I did know
 . . . Q. Can you give any reason for the shooting? A.
 No I cannot.
 Q. This statement 
is true and if you were called to testify this would be your statement and you will be willing to sign this statement? A. Yes sir.
Information was virtually impossible to 
collect in 
regards to the 
shooting. The 
few witnesses seemed 
fearful; none would conclusively 
identify the gunmen, although “Bugs” Moran was initially fingered. Even Torrio, when Earl Weiss and Vincent Drucci were brought 
into his hospital room, refused to 
identify them as being party to his shooting. A remarkable archive providing a vivid and compelling 
first-hand view of the methods perfected by Capone, which rapidly propelled him to the pinnacle of the underworld. Provenance: 
Christies, New York, 20th May 1994, Lot 13. $30,000 - $50,000

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Profiles in History
   
Historical Document Auction 63
36. Carter, Howard. Exceedingly rare hand-drawn signed artwork of King Tutankhamen with cartouche, 1 page (9.5 x 12.5 in.; 241 
x 318 mm.). Accomplished in black fountain pen ink, Carter has drawn a detailed three-quarter-length image of Pharaoh Tutankhamen, 
complete with his signature headdress and staff. Below the image, Carter penned the cartouche bearing the king’s name in Egyptian 
hieroglyphics as well as “TutAnkhAmen”. Above the image, Carter has inscribed, “To Mrs. Williams, in kind remembrance from” and below 
the image continues, “Howard Carter 1924.” Exhibits toning from previous display, not affecting the image. 
Incredibly rare detailed signed drawing of Pharaoh Tutankhamen by the discoverer of King Tut’s tomb, Howard Carter.
Arriving in the United States in April 1924 for a 24-lecture tour of the United States and Canada, Howard Carter spoke at Yale University 
in New Haven, Connecticut on May 6th where he first met Yale Professor and Mrs. Frederick Wells Williams. Returning to Yale in June, 
Carter was awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science. Williams, Yale Class of 1879 and a member of the Yale faculty for over 30 
years, also received an Honorary Degree on June 18th. While Carter was in Chicago, on May 23rd, he accepted a written invitation from 
Prof. and Mrs. Williams for the afternoon of June 17
th
 (included is a color copy of Carter’s two-page response to Williams, accepting his 
invitation, plus copies of two newspaper advertisements for Carter’s lectures in April and May). This drawing was undoubtedly drawn by 
Carter on that day and presented to Mrs. Williams, niece of the late Francis Wayland, first dean of the Yale Law School from 1873-1903.
On 1 December 1922, The  New York Times had reported, “The Cairo correspondent of The London Times in a dispatch to his paper 
describes how Lord Carnarvon and Howard Carter unearthed below the tomb of Rameses VI, near Luxor, two rooms containing the 
funeral paraphernalia of King Tutankhamen, who reigned about 1350 B.C., the discovery of which was announced yesterday [November 
29th]…” Exceedingly wealthy, Lord Carnarvon, who had taken up archaeology as a hobby, was Carter’s sponsor. On 6 November 1922, 
Carter sent a cable to Lord Carnarvon: “At last have made wonderful discovery in Valley; a magnificent tomb with seals intact; re-covered 
same for your arrival; congratulations.” 
Autograph material by Carter is rare and this extraordinary, detailed image of his greatest discovery is the first of its kind we have ever 
encountered and possibly the only example extant. $30,000 - $50,000

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