Many years ago, Al Capone virtually owned Chicago. Capone wasn't
famous for anything heroic. He was notorious for enmeshing the windy
city in everything from bootlegged booze and prostitution to murder.
Capone had a lawyer nicknamed 'Easy Eddie.' He was Capone's
lawyer for a good reason. Eddie was very good! In fact, Eddie's skill
at legal maneuvering kept Big Al out of jail for a long time.
To show his appreciation, Capone paid him very well. Not only
was the money big, but Eddie got special dividends, as well. For
instance, he and his family occupied a fenced-in mansion with live-in
help and all of the conveniences of the day. The estate was so large
that it filled an entire Chicago City block.
Eddie lived the high life of the Chicago mob and gave little
consideration to the atrocities that went on around him.
Eddie did have one soft spot, however. He had a son that he
loved dearly. Eddie saw to it that his young son had clothes, cars,
and a good education. Nothing was withheld. Price was no object.
And, despite his involvement with organized crime, Eddie even
tried to teach him right from wrong. Eddie wanted his son to be a
better man than he was.
Yet, with all his wealth and influence, there were two things
he couldn't give his son; he couldn't pass on a good name or a good
example.
One day, Easy Eddie reached a difficult decision. Easy Eddie
wanted to rectify wrongs he had done.
He decided he would go to the authorities and tell the truth
about Al 'Sacrifice's Capone, clean up his tarnished name, and offer
his son some semblance of integrity. To do this, he would have to
testify against The Mob, and he knew that the cost would be great. So,
he testified.
Within the year, Easy Eddie's life ended in a blaze of gunfire
on a lonely Chicago Street. But in his eyes, he had given his son the
greatest gift he had to offer, at the greatest price he could ever
pay. Police removed from his pockets a rosary, a crucifix, a religious
medallion, and a poem clipped from a magazine.
The poem read:
'The clock of life is wound but once, and no man has the power
to tell just when the hands will stop, at late or early hour. Now is
the only time you own. Live, love, toil with a will. Place no faith in
time. For the clock may soon be still.'
famous for anything heroic. He was notorious for enmeshing the windy
city in everything from bootlegged booze and prostitution to murder.
Capone had a lawyer nicknamed 'Easy Eddie.' He was Capone's
lawyer for a good reason. Eddie was very good! In fact, Eddie's skill
at legal maneuvering kept Big Al out of jail for a long time.
To show his appreciation, Capone paid him very well. Not only
was the money big, but Eddie got special dividends, as well. For
instance, he and his family occupied a fenced-in mansion with live-in
help and all of the conveniences of the day. The estate was so large
that it filled an entire Chicago City block.
Eddie lived the high life of the Chicago mob and gave little
consideration to the atrocities that went on around him.
Eddie did have one soft spot, however. He had a son that he
loved dearly. Eddie saw to it that his young son had clothes, cars,
and a good education. Nothing was withheld. Price was no object.
And, despite his involvement with organized crime, Eddie even
tried to teach him right from wrong. Eddie wanted his son to be a
better man than he was.
Yet, with all his wealth and influence, there were two things
he couldn't give his son; he couldn't pass on a good name or a good
example.
One day, Easy Eddie reached a difficult decision. Easy Eddie
wanted to rectify wrongs he had done.
He decided he would go to the authorities and tell the truth
about Al 'Sacrifice's Capone, clean up his tarnished name, and offer
his son some semblance of integrity. To do this, he would have to
testify against The Mob, and he knew that the cost would be great. So,
he testified.
Within the year, Easy Eddie's life ended in a blaze of gunfire
on a lonely Chicago Street. But in his eyes, he had given his son the
greatest gift he had to offer, at the greatest price he could ever
pay. Police removed from his pockets a rosary, a crucifix, a religious
medallion, and a poem clipped from a magazine.
The poem read:
'The clock of life is wound but once, and no man has the power
to tell just when the hands will stop, at late or early hour. Now is
the only time you own. Live, love, toil with a will. Place no faith in
time. For the clock may soon be still.'
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