yesterday was firday the 13th and i guess it was a bad luck day for sure for joey "the clown" !


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060114/ap_on_re_us/mob_investigation

Nothing sadder than the tears of a clown!

This happened of couple blocks from my house (as did the Thanksgiving weekend Metra commuter train wreck...nothing like waking-up from a nap to the sound of a news helicopter hovering 500 feet over the house). It was pretty exciting for about an hour on Friday night.

They list the address as West 74th Avenue and that's incorrect. It's NORTH 74th Avenue in case you're Mapquesting or MapPointing...

...and note the location of the police station while you're there.

tony b.

Now you know how I feel during Cubs season.

Runaway mob boss lives up to his 'clown' nickname

By Mike Robinson
The Associated Press
Published January 17, 2006, 11:17 AM CST


Reputed mob boss Joseph Lombardo finally appeared court today after nine months on the lam, pleading not guilty to taking part in a conspiracy that allegedly included 18 murders. He immediately lived up to his nickname of ``The Clown.''

The 77-year-old Lombardo, shorn of the long hair and whiskers he grew while on the run from federal agents, was asked by U.S. District Judge James B. Zagel if he had seen a doctor lately.

``I was supposed to see him nine months ago, but I was -- what do they call it? -- I was unavailable,'' rasped Lombardo, who appeared in an orange prison jumpsuit and leg irons.

A laugh erupted from the courtroom crowded with reporters, lawmen and others eager to get a glimpse of the reputed organized crime leader whose whereabouts have been the subject of frequent speculation since his indictment last April.

He and 13 others were charged in the indictment with conspiring in at least 18 unsolved murders, including that of Tony ``The Ant'' Spilotro, once known as the Chicago Outfit's man in Las Vegas, and his brother Michael.

The Spilotros were beaten to death and buried in a cornfield. Joe Pesci played a character based on Tony Spilotro in ``Casino.''

Lombardo was captured Friday night when FBI agents swooped down on his car in an alley in suburban Elmwood Park. Agents said he was carrying a suitcase full of money.

But defense attorney Rick Halprin said Tuesday that his client is broke and urged Zagel to have him appointed by the court to represent Lombardo at public expense.