No Honor Among Thieves!
Dateline: April 1924
Al Capone was not in Santa Barbara, but this was starting to seem like a film noir movie in our fair city. It was clear that bootleggers were not playing nice with each other during the Prohibition Era. "A war between rival bands of liquor dealers is expected to break out within a few days between Santa Barbara and Los Angeles factions, which may develop into a serious clash . . . A truckload of liquor was stolen from several rum smugglers north of Santa Barbara several days ago.
"Monday, two young men, alleged to be rum dealers, appeared in Santa Barbara to locate the men who were responsible for the theft. One of these men is alleged to have left a card at the home of the suspected man warning him to 'pack a gun today and to stay away from the ''plant" if you value your life.' " – Santa Barbara Morning Press, April 3, 1924