CALIFORNIA: Clay Pigeon

First there was Benny the Meatball, but he had run screaming into the night with five bullet holes in him. Then came "Bugsy" Siegel, but he died ignobly (of four rifle slugs) while sitting on a divan in his girl's house. After that, sad-eyed little Mickey Cohen became the undisputed boss of Los Angeles' gangdom.

Mickey also became something of a leading citizen. He took up gracious living. He acquired an ample wardrobe, changed clothes several times a day, washed his hands several times an hour. The opening of his Sunset Strip haberdashery (pastel shirts and hand-painted ties featured)...

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