Crime Must Pay the Penalty #23

"Five Yards to the Morgue" recounts the true case of "Sticky Fingers" Butell, a brutal pro football player known for his vicious defensive strategy of crippling opponents, who eventually faced consequences when he was banned from the game for going too far. The story follows detectives Brady and Pierce as they pursue a "baby-faced bandit" matching Butell's description who commits crimes at a dance hall; through an undercover operation at the venue, they work to apprehend the criminal. Young criminal Dawson, documented in a scrapbook of crimes, adopts a new city wardrobe and identity, frequenting dance halls and dime-a-dance establishments where he and his associates plan robberies, ultimately leading to a confrontation when an armed bouncer thwarts their getaway attempt.