In December 1939, Cooke entered Martin’s office and argued over the missing money from certain junkyards and so in a pure gangster style Martin grabbed a gun from under his table and pointed it towards Cooke, who in turn began to run and received one bullet in the back. Later he went to the hospital alone and after several days, for unknown complication on the wound, Ruby's close associate Leon Cooke died at the age of 28.
In January 1940, Martin was subsequently acquitted on the ground of self-defense
Some decisions in trials are really insane imo: how can it be self-defense if the victim is shot in the back?
There was allegedly a huge confrontation and the two men started a fight. So Martin probably got his ass kicked and when Cooke turned his back at him, Martin fired a shot.
Those were the so-called "wheels of Mob justice" which spun every time when one of its valuable members or associates was in trouble with the law lol
Martin and Paul Dorfman were taking over the garbage business for the Outfit at the time. So no obstacles.
