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Given  By 
U.  S.  SUPT.  OF  DOCUMENTS 


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INVESTIGATION  OF  IMPROPER  ACTIVITIES  IN  THE 
LABOR  OR  MANAGEMENT  FIELD 


HEARINGS 

BEFORE  THE 

SELECT  COMMITTEE 

ON  IMPROPER  ACTIVITIES  IN  THE 

LABOR  OR  MANAGEMENT  FIELD 

EIGHTY-FIFTH  CONGKESS 

SECOND  SESSION 
PURSUANT  TO  SENATE  RESOLUTIONS  74  AND  221,  85TH  CONGRESS 


JUNE  30,  JULY  1,  2,  AND  3,  1958 


PART  32 


Printed  for  the  use  of  the  Select  Committee  on  Improper  Activities  in  the 
Labor  or  Management  Field 


INVESTIGATION  OF  IMPROPER  ACTIVITIES  IN  THE 
LABOR  OR  MANAGEMENT  FIELD 


HEARINGS 

BEFORE   THE 

SELECT  COMMITTEE 

ON  IMPROPER  ACTIVITIES  IN  THE 

LABOR  OE  MANAGEMENT  FIELD 

EIGHTY-FIFTH  CONGKESS 

SECOND  SESSION 
PURSUANT  TO  SENATE  RESOLUTIONS  74  AND  221,  85TH  CONGRESS 


JUNE  30,  JULY  1,  2,  AND  3.  1958 


PART  32 


Printed  for  the  use  of  the  Select  Committee  on  Improper  Activities  in  the 
Labor  or  Management  Field 


UNITED   STATES 
GOVERNMENT  PRINTING  OFFICE 
21243  WASHINGTON  :   1958 


Boston  Public  Library 
Superintendent  of  Documents 

OCT  2  8  1958 


SELECT  COMMITTEE  ON  IMPROPER  ACTIVITIES  IN   THE  LABOR 
OR  MANAGEMENT  FIELD 

JOHN  L.  McCLELLAN,  Arkansas,   Chairman 
IRVING  M.  IVES,  New  York,  Vice  Chairman 
JOHN  F.  KENNEDY,  Massachusetts  KARL  E.  MUNDT,  South  Dakota 

SAM  J.  ERVIN,  Jr.,  North  Carolina  BARRY  OOLDWATER,  Arizona 

FRANK  CHURCH,  Idaho  CARL  T.  CURTIS,  Nebraska 

Robert  F.  Kennedy,  Chief  Counsel 
Ruth  Young  Watt,  Chief  Clerk 

n 


CONTENTS 


MAFIA 


Page 

Appendix 12491 

Grace  Line  letter  with  attachments 12491-12496 

Tesl  iinonv  of — 

Bufalino,  Russell  J 12465 

Chait,  Abraham 12454 

Constandy,  John  P 12392 

Crosswell,  Sgt.  Edgar  D 12201,  12319 

Dickey,  Orange  C 12374,  12399 

Genovese,  Vito 12384,  12393,  12400,  12418 

Hamilton,  Capt.  James  E 12326 

LaDuca,  James  V 12272 

Larasso,  Louis  Anthony 12287 

Laureridi,  Xatale 12416 

Lucchese,  Thomas 12473 

Magin,  Sam 12450 

Maneuso,  Rosario 12280 

Martin,  George  H 12251,  12258,  12453 

Miranda,  Mike 12404,  12218 

Montana,  John  C 12293 

O'Brien,  Thomas 12341 

Pera,  Martin  F 12219,  12231,  12256 

Plumeri,  James 12421 

Prof aci,  Joseph 12337 

Scalish,  John 12359 

Sullivan,  Daniel  P 12429 

Willse,  Sherman  S 12259,  12265,  12364 

Wortman,  Frank 12439 


EXHIBITS  Introduced    Appears 

on  page        on  page 

1.  Photograph  of  Frank  Scalise  with  Lucky  Luciano  and 

girlfriend 12235         (*) 

1  A.  Picture  of  seven  people  which  includes  Frank  Scalise  and 

Salvatore  Luciano 12235         (*) 

2.  Letter  dated  Palermo,  February  10,   1956,  "Dear  Don 

Ciccio"  signed  Nino  Torres,  Piazza  Principe,  Palermo, 

Italy 12243         (*) 

2A.  Letter  dated  September  10,  1956,  "Dear  Nino"  signed 

by  Frank  Scalise 12243         (*) 

3.  Letter  dated  September  13,  1952,  addressed  to  District 

Engineer,   Atlantic  District,  from   Cyril   A.    Millson, 

officer  in  charge,  Claremont  Terminal 12243         (*) 

4.  Chart  showing  intermarriage  connections  between  mem- 

bers of  the  Mafia 122521    Face 

5.  Chart  indicating  types  of  activities  that  the  people  pres-  >    12496  ' 

ent  at  the  Apalachin  meeting  have  been  involved  in__      12260 J 

6.  Map,  contacts  and  associates  of  John  Ormento 1226!)        (*) 

6A.   Map,  contacts  and  associates  of  Joseph  Profaci  and  his 

Carmela  Mia  Packing  Co 12270  (*) 

6B.   Map,  contacts  and  associates  of  Joseph  Barbara,  Sr 12271 

6C.  Map,  contacts  and  associates  of  Russell  Bufalino 12271  (*) 

6D.   Map,  contacts  and  associates  of  James  LaDuca 12271  (*) 

•May  be  found  in  the  flies  of  the  select  committee. 

in 


IV 


CONTENTS 


EXHIBITS— Continued  Introduced  Appears 

on  page     on  page 

7.  Map  showing  individuals  that  attended  the  Apalachin 

meeting  and  where  they  came  from 12271         (*) 

8.  Picture  of  Joseph  Barbara's  home  and  roads  leading 

to  it 12310         (*) 

9.  Picture    of    Joseph    Barbara's    farm    and    surrounding 

woods 12310         (*) 

10A.  Letter  dated  November  1,  1957,  addressed  to  John  C. 
Montana,  Van  Dyke  Taxi  &  Transfer,  Inc.,  signed  by 
"Horace"  (H.  I.  Gwilym),  on  Cab  Research  Bureau, 

Inc.,  stationery 12318  12497 

10B.  Letter  dated  November  11,  1957,  addressed  to  John  C. 
Montana,  Van  Dyke  Taxi  &  Transfer,  Inc.,  signed  by 
"Horace"  (H.  I.  Gwilym),  on  Cab  Research  Bureau, 

Inc.,  stationery 12318         12198 

11.  Speech  given  by  Mr.  Virgil  Peterson  before  the  American 
Bar  Association:  Recent  Trends  of  Decisions  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States  in  the  Field  of 

Criminal  Law 12337         (*) 

12A.  Picture  of  Mike  Miranda  and  Vito  Genovese 12368         (*) 

12B.  Picture  of  Peter  DeFeo  and  Frank  Tieri 12369         (*) 

12C.  Picture  of  Mike  Miranda  and  Pasquale  Normando 12369         (*) 

12D.  Picture  of  Joseph   Stracci,   Joe  Tortoric,   and   Lorenzo 

Brescia 12370         (*) 

12E.  Picture  of  Anthony   Russo,   DeBenedetto  and   Charles 

Tourine 12370         (*) 

12F.  Picture  of  Gregory  Ardito  and  Alfonso  Criscuolo 12370         (*) 

12G.  Picture  of  Barney  Miranda  and  Louis  Arminante 12371         (*) 

12H.  Picture  of  John  Bera 12371         (*) 

121.  Picture  of  Frank  Tieri  and  Joseph  Gorgone 12371         (*) 

Proceedings  of — 

June  30,  1958 12191 

July  1,  1958 12231 

July  2,  1958 12323 

July  3,  1958 12421 

*May  be  found  in  the  files  of  the  select  committee. 


INVESTIGATION  OF  IMPROPER  ACTIVITIES  IN  THE 
LABOR  OR  MANAGEMENT  FIELD 


MONDAY,   JUNE   30,    1958 

United  States  Senate, 
Select  Committee  on  Improper  Activities, 

in  the  Labor  or  Management  Field, 

Washington,  D.  C. 

The  select  committee  met  at  2:  10  p.  m.,  pursuant  to  Senate  Reso- 
lution 74,  agreed  to  January  30,  1957,  in  the  caucus  room,  Senate 
Office  Building,  Senator  John  L.  McClellan  (chairman  of  the  select 
committee)  presiding. 

Present :  Senator  John  L.  McClellan,  Democrat,  Arkansas ;  Senator 
Irving  M.  Ives,  Republican,  New  York;  Senator  John  F.  Kennedy, 
Democrat,  Massachusetts ;  Senator  Sam  J.  Ervin,  Jr.,  Democrat,  North 
Carolina;  Senator  Barry  Goldwater,  Republican,  Arizona;  Senator 
Karl  E.  Mundt,  Republican,  South  Dakota. 

Also  present :  Robert  F.  Kennedy,  chief  counsel ;  Paul  J.  Tierney, 
assistant  counsel ;  John  P.  Constandy,  assistant  counsel ;  John  J.  Mc- 
Govern,  assistant  counsel:  Pierre  E.  G.  Salinger,  investigator;  Walter 
R.  May,  investigator;  George  H.  Martin,  investigator;  Sherman 
Willse,  investigator;  Ruth  Young  Watt,  chief  clerk. 

The  Chairman.  The  committee  will  be  in  order. 

(Members  of  the  committee  present  at  the  convening  of  the  session 
were:  Senators  McClellan,  Ives,  Ervin,  Kennedy,  Mundt,  and  Gold- 
water.  ) 

The  Chairman.  This  is  a  statement  by  the  Chair  at  the  opening 
of  a  series  of  hearings  and  the  statement  is  for  the  record  and  will 
serve  as  a  premise  for  the  testimony  as  it  may  be  developed. 

The  Senate  Select  Committee  on  Improper  Activities  in  the  Labor 
or  Management  Field  embarks  today  on  a  new  and  important  series 
of  hearings  to  determine  the  extent  of  racketeer  and  gangster  infil- 
tration into  legitimate  union  and  business  enterprises. 

At  the  outset,  I  cannot  too  strongly  emphasize  the  importance  of 
the  work  we  are  undertaking. 

In  previous  hearings,  we  have  touched  on  this  critical  problem. 
Our  study  into  the  New  York  phony  local  situation  revealed  an 
alarming  picture  of  the  extent  to  which  gangsters  led  by  John  Dio- 
guardi  and  Anthony  (Tony  Ducks)  Corallo  infiltrated  the  labor 
movement  in  the  Nation's  largest  city,  using  their  union  positions 
for  purposes  of  extortion,  bribery,  and  shakedowns.  The  fact  that 
one  of  the  Nation's  most  powerful  labor  leaders,  James  R.  Hoffa, 
the  international  president  of  the  Teamsters,  used  Dioguardi  and 
Corallo  in  his  efforts  to  capture  control  of  the  union  in  New  York 
City  only  serves  to  underline  the  importance  of  gangster  infiltration 
in  the  labor  movement. 

12101 


12192  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Again,  in  our  hearings  on  the  garbage  industry  in  New  York,  we 
heard  testimony  on  how  Vincent  J.  Squillante,  the  self-styled  godson 
of  Albert  Anastasia,  the  late  lord  high  executioner  of  Murder,  Inc., 
seized  control  of  that  vital  industry  and  used  labor-union  connections 
to  ship  recalcitrant  operators  into  line. 

These  hearings  were  important.  Yet,  the  committee  in  its  first  18 
months  of  existence,  has  become  convinced  that  the  relationship  of 
1  ie  national  criminal  syndicate  with  legitimate  labor  and  business  is 
fur  more  critical  than  has  heretofore  been  revealed. 

The  ramifications  of  this  problem  present  the  gravest  implications 
for  the  destiny  of  our  national  economy. 

These  are  the  ingredients  of  the  problem. 

There  exists  in  America  today  what  appears  to  be  a  close-knit, 
clandestine,  criminal  syndicate.  This  group  has  made  fortunes  in 
the  illegal  liquor  traffic  during  prohibition,  and  later  in  narcotics, 
vice,  and  gambling.  These  illicit  profits  present  the  syndicate  with 
a  financial  problem,  which  they  solve  through  investment  in  legitimate 
business.  These  legitimate  businesses  also  provide  convenient  cover 
for  their  continued  illegal  activities. 

Dealing  with  such  a  group  poses  the  most  difficult  of  investigative 
problems.  Even  the  Special  Committee  To  Investigate  Organized 
Crime  in  Interstate  Commerce  of  the  United  States,  which  did  such 
momentous  work  during  the  period  of  their  hearings  in  1950  and  1951, 
found  this  to  be  true. 

We  propose  to  probe  deep  into  the  ramifications  of  this  problem. 
We  feel  that  the  picture  will  not  be  complete,  however,  without  fully 
relating  this  illegal  activity  of  the  national  crime  syndicate  and  its 
infiltration  and  influence  in  labor-management  relations. 

We  have  scheduled  for  the  coming  week  what  amounts  to  an  intro- 
ductory hearing  of  the  problem.  Through  expert  witnesses  from 
throughout  the  country,  we  expect  to  lay  on  the  record  comprehensive 
background  information  on  the  full  scope  and  implications  of  the 
crime-labor-management  situation. 

In  these  hearings,  and  the  ones  to  follow,  we  are  going  to  call  in 
some  of  the  leading  figures  in  the  national  criminal  hierarchy.  These 
people  are  all  involved  in  legitimate  enterprises,  management  and 
labor. 

From  those  on  the  management  side,  we  will  seek  to  find  out  why 
f\ey  are  in  particular  businesses.  We  will  want  to  know  whether 
I  heir  employees  are  organized  by  unions  or  not.  If  they  are  not,  we 
will  seek  to  discover  whether  pressure  has  been  used  to  avoid  union 
organization.  If  they  are  organized  we  will  seek  to  discover  if  they 
have  entered  into  collusive  agreements  with  labor  unions  to  the  detri- 
ment of  their  employees. 

We  expect  that  some  of  the  witnesses  we  will  call  will  cover  every 
facet  of  these  problems.  For  example,  one  of  the  leading  syndicate 
mobsters  has  connections  with  both  labor  unions  and  management. 
He  has  coerced  unions  into  placing  his  thugs  on  their  payrolls.  He 
has  grabbed  control  of  construction  companies  and  entered  into  col- 
lusive agreements  with  labor  unions.  It  is  this  type  of  activity  and 
nature  of  problem  that  we  seek  to  probe. 

We  shall  ask  these  leading  hoodlums  to  turn  over  to  the  committee 
the  books  and  records  of  their  so-called  legitimate  enterprises  so  that 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12193 

we  can  make  the  kind  of  study  that  is  necessary  to  develop  the  fullest 
possible  picture. 

It  is  not  sufficient  to  say  that  this  particular  hoodlum  is  in  the 
jukebox  business  or  that  particular  hoodlum  is  in  the  linen  or  laundry 
business.  It  is  important  to  develop  a  pattern  of  the  kind  of  busi- 
nesses that  attract  the  criminal  element,  why  they  choose  these  par- 
ticular businesses,  how  they  may  be  used  as  a  front  for  illegitimate 
activity. 

As  a  starting  point  for  our  hearings,  we  intend  to  focus  on  the 
criminal  group  which  held  a  meeting  at  the  home  of  Joseph  Mario 
Barbara,  Sr.,  in  Apalachin,  N.  Y.,  on  November  14,  1957.  The  dis- 
covery of  this  meeting  by  the  New  York  State  Police  had  the  effect 
of  revealing  the  scope  of  the  interrelationships  of  some  of  the  leaders 
of  the  national  crime  syndicate.  We  will  also  begin  to  delve  into  the 
infiltration  of  gangsters  and  racketeers  into  the  garment  industry  in 
New  York,  New  Jersey,  and  Pennsylvania. 

It  is  important  to  understand  from  the  outset  that  this  criminal 
syndicate  operation  is  not  a  localized  one  but  national  in  scope.  The 
fact  that  the  gangland  meeting  took  place  in  Apalachin,  N.  Y.,  does 
not  in  any  way  make  this  a  localized  New  York  problem.  Similar 
gangland  meetings,  known  to  authorities,  have  been  held  in  Cleve- 
land, Ohio,  and  on  the  Florida  Keys.  There  is  no  telling  how  many 
other  meetings,  in  other  parts  of  the  country,  have  been  undetected 
by  authorities. 

Throughout  this  investigation  we  have  had  the  wholehearted  co- 
operation of  a  number  of  public  officials  throughout  the  country. 
Gov.  Averell  Harriman  of  New  York  has  been  extremely  helpful  to 
the  committee  in  its  development  of  information  on  the  Apalachin 
meeting.  We  have  had  splendid  cooperation  from  District  Attorney 
Frank  Hogan  of  New  York,  whose  office  has  done  much  work  in  trac- 
ing down  the  criminal  activities  of  the  syndicate,  and  Police  Com- 
missioner Stephen  Kennedy  of  New  York  City  has  been  extremely 
helpful.  In  Chicago,  we  have  had  the  excellent  cooperation  of  Mayor 
Richard  Daley,  the  Chicago  Police  Department,  and  Virgil  Peterson 
of  the  Chicago  Crime  Commission. 

This  criminal  conspiracy  has  operated  for  many  years  in  America, 
on  rare  occasions  subjected  to  the  light  of  publicity  but,  more  often, 
operating  at  a  level  beneath  the  mainstream  of  American  life.  Be- 
cause we  are  dealing  with  a  clandestine  group,  because  they  are 
highly  organized  and  disciplined,  they  present  a  formidable  problem. 
They  have  achieved  a  position  of  eminence  throughout  the  economic, 
social,  and  political  strata  of  America.  The  committee  is  well  aware 
of  the  difficult  nature  of  the  problem  it  is  now  tackling.  We  feel  and 
hope  that  a  successful  investigation  by  the  committee,  however,  will 
be  of  immense  value  to  the  Congress  and  the  people  of  the  United 
States. 

As  previous  testimony  of  the  committee  has  so  vividly  demon- 
strated, when  hoodlums  and  racketeers  get  into  labor  and  manage- 
ment they  do  it  for  the  exploitation  of  the  working  people.  Their 
participation  inevitably  leads  to  the  corruption  of  the  legitimate 
purposes  of  business.  It  is  this  exploitation  and  corruption  of  people 
and  legitimate  economic  functions  that  presents  such  a  grievous  prob- 
lem. 


12194  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Are  there  any  questions  or  any  comments  by  other  members  of  the 
committee  ? 

Senator  Ives.  Mr.  Chairman,  I  want  to  commend  the  chairman  on 
what  he  has  had  to  say  about  the  situation  into  which  we  are  about 
to  probe.  It  so  happens  that  Apalachin  is  only  around  50  miles  from 
where  I  live.  I  have  always  been  curious,  ever  since  the  occurence  of 
that  get-together  there,  as  to  the  reasons  for  it  and  as  to  the  connec- 
tions which  the  people  who  were  present  have  in  this  racketeering 
business. 

I  notice  with  considerable  interest  the  expression  of  appreciation 
which  the  chairman  has  for  Governor  Harriman,  and  the  assistance 
he  has  given  us.  In  that  connection  I  would  remark  that  I  think  the 
State  of  New  York  might  have  done  more  itself  in  this  connection  if 
the  Governor  had  been  willing  to  authorize  the  attorney  general  of 
New  York,  Hon.  Louis  Lefkowitz,  to  investigate  into  this  Apalachin 
matter  at  the  time. 

As  I  understand  it,  the  Governor  would  not  permit  Mr.  Lefkowitz 
to  act.  I  am  very  glad,  however,  that  we  are  going  into  this  matter, 
and  I  hope  that  we  can  develop  what  we  intend  to  develop — that  this 
whole  thing  is  a  nationwide  undertaking,  something  concerning  every 
person  in  the  United  States,  something  very  grave  which  all  of  us 
face,  and  which  is  particularly  important  where  our  children  and 
their  children  are  concerned.    Thank  you,  Mr.  Chairman. 

The  Chairman.  Thank  you,  Senator.  Are  there  any  other  mem- 
bers of  the  committee  that  have  any  statements  ? 

All  right,  if  there  is  no  one  else  who  wishes  to  comment,  Mr.  Ken- 
nedy, call  your  first  witness. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Chairman,  as  some  of  the  names  cause  some 
difficulty,  we  have  here  a  mimeographed  memorandum  on  the  individ- 
uals that  we  will  be  discussing  over  the  period  of  the  next  week  or  so, 
and  with  a  description  of  who  they  are,  and  where  they  come  from. 
I  would  like  to  have  permission  to  place  that  in  the  record  if  we  may. 

The  Chairman.  Was  this  prepared  by  the  staff  ? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  is  correct. 

The  Chairman.  It  may  be  placed  in  the  record  just  for  guidance 
and  information  only,  and  it  will  not  be  accepted  as  proof. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  is  fine,  Mr.  Chairman. 

The  Chairman.  It  is  not  evidence,  and  it  is  simply  a  memorandum 
prepared  by  the  staff  for  information  of  the  committee. 

(The  list  is  as  follows :) 

Individuals  at  Apalachin  and  Names  of  Some  of  Their  Contacts  and 

Associates 


Abate,  Atonio  (Detroit)  :  Arrests  for  larceny,  gambling.  Associate  of  Pete 
Licavoli. 

Alaimo,  Dominick  (Pittston,  Pa.)  :  At  Apalachin  mooting.  Coowner  Jane  Hogan 
Dress  Co.,  Pittston.  Committeeman  for  Local  S00."i,  Tinted  Mine  Workers  of 
America.     Arrests:  Robbery,  suspicion,   violation   internal   revenue  laws. 

B 

Baldassari,  Joe  (Scranton,  Pa.)  :  Operates  jukeboxes  and  pinball  macbines 
through  Baldassari  Amusement  Co.  in  Scranton.  Arrested  for  possession  of 
unregistered  still,  prohibition  law,  transportation,  and  possession  of  untaxed 
alcohol. 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12195 

Individuals  at  Apalaohin  and  Names  of  Some  of  Their  Contacts  ami 
Associates — Continued 

Barbara,  Joseph  Marin,  Sr.  (Apalachin,  N.  Y.)  :  Host  at  Apalachin  meeting. 
President  of  Canada  Dry  Bottling  Co.  of  Endicott,  N.  Y.  Arrests:  Suspicion 
of  murder  (2),  revolver,  illegal  acquisition  of  sugar. 

Biondo,  Joe  (New  York  City)  :  Close  associate  of  "Lucky"  Luciano  and  Tom 
Luchese. 

Bommarito,  Long  Joe  (Detroit)  :  Arrests  for  armed  robbery,  kidnaping,  gam- 
bling, suspicion  of  murder,  prohibition  law. 

Bommarito,  Scarface  Joe  (Detroit)  :  Arrests  for  carrying  concealed  weapons, 
suspicion  of  murder,  prohibition  law  violations,  extortion  by  threat,  assault, 
gambling. 

Bonanno,  Joseph  (Brooklyn)  :  At  Apalachin  meeting.  Formerly  in  B.  &  D.  Coat 
Co.,  manufacturers  of  women's  coats.  Arrests :  grand  larcency,  revolver,  con- 
spiracy, violation  of  wage  and  hour  law  in  1942. 

Bonanno,  Joseph  (New  York  City)  :  Arrests  for  grand  larceny  and  transporting 
machineguns  to  Capone  mob  in  Chicago.  Violation  of  wage  and  hour  law 
in  1942. 

Bouisera,  Anthony  (New  York  City)  :  "The  Chief."  Associate  of  Mike  Clemente, 
waterfront  boss  now  serving  time  for  extortion ;  Joe  Magliocco,  linen  supply 
dealer,  friend  of  Charles  Luciano  and  owner  of  Sunland  Beverage  Co.  (beer). 
Also  arrested  with  Palmeri,  John  Oddo,  Sam  DiCarlo  in  connection  with 
murder  of  John  Bazzano. 

Bonventre,  John  (Brooklyn):  At  Apalachin  meeting.  Reputed  occupations: 
Undertaker,  cheese  and  oil  business,  Pinto  Clothing  Co.,  Levine  &  Bouventre, 
ladies'  coat  contractors,  real  estate  salesman  for  Joseph  A.  Bivana,  Brook- 
lyn, uncle  of  Joseph  Bonanno. 

Bonventre,  John  (Brooklyn)  :  Coowner  Brooklyn  funeral  parlor  and  close 
associate  of  Carmine  Galenti  and  Frank  Garafola,  both  of  whom  figured 
prominently  in  the  Tresca  murder  investigation. 

Bufalino,  William  (Detroit)  :  Head  of  Local  985,  Teamsters,  Detroit,  which 
handles  jukeboxes.     Tried  and  acquitted  in  1953  in  jukebox  racket. 

Bufalino,  Russell  J.  (Kingston,  Pa.)  :  Owner  of  Penn  Drape  &  Curtain  Co., 
Pittston,  Pa.    Arrests  :  Criminally  receiving  stolen  property  (2) . 


Cammarata,  Frank  (Detroit)  :  Murder  suspect,  bank  robber,  deported  in  1936, 
reentered  United  States  in  1946.  Released  from  Jackson,  Mich.,  prison  in 
May  1958.    Last  in  Warren,  Ohio,  has  evaded  committee  subpena. 

Cammarata,  Vincent  (Detroit)  :  Also  known  as  Vito  Camaiato,  Vito  Cammarata. 
Arrested  for  carrying  concealed  weapons,  grand  larceny,  operating  still. 

Cannone,  Ignatius  (Endwell,  N.  Y.)  :  At  Apalachin  meeting.  Owns  Nat's  Place, 
Endicott,  and  Plaza  Lounge,  Endwell,  N.  Y.  Two  arrests  for  disorderly  con- 
duct. One  for  righting  in  Endwell,  the  other  for  shooting  dice  in  New  York 
City. 

Cannone,  Ignazio  (Endicott,  N.  Y.)  :  Owner  of  two  Endicott  taverns — minor 
arrest  record. 

Carlisi,  Roy  (Buffalo,  N.  Y.)  :  At  Apalachin  meeting.  Arrests:  Violation  Inter- 
nal Revenue  Act.  Indicted  for  15  counts  of  contempt  by  Tiogo  County  grand 
jury  February  27,  1958. 

Castellano,  Benjamin  (New  York  City)  :  Associated  with  Paul  Gambino  in  boot- 
legging. Reportedly  active  in  black  marketing  and  counterfeiting  of  ration 
stamps  during  World  War  II. 

Castellano,  Paul  (Brooklyn)  :  At  Apalachin.  Possession  dangerous  weapon, 
robbery  with  violence.     Brother-in-law  of  Carlo  Gambino  at  Apalachin. 

Cateno,  Gerardo  Vito  (South  Orange,  N.  J.)  :  At  Apalachin  meeting.  Employee 
and  stockholder  Runyon  Vending  Sales  Co.,  Newark.  Arrests:  3  for  gambling; 
robbery,  2 ;  grand  larceny,  truck ;  material  witness  in  murder  case,  loiter- 
ing, bribery  of  Federal  juror.     Close  associate  of  Longy  Zwillman. 

Chait,  Abe  (New  York  City)  :  Major  power  in  garment  industry  and  associate 
of  notorious  gangsters. 

Chivi,  Charles  Salvatore  (Palisade,  N.  J.)  :  At  Apalachin  meeting.  Officer  of 
Automotive  Conveying  Co.,  in  which  Joe  Adonis  was  his  partner.  No  known 
criminal  record. 


12196  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Individuals  at  Apalachin  and  Names  of  Some  of  Theie  Contacts  and 
Associates — Continued 

Civello,  Joseph  Francis  (Dallas,  Tex.)  :  At  Apalachin.  Food  and  liquor  im- 
porter. Arrests :  murder,  violation  liquor  law.  Conspiracy  of  Harrison  Act,  2. 
Associate:  John  Ormento. 

Colletti,  James  (Pueblo,  Colo.)  :  At  Apalachin.  Owns  Colorado  Cheese  Co., 
Pueblo.    Arrests :  Receiving  stolen  goods,  disorderly  person. 

Corrado,  Dominick  (Detroit)  :  Nephew  of  Peter  (deceased).  Arrests  for  con- 
spiracy to  violate  gambling  laws,  carrying  concealed  weapons,  suspect  in 
shooting. 

Corrado,  James  (Detroit)  :  Arrests  for  gambling,  suspect  in  shooting,  suspect  in 
assault  with  intent  to  kill. 

Corrado,  Peter  (Detroit),  deceased:  In  numbers  racket  with  Pete  Licavoli,  et  al. 
Arrests  in  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  Detroit,  and  Toledo,  principally  for  gambling. 
Indicted  for  1  murder,  sought  in  2  others. 

Cucchiara,  Frank  (Watertown,  Mass.)  :  At  Apalachin  meeting.  Treasurer  of 
Purity  Cheese  Co.  since  1938,  Boston.  Arrests :  Assault  and  battery ;  posses- 
sion morphine  and  dynamite;  lottery;  conspiracy  to  set  up  lottery:  grand 
larceny ;  sale  of  narcotics ;  forgery ;  possession  of  still,  3 ;  conspiracy  to  erect 
still. 

D 

D'Agostino,  Dominick  (Niagara  Falls,  N.  Y.)  :  At  Apalachin.    Arrests:  Buffalo, 

Harrison  Act.     Indicted  April  8,  1958,  on  7  counts.     Criminal  contempt  by 

Tioga  County  grand  .iury. 
De  Cavalconte,  Sam  (Trenton,  N.  J.)  :  Alias  "Sam  from  Trenton."    Arrested  for 

forgery,  loitering,  policy. 
DeFeo,  Peter   (New  York  City)  :  Indicted  with  Vito  Genovese,  Mike  Miranda, 

and  others  in  connection  with  the  murder  of  Ferdinand  Boccia  in  1934. 
DeMooco,  John  Anthony   (Shaker  Heights,  Ohio)  :  At  Apalachin  meeting.     Ar- 
rests :  Robbery,  extortion,  blackmail,  investigation  in  bombing.     Associate  of 

John  Scolish,  also  at  Apalachin. 
Desimone,  Frank    (Downey,  Calif.)  :   At  Apalachin.     Former  partner  of  Jack 

Dragna  in  Latin  Importing  Co. 
DiCarlo,    Sam    (Youngstown,   Ohio,   Buffalo,   Cleveland)  :   Arrested  with   Paul 

Palmeri,  et  al.,  in  murder  of  John  Bazzano,  Pittsburgh  restaurant  owner,  ;n 

Brooklyn. 
DiCarlo,  Joe  (Youngstown,  Ohio;  Florida)  :  Alias  "The  Wolf"  and  "The  Boss." 

He  and  brother  Sam  had  coin  and  pinball  machine  operation  in  Buffalo,  where 

he  was  labeled  "Public  Enemy  No.  1"  by  the  chief  of  police.     Arrested  for 

coercion,  operating  gambling  house  in  Miami,  extortion. 
Dio,  Johnny,   (New  York  City)  :  Notorious  New  York  extortionist.     Nephew  of 

James  Plumeri,  with  whom  he  served  time  for  garment  industry  extortion. 

Presently  in  jail  for  extortion. 
Dioguardi,  Tom    (New  York  City)  :  Brother  of  Johnny  Dio.     Close  associate 

of  major  New  York  labor  racketeers. 

E 

Evola,  Natale  Joseph  (Brooklyn)  :  At  Apalachin  meeting.  President-treasurer 
of  Belmont  Garment  Delivery  Co.,  and  president  of  Amity  Garment  Delivery 
Co.  Arrests :  dangerous  weapon,  coercion.  Presently  under  indictment  with 
John  Ormento  and  others  in  Federal  narcotic  conspiracy. 

F 

Falcone,  Joseph  (Utica)  :  At  Apalachin  meeting.  Manager  of  Utica  Retail 
Liquor  Co.  Brother,  Salvatore,  also  at  Apalachin.  Arrest:  Violation,  in- 
ternal revenue  liquor  tax. 

Falcone,  Salvatore  (Utica  and  Miami)  :  At  Apalachin  meeting.  Operates  groc- 
ery store  in  Miami.     Arrests:  Violation,  internal  revenue  liquor  tax. 

Frasca,  Gus  (New  York  City)  :  Indicted  in  connection  with  murder  of  Ferdinand 
Boccia  in  1934. 

G 

Gainbino,  Carlo  (Brooklyn)  :  At  Apalachin  meeting:  associated  with  S.  G.  S. 
Associates,  labor  consultants.  Arrests:  Grand  larceny,  violations  Internal 
Revenue  Act  (still)  ;  several  Federal  alcohol  tax  arrests. 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12197 

Individuals  at  Apalaohin  and  Names  of  Some  of  Their  Contacts  and 
Associates — Continued 

Gambino,  Paul  (New  York)  :  Fled  to  Italy  to  avoid  prosecution  in  a  Federal 
alcohol  tax  case.     While  there  held  meetings  with  "Lucky"  Luciano. 

Genovese,  Michael  James  (Gibsonia,  Pa.)  :  At  Apalachin  meeting.  Owner  of 
Archie's  Car  Wash.  Partner  in  L  &  G  Amusement  Co.,  Pennsylvania,  coin 
machines,  with  John  LaRocca  in  1956.     Arrests :  Robbery,  concealed  weapon. 

Genovese,  Vito  (Atlantic  Highlands,  N.  J.)  :  At  Apalachin  meeting.  Ranked 
among  top  gangsters  in  the  country. 

Giglio,  William  J.  (New  York  City)  :  Convicted  with  Frank  Livorsi  in  black- 
market  sugar  operation. 

Guarnieri,  Anthony  Frank  (Johnson  City,  N.  Y.)  :  At  Apalachin  meeting.  Vice 
president  of  Tri-Cities  Dress  Co.,  Inc.,  Binghampton,  and  president-treasurer  of 
Owego  Textile  Co.,  Owego.  Arrests :  Possession  firearms,  lottery,  felonious 
assault. 

Gussia,  Bartolo  (Endicott,  N.  Y.)  :  At  Apalachin  meeting.  Fish  peddler.  Bar- 
bara is  godfather  to  his  children.  Arrests:  Possession  weapon  (2),  bank 
robbery,  breaking  and  entering,  bootlegging,  murder  (first  degree). 


Ida,  Joseph  (Highland  Park,  N.  J.)  :  At  Apalachin  meeting.  Automobile  sales- 
man.    Associate  of  Mike  Clemente  and  Rocco  Pellegrino. 

Impastato,  Nicolo  (Kansas  City,  Mo.)  :  Federal  Bureau  of  Narcotics  national 
list. 

L 

La  Duca,  James  Vincent  (Lewiston,  N.  Y.)  :  At  Apalachin  meeting.  Was 
secretary-treasurer  of  Local  66,  Hotel,  Restaurant  Employees,  Buffalo.  As- 
sociate of  Steve  and  Anthony  Maggadino,  Roy  Carlisi,  and  John  Montana. 

Lagattuta,  Samuel  (Buffalo)  :  At  Apalachin  meeting.  Arrests:  Arson,  murder 
investigation,  dangerous  weapon. 

LaPadura,  Joseph  (New  York  City)  :  Associate  of  Russell  Bufalino  in  floating 
crap  games. 

Larasso,  Louis  Anthony  (Linden,  N.  J.)  :  At  Apalachin  meeting.  Was  trustee  of 
Local  394,  Common  Laborers  and  Hod  Carriers. 

Licavoli,  Dominick  (Detroit  and  St.  Louis)  :  Uncle  of  Pete  Licavoli,  Detroit  and 
Cleveland.  Arrests :  Holding  girls  for  purposes  of  prostitution,  breaking  and 
entering. 

Licavoli,  Jack  (Youngstown  and  Trumbull  County,  Ohio;  also  Detroit)  (alias 
Jack  White)  :  Arrests  :  Gambling. 

Licavoli,  James  (Detroit  and  Lake  County,  Ohio):  Arrests:  Murder,  armed 
robbery,  carrying  concealed  weapons,  customs  law  and  narcotics  violations, 
kidnaping,  blackmail. 

Licavoli,  Pete  (Detroit  and  Cleveland)  :  In  Cleveland  and  Detroit  gambling  syn- 
dicates, also  Canadian  gambling.  Has  ranch  in  Tucson,  Ariz.  Arrests :  Rob- 
bery, rum-running,  kidnaping,  carrying  concealed  weapon,  murder,  extortion, 
gambling,  assault. 

Licavoli,  Thomas  (Detroit,  Toledo)  :  Now  serving  life  sentence  in  Ohio  State 
Penitentiary  for  murder  plot.    Also  hijacker,  rum-runner,  guntoter. 

Livorsi,  Frank  "Cheech"  (New  York)  :  Served  time  for  narcotics  violation;  later 
employed  "Big  John"  Ormento  when  he  was  released  from  prison  on  similar 
charge.  Arrests  run  from  homicide  to  income  tax  violation.  Associated  with 
William  Giglio  in  operation  of  Eatsum  Food  Products  Co.,  and  Tavern  Fruit 
Juice  Co.     Convicted  of  black  market  sugar  operation. 

Lombardozzi,  Carmine  (Brooklyn)  :  At  Apalachin  meeting.  Arrests:  Homicide, 
burglary,  unlawful  entry,  disorderly  conduct,  abduction-rape,  weapon,  policy 
(3),  common  gambler. 

LoPronto,  Sal va tore  (New  York  City)  :  Close  associate  of  John  Ormento,  major 
narcotics  violator.     Convicted  of  illegal  possession  of  firearms. 

Lucchese,  Thomas  (New  York  City)  :  Twice  arrested  for  homicide.  Sentenced 
3  years,  8  months  to  10  years  for  grand  larceny.  Influential  underworld  fig- 
ure with  interests  in  construction  and  garment  industries.  ("3-Finger 
Brown".) 


12198  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Individuals  at  Apalachin  and  Names  of  Some  of  Their  Contacts  and 
Associates — Continued 

M 

Maggadino,  Antonio  (Niagara  Falls)  :  At  Apalachin  meeting.  Vice  president 
of  Maggadino  Funeral  Home.  (Record  (all  in  Italy)  :  falsifying  name  on 
passport,  clandestine  activities,  homicide,  denounced  for  robbery,  rape,  and 
extortion. 

Maggadino,  Peter  (Buffalo)  :  President,  Maggadino  Memorial  Chapel,  Inc.  Re- 
cently had  difficulty  with  Federal  grand  jury  when  he  failed  to  produce  records 
of  business  which  he  claimed  were  in  possession  of  Vincent  Sero,  an  account- 
ant who  is  missing. 

Maggadino,  Steve  (Lewiston,  N.  Y.)  :  His  son,  Peter,  married  to  niece  of  John 
Montana.  His  daughter  is  married  to  Charles  Montana,  nephew  of  John. 
Another  daughter  married  to  LaDuca.  A  principal  in  Power  City  Distributing 
Co.     Brother  of  Anthony,  who  attended  Apalachin  meeting. 

Magliocco,  Joseph  (East  Islip,  N.  Y.)  :  At  Apalachin  meeting.  Arrests:  Trans- 
porting wine,  possession  of  gun  and  alcohol.  Sole  stockholder  of  Sunland  Bev- 
erage Co.,  wholesale  beer  distributor. 

Majuri,  Frank  Thomas  (Elizabeth,  N.  J.)  :  At  Apalachin  meeting.  Was  vice 
president  of  Local  364,  Hod  Carriers  and  Common  Laborers  Union.  Arrests : 
Conspiracy  to  commit  robbery,  possession  of  liquor,  violation  ABC  Act  and 
contempt,  illicit  manufacture  of  alcohol  with  intent  to  sell,  disorderly  conduct, 
bookmaking. 

Mancuso,  Rosario  (Utica,  N.  Y.)  :  At  Apalachin  meeting.  November  1053  elected 
prescident  of  Local  186,  Hod  Carriers  and  Common  Laborers  Union.  Arrested 
March  25,  1951,  for  assault  with  intent  to  commit  murder. 

Mangano,  Philip  (Brooklyn)  :  Found  shot  to  death  in  Bergen  Beach  marsh, 
Brooklyn.  He  was  treasurer  of  Modern  Ship  Painting  &  Scaling  Corp., 
Brooklyn. 

Mangano,  Vincent  (Brooklyn)  :  Has  been  missing  since  shortly  after  brother 
Philip  was  found  murdered  in  Bergen  Beach  marsh,  Brooklyn,  in  early  1950's. 

Mannarino,  Gabriel  (New  Kensington,  Pa.)  :  At  Apalachin  meeting.  Former 
owner,  with  brothers,  of  Sans  Soucie,  Habana,  now  owned  by  Louis  Santos, 
also  at  Apalachin.  Arrests :  gambling,  violation  of  liquor  laws,  robbery,  fire- 
arms act,  lottery,  obstructing  justice.  Owner  of  Nu-Ken  Novelty  Co  (slot 
and  cigarette  machines,  jukeboxes). 

Matranga,  Frank  (San  Diego,  Calif.)  :  Son-in-law  of  John  Priziola  of  Detroit. 
Arrested  for  being  tipoff  man  for  a  gambling  joint. 

Meli,  Angelo  (Detroit,  Mich.)  :  Detroit  prohibition  hoodlum  who  has  branched 
out  in  auto  parts  sales,  jukeboxes,  and  real  estate. 

Meli,  Vincent  A.  (Detroit,  Mich.)  :  Has  no  record.  Partner  with  brother-in-law, 
William  Bufalino,  in  Melody  Enterprise  Co.,  and  owner  of  record  of  Mel-Tone 
Juke  Box  Co.,  and  G.  &  M.  Music  Co.,  Detroit. 

Miranda,  Michele  A.  (Forest  Hills,  N.  Y.)  :  At  Apalachin  meeting.  Close  as- 
sociate of  Vito  Genovese.  Arrests :  Disorderly  conduct,  suspicious  person 
(2),  vagrancy  (2),  homicide  (2).  On  Federal  Bureau  of  Narcotics  Inter- 
national List  229. 

Monacnino,  Patsy  (Auburn,  N.  Y.)  :  At  Apalachin  meeting.  Partner  with 
brother  Sam  in  Super  Beverage  Co. 

Monachino,  Sam  (Auburn,  N.  Y.)  :  At  Apalachin  meeting.  Partner  with  brother 
Patsy,  in  Super  Beverage  Co.,  beer  wholesalers  and  distributors.  Visited 
Joe  "Socks"  Lanza  at  Auburn  Prison. 

Montana,  John  Charles  (Buffalo)  :  At  Apalachin  meeting.  President  of  several 
companies  and  director,  chairman,  etc.,  of  various  civic  associations.  Associate 
of  Mangadinos,  LaDuca. 

N 

Nani,  Sebastian  (California):  Federal  Bureau  of  Narcotics  International  List 
No.  241. 

O 

Oddo,  John  (Brooklyn.  N.  Y.)  :  Alias  "Johnny  Bathheach"  and  "Crazy  John." 
Associate  of  Angelo  Polizzi  of  Detroit.  He  was  1  of  14  arrested  for  murder 
of  John  Bazzano  in  Brooklyn.  He  was  1  of  9  rearrested  for  consorting  with 
criminals. 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12199 

Indiviihai.s  at  Apalachin  and  Names  of  Some  of  Their  Contacts  and 
Associates — Continued 

Olivetto,  Dominick  (Camden,  N.  J.)  :  At  Apalachin  meeting.  Arrests:  Criminal 
registration  (2),  illicit  alcohol.  Associated  with  Forest  Products,  Almonessen, 
N.J. 

Orlando,  AugUStino  W.  (Detroit)  :  Arrests:  Conspiracy  to  violate  the  State  la- 
bor laws;  in  L952  for  carrying  gun  and  conspiracy  following  a  pay-off  to  UAW 
Committeeman  William  l'oindexter. 

Ormetto.  John,  "Big  John"  (New  York)  :  At  Apalachin  meeting.  A  prominent 
figure  in  107th  Street  (New  York  City)  narcotics  circles.  He  was  arrested  to- 
gether with  Salvatore  La  Proto  for  the  possession  of  2  guns,  1  with  silencer, 
concealed  in  a  trap  in  an  automobile.  Has  three  narcotics  convictions  and 
is  currently  subject  of  nationwide  manhunt  in  connection  with  a  large  nar- 
cotics conspiracy.    <  Operates  Long  Island  Trucking  Co. 

Osticco,  James  Anthony  (Pittston,  Pa.)  :  At  Apalachin  meeting.  Arrests:  liquor 
law  and  conspiracy.     Official  of  Medico  Industries,  Inc. 


Pahneri,  Paul  (deceased)  (New  Jersey)  :  Was  questioned  in  Moretti  murder. 
Once  partner  in  Maggadino  Funeral  Home  in  Buffalo.  Had  been  arrested  with 
Bonisera,  Sam  D.  Carlo,  John  Oddo,  and  others  in  connection  with  murder  of 
John  Bazzare. 

Papadio,  Andino  (New  York)  :  Recently  arrested  as  part  of  the  narcotics  con- 
spiracy in  New  Y7ork  for  which  Big  John  Ormento  is  a  fugitive.  In  garment 
industry  with  Farrell  Modes,  dresses. 

Pellegrino,  Rocco  (White  Plains,  N.  Y. )  :  Has  narcotic  record.  Close  associate 
of  John  Ormento,  Saro  Mogavara,   Socks  Lanza,  Mike  Clemente. 

Perrone.  Anto  Sam  (Detroit)  :  Arrested  on  several  occasions  for  carrying  con- 
cealed weapons.  In  1951  he  was  arrested  for  conspiracy  to  interfere  with 
formation  of  a  labor  organization. 

Pieri,  Sam  (Buffalo)  :  Together  with  Sal  Rizzo  exercises  some  influence  through 
IBEW  in  obtaining  entertainment  in  the  Buffalo  area. 

Polizzi,  Alfred  (Coral  Gables,  Fla.)  :  A  former  leader  of  the  notorious  Mayfield 
Road  gang  (Cleveland)  with  long  police  record.  Was  partner  in  Buckeye 
Catering.     Presently  in  construction  firm  in  Coral  Gables,  Fla. 

Polizzi,  Angelo  (Detroit)  (deceased)  :  Associated  with  Valley  Platers,  Inc. 
Arrests :  Murder,  suspicion  of  murder,  carrying  concealed  weapons,  counter- 
feiting.   He  was  an  associate  of  Johnny  Dio  and  John  Ormento  of  NewT  York. 

Polizzi,  Charles  "Chuck" :  Operator  of  gambling  casinos  in  northern  Kentucky. 
He  was  a  partner  in  Buckeye  Catering. 

Polizzi,  Mike  (Detroit)  :  Son  of  Angelo  Polizzi.  Former  jukebox  operator  with 
Pete  Tocco  and  "Papa  John"  Priziola.  Currently  an  investor  in  Torosian  Oil 
Co.,  and  president  of  Valley  Platers,  Inc. 

Plumeri,  James  (New  York  City),  alias  "Jimmy  Doyle":  Uncle  of  Johnny  Dio, 
with  whom  he  was  convicted  for  garment  industry  extortion.  Now  connected 
with  El  Gee  Carriers,  garment  trucking  and  garment  firms. 

Priziola,  "Papa  John"  (Detroit,  Mich.)  :  Detroit  Police  Department  No.  10171. 
Several  aliases.  His  name  was  found  in  records  seized  from  Jack  Dragna, 
west  coast  mobster.  Criminal  record  includes  arrests  for  carrying  concealed 
weapons,  armed  robbery,  gambling,  suspicion  of  murder,  grand  larceny. 
Closely  associated  with  the  Licavolis,  Zerillis,  and  Toccos. 

Profaci,  Joseph  (Brooklyn)  :  At  Apalachin  meeting.  Owner  of  Carmela  Mia 
Packing  Co.  Number  of  arrests  in  Italy  and  United  States.  An  oldtime,  well 
established  gangster. 

Q 

Quaserino,  Rafael  (Detroit,  Mich.)  :  Closely  associated  with  John  Ormento  in 
narcotic  traffic. 

R 

Rao,  Chas.  (New  York  City):  A  partner  in  a  metal  lathing  business,  his 
name  was  found  in  address  books  of  Jack  Dragna  and  Nomo  A.  Sano  of  the 
west  coast.  Was  an  associate  in  the  thirties  of  plasterers  union  delegates 
who  went  to  Sing  Sing  for  extortion.     Brother.  Vincent  Rao. 

Rao.  .Toe  (New  York):  Held  with  Trigger  Mike  Coppola  in  connection  with 
Scottoriggio  murder;   while  serving  prison  term  1936  for  assault  on  Black- 


12200  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Individuals  at  Apalachin  and  Names  of  Some  of  Their  Contacts  and 
Associates — Continued 

well's  Island,  created  a  sensation  in  the  way  he  was  able  to  maintain  control 
while  in  prison. 

Rao,  Vincent  (Yonkers,  N.  Y.)  :  At  Apalachin  meeting.  Real -estate  operator 
and  owner.  Arrests:  Grand  larceny,  possession  of  gun  (2),  violation  Work- 
men's Compensation  Act. 

Rava,  Alfred  (Brooklyn)  :  At  Apalachin  meeting.  Manager  of  New  Comers 
Restaurant,  Brooklyn.  Arrests :  Extortion,  policy,  internal-revenue  law,  va- 
grancy.    Close  contact  with  Albert  Anastasia. 

Renda,  James  (Detroit)  :  Canadian  gambling-house  operator,  was  2  times  tried 
for  murder,  1  victim  being  a  police  sergeant. 

Renda,  William  (Detroit)  :  Killed  in  Detroit  prison  while  attempting  to  free  a 
prisoner.     Father  of  Carl  Renda. 

Riccobono,  Joseph  (Staten  Island,  N.  Y.)  :  At  Apalachin  meeting.  Owns  Chris- 
tine Dresses  and  Toni  Belle  Dresses,  Brooklyn.  Arrests :  Weapon,  extortion, 
and  conspiracy. 

Riala,  Anthony  (West  Orange,  N.  J.)  :  At  Apalachin  meeting.  Owns  Airport 
Hotel,  Newark.  Arrests ;  Maintaining  a  nuisance  and  permitting  prostitution 
on  premises. 

Rosa  to,  Joseph  (New  York)  :  At  Apalachin  meeting.  Alias  "Joe  Palisades." 
Owner  of  two  trucking  companies  in  the  garment  industry.  Arrested  for 
homicide ;  gun. 

Rubino,  Mike  (Detroit)  :  Associated  with  Angelo  Neli,  Scarface  Joe  Dommarito, 
Pete  Licavola,  in  jukebox  operation.    Associate  of  Joe  Di  Carlo. 

S 

Santos,  Louis  (Habana,  Cuba)  :  At  Apalachin  meeting.  Real  name  Louis  Traf- 
ficante,  Jr.,  who  now  operates  San  Souci  gambling  casino  in  Habana.  His 
father  has  been  boss  of  Tampa  rackets  for  years. 

Santora,  Salvatore  (Leonia,  N.  J.;  New  York  City)  :  Past  and  present  narcotic 
partner  and  fugitive  with  John  Ormento  in  narcotic  conspiracy. 

Scalise,  Frank  (City  Island,  N.  Y.)  :  Murdered  1957,  in  Bronx.  Associate  of 
Rocco  Pellegrino. 

Scalish,  John  (Cleveland,  Ohio)  :  At  Apalachin  meeting.  Operates  Buckeye 
Cigarette  Co.,  vending  machines.     Arrests:  Burglary,  robbery    (2). 

Seiandra,  Angelo  Joseph  (Pittston,  Pa.)  :  At  Apalachin  meeting.  Associated 
with  Dixie  Frocks  Co.,  Wyoming,  Pa.,  and  Claudia  Frocks,  New  York  City. 
Arrests :  Assault. 

Sciortino,  Patsy  (Auburn,  N.  Y.)  :  At  Apalachin  meeting.  Associated  with  Diana 
Bleach  Co.,  Auburn,  N.  Y.     Arrest :  Violation  of  Immigration  Act. 

Scozzari  Simone  (San  Gabriel,  Calif.):  At  Apalachin  meeting.  Arrests:  Sus- 
picion bookmaking  (2).  Had  $10,000  in  cash  and  checks  when  picked  up. 
He  operates  cigar  stand  at  Venetian  Athletic  Club,  Los  Angeles. 

Scro,  Sam  (Syracuse)  :  President  Darling  Ice  Cream  Co.,  Syracuse,  N.  Y.  Has 
contact  with  Barbara,  Rosario  Mancuso,  Sam  Monachino,  and  Salvatore 
Falcone. 

Scro,  Vincent  (Buffalo)  :  Accountant  for  Buffalo  activities  who  is  missing  since 
Federal  grand  jury  has  demanded  records  of  Maggadino  Memorial  Chapel,  Inc., 
which  were  in  his  possession. 

Smurra,  George  (New  York  City)  :  Indicted  in  connection  with  the  murder  of 
Ferdinand  Boccia  in  1934,  as  were  Vito  Genovese  and  Mike  Miranda. 

Stracci,  Joseph  (New  York)  :  Arrests  run  through  murder,  rape,  burglary,  as- 
sault, robbery,  grand  larcency,  drugs.  Served  one  term  Sing  Sing.  Reported 
power  behind  Jewelry  Workers  Union  Local  222,  and  associate  of  Raymond 
Patriarca,  a  Rhode  Island  figure. 

T 

Tocco,  Anthony  J.  (Detroit)  :  Has  record  of  arrests  in  Detroit. 

Tor-co,  Pete  (Detroit)  :  Arrested  for  bootlegging  during  prohibition. 

Tocco,  Sam  (Detroit)  :  Arrests  for  robbery,  larceny,  carrying  concealed  weapons, 

suspicion  of  murder. 
Tocco,  William  "Black  Bill"    (Detroit)  :  Detroit  Police  Department  No.  13817. 

He  has  record  of  arrests  since  1920,  for  armed  robbery,  suspicion  of  murder, 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    UST    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12201 

Individuals  at  Apalachin  and  Names  of  Some  of  Their  Contacts  and 
Associates — Contiuued 

violation  of  the  prohibition  law,  gambling.  In  Detroit,  gambling  activity 
with  Pete  Licavoli  and  Joe  Zarilli. 

Tornabe,  Salvator  (New  York  City)  (deceased,  December  30,  1957)  :  At  Apa- 
lachin  meeting.  Beer  salesman  for  Sunland  Beverage  Corp.,  owned  by  Joe 
Magliocco.    Admitted  sale  of  whisky  to  Federal  agent  in  1921. 

Tortorki,  Frank  (New  York  City):  Officer  of  Locals  222  and  422,  Jewelry 
Workers,  and  welfare  funds  of  same. 

Tortorici,  Joe  "Joe  Stutz"  (New  York  City)  :  Nine  arrests,  no  convictions,  for 
crimes  ranging  from  homicide,  felonious  assault,  and  robbery  to  vagrancy 
and  liquor-law  violations.  Associate  of  prominent  New  York  City  labor  rack- 
eteers such  as  Tony  Ducks  Corallo  and  Joe  Stracci  "Joe  Stretch";  also,  asso- 
ciate of  Lorenzo  Brescia  and  Pete  DeFeo. 

Tramunti,  Carmine  (New  York  City)  :  Associated  in  labor  racketeering  with 
Anthony  Corallo  alias  "Tony  Ducks,"  Mack  Macaluso,  Dick  Kamanitzky. 

Turrigiano,  Patsy  (Endicott,  N.  Y.)  :  At  Apalachin  meeting.  Arrests:  Operating 
still.   Associated  with  grocery  store. 


Valente,  Costenze  Peter  (Rochester)  :  At  Apalachin  meeting  with  brother 
Frank.  They  operate  Valente  Bros,  produce  business  in  Rochester.  Has  op- 
erated restaurants  in  Pittsburgh. 

Valente,  Frank  Joseph  (Rochester)  :  At  Apalachin  meeting  with  brother  Co- 
stenze Peter  Valente,  and  with  whom  he  operates  produce  business  in  Roches- 
ter. Arrests :  Counterfeit  money,  forgery,  blackmail,  larceny,  internal- 
revenue  laws,  assault  and  battery  to  commit  rape,  robbery,  murder  (2),  con- 
spiracy to  violate  Selective  Service  Act. 

Volpe,  Santo  (Pittston,  Pa.)  :  Arrested  in  1932  with  Albert  Anastasia,  Paul 
Palmeri,  Anthony  Bonisera,  and  others  for  murder  of  John  Bazzano  in  Brook- 
lyn, where  Bazzano  had  been  lured  after  the  murders  of  three  Volpe  brothers 
in  Pittsburgh. 

Z 

Zerilli,  Sam  (Detroit)  :  Arrests  for  prohibition-law  violations,  conspiracy  to 
violate  State  gambling  laws. 

Zerilli,  Joseph  (Detroit)  :  Associate  in  various  rackets  of  Pete  Licavoli  et  al. 

Zicari,  Emanuel  (Endicott,  N.  Y.)  :  At  Apalachin  meeting.  Arrests:  Counter- 
feiting.   Occupation :  Shoe  worker. 

Zito,  Frank  (Springfield,  111.)  :  At  Apalachin  meeting.  Owner  and  operator  of 
Modern  Distributing  Co.,  jukeboxes.  Claims  to  be  retired.  Arrests :  Con- 
spiracy to  violate  prohibition  laws. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  As  we  are  going  into  this  meeting  in  Apalachin, 
Mr.  Chairman,  the  first  witness  willl  be  Sgt.  Edgar  Crosswell. 

The  Chairman.  You  do  solemnly  swear  that  the  evidence  given  be- 
fore this  Senate  select  committee  shall  be  the  truth,  the  whole  truth, 
and  nothing  but  the  truth,  so  help  you  God  \ 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Yes,  sir. 

TESTIMONY  OF  SGT.  EDGAR  D.  CROSSWELL 

The  Chairman.  State  your  name,  and  your  place  of  residence,  and 
your  business  or  occupation. 

Mr.  Crosswell.  My  name  is  Edgar  D.  Crosswell,  and  I  am  a  ser- 
geant at  the  Bureau  of  Criminal  Investigation  of  the  New  York  State 
Police. 

I  reside  and  work  from  the  Vestal  substation  in  Vestal,  X.  Y. 

The  Chairman.  How  long  have  you  been  in  this  work,  Sergeant? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Seventeen  years.     With  this  department. 

The  Chairman.  Of  course,  you  waive  counsel  ? 


12202  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  Cross  well.  Yes,  sir. 

The  Chairman.  All  right,  Mr.  Kennedy,  proceed. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Sergeant,  in  what  areas  of  New  York  have  you 
been  working? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  I  have  worked  throughout  the  State,  but  the  great- 
er part  of  my  time  has  been  spent  in  and  about  Broome  and  Tioga 
Counties. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Does  Mr.  Joseph  Barbara  have  a  residence  there? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  In  Tioga  County ;  yes,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  When  did  you  first  become  interested  in  Mr.  Joseph 
Barbara? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  In  1944. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Will  you  tell  us  the  circumstances  surrounding 
that? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  At  that  time,  I  picked  up  a  man  who  had  been 
stealing  gasoline  from  one  of  Barbara's  plants. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  This  was  during  the  war? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  During  the  gasoline  shortage,  during  the  war.  I 
called  Mr.  Barbara  to  come  down  to  the  station  and  he  seemed  very 
reluctant  to  prosecute  the  man  for  stealing  gas,  which  at  that  time 
was  hard  to  get,  and  it  sort  of  seemed  funny  that  he  didn't  want  to  do 
anything  about  it. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Was  there  anything  suspicious  about  the  man  at  the 
time  that  you  picked  him  up?     Did  he  have  any  firearms  on  him? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Mr.  Barbara  had  a  revolver  on  him  when  he  came 
in. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  He  came  down  to  the  police  department? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Yes,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  He  had  a  revolver  on  him  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Yes,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  He  did  not  want  to  prosecute  this  individual ;  is  that 
right? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  That  is  correct. 

(At  this  point,  the  following  members  were  present:  Senators  Mc- 
Clellan,  Ives,  Ervin,  Mundt,  and  Gold  water.) 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Had  you  known  anything  about  Mr.  Barbara  prior 
to  that  time  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  No,  not  prior  to  that. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  you  become  interested  in  him  then? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  From  that  time  on ;  yes,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  you  find  out  anything  about  his  background  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Yes.  That  came  some  time  later.  Every  investi- 
gation of  any  importance  that  we  conducted  in  that  urea  concerning 
vice  or  gambling  seemed  to  center  around  Joseph  Barbara  and  the 
people  who  associated  with  him.  In  1948  I  went  down  to  Wyoming, 
Pa.,  trying  to  get  some  information  on  his  background. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Why  did  you  go  down  there?  What  had  you  known 
about  his  contacts  with  Pennsylvania  '. 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Well,  he  originally  came  to  the  Endicott,  N.  Y., 
area,  from  the  Pittston,  Pa.,  area. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Had  you  known  anything  about  the  activities  of  any 
of  these  gangsters  or  hoodlums  in  the  Pittston  area  \ 

Mr. Crosswell.  1  fp  until  that  time ; no, sir. 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12203 

Mr.  Kennedy.  But  you  knew  thai  he  came  out  of  thai  area? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  That  is  right. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  you  make  inquiry  at  a  later  time  on  his  back- 
ground '. 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Yes,  I  did. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Would  you  relate  what  you  found  out  '. 

M  r.  (  IrosSWELL.  Do  you  want  about  his  criminal  record  ( 

Mr.  Kennedy.  The  information  that  you  learned  at  that  time. 

Mr.  Crosswell.  We  found  that  in  January  of  Y.^W  he  was  arrested 
as  a  suspect  in  a  murder  charge,  and  later  discharged.  In  connection 
with  that  arrest,  the  Pennsylvania  State  Police  records  disclose  that 
Calomero  Calogare  arrived  in  Pittston,  Pa.,  on  December  31,  1930. 
On  January  4,  about  8  p.  m.,  this  man  was  walking  along  Railroad 
Street  in  Pittston,  Pa.  Two  men  were  following  him  and  when  they 
overtook  him,  1  of  the  men  tired  5  or  6  shots.  The  victim  made  a 
deathbed  statement  and  accused  Tony  Merreale  of  shooting  him,  over 
ill  feeling  between  the  victim  and  Santo  Volpe,  Sam  Yolpe,  and 
Charles  Bufalino. 

Mr.  Kexxedy.  Santo  Volpe  and  Sam  Volpe;  they  are  from  Pitts- 
ton also  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  That  is  right.  And  Charles  Bufalino  is  from 
Pittston.  Tony  Merreale  with  brothers  Carmel  and  Joseph,  also 
known  as  Colorado  Joe,  were  boarding  at  the  same  home.  There  it 
was  established  that  subject  was  a  frequent  visitor  at  this  home,  sub- 
ject being  Barbara,  and  a  close  friend  of  Carmel  Merreale.  Tony 
Merreale  on  apprehension  claimed  at  the  time  of  murder  he  was  work- 
ing at  Old  Forge  at  a  still  for  Barbara.  Barbara  was  arrested  on 
suspicion  of  being  a  second  man.  However,  witnesses  failing  to  iden- 
tify him,  he  was  discharged. 

Senator  Mtjndt.  What  was  Barbara's  obvious  means  of  livelihood 
at  that  time  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  In  1948  ? 

Senator  Mundt.  At  the  time  you  are  talking  about. 

Mr.  Crosswell.  At  that  time,  in  1931,  he  was  just  a  hoodlum  down 
around  Pennsylvania,  in  the  coalfields. 

Senator  Mundt.  He  didn't  have  any  legitimate  means  of  income,  do 
you  mean  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Not  that  I  know  of,  sir. 

Senator  Mundt.  Before  you  go  on,  I  would  like  to  ask  one  question. 
You  said  when  Barbara  came  to  the  police  station  he  refused  to  testify 
against  the  man  that  stole  the  gasoline,  and  you  found  a  revolver  on 
him? 

Mr.  ( /R( isswell.  Yes,  sir. 

Senator  Mundt.  Is  that  against  the  law  to  carry  a  revolver  without 
a  permit  ? 

Mr.  Crosswki.l.  Not  with  a  permit,  and  he  had  a  permit. 

Senator  Mundt.  He  had  a  permit  ? 

Mr.  ( '];<  isswell.  Yes,  sir. 

Senator  Mundt.  Is  that  a  State  permit,  a  local  permit  or  a  permit 
from  the  FBI  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  New  York  State. 

Senator  Mundt.  And  he  had  one  ? 

21  2  IS—  5S — pt.  32 2 


12204  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Yes,  sir. 
Senator  Mundt.  Thank  you. 
The  Chairman.  All  right. 

Mr.  Crosswell.  On  February  21,  1933,  Barbara  was  arrested  by 
the  Police  Department  of  Scranton,  Pa.,  for  suspicion  and  investiga- 
tion, and  was  discharged  the  next  day  in  police  court. 

In  connection  with  that,  Pennsylvania  State  Police  records  show 
that  a  Samuel  Wichner,  a  Jewish-American  racketeeer  involved  in 
bootlegging,  hijacking,  and  blackmailing  was  murdered  between  the 
hours  of  10  and  12  p.  m.  The  crime  was  discovered  at  7  p.  m., 
February  16,  1933,  when  a  Ford  coupe  belonging  to  the  victim  was 
found  in  the  400  block  of  Meriden  Avenue,  in  Scranton,  Pa. 

The  body  was  in  the  rear  compartment.  Death  was  caused  by 
strangulation.  The  crime  took  place  indoors,  after  struggle  with  his 
murderers;  victim  was  rendered  at  least  partially  unconscious  when 
they  applied  a  slip  noose  about  his  neck  and  drew  it  tight  until  he 
died.  Two  pieces  of  No.  9  sashcord,  each  12  feet  in  length,  one  with 
noose  about  neck,  and  then  a  half  hitch  about  arms,  then  taking  it 
under  the  knees,  knotted  and  brought  down  about  the  ankles,  which 
WifS  bro"Sht  llP-  The  second  cord  started  about  the  feet  and  wrapped 
about  the  body.  The  victim,  minus  hat  and  coat,  was  then  placed 
m  the  rear  compartment  of  his  own  car,  the  same  driven  to  Scranton 
and  abandoned.  Two  men  left  the  car  and  entered  a  black  Ruick 
sedan  occupied  by  two  other  men  which  had  followed  them  to  the  spot 

Victim,  minus  his  hat  and  coat,  was  badly  beaten  about  the  face 
possibly  with  knuckles.  The  victim  was  allegedly  lured  to  the  home 
of  Barbara  on  the  belief  that  he  would  have  a  conference  with 
Barbara,  Santo  Volpe,  and  Angelo  Valente,  who  were  to  be  his  silent 
partners  m  a  new  bootlegging  venture. 

He  had  informed  his  wife  he  had  been  to  Barbara's  home  the  pre- 
vious night  and  was  instructed  by  Barbara  to  return  at  9:30  p.  m. 
the  following  night  and  not  let  anyone  know  where  he  was  o-0ino-, 
not  even  his  wife.  to      to 

His  criminal  record  also  shows  that  on  August  1,  1931,  he  was 
arrested  for  violation  of  1897  of  the  penal  law  of  the  State  of  New 
York,  that  arrest  was  made  by  New  York  City  Police  Department 
and  he  was  discharged  on  August  7,  1931;  1897  of  the  penal  law  is 
unlawful  possession  of  a  firearm. 

His  criminal  record  also  shows  that  on  June  13,  1940,  in  United 
States  court  at  Utica,  N.  Y.,  Barbara  was  convicted  of  illegal  acquisi- 
tion of  sugar,  which  involved  an  illegal  possession  of  some  300,000 
pounds  of  illegal  sugar. 

The  Chairman.  How  many  pounds? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  300,000. 

The  Chairman.  What  was  the  date  of  thai  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  In  194G. 

The  Chairman.  During  the  war? 

Mr  Crosswell.  Yes,  sir.  Right  after  the  war.  But  the  actual 
arrest,  the  conviction  was  after  (he  war,  but  the  actual  arrest  was 
during  the  war. 

The  Chairman.  The  offense  was  committed  under  (he  war  restric- 
tions? 
Mr.  (  Jrosswell.  Yes,  sir. 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12205 

Senator  Mundt.  Sergeant,  I  notice  on  the  dope  sheet  that  we  have 
on  this  man,  that  he  is  president  of  the  Canada  Dry  Mottling  Co.  Is 
that  the  whole  parent  organization  that  a  character  like  this  is 
president  of  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  No.  They  have  franchisee!  dealers,  and  he  was  a 
f  ranchised  dealer.  The  correct  title  of  his  business  was  "Canada  Dry 
Company  of  Endicott,  Inc." 

Senator  Mundt.  lie  was  president  of  the  Endicott  distributing 
agency  as  it  were  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  He  was  a  f  ranchised  dealer  of  the  parent  company, 
but  he  has  now  disposed  of  that  business. 

Senator  Mundt.  He  disposed  of  that  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Yes,  sir.  In  checking  Barbara's  criminal  record, 
the  Pennsylvania  State  Police  files  also  reflect  that  he  was  arrested 
in  Scranton,  Pa.,  on  February  10,  1932,  on  a  charge  of  suspicion  of 
murder.  This  does  not  appear  on  his  regular  sheet  from  the  Depart- 
ment of  Correction,  and  I  don't  know  why.  However,  he  was  not 
booked,  which  would  be  the  answer  to  it.  And  the  arrest  does  not 
show  in  his  criminal  record.  Harry  Steinberg,  alias  Jack  Lewis,  a 
New  York  City  parolee,  in  company  with  Edward  Weiss,  of  Scranton, 
were  walking  down  Muncy  Avenue  in  Scranton,  Pa.,  when  a  car 
going  in  the  same  direction  overtook  them.  The  car's  occupants 
started  shooting.  Steinberg  was  killed,  Weiss  wounded  and  recov- 
ered. When  taken  to  the  hospital,  Weiss  identified  Barbara  and  Nick 
Ross  as  the  killers. 

When  they  were  arrested  and  taken  to  the  hospital,  Weiss  declared 
that  they  were  not  the  men,  and  they  were  released.  The  story  be- 
hind this  murder  is  that  subject  and  others,  subject  again  being  Bar- 
bara; the  story  behind  this  murder  is  that  Barbara  and  others  were 
operating  a  big  still  near  Cresco,  Monroe  County,  Pa.  Weiss  learned 
its  location  and  tried  to  blackmail  Barbara  for  $2,500,  with  a  threat 
to  tip  Federal  agents.  Mendell  Katz,  acting  as  their  spokesman, 
made  the  proposition  to  Barbara  in  a  hotel  in  Stroudsburg. 

Subject  stalled,  asking  for  a  couple  of  days  to  see  his  partner,  and 
raise  the  money.  In  the  meanwhile,  he  moved  the  still  to  another 
location,  at  an  alleged  cost  of  $1,500. 

It  is  noted  that  Joe  Merreale,  alias  Colorado  Joe,  whose  riddled 
body  was  found  on  the  outskirts  of  Endicott  about  the  latter  part 
of  1933,  left  Scranton  the  day  he  was  killed,  with  the  announced 
intention  of  going  to  Endicott  to  obtain  money,  intending  to  return 
to  Scranton  the  same  day. 

When  the  subject  left  he  was  the  one  this  victim  would  go  to  when 
he  needed  money  or  a  can  of  alcohol.  Again,  when  I  spoke  of  sub- 
ject, I  meant  Barbara. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  So  he  came  out  of  this  area  around  Scranton,  Pa., 
where  there  had  been  a  number  of  gangland  murders  and  a  great 
deal  of  violence,  is  that  right  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  That  is  right. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  he  went  to  settle  in  upstate  New  York? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Endicott,  N.  Y. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  took  on  this  business. 

You,  yourself,  became  interested  in  him  in  1915,  and  you  checked 
on  his  criminal  record   and  background,   and  his  associates.     Did 


12206  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

you  find  from  your  further  investigation  and  watching  him  after 
that,  that  he  was  in  contact  with  a  lot  of  these  underworld  figures? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Yes.  In  watching  his  place  and  his  residence  we 
would  see  these  hoodlums  from  Pennsylvania  and  from  our  local 
area  appear  at  Joseph  Barbara's  home  at  various  times,  at  frequent 
intervals. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Were  you  ever  able  to  determine  what  any  of  those 
meetings  were  about  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  No  ;  we  were  not. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Was  there  a  meeting  in  1956  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Yes,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Would  you  relate  that  to  the  committee  ? 

Senator  Goldwater.  Mr.  Counsel,  before  you  complete  that  period, 
I  have  a  question. 

Was  tliis  man  ever  convicted  of  any  of  these  crimes  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Only  the  Federal  violation  of  the  illegal  acquisi- 
tion of  sugar. 

Senator  Goldwater.  How  much  time  did  he  serve  on  that  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  He  got  a  $5,000  fine ;  no  jail  time. 

Senator  Goldwater.  But  in  all  of  the  arrests  in  Pennsylvania  he 
was  never  convicted  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  No,  sir. 

Senator  Goldwater.  Was  the  evidence  in  those  cases  strong  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Apparently  not  strong  enough  for  a  conviction. 

Senator  Goldwater.  Has  he  ever  been  convicted  in  New  York  State  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  No,  sir ;  he  was  not. 

Senator  Goldwater.  Has  the  evidence  in  those  cases  been  strong  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  He  has  never  been  arrested  in  New  York  State. 

Senator  Goldwater.  He  has  never  been  arrested  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  No,  sir. 

We  have  never  had  sufficient  evidence  to  arrest  him. 

Senator  Goldwater.  Thank  you. 

Senator  Mundt.  In  that  same  vein,  when  all  this  background  of 
criminal  allegation  was  established  against  Mr.  Barbara,  was  his 
revolver  permit  revoked  by  the  State  of  New  York? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  No,  sir ;  it  was  not  revoked  until  after  the  Apalachin 
meeting. 

Senator  Mundt.  That  was  the  one  in  1957  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  1957. 

Senator  Mundt.  Under  what  conditions  can  hoodlums  get  revolver 
permits  ? 

I  would  think  they  would  take  them  away  from  them  after  they 
found  out  they  had  given  them  to  a  fellow  with  a  felonious  record. 

Mr.  Crosswell.  T  would  think  so,  too,  Senator. 

Senator  Mundt.  But  it  was  not  done  \ 

Mr.  Crosswell.  It  was  not  done. 

Senator  Mindt.  Thank  you. 

Senator  Eves.  How  did  he  acquire  this  permit,  do  you  know? 
Whal  process  did  he  go  through  ?     Where  did  he  get  it? 

Mi-.  Crosswell.  1  le  got  it  from  the  Broome  County  judge. 

Senator  Eves.  Broome  County  judge? 

.Mi'.  (  Jrosswell.   Yes,  sir. 

Senator  Eves.  Is  Apalachin  in  Broome  County? 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12207 

Mr.  Crosswell.  No,  sir.  It  is  not.  But  at  that  time  he  lived  in 
Endicott,  X.  Y. 

Senator  Ives.  It  is  alleged  that  he  has  some  kind  of  a  heart  con- 
dition.    Do  you  know  anything  about  that? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  He  has  a  very  severe  heart  condition,  yes,  sir. 

Senator  Ives.  When  did  he  acquire  that? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  In  July  of  1956. 

Senator  Ives.  That  is  when  it  first  showed  up  '. 

Mr.  (  Jrosswell.  That  is  the  first  I  knew  about  it. 

Senator  Ives.  Thank  you  very  much. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  He  has  been  subpenaed  before  the  committee  and 
has  furnished  a  medical  report  as  to  the  reasons  that  he  cannot  come, 
which  includes  the  fact  that  he  has  a  heart  condition. 

Senator  Ives.  May  I  follow  that  up  with  a  question  to  the  sergeant  ? 

Are  you  satisfied  that  he  has  a  heart  condition  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Yes,  sir,  I  am  personally. 

Senator  Ives.  You  are  personally,  yourself? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Yes,  sir.  Agencies  that  I  have  worked  with  have 
sent  doctors  in  and  examined  him.  He  does  have  a  serious  heart  con- 
dition. He  spent  over  6  months  in  the  hospital  when  he  had  his  initial 
attack,  and  he  has  been  back  subsequent  to  that. 

Senator  Ives.  That  was  before  this  meeting  at  his  house  in 
Apalachin? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Yes,  sir. 

Senator  Ives.  Thank  you. 

Senator  Muxdt.  How  old  is  he  now,  Sergeant  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  He  is  about  54, 53  or  54. 

Senator  Goldwater.  What  do  you  have  to  do  to  get  a  revolver  per- 
mit in  New  York  State  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  You  have  to  apply  for  it  to  a  court  of  record,  a 
county  judge,  and  your  application  has  to  have  4  or  5  character  wit- 
nesses, you  have  to  submit  a  set  of  fingerprints.  You  are  supposed 
to  be  investigated,  usually  by  a  sheriff's  department.  Then  the  coun- 
ty judge  either  grants  the  permit  or  turns  down  the  request. 

Senator  Goldwater.  Are  they  usually  pretty  thorough  on  that  in- 
vestigation ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Usually ;  yes.  They  are  usually  very  much  guided 
by  the  people  who  are  listed  as  references.  If  they  call  them  and  the 
people  say  they  are  reliable  people,  they  usually  take  their  word  for  it. 

Senator  Goldwater.  Did  you  ever  see  his  application? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Yes,  sir ;  I  have. 

Senator  Goldwater.  What  kind  of  character  witnesses  did  he 
give? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  He  had  the  very  best. 

Senator  Goldwater.  In  New  York  State? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Yes,  sir. 

Senator  Goldwater.  How  long  after  he  moved  to  New  York  State 
from  Pennsylvania  did  he  apply  for  his  revolver  permit? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  I  would  have  to  trust  my  memory  on  that  now. 
I  think  it  was  about  1940  that  he  got  his  permit.  lie  had  moved  there 
in  about  1931  or  1932. 

Senator  Goldwater.  In  this  case,  are  you  satisfied  that  they  checked 
his  fingerprints? 


12208  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  Crosswell.  No,  sir.  If  they  checked  his  fingerprints,  they  cer- 
tainly would  have  found  this,  his  criminal  record. 

Senator  Goldwater.  How  do  the  county  judges  in  New  York  get 
their  jobs  ?    Are  they  elected  or  appointed  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  They  are  elected,  sir. 

Senator  Goldwater.  How  long  are  their  terms  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  I  believe  it  is  6  years. 

Senator  Ives.  Six  years  is  right. 

May  I  ask  a  question?  For  how  long  is  a  pistol  permit  good  at 
the  present  time  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  At  the  present  time  it  is  good  until  revoked. 

Senator  Ives.  Until  revoked  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Yes,  sir. 

Senator  Ives.  When  did  that  go  into  effect  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  About  5  years  ago,  I  believe. 

Senator  Ives.  And  prior  to  that  time  how  long  had  they  been 
good? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  I  am  not  sure  whether  it  was  every  year  or  every 
3  years  that  they  had  to  be  renewed. 

Senator  Ives.  There  was  a  time  when  I  had  one  myself,  but  1  let 
mine  lapse  after  I  gave  my  pistols  away.  There  was  a  time  when  it 
was  good  indefinitely,  and  then  they  had  one  where  every  year  you 
had  to  renew  it.  That  was  too  much  of  a  thing,  so  I  let  my  weapons 
go. 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Now,  they  are  good  again  until  revoked. 

Senator  Ives.  I  guess  I  will  get  some  more  weapons,  then. 

The  Chairman.  All  right. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  As  far  as  his  convictions  are  concerned,  at  least  one 
instance  it  was  the  witness  against  him  in  the  murder  down  in  Penn- 
sylvania who  refused  to  identify  him  after  he  had  identified  him 
originally;  is  that  correct? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  That  is  right.  It  is  my  understanding  that  he 
identified  him  when  he  thought  he  was  going  to  die,  and  by  the  time 
they  brought  Barbara  in,  he  found  out  he  was  not  going  to  die,  and 
then  he  refused  him.     Then  he  didn't  want  to  die. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  On  the  situation  in  New  York,  as  I  understood  your 
recitation  of  the  record,  he  had  been  arrested  for  carrying  a  gun  with- 
out a  license,  had  he  not  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  That  is  right. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  So  he  had  been  arrested  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Arrested,  but  not  convicted. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  When  was  that  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  That  was  on  August  1, 1931. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Had  he  been  involved  or  closely  associated  with  any 
other  violence  cases,  other  than  the  ones  vou  have  recited,  specificallv 
in  1952? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  These  are  the  only  ones  that  I  know  of  that  are  a 
matter  of  record.  Among  police  authorities  in  the  Pennsylvania, 
Pittston,  area  where  he  lived  for  many  years,  he  was  known  to  be 
connected  with  a  lot  of  things  that  could  never  be  proven. 

But  they  have  at  least  some  proof  of  the  things  I  have  related  here. 

Senator  Mundt.  At  the  present  time  does  he  have  any  legal  and 
obvious  means  of  earning  a  living,  or  is  it  solely  the  Canada  Drv 
Bottling  Co.  ? 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12209 

Mr.  Crosswell.  He  just  sold  that  for  a  quarter  of  a  million  dollars. 
What  part  was  his  or  what  part  was  mortgaged,  1  have  no  way  of 
knowing. 

Senator  Mundt.  He  has  no  other  business  that  you  know  of  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  He  has  a  business  that  they  just  started,  J.  B.  In- 
dustries, but  as  far  as  we  can  find  out,  they  are  not  doing  anything 
and  we  don't  know  what  it  is. 

They  filed  a  certificate  of  incorporation  and  that  is  all. 

Senator  Mundt.  When  did  he  sell  the  Canada  Bottling  Co.  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  About  3  months  ago  now. 

Senator  Mundt.  After  the  Apalachin  meeting  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Yes,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  During  the  period  up  until  the  meeting  in  1957.  you 
say  that  you  found  that  there  was  a  congregation  of  the  local  hoodlums 
as  well  as  hoodlums  from  out  of  State  at  Barbara's  home? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Yes.  They  were  constantly  going  back  and  forth 
to  Barbara's  home. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Who  were  some  of  his  contacts  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Russell  Buf alino  was  there  an  awful  lot,  from  Pitts- 
ton,  Pa.     Anthony  Guarnieri,  from  Endicott. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Guarnieri  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Correct.    And  Emanuel  Ziccari. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Who  are  they  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Emanuel  Ziccari  is  a  man  with  a  criminal  record 
for,  I  believe  it  is,  passing  counterfeit  money.  He  was  a  constant 
companion  of  Barbara's. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Who  is  Guarnieri  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Guarnieri  now  operates  a  dress  company  in  the  city 
of  Binghamton,  known  as  the  Triple  Cities  Dress  Co.  He  formerly 
operated  one  in  Owego,  N.  Y.,  Owego  Textile  Co. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Has  he  a  criminal  record  of  any  kind  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Yes.  We  have  arrested  him  twice  on  lottery 
charges,  once  for  unlawful  possession  of  a  firearm.  He  also  has  a 
conviction  for  unlawful  possession  of  slot  machines. 

Senator  Goldwater.  Did  he  lose  his  pistol  permit  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Barbara,  you  mean? 

Senator  Goldwater.  No,  the  one  you  were  just  talking  about. 

Mr.  Crosswell.  He  never  had  one,  Guarnieri  had  one,  and  we  ar- 
rested him  for  unlawful  possession  of  the  gun  because  he  never  had 
a  permit.     He  was  convicted  and  did  4  months  in  jail  and  fined  $300. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Can  you  just  give  us  a  couple  of  others  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Patsy  Turrigiano.  He  is  a  man  whom  we  have 
arrested  for  operating  an  illicit  alcohol  still  which  we  felt  Barbara 
was  backing,  and  Turrigiano  had  absolutely  no  money  when  he  set 
up  this  elaborate  still  and  bought  a  new  truck  and  a  new  car  and 
went  right  into  business,  and  he  was  constantly  going  back  and  forth 
to  Barbara's  house  at  that  time. 

The  Chairman.  How  long  ago  has  that  been  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  That  was  about  1948,  sir.     I  believe  it  was  1948. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  you  find  that  a  group  of  these  people  congre- 
gated at  Barbara's  home  in  1956  ? 
Mr.  Crosswell.  Not  in  his  home,  no. 
Mr.  Kennedy.  At  his  place. 


12210  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  Crosswell.  No.  We  found  where  Barbara  had  registered  at 
the  Arlington  Hotel  in  Binghamton,  N.  Y.,  with  a  bunch  of  hoodlums. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Some  of  the  people  you  just  mentioned  were  present? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  No,  they  were  not. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Who  were  some  of  the  people  that  were  there  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Louis  Volpe,  of  Long  Island  City,  N.  Y.,  and  Frank 
Garofalo. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Who  is  Louis  Volpe  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  I  don't  know  him,  and  he  has  no  criminal  record 
that  I  know  of.  Frank  Garofalo,  of  New  York  City — he  has  one 
arrest  for  vagrancy  and  suspicion,  and  he  is  mentioned  quite  promi- 
nently in  Ed  Reed's  book  on  the  Mafia  as  being  a  topflight  member  of 
Mafia  in  New  York  City. 

John  Vonventre,  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  and  I  don't  have  his  criminal 
record,  but  he  has  one. 

Joseph  Barbara  we  have  discussed,  and  Joe  Bononno,  also  known  as 
Joe  Bananas.  They  were  all  registered  at  the  Arlington  Hotel  on  the 
16th  and  17th  of  October  1956. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  know  anything  about  Joe  Bananas  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  I  know  he  has  a  long  criminal  record,  and  I  don't 
have  a  copy  of  it. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  He  has  been  arrested  for  grand  larceny  and  trans- 
porting machineguns  to  the  Capone  mob  in  Chicago  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  That  is  right. 

Senator  Ives.  May  I  break  in  there '? 

Do  you  happen  to  know  whether  those  were  the  only  ones  registered 
at  that  time,  in  the  Arlington  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  They  were  the  only  ones  that  we  could  trace,  and 
those  were  the  only  ones  charged  to  Barbara's  company. 

Senator  Ives.  You  don't  know  whether  there  were  any  others  there 
that  might  be  a  part  of  them  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  We  believe  a  man  named  Carmine  Galente  was 
there.  Galente  was  picked  up  after  he  left  the  city  of  Binghamton 
in  company  of  Frank  Garofalo  and  two  other  unknown  men. 

Senator  Ives.  Do  you  happen  to  know  whether  anybody  with  any 
alias  was  there,  or  whether  they  registered  in  their  own  names  or  not  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Well,  there  could  have  been  a  lot  of  aliases  that  we 
wouldn't  have  recognized. 

Senator  Ives.  You  don't  know  how  many  were  there  at  that  time  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  No,  sir,  we  do  not. 

Senator  Ives.  Thank  you. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Would  you  tell  us  who  Galente  is,  just  in  summary  ? 

Mr.  Crossavell.  He  has  a  real  long  record.  Do  you  want  his  record 
read  ? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  If  you  can  summarize  it.     Is  that  possible  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Yes,  it  starts  back  in  1921,  he  was  arrested  as  a 
juvenile  for  larcency  and  juvenile  delinquency,  and  then  for  grand 
larceny,  petty  larceny,  and  sentenced  to  the  penitentiary.  Attempted 
robbery  and  assault,  that  was  later  changed  to  assault,  and  he  served 
2l/>  to  5  years  in  Sing  Sing  Prison. 

He  was  arrested  for  petty  larceny.  Then  he  was  arrested  for  assault, 
second  degree,  2^2  to  5  years.  He  was  paroled  in  1930,  and  returned 
as  a  parole  violator,  and  served  his  time. 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    EST    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12211 

In  1930  he  was  arrested  for  homicide  with  a  gun,  and  later  dis- 
charged. In  1930  lie  was  arrested  for  assault  and  robbery.  In  1930 
he  was  arrested  for  attempted  assault  and  robbery,  that  is  the  same 
case,  and  he  was  sentenced  to  serve  121/2  years  in  Sing  Sing  Prison. 
I  believe  I  am  correct  in  this,  that  was  a  result  of  shooting  his  parole 
officer. 

He  was  arrested  again  for  violation  of  parole  in  1943  and  returned. 

Senator  Mundt.  Did  he  serve  the  12Vo  years  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Well,  here  is  the  rundown  on  that.  He  was  sen- 
tenced to  12i/£  years,  and  he  went  to  Great  Meadows  Prison  in  1932, 
and  then  he  was  transferred  to  Clinton  Prison  in  1933,  and  he  was 
paroled  in  1939,  so  he  served  6  years  of  the  initial  term. 

Senator  Ives.  Who  paroled  him,  the  parole  board  \ 

Mr.  Cross  well.  Yes,  sir. 

Senator  Mundt.  Did  they  find  a  volunteer  to  be  a  parole  officer? 
Having  shot  the  first  one  it  would  be  pretty  hard  to  get  the  second  one  ? 

Mr.  Ckosswf.le.  He  was  declared  delinquent  in  1943  and  returned  to 
Sing  Sing,  and  transferred  to  Clinton,  and  discharged  by  court  order 
in  1944.  So  he  served  a  good  share  of  that  121/2  years  altogether,  but 
he  did  it  over  a  long  span. 

Senator  Mundt.  Being  discharged  by  court  order,  does  that  mean 
that  they  found  a  Haw  in  the  case  by  which  they  sent  him  up  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  That  is  I  have  to  record,  and  I  would  presume  that 
is  being  terminated,  and  that  he  had  finished  his  sentence. 

Then  he  was  arrested  in  1947  for  violation  of  section  8  of  the  United 
States  Code. 

Senator  Mundt.  There  is  no  habitual-criminal  law  in  the  State  of 
New  York? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Yes,  sir ;  there  is. 

Senator  Mundt.  How  does  he  beat  that  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  The  same  way  Barbara  had  his  pistol  permit.  I  am 
not  trying  to  be  smart,  Senator.  I  do  not  know  the  answer  to  those 
things. 

Senator  Mundt.  It  is  a  disturbing  thing  that  the  same  people  con- 
tinually commit  crimes  when  a  habitual-criminal  law  is  to  get  the 
criminal  who  is  a  habitual  and  lock  him  up  for  safekeeping  for  life. 

Quite  obviously,  the  law  has  been  ignored  as  far  as  this  man  is  con- 
cerned in  the  State  of  New  York,  so  it  is  a  rather  serious  situation. 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Carmen  Caballente  is  now  wanted  in  connection 
with  pilfering,  and  they  have  arrested  some  members  and  Carmen 
Gallente  is  one  of  the  members  that  they  cannot  find. 

The  Chairman.  Do  I  understand  Barbara  had  these  men  there 
and  paid  their  expenses  and  paid  their  hotel  bills  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Yes,  sir. 

The  Chairman.  Obviously,  in  some  kind  of  conference. 

Mr.  Crossw^ell.  That  has  been  going  on  for  several  years,  sir. 

The  Chairman.  But  this  man  whose  criminal  record  you  have  just 
given  is  one  of  those  who  was  in  that  meeting  ( 

Mr.  Crosswtxl.  We  think  he  was,  Senator.  He  was  in  a  car  with 
3  others  that  were  at  the  meeting,  and  they  all  had  baggage,  and  the 
other  3  had  just  checked  out  of  the  Arlington  Hotel  so  we  presume 
Gallente  certainly  must  have  been  with  them  at  the  meeting. 

The  Chairman.  All  right. 


12212  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  Kennedy.  How  did  you  happen  to  arrest  them  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  He  was  stopped  for  speeding. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  he  have  his  registration  and  license  with  him 
at  that  time? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  He  was  using  a  license  of  a  man  named  Joseph  D. 
Polero,  who  also  has  a  criminal  record  similar  to  Gallente's,  and  he  is 
known  as  a  dope  peddler  and  he  is  now  wanted  by  Federal  and  I  be- 
lieve, also,  New  York  City  authorities  for  bail  jumping  and  dope 
violations. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  he  serve  time  for  that,  Gallente?  Did  he  serve 
time  for  driving  with  someone  else's  permit  and  speeding  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  I  believe  he  got  30  days  to  the  specific  charge  of 
driving  while  his  license  was  revoked.  We  had  4  or  5  charges 
against  him. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Then,  as  you  point  out,  there  were  a  number  of 
meetings  up  until  1957,  and  then  came  the  meeting  in  November  of 
1957. 

Mr.  Crosswell.  The  big  one ;  yes. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Would  you  tell  us  about  that  one  ?  What  happened 
in  that  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  You  mean  how  we  came  to  discover  it  ? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Yes. 

Mr.  Crosswell.  It  is  rather  embarrassing,  it  was  so  simple.  My 
partner  and  myself  were  investigating  a  bad-check  case  in  a  motel  in 
Vestal. 

Senator  Ives.  Just  a  minute.     Your  partner,  did  you  say? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Yes,  sir. 

Senator  Ives.  Who  is  that  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Trooper  Vasasko. 

The  Chairman.  Go  ahead. 

Mr.  Crosswell.  And  since  the  1956  meeting  in  the  Arlington  Hotel, 
we  had  been  very  alert  and  watching  the  hotels  and  motels  for  any 
other  people  who  registered  and  had  their  bills  charged  to  Barbara. 

We  saw  young  Joseph  Barbara  approaching  the  motel  and  so  we 
stepped  into  the  proprietor's  living  room,  which  is  directly  in  back  of 
the  office,  and  young  Joseph  Barbara  came  in  and  he  engaged  three 
rooms  for  the  night  of  November  13  and  14,  and  he  said  he  wanted  them 
charged  to  Canada  Dry  Bottling  Co.,  and  Avanted  to  pick  up  the  keys 
then. 

The  proprietor's  wife  asked  him  to  register  and  he  told  her  that  he 
could  not  register  then  because  they  were  having  a  convention  of 
Canada  Dry  men  and  he  did  not  know  just  who  was  going  to  occupy 
the  rooms,  and  he  would  register  for  them  the  next  day. 

So  they  gave  him  the  keys  and  he  went  on  out.  We  checked  around 
that  evening  and  up  at  Barbara's  house  we  found  Patsy  Turrigiano's 
car,  whom  we  knew  was  a  still  operator,  and  a  car  registered  to  a 
James  V.  LaDuca,  of  Lev/iston,  N.  Y. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Who  is  he,  first  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  He  was  a  union  official,  of  hotel  and  restaurant 
union. 

Senator  Ives.  In  Buffalo  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Yes,  sir. 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12213 

There  was  another  car  there  with  a  New  Jersey  registration  issued 
to  an  Alfred  Angelicola,  of  Paterson,  N.  J.  That  was  about  9  o'clock 
at  night. 

We  checked  back  to  the  motel  at  9 :  30  and  we  saw  an  Ohio  registered 
car  and  we  checked  that  registration  and  it  was  issued  to  the  Buckeye 
Cigarette  Service,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  operated  by  a  man  named 
John  Scalish. 

We  asked  the  proprietor  about  that  car  and  he  said  two  men  had 
driven  in  and  went  into  one  of  the  rooms  that  Barbara  had  reserved, 
and  so  we  sent  him  out  with  a  couple  of  registration  cards  to  get  the 
men  to  register.  He  came  back  and  he  said  that  they  had  refused  to 
register  and  said  that  "Joe''  would  take  care  of  it  the  next  day. 

He  wanted  to  throw  them  out,  and  we  told  him  no,  to  leave  them 
there.  We  wanted  to  see  what  was  going  to  happen.  So  with  the  fact 
that  Patsy  Turrigiano's  car  that  was  up  at  Barbara's  house,  we 
thought  there  might  be  something  to  do  with  another  still  getting 
under  motion,  and  we  got  in  touch  with  the  Alcohol-Tobacco  Tax  Unit 
agents  in  that  area,  Kenneth  Brown,  and  Arthur  Rustin,  and  asked 
them  to  come  down  about  midnight,  I  believe. 

They  got  down  to  our  station.  We  checked  around  until  2 :  30  in 
the  morning  and  nothing  further  happened  except  a  car  of  LaDuca 
appeared  before  one  of  the  other  rooms  that  Barbara  reserved  at  the 
Parkway  Motel. 

The  next  morning  the  Ohio  cars  stayed  at  the  motel  and  LaDuca's 
car  left  about  8 :  30  and  we  checked  the  rooms  and  the  men  had  taken 
everything  out  of  the  rooms,  and  all  of  the  beds  had  been  occupied 
which  indicated  that  4  men  had  come  with  LaDuca  in  his  car,  because 
only  2  were  there  from  the  Ohio  car. 

Then  we  started,  and  I  notified  the  inspector,  Tnspector  Sidney, 
there  were  some  strange  cars  in  the  area  and  it  k>oked  as  though 
Barbara  might  be  having  another  meeting,  and  we  were  going  to 
check  it  out,  and  we  would  get  in  touch  with  him  later.  So  my  part- 
ner and  the  two  agents  and  I  drove  down  to  the  plant  and  there  was 
nothing  around  there,  and  we  drove  up  to  Barbara's  residence  and 
that  is  when  the  stuff  hit  the  fan. 

We  drove  in,  and  everybody  started  running  in  all  directions. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Could  you  point  out  on  the  chart?  Could  you  go 
over  there  and  point  out  what  occurred  or  we  can  bring  it  over  here, 
the  chart. 

(A  chart  was  brought  before  the  witness.) 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Could  you  go  over  and  point  out  where  you  came  in, 
Sergeant,  and  where  the  cars  were  ? 

The  Chairman.  First,  identify  the  picture,  and  what  is  it? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  This  is  a  picture  of  the  main  buildings  of  Barbara's 
home,  and  his  residence.  There  is  a  town  road  running  right  past 
here,  which  does  not  show  on  this  picture.  We  came  up  this  road  and 
turned  into  this  driveway  and  4  or  5  cars  were  parked  here. 

First  of  all,  this  is  a  two-car  garage,  with  a  dog  kennel  on  this  end, 
and  there  is  a  large  barbecue  pit  and  this  is  a  picnic  pavilion,  and  air 
conditioned. 

This  is  the  main  house,  and  this  is  one  of  his  tenant  houses. 

As  we  came  in  here,  a  lot  of  men  ran  from  around  the  barbecue  pit 
and  around  this  corner  and  some  ran  for  the  house,  and  some  came  out 


12214  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

of  the  house  and  ran  the  other  way,  and  everybody  got  all  excited 
and  all  worked  up. 

The  Chairman.  Could  we  have  a  microphone  there  ? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Now,  can  you  go  to  the  bigger  one,  I  think. 

The  Chairman.  Point  out  again  what  you  have  just  said.  I  did 
not  even  hear  you  from  up  here. 

Mr.  Crosswell.  There  is  a  town  road  leading  along  this  side  which 
does  not  show  on  this  photograph.  We  came  up  that  and  turned  into 
the  driveway  and  there  were  4  or  5  cars  here  and  men  ran  from  the 
barbecue  pit  around  to  this  corner  of  the  house,  or  this  corner  of  the 
garage,  and  then  into  the  house,  and  some  of  them  came  from  the 
house  and  ran  down  this  way,  and  we  backed  out  and  started  on  down 
the  road  here. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  is  all  for  now. 

Now,  would  you  come  over  to  this  chart,  and  we  will  put  the  lights 
back  on. 

Would  you  explain  what  happened,  where  you  went  after  you 
backed  down  the  road  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  This  is  a  town  road  and  we  came  back  down,  down 
between  this  row  of  houses  and  over  to  here  where  you  can  see  a  light 
spot  on  the  photograph.  There  we  parked  our  car  and  called  for  a 
uniformed  car  to  meet  us  at  that  location.  This  ride  from  here  down, 
we  talked  over  what  we  were  going  to  do,  and  we  decided  the  only  thing 
we  could  do  was  stop  everbody  and  find  out  who  were  in  the  cars 
as  they  came  out  of  the  place. 

Senator  Munot.  Is  that  the  only  exit  road  to  the  house  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  That  is  the  only  way  to  get  out  there,  yes.  The 
road  past  here  ends  at  a  washed-out  bridge  down  below  this  farm- 
house, and  this  road  ends  here  at  a  washed-out  bridge,  so  the  only 
way  to  get  out  was  through  this  road. 

As  we  were  setting  up  a  roadblock  here,  we  could  not  see  the  Barbara 
buildings  themselves,  but  we  could  see  this  open  field,  and  we  saw 
10  or  12  men  running  from  the  direction  of  Barbara's  house  into  this 
pine  woods.  So,  the  first  cars  that  we  got  down  here  in  this  area  we 
set  up  a  road  over  here  called  the  McFadden  Road  that  circles  these 
woods  and  meets  another  road  that  goes  down  through  here  known 
as  the  Creek  Road. 

There  was  no  place  that  these  people  could  go,  and  they  had  to 
come  out  here  either  in  open  fields  or  on  the  McFadden  Road  or  the 
Creek  Road,  and  they  rounded  those  up.  Then  everybody  came 
down  and  we  stopped  them  at  the  roadblock. 

After  we  saw  that  we  were  running  into  a  real  bunch  of  unsavory 
characters,  we  decided  to  take  them  all  in  to  the  substation  and  got  as 
much  information  from  them  as  we  could. 

Senator  Mundt.  How  many  did  you  pick  up  altogether  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Sixty-two,  but  that  included  two  characters  of 
Barbara's,  so  there  were  60. 

The  Chairman.  Did  you  set  up  a  roadblock  on  the  other  road,  where 
they  could  go  around  and  gel  back  into  town  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  There  is  no  way  that  they  could  ^et  back  into  town, 
sir.  They  had  to  come  down  either  the  Creek  Road  or  the  McFadden 
Road,  and  we  had  those  roads  blocked  off,  plus  roving  patrols  over 
ench  of  those  roads.  We  were  picking  them  up  as  they  came  out  of  the 
woods,  1  or  2  at  a  time. 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12215 

The  Chairman.  They  came  out  of  the  woods  and  they  ran  into  the 
woods,  and  then  were  walking  when  you  picked  them  up? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Yes,  sir. 

The  Chairman.  I  see. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Could  you  describe  what  they  looked  like,  some  of 
these  people  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Before  they  went  in  the  woods  or  afterward  ? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Well,  describe  both. 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Well,  they  were  all  dressed  for  the  most  part  in 
silk  suits,  and  white  on  white  shirts,  and  highly  polished,  pointed 
shoes,  and  broad  brimmed  hats,  and  typical  George  Raft  style. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Was  that  before  they  went  in  the  woods? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Yes,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  did  they  look  like?  the  ones  you  picked  up, 
that  came  out  of  the  woods? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Some  of  them  lost  their  hats  and  they  were  a  little 
bedraggled,  and  three  were  full  of  cockle  burrs  and  their  shoes  were 
kind  of  scuffy. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  about  Montana?  Do  you  remember  having 
any  discussion  with  him  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Yes ;  Montana  was  down  in  the  road  block  and  he 
had  been  picked  up  in  a  field  over  on  the  McFadden  Road,  caught  in 
a  barbed-wire  fence.  The  troopers  brought  him  down  to  me,  and  I 
had  a  spare  car  there,  and  I  set  him  in  the  car  waiting  for  transporta- 
tion. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  He  is  from  Buffalo,  N.  Y.  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Yes,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  is  John  Charles  Montana? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  That  is  right. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Who  is  he  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  He  called  me  over  to  the  house  and  he  sent  a  man 
over  and  said  he  wanted  to  see  me  and  I  went  over  and  he  told  me  he 
was  very  embarrassed  being  there,  and  he  had  just  stopped  in  to  see 
Barbara,  and  did  not  know  that  there  was  going  to  be  any  such  gang 
of  characters  as  he  found  up  there,  and  if  I  would  let  him  go  up  and 
get  his  car  and  get  out  of  there  he  could  probably  do  something  for 
me. 

He  started  mentioning  a  lot  of  prominent  people  that  he  knew  in 
Buffalo  and  that  area  and  one  of  the  officials  of  our  department  that 
he  knew  very  well.  He  mentioned  no  specific  thing  that  he  could  do 
for  me,  but  that  he  could  do  something  for  me  if  I  would  let  him  go 
and  get  his  car. 

Senator  Ives.  How  was  he  attired?  Did  he  have  the  George  Raft 
attire,  too? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Yes,  sir ;  top  coat  and  all. 

Senator  Ives.  Pointed  shoes  and  all  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Yes,  sir. 

Senator  Ives.  Large  hat? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Yes,  sir. 

Senator  Ives.  He  had  all  of  that  on  to  have  a  cup  of  tea  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  That  is  his  story. 

(At  this  point,  the  following  members  were  present:  Senators 
MeClellan,  Ives,  Ervin,  and  Mundfe.) 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  time  did  you  set  up  the  roadblock  ? 


12216  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  Crosswell.  We  pulled  in  the  yard  at  12 :  40.  We  had  the  road- 
block in  operation  at  12 :  15,  but  for  all  practical  purposes 

Senator  Mundt.  Was  that  daytime  or  night? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Daytime,  ft  was  from  12 :  40  at  the  time  we  were 
in  there,  and  no  one  went  in  or  out  of  that  road  from  12 :  40  on. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  I  understand  Mr.  Montana  made  some  statements 
that  he  arrived  after  noon  that  day. 

Mr.  Crosswell.  I  have  heard  him  make  that  statement  at  hearings, 
and  he  said  he  arrived  there  at  2 :  30. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Would  it  have  been  possible  for  him  to  get  there  at 
2:30? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  He  could  not  have  gotten  in  there  after  12 :  40.  He 
also  has  told  the  story  that  his  car  broke  down.  He  said  nothing  to 
me  that  day  about  his  car  breaking  down. 

The  Chairman.  That  signals  a  rollcall  vote  in  the  Senate.  The 
committee  will  have  to  stand  in  recess  temporarily. 

We  will  return  as  soon  as  the  Senators  have  voted. 

(Brief  recess,  with  the  following  members  present:  Senators 
McClellan,  Ives,  Ervin,  and  Mundt.) 

(At  the  reconvening  of  the  session,  the  following  members  were 
present :  Senator  McClellan  and  Ives. ) 

The  Chairman.  The  committee  will  be  in  order. 

Proceed,  Mr.  Kennedy. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  LaDuca  from  the  Hotel  and  Kestaurant 
Workers'  Union  has  denied,  as  I  understand  it,  to  our  investigators, 
that  he  was  even  present  at  the  meeting.  Do  you  know  if  he  was 
present  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  On  the  night  of  November  13,  LaDuca's  ear  was 
at  the  Barbara  residence.  Later  that  night  it  stayed  up  at  one  of 
the  rooms  reserved  at  the  Parkway  Motel  by  young  Barbara,  and 
stayed  there  all  night. 

In  the  wastepaper  basket  of  that  room  we  found  a  hotel  bill  from 
2  different  hotels,  in  the  name  of  James  LaDuca,  and  1  in  the  name 
of  Charles  Montana.  When  LaDuca  was  picked  up,  we  found  matches 
from  the  Parway  Motel  in  his  pockets. 

On  Sunday,  following  the  raid  on  Thursday,  we  found  LaDuca's 
car  parked  in  the  garage  at  Barbara's  house;  rather,  the  barn  at 
Barbara's  house.  When  we  picked  him  up  that  night,  he  denied 
that  he  had  ever  been  at  the  Parkway  Motel,  or  that  he  had  been  at 
Barbara's  place. 

We  told  him  about  seeing  his  car  there  the  night  before,  about 
seeing  it  at  the  Parkwav  Motel,  and  he  said  he  was  just  on  his  way 
through  from  Buffalo,  N.  Y.  If  we  had  seen  his  car  in  that  area, 
the  car  must  have  been  stolen. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  say  that  you  got  the  possessions  of  these  various 
people.     Did  they  have  money  on  them  ? 

Mi-.  Crosswell.  Yes. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  they  have  wallets? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Very  few  had  wallets.  Most  of  them  just  had  their 
money  loose  in  their  pocket,  and  for  identification  they  would  have 
.-in  operator's  license  or  registration  of  a  car  in  their  shirt  pocket. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  sums  of  money  get  large  in  any  case? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Yes.  Most  of  them  ran  between  two  and  three 
thousand  dollars  that  they  would  have  in  their  pockets. 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    EST    THE    LAROR    FIELD  12217 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  was  in  cash  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Cash. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  Mr.  Scozzari  have  a  greater  amount? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Scozzari  had  about  $10,000,  but  $8,000  of  that  was 
in  a  certified  check  from  a  bank  in  California. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  was  his  employment  at  the  time? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  He  had  been  unemployed  for  20  years. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Mancuso,  did  he  tell  you  where  he  was  employed 
at  the  time  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Yes.  He  gave  me  a  business  card  of  a  Nu-Form 
Concrete  Co.  in  Utica,  N.  Y.,  listing  him  as  president  of  that  company. 
"We  sent  some  of  our  men  up  there  to  check  for  him,  to  try  to  serve  a 
subpena  on  him,  and  there  was  no  such  address  as  the  address  given  on 
the  card.  It  was  a  residential  area  with  no  concrete  business  there. 
They  could  find  no  trace  of  the  concrete  business. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  On  the  card  it  said  he  was  president  of  the  company  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  That  is  right. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Is  there  any  way  that  you  could  tell  or  prove  that 
the  meeting  was  actually  planned  ahead  and  that  these  people  all 
didn't  just  drop  in  to  see  their  sick  friend  Joseph  Barbara? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Yes. 

On  the  5th  day  of  November  1957 — that  was  9  days  prior  to  the 
actual  meeting — Barbara  called  the  Armour  Co.  in  Binghamton,  N.  Y., 
and  placed  an  order  for  prime  steaks.  The  steaks  that  he  ordered  were 
their  best  cuts  of  meat  and  stuff  that  Armour  in  Binghamton,  a  city  of 
80,000,  does  not  even  stock.  They  had  to  send  to  Chicago  after  them. 
That  was  picked  up  on  the  13th  by  one  of  Barbara's  trucks  and  signed 
for  by  one  of  his  caretakers  named  Blossom.  The  bill  for  the  steaks 
was  $399.10. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  They  had  to  send  out  of  town  for  the  steaks  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Yes,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  To  Chicago  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Yes,  sir. 

(At  this  point,  Senator  Mundt  entered  the  hearing  room.) 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  is  all,  Mr.  Chairman.  I  wish  to  express  the 
appreciation  of  the  staff  to  Sergeant  Crosswell  for  all  the  assistance  he 
has  given. 

The  Chairman.  Are  there  any  other  questions? 

Senator  Ives.  I  have  no  questions  outside  of  the  fact  that  I  would 
like  to  thank  the  sergeant  for  being  here  today  and  cooperating  the 
way  he  has. 

Mr.  Croswell.  Thank  you. 

The  Chairman.  Senator  Mundt. 

Senator  Mundt.  Just  before  we  were  called  over  for  the  vote,  ser- 
geant, we  were  talking  about  a  fellow  by  the  name  of  Montana.  That 
being  a  western  name  kind  of  intrigued  me  a  little.  You  said  that  he 
had  sort  of  propositioned  you  out  in  your  car  about  being  able  to  pull 
some  influence  and  be  of  assistance  to  }<ou  up  in  Buffalo  if  you  should 
just  pretend  you  had  not  seen  him  there.  Then,  if  I  understood  you 
correctly,  and  I  am  not  sure  I  did,  you  mentioned  that  at  some  hearing:-; 
he  had  explained  his  presence. 

What  was  the  nature  of  those  hearings? 


12218  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  Crosswell.  That  was  before  the — the  place  where  I  heard  him 
testify  was  before  the  Legislative  Watchdog  Committee  of  the  New 
York  State  Legislature  in  Albany. 

Senator  Mundt.  Were  they  interrogating  him  about  this  meeting 
of  hoodlums  that  he  attended  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Yes. 

Senator  Mundt.  And  did  he  change  his  story  during  those  hearings 
or  did  he  tell  them  a  different  story  from  what  he  had  told  you? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  He  told  them  a  different  story  than  he  had  told  me. 

Senator  Mundt.  As  I  understand  the  story  he  had  told  you,  he  had 
just  dropped  in  casually  for  tea  and  was  quite  surprised  at  the  type 
of  characters  who  were  there. 

Mr.  Crosswell.  He  said  nothing  about  tea.  He  said  he  was  an  old 
friend  of  the  Barbara  family  who  was  driving  through  and  just 
stopped  in  to  see  him. 

Senator  Mundt.  What  did  he  tell  the  watchdog  committee  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  He  told  the  watchdog  committee  that  some  50  miles 

Erior  to  reaching  Apalachin,  his  car  had  developed  trouble  with  the 
rakes  and  the  windshield  wipers.  It  was  raining  and  he  had  looked 
all  along  the  road  for  a  gas  station  or  garage  and  could  not  find  any. 
He  remembered  that  he  knew  Joe  Barbara,  he  had  trucks  and  would 
probably  have  mechanics  around,  so  he  drove  up  there  to  get  his  wind- 
shield wipers  fixed.  Then  he  was  cold  and  chilled  from  the  rain  and 
the  cold  ride,  and  he  had  gone  inside  and  asked  Mrs.  Barbara  to  pre- 
pare a  cup  of  tea  for  him,  to  warm  him  up. 

Senator  Mundt.  I  would  think  a  good  invigorating  run  through 
the  woods  would  tend  to  warm  him  up  a  little  bit,  too. 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Yes. 

Senator  Mundt.  I  suppose  that  story  came  so  late  that  you  had  no 
chance  to  check  his  car  to  determine  whether  or  not  it  really  had 
trouble  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  No.  In  fact,  when  he  told  that  story,  he  had  sent 
mechanics  down  from  Buffalo  to  pick  up  his  car,  and  he  had  receipted 
bills,  or  they  had  fixed  the  windshield  wipers  and  they  had  fixed  the 
brakes  on  the  car. 

But  it  was  apparently  all  ready  to  go  at  the  time  he  was  begging  me 
to  let  him  get  out  of  there.  All  he  wanted  to  do  was  to  go  up  and 
get  that  car  and  get  out  of  there. 

Senator  Mundt.  Quite  obviously,  a  story  of  that  kind,  which  is 
pretty  inoffensive,  would  have  been  the  logical  thing  to  have  told  you 
at  the  roadblock,  had  it  been  based  on  fact. 

Mr.  Crosswell.  I  would  think  so,  yes. 

Senator  Mundt.  It  would  seem  so  to  me.  There  is  nothing  repre- 
hensible about  having  car  trouble,  if  that  had  been  the  thing  that 
brought  him  in.  It  would  have  been  the  first  thing,  I  would  think, 
that  would  have  sprung  from  his  lips  at  the  time  he  was  trying  to 
explain  to  you  his  presence  there.  Does  this  man  Montana  have  a 
police  record? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  No,  not  that  I  know  of,  sir. 

Senator  Mundt.  Does  he  have  a  pistol  permit? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  He  did  have  one.  He  surrendered  it  immediately 
a  fter  I  lie  Apalachin  meeting. 

Senator  Mtjndt.  But  he  had  the  pistol  permit  at  the  time  he  at- 
tended the  Apalachin  meeting? 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN   THE    LABOR    FIELD  12219 

Mr.  Ckosswell.  Yes,  and  a  pistol. 

Senator  Mundt.  Your  pistol  permits  relate  only  to  carrying  a  pis- 
tol, do  they  not?     Not  to  having  one  in  your  possession  in  your  home? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  You  have  to  have  a  permit  in  New  York  State  to 
even  possess  one,  possess  or  carry. 

Senator  Mundt.  And  the  same  permit  is  available  which  enables 
you  to  carry  one  as  to  possess  one  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Yes,  sir. 

The  Chairman.  All  right.    Thank  you  very  much. 

Senator  Ives.  Just  a  moment,  Mr.  Chairman. 

What  was  the  make  of  the  car  Mr.  Montana  was  driving? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  A  1957  Cadillac, 

Senator  Ives.  That  was  new,  then,  last  year,  the  year  he  was  driving 
it? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  It  was  practically  brand  new  at  that  time. 

Senator  Ives.  And  here  he  was  having  all  of  this  trouble  with  it? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  So  he  says. 

Senator  Ives.  Thank  you. 

The  Chairman.  All  right.  Thank  you  very  much,  Sergeant  Cross- 
well. 

We  appreciate  the  cooperation  you  have  given  us,  and  your  willing- 
ness to  be  of  all  the  assistance  you  could. 

Call  the  next  witness. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Chairman,  the  next  witness  is  from  the  Bureau 
of  Narcotics,  and  Mr.  Anslinger,  the  Commissioner  of  the  Bureau  of 
Narcotics,  has  requested  that  no  pictures  be  taken  of  his  face. 

The  Chairman.  All  photographers,  television  cameras  and  so  forth, 
will  be  governed  accordingly. 

Come  around. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Pera. 

The  Chairman.  Be  sworn,  please,  sir. 

You  do  solemnly  swear  the  evidence  you  shall  give  before  this  Sen- 
ate select  committee  shall  be  the  truth,  the  whole  truth,  and  nothing 
but  the  truth,  so  help  you  God  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  I  do. 

TESTIMONY  OF  MARTIN  F.  PEEA 

The  Chairman.  Be  seated.  State  your  name,  your  place  of  resi- 
dence, and  your  business  or  occupation. 

Mr.  Pera.  My  name  is  Martin  F.  Pera.  I  am  at  90  Church  Street, 
New  York,  N.  Y.  I  am  an  agent  of  the  United  States  Bureau  of 
Narcotics. 

The  Chairman.  How  long  have  you  been  in  Government  service? 

Mr.  Pera.  10  years. 

The  Chairman.  How  long  have  you  been  in  the  service  of  the 
Bureau  of  Narcotics  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  10  years. 

The  Chairman.  You  waive  counsel  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes,  I  do. 

The  Chairman.  Thank  you  very  much.     Mr.  Kennedy,  proceed. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Pera,  have  you  spent  all  your  career  with  the 
Bureau  of  Narcotics  in  this  country  I 

21243—58 — pt.  32 3 


12220  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  Pera.  No.  I  have  been  on  special  assignments  overseas,  in 
the  Near  East  and  in  Europe. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Specifically  what  countries  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  Turkey,  Greece,  Italy,  France,  Portugal. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  have  been  your  assignments  in  those  areas? 

Mr.  Pera.  The  obtaining  of  evidence  against  narcotic  law  violators 
who  were  responsible  for  smuggling  large  quantities  of  drugs  into 
the  United  States,  and  the  cooperation  with  the  various  foreign 
governmental  agencies  in  that  regard. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Could  you  tell  the  committee  who  are  mainly  respon- 
sible for  bringing  the  drugs  in,  if  there  is  any  particular  organization 
that  is  chiefly  responsible  for  bringing  narcotics  and  drugs  into  the 
United  States  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  Well,  for  the  last  practically  15  years,  and  prior  to  that 
time  as  well,  the  predominant  traffic  in  narcotics,  the  importation  and 
distribution  within  the  United  States,  have  gone  through  the  hands 
of  the  organization  that  we  term  to  be  the  Mafia. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  you  do  any  work  on  the  Mafia  while  you  were 
overseas  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  That,  among  others.  That  was  not  my  specific  assign- 
ment, but  I  did  work  along  that  line  as  well. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Could  you  tell  the  committee  what  this  organiza- 
tion consists  of,  as  you  have  studied  it  in  Europe,  and  as  you  have 
studied  it  here  in  the  United  States  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes.  The  organization  originated  in  the  late  18th  cen- 
tury in  Sicily  to  combat  the  exploitation  by  the  Bourbon  overlords 
of  Sicily  at  the  time.  There  was  a  situation  of  absentee  landlordism 
and  the  excesses  of  these  landlords  over  the  tenant  farmers  and  other 
people  in  that  area  resulted  in  the  banding  together  of  the  local  tenant 
farmers  and  their  forming  an  organization  to  combat,  a  secret  organi- 
zation to  combat,  the  excesses  of  the  landlords. 

Much  of  it  was  similar  to  the  action  of,  let's  say,  the  plundering 
of  the  wealthy  people,  the  extortions,  kidnaping. 

The  organization  required  very  tight  discipline.  It  was  a  secret 
organization,  and  it  was  organized  along  clan  lines,  along  family 
lines.  As  a  secret  society  it  had  no  bylaws.  The  various  communi- 
ties and  various  villages  had  their  own  particular  leaders.  They  were 
responsible  to  a  grand  council  which  was  composed  of  leaders  on  the 
upper  echelon  to  those  from  the  communities.  It  was  expected  of 
the  members  of  this  organization  that  they  be  absolutely  obedient  to 
the  officers  of  the  organization. 

Another  tenet  of  the  organization  Avas  reciprocal  aid  to  the  members 
in  need  of  assistance. 

Another  followed  never  to  seek  the  aid  of  governmental  authorities 
but  to  arbitrate  differences  amongst  themselves  ami  hold  their  own 
court.     Another  was  never  to  reveal  the  names  of  members. 

Another  Mas  to  avoid  the  show  of  ostentation  which  might  draw 
the  attention  of  authorities.  The  last  was  to  maintain  a  humble  atti- 
tude toward  governmental  authority.  I  think  that  all  these  would  be 
found  logical  rules  by  which  any  organized  conspiracy  to  violate  the 
law  must  abide  in  order  to  exist.  This  we  know  to  be  the  unwritten 
code  of  the  Malia. 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12221 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  say  this  started  back  several  hundreds  of  years 
ago.  Can  you  trace  it  up  to  the  present  time  and  find  it  active  in  other 
places  other  than  Sicily  '. 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes.  During  the  late  1800's  and  early  1900's  many 
Sicilians  immigrated  to  the  United  States  to  escape  the  dire  poverty 
of  their  country.  They  settled,  of  course,  where  they  first  arrived, 
and  among  these  immigrants  were  members  of  the  Mafia  and  elements 
from  their  group.  Their  first  criminal  activity  was  to  extort  money 
from  the  more  successful  of  their  group,  from  members  outside  the 
Malia  and  from  the  more  successful  Italian  merchants  that  had  immi- 
grated to  the  United  States. 

Their  organization  was  not  quite  organized  to  a  national  degree 
at  that  time,  and  in  various  ports  they  were  known  as  the  Union 
Sicilione  or  the  old  Black  Hand. 

The  Union  Sicilione  or  the  old  Black  Hand  comprised  the  local 
Mafia  elements  in  the  particular  locality. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  It  was  aimed,  at  least  initially,  chiefly  against  their 
own  countrymen  \ 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes.  At  that  time,  it  should  be  appreciated  that  many 
of  these  people  did  not  know  the  language  very  well.  They  werent 
able  to  move  around  in  circles  that  might  have  been  exploited  by  them 
otherwise.  To  that  extent,  the}'  were  forced  to  exploit  their  own 
countrymen  at  the  time. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  they  become  particularly  active  in  the  1930's, 
during  prohibition? 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes. 

The  prohibition  era  found  tremendous  opportunity  for  them.  This 
organization  was  a  secret  organization.  It  was  dedicated  to  work  in 
contrary  to  the  laws  of  the  United  States,  and  local  laws,  and  with  the 
tremendous  profits  inherent  in  the  production  and  distribution  of 
bootleg  liquor  it  offered  an  opportunity  that  these  people  took  advan- 
tage of.  We  have  some  of  the  group  that  attended  Apalachin  that 
became  wealthy  during  that  time. 

There  were  men  like  Barbara,  for  instance,  who  was  found  with  a 
tremendous  load  of  sugar.  Well,  sugar,  of  course,  is  used  in  the 
fermentation  process,  with  yeast,  and  is  one  of  the  raw  materials  with 
which  bootleg  alcohol  is  made. 

Of  course,  the  Falcones.  Among  the  many,  of  course,  was  Capone 
that  made  his  mark  in  the  prohibition  days. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  was  the  result?  You  say  that  this  strict  dis- 
cipline was  set  up  in  Sicily,  and  this  organization  became  even  more 
active  during  prohibition  over  here.  What  was  the  result,  if  any, 
of  the  people  over  here  who  broke  down  as  far  as  discipline  was 
concerned  and  refused  to  obey  instructions  or  orders? 

Mr.  Pera.  Well,  in  the  first  place,  their  becoming  active  on  a  na- 
tional scale,  as  they  did  in  the  prohibition  era,  gave  them  the  oppor- 
tunity to  organize  on  a  national  scale,  and  to  gain  internal  discipline 
on  a  national  scale. 

It  offered  them  the  opportunity  to  compete  with  other  mobs  and 
the  result  was  a  great  degree  of  violence  that  took  place  during  the 
prohibition  era.  much  of  it  directly  traceable  to  the  activities  of  the 
Mafia.     During  1928  we  have  one  of  the  first  meetings  in  the  United 


12222  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

States  that  was  observed  of  the  Mafia,  the  meeting  at  Cleveland, 
Ohio,  and  among  those  who  attended  were  several  that  attended  the 
Apalachin  meeting. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Who  were  some  of  those  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  Joe  Prof  aci,  Magliocco. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Sam  DiCarlo,  was  he  there  also  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  I  don't  think  he  attended  the  Apalachin  meeting.  Well, 
those  were  the  two  that  attended  the  Apalachin  meeting  that  also 
attended  the  1928  meeting.  The  violence  inherent  in  their  activities 
can  be  indicated  by  the  fact  that  Frank  Geillo,  who  attended  the  1928 
meeting  was  found  shot  to  death  in  Hot  Springs  on  April  22,  1944. 
Joseph  Vaglica  of  Tampa,  Fla.,  was  killed  in  Tampa  on  July  11,  1947. 

Vincent  Mangano-,  who,  for  a  long  time  was  a  power  in  Brooklyn, 
along  with  his  brother  Phillip,  in  the  Mafia,  disappeared  in  1952. 

His  brother,  Phillip,  was  found  shot  to  death  shortly  before  that 
time  in  Brooklyn. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  They  instilled  this  discipline  amongst  their  own 
members,  did  they,  here  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes.  There  are  no  bylaws  within  the  organization. 
There  are  no  obvious  written  codes  within  the  organization.  But  the 
study  that  has  been  made  over  a  period  of  many  years  by  the  Bureau 
of  Narcotics  indicates  that  these  people  are  organized  along  family 
lines,  that  they  grow  into  the  Mafia.  It  isn't  as  though  someone  from 
the  outside  were  appointed  into  this  group. 

They  have  this  tradition  all  their  lives,  and  they  must  adhere  to  the 
discipline  that  is  required  by  the  organization. 

Senator  Ives.  Are  these  people  that  were  murdered  that  you  men- 
tioned persons  who  violated  the  code  of  the  Mafia  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  Well,  the  reasons  for  their  murder  are  ambiguous.  Un- 
doubtedly somewhere  along  the  line  they  obviously  violated  the  code 
of  the  Mafia. 

Exactly  in  what  respect  each  one  of  these  individuals  violated  the 
code  I  am  not  prepared  to  disclose.  I  don't  have  all  the  particular 
knowledge  on  each  one  of  these  individuals.  But  the  manner  in  which 
they  were  murdered,  and  the  fact  that  in  some  cases  there  we're  indi 
cations  that  they  had  lost  grace  prior  to  their  minder  within  the 
organization,  would  tell  us  that  somehow  or  another  they  violated 
one  of  the  tenets,  or  else  at  times  there  may  be  warring  fart  ions  within 
the  Mafia. 

Senator  Ives.  Thank  you. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Were  you  able  to  trace,  while  you  were  in  Europe, 
the  moving,  for  instance,  of  narcotics  from  Europe  to  this  organiza- 
tion that  exists  here  in  the  United  States  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes.  The  smuggling  of  heroin  into  the  United  States 
has  taken  place  through  different  routes  dining  different  years,  but 
generally,  predominantly,  most  of  the  heroin  smuggled,  let's  say, 
within  the  last  10  years,  has  taken  place  in  the  following  manner: 

The  opium  was  produced  lb  the  Balkan  countries,  such  as  Turkey, 
in  the  Near  East,  in  Turkey  and  Iran,  and  perhaps  in  Yugoslavia,  and 
is  processed  into  morphine  base.  Let's  say  Turkish  opium  that  is 
purchased  by  traders  in  Istanbul  outside  of  I  he  government  monopoly. 
There  is  a  government  monopoly  in  the  I  lading  of  opium  in  Turkey, 
and  the  controls  are  very  strict. 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12223 

On  the  other  hand,  there  is  what  is  called  the  black  market  in  opium 
where  individual  businessmen  will  go  and  purchase,  outside  of  the 
Government  monopoly,  quantities  of  opium  from  the  farmers. 

This  opium  is  processed  into  morphine  base,  after  it  is  transported 
across  Syria  into  Lebanon.  From  Beirut,  Lebanon,  or  perhaps 
Aleppo,  Syria,  this  morphine  base  is  shipped  to  clandestine  labora- 
tories in  France  for  conversion  into  heroin.  In  the  laboratories  in 
France,  and  this  is  in  the  last,  say,  7  to  10  years,  they  are  operated 
by  Corsican  traffickers,  and  we  might  point  out  there  that  the  Cor- 
sican  underworld  element  are  cousins  to  the  Sicilians.  They  call  each 
other  cousins.  They  speak  Italian.  Many  of  them  immigrated  origi- 
nally to  Corsica  from  the  Italian  islands. 

They  understand  one  another  thoroughly,  and  even  though  they 
might  come  from  separate  disciplines  at  the  top  level,  they  have  an 
efficient  interchange  in  criminal  activity. 

The  laboratories  in  France  are  operated  by  Corsican  violators  who, 
in  turn,  arrange  for  the  smuggling  of  these  drugs,  of  heroin,  into 
the  United  States,  via  French  seamen  smugglers,  couriers,  as  it  were, 
or  else  in  some  instances  the  heroin  is  sent  back  to  the  traffickers  in 
Sicily  or  in  Italy,  and  it  is  brought  over  here  by  means  of  conceal- 
ment in  trunks  or  the  personal  effects  of  immigrants. 

Senator  Ives.  May  I  ask  a  question  there  ? 

The  Chairman.  Senator  Ives. 

Senator  Ives.  I  am  curious  to  know  where  the  head  of  the  Mafia 
is  today.     What  country  ?     Sicily,  still  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  Well,  a  study  of  their  organization,  as  it  exists,  would 
indicate  to  us  that  it  is  a  loose  organization,  that  there  is  no  autoc- 
racy in  it,  that  it  is  composed  of  a  group  of  individuals  who  discuss 
with  each  other  what  is  mutually  beneficial  to  them  and  come  to  agree- 
ment on  lines  of  action  that  is  mutually  acceptable  to  them. 

Senator  Ives.  Is  that  in  each  country  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  No,  there  is  a  tremendous  amount  of  interchange  be- 
tween the  Mafia  elements  in  the  United  States  and  those  in  Italy. 
But  to  say  that  one  is  in  control  of  the  other,  I  think,  would  be  stretch- 
ing it  a  bit. 

Senator  Ives.  Is  any  one  person  in  control  of  the  Mafia  in  this 
country  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  Well,  according  to  what  we  know,  I  would  say  "No." 

Senator  Ives.  In  other  words,  that  is  a  case  of  groups  working 
together  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes.  It  is  purely  a  case  of  a  junta  or  a  group  of  indi- 
viduals within  this  organization  that  have  lived  and  that  have  grown 
up  under  its  discipline,  and  that  have  the  respect,  and  the  cooperation, 
and  the  subservience  of  all  the  members  underneath  them. 

Senator  Ives.  I  believe  there  will  be  more  interrogation  by  the 
counsel  on  this  matter,  is  that  correct  ? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Yes. 

Senator  Ives.  Thank  you. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Along  those  lines,  would  that  be  one  of  the  reasons 
for  the  meeting  such  as  took  place  at  Apalaehin? 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes.  Any  group  that  exists  in  violation  of  the  laws  of 
the  country  has  to  exist  secretly,  and  each  one  of  the  leaders  of  the 
Mafia  within  the  particular  locality  under  their  control  is  autonomous 
to  a  certain  degree. 


12224  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN   THE    LABOR    FIELD 

He  is  responsible  for  his  area.  Many  times  if  group  meetings  don't 
take  place,  if  a  meeting  such  as  Apalachin  does  not  take  place,  the 
man  within  his  own  particular  area  might  be  lax  in  his  discipline  or 
else  he  might  get  too  big  for  his  shoes. 

He  may  assume  that  suddenly  he  is  the  biggest  group  and  go  on  a 
tangent  by  himself,  or  he  may  encroach  on  the  territory  of  others. 

Or  he  may  go  into  some  particular  activity  that  might  be  prohibited 
by  the  grand  council.  Again,  in  the  organizational  structure  as  we 
know  it,  we  have  what  we  call  the  ground  council  that  is  composed 
of  the  top  leaders,  the  top  group,  within  the  Mafia. 

There  are  lesser  leaders  from  various  particular  localities  through- 
out, let's  say,  the  United  States,  and  perhaps  within  Sicily. 

These  are  group  chiefs.  These  are  group  chiefs,  and  they  have 
the  authority  within  their  own  particular  locality.  Beneath  them 
are  certain  individuals  within  the  Mafia  that  have  committed  some 
act  that  is  creditable  to  them.  It  may  be  the  murder,  the  official 
murder,  of  someone  designated  to  be  gotten  rid  of. 

It  may  be  carrying  out — well,  it  is  the  carrying  out  of  some  task 
that  was  difficult.  These  men  are  called  for  some  reason  or  another 
button  men,  as  we  know  them  in  New  York. 

The  Chairman.  What  is  it  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  Button.  In  other  words,  they  have  a  mark  of  identi- 
fication, identifying  them  to  be  experts  or  above  the  level  of  the  ordi- 
nary member. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  How  did  they  get  that  name?     Do  you  know? 

Mr.  Pera.  I  have  no  idea.  The  sources  of  information  from  with- 
in the  group,  and  undercover  agents  that  we  have,  they  are  the  source 
of  this  information. 

Senator  Mundt.  Is  there  an  oriental  counterpart  of  Mafia? 

A  good  bit  of  the  opium  that  comes  into  this  country  comes  out  of 
Eed  China.  I  am  wondering  if  the  operators  out  of  Mafia  have  a 
tie-in  with  these  people  in  Red  China,  or  whether  there  is  a  Chinese 
equivalent  of  the  Mafia  that  negotiates  the  drug  traffic  from  the  Far 
East. 

Mr.  Pera.  Certainly  a  certain  amount  of  the  heroin  that  does  come 
into  this  country  does  come  from  the  Far  East.  When  it  gets  to 
the  shores  of  the  United  States  through  the  illicit  channels,  which 
are,  in  many  cases,  individual  seamen  in  the  business,  couriers,  from 
that  point  on  we  can  trace,  after  the  arrival  of  that  heroin,  we  can 
trace  it  in  the  hands  of  Mafia  channels,  or  channels  of  this  particular 
underworld  element. 

Senator  Mundt.  I  was  wondering  if  they  had  sort  of  an  under- 
ground railroad  for  the  Chinese  opium  in  narcotics  such  as  you 
described  in  getting  the  opium  from  the  poppy,  in  Yugoslavia  and 
Turkey,  and  running  it  through  the  transfiguration  that  takes  place 
at  Lebanon  and  through  these  French  Corsicans. 

All  of  that  I  understood  to  be  sort  of  part  of  the  ramifications  of 
the  Mafia  operation  in  that  area,  in  the  Near  East.  But  because 
statistics  show  such  a  large  and  growing  percentage  of  the  opium 
coming  from  Red  China,  I  was  wondering  whether,  in  your  studies, 
you  had  discovered  that  the  Mafia  or  some  other  apparatus  was  in 
charge  of  the  traffic  of  that  area. 

Mr.  Pera.  To  say  that  the  Mafia  is  in  charge  of  opium  coining  in 
from  the  Far  East,  I  could  not  sav  that  from  the  information  that 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12225 

I  have  had  at  my  disposal.  Certainly,  a  certain  amount  of  opium 
years  ago,  let's  say,  when  French  [ndochina  existed,  there  were  quan- 
tities of  opium  that  were  shipped  to  the  laboratories,  again,  around 
Marseilles,  France,  to  the  Corsican  underworld  there,  and  then  trans- 
shipped to  the  I  'nited  States. 

This,  of  course,  went  through  the  same  channels  into  distribution 
here.  But  to  say  that  the  Mr  Ha  has  joined  a  criminal  conspiracy 
with  Red  Chinese  sources,  I  would  not  he  prepared  to  say  that  ;  no. 

Senator  Mttndt.  Red  Chinese  traffic  is  so  large  that  I  think  it  has 
more  than  just  an  occasional  shipment  brought  in  by  a  salt  sea  sailor 
coming  in  from  the  Far  East. 

Mr.  Pera.  There  are  quite  a  few  sailors  that  come  in  that  do  indulge 
in  that. 

If  1  sailor  brings  in  2  or  3  kilos  at  a  crack,  it  is  quite  a  bit  of  heroin. 

Senator  Ives.  Air.  Chairman? 

The  Chairman.  Senator  Ives. 

Senator  Ives.  Your  description  of  these  groups  and  their  various 
ramifications  and  associations  would  almost  lead  one  to  believe  that 
there  may  be  some  family  connection  among  all  of  them.  Is  that 
true  ( 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes.  There  is  a  tremendous  family  tie-in  with  these 
people.  Again,  they  are  organized  along  clan  lines  which  would 
reflect  the  family  tie-in. 

Senator  Ives.  That  is  what  I  understood  you  to  say.  That  carries 
on  today,  does  it  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes ;  it  still  carries  on  today. 

Senator  Ives.  Would  you  say  this,  for  example :  Would  you  say 
that  the  Mafia,  if  they  are  operating,  we  will  say,  in  central  New 
York — south  central  is  where  Apalachin  is — is  related  by  family  to  the 
Mafia  existing  around  Chicago  and  Detroit? 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes.  Well,  just  one  example — and  there  are  many  ex- 
amples we  could  go  into,  but  without  taking  time  just  a  little  exam- 
ple— Prof  aci's  daughter  is  married  to  a  fellow  by  the  name  of  Anthony 
Tocco,  in  Chicago.    He  is  prominent  in  the  Maria  there. 

There  are  many  interrelationships  reflecting  the  clan  organization. 
These  people  all  came  originally  from  small  villages  in  Sieity,  where 
there  wasn't  very  much  travel  or  influx  of  foreign  elements,  so  that 
their  organization  would  be  along  family  lines. 

Senator  Ives.  That,  of  course,  makes  it  a  far  more  effective  organi- 
zation, subject  to  far  greater  discipline  internally  than  another  type 
of  organization  might  be. 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes.  We  have  found  that,  and  we  have  found  that  the 
reason,  let's  say,  that  we  get  so  little  information  from  that  group  is 
simply  because  the  man  that  violates  their  code  may  be  condemned 
to  death,  and  his  own  brother  may  have  to  carrjT  out  the  execution. 

Senator  Ives.  That  is  the  end  of  your  search. 

Mr.  Pera.  That  is  right. 

Senator  Ives.  Thank  you  very  much. 

Senator  Muxdt.  You  used  the  phrase  "grand  council"  several  times. 
Is  that  a  name  which  has  been  rigged  up  by  the  law-enforcement  offi- 
cials to  describe  the  high  command,  or  is  that  a  name  that  members 
of  the  Ma  Ha  themselves  use  in  describing  the  central  apparatus? 


12226  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  Pera.  That  is  a  name  that  from  undercover  sources  we  have, 
sources  of  information  we  have,  from  amongst  this  group,  when  they 
relate  their  activity  to  us,  they  have  mentioned  the  grand  council. 

Furthermore,  in  the  past  we  have  had  a  number  of  Sicilian  under- 
cover agents,  agents  of  the  Bureau  of  Narcotics  of  Sicilian  extraction, 
who  have,  at  great  risk  to  their  own  lives,  spent  years  studying  this 
organization  and  working  amongst  them. 

Much  of  our  information  has  been  developed  as  a  result  of  their 
work. 

Senator  Mundt.  Are  your  undercover  agents  and  your  counter- 
agents  successful  enough  so  that  they  can  identify  the  members  of 
the  grand  council  in  the  United  States  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  Immediately,  what  is  presiding  at  this  particular  time  ? 

Senator  Mundt.  Precisely. 

Mr.  Pera.  We  could  guess  at  who.  We  could  give  a  pretty  good 
guess  in  that  direction.  But  to  say  that  thejr  would  know  with  cer- 
tainty I  would  not  be  prepared  to  go  that  far. 

Senator  Mundt.  About  how  many  members  are  there  in  the  grand 
council  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  Well,  again,  we  are  coming  to  a  point  where  we  don't 
know  too  much  about  their  activities.  Again,  it  is  a  secret  organiza- 
tion. They  maintain  any  breach  of  discipline,  any  talking  on  the 
part  of  their  members,  with  a  threat  of  death.  You  can  get  so  much, 
even  by  undercover  work. 

Senator  Mundt.  Everything  you  have  said  about  the  Mafia  is 
equally  true  of  the  Communist  cells  of  this  country.  The  FBI  has 
been  startlingly  successful  penetrating  the  cells  of  the  Communist 
Party  to  the  point  of  identifying  people  in  charge.  I  would  assume 
that  the  Bureau  of  Narcotics  has  also  had  a  considerable  amount  of 
success  in  using  Sicilians,  Italians,  or  Corsicans  as  counteragents,  who 
are  able  to  penetrate  this  apparatus,  so  that  you  have  a  pretty  good 
idea  of  how  large  a  command  it  is,  whether  it  is  a  council  of  100,  a 
council  of  10,  or  a  council  of  3,  something  of  that  nature;  wouldn't 
you? 

Mr.  Pera.  Again,  we  have  found  that  repeatedly — and  I  think  any 
enforcement  agency  with  experience  along  those  lines  would  reiterate 
this — that,  if  the  penalty  is  death  for  any  breach  of  discipline  or  any 
disclosure  made  on  the  part  of  these  members,  they  think  twice  before 
they  do  talk  about  it. 

The  penalty  is  also  death  if  they  make  a  mistake  and  allow  some- 
one— that  is,  an  undercover  agent — to  enter  their  midst.  Perhaps  in 
other  cases  a  man  might  do  10  years,  or,  rather,  a  man  might  be  re- 
luctant to  do  10  years  in  prison  or  maybe  20  years  in  prison,  he  may 
feel  that  it  is  worth  his  while,  perhaps,  if  he  discloses  the  operation 
of  the  particular  crime  that  he  was  involved  with,  and  it  might  be 
worth  his  while  to  disclose  that  if  he  can  get  off  with  that  sentence. 
But  our  experience  has  been  a  singular  lack  of  information  from  that 
direction. 

Senator  Munot.  I  don't  expect  you  to  get  many  members  of  the 
Mafia  to  turn  state's  evidence  and  become  squealers,  but,  as  far  as 
the  fear  of  death  is  concerned,  the  records  ai-e  replete  with  Communist 
agents  who  have  made  that  one  fatal  mistake,  and  who  have  been' 
thrown  out  of  a  hotel  window  in  Washington,  D.  C,  or  have  fallen 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12227 

out  of  a  building  in  New  York  City,  or  have  gotten  hit  by  a  car,  or 
mysteriously  disappeared. 

These  are  dangerous  rackets.  But  the  law-enforcement  agencies 
have  been  able  to  penetrate  them  by  using  counter  agents  to  go  into 
the  precise  purpose,  after  a  period  of  5,  10,  or  20  years  of  service,  and 
who  have  come  out  and  disclosed  to  the  law-enforcement  agencies  de- 
tails by  which  this  racket  operates. 

I  would  assume  that  in  all  these  many  years  that  the  Mafia  has  been 
operating  we  must  have  had  some  success  on  occasion  in  developing 
counteragents  who  were  able  to  find  something  out  from  the  inside  by 
having  qualified  as  a  Mafia  member,  while  really  working  for  Uncle 
Sam.     Hasn't  that  ever  happened  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  We  have  had  people  very  close  to  the  Mafia.  We  have 
had  people  that  have  been  trusted  amongst  the  leaders  of  the  Mafia. 
We  have  agents  that  have  worked  that  close  to  the  group  under 
cover. 

Naturally,  in  a  public  hearing,  it  would  be  inopportune  to  discuss 
or  disclose  their  findings. 

Senator  Mundt.  I  don't  want  to  know  anything  about  who  they  are 
or  their  system,  but  I  am  wondering  something  about  what  they 
found. 

Mr.  Pera.  My  testimony  this  afternoon  is  a  result  of  what  they 
have  found  out. 

Senator  Mundt.  And  among  the  things  that  they  have  discovered, 
can  you  shed  any  light  on  the  size  of  this  grand  council  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  The  grand  council,  as  we  know  it — again,  these  things 
are  very  flexible — is  composed  of  between,  let's  say,  about  eight  to  a 
dozen  men. 

Senator  Mundt.  That  is  what  I  am  trying  to  find  out.  I  wanted 
to  know  whether  you  meant  100  or  500.  I  wanted  to  get  some  idea. 
This  is  a  pretty  tightly-knit  organization.  Ten,  12,  15,  or  20  men 
are  the  ones  who  really  exercise  the  discipline  and  decide  ultimately 
who  among  the  big  shots  is  going  to  get  bumped  off.     Is  that  right  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  Well,  again,  that  is  a  complex  subject,  because  many  of 
these  difficulties  between  the  groups  are  submitted  to  arbitration,  and 
they  might  not  go  that  high.  They  might  not  go  to  the  grand  coun- 
cil. Oftentimes  the  grand  council  might  have  other  things  on  their 
mind  other  than  to  decide  Avho  within  the  field  is  deserving  or  who  is 
undeserving. 

Senator  Mundt.  Was  this  rather  sensational  murder  of  some  hood- 
lum, whose  name  I  have  forgotten,  in  a  barber  shop  of  the  Waldorf- 
Astoria  or  some  place 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Albert  Anastasia. 

Senator  Mundt.  Was  this  a  Mafia  murder,  do  you  think  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  Albert  Anastasia  had  a  prominent  position  in  that  or- 
ganization. Certainly  the  manner  in  which  he  died,  and  there  were 
some  indications  of  his  having  slipped  in  power  before  that  time  which 
would  lead  us  to  believe  that  that  was  a  Mafia  killing. 

Senator  Mundt.  It  occurs  to  me  that  the  limitation  of  a  rat  of  that 
size  probably  would  be  determined  at  a  meeting  of  the  grand  council. 

Mr.  Pera.  It  may  be  a  subject  for  discussion.  I  think  that  that 
probably  had  been  decided  some  time,  perhaps  quite  a  bit  prior  to 
that  time. 


12228  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Senator  Ives.  In  that  connection,  may  I  interrupt  there?  There 
was  a  report  at  the  time  of  this  Apalachin  meeting  that  one  of  its  pur- 
poses was  to  decide  what  to  do  with — well,  I  wouldn't  say  estate — but 
with  the  empire  of  Anastasia.     Is  there  any  truth  in  that  \ 

Mr.  Pera.  The  various  subjects  discussed  at  the  Apalachin  meeting 
we  can  only  guess  at,  because  we  were  not  there.  Unquestionably, 
there  must  have  been  some  discussion  along  that  line.  'Whatever 
happened  to  that  would  affect  the  group  as  a  whole. 

Senator  Ives.  Just  who  were  these  60  people  that  were  at  Apala- 
chin ?  They  apparently  were  not  the  grand  council.  1  suppose  mem- 
bers of  the  grand  council  were  among  them,  but  just  what  did  they 
represent  ( 

Mr.  Pera.  I  think,  again  speaking  of  the  grand  council,  I  would 
reflect  on  the  meeting  that  took  place  a  year  prior  to  the  Apalachin 
meeting. 

Senator  Ives.  1956? 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes.  I  think  that  meeting  was  significant  in  that  rela- 
tively few  people  were  mentioned  at  that  meeting. 

Senator  Ives.  So  far  as  anybody  knows. 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes.  I  think  it  is  safe  to  say  that  Carmen  Galente, 
Joseph  Barbara,  John  Bonventre,  and  Joe  Bonanno  were  at  that 
meeting. 

Senator  Ives.  They  are  part  of  the  grand  council  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  I  can't — I  don't — I  wouldn't  be  able  to  give  a  correct 
answer  as  to  that.  But  I  think  that  meeting  was  particularly  sig- 
nificant because  they  were  very  powerful  individuals  within  the 
organization,  and  the  meeting  having  taken  place  a  year  prior  to  the 
Apalachin  meeting  certainly  set  the  scene  for  the  Apalachin  meeting. 

Senator  Ives.  Thank  you  very  much. 

The  Chairman.  Is  there  one  difference  between  the  Communists 
and  the  Mafia  in  this  regard :  The  Communists,  of  course,  seek  to 
enlarge  their  membership,  through  devious  ways,  and  they  don't  go 
out  like  some  other  organization,  maybe,  and  solicit  members,  but 
as  I  understood  about  the  Mafia  you  are  largely  born  into  it  or  marry 
into  it,  and  so  forth  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  That  is  probably  the  most  prominent  difference  between 
the  two,  and  to  the  other  extent,  their  criminal  conspiracy  and  viola- 
tion of  the  laws  of  the  United  States. 

The  Chairman.  Yes.  But  from  what  I  understand,  from  all  the 
information  we  have  which  will  be  developed,  this  underworld  syndi- 
cate as  we  speak  of  it,  or  Mafia,  if  it  does  have  those  connections,  it 
seems  that  they  are  either  born  into  it  as  a  child  of  someone  who  is 
involved,  or  the  children  intermarry  from  different  families  that  are 
in  it,  and  in  that  way  it  is  pretty  well  perpetuated.  I  am  talking  about 
the  inner  circle  of  t  hat  part  icularly. 

_  Mr.  Pera.  Yes.  The  intermarriages  are  significant  in  that  often- 
times you  wonder  whether  these  people  want  to  marry  each  other. 
Yet  the  marriages  take  place.  Let's  say  two  people  of  a  prominent 
status  within  the  Mafia  if  they  have  children,  you  will  find  that  their 
sons  and  daughters  get  married.  They  don't  marry  on  unequal  terms, 
too  often. 

The  Chairman.  On  equal  terms  ? 


E M  PROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12229 

Mr.  Pera.  No,  on  unequal  terms.  In  other  words,  a  leader  within 
the  organization  would  not  have  his  child  marry  to  someone  who  is  a 
nobody  within  (he  organization. 

The  Chairman.  I  see.  I  thought  maybe  that  was  significant  in  that 
there  was  thai  distinction  between  the  way  maybe  the  Communists 
operated  in  building  their  organization  and  the  way  the  Mafia 
operated. 

In  other  words,  the  Communists,  of  course,  seek,  I  would  as- 
sume, to  get  more  members  and  more  members  all  the  time,  whereas 
the  Mafia  would  not  seek  to  greatly  enlarge  its  membership. 

Mr.  Pera.  There  is  no  soliciting  that  I  know  of  among  the  people 
within  that  organization. 

The  Chairman.  I  see. 

All  right.  Mr.  Kennedy. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  We  will  not  be  able  to  finish  with  this  witness  today, 
Mr.  Chairman,  but  I  want  to  ask  him  just  a  couple  of  last  questions. 

Have  you  found  that  this  organization  has  attempted  to  penetrate 
into  the  broad  field  of  labor-management  relations  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes.     They  have  made  a  concerted  effort  in  that  direction. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  are  some  of  these  same  people  who  handle  nar- 
cotics out  of  Sicily,  out  of  the  Middle  East,  are  those  same  people  also 
prominent  in  this  field  of  labor-management? 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  I  don't  think  we  have  time  at  this  time  to  go  into 
the  correlation  between  the  groups  and  some  of  these  people.  He  has 
some  examples,  Mr.  Chairman.     Maybe  we  can  continue  it  tomorrow. 

The  Chairman.  You  will  return  in  the  morning. 

The  committee  will  convene  at  10  o'clock  in  the  morning. 

We  will  stand  in  recess  until  that  time. 

( Whereupon,  at  4 :  30  p.  m.  the  hearing  was  recessed,  to  reconvene 
at  10  a.  m.  Tuesday,  July  1,  1958,  with  the  following  members  pres- 
ent :  Senators  McClellan,  Ives  and  Mundt.) 


INVESTIGATION  OF  IMPROPER  ACTIVITIES  IN  THE 
LABOR  OR  MANAGEMENT  FIELD 


TUESDAY,   JULY   1,   1958 

United  States  Senate, 
Select  Committee  on  Improper  AcrrvrriES, 

in  the  Labor  or  Management  Field, 

Washington,  D.  O. 

The  select  committee  met  at  10  a.  m.,  pursuant  to  Senate  Resolu- 
tion 74,  agreed  to  January  30,  1957,  in  the  caucus  room,  Senate  Office 
Building,  Senator  John  L.  McClellan  (chairman  of  the  select  com- 
mittee) presiding. 

Present:  Senator  John  L.  McClellan,  Democrat,  Arkansas;  Sen- 
ator Irving  M.  Ives,  Republican,  New  York;  Senator  Barry  Gold- 
water,  Republican,  Arizona;  and  Senator  Carl  T.  Curtis,  Republican, 
Nebraska. 

Also  present :  Robert  F.  Kennedy,  chief  counsel ;  Paul  J.  Tierney, 
assistant  counsel ;  John  P.  Constandy,  assistant  counsel ;  John  J.  Mc- 
Govern,  assistant  counsel ;  Pierre  E.  G.  Salinger,  investigator ;  Walter 
R,  May,  investigator;  George  H.  Martin,  investigator;  Sherman 
Willse,  investigator ;  and  Ruth  Young  Watt,  chief  clerk. 

The  Chairman.  The  committee  will  be  in  order. 

(Members  of  the  committee  present  at  the  convening  of  the  ses- 
sion were :  Senators  McClellan  and  Ives.) 

The  Chairman.  Will  the  witness  resume  the  stand,  please? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Chairman,  I  might  repeat  what  I  said  yester- 
day, that  the  Bureau  of  Narcotics,  has  asked  that  no  pictures  be  taken 
of  the  witness  face. 

The  Chairman.  The  photographers  and  cameras,  you  who  are  in 
command  of  them,  be  governed  accordingly,  please. 

TESTIMONY  OF  MARTIN  F.  PERA— Resumed 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Pera,  when  we  broke  up  yesterday,  we  were 
discussing  or  had  begun  to  discuss  whether  some  of  these  same  in- 
dividuals who  are  active  in  the  narcotics  trade  are  also  active  in  labor- 
management  field.  I  believe  you  replied  yesterday  that  some  of  these 
same  individuals  were  active  in  the  labor-management  field. 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes,  in  labor,  in  both  labor  and  in  the  business  field, 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Now,  could  you  give  the  committee,  some  examples 
of  some  of  these  individuals  who  have  gone  either  into  labor  unions 
or  gone  into  so-called  fronts  as  businesses,  and  who  are  also  active  in 
the  narcotics  trade  ? 

12231 


12232  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes,  I  could  give  general  background  of  their  moving 
into  the  management  field. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Would  you  do  that,  please  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  Incidentally,  I  would  like  to  correct  one  statement  I 
made  yesterday,  an  inadvertent  error.  I  mentioned  this  Anthony 
Tocco  was  from  Chicago,  and  I  had  meant  to  say  Detroit. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  I  think  the  question  had  been  prior  to  that  whether 
anybody  from  Detroit  or  Chicago  was  connected  with  it,  and  you 
answered  it  in  that  way. 

Mr.  Pera.  All  right. 

Well,  with  regard  to  their  encroachment  in  the  business  field,  we 
noted  that  the  Capone  income-tax  case  alerted  people  in  the  Mafia, 
and  they  learned  that  their  old  tenet  of  not  showing  apparent  wealth 
was  a  good  one  to  go  by.  They  also  learned  that  the  crude  techniques 
of  force  were  no  longer  desirable.  There  was  too  much  public  at- 
tention. 

So  having  excellent  advise,  they  learned  to  funnel  their  money  into 
various  businesses,  and  usually  these  businesses  were  services,  busi- 
nesses that  rendered  a  service  as  opposed  to  the  production  of  a 
product.  The  service  is  much  easier  to  control  and  gain  a  monopoly 
in.  They  learned  to  knock  out  their  competition  by  pouring  large 
funds  into  the  business. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Just  on  the  service,  would  that  be  things  such  as  the 
linen  service  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Ordinarily. 

Mr.  Pera.  Linen,  laundry,  the  vending,  the  garbage  removing,  all 
are  examples  of  such  services. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Have  you  found  that  these  individuals  about  whom 
you  talked  yesterday  have  actively  infiltrated  into  many  of  these  busi- 
nesses in  the  communities  around  die  country,  the  largest  cities  around 
the  United  States? 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes,  sir.  One  of  the  outstanding  examples  that  bore 
public  scrutiny  a  short  time  ago  was  the  Squillanti  operation  in  the 
Greater  Cartmen's  Association  of  New  York.  That  was  composed  of 
a  group  of  businesses  which  removed  garbage  from  the  city  of  New 
York,  and  they  tried  to  move  that  operation  into  Queens  and  West- 
chester Counties  in  New  York. 

They  were  gaining  a  practical  monopoly  in  the  garbage  removal 
field.  We  have  the  vending  business,  the  linen-supply  business,  the 
ingredients  with  which  to  make  pizza  sauce,  and  Italian  broad  baking 
business,  tomato  paste  business,  the  cheese  and  olive  oil  distribution, 
the  distribution  of  imported  fruits  from  Sicily.  All  of  these  are  fields 
which  these  persons  have  gone  into. 

(At  this  point,  Senator  Goldwater  entered  the  hearing  room.) 

Mr.  Pera.  I  think  that  they  are  going  into  these  fields  in  some  in- 
stances and  it  maintains  a  certain  pattern,  namely,  by  pouring  the 
funds  they  get  from  illicit  channels  into  these  businesses,  they  can 
undersell  their  competitors  and  knock  their  competitors  out  of  busi- 
ness, and  then  eventually  gain  control  of  a  monopoly  in  a  particular 
business,  and  this  serves  as  well  to  hide  their  illicit  income  from  the 
scrutiny  of  the  income-tax  people. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  you  find  any  tie-in  with  the  same  kind  of  situa- 
tions, for  instance,  in  Sicily,  as  far  as  the  fruit  market  was  concerned ? 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12233 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes.     Since  1955,  there  have  been  some  14  Mafia  killings. 

The  Chairman.  Since  1955  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes;  since  1955  there  have  been  14  Mafia  killings  in  Sicily, 
and  these  were  with  shotgun  blasts  with  triangular  pellets  which  were 
rubbed  in  garlic,  most  of  these  shotgun  blasts. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  would  be  the  effect  of  that? 

Mr.  Pera.  Well,  the  effect  of  the  garlic,  it  is  an  old  trick  devised  by 
the  people  that  were  using  guns  during  prohibition  days,  and  the 
rubbing  of  garlic  on  the  bullet  caused  blood  poisoning  and  insured 
the  deat  li  of  whoever  was  shot. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  These  are  deaths  that  have  occurred  in  Sicily;  is 
that  right  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes;  and  there  the  characteristic  pattern  was  that  these 
were  people  involved  in  the  distribution  of  fruit,  and  the  fruit-market 
business  throughout  Sicily  and  Italy. 

Since  1955  that  has  happened  and  because  of  that  there  has  been  a 
tremendous  amount  of  work  on  the  part  of  the  Italian  enforcement 
agencies  against  the  people  who  perpetrated  this,  and  they  recognize 
that  the  Mafia  is  behind  this. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  have  any  examples  of  some  of  the  individuals 
who  were  active  in  the  United  States  in  some  of  these  businesses  who 
were  members  of  the  Mafia  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  Well,  I  think  one  of  the  outstanding  examples  of  some 
who  encroached  into  the  business  field  was  Frank  Scalise,  who  was 
long  known  as  the  Mafia  leader  in  the  Bronx.  He  was  murdered  in 
the  Bronx  on  June  17, 1958. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  I  think  it  was  1957. 

Mr.  Pera.  Pardon  me.  It  was  1957.  He  was  on  the  Bureau  of 
Narcotics  international  list  long  known  as  one  of  the  most  important 
recipients  and  distributors  of  heroin  in  the  United  States.  Now,  part 
of  his  operation  in  the  Bronx  was  to  take  a  percentage  out  of  the  many 
legitimate  and  illicit  operations  operated  by  the  Mafia  and  other 
Italians  in  the  Bronx. 

Our  information  in  the  case  is  that  he  declared  himself  to  be  a 
partner  in  the  Maria  DiBono  Plastering  Co.,  of  4030  National  Street, 
Corona,  Queens,  N.  Y. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  is  Maria  &  DiBono  Plastering  Co.,  of  4030 
National  Street,  Corona,  Queens,  N.  Y.  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  Y'es;  that  is  correct.  This  developed  when  the  par- 
ticular plastering  company  had  a  contract  for  the  construction  of  a 
large  TB  hospital  in  the  Bronx.  This  particular  plaster  company  had 
many  other  low-cost-housing  projects,  contracts  with  low-cost-housing 
projects  in  New  York  City  as  well.  After  Scalise's  murder  it  turned 
out  he  had  been  for  some  time  the  vice  president  and  major  stockholder 
in  this  company. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  you  ever  learn  how  he  was  able  to  get  into  that 
company  \ 

Mr.  Pera.  Well,  according  to  a  report  we  have  going  back  to  1954, 
June  of  1954,  one  of  the  sources  we  had  stated  that  he  suddenly 
appeared  on  the  project,  the  construction  project,  and  prior  to  that 
time  the  Maria  &  DiBono  Plastering  Co.  had  been  known  by  that 
name.  After  he  appeared,  the  checks  were  made  out  as  a  corpora*  ion, 
Maria-DiBono,  Inc.,  and  he  would  appear  from  time  to  time  at  the 
project  and  would  hand  large  amounts  of  money  to  one  of  the  people 


12234  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

working  in  the  project,  and  this  also  occurred  coincidentally  with  the 
appearance  of  numerous  hoodlums,  obvious  hoodlums,  driving  up  in 
large  Cadillacs  at  the  project  and  having  conferences  with  him  there. 
Senator  Goldwater.  Who  would  he  hand  these  large  sums  of  money 
to? 

Mr.  Pera.  The  particular  individual?  This  you  appreciate  was 
obtained  from  a  source  of  information  on  the  particular  project  and 
he  wasn't  prepared  to  identify  the  individual  for  us.  But  he  related 
this  story  to  us,  with  the  information  that  Scalise  had  suddenly  de- 
clared himself  to  be  a  partner  of  this  outfit. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Now,  you  found  at  this  same  time  when  he  had 
some  of  these  so-called  businesses,  and  legitimate  businesses,  he  was 
also  active  in  narcotics  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  he  have  any  specific  or  particular  contacts  in 
Italy  that  he  worked  through  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes.  He  was  a  very  close  associate  of  Salvatore  Luciano, 
also  known  as  Lucky  Luciano. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Have  you  found  that  many  of  the  individuals  active 
in  the  Mafia  in  the  United  States  have  been  in  contact  with  Lucky 
Luciano  in  Italy? 

Mr.  Pera.  Well,  we  have  secret  reports  from  the  Italian  Govern- 
ment, and  we  have  observations  conducted  over  there,  and  on  numer- 
ous occasions,  when  important  Mafia  characters  from  the  United 
States  travel  to  Italy,  we  have  known  them  to  meet  Luciano. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  you  find  this  happens  quite  frequently,  that 
there  are  contacts  made  between  these  people  here  in  the  United 
States  with  Lucky  Luciano  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes;  and  in  recent  years  because  of  the  tremendous 
publicity  attached  to  Luciano's  activities,  many  of  these  meetings 
have  occurred  through  intermediaries.  In  other  words,  Luciano  might 
not  meet  these  people  personally,  but  information  is  passed  along 
through  very  close  associates  of  Luciano. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Were  there  any  meetings  with  Luciano,  or  with  any 
of  his  "lieutenants,"  just  prior  to  the  meeting  in  Apalachin  that  you 
know  of  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  We  know  this,  that  immediately  prior  to  the  Apalachin 
meeting,  that  is  in  late  October  1957,  Carmine  Galente  and  Joe 
Bonnano  met  with  a  very  close  associate  of  Salvatore  Luciano  in  a 
hotel  in  Palermo.  This  close  associate  was  a  man  by  the  name  of 
Santos  Sorge,  and  immediately  following  that  meeting  the  Apalachin 
meeting  occurred,  and  the  sequence  of  events  to  us  is  very  significant. 
The  sole  purpose  of  Galente  and  Bonnano  travel  from  "what  we  know 
of  their  travel  was  simply  to  attend  this  meeting  in  Palermo,  and  then 
return  to  the  United  States  for  the  purpose  of  the  Apalachin  meeting. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  they  both  attended  the  Alapachin  meeting? 

Mr.  Pera.  Out  information  is  that  Galente  attended  the  meeting 
in  L956,  and  initially  the  information  indicated  that  Galente's  name 
was  not  mentioned  among  (hose  attending  the  Apalachin  meeting, 
and  since  that  time  we  learned  from  reliable  sources  that  Galente 
was  also  present  at  the  Apalachin  meeting,  even  though  he  didn't 
appear  on  the  list. 

Mi-.  Kennedy.  How  about  Joe  Bonanno  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  He  attended  the  Apalachin  meeting. 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12235 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Now,  we  are  talking  about  the  contact  of  Scalise 
with  Luciano.  Do  you  have  any  evidence  or  proof  that  they  actually 
got  together  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes,  we  noted  that  Scalise  traveled  to  Italy  in  1948,  and 
in  1949.  After  his  murder,  the  police,  New  York  City  police,  dis- 
covered some  documents  in  his  house,  and  among  those  were  several 
photographs.  I  have  one  here  of  Frank  Scalise  with  Luciano,  taken 
at  the  Hotel  Excelsior  in  Naples,  and  we  don't  know  whether  it  was 
taken  in  1948  or  1949.  The  woman  in  the  picture  is  the  mistress  of 
Luciano. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Could  you  show  it  to  the  chairman  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes. 

(A  document  was  handed  to  the  chairman.) 

Mr.  Pera.  I  might  add  that  that  picture  is  an  enlargement  of  the 
original. 

The  Chairman.  Who  are  the  two  men  in  the  picture  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  Saltavore  Luciano,  known  as  Charles  Luciano,  and 
Frank  Scalise. 

The  Chairman.  Is  he  the  one  on  your  right,  as  you  face  the  picture  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  As  I  face  the  picture,  the  man  on  the  right  is  Luciano. 

The  Chairman.  Known  as  Lucky  Luciano  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes. 

The  Chairman.  Who  is  the  other  man  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  The  other  man  is  Frank  Scalise,  the  man  on  the  left. 

The  Chairman.  And  the  name  of  the  woman  is  unimportant,  and 
the  picture  will  be  made  exhibit  1  for  reference. 

(Document  referred  to  was  marked  "Exhibit  No.  1,"  for  reference 
and  may  be  found  in  the  files  of  the  select  committee.) 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  have  another  picture  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  We  have  another  picture,  and  actually  it  is  composed 
of  8  individuals,  7  people  and  3  of  them  women.  It  is  a  group  pic- 
ture. In  that  appears  Salvatore  Luciano  again,  Frank  Scalise,  one 
man  known  as  Vito  Dubello,  who  had  been  exporting  food  to  the 
United  States.  He  was  known  to  us  then  as  an  associate  of  Thomas 
Lucchese,  known  as  Three-Finger  Brown  also.  The  other  people 
in  the  picture  are  one  Sorche,  and  we  don't  know  anything  more 
about  him,  and  Salvatore  Luciano,  and  again  his  mistress,  and  Mrs. 
Frank  Scalise,  and  Frank  Scalise,  and  Mrs.  Dubello,  and  Vito  Du- 
bello. 

I  think  it  is  significant  that  this  individual  was  one  of  the  people 
involved  in  the  food  importation  business. 

The  Chairman.  Is  that  picture  available  for  our  files? 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes. 

The  Chairman.  The  picture  may  be  made  exhibit  No.  1  ( A) . 

(Document  referred  to  was  marked  "Exhibit  No.  1  (A),"  for  ref- 
erence and  may  be  found  in  the  files  of  the  select  committee.) 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Would  it  be  correct  then  to  say,  in  order  to  under- 
stand the  illegal  activities  of  these  individuals,  you  have  to  also  under- 
stand and  study  their  so-called  front  or  legal  activities;  is  that  right? 

Mr.  Pera.  That  is  absolutely  correct.  These  people  do  not  neces- 
sarly  separate  their  illegal  activities  from  their  legitimate  fronts,  or 
from  their  union  activities. 

21243 — 58— pt.  32 4 


12236  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

You  have  to  consider  their  operation  as  an  entity — as  a  whole.  If 
you  don't,  there  is  a  tremendous  amount  of  confusion  and  misunder- 
standing, and  simply  because  they  haven't  been  investigated  from  that 
point  of  view  I  think  they  have  been  able  to  exist. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  If  they  are  just  investigated  from  the  fact  that  they 
are  in  the  narcotics  trade,  a  correct  understanding  of  their  operations 
and  the  apprehending  them  in  their  illegal  activities  is  that  much 
more  difficult ;  is  that  right. 

Mr.  Pera.  Well,  you  lose  out  on  so  many  other  possiblities  if  you 
look  at  these  people  solely  from  the  point  of  view  of  their  narcotics 
activities.  The  Bureau  of  Narcotics  has  maintained  lengthy  files  for 
many  years  on  various  individuals  and  developed  them,  from  an  in- 
telligence point  of  view,  not  only  with  regard  to  their  activities  in  the 
field  of  narcotics  but  from  their  activities  as  an  organized  entity. 
Since  they  have  branched  out  into  various  other  fields,  many  of  them 
have  violated  the  law,  and  the  investigation  of  their  other  activities 
would  prove  beneficial  in  apprehending  them. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  talked  about  Frank  Scalise  being  in  the  busi- 
ness, having  fronts  as  businesses,  while  he  was  active  in  the  narcotics 
trade.  Can  you  give  us  examples  of  individuals  who  were  active  in 
labor,  in  unions,  who  were  also  involved  in  narcotics  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes.  Incidentally,  there  was  also  some  correspond- 
ence^  

Mr.  Kennedy.  Yes.  Can  you  give  us  some  of  the  correspondence 
on  Frank  Scalise? 

Mr.  Pera.  Well,  I  have  the  translation  of  the  hearings,  and  if  I 
could  simply  read  them  into  the 

(At  this  point,  Senator  Curtis  entered  the  hearing  room.) 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Is  there  anything  particularly  we  can  listen  for  in 
these  letters  that  you  are  going  to  read  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  I  think,  in  order  to  get  the  meaning  of  them,  I  will  make 
a  few  comments  in  the  course  of  reading  them,  if  that  is  permissible. 

The  Chairman.  You  read  them  and  those  points  in  the  letters  that 
have  significance  you  may  point  out  and  elaborate  upon. 

Mr.  Pera.  This  is  a  letter  signed  by  Frank  Scalise.  It  is  dated  Sep- 
tember 10,  1956.  It  is  to  one  Nino  in  Italy.  The  Nino  we  bel  ieve  to  be 
Nino  Torres. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  His  first  name? 

Mr.  Pera.  Nino,  which  is  a  diminutive  of  Antonino. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Who  is  he  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  He  is  a  notorious  hoodlum  in  Italy. 

I  was  very  happy  to  receive  your  letter  and  I  can  assure  you  that  I  would  like 
to  know  you.  Perhaps  in  the  near  future  I  will  have  the  pleasure  of  meeting  you 
in  person  to  express  my  fraternal  respect  which  attracts  nie  to  you.  I  did  not 
write  you  sooner  because  I  did  not  have  your  address,  and  I  had  to  get  it.  I  am 
enclosing  a  copy  of  the  letter,  the  original  of  which  was  sent  to  the  friend, 
Signor  Nicoletti,  of  the  factory,  in  Pallavicino. 

Interrupting  here,  I  would  draw  attention  to  the  reference  to  the 
fraternal  respect,  the  fraternal  respect  within  the  organization. 

"Signor  Nicoletti  of  the  factory  of  Pallavicino,"  that  refers  to  the 
Mafia  leader  in  tin1  part  icnlar  area. 

The  factory  in  Pallavicino  is  a  code  for  reference  to  the  organization 
in  Pallavicino. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  The  Mafia  organization  in  that  city? 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12237 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes.    (Reading)  : 

I  don't  know  what  the  relationship  is  between  you  and  the  above  mentioned, 
but  I  am  obligated  because  of  our  friendship  to  inform  you  of  anything  that 
occurs  here  in  order  that  you  and  my  fraternal  friend  can  form  your  opinions. 
Surely  you  know  the  differences  thai  have  come  up  between  Grito  and  his  god- 
father, and  in  case  you  will  be  called  to  trial  you  will  know  what  to  do. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  does  (hat mean? 
Mr.  Pera.  Would  you  allow  me  to  go  on  ? 
Mr.  Kennedy.  Excuse  me. 
Mr.  Pera  (reading)  : 

All  told  it  is  not  a  matter  of  honor  or  irreparable  things  but  matters  which 
could  have  been  straightened  out  easily.  I  hope  that  you  will  excuse  me  for 
troubling  you.  Give  my  regards  to  Orlando  Finazzo.  Assuring  you  of  my 
availability  for  anything  that  you  may  need ;  regards  and  kisses  from  the  friends 
and  relatives  here. 

Signed,  Frank  Scalise. 

The  trial  that  he  is  talking  about  would  not  be  a  trial  in  the  face  of 
authorities.  We  feel  that  it  is  a  trial  within  the  organization,  because 
he  mentions  that  it  is  not  a  matter  of  honor  or  irreparable  things  but 
matters  which  could  have  easily  been  straightened  out,  a  reference,  we 
think,  to  an  internal  dispute  within  the  organization.  If  it  was  a 
matter  of  honor,  then  someone  would  have  to  go. 

We  have  another  letter. 

I  mentioned  that  that  letter  was  addressed  to  Nino.  We  do  not  know 
whether  that  is  Nino  Torres.  I  would  like  to  correct  that.  We  doivt 
know  the  Nino  that  that  particular  letter  is  addressed  to. 

I  have  this  one  confused  with  another  one.  But  this  particular  let- 
ter we  do  not  knoAV  the  Nino.  Here  we  have  a  letter,  the  second  one, 
dated  Palermo,  February  10,  195G.     It  reads : 

Dear  Don  Ciccio — 

the  diminutive  of  Frank,  and  the  letter  is  intended  for  Frank  Scalise. 

In  replying  to  your  kind  letter,  please  excuse  me  for  not  having  answered 
sooner.  However,  in  regard  to  copy  of  letter  which  I  received,  I  understand 
what  it  is  all  about,  but  since  Signor  Nicoletti  for  the  present  is  being  sought 
by  Uncle  Angelo — 

and  here  I  will  interrupt ;  the  Uncle  Angelo  they  refer  to  as  the  police 
under  the  code  of  Uncle  Angelo. 

We  have  been  unable  to  talk  him  personally. 

I  have  now,  however,  sent  him  the  letter  so  that  he  knows  that  I  have  been 
informed  by  you  to  take  care  of  this  matter.     Since  Nino  Marsiglia — 

that  is,  the  chief  of  the  factory  in  Palermo — 

is  at  present  in  Ustica — 

and  I  interrupt  here  to  mention  thai  Ustica  is  an  island  where  many 
of  the  Matia  people  have  been  exiled  to,  serving  prison  terms  or  in 
exile. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Once  again,  the  reference  to  the  chief  of  the  fac- 
tory I 

Mr.  Pera.  It  refers  to  the  chief  of  the  organization  at  Palermo.  I 
will  repeat : 

Since  Nino  Marsiglia,  the  chief  of  the  factory  at  Palermo,  is  at  present  in 
Fstica,  even  I  have  been  dispersed,  as  have  been  most  of  the  rest  of  the  chiefs 
of  the  factories. 


12238  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Incidentally,  I  mentioned  before  that  because  of  the  murders  in- 
volved with  the  food  exchange,  the  Italian  Government  had  done  a 
tremendous  crackdown,  since  1955.  This  letter  is  dated  February 
1956,  reflecting  the  activity  of  the  Italian  Government  in  dispersing 
this  group. 

Even  I  have  been  dispersed,  as  have  almost  the  rest  of  the  chiefs  of  the  fac- 
tories. Therefore,  I  beg  you  to  wait  a  little  while  longer  until  we  can  get 
together  to  discuss  what  you  have  written  me.  For  the  present,  Uncle  Angelo 
is  carrying  on  worse  than  in  1925. 

I  will  interrupt  here  again  to  say  that  in  1925  there  was  a  concerted 
effort  by  the  police  to  round  up  the  hoodlums  in  Sicily. 

You  can  imagine  how  we  have  been  disbanded.  Hoping  that  this  letter  finds  you 
in  the  best  of  health,  as  I  assure  you  I  am,  I  extend  the  affection  and  embraces 
to  you,  Nino,  and  all  the  other  friends,  and  embraces  to  your  brothers  as  well 
as  from  our  friends.     Your  fraternal  friend. 

That  is  Nino  Torres  of  Palermo,  Italy. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Could  you  summarize  what  those  letters  mean  to 
you? 

Mr.  Pera.  Well,  to  us  they  are  particularly  significant  because  for 
once  these  are  letters  seized  from  an  individual  we  know  to  be  of  high 
stature  within  the  organization,  and  for  once  we  have  documentary 
proof  of  their  interrelationship  and  of  the  organizational  structure. 
Much  of  the  other  information 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  say  their  organizational  structure. 

Mr.  Pera.  The  Mafia,  specifically.  Much  of  the  other  information 
we  have  to  combine  by  word  of  mouth  and  by  the  activities  of  under- 
cover agents.  But  this  is  a  letter  that  was  seized  from  a  person  that 
was  in  there. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  it  would  indicate,  would  it,  that  the  leaders  of 
the  Mafia  here  in  the  United  States  are  closely  in  contact  with  the 
leaders  of  the  Mafia  there  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  There  is  a  definite  strong  interrelationship  and  even  an 
exchange  of  activity  on  either  side ;  yes,  sir. 

Senator  Goldwater.  How  do  they  communicate  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  By  mail.  Many  times  they  send  the  letters  to  mail  drops. 
For  instance,  they  might  not  send  it  to  the  man's  address,  but  they 
might  send  a  letter  for  him  in  care  of  some  relatively  unknown  person, 
let's  say  an  immigrant  that  has  come  here  in  the  last  few  years,  or 
someone  that  is  relatively  unknoAvn,  or  perhaps  a  business  address. 

They  are  relatively  safe  in  communicating  by  mail. 

Senator  Goldwater.  Do  they  use  telephone  at  all  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes.  I  think  this  committee  later  on  is  prepared  to  show 
intercommunication  to  a  great  extent  by  means  of  toll  calls  between 
the  various  individuals  attending  the  operation. 

Senator  Curtis.  Mr.  Chairman  \ 

The  Chairman.  Senator  Curtis. 

Senator  Curtis.  I  would  like  to  ask  the  witness:  What  is  it  that 
holds  the  Mafia  together,  and  particularly  to  perpetuate  itself? 

It  is  hard  to  understand — I  will  not  say  it  is  hard  to  believe,  but  it  is 
hard  to  understand  -how  a  conspiracy  for  wrongdoing  can  go  on 
apparently  indefinitely.    What  is  your  explanation  of  that? 

Mr.  Pera.  It  is  difficult  to  understand  from  the  point  of  view  of 
someone  (hat  has  grown  up  outside  of  it  and  who  lias  grown  up  with 
a  respect  for  law  and  order  and  lived  his  whole  life  that  way.     It  isn't 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12239 

difficult  to  understand  when  you  look  into  the  fact  that  these  people 
have  grown  up  under  a  peculiar  code  of  their  own  since  infancy,  that 
that  is  the  only  life  that  they  know.  Many  of  these  hoodlums,  were 
it  not  for  the  fact  that  they  have  a  position  in  the  Mafia,  would  have 
to  work  as  laborers,  or  would  have  to  start  at  menial  jobs. 

As  it  is,  through  their  particular  activities  in  the  Mafia,  they  have 
wealth  and  in  many  instances  power.  Many  of  them  are  competent, 
but  they  have  opportunities  open  to  them  within  that  group. 

Senator  Curtis.  Maybe  you  have  already  done  so,  and  if  you  have 
I  will  look  up  the  record,  but  are  you  at  liberty  to  state  how  large  the 
Mafia  is  in  numbers?  If  you  are  not  supposed  to  give  that  informa- 
tion, I  will  withdraw  the  question. 

Mr.  Pera.  Well,  I  think  that  I  would  not  at  this  point.  However, 
I  think  that  such  information  was  prepared  and  given  to  the  previous 
committees. 

The  Chairman.  That  information  may  be  given  to  us  privately. 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes. 

Senator  Curtis.  Very  well. 

The  Chairman.  Proceed. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  We  were  talking  about  the  fact  that  they  were  in 
touch  by  mail,  but  also  you  brought  out  the  fact  that  they  made  these 
personal  contacts. 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Just  going  back  briefly  to  that  meeting  that  oc- 
curred prior  to  the  Apalachin  meeting,  do  you  know  anything  further 
about  what  happened  ?  How  do  you  connect  the  man,  Sorge,  who  was 
there,  with  Lucky  Luciano,  for  instance? 

Has  that  been  definitely  established,  Sorge  as  a  lieutenant  of  Lucky 
Luciano? 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes,  sir.  Investigation  and  surveillance  by  Italian 
authorities.     We  know  him  to  be  a  very  intimate  associate  of  Luciano. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  have  you  found  him  to  be  in  touch,  as  a  repre- 
sentative of  Lucky  Luciano,  to  be  in  touch  with  a  number  of  other 
individuals  in  the  United  States  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes.  At  one  time  he  was  in  the  United  States  and  he 
operated  various  businesses  here.  He  was  very  close,  among  others, 
with  Carlo  Gambino. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  Carlo  Gambino  attended  the  meeting  at 
Apalachin,  did  he  not  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  Carlo  Gambino,  Mr.  Chairman,  will  be  a  very 
important  figure  in  this  inquiry.  He  runs  a  labor  relations  consult- 
ing service  in  New  York  City  and  has  contacts  with  a  number  of  the 
biggest  gangsters  throughout  the  United  States. 

Is  that  correct  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  That  is  correct. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  were  going  to  give  us  some  examples  also  as  to 
the  infiltration  into  labor  imions. 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes. 

The  two  examples  I  will  give  are  of  individuals  that  were  active  in 
the  narcotic  traffic.     I  will  start  by  one  Pasquale  Anthony  Pagano. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  How  do  you  spell  Pasquale  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  P-a-s-q-u-a-1-e. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Pasquale  Pagano  ? 


12240  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes.  During  1951  we  had  information  that  he  was 
traveling  to  Italy  to  facilitate  the  importation  of  heroin. 

Pagano,  through  Tony  Bender,  who  is  known  as  Anthony  Strollo, 
was  Bender's  name,  and  he  was  supplying  this  Scalise  mob  in  the 
Bronx. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Tomorrow,  Mr.  Chairman,  we  will  have  a  good  deal 
more  information  and  evidence  on  Tony  Bender,  who  is  also  known 
as  Anthony  Strollo,  in  the  course  of  the  material  that  we  expect  to 
bring  out. 

So  he  is  rather  an  important  figure  also  in  the  course  of  this  in- 
vestigation. 

Excuse  me  for  interrupting.  These  names  are  difficult.  Tony 
Bender  was  one  of  those  supplying  Scalise's  mob  in  the  Bronx  \ 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes.  Pagano  was  Tony  Bender's  man.  He  was  work- 
ing for  Tony  Bender,  in  supplying  the  Scalise  mob  in  the  Bronx,  and 
he  worked  with  or  under  another  man  by  the  name  of  Pasquale  Moccio. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Who  was  he? 

Mr.  Pera.  Moccio  is  a  very  close  associate  of  John  Ormento  and 
probably  every  other  big  narcotic  violator  in  New  York. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Once  we  go  into  one  name,  we  will  have  to  identify 
him.    Who  is  John  Ormento  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  Ormento  is  a  twice-convicted  narcotic  violator. 

He  attended  the  Apalachin  meeting.  We  know  him  to  be  one  of 
the  prime  distributors  of  heroin  brought  in  by  the  Mafia  elements, 
one  of  the  prime  distributors  of  that  heroin  throughout  the  United 
States.    Ormento,  as  I  recall,  has  been  convicted  three  times. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  He  is  also  a  fugitive  from  justice  at  the  present 
time  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes.  I  might  mention  there  is  a  case  pending  against 
him  in  the  southern  district  of  New  York. 

Pagano,  after  traveling  to  Europe,  we  had  the  information  that 
large  quantities  of  heroin  were  being  imported  into  the  United  States 
through  the  connivance  of  seamen  couriers  who  Mould,  in  turn,  give  it 
to  longshoremen  to  take  off  the  East  River  piers. 

At  that  time,  our  information  indicated  that  longshoremen  were 
charging  $400  to  take  a  kilo  of  heroin  off  the  ship. 

If  the  arrangements  for  the  smuggling  had  been  made  prior 
through  the  Mafia  groups,  that  is,  as  Pagano  had  done  through  his 
contacts  in  Europe,  the  individual  seamen  were  not  required  to  pay 
the  $400.  However,  if  the  individual  seamen  were  in  business  for 
themselves,  then  they  would  have  to  pay  $400  to  get  the  kilo  off  the 
ship  by  the  longshoremen.  This  money  would  go  to  the  longshore 
boss,  the  gang  boss. 

Witli  regard  (o  Pagano's  activities  in  the  union  field,  we  received 
information  that  between  1951  and  1952  Pagano  worked  with  one 
Joseph  Gnrniey  and  a  number  of  other  New  York  hoodlums. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Who  is  Joseph  Gurney? 

Mr.  Pera.  Joseph  Gurney  is  a  close  associate  of  Elmer  "Trigger" 
Burke  who  died  in  (lie  electric  chair  not  too  long  ago.  He  has  a  long 
history  of  being  a  longshore  hoodlum.  He  is  a  very  violent  and 
dangerous  individual. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  So  Pagano  was  a  close  associate  of  his? 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes.  Both  Gurney  and  Pagano  were  working  for  Tony 
Bender  as  enforcers  of  Bender,  in  Bender's  attempt  to  gain  control 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12241 

of  the  longshore  activities  of  the  ClaremoiH  terminal  al    Hoboken, 

N.J. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  During  this  period  of  time,  isn't  it  true  that  Tony 
Bender  who  was  in  charge  of  this  operation  had  a  real-estate  office? 

That  was  his  front,  the  business  that  he  was  operating? 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes ;  as  I  understand  it,  thai  iscorrect. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  These  individuals.  Gurney  and  Pagano,  were  oper- 
ating out  of  the  Clareniont  terminals  in  Hoboken,  X.  J.? 

.Mr.  Pera.  Yes.  That  was  Bender's  attempt  to  gain  control  of  all 
longshore  activities  at  Hoboken.  In  the  course  of  this,  Gurney  was 
the  prime  suspect  in  the  beating  of  a  man  in  either  Jersey  City  or 
Hoboken  with  a  baseball  bat  and  breaking  almost  every  bone  in  his 
body. 

Pagano  was  a  suspect  in  the  bombing  of  a  union  hall,  both  Pagano 
and  Gurney,  of  an  opposing  union  hall  in,  as  I  recall  it,  Hoboken,  N.  J. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Isn't  it  correct  that  at  the  same  time  thai  Bender's 
1  >roi  her  was  the  hiring  boss  on  the  docks  '. 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes, that  iscorrect. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  So  they  were  operating  from  the  side  of  the  union 
and  also  on  the  side  of  management  to  handle  this  matter? 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes.  Pagano  had  employment,  I  believe,  as  assistant 
timekeeper  at  the  Claremont  terminal,  and  Gurney  at  the  time  was 
a  Longshoreman. 

The  New  York  State  Crime  Commission  in  their  hearings  during 
L952  caused  public  attention  to  be  focused  on  Strollo's  activities  and 
because  of  this  Strollo  was  forced  to  withdraw  his  men  from  the 
Claremont  termina  1 . 

On  September  18,  1956,  Gurney  was  arrested  for  possession  and  sale 
of  kilo  quantities  of  pure  heroin.  I  participated  in  his  arrest.  "When 
we  arrested  him  in  New  York  City,  we  found  in  his  wallet  a  letter, 
what  appeared  to  be  a  letter  of  recommendation,  a  photostatic  copy 
of  which  I  have  here.  It  is  a  letter  dated  September  13, 1052.  Shall  I 
read  it  \ 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Yes,  please. 

Mr.  Pera.  The  subject  is  Promotion  to  ILA  Superevisor,  and  it 
is  addressed  to  District  Engineer,  Atlantic  District,  Corps  of  Engi- 
neers, 316  Broadway,  New  York,  N.  Y. 

The  paragraphs  of  that  are  numbered. 

1.  This  office  has  authorized  Dade  Bros,  to  reclassify  Joseph  Gurney  to  ILA 
field  supervisor  effective  September  10.  1952. 

2.  During  the  eloseout  period  at  Claremont  Terminal,  a  man  with  known 
intestinal  fortitude  and  ability  to  direct  longshore  personnel  to  actually  perform 
a  day's  work  is  a  necessity. 

?>.  The  longshoremen  are  quick  to  obey  the  desires  of  Mr.  Gurney.  We  believe 
this  because  he  reports  directly  to  Mr.  Ryan  himself.  Observations  for  the 
past  3  months  seem  to  indicate  that  even  hiring  boss  takes  orders  from  Mr. 
Gurney. 

4.  Request  your  office  approve  the  reclassification  of  this  manual  laborer. 

It  is  signed  by  Cyril  A.  Millicent,  lieutenant  colonel,  T.  C,  which  I 
would  take  to  be  Transportation  Corps,  officer  in  charge  Claremont 
Terminal. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  This  is  Mr.  Gurney  who  participated  in  the  beating 
of  this  other  individual  with  a  baseball  bat  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes.  I  might  add  here  that  after  the  beating  there  were 
a  number  of  witnesses.     However,  for  various  reasons  nobody  testi- 


12242  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

fied  against  Gurney.  There  was  nobody  to  testify  against  Gurney 
or  Pagano  in  either  the  bombing  incident  or  the  beating  of  the  man 
with  the  baseball  bat. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  But  in  the  letter,  they  did  point  out  that  the  long- 
shoremen seemed  to  do  what  Mr.  Gurney  wanted  done? 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes.  And  also  that  he  seems  to  report  directly  to  Mr. 
Ryan,  who  was  the  head  of  the  international  longshoremen's  union. 

Senator  Goldwater.  Mr.  Chairman  ? 

The  Chairman.  Senator  Goldwater. 

Senator  Goldwater.  This  Claremont  Terminal  at  Hoboken,  N.  J., 
is  that  a  privately  run  terminal  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  No.  Apparently  this  terminal — as  a  matter  of  fact, 
the  New  York  State  Crime  Commission  investigated  Strollo's  activ- 
ities, Gurney's  and  Pagano's,  as  did  the  Senate  Preparedness  Com- 
mittee, I  think,  during  1955. 

This  terminal  was  run  by  Dade  Bros.,  and  it  involved  the  military. 
The  Dade  Bros,  were  the  people  who  actually  had  to  do  with  the 
Claremon  Terminal,  a  subsidiary  of  that  particular  organization 
being  the  Atlas  Corp.,  which  was  a  prime  contractor  in  the  construc- 
tion of  an  Air  Force  base  in  north  Africa  and  bases  in  the  Arctic. 

Dade  also  processes  and  packs  for  export. 

Senator  Goldwater.  Where  did  the  Army  get  into  this?  I  see 
this  letter  was  signed  by  Lt.  Col.  Cyril  A.  Millson,  officer  in  charge, 
Claremont  Terminal. 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes.     That  would  be  the  United  States  Army  dock. 

Senator  Goldwater.  Claremont  Terminal  is  an  Army  dock  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes,  sir.  And  I  don't  know  about  the  facilities  still 
being  used  now  by  the  Army,  but  at  that  time  it  was  a  United  States 
Army  dock. 

Senator  Goldwater.  I  am  a  little  confused  here.  Was  it  exclu- 
sively an  Army  dock  or  were  private  companies  allowed  to  use  it? 

Mr.  Pera.  I  don't  know  whether  it  was  exclusively  an  Army  dock 
at  the  time  or  not,  but  this  much  is  true,  that  at  the  time  the  Army 
ships  were  unloaded  and  processed  at  the  Claremont  Terminal. 

Senator  Goldwater.  When  you  talk  about  longshoremen  were 
charging  $400  to  take  a  kilo  of  heroin  off  the  ship,  was  that  off  Army 
ships  or  Army  transports  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  No.  This  happened  in  this  particular  instance  on  the 
ships  docking  at  the  East  River  in  New  York. 

Senator  Goldwater.  Did  you  ever  have  any  reason  to  suspect  that 
Army  or  Navy  transports  docking  at  this  facility  were  carrying 
opium  or  heroin? 

Mr.  Pera.  I  don't  personally  recall  any  information  we  had  along 
the  line  at  the  time.  I  don't  have  any  particular  knowledge.  We  do 
know  that  at  the  time,  and  afterward,  they  were  in  the  narcotic  traffic. 

Senator  Goldwater.  Were  these  gangsters 

Mr.  Pera.  Incidentally,  I  might  add  that  they  had  an  ideal  oppor- 
tunity in  their  capacity  as  a  longshoreman  to  remove  narcotic  drugs 
from  ships  coming  in. 

Senator  Goldwater.  Is  there  any  indication  in  your  experience  that 
these  people  we  have  been  talking  about,  these  members  of  the  Mafia 
and  other  gangsters,  put  any  undue  pressure  on  the  Army  in  connec- 
tion with  the  operation  of  Claremont  Terminal  '. 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12243 

Mr.  Pera.  I  do  not  know  that.  I  know  that  the  Dade  Bros,  was 
operated  by  two  sons  of  General  Dade. 

Senator  Goldwater.  What  is  that  company  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  That  is  the  company  that  operated  the  Claremont  Ter- 
minal. 

Senator  Goldwater.  Contractors  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes,  sir. 

Senator  Goldwater.  And  they  were  the  sons  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  Sons  of  General  Dade,  who  was  a  distinguished  Air 
Force  veteran. 

Senator  Goldwater.  That  is  all  I  have. 

Senator  Kennedy.  Now,  yon  also  established,  have  you,  that 
Gurney,  who  was  working  with  Pagano,  was  a  close  associate  of 
Trigger  Burke  ?     Is  that  right  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  Well,  Gurney  was  a  close  associate  of  Trigger  Burke, 
and  I  don't  know  that  Pagano  was. 

Senator  Kennedy.  But  Gurney  was  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes,  sir ;  very  definitely. 

The  Chairman.  While  you  have  read  the  letters  into  the  record, 
the  Chair  feels  that  if  they  can  be  made  available,  that  the  copies 
of  the  letters  that  you  have  read  so  far  and  referred  to  should  be  made 
an  exhibit  for  reference. 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes,  sir. 

The  Chairman.  They  are  available,  and  they  may  be  made  exhibits. 

Mr.  Pera.  Excuse  me.  I  only  have  one  copy  with  me,  and  perhaps 
I  could  make  them  available  later. 

The  Chairman.  You  may  make  them  available  at  your  convenience, 
and  they  may  be  made  exhibits.  The  first  two  you  read  may  be  made 
exhibits  2  and  2-A,  and  the  letter  that  he  has  just  concluded  reading 
may  be  made  exhibit  No.  3. 

(The  letters  referred  to  were  marked  "Exhibits  2,  2-A,  and  3," 
respectively  and  may  be  found  in  the  files  of  the  select  committee.) 

The  Chairman.  Proceed. 

Senator  Kennedy.  Did  Pagano  ever  become  an  official  or  officer  in 
any  of  these  unions  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes.  Pagano  after  Strallo  ordered  his  men  away  from 
the  Claremont  Terminal,  or  out  of  it.  Pagano  naturally  had  to  seek 
another  front  or  another  enterprise,  and  he  became  the  business  agent 
of  local  59  of  the  Hod  Carriers  Union  in  East  Harlem,  N.  Y.  We 
know  that  Rosario  Mancuso,  who  attended  the  Apalachin  meeting, 
was  an  officer  of  local  186  of  the  Hod  Carriers  Union  in  Pitts- 
burgh N.  Y. 

Now  we  note  also  that  when  a  narcotic  defendant  by  the  name  of 
Anthony  Caniglia  was  arrested  in  New  York  we  found  on  his  person 
a  post  card  from  Patsy  Pagano,  secretary  and  treasurer  of  local  59, 
Bricklayers  Helpers  Union,  which  is  the  same  as  Hod  Carriers  Union. 
This  post  card  notified  him  that  his  union  membership  card  was  ready 
for  him. 

Caniglia  has  a  lengthy  criminal  record  with  convictions  for  nar- 
cotics and  counterfeiting. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  is  Pagano  doing  now  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  On  April  23, 1956,  Pagano  was  sentenced  to  5  years  after 
his  conviction  in  the  narcotic  conspiracy  trial  at  the  southern  district 


12244  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

of  New  York,  and  Gurney  was  sentenced  to  10  years  at  the  southern 
district  of  New  York  in  a  narcotics  case  that  I  mentioned  previously. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Both  of  these  individuals  were  active  in  the  union 
during  this  period,  during  a  good  deal  of  this  period  of  time  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  During  the  period  around  1951  and  1952,  and  Pagano 
later  in  the  Hod  Carriers  or  Bricklayers  Helpers  Union. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Now,  you  spoke  about  Rosario  Mancuso  also  being  in 
the  Hod  Carriers  Union.  Do  you  have  any  other  information  regard- 
ing Mancuso  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes.  Rosario  Mancuso  attended  the  Apalachin  meeting. 
During  1953  and  prior  to  that  time  he  was  known  to  be  more  or  less  of 
an  enforcer  for  the  Joseph  Falcone  criminal  empire  in  Utica.  During 
1953  he  with  one  Anthony  Falange,  also  of  Utica,  N.  Y.,  purchased 
Gio's  restaurant  in  Plattsburgh,  N.  Y.,  and  they  renamed  that  restau- 
rant the  Italian  Village.  This  place  afterward  became  a  hangout  for 
the  more  important  Mafia  hoodlums  from  New  York  City  and  Mon- 
treal, Canada,  and  Mancuso  then  became  an  officer  in  the  Hod  Carriers 
Local  186,  and  this  particular  local  represented  laborers  working  on 
the  Strategic  Air  Command  base  at  Plattsburgh,  N.  Y. 

Now  I  might  mention  that  in  moving  to  Plattsburgh  I  am  sure  that 
these  people  had  some  thought  of  the  ultimate  expansion  that  might  be 
caused  in  this  area  with  the  St.  Lawrence  seaway  and  the  development 
of  that  area.     They  were  getting  in  on  the  ground  floor  up  there. 

Now,  during  August  of  1954  our  bureau  received  information  that 
James  Foti,  a  fugitive  on  a  narcotic  charge  emanating  out  of  the  Dis- 
trict of  Columbia,  Federal  narcotic  charge,  was  hiding  up  at  Platts- 
burgh, and  up  there  he  was  an  enforcer  for  Mancuso  in  the  hitter's 
union  activities.  He  was  apprehended  up  there  shortly  afterward  by 
our  agents ;  Foti  was  at  Plattsburgh,  N.  Y. 

May  I  return  for  1  second,  and  I  was  asked  a  question  regarding  the 
Dade  Bros. 

I  have  the  information  here.  George  Clark  is  vice  president  and 
operating  manager  of  the  Dade  Bros.  firm.  And  Jim  Garman,  the 
general  superintendent,  was  onetime  president  of  the  Staten  Island 
Bus  Drivers  Union.  John  Fell,  superintendent,  was  a  former  rodeo 
rider,  and  has  two  former  rodeo  hands  as  assistants. 

The  Dade  Bros.,  as  I  mentioned  before,  subcontracted  with  the  Atlas 
Corp.,  prime  contract  for  the  Air  Force  construction  of  Air  Force 
bases  in  both  north  Africa  and  the  Arctic. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Now,  during  the  course  of  your  study  and  investiga- 
tion we  have  found  that  there  are  many  contacts  from  these  groups  or 
among  these  groups  in  New  York,  upstate  New  York.  Detroit,  and  out 
through  the  Midwest  and  the  Far  West,  but  that  it  would  appear  that, 
in  some  way,  Chicago  was  separated  and  segregated  from  some  of  these 
other  areas. 

Could  you  make  any  comment  on  the  situation  as  far  as  ( Jhicago  was 
concerned,  as  to  who  runs  the  operation  and  what  the  status  of  it  is  \ 

Mr.  Pera.  Certainly  the  important  figures  in  Chicago  would  be  Tony 
Accardo  and  Paul  Ricca. 

In  the  past  Racio  Facetti  was  important,  but  since  his  death  he  has 
been  eliminated. 

Also  another  figure  in  the  Chicago  area  was  James  Emory,  and 
I  understand  since  that  time  he  has  died. 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12245 

Senator  Kennedy.  Is  the  situation  in  Chicago  different  from  the 
situation  in  some  of  these  other  large  cil  ies  \ 

Mr.  Pera.  Well,  I  would  say  that  the  particular  element  as  repre- 
sented l>y  Accardo  has  a  very  tight  control  of  the  illicit  activities  and 
many  of  the  Legitimate  fronts  operated  there  by  him,  and  it  is  difficult 
to  identify  their  operations  as  compared  with  other  places. 

Senator  Kennedy.  But,  from  your  own  study  and  operation,  they 
have  a  number  of  front  organizations  that  operate  in  Chicago  such 
as  these  other  individuals  have  in  these  other  areas? 

Mr.  Pera.  Precisely. 

Senator  Kennedy.  And  it  is  a  very  tight  internal  control  in  Chi- 
cago \ 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes.  I  would  also  add  that  about  a  year  and  a  half  ago 
there  was  considerable  publicity  attached  to  Tony  Accardo's  activi- 
ties; perhaps  it  was  2  years  ago.  There  was  public  attention  focused 
on  him,  and  he  had  to  appear  before  various  hearings,  and,  to  that 
extent,  there  is  a  strong  possibility  that  Frank  Sigo  from  Spring- 
field, 111.,  might  have  represented  Accardo's  interests  in  Chicago  be- 
cause of  the  notoriety  surrounding  him. 

Senator  Ken  nedy.  That  is  what  I  wanted  to  ask  you  about. 

At  least,  of  those  apprehended,  there  was  no  one  directly  from  Chi- 
cago ?     That  is,  at  the  Apalachin  meeting. 

Was  it  necessary  for  all  of  these  individuals  to  come  in  person? 
Or  what  would  be  the  procedure  that  they  would  follow  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  The  procedure  would  be  that  they  would  have  a  man  who 
might  represent  their  interests  and  act  as  their  spokesman  at  the  meet- 
ing. I  think  that  you  will  find  that  in  Chicago  Sigo  was  the  man 
representing  the  Chicago  people. 

Senator  Kennedy.  What  about  the  situation  in  Detroit,  Mich.? 
Who  are  some  of  the  important  individuals  there? 

Mr.  Pera.  Well,  I  can  mention  a  couple. 

Senator  Kennedy.  Just  a  few. 

Mr.  Pera.  Well,  Raphael  Quasarano. 

Senator  Kennedy.  Howt  do  you  spell  his  name?  He  also  will  fea- 
ture very  prominently  at  a  later  time  in  this  investigation.  He  has 
a  very  close  relationship  with  some  union  officials  from  Detroit  in 
whom  we  have  a  considerable  interest. 

Mr.  Pera.  Q-u-a-s-a-r-a-n-o,  R-a-p-h-a-e-1. 

Senator  Kennedy.  Who  is  he? 

Mr.  Pera.  Raphael  Quasarano  we  have  known  for  quite  a  few  years 
as  an  important  figure  in  the  distribution  of  narcotics.  We  note  that, 
I  believe,  it  was  during  1052  both  Quasarano  and  Catalnotte 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  will  have  to  spell  that  one. 

Mr.  Pera.  Catalnotte,  Joseph,  of  Windsor,  Ontario,  had  a  part  with 
bringing  of  one  Dominic  Albertini  into  the  United  States  via  Detroit, 
via  Canada  and  Detroit.  This  Dominic  Albertini  was  a  Corsican 
who  operates  laboratories  for  the  conversion  of  morphine  base  into 
heroin  in  France,  and  he  is  a  French  Corsican  and  an  extremely  im- 
portant figure  in  the  narcotics  traffic. 

Quasarano  was  very  closely  associated  with  Joe  Lamento  from  New 
York. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  have  any  information  that  he  is  also  promi- 
nent in  boxing  circles  in  the  United  States  ? 


12246  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes.  He  has  a  number  of  other  more  legitimate  fronts 
and  semilegitimate  activities. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Specifically,  he  operates  the  Motor  City  Fight  Arena 
in  Detroit. 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes ;  and  he  is  active  in  boxing. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  find  a  number  of  these  individuals,  as  well 
as  being  active  in  some  of  the  industries  that  you  mentioned,  have 
interests  in  fighters  and  in  boxing  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes. 

I  recall  another  is  Andrew  Alberti  from  New  York  City  who  has 
a  hand  in  the  fighter  Johnny  Busso.  There  are  quite  a  few  also  active 
in  boxing. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  about  in  St.  Louis?  What  is  the  situation 
there  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  In  St.  Louis  we  have  Anthony  Giodardo  and  Anthony 
Lopiero.  I  don't  know  whether  he  is  residing  in  St.  Louis  at  this 
immediate  time  right  now  or  not,  but  he  is  prominent  in  St.  Louis' 
fraternity,  and  that  is  Ralph  Caleca. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  How  about  John  Battillo  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  John  Battillo  was  well  known. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  in  Florida,  in  Miami  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  Well,  Miami  is  a  point  where  many  of  the  more  impor- 
tant United  States  and  Canadian  and  even  the  French  traffickers  con- 
gregate. We  have  had  Galente  traveling  to  Miami  from  time  to  time, 
and  to  Cuba.  We  have  had  Santo  Travagani,  who  is  now  in  Cuba,  but 
is  in  Miami,  also,  and  he  is  active  in  Miami  also.  We  have  Charles 
Forino  active  in  the  gambling  in  Cuba,  and  there  are  dozens  active 
in  Miami. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Now,  the  chairman  stated  in  the  opening  statement 
about  the  fact  that  this  would  appear  to  be  a  national  problem  rather 
than  just  a  local  problem.    Would  you  make  any  comment  on  that? 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes.  I  would  say  that  you  could  never  appreciate  the 
total  activity  of  this  group  if  you  dissect  it  from  one  area  and  focus 
your  attention  only  on  one  particular  area.  I  don't  think  that  en- 
forcement agencies  that  observe  their  activities  in  one  particular  city 
can  appreciate  the  network  involved  in  this  criminal  conspiracy.  I 
don't  think  that  they  could  appreciate  the  extent  or  the  ramifications 
or  what  it  costs  the  public,  the  loss  of  money  to  the  public  and  the 
extent  of  their  criminal  activity  unless  attention  was  focused  on 
them  from  a  national  or  interstate  point  of  view. 

The  Chairman.  Would  you  say  their  activities,  as  you  have  observed 
and  discovered  them  to  be,  actually  become  a  burden  upon  interstate 
commerce? 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes,  because  let  us  say  when  they  gain  a  stranglehold  on 
a  particular  labor  union,  or  when  they  get  a  stranglehold  on  a  par- 
ticular business,  naturally,  once  they  have  a  monopoly  created,  they 
are  going  to  benefit  from  it  financially,  and  that  results  in  a  tremendous 
loss  which  may  not  be  measured  directly  by  the  consumer  and  which 
may  not  be  realized  by  the  consumer  immediately.  But  the  loss  still 
exists. 

When  they  gain  a  foothold  in  labor,  that  means  that  they  have  a 
control  in  the  prices  that  are  charged  for  the  work  involved.  I  think 
one  of  the  outstanding  examples  in  that  regard  would  be  the  inquiry 
made  into  the  garbage  removal  union  of  Squillante's. 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12247 

The  Chairman.  At  least  the  interstate  facilities  are  used  to  per- 
petuate and  to  support  a  monopoly  wherever  they  get  the  stranglehold. 

Mr.  Pera.  That  is  correct. 

Senator  Goldwater.  Mr.  Pera,  in  your  experience  and  to  your 
knowledge,  is  their  source  of  revenue  greater  from  their  infiltration 
into  business  and  unions,  or  greater  from  the  operation  of  gambling 
and  dope  and  other  illegal  processes? 

Mr.  Pera.  Well,  we  have  to  separate  the  two,  because  let  us  say  the 
income  from  illicit  ventures  might  not  be  reported  as  such  in  income 
tax,  and  you  have  a  (ax-free  dollar  and  it  is  quite  a  bit  more  than 
when  you  have  a  tax  dollar. 

It  is  difficult  to  estimate  exactly  which  is  the  biggest  revenue  gath- 
erer. Certainly,  if  there  was  a  tremendously  overwhelming  amount 
of  money  gathered  from  their  legitimate  enterprises,  it  would  be 
foolish  for  them  to  continue  in  the  illicit  ventures.  But,  at  the  same 
time,  the  rewards  are  so  great  in  the  narcotic  traffic  and  in  control  of 
gambling  that  they  have  kept  very  active  in  it. 

Senator  Goldwtater.  In  your  judgment,  what  is  this  costing  the 
United  States  annually?  Is  it  1  billion,  3,  or  5,  or  10  billion  dollars, 
or  what  would  you  guess  the  cost  to  be  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  I  wouldn't  be  prepared  to  give  an  estimate  to  that  extent 
because  it  would  be  a  pure  guess,  and  I  would  venture  to  say  that 
unless  you  totaled  up  the  total  assets  of  the  various  firms,  and  their 
income,  and  made  an  investigation  in  that  regard,  it  would  be  difficult. 

Senator  Goldwater.  I  have  read  figures  on  this.  One  book  I  read 
said  $20  billion.  I  have  heard  the  figure  of  $20  billion.  Do  you  think 
that  that  is  exorbitant  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  I  cannot  even  conceive  of  figures  that  large. 

Senator  Goldwater.  If  you  sat  on  this  side  of  the  table  it  would  be 
easy. 

Would  that  seem  to  you  to  be  a  high  figure,  as  a  cost  to  the  country  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  It  is  difficult  to  estimate,  and  I  would  simply  say  that 
the  costs  would  be  outside  of  my  comprehension,  and  I  must  leave  it 
at  that. 

Senator  Goldwater.  It  is  a  lot  of  money. 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes,  sir. 

Senator  Goldwater.  I  wanted  to  get  back  to  this,  and  you  did  not 
get  quite  far  enough  west  for  me. 

Are  these  people  active  to  the  west  coast  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes. 

I  think,  in  anticipation  of  what  the  committee  will  prepare  later 
on,  I  am  sure  that  they  will  cover  those  areas. 

Spnntor  Goldwater.  I  would  like  a  general  statement  as  to  the  ac- 
tivities on  the  west  coast. 

Mr.  Pera.  Many  of  these  people  are  particularly  active  in  Cali- 
fornia.    The  Lamandi  family. 

Senator  Goldwater.  What  are  they  doing  out  there  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  I  think  one  of  them  is  active ;  I  believe  Joseph  Lamandi. 
I  believe  he  is  active  in  some  union  activity  there.  It  is,  I  think,  a 
restaurant-supply  union,  or  it  has  something  to  do  with  catering  or 
union  activity,  catering  to  restaurant  work. 

There  are  quite  a  few,  and  they  are  strongly  represented  out  there. 


12248  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    EST    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

I  don't  have  detailed  lists  of  them  prepared  at  the  moment.  I  am 
sure  I  didn't  anticipate  it  in  view  of  the  fact  that  I  am  sure  the  com- 
mittee will  go  into  that. 

Senator  Kennedy.  We  have  a  witness  from  the  west  coast. 

Senator  Goldwater.  To  get  back  into  the  central  part  of  the  Far 
West,  in  your  work  in  narcotics  or  in  your  connection  with  the  Bureau, 
have  you  been  led  to  believe  that  a  lot  of  heroin  and  opium  and  dope 
comes  across  the  Mexican  border? 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes,  there  is  a  quantity  of  smoking  opium  that  does 
come  across  the  Mexican  border,  and  a  few  years  back  there  were 
some  laboratories  that  were  converting  this  opium  into  a  morphine 
base  and  then  into  heroin  for  transmittal  up  here. 

We  found  generally — and  there  are  exceptions  to  this,  too — that  the 
quality  of  this  heroin  does  not  compare  with  the  heroin  that  is  avail- 
able from  Europe,  and,  because  of  that,  the  greater  influx  is  from  the 
other  source.  However,  there  are  instances  of  traffic  across  the 
Mexican  border. 

We  also  have  in  the  past  instances  where  the  European  traffickers 
congregated  at  Mexico  City  and  smuggled  in  substantial  quantities  of 
drugs. 

Senator  Goldwater.  Are  these  people  members  of  the  Mafia  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  The  particular  people  that  I  have  reference  to,  yes,  both 
in  the  cooperation  between  the  Mafia  and  the  Corsican  element;  they 
are  sister  organizations. 

Senator  Goldwater.  Does  much  of  this  opium  come  out  of  the  State 
of  Sonora  ?     In  northern  Mexico  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  There  is  a  certain  quantity,  as  I  say,  of  opium  that  is 
grown  in  Mexico.  From  the  information  at  my  disposal,  most  of  that 
is  converted  into  smoking  opium  and  is  used  to  smoke.  However,  a 
certain  amount  of  it  is  put  into  heroin,  but  that  traffic  doesn't  compare 
with  the  traffic  from  the  eastern  sources. 

(At  this  point,  the  following  members  were  present :  Senators  Mc- 
Clellan,  Ives,  Goldwater  and  Curtis.) 

Senator  Goldwater.  Is  there  any  connection  to  your  knowledge  with 
the  fact  that  opium  is  grown  in  Sonora  and  the  fact  that  I  don't  know 
how  many  but  some  members  of  the  Mafia  have  moved,  at  least  into 
temporary  residences  in  Arizona  and  other  Southwestern  States? 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes. 

Senator  Goldwater.  Do  you  bolieve  there  is  a  connection  with  that? 

Mr.  Pera.  I  think  that  there  is  more  a  connection  with  the  activi- 
ties of  Corsican  and  Mafia  elements  in  Mexico  City,  which  in  the  past 
has  brought  in  heroin  from  European  sources  into  Mexico  City  and 
via  the  Mexican  border  into  the  United  States. 

While  there  is  a  certain  amount  of  opium  grown  in  Sonora  as  you 
point  out,  that  opium  is  used  mostly  for  smoking  and  a  substantial 
quantity  of  it  passes  into  the  hands  of  Chinese  traffickers. 

Senator  Goldwater.  Where  on  the  Mexican  border  do  you  think 
most  of  this  is  coming  across,  Texas,  New  Mexico,  Arizona  or 
California  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  Well,  it  can  come  across  anywhere.  I  would  be  hard 
pressed  to  say  that  any  particular  location  is  favored  over  another 
There  is  a  great  deal  of  marihuana  traffic  across  that  border,  too. 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12249 

Senator  Goldwatbr.  Then  you  think  there  is  some  connection  be- 
tween the  fact  that  opium  does  come  across  the  border  and  members 
of  certain  of  these  gangs  have  moved  into  some  of  the  border  states? 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes,  particularly  the  heroin  traffic,  European  heroin 
traffic, coming  into  Mexico  and  into  the  Tinted  States,  definitely. 

Senator  duns.  Mr.  Chairman  '. 

The  (  'iiairmax.  Senator  Curtis. 

Senator  Crims.  Do  the  members  of  the  Mafia  have  any  established 
pattern  for  the  employment  of  attorneys  that  you  can  comment  on,  or 
is  that  pretty  much  an  individual  and  local  decision  that  is  made? 

Mr.  Pera.  We  know  thai  certain  attorneys  over  and  over  again  rep- 
resent these  people.  We  know  that  certain  attorneys  over  and  over 
again  represent  people  in  the  Mafia  that  get  caught  on  narcotic 
violations. 

The  significance  of  this  I  would  not  be  prepared  to  go  into  at  this 
moment,  but  we  know  that  they  seek  repeatedly  the  advice  of  certain 
attorneys  that  they  know  represent  their  interests,  and  perhaps  that 
know  a  certain  amount  or  are  specialized  along  that  line,  let  me  put  it 
that  way. 

Senator  Curtis.  Do  they  have  these  attorneys  leave  their  own  area 
to  represent  certain  members  of  other  areas  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  On  certain  occasions.  However,  I  don't  know  in  certain 
instances  whether  there  could  be  an  exchange,  whether  an  attorney 
from  one  State  could  represent  in  another  State. 

Senator  Curtis.  Then,  of  course,  there  are  many  instances  where 
they  purposely  hire  the  most  capable  and  reputable  attorney  they  can 
because  they  need  to  have  the  best  possible ;  is  that  correct,  who  may  be 
totally  unaware  of  the  network  that  is  back  of  the  individual  who  is 
in  trouble  ?     Is  that  correct  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  Let's  say  with  the  group  that  attended  the  Apalachin 
meeting,  I  would  say  any  person  would  be  hard  pressed  not  to  be  aware 
of  the  background  of  the  people  that  attended  the  meeting  at  this 
point. 

Senator  Curtis.  Were  there  any  attorneys  there? 

Mr.  Pera.  At  the  Apalachin  meeting?  Frank  DeSimone,  from 
California,  was. 

Senator  Curtis.  Whereabouts  in  California  is  he  from? 

Mr.  Pera.  As  I  recall,  Los  Angeles,  I  believe. 

Incidentally,  I  might  also  add  that  the  son  of  I  believe  it  is  either 
Joseph  or  Salvatore  Falcone  is  an  attorney  up  in  Utica,  if  you  are 
interested. 

Senator  Curtis.  What  are  the  principal  revenue-producing  busi- 
nesses, in  a  general  way,  that  are  important  to  the  Mafia? 

Mr.  Pera.  Well.  I  mentioned  some  of  them  previously.  Well,  the 
importation  of  olive  oil  and  cheese,  the  tomato  paste.  At  one  time 
Ave  heard  a  story  that  they  had  cornered  all  the  tomato  paste  being; 
imported  into  this  country  and  that  certain  food  markets  had  to  import 
Hungarian  tomato  paste  even  though  they  were  aware  of  the  fact  that, 
you  know,  public  opinion  might  be  affected  in  importing  an  article 
from  Hungary. 

But  we  have  tomato  paste,  the  ingredients  to  make  pizza  sauce,  food 
imports.  Other  businesses  that  I  described  as  services,  such  as  the 
linen  supply. 


12250  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    EST   THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Senator  Curtis.  Restaurants  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  Restaurants.  Bars  in  some  areas,  and  restaurants.  The 
garbage  removal  union. 

Senator  Curtis.  Any  theaters  or  amusement  concerns,  or  is  that 
not  so  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  Well,  I  think  it  is  mostly  cafe,  but  I  think  you  will  find  a 
strange  variety  of  businesses  that  these  people  have  gone  into. 

While  the  ones  I  numbered  are  the  most  representative,  there  are 
certain  others ;  there  are  many  others. 

Senator  Curtis.  That  is  all,  Mr.  Chairman. 

The  Chairman.  Is  there  anything  further? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Just  two  more  questions. 

No.  1,  do  you  have  any  suggestions  as  to  how  this  operation  can  be 
combated  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  Well,  from  the  point  of  view  of  narcotic  enforcement,  in 
which  many  of  these  people  have  engaged,  I  can  say  this,  that  any 
organized  conspiracy  to  violate  the  laws  of  this  State  cannot  exist 
without  frequent  intercommunication.  I  think  that  subsequent  testi- 
mony brought  out  into  this  committee  will  show  toll  calls,  will  show 
telephone  communication,  between  various  members  of  the  Mafia  fra- 
ternity, as  represented  by  the  Apalachin  group. 

No  such  criminal  conspiracy  and  no  such  organization  could  exist 
without  the  use  of  the  telephone  specifically.  They  have  to  maintain 
lines  of  intelligence  with  one  another. 

The  Senate  Judiciary  Subcommittee  of  the  84th  Congress  made 
certain  recommendations  after  investigating  for  possible  legislation 
along  the  lines  that  might  aid  narcotic  enforcement. 

They  also  gave  us  a  tremendous  weapon  with  the  increased  penalty. 
However,  one  of  their  recommendations  was  a  provision  for  allowing 
the  Bureau  of  Narcotics  specifically  to  monitor  telephone  conversa- 
tions, of  course  with  the  proper  safeguards  such  as  the  obtaining  of  a 
court  order,  the  same  safeguards  that  would  insure  a  citizen  from 
illegal  search  of  his  house. 

This  was  recommended,  but,  unfortunately,  the  Senate  in  that 
instance  saw  fit  not  to  give  us  that  weapon.  It  would  be  a  weapon 
that  Ave  could  use.  It  would  be  a  fantastic  weapon  in  our  hands  to 
combat  this  conspiracy,  particularly  if  we  could  use  it  in  a  narcotic 
conspiracy  case. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  would  be  the  right  of  monitoring  telephone 
conversations  under  a  court  order,  is  that  right  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes ;  precisely. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  think  that  would  give  you  the  greatest 
amount  of  assistance  in  combating  the  Mafia  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  Unquestionably.  We  have  come  to  realize  that  time  and 
time  again,  where  in  the  course  of  our  investigations  we  pick  up  toll 
calls  which  these  people  have  made,  and  we  show  that  they,  have 
communicated  with  one  another  in  the  course  of  a  narcotic  conspiracy 
or  in  the  course  of  narcotic  dealings. 

However,  had  Ave  been  able  to  show  their  conversations,  we  Avould 
have  been  able  to  draw  many  more  important  people  into  the  con- 
spiracy (hat  Ave  were  unable  to  touch  because  that  Avas  deficient. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  staled  yesterday  about  the  fact  that  there  is  a 
certain  line  of  intermarriage,  a  certain  pattern  of  intermarriage. 
between  many  of  these  individuals.    '  ithal  righl  ? 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12251 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Have  you  found  that  in  many  instances  they  are 
connected  between  various  cities  by  intermarriage  ? 

Air.  Peka.  Yes. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  this  is  often  arranged,  would  you  say  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  That  is  correct.  It  is  thought  out  beforehand  because 
you  find  that  many  of  these  marriages  took  place  on  equal  terms,  in 
other  words,  the  daughter  of  a  man  on  high  standing  in  the  organiza- 
tion would  not  likely — may,  but  would  not  be  likely  to — marry  the 
son  of  a  man  that  is  in  very  low  standing  in  the  organization. 

(At  this  point,  Senator  Goldwater  withdrew  from  the  hearing 
room. ) 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  did  you  also  find  that  they  would  set  up  some 
of  these  children  after  these  marriages  had  been  arranged  in  some 
of  these  legitimate  front  businesses? 

Mr.  Peka.  Yes. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  often  use  their  own  gangster  connections  in 
order  to  bring  business  into  these  businesses,  is  that  right  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  is,  to  bring  further  profits  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  that  also  has  to  be  arranged  often  through 
labor-union  connections? 

Mr.  Pera.  That  is  correct.  In  investigating  the  labor-union  con- 
nections of  these  people,  one  must  always  take  into  mind  the  total 
aspect  of  the  activities  of  the  individuals  involved  here.  For  instance, 
in  many  instances  where  they  might  control  a  labor  union,  they  also 
might  have  a  labor-consultant  firm  go  in  and  consult  between  the 
union  and  the  management,  and  it  is  rigged  on  both  ends  against  man- 
agement in  such  instances. 

Air.  Kennedy.  But  this  is  often  done,  rather  than  necessarily 
through  themselves  although  it  can  be  done  that  way,  through  their 
children  in  this  intermarriage  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  Often,  yes. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Chairman,  we  have  a  chart  that  perhaps  Mr 
Martin  can  make  a  comment  on. 

The  Chairman.  Mr.  Martin,  be  sworn,  please.  You  do  solemnly 
swear  the  evidence  you  shall  give  before  this  Senate  select  committee 
shall  be  the  truth,  the  whole  truth,  and  nothing  but  the  truth,  so  help 
you  God  ? 

Mr.  Martin.  I  do. 

TESTIMONY  OF  GEORGE  H.  MARTIN 

The  Chairman.  Mr.  Martin,  you  are  a  member  of  this  committee 
staff? 

Mr.  Martin.  I  am,  sir. 

The  Chairman.  How  long  have  you  been  in  Government  service? 

Mr.  Martin.  Since  1950. 

The  Chairman.  In  what  capacity? 

Mr.  Martin.  Investigator  for  several  congressional  committees,  and 
also  in  the  House  as  well  as  the  Senate. 

21243— 58— pt.  32 5 


12252  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN   THE    LABOR    FIELD 

The  Chairman.  Have  you  prepared  a  chart  designed  to  show  the 
intermarriage  connections  between  members  of  the  Mafia  2 

Mr.  Martin.  I  have. 

The  Chairman.  Do  you  have  that  chart  before  you  ? 

Mr.  Martin.  I  have,  sir. 

The  Chairman.  That  chart  may  be  made  exhiibt  No.  4. 

(The  document  referred  to  was  marked  "Exhibit  No.  4"  for  refer- 
ence and  will  be  found  in  the  appendix  facing  page  12496.) 

Mr.  Kennedy.  On  this  chart,  is  this  a  complete  study  of  all  of  the 
individuals  in  the  United  States  who  are  alleged  to  have  connections 
with  the  Mafia  ? 

Mr.  Martin.  No,  sir ;  it  is  not. 

It  does  not  purport  to  be  a  complete  geneological  review  of  the  Mafia 
family  interrelationship  existing  all  over  the  United  States. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  It  actually  is  just  a  five-State  area;  is  that  right? 

Mr.  Martin.  It  covers  the  five-State  area,  and  primarily  our  atten- 
tion was  centered  upon  the  relationship  of  certain  people,  and  as  we 
progressed  the  situation  developed  other  relationships  to  groups  in 
other  areas. 

We  finally  determined  that  the  five-State  area  here  would  best  por- 
tray the  degree  of  relationship  that  exists.  Undoubtedly,  if  this  was 
projected  over  the  United  States,  it  would  develop  or  reflect  what  is 
portrayed  in  this  particular  chart. 

We  find,  as  we  go  along,  isolated  relationships  extending  to  the  west 
coast,  and  down  into  Kansas  City,  St.  Louis,  and  New  Orleans.  It  is 
a  task  that  would  require  the  expenditure  of  a  great  deal  of  time  and 
money. 

Perhaps  it  should  be  undertaken  by  some  agency. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  we  find  that  a  large  number  of  the  individuals 
who  attended  the  meeting  at  Apalachin  are  related  to  each  other  either 
by  blood  or  by  marriage  ? 

Mr.  Martin.  Roughly  half  of  the  people  who  were  in  attendance 
at  the  Apalachin  meeting  appear  on  this  chart.  Their  names  are 
circled  in  red. 

The  extent  to  which  the  relationship  exists  between  various  groups 
and  between  various  members  within  these  groups  is  indicated  by 
lines.  For  instance,  the  green  line,  extending  across  the  chart,  re- 
flects the  relationship  between  William  Bufalino  in  Detroit,  and  his 
sister  Emmanuela  "Dolly"  Bufalino,  who  is  the  wife  of  Salvatore 
Falcone,  Jr. 

I  cite  that  merely  as  an  example. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  find  as  a  second  characteristic  that  many  of 
the  individuals  who  are  related  by  blood  or  by  marriage,  many  of 
the  male  individuals,  have  criminal  records? 

Mr.  Martin.  Yes.  Each  one  of  the  stars  that  appears  on  this 
chart  reflects  a  record  of  arrest  of  the  person  involved.  I  want  to  make 
the  distinction  that  these  are  arrest  records,  because  in  a  great  many 
instances  a  man  may  have  been  arrested  a  number  of  times  but  the 
record  will  not  reflect  convictions. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  you  find,  for  instance,  in  Detroit  that  many 
of  the  leading  gangsters  in  Detroit  are  related  by  marriage  or  by  blood  ? 

Mr.  Martin.  Yes. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Does  that  take  in,  probably,  the  leading  hoodlums 
in  the  Detroit  area,  this  chart  ? 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12253 

Mr.  Martin.  I  would  say  that  it  covers  a  pretty  broad  segment  of 
the  so-called  rulers  of  the  criminal  syndicate  that  exists  in  the  Detroit 
area. 

In  consideration  of  this  part  of  the  chart,  it  might  be  well  to  keep 
in  mind  that  prior  to  1920,  the  early  1920's,  the  Purple  Gang,  a  no- 
torious syndicate,  pretty  much  ruled  the  Detroit  underworld.  With 
the  coming  of  prohibition,  and  the  movement  of  the  Mafia  element 
into  bootlegging  and  rumrunning,  their  ascendency  to  power  seems 
to  have  been  concentrated  in  the  early  1920's  so  that  they  supplanted 
the  Purple  Gang  as  the  rulers  of  the  underworld  in  Detroit. 

I  refer,  of  course,  to  characters  like  Papa  John  Priziola,  Pete  Lica- 
voli,  Sam  and  Joe  Zerilli,  Black  Bill  Tocco,  and  Angelo  Meli,  all  of 
whom  appear  here,  and,  as  can  be  seen  by  an  examination  of  the  chart, 
are  interrelated  through  various  marriages  they  have  between  families. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Can  you  give  us  two  examples,  possibly,  in  Detroit, 
where  marriages  in  the  families  brought  together  a  number  of  different 
leading  hoodlum  families  ? 

Mr.  Martin.  Well,  Papa  John  Priziola  had  five  daughters.  We  find 
that  one  of  the  daughters  is  married  to  Michael  Polizzi,  who,  in  turn, 
is  the  son  of  Angelo  Polizzi. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  The  Polizzis  have  criminal  records  ? 

Mr.  Martin.  Yes.  Angelo  Polizzi  is  the  one  particularly  noted  for 
criminal  activities  in  the  Detroit  area.  There  was  testimony  here  yes- 
terday that  he  was  involved  with  Joseph  Barbara  down  here  as  a 
suspect  in  murders  in  Scranton,  Pa. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Go  ahead. 

Mr.  Martin.  Priziola  had  another  daughter  who  married  Vincent 
Cammarata.    From  the  Cammaratas,  the  line  extends  from 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Trace  that  through,  with  your  stick  there.  Trace  it 
through. 

Mr.  Martin.  Vincent  Cammarata  and  Frank  Cammarata  are 
brothers.  Both  have  records  in  the  Detroit  area.  Frank  Cammarata 
is  the  husband  of  Grace  Licavoli,  who  is  the  sister  of  Pete  Licavoli. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Are  the  Licavolis  an  important  family  in  the  hood- 
lums? 

Mr.  Martin.  The  Licavolis  had  a  wide  range  of  influence  extend- 
ing down  from  Detroit  into  Ohio,  across  Ohio  into  Cleveland  and  as 
far  east  as  Youngstown. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Was  there  a  Licavoli  who  went  down  into  St.  Louis? 

Mr.  Martin.  One  of  the  Licavolis,  Dominick  Licavoli,  an  uncle  of 
Pete  Licavoli,  resided  in  St.  Louis  and  had  an  arrest  record  both  in 
Detroit  and  St.  Louis. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  there  are  4  or  5  members  of  the  Licavoli 's  them- 
selves with  police  records,  is  that  correct? 

Mr.  Martin.  Yes. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Including  Detroit  ? 

Mr.  Martin.  Including  Detroit,  Lake  County,  Ohio,  Cleveland, 
Trumble  County,  Ohio,  and  Youngstown. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  St.  Louis  ? 

Mr.  Martin.  And  St.  Louis. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Going  on  down,  what  happens  ? 

Mr.  Martin.  Going  down  the  chart,  we  find  that  Licavoli's  wife  is 
Grace  Bommarito,  the  sister  of  Scarface  Joe  Bommarito,  and  his 


12254  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

sister  is  married  to  Sam  Zerilli  who  is  in  turn  the  brother  of  Joe 
Zerilli. 

Eosalee  Zerilli  is  married  to  Dominick  Licavoli.  You  will  note, 
too,  that  the  Priziola  connection  juts  down  into  the  Toccos,  and  the 
Toccos  into  the  Zerillis  and  the  Toccos  into  the  Melis. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Then  you  have  the  marriages  that  arose  out  of  the 
Zerillis,  a  great  or  large  number  of  those  individuals  had  police 
records  ? 

Mr.  Martin.  Yes.  There  was  a  marriage  connection  with  Pete 
Corrado.    Corrado  died  in  1957,  but  he  has  two  nephews. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Then  down  into  the  Rendas  and  into  the  Perrones  ? 

Mr.  Martin.  The  Rendas  are  an  offshoot  of  a  connection  with  the 
Melis,  and  the  connection  runs  from  the  Melis  into  the  Perrones  and 
the  Perrones  into  the  Rendas. 

Coming  this  way,  of  course,  is  the  relationship  between  Angelo 
Meli  and  Bufalino,  which  extends  into  the  Pittston  area  to  Charles 
Buf alino,  Sr.,  Russell  Bufalino,  and  Charles  Bufalino,  Jr. 

I  previously  mentioned  Dolly  Bufalino,  the  daughter  of  Charles 
Bufalino,  in  the  Pittston  area. 

Senator  Curtis,  I  believe,  inquired  earlier  this  morning  about 
attorneys. 

It  is  interesting  to  point  out  that  Charles  Bufalino,  Jr.,  is  an  at- 
torney.   So  is  William  Bufalino,  and  so  is  Dolly  Bufalino. 

Ettore  Agolino  down  here  is  married  to  the  daughter  of  Samuel 
Volpe.  Agolino  has  represented  the  Bufalinos  in  practically  all  of 
their  litigation  in  recent  years,  and  the  Sciandras. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  have  a  tieup  with  the  Dios,  Johnny  and 
Tommy  Dio,  from  the  Detroit  area  ? 

Mr.  Martin.  Yes.  Salvatore  Angelo  Meli  was  married  to  Livorsi, 
whose  father  is  Frank  Livorsi.  He  has  a  record  and  served  time,  I 
believe,  for  narcotics.  Frank  Livorsi  is  married,  or  his  daughter  is 
married,  Rose  Marie,  to  Tom  Dio,  a  brother  of  John  Dio,  who,  of 
course,  needs  no  introduction  to  this  committee. 

(At  this  point,  Senator  Mundt  entered  the  hearing  room.) 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Tom  and  John  Dio  both  had  criminal  records  and 
Johnny  Dio's  uncle,  James  Plumeri,  had  a  criminal  record? 

Mr.  Martin.  That  is  correct.  Another  daughter  of  Livorsi  is  mar- 
ried to  Tom  Ormento,  the  son  of  Big  John  Ormento,  mentioned  her3 
earlier  as  a  fugitive  on  a  narcotics  case  that  originated  in  the  past 
month.  The  wife  of  Big  John  Ormento  and  the  wife  of  Andiuo 
Papadio,  another  of  the  defendants  in  the  same  narcotic  case  within 
the  past  month,  are  cousins. 

It  is  interesting  to  note,  too,  that  some  of  the  other  defendants  in 
the  same  case,  along  with  Ormento  and  Papadio  are  Natale  Joseph 
Evola,  related  to  Barbara. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  He  was  at  the  meeting? 

Mr.  Martin.  Yes.    And  Joseph  Vento. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  the  contacts  go  up  into  the  Buffalo-Niagara 
Falls  area  ? 

Mr.  Martin.  Yes.  Bonisara  in  the  New  York  area  is  a  brother-in- 
law  of  Sam  DiCarlo.  He  has  a  brother-in-law  prominently  identified 
with  criminal  activities  in  the  Buffalo  and  Youngstown  areas.  There 
is  a  relationship  of  some  kind  which  has  not  yet  been  established 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12255 

between  Steve  Maggadino  and  Sam  Pieri,  whose  sister  married  a 
DiCarlo.  Steve  Maggadino's  brother  Antonio,  of  course,  was  one  of 
those  at  Apalachin,  as  was  LaDuca,  who  was  a  son-in-law. 

John  Charles  Montana  was  also  at  Apalachin.  His  niece  is  married 
to  Peter  Maggadino,  the  son  of  Steve. 

Senator  Ives.  I  would  like  to  ask  the  witness  if  he  knows  how  many 
of  those  who  appeared  at  the  Apalachin  conference,  or  whatever  you 
want  to  call  it — it  begins  to  sound  like  a  family  reunion — how  many 
of  them  were  related  to  one  another. 

Mr.  Martin.  Well,  the  Buffalo  relationship  I  have  already  de- 
scribed. 

Senator  Ives.  But  how  many  of  the  total.  There  were  00,  as  I 
understand  it,  at  Apalachin.  Plow  many  of  the  GO  were  related  to 
anybody  else  there  ? 

Mr.  Martin.  "Well,  there  are  28  names  appearing  on  this  chart. 

Senator  Ives.  About  half  of  them  were  related  to  one  another  ? 

Mr.  Martin.  I  would  say,  roughly,  half  of  these  that  are  shown  on 
here  are  either  related  to  other  people  who  were  at  Apalachin 

Senator  Ives.  There  was  a  family  connection  somewhere  along  the 
line  among  half  of  them ;  is  that  right  ? 

Mr.  Martin.  Yes. 

Senator  Ives.  Thank  you. 

Mr.  Martin.  I  might  say,  Senator,  that  the  Pittston  area  combina- 
tion illustrates  that. 

Here  are  three  people  from  the  Pittston  area — Bufalino,  Sciandra, 
and  Alaimo — all  of  whom  were  at  Apalachin,  and  there  is  a  cousin- 
ship  relation  among  those  three. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  group  that  you  just  pointed  out  there,  didn't 
they  also  come  from  the  same  place  in  Italy  ? 

Mr.  Martin.  Yes.  There  is  an  interesting  story  as  to  the  grouping 
of  them  in  Pittston.  The  police  authorities  up  there  know  a  par- 
ticular group  of  people  associated  with  the  Mafia  as  the  men  of 
Montedoro.  They  all  originated  in  the  town  of  Montedoro.  One 
Joseph  LaTore  appears  to  have  led  the  immigration  from  Italy  to  the 
United  States  back  around  1900  and  went  to  work  in  the  coal  mines 
in  Pittston  and  soon  sent  for  Santo  Volpe,  Sr.,  who  is  recognized  in 
Pittston  as  the  elder  statesman  of  the  Mafia  group. 

In  Montedoro,  the  Sciandras,  the  Volpes,  and  the  LaTores  lived 
across  the  street  or  next  door  to  each  other.  The  identical  situation 
exists  in  what  is  known  as  the  Brandy  Patch  section,  which  is  a  com- 
munity of,  roughly,  about  100  families,  all  of  whom  originated  in 
Montedoro,  and  who  came  to  the  United  States  at  various  times. 

The  Sciandras,  Volpes,  and  LaTores  all  live  next  door  or  very  close 
to  each  other. 

Air.  Kennedy.  Now,  we  have  gone  into  these  individuals  who 
attended  the  meeting,  and  also  the  previous  testimony  of  the  Italian 
extraction  of  a  lot  of  this  organization  and  groups.  Haven't  we 
found  in  our  own  study  and  investigation  that  often  the  leaders  of 
law  enforcement  throughout  the  United  States  are  fighting  this  kind 
of  an  organization,  and  are  also  Italian  extraction? 

Mr.  Martin.  Yes ;  that  is  true.  In  fact,  in  New  York  particularly 
there  were  several  New  York  detectives,  and  I  believe  one  of  them 
was  slain  in  Italy  trying  to  pursue  the  thing  through  to  death  what 


12256  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

further  information  lie  might  be  able  to  develop  relative  to  the  Mafia 
in  Italy. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  I  just  wanted  to  get  this  in  its  correct  perspective 
and  to  make  sure  that  as  we  talk  along  about  the  Mafia,  we  understood 
the  other  side  of  it.  Many  people  who  have  devoted  their  whole  lives 
to  fighting  this  kind  of  an  organization  have  been  individuals  who  also 
have  been  of  Italian  extraction  and  have  fought  as  hard  against  this 
organization  as  the  members  of  the  Mafia  have  fought  to  break  down 
law  enforcement. 

Senator  Ives.  We  ought  to  point  out  here  with  some  force  that  this 
Mafia  is  an  extreme  exception  insofar  as  those  of  Italian  extraction 
are  concerned.  The  very  vast  majority  of  our  citizens  of  Italian 
extraction  are  very  loyal  Americans  and  have  no  connection  with  any 
organization  of  this  kind. 

This  is  an  exception. 

Mr.  Martin.  I  agree  wholeheartedly  with  what  the  Senator  has  said. 

Senator  Ives.  And  I  think  Mr.  Pera  would  also  agree. 

TESTIMONY  OF  MARTIN  F.  PERA— Resumed 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes,  sir;  and  probably  some  of  the  most  proficient  and 
some  of  the  most  rewarding  work  done  along  the  line  of  exposing  the 
Mafia  has  been  done  by  people  of  Sicilian  extraction  who  are  narcotic 
agents  and  one  who  is  district  supervisor  of  our  bureau. 

Senator  Curtis.  Mr.  Pera,  why  has  an  organization  such  as  the 
Mafia  moved  into  the  union  business?  That  is  the  primary  assign- 
ment of  this  committee  to  investigate  labor  and  management.  Now, 
why  have  they  moved  into  union  activities? 

Mr.  Pera.  Well,  I  think  the  answer  could  be  very  concise  and  very 
simple,  that  their  activities  and  their  background  and  the  activities 
that  they  engaged  in  years  ago  indicated  they  were  experts  in  extor- 
tion, and  they  are  using  the  union  as  a  front  simply  as  another  means 
of  extorting.     It  amounts  to  that. 

Senator  Curtis.  The  fact  that  they  are  dealing  oftentimes  with  :i 
group  that  has  compulsory  membership;  is  that  a  factor? 

Mr.  Pera.  Oh,  yes. 

Senator  Curtis.  Is  it  a  fact  that  some  labor  leaders,  even  though 
they  are  not  part  of  a  criminal  underworld,  are  using  the  element  of 
fear  on  their  membership — is  that  something  that  fits  in  with  the 
Mafia  characteristics  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  It  is  the  pattern  of  extortion  again. 

Senator  Curtis.  Now,  the  fact  that  unions  enjoy  certain  immuni- 
ties that  other  groups  in  the  country  do  not  have  gives  a  group  an 
opportunity  for  a  base  of  operations ;  isn't  that  correct? 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes ;  I  am  certain  that  that  was  one  of  their  considera- 
tions when  they  entered  that  field. 

Senator  Curtis.  This  committee  has  found  several  instances  where 
courts  just  wouldn't  grant  anybody  any  protection  who  had  suffered 
at  the  hands  of  the  union.  One  Philadelphia  judge  referred  to  it  as 
a  union  brawl,  and  they  didn't  go  into  those  things.  Well,  that  gives 
a  criminal  group  a  very  good  place  to  hide ;  doesn't  it? 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes;  an  excellent  advantage  for  them. 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12257 

Senator  Curtis.  And  I  think  it  is  also  true  that  our  Internal  Ilev- 
enue  Service  has  very  consistently  and  historically  failed  in  checking 
up  on  the  tax  returns  of  unions  where  they  have  unrelated  income. 

Mr.  Pera.  I  can't  give  any  answer  to  that  statement ;  I  don't  know. 

Senator  Curtis.  I  think  it  is  also  true  and  it  is  a  rather  standing 
principle  or  policy  of  the  Department  of  Justice  not  only  in  this  ad- 
ministration but  for  some  time  that  United  States  attorneys  over  the 
country  cannot  start  prosecutions  that  involve  unions  or  so-called 
labor  problems  with  clear  answers  from  their  superiors  in  Washing- 
ton. All  of  that  gives  a  cloak  of  protection  for  people  who  shouldn't 
have  this  power. 

Now,  do  groups  like  the  Mafia  go  into  union  business  because  it  is 
revenue  producing,  too  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  Yes.  Their  primary  consideration  is  the  revenue-pro- 
ducing thing. 

Senator  Curtis.  The  revenue  from  the  workers,  as  well  as  the  op- 
portunity for  illicit  things,  such  as  extortion  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  As  well  as  the  opportunity  to  control  programs  and 
entire  industry. 

Senator  Curtis.  But  also  the  revenue  that  actually  comes  in 
through  the  treasury  of  the  union. 

Mr.  Pera.  I  am  sure  that  that  must  be  part  of  the  consideration. 

Senator  Curtis.  Perhaps  I  have  been  a  little  bit  unfair  with  asking 
you  these  questions,  because  they  are  out  of  your  field  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  That  is  correct. 

Senator  Curtis.  But  I  do  think  that  the  Congress  cannot  expect  a 
cleanup  in  labor-management  relations  until  we  do  something  that 
we  haven't  done  to  date  at  all,  and  that  is  to  deal  with  these  powers 
and  immunities  and  compulsion  in  the  field  of  unionism,  that  invites 
the  wrong  kind  of  people  to  go  into  union  leadership. 

We  have  proceeded  so  far  on  the  basis  that  those  things  are  all  right 
if  the  union  has  honest  books.  That  has  been  the  essence  of  the  legis- 
lative efforts  so  far. 

I  thank  you,  Mr.  Chairman. 

Senator  Mundt.  Mr.  Chairman,  the  discussion  by  Senator  Curtis 
brings  to  mind  the  question  I  was  going  to  ask  our  counsel  yesterday. 
We  were  discussing  the  fact  yesterday  that  some  of  these  thugs  were 
kept  at  the  Parkway  Motel  imder  registrations  paid  for  by  Barbara 
and  charged  by  Barbara  to  the  Canada  Dry  Bottling  Works,  of  which 
he  was  president. 

I  was  wondering,  Bob,  whether  we  had  obtained  the  income  tax 
returns  of  the  Canada  Dry  Bottling  Works,  because  it  would  seem 
to  me  that  if  they  were  charged  there  they  were  probably  charged  as 
a  business  expense.  This  is  a  clear-cut  case  of  fraudulent  tax  de- 
duction, and  maybe  they  can  take  care  of  Mr.  Barbara  as  they  took 
care  of  Al  Capone,  and  get  him  on  a  tax-evasion  charge  if  they  can't 
catch  him  on  any  of  these  other  illegal  activities. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  We  just  know,  Senator,  that  they  were  charged  to 
the  company  itself. 

Senator  Mundt.  Now,  can  we  find  out  from  an  examination  of  the 
income-tax  returns  whether  or  not  they  were  deducted  ? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  I  do  not  know. 


12258  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Senator  Mundt.  If  so,  it  seems  to  me  that  we  have  Mr.  Barbara 
violating  the  law,  and  I  think  that  we  should  explore  that,  because 
it  doesn't  do  much  good  to  expose  these  fellows  if  nothing  is  done. 
It  seems  quite  obvious  if  he  charged  these  to  a  business  expense  ac- 
count and  deducted  it  from  taxes,  this  obviously  is  such  a  clear-cut 
violation  that  there  isn't  any  reason  that  the  Internal  Revenue  Serv- 
ice cannot  move  against  him  through  the  Department  of  Justice  pre- 
cisely as  they  moved  a  couple  of  decades  ago  against  Al  Capone  of  the 
same  outfit,  who  was  also  a  law  violator. 

The  Chairman.  If  the  income-tax  returns  of  the  Canada  Dry  Bot- 
tling Co.  have  not  been  requested,  they  will  be.  We  have  a  procedure 
to  go  through  to  obtain  them.  I  do  not  recall  whether  I  have  signed 
a  letter  for  this  particular  company. 

Senator  Mundt.  It  just  came  into  my  mind  when  I  heard  them 
say  they  charged  that  motel  charge  to  the  company.  I  want  to  make 
sure  we  don't  overlook  any  opportunity. 

The  Chairman.  We  follow  up  on  these  things  as  we  go  along. 
Such  a  request  will  be  made. 

All  right,  proceed. 

TESTIMONY  OF  GEORGE  H.  MARTIN— Resumed 

Mr.  Kennedy.  I  would  like  to  ask,  Mr.  Martin,  do  you  have  a  list 
of  the  offenses  that  have  been  charged  to  these  individuals  on  this 
chart? 

Mr.  Martin.  Yes,  we  have  made  a  complete  list  of  the  particular 
offenses  charged  against  the  individuals  shown  on  the  chart. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Would  you  just  start  to  read  some  of  those,  please? 

Senator  Mundt.  I  think  it  would  be  interesting  to  have  the  aggre- 
gate number  if  you  have  them  added  up.  It  is  quite  an  astromonical 
figure. 

Mr.  Martin.  The  aggregate  number  I  can't  give  you  offhand,  but 
I  would  roughly  say  50  to  60  different  crimes.  I  will  read  them  off 
and  you  can  draw  you  own  conclusions. 

Carrying  concealed  weapons  would  seem  to  be  the  principal  offense 
charged  all  of  the  way  along  the  line.  Possession  of  dangerous 
weapon,  violation  of  the  National  Firearms  Act,  armed  robbery,  sus- 
picion of  murder,  attempted  murder,  murder,  gambling,  grand  larceny, 
larceny,  operation  of  unregistered  stills,  sale  and  possession  of  nar- 
cotics, violation  of  the  Customs  Act,  violation  of  the  State  labor  law, 
violation  of  the  internal  revenue  law,  violation  of  the  alcohol  tax  laws, 
violation  of  the  wage  and  hour  law,  violation  of  the  food  and  drug 
law,  prostitution,  rape,  burglary,  breaking  and  entering,  rum  running, 
kidnaping  extortion,  extortion  by  threat,  assault  and  battery,  assault 
with  intent  to  kill,  felonious  wounding,  illegal  transportation  of  ma- 
chineguns  and  rifles,  counter  lighting,  conspiracy  to  violate  gambling 
laws,  conspiracy  to  commit  murder,  conspiracy  bo  violate  the  internal 
revenue  laws,  conspiracy  to  violate  the  Selective  Service  Act,  con- 
spiracy to  violate  the  narcotics  laws,  receiving  stolen  goods,  coercion, 
dynamiting,  blackmailing,  forgery,  black  marketing,  smuggling,  and 
indecency. 

The  Chairman.  Is  there  anything  in  the  statutes  that  they  have 
escaped  or  missed  ? 


IMPROPER   ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12259 

Mr.  Martin.  I  would  have  to  think  a  little  hard  on  that  one,  Sena- 
tor. 

The  Chairman.  There  are  45  different  offenses.  In  oilier  words, 
this  group  that  you  listed  there  on  this  chart,  those  where  the  stars 
are  as  I  understand  it,  are  the  ones  that  you  are  speaking  of,  and  they 
have  been  charged  with  45  different  felonies  under  the  statutes? 

Mr.  Martin.  That  is  correct,  sir. 

Senator  Mundt.  Will  you  add  up  and  supply  for  the  record  the  total 
number  of  offenses  involved  in  this  strange  family  relationship,  be- 
cause I  saw  the  chart  and  some  of  them  have  8  or  10  or  12  offenses  or 
more  individually. 

It  would  be  interesting  to  have  the  aggregate  number  of  offenses. 
Now,  you  have  given  us  the  types  of  offenses  and  the  aggregate  num- 
ber committed  by  those  people  who  appear  on  the  chart. 

Mr.  Martin.  Yes,  sir. 

The  Chairman.  All  right,  is  there  anything  further  ? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  We  have  another  chart. 

The  Chairman.  Are  you  through  with  this  witness  ? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  I  believe  so. 

The  Chairman.  You  may  stand  aside  for  the  present.  We  will 
call  the  next  witness. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  have  any  comment  to  make  regarding  this 
chart  ? 

Mr.  Pera.  No,  I  think  the  chart  speaks  for  itself,  and  it  is  an  admi- 
rable piece  of  work. 

The  Chairman.  All  right,  thank  you. 

Who  is  the  next  witness. 

Mr:  Kennedy.  Mr.  Sherman  Willse. 

The  Chairman.  Will  you  be  sworn  ? 

You  do  solemnly  swear  that  the  evidence,  given  before  this  Senate 
select  committee  shall  be  the  truth,  the  whole  truth,  and  nothing  but 
the  truth,  so  held  you  God  ? 

TESTIMONY  OF  SHERMAN  WILLSE 

The  Chairman.  State  your  name  and  your  place  of  residence  and 
your  business  or  occupation. 

Mr.  Willse.  Sherman  Willse,  and  I  live  on  Long  Island  and  I  am 
presently  an  investigator  for  this  committee. 

The  Chairman.  Are  you  otherwise  employed  by  the  Federal  Gov- 
ernment I 

Mr.  Willse.  No,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  How  long  have  you  been  with  us  ? 

Mr.  Willse.  One  year,  since  last  June. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  were  you  doing  prior  to  that  time  ? 

Mr.  Willse.  I  was  a  member  of  the  New  York  City  Police  Depart- 
ment for  20  years. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  what  specifically  were  you  working  on  with  the 
New  York  Police  Department? 

Mr.  Willse.  The  last  18  years  I  was  assigned  as  a  narcotics  detective. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  I  might  say  that  Mr.  Willse  has  been  the  one  pri- 
marily responsible  for  the  investigation  of  these  activities,  and  in 


12260  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

fact  the  complete  investigation  of  those  who  attended  the  meeting  at 
Apalachin  and  the  work  that  has  been  done  in  this  area  has  been  done 
under  his  direction. 

Now,  Mr.  Willse,  you  made  a  study  of  the  illegal  and  legal  activi- 
ties that  these  individuals  who  attended  the  meeting  in  Apalachin 
were  engaged  in  ? 

Mr.  Willse.  I  have. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  was  there  a  chart  made  up  under  your  direction 
indicating  the  types  of  activities  that  these  people  have  been  involved 
in? 

Mr.  Willse.  Yes ;  this  chart. 

The  Chairman.  This  chart  may  be  made  exhibit  No.  5. 

(Document  referred  to  was  marked  "Exhibit  No.  5,"  for  reference, 
and  will  be  found  in  the  appendix  facing  page  12496.) 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Now,  over  here  to  the  left-hand  side  of  the  chart, 
Mr.  Willse,  with  the  red  dots,  that  indicates  the  criminal  or  illegal 
activities,  is  that  right? 

Mr.  Willse.  Yes;  that  first  column  represents  the  arrests  of  indi- 
viduals we  are  considering. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  the  blue  dots  indicate  the  legal  activities? 

Mr.  Willse.  Yes,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Now,  would  you  give  us  some  summaries  of  the  illegal 
activities  ? 

Mr.  Willse.  Well,  first  of  all  we  are  concerned  here  with  58  names 
which  are  the  names  on  the  original  list  received  by  us.  Since  that 
time  there  have  been  five  names  added  which  we  are  not  dealing  with 
here. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  "Who  are  the  five  people  that  have  been  added  so  we 
can  get  that  ? 

Mr.  Willse.  There  is  Charles  A.  Montana,  of  Buffalo ;  Nick  Civella, 
from  Kansas  City,  Mo. ;  Joe  Filardo,  also  Kansas  City ;  Neil  Migliore, 
from  New  York  City,  and  John  LaRocca,  Pittsburgh. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  LaRocca  was  one  of  those  whom  we  subpenaed 
here  before  the  committee,  or  attempted  to  subpena. 

Mr.  Martin.  We  did. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  he  has  taken  off  for  parts  unknown. 

Mr.  Martin.  There  have  been  other  attempts  by  other  agencies,  and 
they  haven't  been  able  to  locate  him  either. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Who  is  he  in  business  with  in  Pittsburgh  ? 

Mr.  Martin.  With  Gabriel  Mannarino,  I  believe. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  also  Mr.  Genovese. 

Mr.  Martin.  Michael  James  Genovese.     He  is  the  man. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Michael  James  Genovese? 

Mr.  Martin.  Yes,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  they  have  a  jukebox  business,  or  Mr.  La  Rocca 
has  a  jukebox  business  in  Pittsburgh  ? 

Mr.  Martin.  Yes,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Would  you  give  us  an  explanation  of  the  left  part 
of  the  chart? 

Mr.  Martin.  The  first  column  of  the  red  dots  represents  the  indi- 
viduals who  have  arrest  records,  and  that  composes  a  total  of  50  out 
of  the  58  with  which  we  are  concerned  with  on  this  chart. 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12261 

Out  of  those  arrests  and  those  individuals,  we  have  35  of  them  who 
have  been  convicted ;  and,  out  of  the  total  of  58  men,  we  have  23  who 
have  served  some  time  in  prison  as  a  result  of  those  arrests. 

Following  across  with  the  red  dots,  we  have  picked  out  what  we 
consider  the  more  important  violations  of  law,  starting  with  homi- 
cide, and  there  we  find  that  18  of  these  men  have  either  been  arrested 
or  questioned  as  suspects  or  main  suspects  in  homicide.  It  isn't  indi- 
cated here  but  1  of  the  18  was  convicted,  just  1. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  From  a  study  of  the  record  of  these  individuals, 
can  you  give  us  any  explanation  as  to  why  the  percentage  of  those 
convicted  of  homicide  was  so  small  ? 

Mr.  Martin.  I  would  say  because  of  lack  of  evidence. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Is  there  any  trend  or  thread  running  through  this 
as  far  as  pinning  these  crimes  on  some  of  these  individuals? 

Mr.  Martin.  I  think  particularly  in  homicide  cases,  witnesses  are 
most  necessary  in  order  to  establish  the  proper  evidence. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  you  find  any  thread  running  through  these  cases 
involving  these  witnesses,  as  to  what  happens  to  some  of  the  witnesses? 

Mr.  Martin.  Either  the  lack  of  witnesses,  or  where  witnesses  are 
found  they  are  not  able  to  talk  or  will  not  talk. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Specifically,  haven't  we  found  a  number  of  these 
cases  where  the  witnesses  have  disappeared? 

Mr.  Martin.  Oh,  yes. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  is  what  I  wanted  to  find  out,  or  where  the  wit- 
nesses have  actually  been  killed. 

Mr.  Martin.  Yes,  there  have  been  instances. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  some  of  these  individuals  up  here,  where  there 
would  appear,  at  least  initially,  to  be  enough  evidence  based  on  wit- 
nesses' testimony  to  convict  an  individual,  the  witnesses  either  have 
disappeared  or  have  refused  to  talk  ? 

Mr.  Martin.  That  is  true. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  in  at  least  one  instance  we  know  where  the  wit- 
ness was  actually  poisoned  while  in  police  custody,  is  that  right? 

Mr.  Martin.  Yes. 

Senator  Mundt.  Do  you  have  any  list  of  illegal  activities  on  this 
fellow  Montano,  that  strange  man  from  Buffalo  who  said  he  just 
dropped  in  for  a  cup  of  tea  and  brought  his  revolver  along  to  sort 
of  sweeten  the  drink  ? 

Mr.  Martin.  We  do  not. 

Senator  Mundt.  You  have  no  illegal  activities ? 

Mr.  Martin.  No,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  None  that  we  know  of  ? 

Mr.  Martin.  No.  Following  along  we  have  the  narcotics  violators, 
and  totaling  15.  In  gambling  which  seems  to  be  1  of  the  major 
sources  of  their  revenue  and  their  activities  there  are  30. 

Firearms,  which  means  not  only  firearms  but  concealed  weapons, 
and  in  most  cases  it  is  firearms,  and  that  may  mean  pistols,  and  revol- 
vers, and  rifles,  and  shotguns,  and  machineguns,  there  are  23. 

Senator  Mundt.  What  is  wrong  with  having  a  shotgun?  Is  that 
against  the  law  in  New  York  ? 

Mr.  Martin.  Under  the  circumstances  under  which  these  men 
were  arrested  for  possession  of  them. 


12262  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Senator  Mundt.  They  were  sa wed-off  shotguns  ? 

Mr.  Martin.  In  some  cases,  yes.  And  the  last  is  liquor.  These 
represent  mainly  violations,  and  in  1  or  2  instances  we  have  incor- 
porated in  here  the  fact  that  the  man  is  engaged  in  some  legitimate 
liquor  activity  now,  but  I  say  those  are  the  exceptions.  Most  of  those 
represent  violations  and  not  just  one,  but  there  are  several  for  quite 
a  few  of  the  individuals. 

This  also  is  illegal,  the  black  market,  and  in  those  cases  it  repre- 
sents mainly  the  acquisition  of  sugar  probably  during  the  war,  which 
was  then  channeled  into  black-market  paths  or  it  was  used  for  the 
distilling  of  spirits.  In  one  case,  I  believe  it  is  Vito  Genovese,  and  his 
activities  although  he  might  have  been  in  black  market  in  this  coun- 
try or  had  an  interest  in  some  way,  his  main  activity  in  that  field  was 
in  Italy  where  he  was  a  fugitive  from  a  murder  case. 

Over  there  the  story  is  that  he  was  able  to  steal  Army  trucks,  or 
at  least  his  mob  was,  and  they  would  then  go  to  various  depots  and 
load  up  the  trucks  with  supplies  and  drive  them  away  and  dispose 
of  the  supplies  in  some  way,  and  in  some  cases  destroy  the  trucks, 
usually. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  We  will  have  some  direct  testimony  on  that  activity. 

Senator  Mundt.  Have  you  made  a  check  of  those  names  to  deter- 
mine how  many  of  them  are  native  born  or  how  many  would  be  sub- 
ject to  deportation  ? 

Mr.  Martin.  I  have  not  made  a  check  myself,  but  there  are  certain 
agencies  which  have  produced  records,  which  this  committee  has, 
which  indicate  that. 

Senator  Mundt.  Do  you  recall  how  many  of  them  are  subject  to 
deportation  ? 

Mr.  Martin.  No,  sir ;  I  do  not. 

Senator  Mundt.  Provided  you  really  try  to  deport  them? 

Mr.  Martin.  I  know  that  there  are  several,  but  they  have  been  sub- 
ject to  deportation  according  to  the  records  over  a  good  number  of 
years.     What  has  happened  with  the  other  moves  made,  I  don't  know. 

Senator  Mundt.  I  wish  you  would  supply  that  for  the  record,  be- 
cause one  of  the  great  weaknesses  in  this  country  in  law  enforcement 
is  the  complete  lethargy  demonstrated  by  Government  in  deporting 
people  who  come  here  and  violate  their  immigration  rights  by  com- 
mitting crime. 

They  get  tangled  up  in  all  kinds  of  legal  technicalities  and  they  hire 
a  lot  of  smart,  although  unscrupulous,  lawyers  to  protect  them,  and 
they  continue  to  live  the  life  of  crime  over  here  when  they  are  subject 
to  deportation.  I  am  one  of  those  who  feel  that  public  pressure 
should  be  exerted  against  the  law-enforcement  officials  and  the  officials 
in  Government  whose  job  it  is  to  clean  out  of  this  country  people  who 
should  be  deported. 

I  would  like  to  have  a  list,  if  you  supply  it,  of  those  who  are  sub- 
ject to  deportation.  You  haven't  got  the  names  yourself,  but  you 
said  some  one  had  made  an  examination  of  the  list,  and  so  will  you 
supply  for  the  record  the  names  of  those  58  who  are  subject  to  de- 
portation, provided  somebody  in  Government  gets  on  a  white  horse 
and  digs  his  spurs  in  the  steed? 

Mr.  Martin.  I  might  say.  Senator,  that  that  has  been  discussed 
several  times  since  this  meeting,  and  I  have  heard  your  views  ex- 
pressed. 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12263 

Senator  Mundt.  I  know  those  views  are  shared  by  a  lot  of  Amer- 
icans, but  action  is  disgustingly  slow,  and  1  think  perhaps  (his  com- 
mittee can  call  attention  of  the  public  to  the  fact  that  there  are  peo- 
ple in  Government  responsible  for  deporting  people  who  violate  the 
terms  under  which  thev  become  naturalized  citizens.  . 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Would  you  go  through  some  of  the  legal  activities 
of  some  of  these  people? 

Mr.  Wii.lsk.  Well,  the  chart  explains  most  of  those,  I  believe.  In 
automotive  agencies  the  total  is  -A,  in  boxing,  you  will  find  3.  Some 
of  t  hese  represent  their  interest  in  these  activities  through  fronts,  pos- 
sibly not  directly. 

('ah  companies  are  3,  and  chemicals  are  2.  Of  interest  here  is  the 
fact  that  John  Ormento,  who  I  believe  was  one  of  the  major  narcotic 
violators  in  this  country  and  one  of  those  in  this  group,  then  shows 
up  under  the  chemical  category. 

This  is  based  mainly  on  his  close  association  with  a  man  named 
Eocco  Pellegrino.  Pellegrino  has  been  recognized  for  some  period 
of  time  as  a  power  in  the  traffic  of  narcotics,  particularly  smuggling, 
through  his  influence  and  association  with  men  on  the  waterfront,  par- 
ticularly what  they  call  the  horn,  which  extends  from  the  lower  West 
Side  piers  around  the  southern  tip  of  Manhattan  to  the  lower  East  Side 
piers. 

In  addition  to  being  connected  with  him,  Pellegrino  has  other  con- 
tacts on  the  waterfront,  such  as  Mike  Clementi,  an  official  of  one  of 
the  ILA  locals  on  the  east  side  piers,  and  "Socks"  Lanza,  who  was 
convicted  and  served  time  for  extortion  of  the  Fulton  Fish  Market, 
and  who  is  indicated  as  still  having  some  power  down  there.  Or- 
mento, through  his  close  contact,  showed  by  previous  investigation 
over  the  years,  close  contact  with  Pellegrino,  in  the  past  has  had  con- 
tact with  three  different  chemical  companies. 

Those  contacts  have  never  been  fully  investigated,  and  I  think  they 
are  worth  looking  into,  because  of  the  fact  that  acetic  anhydride,  and 
the  most,  used  chemical  in  the  textile  field,  is  used  by  these  companies 
with  which  Pellegrino  had  contact. 

Acetic  anhydride  is  used  in  conversion  of  the  raw  opium  into  a 
morphine  base  after  which  it  is  made  into  heroin. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Could  the  textile  companies  use  that? 

Mr.  Willse.  They  do.  It  is  used  mainly  in  the  manufacture  and 
treatment  of  rayon. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Would  that  be  an  explanation  why  a  number  of 
these  individuals,  gangsters,  are  also  in  the  textile  field  ? 

Mr.  Willse.  It  could  be.  With  this  group  that  we  are  concerned 
with,  we  don't  show  any  in  textiles,  but  it  is  known  that  they  have 
contacts  and  associates  in  that  field. 

The  coal  companies  consist  of  Alaimo,  one  of  the  "Brandy  Patch" 
boys  as  described  by  George  Martin. 

Most  of  those  fellows  from  Pittston  are  the  descendants  of  families 
going  over  there  and  settling  there,  going  into  the  coal  mines  origi- 
nally. Some  of  their  activities  in  the  coal  mines  have  been  handed 
down  from  father  to  son  as  in  the  case  of  Alaimo. 

The  coin-machine  operation,  of  course,  looms  large,  because  this  is 
a  particularly  good  field  for  the  investment  of  illicitly  obtained 
revenue. 


12264  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

In  construction  we  find  quite  a  few,  and  there  has  been  a  conflict  of 
interest  where  we  find  some  of  these  men  with  a  construction  company 
and  also  either  directly  concerned  or  associated  with  somebody  in  a 
construction  union. 

The  construction  field  offers  another  good  field  for  the  activities  of 
these  men  through  extortion.  In  entertainment  we  have  Jerry  Ca- 
teno,  who  is  a  known  associate  of  Zwillman  in  New  Jersey,  and  his 
contacts  here  come  mainly  through  his  close  association  with  Las 
Vegas  and  Habana  gambling. 

It  is  known  that  in  Habana  the  hotels  giving  a  gambling  casino 
concession  to  anyone  allow  them  to  also  handle  the  entertainment.  It 
seems  to  be  the  better  way  of  handling  it  on  the  side  of  the  hotels,  and 
Cateno  has  a  close  contact  with  a  man  who  is  also  a  well-known  gam- 
bler in  both  Las  Vegas  and  Habana,  and  who  also  has  a  theatrical 
agency. 

Senator  Mundt.  Do  you  know  the  name  of  the  hotel  or  casino  in 
Las  Vegas  with  which  he  has  his  contact  ? 

Mr.  Willse.  I  don't  know,  sir.  But  the  man  I  am  referring  to  is 
Jack  Davis. 

Funeral  homes  show  a  total  of  four.  There  are  certain  conclusions 
that  may  be  arrived  at  there  as  to  how  gangsters  have  funeral  homes 
that  may  be  used  in  their  conspiracies. 

The  garment  industry  shows  16,  and  this  is  something  that  the  com- 
mittee will  go  into  in  greater  detail  in  the  future. 

Groceries  and  markets  have  10.  Groceries  and  markets  may  be 
combined  with  import  and  export  activities  due  to  the  grocery  and 
market  receiving  many  products  from  overseas. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Does  that  also  include  florists  ? 

Mr.  Willse.  It  does  not. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  The  groceries  and  markets  ? 

Mr.  Willse.  Not  that  I  know  of.  In  connection  with  florists,  I 
might  say  that  an  uncle  of  Joseph  Bonnano,  I  believe  the  name  is 
Pietro  Bonventre  has  a  florist  shop. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Haven't  we  found  that  a  number  of  gangsters  have 
been  florists  throughout  the  United  States  ? 

Mr.  Willse.  As  far  as  this  group  goes,  I  can't  say. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mickey  Cohen  on  the  west  coast  ? 

Mr.  Willse.  Yes. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  Johnny  Dio  on  the  east  coast  ? 

Mr.  Willse.  Yes. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  So  we  have  the  funeral  homes  and  the  florists. 

Mr.  Willse.  Right. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Go  ahead. 

Mr.  Willse.  Horses  and  tracks  total  three.  Import  and  export 
total  11.  Of  course,  this  has  an  especially  important  significance  for 
the  smuggling  of  narcotics,  particularly  when  we  consider  the  indi- 
viduals who  come  under  this  category.  I  would  like  to  explain  that 
later,  if  I  might  refer  to  certain  records. 

The  Chairman.  Will  the  witness  suspend? 

Senator  Mundt  has  to  be  on  the  Senate  floor  for  a  little  while,  and 
we  cannot  conclude  your  explanation  of  the  chart  before  recessing. 

We  will  recess  now  until  2  o'clock. 

(Whereupon,  at  12 :  17,  a  recess  was  taken  until  2  p.  m.  of  the  same 
day.) 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12265 

(At  this  point,  the  following  members  were  present :  Senators  Mc- 
Clellan  and  Mundt.) 

AFTERNOON   SESSION 

The  Chairman.  The  committee  will  be  in  order. 

(Members  of  the  committee  at  the  reconvening  of  the  session  were 
Senators  McClellan  and  Ives.) 

The  Chairman.  Call  the  next  witness. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  I  am  trying  to  get  some  more  copies  of  that  chart, 
and  we  will  know  in  a  little  while  whether  we  can  get  them  within 
the  next  hour  or  so.  But  in  the  meantime,  if  Mr.  Willse  could  return 
to  the  stand,  perhaps  he  could  continue  his  discussion  of  the  chart. 

TESTIMONY  OF  SHERMAN  WILLSE— Resumed 

The  Chairman.  Will  you  proceed  with  your  testimony? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  I  think  you  were  finished  with  the  garment  indus- 
try, and  we  had  also  done  the  grocery  stores,  and  I  think  we  are  at 
the  horse  races. 

Mr.  Willse.  I  think  that  I  passed  that.  I  am  on  jewelry  and  furs. 
The  significance  in  that  category  is  the  fact  that  there  has  been  strong 
information  regarding  the  nandling  of  stolen  property,  mainly  in 
that  line.  Labor-management  relations,  that  goes  into  great  detail, 
and  in  some  cases  a  man  is  representing  both  a  union  and  he  is  con- 
nected with  management  in  conflict  with  his  union  position.  Women's 
laundry,  although  it  doesn't  show  up  here. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  is  the  biggest  category  that  we  have,  the  one 
we  spent  the  most  time  on,  obviously,  in  labor-management  relations 
and  we  get  22  individuals. 

Mr.  Whlse.  Yes,  sir.  Linens  and  laundry,  although  only  two  show 
on  the  chart,  it  is  rather  an  extensive  operation,  particularly  in  the 
large  cities  such  as  New  York.  I  believe  the  committee  has  further 
details  on  that  in  other  cities  throughout  the  country. 

Olive  oil  and  cheese  is  very  important,  and  they  are  tied  in  with 
export-import,  because  this  involves  the  importing  of  those  commod- 
ities, olive  oil  and  cheese,  giving  good  opportunity  to  conceal  any  con- 
traband, particularly  the  narcotics. 

Paper  and  wastepaper  show  up  four.  Realty  I  suppose  comes 
about  through  the  illegally  obtained  money  of  these  people.  In 
addition  to  other  legitimate  enterprises  in  which  the  money  is  invested, 
there  is  a  good  deal  of  real  estate  in  which  there  is  a  continual  return 
from  rents.  Service  stations  and  garages,  and  1  car  wash  is  involved ; 
that  is  a  total  of  4.  Taverns,  restaurants,  hotels,  and  motels. 
Throughout  the  country  it  is  demonstrated  that  Mafia  generally 
invest  in  such  enterprises. 

Trucking  is  another  important  business,  as  is  the  waterfront.  Now, 
in  dealing  with  those  two  categories,  I  would  like  to  include  import- 
export.  The  purpose  of  the  chart  in  addition  to  showing  the  activi- 
ties of  these  men  as  individuals,  it  is  also  designed  to  show  how  these 
activities  may  be  related,  particularly  to  the  illegitimate  field. 
Since  narcotics  belongs  with  gambling  as  one  of  the  main  sources  of 
revenue  for  the  gangsters,  narcotics  should  be  considered  in  these 
three  classifications.  For  years  they  have  had  their  source  of  supply 
of  narcotics  from  the  other  side  and  there  has  never  been  any  difficulty 


12266  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

with  that.  After  finding  their  source  of  supply,  the  next  thing  is  to 
get  the  narcotics  on  a  ship.  On  the  other  side  there  seems  to  be  no 
difficulty  there.  Then  the  next  object  is  to  get  aboard  the  ship  when 
it  docks  in  this  country.  Aside  from  employing  Italian  seamen  which 
is  the  case  of  Carl  Vanginio,  we  have  these  men  allied  with  other 
businesses  that  accomplish  that. 

First  of  all,  we  have  7  in  trucking.  It  can  be  either  general  truck- 
ing or  garment  trucking,  and  in  this  category,  it  includes  both,  but 
main]y  general.  Some  of  them  combine  this  operation.  The  way  the 
trucking  works  on  the  docks  is  that  a  truck  may  have  a  job  to  go  to 
1  pier  and  take  a  complete  load  in  1  day,  or  it  may  visit  5  or  10  piers 
in  1  day.  In  connection  with  that  would  be  the  hiring  bosses  or 
anyone  else  employed  on  the  docks  concerned  in  the  unloading  of  a 
ship.  Through  union  affiliations  of  the  gangsters,  they  are  able  to 
obtain  these  men  that  help  them  get  the  stuff  off  the  ship,  and  of 
course,  the  trucks  carry  it  off  the  dock. 

The  export-import  naturally  gives  them  the  commodity  which  is 
the  means  of  concealment  of  the  contraband.  As  I  say,  we  combine 
olive  oil  and  cheese  and  just  take  that  commodity  alone,  the  size  of 
the  cheese  that  is  imported,  perhaps  as  tall  as  I  am  or  in  barrels  of 
olive  oil,  over  any  means  of  concealment.  When  we  realize  that 
sometimes  a  ship  docks  and  stays  in  port  for  5  days,  and  for  about  8 
hours  of  the  day  there  is  a  continual  line  of  trucks  going  on  and  off  the 
pier,  and  in  conjunction  with  the  longshoremen  a  couple  of  hundred 
are  working  on  the  piers,  all  connected  with  some  association  of  that 
sort,  it  is  practically  impossible  to  stop  this  stuff  from  coming  in. 
To  stop  every  seaman  can't  be  done,  and  every  longshoremen,  that 
can't  be  done. 

To  stop  every  truck  and  search  it  or  open  every  crate  or  barrel  of 
cheese  or  whatever  the  commodity  may  be,  and  a  crate  of  machinery, 
and  whatever  they  are  bringing  into  the  country,  that  is  an  impossible 
task  and  it  can't  be  done.  It  is  very  easy  to  get  the  narcotics  in  the 
country. 

In  relation  to  that,  out  of  the  men  involved  in  narcotics  as  shown 
over  here,  2  of  them  are  also  in  the  trucking  industry,  and  2  of 
them  are  also  concerned  with  waterfront  activities,  and  7  of  them 
are  engaged  in  import-export  of  some  type. 

Now,  that  is  taking  into  consideration  only  these  men  on  this 
chart.  Tf  we  consider  their  associates,  and  their  contacts,  it  becomes 
overwhelming. 

Mr.  Kenneuy.  Now,  you  were  talking  about  the  contacts  that  these 
individuals  might  have  with  the  ships.  We  also  find  some  of  these 
people  in  the  ship-cleaning  business,  for  instance. 

Mr.  Wtij.se.  There  is  ship  cleaning  and  scrapping.  I  think  Carmine 
Lombardozzi  with  his  marine  corporation  is  able  to  operate  that  way, 
and  he  also  has  a  mobile  marine  company  which  consists  of  a  machine 
which  is  leased,  I  believe,  to  the  Grace  Line,  and  he  seems  to  have  a 
monopoly  in  that  field,  particularly  with  (hat  one  line.  I  might  say 
that  through  that  line  which  has  roots  to  the  east  coast  of  South 
America,  and  then  another  route  in  which  they  use  other  ships  to  the 
■west  coast  of  South  America,  that  line  in  the  past  has  been  the  main  if 
not  the  only  line  bringing  cocaine  into  the  country. 

Cocaine  at  this  point  having  been  out  of  existence  for  perhaps  7  or 
8  years  has  started  to  come  back  in,  but  since  it  has  only  started  the 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12267 

price  is  pretty  high,  and  it  amounts  to  $18,000  a  kilo,  so  the  profit 
involved  there  is  tremendous. 

Senator  Ives.  May  I  interrupt  there?  You  say  the  Grace  Line  is 
responsible  for  this,  or  the  Grace  Line  shippers? 

Mr.  Willse.  Neither  one  is  responsible.  It  is  the  people  traveling 
on  them. 

Senator  Ives.  I  understand,  but  what  is  the  Grace  Line  doing  about 
it  to  help  combat  it  ? 

Mr.  Willse.  I  don't  know,  Senator.  I  would  like  to  tell  you  an 
interesting  story  in  connection  with  the  Grace  Line  and  the  cocaine 
smuggling.  "We  didn't  have  any  cocaine  around  the  city,  New  York 
City,  and  that  goes  for  the  country,  and  I  think  the  Federal  Narcotics 
Bureau  Avill  bear  me  out,  until  shortly  after  the  end  of  World  War  II. 
Then  gradually,  we  started  to  pick  it  up  in  very  small  amounts.  These 
increased  from  time  to  time  until  in  about  a  year's  time  atfer  its  first 
appearance  we  were  getting  it  in  very  large  amounts,  which  means 
kilos.  At  that  time,  the  price,  of  course,  went  continually  down  as 
the  amount  of  stuff  coming  in  rose,  and  I  think  it  went  to  about  $5,000 
a  kilo. 

It  was  found  that  it  was  all  coming  in  on  the  Grace  Line,1  but  it 
was  being  brought  in  by  the  seamen.  Investigation  showed  there  was 
a  concerted  conspiracy  to  do  this. 

This  is  rather  lengthy  but  I  think  it  is  interesting.  The  man  at 
the  head  of  the  conspiracy  was  known  as  Eduardo  Balareyo,  a  native 
Peruvian,  and  his  close  associate  was  a  man  named  De  La  Torre,  a 
head  of  the  Apristo  Party  in  Peru.  That  was  the  headquarters,  but 
it  took  in  most  of  the  Latin  American  countries  around  the  Mediter- 
ranean and  in  South  America. 

Now,  as  to  De  La  Torre,  some  would  class  him  as  a  rabble  rouser, 
but  he  represented  the  poorer  element  in  the  South  American  coun- 
tries. His  brother,  Edmondo  De  La  Torre  was  a  member  of  the 
Peruvian  Senate,  and  I  assume  that  this  conspiracy  arose  shortly  after 
the  end  of  World  War  II  because  that  is  when  we  started  getting  the 
cocaine. 

The  Peruvian  Government  licensed  people  to  grow,  process,  and 
export  the  cocaine.  However,  they  had  about  10  or  12  clandestine 
laboratories  operating  throughout  the  mountains  down  there. 

Now,  the  conspiracy  actually  got  underway  to  a  large  extent,  when 
De  La  Torre  and  his  party  arrived  in  New  York  on  a  Peruvian  war- 
ship, and  while  it  was  in  New  York  I  think  for  perhaps  1  or  2  weeks 
the  officers  were  entertained  by  this  fellow  Balareyo  who  was  in  New 
York,  and  a  native  Peruvian.  It  was  during  these  sessions  that  it 
was  planned  to  start  a  revolution  in  Peru  through  the  Aprista  Party. 

When  the  warship  returned  to  Peru,  it  took  De  La  Torre  and 
Balareyo  and  some  members  of  Balarevo's  family.  Balareyo  was 
supposed  to  have  contributed  £f.0.000  to  this  proposed  revolution.  In 
addition  to  taking  down  certain  material  which  would  have  been  heav- 
ily taxed  in  customs  in  Peru  such  as  washing  machines  and  cars  and 
so  on,  they  felt  that  they  could  get  this  into  Peru  without  any  diffi- 


1  After  these  hearings  had  been  completed.  Senator  McClellan  received  a  letter  from 
Lewis  A.  Lapham,  president  of  Grace  Line,  Inc.,  regarding  Mr.  Willse's  testimony.  The 
text  of  this  letter  appears  in  the  appendix  on  pp.  12491-12496,  together  with  other  docu- 
ments which  Mr.  Lapham  submitted. 

21243—  5S— pt.  32 6 


12268  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

culty  through  De  La  Torre's  brother,  Edmondo,  who  was  in  the 
Peruvian  Senate. 

However,  they  got  down  there  and  my  understanding  was  that 
somebody  passed  along  a  tip  and  all  of  this  stuff  was  seized.  But 
after  being  there  a  few  days,  the  revolution  started,  and  it  started  with 
the  navy  in  the  port  of  Callo.  Of  course,  that  lends  corroboration  to 
the  fact  that  the  navy  was  up  here  conspiring  with  De  La  Torre  and 
Balareyo.  It  went  on  for  about  2  or  3  days,  and  many  people  were 
killed,  and  the  revolt  was  put  down  but  in  the  meantime,  Balareyo, 
seeing  that  he  was  losing  out,  took  a  plane  back  to  New  York.  De  La 
Torre  sought  refuge  in  the  Colombian  Embassy,  and  some  of  the 
other  people  just  disappeared  from  the  country. 

The  Government  then  rescinded  all  licenses,  and  all  permits  for  the 
growing  and  processing  or  export  of  cocaine.  The  conspiracy  tied 
m  perhaps  50  people  here  in  this  country,  and  about  88  in  Peru. 

Now,  the  cooperation  of  the  Peruvian  Government  in  rescinding 
those  licenses  and  making  those  arrests  knocked  out  the  cocaine  traffic 
until  just  recently. 

It  has  started  to  come  back  in,  but  all  of  that  cocaine  that  came  in 
during  this  time  as  far  as  we  can  find,  came  by  the  Grace  Line. 

Senator  Ives.  May  I  ask  you  another  question  in  that  connection? 

Is  the  Mafia  active  in  South  America,  Latin  America? 

Mr.  Willse.  I  don't  know  that. 

Senator  Ives.  Well,  the  reason  I  was  raising  that  point  is  that  I  am 
just  wondering  what  connection  the  Mafia  may  have  had  with  the 
attack  on  the  Vice  President  of  the  United  States  in  Peru  when  he 
recently  visited  there.     Can  you  connect  that  at  all? 

Mr.  Willse.  I  didn't  think  of  the  Mafia  in  that  relation.  I  thought 
of  the  renaissance  of  the  Aprista  Party.  De  La  Torre,  who  was  head 
of  it,  had  had  sanctuary  in  the  Colombian  Embassy,  I  think  for  the 
3  years,  and  they  dug  a  trench  around  it  and  they  manned  it  with 
the  army  and  the  tanks,  and  the  machineguns,  and  in  the  meantime 
there  were  a  lot  of  maneuverings  to  try  to  get  him  safe  transport  out. 
Finally  he  was  allowed  to  go  out  and  he  went  to  Mexico. 

Now,  just  in  recent  months  I  have  read  he  has  been  allowed  back 
into  Peru. 

Now  consistent  with  his  rearrival  in  Peru,  and  what  took  place 
down  there,  we  also  have  cocaine  coming  back  into  this  country.  I 
wonder  if  there  is  any  relation. 

Senator  Ives.  You  don't  know  that  ? 

Mr.  Willse.  No. 

Senator  Ives.  It  is  very  odd,  and  kind  of  a  coincidence,  isn't  it? 

Mr.  Willse.  I  think  so. 

Senator  Ives.  Thank  you. 

Mr.  Willse.  I  might  say  that  a  kilo  of  narcotics,  other  than  opium, 
in  its  crude  form,  the  weight  is  about  33  ounces,  or  2  pounds,  and  in 
the  powder  form  in  which  it  comes  they  generally  have  it  wrapped  in 
a  soft  plastic  container,  I  would  say  6  by  6,  and  3  inches  thick.  That 
would  be  a  kilo. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  found  from  a  review  of  these  individual  activi- 
ties that  a  number  of  them  were  officials  of  labor  unions  and  a  num- 
ber of  them  in  labor-management  relations. 

Mr.  Willse.  That  is  right. 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12269 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  a  number  of  them  using  these  businesses  as 
fronts  for  their  other  organizations,  and  other  illegal  activities? 

Mr.  Willse.  Yes, sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  then  as  another  operation  to  funnel  their  illegal 
funds  into  these  businesses;  is  that  right? 

Mr.  Willse.  Yes,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  I  think  that  that  is  about  all. 

Is  there  anything  else  on  the  chart  that  you  wanted  to  cover? 

Mr.  Willse.  No,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Now,  Mr.  Willse,  have  you  made  a  study  in  some  of 
the  instances  of  whether  these  individuals  are  in  touch  with  one  another 
and  keep  in  close  contact  ? 

Mr.  Willse.  Yes,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  have  some  examples  there  ? 

The  Chairman.  Will  you  identify  the  chart  that  you  now  are  ex- 
hibiting. 

Mr.  Willse.  Yes,  sir.  This  represents  the  contacts  and  associates 
of  John  Ormento.  This  comes  about  from  the  examination  of  tele- 
phone company  records,  and  through  official  investigations  involving 
observations  and  tail  work  on  John  Ormento. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  He  is  a  leading  trafficker  in  narcotics;  is  that  right? 

Mr.  Willse.  Y^es,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  a  fugitive  from  justice  at  the  present  time? 

Mr.  Willse.  Yes,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  we  see  that  he  has  these  various  connections 
throughout  the  United  States  with  other  leading  important  gangsters, 
is  that  right? 

Mr.  Willse.  That  is  correct. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Out  into  Texas,  and  into  Oklahoma,  and  up  into 
Michigan  ? 

Mr.  Willse.  That  is  right. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  Kansas  City  ? 

Mr.  Willse.  That  is  right,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  then  also  with  a  number  of  the  leading  gang- 
sters in  New  Yrork  City,  is  that  right  ? 

Mr.  Willse.  That  is  true. 

The  Chairman.  This  map  may  be  made  exhibit  No.  6. 

(Document  referred  to  was  marked  "Exhibit  No.  6,"  for  reference 
and  may  be  found  in  the  files  of  the  select  committee.) 

(At  this  point,  the  following  members  are  present:  Senators  Mc- 
Clellan  and  Ives.) 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Once  again  in  order  to  understand  his  activities, 
looking  into  his  operations,  one  has  to  understand  those  individuals 
with  whom  he  is  in  contact. 

Mr.  Willse.  Yes.  There  is  evidence  of  contact  with  Joe  Salardino, 
from  Canon  City,  Colo. 

Joe  Salardino  and  his  brother,  Gus,  have  operated  a  night  club  out 
there  for  several  years.  During  the  Kefauver  hearings,  there  was 
evidence  that  that  club  had  been  used  for  gambling  for  some  time. 

Joe  Civello  in  Dallas  has  a  narcotic  record.  I  believe  it  was  con- 
cerned with  the  smuggling  of  narcotics  across  the  Mexican  border  into 
Dallas  for  further  distribution.  I  think  last  year  Joe  Civello  was 
seen  in  contact  with  John  Ormento  at  Idlewild  International  Airport 


12270  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

at  the  same  time  Carmine  Pellegrino  was  there.  Carmine  is  the  son  of 
Rocco  Pellegrino  who  is  regarded  as  a  don,  and  who  has  great  in- 
fluence on  the  New  York  waterfront,  as  I  described  before.  In  Kansas 
City  is  Joseph  G.  Gurera.  He  is  known  as  Little  Joe.  He  gets  that 
name  from  the  term  given  to  the  point  of  4  on  dice  and  he  also  is  given 
that  name  because  he  has  been  suspected  strongly  in  several  gangland 
murders  where  the  victims  were  dispatched  with  1  shots  in  the  head. 
Guerera  went  to  Kansas  City  some  years  ago  and  took  over  about 
60  percent  of  the  policy  operation  there.  I  know  that  Ormento  has 
been  in  contact  with  him  for  at  least  7  years. 

Michael  Polizzi,  in  Detroit,  son  of  Angelo,  has  been  connected  with 
Papa  John  Priziola,  in  the  operation  of  the  J.  C.  Music  Co.,  a  jukebox 
operation.  Papa  John  has  a  bad  record  of  armed  robbery,  murder, 
and  several  other  things. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  We  will  not  go  through  each  name.  The  chart  does 
speak  for  itself,  Mr.  Chairman.  The  names  are  there  of  some  of  the 
contacts. 

The  Chairman.  Have  you  made  the  same  examination  as  to  con- 
tacts of  others  ? 

Mr.  Willse.  Yes,  sir. 

The  Chairman.  Do  you  have  other  charts  ? 
Mr.  Willse.  Yes,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  might  put  a  couple  more  in. 
The  Chairman.  Just  briefly  identify  it  and  state  what  the  chart 
represents. 

Mr.  Willse.  This  also  represents  the  contacts  and  associates  of 
Joseph  Profaci  and  his  company,  the  Carmela  Mia  Packing  Co.,  en- 
gaged in  the  importing  of  olive  oil  and  cheese,  and  distribution.  These 
contacts  also  go  into  Detroit.  They  go  to  the  Van  Dyke  Taxi  Co.  in 
Buffalo,  which  is  the  company  of  John  Charles  Montana,  also  into 
Utica,  Joseph  Falcone  being  the  operator;  to  Boston,  with  Frank 
Cucchiara,  who  was  at  Apalachin.  In  New  York,  to  several  of  the 
Apalachin  men,  to  Philip  Mangano,  found  murdered  in  a  Brooklyn 
swamp  about  1951,  a  brother  of  Vincent  who  disappeared  shortly  there- 
after.   They  had  influence  on  the  Brooklyn  waterfront. 

Lucky  Luciano,  Frank  Costello,  John  Oddo,  known  as  Crazy  John 
or  Johnnie  Bathbeach.  That  is  a  section  of  Brooklyn  that  he  hangs 
out  in. 

Vito  Genovese  from  Apalachin ;  Sebastiano  Nani,  Gus  Frasca,  and 
Joseph  Smurra,  and  Pete  DeFeo,  all  three  indicted  with  Vito  Genovese 
in  a  murder  that  happened  in  1934. 

Nicholo  Impastato,  on  the  Federal  narcotics  national  list.     And 
Salvatore  Falcone,  the  brother  of  Joe,  from  Utica.     Sal  operates  a 
produce  business.    I  think  it  is  Italian  foodstuffs  in  Miami. 
The  Chairman.  That  chart  may  be  made  exhibit  6A. 
(The  document  referred  to  was  marked  "Exhibit  6A"  for  reference 
and  may  be  found  in  the  files  of  the  select  committee.) 
The  Chairman.  You  have  several  other  charts,  do  you? 
Mr.  Willse.  Yes,  sir. 

The  Chairman.   I  don'1  think  it  is  necessary  to  put  any  more  into 
the  record.     The  other's,  if  you  Avill  identify  them,  may  be  made 
exhibits.    They  aresimilar  charts. 
They  speak  for  themselves,  do  they  ? 
Mr. Willse.  Sir? 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12271 

The  Chairman.  The  charts  speak  for  themselves  ? 

Mr.  Willse.  They  do,  sir. 

The  Chairman.  Each  chart  may  be  added  as  exhibit  GB,  C,  and  D, 
the  charts  of  the  witness. 

(The  documents  referred  to  were  marked  ''Exhibits  Nos.  6B,  C, 
and  D"  for  reference  and  may  be  found  in  the  files  of  the  select  com- 
mittee.) 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Chairman,  this  is  a  chart  of  the  individuals  that 
attended  the  meeting  at  Apalachin  and  where  they  came  from. 

The  Chairman.  All  right. 

We  will  make  this  chart  exhibit  7,  since  it  has  some  special  signif- 
icance. 

(The  document  referred  to  was  marked  "Exhibit  No.  7"  for  refer- 
ence and  may  be  found  in  the  files  of  the  select  committee.) 

The  Chairman.  You  may  testify  regarding  it. 

Mr.  Willse.  This  shows  the  points  of  origin  at  the  time  of  the  visit 
to  Apalachin  by  the  men.  Los  Angeles,  Frank  DeSimone,  and  Simone 
Scozzari,  Dallas;  Joseph  Civello,  Pueblo;  James  Poletti,  Kansas  City; 
Springfield,  111.:  Cleveland,  Ohio;  Buffalo,  Niagara  Falls,  Rochester, 
Auburn,  Utica,  N.  Y. 

From  Pittston  and  Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  Camden,  Newark,  and  Jersey 
City  in  New  Jersej7,  and  from  Boston,  Frank  Cucchiara. 

The  Chairman.  And  from  Florida  ? 

Mr.  Willse.  From  Florida  is  Salvatore  Falcone,  who  runs  a  com- 
pany down  there.  Also  may  be  included  Sam  DeCavalconte,  Jr.,  who 
comes  from  Habana,  but  he  went  to  Apalachin  under  the  alias  of  Louis 
Santos.  His  father,  Sam  DeCavalconte,  Sr.,  for  years  has  been  the 
racketeering  overlord  of  Miami. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  In  Tampa. 

Mr.  Willse.  And  it  takes  in  the  Miami  area. 

Senator  Ives.  I  would  like  to  ask  the  witness  if  there  was  anybody 
from  New  England  there. 

Mr. Willse.  Boston? 

Senator  Ives.  That  is  New  England,  part  of  it.  Was  there  any- 
body from  New  England  there  ? 

Somebody  from  Boston  ? 

Mr.  Willse.  Yes,  sir. 

Senator  Ives.  Anybody  else  from  New  England  ? 

Mr.  Willse.  Not  that  I  know  of. 

Senator  Ives.  In  other  words,  New  England  is  fairly  free  of  the 
Mafia:  is  that  right? 

Mr.  Willse.  Except  for  that  one. 

Senator  Ives.  Except  the  Boston  one. 

The  Chairman.  All  right. 

Is  there  any  further  \ 

If  not,  thank  you  very  much. 

Call  the  next  witness. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  James  La  Duca. 

The  Chairman.  Be  sworn.  You  do  solemnly  swear  the  evidence 
you  shall  give  before  this  select  committee  shall  be  the  truth,  the 
whole  truth,  and  nothing  but  the  truth,  so.  help  you  God? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  do. 


12272  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

TESTIMONY  OF  JAMES  V.  LA  DUCA,  ACCOMPANIED  BY  COUNSEL, 
VENEARD  D.  NERI  AND  JOSEPH  P.  RUNFOLA 

The  Chairman.  Be  seated.  State  your  name,  your  place  of  resi- 
dence, and  your  business  or  occupation. 

(The  witness  conferred  with  his  counsel.) 

Mr.  La  Duca.  James  V.  La  Duca. 

The  Chairman.  Your  residence,  please? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  Dana  Drive,  Lewiston,  N.  Y. 

The  Chairmann.  What  is  your  business  or  occupation  \ 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  It  might.  You  may  be  correct.  You  have  coun- 
sel present  ? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  Yes ;  I  do. 

The  Chairman.  Counsel,  will  you  identify  yourself  for  the  record, 
please  ? 

Mr.  Neri.  Yes,  sir. 

Veneard  D.  Neri ;  mailing  address  1006  Morgan  Building,  Buffalo, 
N.  Y. 

The  Chairman.  Thank  you,  sir. 

Do  you  have  other  counsel  ? 

Mr.  Runfola.  Joseph  P.  Runfola,  offices  at  1006  Morgan  Building, 
Buffalo,  N.  Y. 

The  Chairman.  All  right,  Mr.  Kennedy,  proceed. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  La  Duca,  you  have  been  connected  with  Local 
66  of  the  Hotel  and  Restaurant  Workers  Union  ? 

(Witness  conferred  with  his  counsel.) 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  refuse  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  that 
it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  Let  the  Chair  ask  him  one  question. 

Do  you  honestly  believe  that  if  you  told  the  truth  about  what  your 
occupation  or  business  is  that  a  truthful  answer  under  oath  might 
tend  to  incriminate  you  ? 

(The  witness  conferred  with  his  counsel.) 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  am  sorry,  but  I  certainly  do. 

The  Chairman.  All  right. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  We  have  the  information  that  you  were  an  organ- 
izer for  Local  66  of  the  Hotel  and  Restaurant  Workers  Union,  and 
at  the  time  of  the  meeting  at  Apalachin  we  have  information  that  you 
were  secretary-treasurer  of  that  local. 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  ground  that 
it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  did  attend  the  meeting  at  Apalachin,  N.  Y.,  in 
November  of  1957 ;  did  you  not,  Mr.  La  Duca  ? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the  ground  that 
it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Could  you  tell  the  committee  why 

The  Chairman.  Was  that  such  a  meeting  up  there  that  those  who 
attended  might  be  incriminated  if  the  truth  was  known  about  it? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline,  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  that 
it  might  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Senator  Ives.  May  I  interrupt  there? 

Isn't  it  a  fact,  isn't  it  a  matter  of  record,  that  you  were  there  ? 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12273 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  ground  that 
it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Chairman,  I  would  like  to  develop  the  informa- 
tion with  this  witness  that  we  have  and  the  records  that  we  have 
obtained  based  on  our  investigation,  and  ask  the  witness  to  make  any 
comment  on  it  that  he  wishes  to. 

The  Chairman.  Bring  around  the  witness. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  No  ;  I  j  ust  wanted  to  develop  the  basis. 

The  Chairman.  You  state  what  information  we  have  and  we  will 
ask  the  witness  if  he  wants  to  comment  on  it. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  The  first  information  is  we  understand  you  know  Mr. 
John  Charles  Montana,  of  Buffalo,  who  also  attended  the  meeting  at 
Apalachin ;  is  that  correct? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  ground  that 
it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  you  worked  for  Mr.  John  Charles  Montana's 
taxicab  company  called  the  Van  Dyke  Taxi  Co.,  during  the  1940's? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  ground  that 
it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  you  worked  in  1945  and  1948  as  a  dispatcher  for 
that  company  ? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  same  grounds. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  following  working  for  Mr.  John  Charles  Mon- 
tana, that  you  then 

Senator  Ives.  Just  1  minute.  May  I  interrupt  there  ?  Do  you  mean 
to  tell  me  that  your  admission  of  any  association  with  Mr.  Montana 
would  tend  to  incriminate  you  ? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  that 
it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Senator  Ives.  I  wonder  what  Mr.  Montana  would  have  to  say  about 
that. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  following  your  employment  as  a  dispatcher 
for  Mr.  John  Charles  Montana,  the  Van  Dyke  Taxi  Co.,  that  you  then 
went  to  work  for  the  Maggadino  Funeral  Home,  is  that  correct? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  ground  that 
it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  the  Maggadino  Funeral  Home  is  operated  and 
run  by  Mr.  Antonio  Maggadino,  who  also  attended  the  meeting  at 
Apalachin  ? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  ground  that 
it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Could  you  tell  the  committee  why  you  happened  to 
then  go  to  work  for  the  Maggadino  Funeral  Home  ? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  didn't  get  that  question. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Would  you  tell  the  committee  why  you  happened  to 
go  to  work  for  the  Maggadino  Funeral  Home  ? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  ground  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  We  have  information  that  in  1947  you,  Mr.  La  Duca, 
Mr.  Montana,  John  Charles  Montana,  Mr.  Charles  A.  Montana,  and 
Mr.  Peter  J.  Maggadino,  who  was  the  brother  of  Antonio  Maggadino, 
and  who  also  attended  the  meeting  in  Apalachin,  bought  the  Buffalo 
Beverage  Corp.     Is  that  correct  ? 


12274  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  tlie  ground 
that  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  from  our  information  we  understand  that  you 
purchased  125  shares  at  that  time,  in  1947. 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  ground  that 
it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  To  make  that  purchase,  you  borrowed  $5,000  from 
Douglas  Bissell,  and  Douglas  Bissell  was  the  treasurer  of  Mr.  Mon- 
tana's taxicab  company,  is  that  right? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  the  125  shares  cost  $12,500;  you  borrowed 
$5,000  from  Douglas  Bissell,  and  you  had  the  balance  of  $7,500  in 
cash  at  home.     Is  that  right  ? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  on  the  ground  that  it  may 
tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Didn't  you  tell  our  investigator  during  an  interview 
in  Buffalo  that  you  had  this  $7,500  at  home? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds 
that  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  company  was  sold  in  1949,  is  that  right? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  same 
grounds. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  you  went  back  to  work  for  the  Maggadino  Fu- 
neral Home  ? 

Is  that  right  ? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question.  It  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  So  you  have  been  in  business  with  Mr.  Montana  and 
Mr.  Maggadino,  who  both  went  to  the  meeting  in  Apalachin.  Some 
of  the  money  that  you  invested  in  that  company  you  procured  from 
an  employee  of  Mr.  Montana. 

After  you  went  back  to  work  at  the  Maggadino  Funeral  Home,  you 
then  went  to  work,  did  you  not,  for  local  66  of  the  hotel  and  restaurant 
employees  ? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  ground  that 
it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  first  went  to  work  as  an  organizer  and  then  later 
became  secretary-treasurer ;  is  that  right  ? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  ground  that 
it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  During  the  period  of  the  1950's,  there  was  a  cleanup 
campaign,  was  there  not,  amongst  the  Teamsters  Local  375  up  in 
Buffalo,  and  the  cleanup  campaign  was  being  run  by  Mr.  Stanley 
Clayton,  who  was  running  against  Mr.  Ernest  Belles?  Were  you 
aware  of  that  campaign  ? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Isn't  it  correct  that  a  piece  of  dynamite  was  found 
in  Mr.  Clayton's  automobile  during  the  course  of  this  campaign? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  ground  that 
it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12275 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  isn't  it  a  fact  that  your  brother,  Mr.  Charles 
La  Duca,  circulated  handbills  for  Mr.  Belles,  who  was  running  against 
Mr.  Clayton? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  that 
it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  isn't  it  a  fact  that  all  these  handbills  were  pur- 
chased out  of  the  union  funds  of  local  66  of  the  Hotel  and  Restaurant 
Employees'  Union  ? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  that 
it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  While  you  were  working  for  the  union  as  a  secretary- 
treasurer,  didn't  you  also  receive  money  from  a  hotel  chain  in  Buffalo, 
N.Y.? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  that 
it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  know  the  Richford  Hotel  chain  in  Buffalo? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  ground  that 
it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  isn't  it  a  fact  that  you  received  money  each 
month  from  the  Richford  Operating  Corp.,  which  runs  the  Rich- 
ford  Hotels  in  Buffalo? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds 
that  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  isn't  it  a  fact  that  you  actually  received 
$433.33  each  month  while  you  were  secretary-treasurer  of  the  Hotel 
and  Restaurant  Employees'  Union  ? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  ground  that 
it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  isn't  it  a  fact  that  during  this  period  of  time 
the  Richford  Operating  Corp.  had  a  contract  with  local  66,  of  which 
you  were  secretary-treasurer? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  ground  that 
it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Senator  Ives.  Mr.  Chairman  ? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Chairman,  we  have  information  along  those 
lines. 

The  Chairman.  Senator  Ives. 

Senator  Ives.  I  would  like  to  interrupt  here  and  ask  a  question. 

Mr.  La  Duca,  are  you  under  indictment? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  ground  that 
it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Senator  Ives.  Then  I  take  it  you  are. 

Counsel,  have  you  anything  to  say  about  that? 

Mr.  Neri.  May  I  have  permission  to  address  the  Chair,  Senator? 

The  Chairman.  You  may. 

Mr.  Neri.  He  was  subpenaed  before  the  Federal  grand  jury  in 
the  southern  district  of  New  York.  The  subpena  read  investigation 
for  conspiracy.  He  has  appeared  before  that  particular  grand  jury 
2  or  3  times.  He  has  also  appeared  before  the  Federal  grand  jury 
for  the  western  district  of  New  York,  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  and  the  scope 
of  the  investigation  at  that  particular  place  was  general. 


12276  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

It  was  never  narrowed  down.  He  has  also  appeared  before  the 
watchdog  committee  in  Albany,  N.  Y. 

Senator  Ives.  I  was  just  curious  to  know  the  reason  why  he  was 
taking  the  fifth  amendment.  I  can't  see  for  the  life  of  me  what  his 
association  with  Mr.  John  Charles  Montana  would  have  to  do  with  it. 
You  can't  explain  that,  Mr.  Counsel  ? 

Just  why  is  his  association  with  Mr.  John  Charles  Montana  pre- 
venting him  from  admitting  it? 

Is  Mr.  John  Charles  Montana  so  evil  that  an  association  with  him 
would  cause  one  to  be  forced  to  take  the  fifth  amendment? 

Mr.  Neri.  Senator,  I  am  sorry  I  can't  answer  that.  First,  probably, 
I  don't  know.    Secondly,  I 

Senator  Ives.  You  don't  know  anything  about  Mr.  Montana? 

Mr.  Neri.  Yes,  sir.  But  secondly  it  is  also  a  privileged  communica- 
tion between  my  client  and  myself. 

Senator  Ives.  I  respect  that,  of  course,  but  I  can't  understand  it. 
All  right. 

The  Chairman.  Proceed. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  I  would  like  to  ask  you  about  some  of  the  individuals. 
Do  you  know  Mr.  William  Buf alino,  from  Detroit  ?  We  have  infor- 
mation, Mr.  Chairman,  that  he  does  know  Mr.  William  Bufalino, 
head  of  local  985  of  the  Teamsters  in  Detroit. 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  that 
it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  We  have  information  that  you  know  well  Mr.  Bar- 
ney Baker,  who  was  working  in  Buffalo  for  the  Teamsters  for  a  period 
of  time. 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  that 
it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  know  Mr.  Barney  Baker  ? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  that 
it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  We  have  information  that  you  know  Mr.  Vito  Dom- 
iano. 

Do  you  know  Mr.  Vito  Domiano  ? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  that 
it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  know  him  under  his  alias,  Buck  Jones  ? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  that 
it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  know  he  was  involved  with  Mr.  Maggadino 
in  the  gambling  in  the  Buffalo  area  during  the  1950's  ? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  that 
it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  We  have  information  you  know  Mr.  Fred  Eandaccio. 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  that 
it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  that  he  was  closely  connected  with  Mr.  Domiano 
and  Mr.  Steve  Maggadino  in  this  gambling  in  the  Buffalo  area. 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  that 
it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  We  have  information  that  you  know  Mr.  Sam  Pieri, 
also  known  as  Salvatore  Pieri. 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12277 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  that 
it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Chairman,  we  have  information  that  this  wit- 
ness knows  Mr.  Pieri,  and  Mr.  Fieri  appears  on  the  Federal  narcotics 
list,  No.  24. 

Do  you  know  Mr.  Mike  and  Frank  Ervolino  ? 

Air.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  that 
it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Mike  Ervolino  is  the  business  agent  and  Mr. 
Frank  Ervolino  is  the  president  of  the  Cleaning  and  Dyehouse  Work- 
ers, local  123? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  that 
it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  The  information  we  have  is  that  Mike  Ervolino  is 
also  the  business  agent  and  president  of  the  combination  Launderers 
and  Cleaning  and  Service  Store  Employees,  local  163-10,  and  got  7 
to  15  years  for  attempted  extortion  with  a  teamster  local  shortly 
before  he  went  to  that  local.  This  judgment  was  subsequently  re- 
versed. 

Is  that  right? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  that 
it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  According  to  the  information  we  have,  you  also  know 
Mr.  Joseph  Stracci,  who  is  also  known  as  Joe  Stretch,  from  New  York 
City? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  that 
it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  According  to  the  information  from  the  investigation 
we  have  conducted,  we  find  that  you  registered  at  the  Hotel  Lexington 
in  New  York  City  from  November  7  to  November  12,  1957;  is  that 
right? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  that 
it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  that  you  were  at  that  hotel  with  Mr.  Joe  Fal- 
cone ? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  that 
it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  while  at  that  hotel,  on  the  9th  of  November, 
you  called  the  residence  of  Mr.  Joseph  Bonanno,  known  as  Joe  Ba- 
nanas ;  is  that  right  ? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  that 
it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Could  you  tell  us  why  you,  a  union  official,  was  call- 
ing the  notorious  Joe  Bananas? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  that 
it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  We  have  information  that  on  the  11th  of  November 
you  called  Mr.  Anthony  Falange,  of  Utica,  N.  Y.,  who  was  formerly 
in  the  Hod  Carriers  and  Common  Laborers  local,  and  associated  in 
northern  New  York  in  a  gambling  operation  using  that  local  union 
as  a  front  with  Mancuso.     Is  that  right  ? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  that 
it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 


12278  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  you  called  on  November  11  the  grill  that  is 
owned  by  Andrew  Sciandra,  who  is  the  uncle  of  Angelo  Sciandra. 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  that 
it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  that  on  November  11  you  called,  just  prior  to 
the  meeting  at  Apalachin,  you  called  the  home  of  Mr.  Joseph  Barbara. 
Is  that  right? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  you  also  called  his  Canada  Dry  Bottling  Co. 
of  Endicott,  N.  Y.,  Mr.  Barbara's  home? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  you  called  on  that  day  Mr.  Joseph  Padura,  who 
has  been  arrested  for  operating  a  floating  crap  game,  in  Pennsylvania. 
Is  that  right? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  you  called  the  L.  G.  Carriers,  the  trucking  firm 
of  James  Plumeri,  while  you  were  staying  at  the  Hotel  Lexington; 
is  that  right  ? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  We  have  information  that  you  were  called  by  Mr. 
Peter  J.  Calieri,  who  is  well  known  in  the  narcotis  field;  is  that 
right? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Why  would  you,  a  union  official,  be  associating  with 
these  people,  Mr.  LaDuca  ? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  We  have  information  that  Mr.  William  Moretti, 
who  was  a  notorious  hoodlum  slain  in  New  Jersey  in  1953  attended 
your  wedding.    Is  that  correct,  Mr.  La  Duca? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Going  back  to  Mr.  Joe  Bananas,  when  he  was  ap- 
prehended after  the  meeting  in  Apalachin,  he  had  in  his  possession 
your  business  card. 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  We  have  information  that  in  addition  to  the  people 
that  you  called,  that  you  were  called  by  Joseph  Barbara,  Sr.,  you 
have  been  called  by  Roy  Carlisi,  a  well-known  gangster  and  hoodlum, 
Joe  Falcone,  and  both  the  Galente  brothers;  is  thai  right? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  you  were  stopped  after  leaving  the  meeting  at 
Apalachin,  and  that  in  vour  car  was  Mr.  John  DeMarco  and  Mr. 
John  Scalish,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio. 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    EST    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12279 

Mr.  Kennedy.  How  did  you  know  Mr.  John  DeMarco  and  Mr. 

John  Scalish? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  John  Scalish  is  in  the  jukebox  business.  Can 
you  tell  us  what  your  association  has  been  with  him? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  in  the  cigarette-vending  business.  It  is  the 
cigarette-vending  business  rather  than  the  jukebox. 

Can  you  tell  us  what  your  relationship  has  been  with  him,  with 
John  Scalish  ? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  All  right,  Mr.  Chairman. 

Mr.  La  Duca,  isn't  it  true  also  that  auditing  the  books  and  records 
of  your  local  as  well  as  of  the  pension  and  welfare  funds  of  your  local 
is  Mr.  Harold  Mark? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Isn't  Mr.  Harold  Mark  the  individual  who  appeared 
before  this  committee  last  year — he  is,  Mr.  Chairman,  the  individual 
who  appeared  before  this  committee  last  year — in  connection  with  an 
attempted  fix-up  in  New  York  City,  and  he  is  the  individual  that  has 
received  in  loans  some  $150,000  from  Mr.  James  Hoffa,  of  Detroit? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  that 
it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  after  he  received  the  loans  from  Mr.  Hoffa's 
local,  he  turned  around  and  loaned  Mr.  Hoffa  $25,000;  is  that  cor- 
rect? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  This  is  the  man  that  handles  the  books  and  records 
of  your  local  and  the  pension  and  welfare  funds  of  your  local ;  is  that 
right  ? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  How  is  it  you  happened  to  retain  Mr.  Harold  Mark, 
Mr.  La  Duca  ? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  is  all. 

The  Chairman.  Are  you  married  ? 

(The  witness  conferred  with  his  counsel.) 

Mr.  La  Duca.  Yes,  sir,  I  am. 

The  Chairman.  What  was  your  wife's  maiden  name  ? 

(The  witness  conferred  with  his  counsel.) 

Mr.  La  Duca.  Her  maiden  name  was  Angeline  Maggadino. 

The  Chairman.  Thank  you  very  much. 

Mr.  La  Duca.  You  are  welcome. 

The  Chairman.  Were  you  born  in  this  country  ? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  Yes,  sir. 

The  Chairman.  You  are  an  American  citizen  ? 


12280  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  La  Duca.  Yes,  sir. 

The  Chairman.  Are  you  a  union  official  ? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  Have  you  ever  been  a  union  official  ? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  Do  you  regard  yourself  as  a  common  hoodlum  ? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I 

(The  witness  conferred  with  his  counsel.) 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  that 
it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  Are  you  a  member  of  the  Mafia? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  You  know  what  the  Mafia  is,  don't  you  ? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  You  have  heard  of  it  before,  haven't  you? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  Is  there  one  single  thing,  one  single  activity,  in 
which  you  are  now  engaged,  or  in  which  you  have  ever  been  engaged, 
about  which  you  can  tell  the  truth  under  oath  without  running  the 
risk  of  possible  self-incrimination  ? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  that 
it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  I  wanted  to  give  you  an  opportunity  if  there  is 
one  single  thing  in  your  activities  now  or  in  the  past  that  you  can  talk 
about  under  oath  without  incriminating  yourself  or  risking  possible 
self-incrimination. 

I  wanted  to  give  you  the  opportunity  to  testify  to  it.  Will  you  take 
advantage  of  the  opportunity  ? 

Mr.  La  Duca.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  Well,  it  possibly  would. 

Are  there  any  further  questions  ? 

All  right.  You  may  stand  aside  for  the  present.  Call  the  next 
witness. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Rosario  Mancuso. 

The  Chairman.  Will  you  be  sworn  ? 

Do  you  solemnly  swear  that  the  evidence  you  shall  give  before  this 
Senate  select  committee  shall  be  the  truth,  the  whole  truth,  and  nothing 
but  the  truth,  so  help  you  God  ? 

Mr.  Mancuso.  I  do. 

TESTIMONY  OF  ROSARIO  MANCUSO,  ACCOMPANIED  BY  HIS 
COUNSEL,  ANTHONY  FERNICOLA 

The  Chairman.  Will  you  state  your  full  name,  and  your  place  of 
residence,  and  your  business  or  occupation  ? 

Mr.  Mancuso.  Rosario  Mancuso,  926  Archer  Street,  Utica,  N.  Y., 
unemployed. 

The  Chairman.  I  did  not  understand  your  business  or  occupation. 

Mr.  Mancuso.  Unemployed. 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12281 

The  Chairman.  How  long  have  you  been  unemployed? 

Mr.  Mancuso.  About  4  months. 

The  Chairman.  What  did  you  do  previous  to  the  period  when  you 
were  unemployed  ? 

Mr.  Mancuso.  I  refuse  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  Have  you  quit  it  since,  whatever  you  were  doing? 
You  said  now  you  are  unemployed,  and  I  assume  that  you  were 
employed  up  until  4  months  ago. 

Mr.  Mancuso.  I  refuse  to  answer  on  the  grounds  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  Whatever  you  were  doing  then,  that  might  have 
tended  to  incriminate  you,  I  take  it  from  your  answer  that  you  have 
quit  it  about  4  months  ago;  is  that  right? 

Mr.  Mancuso.  I  refuse  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to  in- 
criminate me. 

The  Chairman.  "Well,  we  do  not  get  very  far  in  finding  out  what 
your  business  is. 

Do  you  have  a  lawyer  ? 

Mr.  Mancuso.  I  didn't  hear  the  question. 

The  Chairman.  Do  you  have  a  lawyer  to  represent  you  ? 

Mr.  Mancuso.  I  have. 

The  Chairman.  Could  you  tell  us  his  name  ? 

Mr.  Mancuso.  Anthony  Fernicola. 

The  Chairman.  Will  you  please  identify  yourself  for  the  record, 
Mr.  Fernicola  ? 

Mr.  Fernicola.  My  name  is  Anthony  Fernicola,  and  I  am  an  at- 
torney, and  my  office  is  in  the  First  Bank  Building  in  Utica,  N.  Y. 

The  Chairman.  Proceed,  Mr.  Kennedy. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Mancuso,  are  you  also  known  as  Joe  Greco  ? 

Mr.  Mancuso.  I  refuse  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  Al  Greco  ? 

Mr.  Mancuso.  I  refuse  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Where  were  you  born  ? 

Mr.  Mancuso.  I  refuse  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  You  are  not  proud  of  your  country,  where  you  were 
born? 

Mr.  Mancuso.  I  am  proud  of  my  country. 

The  Chairman.  Are  you  ashamed  of  it  f  How  would  it  incrimi- 
nate you  then  to  say  where  you  were  born  ? 

Mr.  Mancuso.  I  was  born  in  the  United  States. 

The  Chairman.  In  the  United  States  ? 

Mr.  Mancuso.  Yes,  sir. 

The  Chairman.  That  is  fine. 

Proceed,  Mr.  Kennedy. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  were  born  actually  in  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  were  you 
not? 

Mr.  Mancuso.  I  was. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  On  January  29, 1907  ? 

Mr.  Mancuso.  I  was. 


12282  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Now,  have  you  been  president  of  the  New  Form  Con- 
crete Co.,  of  Utica,  N.  Y.  ? 

Mr.  Mancuso.  I  refuse  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Have  you  ever  been  arrested  ? 

Mr.  Mancuso.  I  refuse  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  spent  2  to  5  years  in  the  penitentiary  at  Con- 
necticut for  assault  with  intent  to  commit  murder,  in  1951  ? 

Mr.  Mancuso.  I  refuse  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Actually  you  only  spent  2  years  there,  didn't  you, 
Mr.  Mancuso  ? 

Mr.  Mancuso.  What  is  the  question  ? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  only  spent  2  years? 

Mr.  Mancuso.  I  never  spent  a  minute  in  Connecticut  in  my  life. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Have  you  ever  been  arrested  ? 

Mr.  Mancuso.  I  never  was  arrested  in  Connecticut. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Were  you  arrested  anywhere  ? 

Mr.  Mancuso.  I  refuse  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Have  you  spent  any  time  in  any  penitentiary  ? 

Mr.  Mancuso.  I  refuse  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Have  you  spent  any  time  in  any  penitentiary  in 
New  York  ? 

Mr.  Mancuso.  I  refuse  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  How  many  different  penitentiaries  have  you  been 
in,  and  maybe  we  can  get  at  it  that  way? 

Mr.  Mancuso.  I  refuse  to  answer  on  the  groimd  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  All  right. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Now,  Mr.  Mancuso,  you  became  a  union  official  in 
November  of  1953  ? 

Mr.  Mancuso.  I  refuse  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  became  president  of  Local  186  of  the  Interna- 
tional Hod  Carriers  and  Common  Laborers'  Union  of  America? 

Mr.  Mancuso.  I  refuse  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  union  experience  did  you  have  to  become  the 
president  of  local  186  ? 

Mr.  Mancuso.  I  refuse  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  secretary-treasurer  of  that  local  was  Mr.  An- 
thony Falange ;  is  that  right  ? 

Mr.  Mancuso.  I  refuse  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  Mr.  Carl  Dardino  was  elected  the  business 
agent  ? 

Mr.  Mancuso.  I  refuse  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Where  did  that  union  operate? 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12283 

Mr.  Mancuso.  I  refuse  to  answer  on  the  ground  ii  may  lend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.   Did  you  operate  up  in  Plattsburgh,  X.  YA 

Mr.  Mancuso.  I  refuse  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Now,  the  information  thai  we  have  is  that  you  oper- 
ated up  in  Plattsburgh,  X.  Y.,  and  that  you  and  these  other  two  so- 
called  union  officials  established  a  gambling  operation  in  one  of  the 
local  hotels;  is  that  right  ? 

.Mr.  Mancuso.  I  refuse  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kknnedy.  And  you  tried  to  set  up  a  very  active  gambling  ring 
in  that  area  ;  is  that  righ<  '. 

Mr.  Mancuso.  I  refuse  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  there  were  some  attempted  shakedowns  and 
finally  the  union  officials  in  that  area  themselves  moved  against  you, 
and  had  you  removed ;  is  that  right? 

Mr.  Mancuso.  I  refuse  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  the  gambling  establishment  was  in  the  Cum- 
berland Hotel  on  the  second  floor;  is  that  right? 

Mr.  Mancuso.  I  refuse  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Senator  Ives.  May  I  interrupt  here  ? 

Has  the  witness  ever  been  in  Plattsburgh? 

Mr.  Fernicola.  Are  you  asking  me  ? 

Mr.  Mancuso.  I  refuse  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Senator  Ives.  Have  you  ever  been  in  Plattsburgh  ? 

Mr.  Mancuso.  I  refuse  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Senator  Ives.  Is  that  what  your  visit  up  there  was  up  to? 

Mr.  Mancuso.  I  didn't  get  the  question  ? 

Senator  Ives.  I  was  just  commenting  on  your  answer.  It  does  not 
make  much  sense. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Isn't  it  correct  that  also  while  up  there  as  sup- 
posedly a  union  official,  you  attempted  to  obtain  a  liquor  license  for  a 
restaurant? 

Mr.  Mancuso.  I  refuse  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  then,  Mr.  Mancuso,  isn't  it  a  fact  that  you 
operate  a  number  of  the  enterprises  of  the  Falcone  brothers  in  Utica, 
X.  Y.? 

Mr.  Mancuso.  I  refuse  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  we  have  information  that  in  Utica,  N.  Y.,  there 
was  a  wide-open  gambling  game,  with  very  large  stakes,  operating 
in  1957,  and  that  you  acted  as  the  doorman;  is  that  right? 

Mr.  Mancuso.  I  refuse  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  that  this  was  in  fact  run  by  the  Falcone 
brothers. 

21243— 58— pt.  32 7 


12284  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN   THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  Mancttso.  I  refuse  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Wasn't  it  a  fact  that  this  gambling  operation  was 
broken  into  and  the  money  all  picked  up  by  another  group  of  gang- 
sters and  hoodlums  ? 

Mr.  Mancttso.  I  refuse  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  Would  you  mind  saying  you  decline  to  answer? 

Mr.  Mancttso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  those  grounds. 

The  Chairman.  All  right. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  the  individual  came  in  and  robbed  this 
gambling  game  that  was  going  on;  isn't  that  a  fact,  that  he  walked 
in  and  made  everybody  take  their  pants  off  and  then  took  all  of  their 
money  ? 

Mr.  Mancttso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Now,  wasn't  one  of  the  individuals  that  was  sup- 
posed to  be  responsible  for  raiding  that  gambling  game  and  crap 
game,  a  man  by  the  name  of  Hap  Longo  ? 

Mr.  Mancttso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  know  Mr.  Hap  Longo  ? 

Mr.  Mancttso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  know  that  Mr.  Hap  Longo  has  disappeared 
within  the  last  few  months  ? 

Mr.  Mancttso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  know  what  happened  to  Air.  Longo  ? 

Mr.  Mancttso.  I  refuse  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  According  to  the  information  we  have,  the  last  time 
Mr.  Longo  was  seen  was  by  Mrs.  Longa  when  she  saw  him  in  your 
company  ? 

Mr.  Mancttso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  know  what  happened  to  her  husband? 

Mr.  Mancttso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  Did  you  kill  him  ? 

Mr.  Mancttso.  I  decline  to  answer  that  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Senator  Ives.  I  do  not  blame  you. 

The  Chairman.  It  would. 

Proceed. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Now,  we  understand,  Mr.  Mancnso,  that  the  Falcone 
brothers  who  operate  out  of  Utica,  N.  Y.,  are  very  close,  or  were  very 
close  to  Albert  Anastasia  ;  is  that  correct  ? 

Mr.  Mancttso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  ten]  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  isn't  it  a  fact  that  it  was  from  Utica,  N.  Y.,  that 
Mr.  Albert  Anastasia  registered  and  was  inducted  into  the  United 
States  Army? 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    EST    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12285 

Mr.  Mancuso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Air.  Kennedy.  And  it  is  a  matter  of  record  and  isn't  it  a  fact  that 
he  gave  as  his  address  at  that  time,  a  vacant  lot  in  Utica,  N.  Y.? 

Mr.  Mancuso.  I  decline  to  answer  that  on  the  ground  it  may  tend 
to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  do  you  know  how  he  was  able  to  make  that  ar- 
rangement in  Utica,  N.  Y.,  to  be  taken  into  the  Army  like  he  was? 

Mr.  Mancuso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  isn't  it  a  fact  that  his  son  and  daughter  were 
married  in  Utica,  N.  Y.?  That  is,  his  son  was  married  in  Utica, 
N.Y.? 

Air.  Mancuso.  I  decline  to  answer  that  on  the  ground  it  may  tend 
to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Were  you  at  the  wedding  of  young  Anastasia? 

Mr.  Mancuso.  I  decline  to  answer  that  on  the  ground  it  may  tend 
to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  wasn't  Anastasia's  daughter-in-law  buried  up 
in  Utica,  N.  Y.  ? 

Mr.  Mancuso.  I  decline  to  answer  that  on  the  ground  it  may  tend 
to  incriminate  me. 

Senator  Ives.  May  I  ask  a  question  there,  Mr.  Counsel? 

Knowing  something  about  the  Utica  situation,  I  would  like  to  ask 
this  witness  if  he  himself  is  in  any  way  associated  with  the  city 
administration  in  Utica  '. 

Mr.  Mancuso.  I  decline  to  answer  that  on  the  grounds  it  may  tend 
to  incriminate  me. 

Senator  Ives.  It  is  that  bad,  is  it?     I  was  just  curious ;  that  is  all. 

You  did  not  have  to  give  that  answer  unless  you  wanted  to. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Xow,  just  a  little  background. 

You  came  to  Utica  from  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  in  the  1930's,  did  you  not? 

Mr.  Mancuso.  I  decline  to  answer  that  on  the  ground  it  may  tend 
to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  in  1944  you  were  supposedly  backing  fights,  box- 
ing matches,  in  that  area. 

Mr.  Mancuso.  I  decline  to  answer  that  on  the  ground  it  may  tend 
to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Isn't  it  correct  that  the  money  used  in  that  operation 
came  from  the  Falcone  brothers  ? 

Mr.  Mancuso.  I  refuse  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to  in- 
criminate me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Could  you  tell  the  committee  why  it  is  that  just  1  or 
2  companies  in  Utica,  N.  Y.,  are  able  to  get  all  of  the  contracts  in  that 
area,  building  contracts  ? 

Mr.  Mancuso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  3tou  know  Darling  Ice  Cream  Co.  of  Syracuse, 
N.  Y.« 

Mr.  Mancuso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  According  to  our  information  you  have  been  calling 
it  Darling  Ice  Cream  Co.  of  Syracuse,  N.  Y. 


12286  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IX    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  Mancuso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  What  is  incriminating  about  ice  cream?  Can  you 
tell  us? 

Mr.  Mancttso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Isn't  this  ice  cream  company  operated  by  Vincent 
Scro  ? 

Air.  Mancuso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  I  am  sorry,  it  is  Air.  Sam  Ccro.  Do  you  know  Air. 
Sam  Scro? 

Mr.  Mancuso.  I  decline  to  answer  that  on  the  ground  it  may  tend 
to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  do  you  know  why  other  people  with  criminal 
records  such  as  Manuel  Sicari,  Salvatore  Falcone,  and  Barbara,  and 
Monachino  would  all  be  calling  this  ice  cream  company  ? 

Mr.  Mancuso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  you  have  had  telephone  calls  to  Carl  Giodino, 
and  Dominick  D'Agostino  ? 

Mr.  Mancuso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  We  have  information  based  on  some  testimony  this 
morning  that  you  used  Joe  Foti  in  union  business  while  he  was  a 
narcotics  fugitive ;  is  that  correct  ? 

Mr.  Mancuso.  I  decline  to  answer  that  on  the  ground  it  may  tend 
to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  know  Joe  Foti  ? 

Mr.  Mancuso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Could  you  tell  us  why,  or  how,  you  were  able  to 
become  a  union  official  in  the  Hod  Carriers  Union  ? 

Mr.  Mancuso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  is  all  for  now. 

The  Chairman.  How  long  have  you  been  a  member  of  the  Mafia  ? 

Mr.  Mancuso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Were  you  born  into  membership,  or  did  you  marry 
into  membership  ? 

Mr.  Mancuso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  are  married,  are  you  not  ? 

Mr.  Mancuso.  Yes. 

Mi*.  Kennedy.  What  was  your  wife's  maiden  name  ? 

Mr.  Mancuso.  Cora  Mantemaro. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Thank  you. 

Did  you  go  to  the  meeting  at  Apalachin  ? 

Mr.  Mancfso.  I  decline  to  answer  it  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  The  information  that  we  have  is  you  attended  the 
meeting  at  Apalachin  ;  is  that  correct? 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12287 

Mr.  Mam  i  so.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  went  up  with  Joe  and  Salvatore  Falcone ;  isn't 
that  right? 

Mr.  Man (i  bo.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  you  were  apprehended  while  leaving  the  meet- 
ing at  Apalachin  with  Joe  and  Salvatore  Falcone,  Dominick  D?Agos- 
t  ino.  and  Samuel  Lagattuta  :  is  that  right? 

Mr.  Mancuso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that  it  may  tend 
to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Now,  you  told  our  investigators  when  they  first 
talked  to  you  that  all  you  did  when  you  went  to  Apalachin  was  sit  in 
the  car  and  read  a  book;  is  that  right  \ 

Mr.  Mancuso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  were  you  discussing  at  the  meeting  at  Apala- 
chin ? 

Mr.  Mancuso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  Would  it  be  proper  to  say  that  that  was  a  hood- 
lum convention  up  at  Apalachin? 

Mr.  Mancuso.  I  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the  ground  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  I  would  not  want  to,  myself,  describe  it  if  you 
could  help  me  get  it  in  proper  perspective. 

Senator  Ives.  I  think  it  is  a  little  different  from  that.  I  think 
it  was  a  glorified  family  reunion. 

The  Chairman.  It  may  have  been. 

Call  the  next  witness. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  He  is  on  his  way  over,  and  perhaps  we  could  put 
another  witness  on. 

The  Chairman.  The  committee  will  stand  in  recess  for  2  or  3 
minutes. 

(A  short  recess  was  taken.) 

The  Chairman.  Let  us  come  to  order. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Is  Mr.  Montana  here? 

If  not,  I  will  call  Mr.  Larasso. 

The  Chairman.  Will  you  be  sworn  ? 

Do  you  solemnly  swear  that  the  evidence  you  shall  give  before  this 
Select  Senate  Committee  shall  be  the  truth,  the  whole  truth,  and  noth- 
ing but  the  truth,  so  help  you  God  ? 

Mr.  Larasso.  I  do. 

TESTIMONY  OF  LOUIS  ANTHONY  LARASSO 

The  Chairman.  State  your  name,  and  your  place  of  residence,  and 
your  business  or  occupation. 

Mr.  Larasso.  Louis  Anthony  Larasso,  2711  Bradbury  Avenue,  Lin- 
den, N.  J. 

The  Chairman.  Your  occupation  or  business  ? 

Mr.  Larasso.  I  refuse  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  incriminate 
me. 


12288  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    EST   THE    LABOR    FIELD 

The  Chairman.  I  believe  if  I  were  you,  I  would  say  "I  decline  to 
answer,"  and  show  a  little  more  respect  for  your  Government. 

You  decline  to  answer  ? 

Mr.  Larasso.  On  the  ground  it  may  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  All  right.     You  do  not  have  an  attorney? 

Mr.  Larasso.  No,  sir. 

The  Chairman.  All  right,  Mr.  Kennedy,  you  may  proceed. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Larasso,  you  are  also  known  as  Lucky  Luciano 
Larasso. 

Mr.  Larasso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  might  incrimi- 
nate me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Even  on  your  other  name  you  don't  want  to  answer 
that,  either? 

Mr.  Larasso.  My  name  is  Louis  Anthony  Larasso. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  have  any  other  name  that  you  go  by,  do  you 
use  any  other  name  ? 

Mr.  Larasso.  You  mean  an  alias  ? 

I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  might  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  What  information  do  we  have  as  to  the  name  ? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Luciano  Larasso,  and  Larasso,  isn't  that  correct? 
You  also  use  the  name  Luciano  ? 

Mr.  Larasso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  incriminate 
me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Weren't  you  a  trustee  of  Local  394  of  the  Hod  Car- 
riers and  Common  Laborers  Union  ? 

Mr.  Larasso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  might  incriminate 
me. 

The  Chairman.  Did  you  do  something  as  trustee  that  you  think 
might  incriminate  you  if  you  told  the  truth  about  it  ? 

Mr.  Larasso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  might  incriminate 
me. 

The  Chairman.  If  you  said  "yes,"  it  might  incriminate  you  ? 

Mr.  Larasso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  might  incriminate 
me. 

The  Chairman.  And  if  you  said  "no,"  it  might  incriminate  you? 

Mr.  Larasso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  might  incriminate 
me. 

The  Chairman.  Proceed. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  We  have  information  that  you  were  a  member  of 
the  Hod  Carriers  Local  for  about  2  years,  and  that  you  resigned  as 
the  trustee  of  Local  394  of  the  Hod  Carriers  on  December  15,  1957. 

Mr.  Larasso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  might  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  As  far  as  your  background  is  concerned,  we  have 
the  information  that  you  were  born  November  13,  1926,  in  Elizabeth, 
N.J. 

The  Chairman.  Is  that  information  correct? 

Mr.  Larasso.  Would  you  repeat  that,  please. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  November  13, 1926  ? 

Mr.  Larasso.  That  is  right. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  In  Elizabeth,  N.  J.  ? 

Mr.  Larasso.  Yes,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That,  according  to  the  information  that  we  have, 
you  attended  the  meeting  at  Apalachin,  in  November  1957? 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    EN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12289 

Mr.  Larasso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  might  incriminate 
me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  you  registered  at  Carleton  Hotel  in  Bing- 
hamton,N.  Y.,  with  Frank  Majuri. 

Mr.  Larasso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  Why  do  you  think  it  might  tend  to  incriminate 
you,  registering  in  the  hotel,  or  being  there  with  him? 

Mr.  Larasso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  There  is  nothing  about  the  hotel  that  would  in- 
criminate you ;  is  there  ? 

Air.  Larasso.  I  decline  to  answer. 

The  Chairman.  I  mean  in  fairness  to  the  hotel.  The  hotel  has 
some  rights  here  that  ought  to  be  respected,  and  it  is  a  nice  hotel,  is  it 
not  ?    Did  you  say  it  was  not  ? 

Mr.  Larasso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  might  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  All  right,  proceed. 

Senator  Ives.  Were  you  ever  in  Binghamton  ? 

Mr.  Larasso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  might  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Senator  Ives.  Are  you  an  attorney  ? 

Mr.  Larasso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  might  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  You  ought  not  to  reflect  upon  the  profession. 

Senator  Ives.  What  is  wrong  with  the  legal  profession  ? 

The  Chairman.  Are  you  a  lawyer  ? 

Mr.  Larasso.  No,  sir. 

The  Chairman.  Thank  you. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  you  went  to  meetings  with  Frank  Majuri,  who 
also  was  an  official  of  the  union,  the  same  one,  and  he  was  vice  presi- 
dent of  local  394 ;  is  that  right  ? 

Mr.  Larasso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  might  incrimi- 
nate me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Now,  Frank  Majuri  has  been  convicted  some  five 
times ;  isn't  that  right,  on  different  offenses  ? 

Mr.  Larasso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  He  was  arrested  in  1933  and  convicted  in  1935  for 
possession  of  liquor,  and  fined  $150,  and  in  1936  Alcoholic  Beverage 
Act.  I  guess,  and  he  was  convicted  then  and  received  a  3  years'  proba- 
tion, and  then  in  1937  illicit  manufacture  of  alcohol,  8  months  in  jail, 
and  in  1950  disorderly  conduct,  and  $50,  and  1954,  bookmaking,  1  to  2 
years'  probation. 

What  was  in  the  background  that  made  him  available  or  made  him 
be  the  one  to  be  selected  to  be  vice  president  of  this  local  union  ? 

Mr.  Larasso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  might  incrimi- 
nate me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Isn't  it  correct  that  while  a  union  official  he  was 
active  in  setting  up  and  operating  gambling  games  on  the  various 
projects  ? 

Mr.  Larasso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 


12290  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  wasn't  that  set  np  for  the  men  wlio  were  em- 
ployed on  those  various  projects,  who  were  members  of  his  local 
union? 

Mr.  Larasso.  Would  yon  repeat  that  question? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Wasn't  there  gambling  games  set  up  for  the  men  who 
were  employed  on  these  various  jobs  and  who  were  men  who  were 
members  of  the  local  union. 

Mr.  Larasso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  might  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

(At  this  point,  the  following  members  were  present :  Senators  Me- 
ridian and  Ives.) 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  you  take  some  action  in  November  of  1952  to  set 
up  a  social  club  in  Linden,  X.  J.  ? 

Mr.  Larasso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  wasn't  that  set  up  by  you  with  a  Mr.  Emanuel 
Riggi? 

Mr.  Larasso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  that  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  This  is  according  to  the  information  we  have,  and 
that  Emanuel  Riggi  was  with  you  in  setting  np  this  social  club,  and  he 
was  a  business  agent  of  local  394. 

Mr.  Larasso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  that  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  that  the  purpose  of  the  club  was  to  establish 
gambling,  the  information  that  we  have. 

Mr.  Larasso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Isn't  it  correct  that  in  November  of  1957,  Mr.  Eman- 
uel Riggi  was  sentenced  to  2  years  by  the  Federal  court  in  Newark  for 
attempted  extortion  and  conspiracy  involving  building  contractors? 

Mr.  Larasso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  that  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  These  are  some  of  the  contacts,  Mr.  Larasso,  that  we 
find  that  you  have.  We  understand  that  you  are  an  associate  of 
Anthony  Riela. 

Mr.  Larasso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  that  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  He  attended  the  meeting  in  Apalachin.  And  that 
you  were  also  an  associate  of  Vito  Genovese,  is  that  correct  ? 

Mr.  Larasso.  Repeat  that,  please. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  are  an  associate  of  Vito  Genovese? 

Mr.  Larasso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  that  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Dominick  Olivetto,  who  is  from  New  Jersey  ? 

Mr.  Larasso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  that  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Joseph  Ida  ? 

Mr.  Larasso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  that  it  may  (end  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Albert  Doyle? 

Mr.  Larasso.  T  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  that  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12291 

Mr,  Kennedy.  You  were  associated  with  about  five  of  tin'  individ- 
uals that  attended  the  meeting  at  Apalachin,  prior  to  the  meeting. 

Mr.  Larasso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  that  it  may  tend 
to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Could  you  tell  us  why  you  have  been  calling  the 
Anchor  Bar  on  Second  Avenue  in  New  York  City  so  frequently  I 

Mr.  Larasso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  We  have  seven  telephone  calls  to  the  Anchor  Bar 
at  Second  Avenue.  Can  you  tell  us  a  little  bit  about  the  Anchor 
Vkxi( 

Mr.  Larasso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  that  it  may  tend 
to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Can  you  tell  the  committee  why  it  has  been  a  hang- 
out for  those  who  peddle  narcotics  ? 

Mr.  Larasso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  that  it  might  tend 
to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  Do  you  use  narcotics  ? 

You  can  answer  "no." 

Mr.  Larasso.  No,  sir. 

The  Chairman.  Thank  you.  I  just  wanted  to  get  one  answer  about 
something.     All  right,  proceed. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Have  you  ever  been  involved  in  jukeboxes  at  all,  had 
anything  to  do  with  them  ? 

Mr.  Larasso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that  it  might  tend 
to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  We  have  you  also  telephoned  by  Sam  DeCavalconte. 

Mr.  Larasso.  I  didn't  hear  the  question. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  I  would  like  to  have  you  pronounce  the  name  of  Sam 
DeCavalconte  D-e-C-a-v-a-1-c-o-n-t-e. 

Mr.  Larasso.  You  have  more  of  an  education  than  I  have.  Do  you 
want  me  to  spell  it  for  you? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Pronounce  it. 

Mr.  Larasso.  I  refuse  to  answer  on  the  grounds  that  it  might  tend 
to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  know  him  ? 

Mr.  Larasso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  that  it  might  tend 
to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  The  information  we  have  is  that  he  telephoned  you, 
and  I  thought  perhaps  you  could  help  us  with  the  correct  pronunciation 
of  his  name. 

Mr.  Larasso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  that  it  might  tend 
to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  Would  you  kindly  give  that  to  us  privately? 

We  may  come  across  that  name  again.  You  would  be  kind  enough 
to  do  that,  wouldn't  you  \ 

Mr.  Kennedy.  DeCavalconte,  is  that  right  I 

Mr.  Larasso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  it  might  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Could  you  tell  me  what  you  did  when  you  worked 
as  a  labor  foreman  for  the  United  Engineer  &  Construction  Co.  in 
Linden,  N.  J.  ? 

Mr.  Larasso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  that  it  may  tend 
to  incriminate  me. 


12292  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES   IN   THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Could  you  tell  us  why  you  telephoned  the  All  State 
Registered  Cars,  Inc.  ?     What  is  the  All  State  Registered  Cars,  Inc.  ? 

Do  you  know  anybody  there  ? 

Mr.  Larasso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  know  Joe  Prof  aci  ? 

Mr.  Larasso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  know  who  Joe  Profaci  would  be  calling  in 
that  company  ? 

Mr.  Larasso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Why  would  you  as  a  union  official  have  this  close 
association  with  all  these  individuals  of  long  police  and  criminal 
records  ? 

Mr.  Larasso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Why  did  you  go  to  the  meeting  at  Apalachin? 

Mr.  Larasso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  you  discuss  labor  matters  at  the  meeting  at 
Apalachin  ? 

Mr.  Larasso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  it  might  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Wliat  other  matters  did  you  discuss  while  you 
were  there  ? 

Mr.  Larasso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  it  might  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mi*.  Kennedy.  Did  you  discuss  the  death  of  Albert  An  astasia? 

Mr.  Larasso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  it  might  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  How  long  have  you  known  Vito  Genovese  ? 

Mr.  Larasso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  it  might  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Senator  Ives.  Mr.  Chairman  ? 

The  Chairman.  Senator  Ives. 

Senator  Ives.  I  would  like  to  inquire  of  the  witness :  Are  you  under 
indictment  ? 

Mr.  Larasso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  it  might  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Senator  Ives.  That  is  a  simple  matter  of  record,  whether  you  are 
or  are  not.  Can  you  say  that  you  are  ?  I  am  trying  to  find  out  why 
you  arc  taking  the  fifth  amendment  all  the  time. 

Mr.  Larasso.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  it  might  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  I  don't  believe  he  is. 

The  Chairman.  Are  you  married? 

Mr.  Larasso.  Yes,  sir. 

The  Chairman.  What  is  your  wife's  maiden  name  ? 

Mr.  Larasso.  Idee. 

The  Chairman.  I  thought  she  had  another  name. 

Mr.  Larasso.  Pardon  me? 

The  Chairman.  What  was  her  maiden  name? 

Mr.  Larasso.  Stephanie  Idee,  I-d-e-c. 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN   THE    LABOR    FIELD  12293 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  is  all. 

The  Chairman.  All  right.     You  may  stand  aside  for  the  present. 

Call  the  next  witness. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Montana. 

The  Chairman.  Be  sworn,  please. 

You  do  solemnly  swear  the  evidence  you  shall  give  before  this  Sen- 
ate select  committee  shall  be  the  truth,  the  whole  truth,  and  nothing 
but  the  truth,  so  help  you  God? 

Mr.  Montana.  I  do. 

TESTIMONY  OF  JOHN  C.  MONTANA,  ACCOMPANIED  BY  COUNSEL, 

FRANK  G.  RAICHLE 

The  Chairman.  Be  seated.  State  your  name,  your  place  of  resi- 
dence and  your  business  or  occupation. 

Mr.  Montana.  My  name  is  John  C.  Montana.  I  reside  at  340 
Starin  Avenue,  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 

The  Chairman.  Yes,  sir.     Your  business  or  occupation,  please? 

Mr.  Montana.  I  am  president  of  the  Van  Dyke  Taxicab  Co.,  Buf- 
falo, N.  Y. 

The  Chairman.  You  have  counsel  present. 

Mr.  Montana.  Mr.  Frank  Raichle. 

The  Chairman.  Will  vou  identify  yourself  for  the  record? 

Mr.  Eaichle.  Frank  G.  Raichle,  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 

The  Chairman.  Proceed,  Mr.  Kennedy. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Montana,  could  you  tell  us  the  date  and  place  of 
your  birth  \ 

Mr.  Montana.  I  was  born  on  June  30, 1893,  in  Montedoro,  Italy. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  you  came  to  this  country  in  what  year? 

Mr.  Montana.  In  1907. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  where  did  you  go  then,  what  part  of  the  United 
States? 

Mr.  Montana.  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Have  you  always  lived  in  Buffalo  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  Yes,  I  have. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  No  other  section  of  the  United  States  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  No,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  have  any  other  interests  other  than  the  taxi- 
cab  company  at  the  present  time  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  Yes,  I  have. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Could  you  tell  the  committee  what  they  are  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  Well,  the  Van  Dyke  Cab  Co.  is  the  parent  company 
for  Van  Dyke  properties,  and  it  is  the  wholly  owned  subsidiary,  and 
also  there  is  the  Van  Dyke  Transportation  Corp.,  owned  by  Van  Dyke 
Taxi  &  Transfer  Co.,  wholly  owned  by  that  company. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  then 

Mr.  Montana.  And  then  Van  Dyke  Properties,  Van  Dyke  Trans- 
portation Corp.  I  am  also  president  of  Van  Dyke  Baggage  Corp., 
which  is  a  separate  corporation  than  the  others. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  were  president  of  the  Frontier  Liquor  Corp.  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  I  was  for  about  6  months. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  When  was  that  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  Well,  Mr.  Fred  Weiss  was  the  president.  He  passed 
away  in  February,  and  then  the  directors 


12294  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  Kennedy.  February  of  what  year  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  February  of  1957.  He  was  president  for  7  years, 
and  I  was  asked  by  the  directors  after  he  passed  away  if  I  would  take 
over,  and  I  did,  at  no  pay. 

I  was  president  until  about  in  January  or  February  of  this  year. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  have  a  financial  interest  in  that  company 
also? 

Mr.  Montana.  I  have  about  6V2  percent  of  the  corporation. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  about  the  Buffalo  Beverage  Corp.  ?  That  was 
a  corporation  that  existed  some  time  ago. 

Mr.  Montana.  Well,  that  company  has  been  out  of  business  for 
10  years. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  you  have  an  interest  in  that  company  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  Yes,  I  did ;  about  5  percent. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  Mr.  La  Duca  have  an  interest  in  that  company 
also? 

Mr.  Montana.  Yes,  he  did. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  percentage  did  he  have  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  Well,  I  couldn't  really  tell  you  right  now.  I  do 
not  recall. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  about  the  Maggadinos,  then,  did  they  have 
an  interest  in  that  company  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  Peter  Maggadino  had  an  interest  also. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  did  they  do?  What  did  the  Buffalo  Beverage 
Corp.  do  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  They  were  distributors  for  Budweiser  beer. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  In  that  connection,  did  they  have  any  relationship 
with  Mr.  Barbara  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  No;  they  did  not. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  also  had  an  interest  in  the  Empire  State  Brew- 
ery Corp.  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  Yes,  I  did. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  was  closed  up  in  1910,  is  that  right  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  That  was  closed  up  in  1940. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  were  you,  a  director  of  that  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  I  was  a  director ;  yes. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  they  have  any  business  dealings  with  Mr.  Joseph 
Barbara  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  Yes ;  we  did. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  relationship  did  you  have  \ 

M  r.  Montana.  He  was  a  distributor. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Was  he  made  a  distributor  by  the  Empire  State 
Brewery  Corp.? 

Mr.  Montana.  Well,  it  came  about  that  he  got  a  license  from  the 
State,  and  he  approached  the  company  to  get  supplies  from  the 
Empire  State  Brewery  Corp.,  and  we  supplied  him  beer,  but  the 
business  was  his. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  kind? 

Mr.  Montana.  That  was  Kmpire  State  Brewery  beer. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Had  you  known  Mr.  Barbara? 

When  did  he  receive  this  distributorship  from  you? 

Mr.  Montana.  I  would  say  maybe  1931. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Had  you  known  Mr.  Barbara  prior  to  thai  '. 

Mr.  Montana.  I  didn't  know  him  until  then. 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12295 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  you  know  at  that  time  that  when  he  received 
the  distributorship  thai  he  had  been 

Mr.  Montana.   Xo;  I  did  not. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Wait  until  I  finish  the  question. 

Mr.  Montana.  All  right. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  he  had  been  arrested  some  2  or  3  times  in 
conned  ion  with  murders  \ 

Mr.  Montana.  No;  1  did  not. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  you  make  inquiry  into  that  at  all? 

Mr.  Montana.  No.  I  felt  that  if  he  had  a  license  from  the  State 
of  New  York,  and  he  went  through  that,  I  felt  everything  was  all 
right. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  How  did  you  happen  to  select  him,  Mr.  Montana? 

Mf.  Montana.  Well,  in  1934  you  didn't  select,  they  were  after  you 
if  you  could  supply  them. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  If  there  were  a  number  of  people  after  you,  why  did 
you  happen  to  pick  him? 

Mr.  Montana.  He  came  over,  he  qualified,  and  he  had  the  money 
to  pay  for  it,  and  we  could  sell  to  him  as  well  as  we  could  anybody 
else. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  didn't  look  into  his  background  at  all  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  I  did  not,  because  if  he  received  a  license  I  felt  that 
the  State  of  New  York  had  done  it. 

Senator  Ives.  Mr.  Chairman  ? 

The  Chairman.  Senator  Ives. 

Senator  Ives.  Mr.  Montana,  I  would  like  to  get  a  few  things  straight. 

Mr.  Montana.  Yes,  Senator. 

Senator  Ives.  I  want  to  ask  you  this:  Did  you  have  anybody  else 
who  acted  in  the  capacity  that  Mr.  Barbara  acted  in  who  was  affiliated 
with  you  at  that  time  and  living  as  far  away  as  Endicott  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  We  sold  even  up  in  the  Adirondacks. 

Senator  Ives.  Where  \ 

Mr.  Montana.  AYe  sold  up  to  the  Adirondacks. 

Senator  Ives.  You  had  a  large  area  for  distribution ;  is  that  it  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  Yes ;  we  did. 

Senator  Ives.  That  is  what  I  wanted  to  get  established — how  large 
your  area  of  distribution  was. 

Mr.  Montana.  AATe  went  as  far  as  Old  Forge,  Utica,  Auburn,  and 
Lake  Placid. 

Senator  Ives.  How  far  east  of  Endicott  in  the  southern  tier?  Any- 
thing '.     Did  you  get  down  into  the  ( 'atskills  at  all? 

Mr.  Montana.  I  don't  believe  so. 

Senator  Ives.  Then  Barbara  was  about  as  far  east  as  you  went  in 
the  southern  tier:  is  that  about  right? 

Mr.  Montana.  That  is  about  right. 

Senator  Ives.  Thank  you. 

Mr.  Montana.  Yon  are  welcome,  sir. 

Senator  Ives.  How  long  had  you  run  this  company,  the  Empire 
State  Brewery  ( Jorp.  \     AVhen  did  you  start  it? 

Mr.  Montana.  Well,  I  didn't  run  it.  I  was  one  of  them.  Mr. 
Heisman,  Fred  Pleisman,  was  the  president.  Mr.  Bill  Schwartz  was 
the  treasurer,  AATilliam  Schwartz. 

Senator  Ives.  AAThen  did  you  start  it  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  Just  after  prohibition  was  repealed. 


12296  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    ENT    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Senator  Ives.  You  say  Mr.  Barbara  was  one  of  the  distributors. 
Was  Mr.  Falcone  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  He  was  a  distributor  also. 

Senator  Ives.  What  area  was  he  in  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  Utica. 

Senator  Ives.  Joseph  Falcone  distributed  in  Utica  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  That  is  right. 

Senator  Ives.  And  Mr.  Maggadino  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  He  was  a  distributor  also  in  Niagara  Falls. 

Senator  Ives.  Was  anybody  distributing  for  you  in  Norwich  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  No. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  have  been  a  member  of  the  Buffalo  City  Council, 
have  you  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  Yes ;  I  have. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  were  a  member  of  the  Buffalo  City  Council  in 
1927? 

Mr.  Montana.  1927  to  1931. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  you  were  a  delegate  to  the  New  York  State 
Constitutional  Convention  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  I  was,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  that  was  in  1937  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  1937. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  In  Albany,  N.  Y.,  is  that  right? 

Mr.  Montana.  Yes ;  I  was. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  There  you  were  chairman  of  the  house  and  slum 
clearance  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  I  was  chairman  of  house  and  slum  clearance.  I  was 
also  chairman  on  labor  relations  and  compensation,  and  I  was  a  mem- 
ber of  several  of  the  committees. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  were  chairman  of  the  labor  relations  committees. 

Mr.  Montana.  And  compensation ;  yes,  both. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  How  many  employees  do  you  have  in  your  various 
companies? 

Mr.  Montana.  Well,  I  say  at  Van  Dyke  we  have  about  300  or  a 
little  more.    Some  of  them  are  part-timers  and  some  are  regulars. 

Mr.   Kennedy.  Are   any   of  those  employees  members  of   labor 


unions 


Mr.  Montana.  Well,  we  had  a  union  in  1937,  and  then  they  had  an 
unlawful  strike,  not  sanctioned  by  the  international,  and  after  that 
strike  the  boys  don't  seem  to  have  been  inclined  to  have  another  one. 

Mr.  Ken  \  i.nv.  You  haven't  had  a  union  then  since  1937  amongst  any 
of  your  employees  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  No. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  was  your  experience  particularly  that  j'ou  were 
made  head  of  the  labor  relations  committee  in  1937? 

Mr.  Montana.  Good  experience,  very  good. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Had  you  had  experience  with  unions,  labor  unions? 

Mr.  Montana.  No. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  No  experience  with  labor  unions? 

Mr.  Montana.  I  don't  know  how  even  a  union  is  run. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  in  L956  you  received  the  award  from  the  city 
of  Buffalo  as  man  of  the  year? 

Mr.  Montana.  Yes,  I  did. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Who  was  that  award  given  by  ? 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12297 

Mr.  Montana.  Well,  it  is  sponsored  by  the  Buffalo  Courier,  and 
is  the  Fun-arama,  which  is  the  Erie  Club  of  the  city  of  Buffalo, 
which  is  the  police  department. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  The  police  department? 

Mr.  Montana.  Yes. 

Senator  Ives.  Who  actually  makes  that  selection  there?  You  say 
it  is  sponsored  by  the  Courier,  but  who  makes  the  selection?  You 
said  the  police  department,  but  who  individually  makes  it? 

Mi-.  Montana.  There  was  a  committee. 

Senator  Ives.  Who  was  on  the  committee  at  the  particular  time? 

Mr.  Montana.  The  committee  was  Jim  Kennedy  with  the  Courier 
is  one,  and  Wade  Stevenson,  who  is  the  chairman  of  the  committee. 

Senator  Ives.  What  is  his  profession  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  Mr.  Wade  Stevenson  has  been  president  of  the 
Chamber  of  Commerce  of  Buffalo  for  5  years  at  least. 

Senator  Ives.  He  has  nothing  else  to  do  except  be  president  of  the 
chamber  of  commerce  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  No  ;  he  runs  a  very  large  business. 

Senator  Ives.  I  am  trying  to  find  out  who  the  ones  are  who  made 
the  award.     They  are  the  ones  who  must  have  known  you. 

Mr.  Montana.  Senator,  there  are  quite  a  few  prominent  people  that 
does  it. 

Senator  Ives.  Y"ou  gave  two  names.  Who  are  the  others  ?  I  know 
a  few  folks  in  Buffalo,  you  know. 

Mr.  Montana.  Yes;  I  know  you  do.  On  that  committee  there 
is  Ray  Wild.  On  that  committee  there  is  even  the  district  attorney 
on  that  committee. 

Senator  Ives.  Of  Erie  County  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  Yes,  he  is  one  of  them. 

Senator  Ives.  What  was  his  name  at  the  time? 

Mr.  Montana.  Dwyer. 

Senator  Ives.  That  is  four  you  have  named. 

Mr.  Montana.  And  there  is  Anthony  J.  Naples  on  that  committee, 
Joe  Basil  is  on  that  committee. 

Senator  Ives.  How  large  a  committee  was  it  ?     Yrou  have  named  six. 

Mr.  Montana.  About  20, 1  guess. 

Senator  Ives.  Don't  try  to  name  them  all.  The  ones  you  have 
named  are  rather  outstanding  citizens  of  Buffalo,  I  would  say. 

Mr.  Montana.  Yes:  they  are,  very  prominent  people. 

Senator  Ives.  Thank  you  very  much. 

Mr.  Montana.  You  are  welcome,  Senator. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Montana,  there  was  a  large  congregation  of  in- 
dividuals at  Apalachin,  N.  Yr.,  in  November  of  1957,  and  I  believe 
that  you  were  one  of  those  who  were  present  at  the  time  the  police  ap- 
prehended a  group  of  these  people.  How  did  you  happen  to  go  to 
Apalachin  in  November  of  ll).")?  '. 

Mr.  Montana.  Well,  Mr.  Kennedy.  I  was  going  to  New  York.  I 
had  a  meeting  with  Frank  Sawyer  from  Boston  in  New  York  at  11 
o'clock  on  Friday  morning,  and  a  fellow  by  the  name  of  DaiUM  niann 
and  a  fellow  by  the  name  of  Horace  Gwilym.  This  appointment  was 
at  11  o'clock  on  Friday  to  discuss  a  meeting  of  cab  research  bureau. 
I  also  had  an  appointment  in  Pittston,  Pa.  I  had  shipped  a  com- 
pressor in  1956,  the  first  part  of  December,  on  consignment,  after 
liquidation  of  Montana  Motors,  which  was  a  distributor  for  DeSoto 


12298  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

and  Plymouth  for  a  few  years.  I  didn't  get  the  money  for  this  com- 
pressor, and  I  thought  I  would  go  to  Pittston  on  Thursday  and  see 
Medico  Industries,  to  whom  I  had  shipped  this  compressor,  and  when 
I  got  through  with  them  I  was  going  to  New  York  to  this  meeting  the 
following  morning  at  12  o'clock  in  Mr.  Dennemann's  office. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  is  the  Medico  Industries  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  They  are  in  the  heavy  equipment  business. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Is  that  Bill  Medico  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  That  is  right, 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Wasn't  Mr.  Russell  Bufalino  connected  at  one  time 
with  that? 

Mr.  Montana.  I  do  not  know,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  So  you  decided  you  would  take  a  trip  down  to  Pitts- 
ton  to  see  what  had  happened  to  your  generator  ?     What  was  it  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  A  compressor.     It  was  a  working  ton  compressor. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  decided  to  go  down  to  Pittston  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  About  a  year  had  gone  by  and  the  compressor  was 
not  disposed  of.  Therefore,  I  was  going  there  to  find  out  whether  I 
would  get  paid  for  it  or  ship  it  back.     But  I  never  got  to  Pittston. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Weren't  the  phones  working  at  that  time? 

Couldn't  you  just  telephone  down  to  Pittston  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  Well,  telephones  didn't  do  any  good.  As  long  as  I 
was  going  to  New  York,  I  thought  I  may  as  well  get  it  over  with,  stop 
there  and  find  out  and  ship  it  back  if  I  couldn't  get  the  money. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Just  go  down  there  and  find  out  about  the  com- 
pressor yourself  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  That  is  right. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  left  on  what  day  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  I  left  Buffalo  on  Thursday  morning,  I  would  say 
about  a  quarter  to  9. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  is  November  14  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  That  is  right. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  On  your  way  to  Pittston  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  That  is  correct. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  About  8  :  45  in  the  morning? 

Mr.  Montana.  That  is  correct.  I  left  Buffalo,  went  down  the 
through  way  to  Waterloo,  Route  98,  from  98-B,  I  think  the  other  route 
was  IT,  and  I  was  going  to  11  after  that, 

Senator  Ives.  Why  were  you  on  17  in  New  York  instead  of  6  in 
Pennsylvania  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  17  to  11  is  bettor.  Senator. 

Senator  Ives.  6  is  pretty  good.     1  know  them  both. 

Mr.  Montana.  1  have  never  been  through  on  f>,  so  I  don't  know. 

Senator  Ives.  You  have  missed  something. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Could  you  tell  us  about  the  t  rip  \ 

Mr.  Montana.  Well,  (lie  first  tiling  that  happened  to  me  that  morn- 
ing was  the  left  front  windshield  wiper  (!ew  oil'  of  the  car  to  start 
with.  It  started  off  with  bad  luck  from  the  morning.  And,  of 
course,  it  was  pouring,  and  I  couldn't  drive  without  it, 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  kind  of  a  car  were  you  driving? 

Mr.  Montana.   A  Cadillac. 

M.  Kennedy.  How  long  had  you  had  this  car? 

Mr.  Montana.  Threeor  four  months. 

Mi-.  Kennedy.  Were  you  all  by  yourself  in  the  car? 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12299 

Mr.  Montana.  No:  I  had  another  man  with  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  was  his  name? 

Mr.  Montana.  Anthony  Maggadino  was  his  name. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  know  anything  about  his  back*: round  \ 

Mr.  Montana.  No,  I  don't. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  know  of  his  criminal  record  \ 

Mr:  Montana.    I  don't  think  he  has  any  criminal  record. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  know 

Mr.  Montana.  If  he  has.  it  is  unbeknown  to  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  didn't  know  of  his  career  in  Italy? 

Mr.  Montana.  I  wouldn't.     1  came  here  in  1907. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Well,  he  was 

Mr.  Montana.   I  understand  he  came  here  in  1923  or  1924. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Would  you  like  to  hear  it? 

Mr.  Montana.  He  doesn't  come  from  the  same  town,  either. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Falsifying  passports  in  Italy,  in  1916;  clandestine 
activities  in  1916;  arrested  for  homicide  in  1917;  extortion,  robbery, 
and  rape  in  1!»l!4.  it  has  here. 

Did  you  know  about -that  ( 

Mr.  Montana.  I  do  not,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Was  he  a  friend  of  yours  I 

Mr.  Montana.  Well,  he  is  an  uncle  through  marriage  to  my  nephew. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  you  know  he  was  questioned  in  connection  with 
gambling  in  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  by  a  Federal  grand  jury  in  1952? 

Mr.  Montana.  I  do  not  know,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  that  he  was  arrested  in  1935  for  violation  of 
the  United  States  immigration  laws  \ 

Did  you  know  that  ( 

Mr.  Montana.  I  do  not  know,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Anyway,  the  two  of  you  were  on  the  way.  He  was 
going  to  Pittston,  too  \ 

Mr.  Montana.  No. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Where  was  he  going  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  He  was  going  to  New  York. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  To  New  York  City  \ 

Mr.  Montana.  I  can  tell  you  how  that  happened,  too,  if  you  would 
like  to  know  it.    I  may  just  as  well  tell  you  how  it  happened. 

(At  this  point,  Senator  Goldwater  entered  the  hearing  room.) 

Mr.  Montana.  On  Wednesday  1  was  down  to  Niagara  Falls.  He 
lives  in  Niagara  Falls.  He  does  not  live  in  Buffalo.  I  was  there  to 
see  one  of  my  older  brothers.  He  is  about  81  years  old.  He  is  the 
father  of  a  girl  that  married  Maggadino's  nephew.  He  happened 
to  be  there.  1  told  him  I  was  going  to  New  York.  That  is,  I  didn't 
tell  it  to  him,  1  told  it  to  my  brother,  that  1  was  leaving  for  New 
York  the  next  morning,  and  he  asked  me  if  he  could  ride  with  me.  I 
told  him  I  had  no  objection,  that  he  could. 

That  is  the  way  it  happened.  He  was  going  down  to  see  his  sister 
in  New  York,  in  Brooklyn.  I  don't  know  where  she  lives.  And  some 
nieces  or  nephews. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  you  expect  to  get  to  New  York  City  that  night? 

Mr.  Montana.  Well,  if  1  got  through  1  would  have  gone  on  to 
New  York,  because  it  is  only  about  130  miles  from  Wilkes-Barre,  or 

21243— 58— pt.  32 8 


12300  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

1  M?TrhaVe  sta^d  \n  Wilkes-Barre  and  left  early  the  next  mornm* 
Mr.  Kennedy.  So  the  two  of  you  were  driving  down  b 

Senator  Ives.  May  I  raise  a  question  there  8    ' 
How  were  you  attired  at  that  time  ? 
Mr.  Montana.  Pardon « 

didyouhlvZ'?1  "^  h°W  W6re  y°U  attlred?    What  kind  of  clothin^ 
repeat  Jff^^^  *  dkln,t  ^et  the  W™^  Senator.     Will  you  please 

Senator  Ives.  I  say  how  were  you  attired  8 
.    Mr.  Montana.  I  had  one  of  these  coats  with  fur  on  top  of  it  and  it 
is  a  canvas  coat.     That  is  what  I  had.  P         ' 

Senator  Ives.  What  kind  of  a  hat  did  you  have  8 

Mr.  Montana    Well,  I  generally  wear  a  Dobbs  hat. 

Senator  Ives.  You  wear  a  what  % 

Mr.  Montana.  A  Dobbs  hat. 

W^f/T  ^l!',1  k?°W>  but  there  are  Dobbs  hats  and  Dobbs 
hats  and  they  have  all  kinds  of  shapes.     What  kind  of  a  shape  did  you 

Mr.  Montana.  Well,  Senator,  I  wouldn't  know  how  to  explain  it  to 
you.     It  was  just  a  regular  hat.  t^piam  it  ro 

Senator  Ives.  How  big  a  brim  ? 
Mr.  Montana.  It  is  a  small  brim. 
Senator  Ives.  A  small  brim? 
Mr.  Montana.  That  is  right. 

Senator  Ives.  What  kind  of  shoes  did  you  have  on  8 
Mr.  Montana.  The  same  kind  of  shoes  I  have  on  now 
Senator  Ives.  Where  are  they  ?     Let  me  see  them. 
Mr.  Montana.  Certainly. 
Senator  Ives.  The  sergeant  is  here.     I  would  like  to  ask  if  that 

aesci  lption  which  the  sergeant  gave  us. 
Mr.  Montana.  I  wish  you  would. 
Senator  Ives.  He  is  right  behind  you. 
Mr.  Montana.  Ask  him. 
Senator  Ives  I  am. 
Mr.  Crosswell    I  don't  recall  his  shoes,  Senator. 

atrial  nl™'  U  Saii  thry  Z™  P0intM-  l  ;,^d  ^u  how  he  was 
attired.  Do  you  remember?  You  started  telling  me  how  they  were 
all  attired  in  peculiar  garb.  -v       H 

Mr.  Crosswell    YeSl     I  don't  think  I  singled  one  out. 
ratelyf  °r  °Ut  his  hat '     Did  lie  describe  his  h*<=  ^ecu- 

Mr.  Crosswell.  I  don't  recall  his  hat  either 
Senator  Ives.  I  thought  you  said  he  had  a  large  brim  hat 

Mr  (rnnrSSWELL'  *  don  VeCa11  ****  illto  ^specifically^  far  as 
Mr.  Montana  was  concerned.  J       >■ 

Senator  Ives.  I  asked  you  about  Mr.  Montana  in  pari  icular 

Mr.  Crosswell.  I  don't  recall  that,  sir.     I  recall  saving  most  of 

shaSpTormirerThen  *  *"  "*  *— *  ^P~ly  in  any  way. 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN   THE    LABOR    FIELD  12301 

Mr.  Crosswell.  I  don't  recall  specifically. 

Senator  Ives.  What  did  the  rest  of  them  wear  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  For  the  most  part  they  all  wore  broad-brimmed 
hats,  dark  suits,  and  pointed  shoes.  As  far  as  singling  out  an  indi- 
vidual in  the  62  as  to  what  he  had  on  way  last  November,  I  can't 
tell  you. 

Senator  Ives.  Apparently  Mr.  Montana  is  clear  on  that,  then  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Possibly. 

Mr.  Montana.  May  I  tell  you  something? 

Senator  Ives.  I  am  trying  to  help  }'ou  out.  I  don't  understand  how 
you  got  into  this  gang.  I  have  known  nothing  but  good  of  you  until 
now.  But  now  I  find  that  you  are  tied  in  with  a  gang  that  is  very 
dubious,  very  doubtful ;  did  you  know  you  were  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  I  didn't  know  I  was,  sir. 

Senator  Ives.  You  had  better  check  into  it,  if  you  didn't  know.  I 
think  Mr.  Kennedy  may  have  something  to  enlighten  you. 

I  would  like  to  help  you  if  I  can.  There  is  now  no  way  of  getting 
around  the  truth  about  this  business. 

Mr.  Montana.  I  am  telling  the  truth. 

Senator  Ives.  You  have  a  very  good  lawyer  with  you.  I  will  tell 
you  that. 

The  Chairman.  Proceed,  Mr.  Kennedy. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  were  in  the  car  with  Mr.  Maggadino,  and  you 
started  having  trouble  with  your — what  was  it — windshield  wiper? 

Mr.  Montana.  To  begin  with,  I  had  trouble  with  the  windshield 
wiper. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Where  did  you  have  trouble  with  the  windshield 
wiper? 

Mr.  Montana.  This  was  on  the  Thruway. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  How  far  out  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  Probably  15  or  20  miles  after  I  got  out  of  Buffalo. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  did  yon  do  then  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  The  only  thing  I  could  do ;  it  was  raining  and  pour- 
ing so  much,  I  had  to  get  out  of  the  car  and  fix  it  the  best  way  I  could, 
and  I  did  fix  it.  I  did  fix  it.  I  am  not  a  mechanic,  but  mechanically 
inclined,  so  I  fixed  it  in  the  rain.    Then  I  proceeded. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  AH  right. 

Mr.  Montana.  When  I  got  about  10  miles  this  side  of — you  people 
call  it  Apalachin ;  I  call  it  Endicott. 

The  first  time  I  knew  that  was  Apalachin  was  when  I  read  it  in  the 
paper.  Senator. 

Senator  Ives.  I  will  tell  you  how  that  name  got  there  as  I  under- 
stand, so  you  won't  forget  how  to  pronounce  it.  Years  ago  in  the 
early  days,  when  the  area  was  just  being  settled,  there  was  some  kind 
of  a  little  store  there,  and  somebody  was  traveling  through,  and  he 
saw  an  Indian  sitting  on  something  in  front  of  the  store  rubbing  his 
belly,  and  he  asked  him  what  the  trouble  was,  and  the  Indian  said, 
"Apple  achin'."    That  is  what  thev  tell  me  the  name  came  from. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  had  your  windshiled  wiper  fixed  '. 

Mr.  Montana.  When  I  got  10  miles  this  side  of  Apalachin 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  you  have  to  go  through  Apalachin  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  I  would  have  to  go  through  that  fo — first  I  would 
leave  98-B  and  then  get  into  17.     That  is  Apalachin,  the  road. 
That  is  where  that  is.     That  goes  to  Endicott. 


12302  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Yes. 

Mr.  Montana.  I  had  trouble  with  my  brakes,  because  the  brakes 
got  wet,  and  they  just  wouldn't  stop.  On  that  road  there  is  no 
service  stations  of  any  kind,  and  I  could  not  drive  the  car  more 
than  15  or  20  miles  an  hour. 

Of  course,  to  my  own  sorrow,  I  know  that  Joe  Barbara  lived  there. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Lived  where? 

Mr.  Montana.  At  this  Apalachin,  which  is  only  about  maybe  a 
half  or  three-quarters  of  a  mile  from  this  road,  from  17.  So,  then, 
knowing  that  he  has  about  BO  trucks  and  mechanics,  I  thought  I 
would  drive  up,  in  spite  of  a  steep  hill,  and  ask  for  help,  if  he  could 
get  a  mechanic  to  help  me  out. 

Senator  Ives.  May  I  raise  a  question?  How  did  vou  know  all  of 
that? 

Mr.  Montana.  Of  course,  I  have  known  the  man,  as  I  told  you. 
He  was  a  distributor,  and  he  was  a  Canada  Dry  distributor.  I  sold 
him  some  station  wagons  from  Montana  Motors.  I  know  his  wife. 
And  I  know  his  children.     I  know  the  whole  family. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  How  did  you  know  he  lived  at  Apalachin  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  I  had  been  there  once  before. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  had  been  there  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  Yes,  I  did,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  All  alone  at  the  time  you  went  there? 

Mr.  Montana.  I  will  explain  that  at  the  time  I  am  asked  by  the 
counsel,  or  if  he  does  not  ask  me,  I  will  tell  him. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  I  am  sure  he  will. 

Mr.  Montana.  So  when  I  got  up  to  this  home 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Wait  a  minute.  Why  didn't  you  stop  at  the  garage 
with  the  bad  brakes  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  There  weren't  any  garages. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  No  garages  of  any  sort  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  No. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  No  garages  in  Apalachin  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  No.    That  is  my  bad  luck. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  didn't  pass  a  Cadillac  distributorship? 

Mr.  Montana.  There  isn't  any. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Or  a  Cadillac  garage? 

Mr.  Montana.  There  isn't  any. 

Senator  Ives.  When  did  your  windshield  start  bothering  you  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  That  isn't  the  reason  I  stopped.  I  did  fix  that.  This 
is  my  brakes. 

Senator  Ives.  When  did  the  brakes  start  bothering  you  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  About  10  miles  on  Route  98-B. 

Senator  Ives.  Just  about  Owego  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  Just  about  Owego. 

Senator  Ives.  Why  didn't  you  stop  there? 

Mr.  Montana.  There  is  nothing  in  Owego  but  a  gasoline  station. 

Senator  Tvks.  I  have  been  in  Owego  time  and  time  again.  That  is 
a  fairly  good  sized  place,  about  5,000.  There  are  several  garages 
there. 

Mr.  Montana.  I  have  been  over  there  twice  since,  and  I  don't  see 
very  much  over  there,  Senator. 

Senator  Ives.  You  must  have  gone  the  wrong  way.  I  live  near 
there  now,  you  know. 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12303 

Mr.  Montana.  You  maybe  do.    Of  course,  I  don't. 

Senator  Ivks.  Go  ahead. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  didn't  stop  at  the  gasoline  station  in  Owego? 

Mr.  Montana.  No. 

Mr.  Kknxkdy.  Why  didn't  you  do  that? 

Mr.  Montana.  Because  they  don't  know  how  to  take  care  of  a  set 
•of  brakes. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  How  do  you  know  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  You  know,  I  have  been  in  the  automobile  business 
for  years. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  makes  you  think  that  Joseph  Barbara,  who 
is  in  the 

Mr.  Montana.  He  has  about  10  or  15  mechanics  to  take  care  of  his 
trucks.    I  thought  he  would  get  a  mechanic  and  help  me  out. 

Mr.  Kknxkdy.  You  were  going  to  his  home,  were  you  not? 

Mr.  Montana.  Yes. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  He  would  not  have  the  10  or  15  mechanics  there. 

Mr.  Montana.  No,  but  he  would  get  one.  It  is  only  a  little  ways 
from  there. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Don't  you  think  the  gasoline  station  would  have 
mechanics? 

Mr.  Montana.  ISto,  they  don't. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  No  gasoline  stations  have  mechanics? 

Mr.  Montana.  No,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  May  I  ask  another  thing?  How  come  you  got  such 
a  lemon  in  a  1957  Cadillac? 

Mr.  Montana.  I  couldn't  answer  that,  Senator,  but  it  is  a  lemon. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  I  have  heard  a  lot  of  complaint  about  the  1957  Cadil- 
lacs, but  your  experience  beats  anything  I  have  ever  heard  of  yet. 
Here  you  have  had  a  car  3  or  4  months,  you  say,  and  you  are  having 
all  of  this  trouble  with  the  brakes,  the  windshield  wiper,  and — is  there 
anything  else? 

Mr.  Montana.  That  is  right. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  I  never  heard  of  anything  like  that  yet. 

Mr.  Montana.  That  is  right. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  So  you  went  up  to  his  home  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  That  is  right. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  decided  not  to  go  to  his  place  of  business,  where 
he  had  all  the  15  mechanics? 

Mr.  Montana.  This  was  closer.  It  is  about  10  miles  from  there  to 
his  place  of  business. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  "Why  didn't  you  go  there  and  then  you  could  get  the 
mechanics  to  fix  it  there  \ 

Mr.  Montana.  Well,  that  wasn't  my  thought. 

I  though  I  would  ask  Joe  if  he  would  get  a  mechanic  and  take  care 
of  the  car. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Why  didn't  you  go  to  the  place  of  business  where 
the  15  mechanics  are  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  Well,  it  is  10  miles  farther  anyway  Mr.  Kennedy. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  I  think  they  would  have  to  bring  the  mechanics. 

Mr.  Montana.  This  is  just  what  I  did.  I  can't  tell  you  what  I  didn't 
do.     I  am  telling  you  what  you  want  to  know. 

Senator  Ives.  In  Binghamton  there  is  a  Cadillac  service  station. 

Mr.  Montana.  Well,  there  may  be. 


12304  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN   THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Senator  Ives.  Well,  there  is.  Binghamton  is  a  city  of  80,000  popu- 
lation, and  I  know.  You  know  in  that  Cadillac  of  yours,  creeping 
along  at  15  miles  an  hour,  you  would  have  gotten  to  Binghamton  all 
right. 

Mr.  Montana.  Maybe  that  is  what  I  should  have  done,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  All  right.     So  you  went  on  to  his  home  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  That  is  correct. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  did  you  do  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  I  went  right  in  the  house. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  We  have  a  map  here.  Could  we  have  the  chart  up, 
please,  again  ? 

You  drove  right  up.    Were  there  automobiles  there  at  the  time? 

Mr.  Montana.  That  is  right. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Where  did  you  park  your  car  then  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  Just  in  front  of  the  garage. 

The  Chairman.  Can  you  see  this  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  Yes,  I  do. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  parked  your  car  in  front — will  you  come  up 
and  show  where  you  parked  the  car  ? 

The  Chairman.  Do  you  recognize  this  as  the  picture  of  the  place 
where  you  visited  ?  It  may  not  be  polished  up,  but  do  you  recognize 
it  as  the  Barbara  home  and  area  that  you  were  visiting  at  that  time? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  remember  coming  up  there  at  all?  This 
would  be  the  road  [indicating]. 

Sergeant,  would  you  point  out  the  various  things,  as  far  as  the 
road? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  That  is  the  road  [indicating]. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Is  that  the  road  you  were  coming  down  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  That  is  right. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  road  did  you  follow  in  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  I  wouldn't  know  which  one  it  would  be.  Is  this 
the  road 

Mr.  Crosswell.  This  is  17  [indicating]. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  I  would  like  to  find  out  is  would  you  show 
the  sergeant  where  your  car  was  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  Is  this  his  home  here  [indicating]  ? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Where  would  you  park  ordinarily  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  Where  is  the  entrance  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Eight  here  [indicating]. 

Mr.  Montana.  This  is  where  I  parked,  here  [indicating]. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Right  at  the  entrance  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  Right  at  the  entrance. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  parked  right  there  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  Yes. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Would  you  say  that  so  that  the  reporter  can  hear  it? 

Here  is  a  better  one,  a  better  picture.     Where  did  you  park? 

Mr.  Montana.  Right  here  [indicating]. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  parked  right  there  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  Yes. 

The  Chairman.  Put  an  X  right  where  you  parked. 

Mr.  Montana.  Yes. 

Senator  Ives.  I  would  like  to  ask  Mr.  Montana  if  he  recognizes  the 
sergeant. 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN   THE    LABOR    FIELD  12305 

Mr.  Montana.  Yes,  I  do. 

Senator  Ives.  And  you  recognize  Mr.  Montana? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Yes,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  parked  right  here  in  front,  is  that  right? 

Mr.  Montana.  Yes,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  did  you  do  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  I  went  right  in  the  house. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Looking  for  whom? 

Mr.  Montana.  Well,  of  course,  looking  for  Joe. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  "What  about  Mr. 

Mr.  Montana.  When  1  got  in  there,  his  missus  was  there. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Excuse  me? 

Mr.  Montana.  Mrs.  Barbara  was  there. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  happened  to  Mr.  Maggadino? 

Mr.  Montana.  lie  sat  right  in  the  car. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  J  Ie  never  even  got  out  of  the  car  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  No,  he  did  not. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  went  in  and  what  did  you  do  there? 

Mr.  Montana.  Well,  by  that  time,  as  1  said,  by  fixing  this  wind- 
shield wiper  and  everything,  I  got  wet,  and  I  had  a  little  chill,  and 
I  asked  Mrs.  Barbara  if  she  would  not  be  kind  enough  to  give  me  a 
cup  of  tea. 

Air.  Kennedy.  What  time  did  you  start  drinking  your  tea? 

Mr.  Montana.  Well,  I  couldn't  give  you  the  exact  time.  This  is  a 
few  minutes,  maybe  10  minutes,  after  I  got  there. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  time  did  you  get  there  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  Well,  it  is  a  question  that  has  been  debatable  right 
along.  I  would  say  that  in  my  best  judgment,  I  didn't  look  at  a 
watch,  it  could  have  been  around  2  o'clock. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  About  2  o'clock  you  got  there  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  About  2  o'clock.  That  is  my  best  judgment.  I 
would  not  say  for  sure  it  was  2  but  it  could  have  been  2  o'clock. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Could  it  have  been  12  o'clock  or  11  o'clock? 

Mr.  Montana.  No,  it  could  not  have  been  12  because  I  left  Buffalo 
at  a  quarter  to  9  and  I  could  not  have  gotten  there  in  that  time. 

Air.  Kennedy.  Could  it  have  been  1  o'clock? 

Mr.  Montana.  Well,  I  don't  see  how  it  could  have  been. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  say  it  was  after  1  o'clock,  then  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  Well,  I  would  say  yes,  it  must  have  been  after  1. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Was  it  definitely  after  1  o'clock  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  I  would  not  say  definitely,  because,  as  I  say  to  you, 
I  did  not  look  at  my  watch. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  It  is  rather  important,  as  you  know,  what  time  you 
arrived  there. 

Mr.  Montana.  It  is  important  now,  but  it  was  not  important  then. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  can't  tell,  you  can't  give  us  any  better  idea 
of  the  time  you  arrived  there  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  That  is  my  best  judgment  and  my  best  recollection. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Had  you  had  lunch  by  that  time  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  I  did  not,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  didn't  have  lunch? 

Mr.  Montana.  No,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  must  have  been  hungry,  then. 


12306  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  Montana.  I  don't  usually  have  lunch.  I  have  a  little  break- 
fast and  I  have  dinner  at  night. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  were  all  wet,  so  you  went  in  and  talked  to  Mrs. 
Barbara? 

Mr.  Montana.  I  asked  Mrs.  Barbara  if  she  would  not  be  kind 
enough  to  give  me  a  cup  of  tea.     I  don't  drink  coffee,  never  did. 

She  was  kind  enough  to  put  the  tea  kettle  on  the  stove  and  I  sat 
there  in  a  little  kitchen  waiting  for  that,  and  then  her  husband  walked 
in  from  the  rear  of  the  house,  and  I  told  him  I  was  not  feeling  good, 
and  I  told  him  I  was  having  car  trouble.  He  said  "Don't  worry 
about  it,  I  will  get  a  mechanic  and  get  this  fixed  up  for  you." 

Mr.  Kennedy.  In  the  meantime,  Mr.  Maggadino  was  still  sitting 
in  the  car? 

Mr.  Montana.  Still  sitting  in  the  car. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Wasn't  he  hungry? 

Mr.  Montana.  I  didn't  ask  him  if  he  was  hungry.  I  just  went  in 
to  get  this  car  business  taken  care  of,  and  I  told  him  to  wait. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  But  you  were  in  there  having  tea. 

Mr.  Montana.  That  is  right. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  were  eating. 

Mr.  Montana.  That  is  right. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  It  was  after  the  lunch  period.  Wasn't  he  also 
anxious  to  eat? 

Mr.  Montana.  Well,  he  didn't  discuss  anything  about  eating. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  So  you  had  your  tea,  and  then  what  happened? 

Mr.  Montana.  Then,  of  course,  somebody  said  that  there  was  a 
roadblock. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Who  were  you  having  tea  with,  by  that  time? 

Mr.  Montana.  Mrs.  Barbara  was  sitting  on  one  side  and  Mr.  Bar- 
bara on  my  left. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You,  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Barbara  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  But  they  were  not  having  any  tea.  I  was  the  only 
one  having  the  tea. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Then  somebody  said  they  put  up  a  roadblock. 

Mr.  Montana.  Then  Joe  said  there  was  a  roadblock. 

Senator  Ives.  He  said  that  after  you  had  your  tea? 

Mr.  Montana.  This  is  just  about  as  I  am  drinking  my  tea,  Senator. 

Senator  Ives.  You  say  he  didn't  know  anything  about  it  before 
you  had  your  tea? 

Mr.  Montana.  No,  he  did  not.     He  did  not. 

Senator  Ives.  Go  ahead. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Who  said  there  was  a  roadblock? 

Mr.  Montana.  Well,  I  don't  know.  Maybe  Joe  and  somebody  else, 
that  came  in  the  house. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Joe  who? 

Mr.  Montana.  Joe  Barbara. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  1  thought  he  was  already  in  the  house. 

Mr.  Montana.  Well,  somebody  come  in  the  house  and  told  him, 
and,  of  course,  he  told  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  O.  K. 

Mr.  Montana.  Then,  of  course,  I  didn't  have  any  alternative.  I 
could  not  drive  my  car,  Mr.  Kennedy,  so  the  next  thing  I  could  do 
was  to  walk. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Why  couldn't  you  drive  your  car? 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12307 

Mr.  Montana.  Because  there  is  a  steep  hill.  The  State  trooper 
will  tt-li  you  il  is  a  very  steep  hill  and  with  no  brakes — going  up  it  was 
all  right  hut  coining  down  I  wouldn't  have  been  safe. 

Senator  Ives.  What  did  you  want  to  get  out  of  there  for?  What 
did  you  want  to  drive  anything  for  at  that  stage  of  the  game? 

Mr.  Montana.  I  didn't  drive. 

Senator  Ives.  I  said  why  did  you  want  to  drive?  I  know  you 
didn't  drive,  You  walked.  You  took  a  peculiar  trip  when  you 
walked.     Why  didn't  you  stay  there  '. 

Mr.  Montana.  Maybe  I  should  have  stayed  there,  Senator,  but 
that  was  my  best  judgment. 

Senator  Ives.  "What  caused  you  to  have  that  judgment  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  When  I  saw  the  commotion,  I  was  no  part  of  it,  and 
I  thought  I  would  walk  away  from  it, 

Senator  Ives.  What  sort  of  commotion  did  you  see  \ 

Mr.  Montana.  I  saw  these  people  get  on  the  car  and  leave  and  so 
on. 

Senator  Ives.  Saw-  them  get  on  their  car  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  Saw  them  get  on  their  car  and  leave,  and  some- 
body said  there  was  a  roadblock,  and  I  thought  I  would  leave,  too. 

Senator  Ives.  You  did  not  know  why  they  were  there  or  anything 
but  you  decided  to  leave  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  Senator,  those  people  were  at  the  fireplace.  They 
were  eating. 

Senator  Ives.  You  didn't  know  there  was  anybody  at  the  fireplace  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  I  saw  them.  I  sawr  them  from  the  house.  You  can 
see  them  from  the  house. 

Senator  Ives.  And  nothing  was  said  in  your  conversation  with  Mr. 
Barbara  or  with  Mrs.  Barbara  to  the  effect  that  these  people  were  out 
at  the  fireplace,  having  a  picnic,  as  it  were,  in  front  of  you,  and 
nothing  was  said  of  it  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  Not  at  all. 

Senator  Ives.  And  suddenly  somebody  said  there  was  a  roadblock, 
and  you  could  not  drive  anything,  there  was  nothing  for  you  to  drive, 
and  you  started  running  ? 

That  doesn't  make  any  sense  at  all. 

Mr.  Montana.  Senator,  I  didn't  run.     I  just  walked. 

Senator  Ives.  It  amounts  to  the  same  thing. 

Mr.  Montana.  I  walked. 

Senator  Ives.  Where  did  you  go  when  you  started  walking? 

Mr.  Montana.  I  started  walking  to  the  road  when  I  was  stopped, 
and  I  was  asked  what  my  name  was,  and  I  gave  my  name. 

Senator  Ives.  Who  asked  you  what  your  name  was  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  Two  officers  with  Mr.  Crosswell  asked  me,  and 
finally  I  got  to  Mr.  Crosswell. 

Senator  Ives.  Where  did  they  run  into  you,  or  where  did  you  run 
into  them  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  Right  at  the  road. 

Senator  Ives.  That  was  where  the  roadblock  was? 

Mr.  Montana.  That  is  right. 

Senator  Ives.  As  you  entered  the  house,  was  that  where  the  road- 
block was? 

Mr.  Montana.  No  ;  down  below. 


12308  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Senator  Ives.  You  walked  down  below,  and  kept  to  the  road  all 
the  way ;  is  that  it  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  That  is  right.  I  went  to  the  road,  I  was  stopped, 
and  they  asked  me  what  was  my  name,  and  I  gave  it  to  them. 

Then  they  took  me  to  Sergeant  Crosswell. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Can  I  ask  a  question  before  you  get  to  that? 

Senator  Ives.  Go  ahead. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  In  the  roadblock,  did  you  understand  it  was  law 
enforcement  officials  or  a  bunch  of  gangsters  who  had  established 
a  roadblock  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  I  wouldn't  know. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Somebody  yelled  roadblock  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  I  wouldn't  know,  Senator — I  mean  Mr.  Kennedy — 
just  what  it  could  have  been.     I  thought  I  would  go. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  When  somebody  says  there  is  a  roadblock?  I  don't 
know  why  you  would  feel  it  would  be  necessary  then  to  take  to  the 
woods. 

Mr.  Montana.  Maybe  you  would  have,  too.     I  don't  know. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Would  you  explain  to  the  committee  why  you 
thought  it  was  necessary  to  go  to  the  woods  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  Well,  I  was  no  part  of  it. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  you  feel  it  was  gangsters  who  were  establishing 
a  roadblock  and  you  would  have  to  run  from  them,  or  what? 

Mr.  Montana.  I  wouldn't  know,  Mr.  Kennedy.  It  could  have  been 
gangsters.  I  didn't  think  they  were.  Those  people  were  eating  when 
I  was  there.     My  best  judgment  was  to  leave,  and  I  did. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  you  walk  down  the  road  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  Yes,"  I  did. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Would  you  describe  to  the  committee  where  you 
went? 

Mr.  Montana.  Well,  it  is  awfully  hard.  It  was  hard  for  me  to 
describe  the  home  as  it  is. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  you  go  into  the  woods  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  I  walked  through  the  woods  into  the  road. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Then  you  walked  through  all  of  these  woods ;  did 
you  not  [indicating]  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  No. 

That  is  the  wrong  direction. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Would  you  explain  to  the  committee  where  you 
walked,  please? 

Mr.  Montana.  Do  you  want  me  to  walk  over  there? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Yes. 

Mr.  Montana.  Well — 

The  Chairman.  First  I  will  ask  you  to  compare  the  large  picture 
and  the  small  one  which  you  identified  and  showed  where  your  car 
was  parked.  Do  you  now  recognize  the  two  pictures  to  be  of  the 
same  scene  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  Well,  just  about  the  same;  yes.  They  don't  look 
the  same,  but  they  must  be 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Talk  into  the  microphone,  please. 

Mr.  Montana.  They  don't  look  the  same,  but  they  must  be.  This 
is  the  parking  space  here  [indicating]. 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12309 

The  Chairman.  Well,  the  larger  picture  shows  the  whole  area.  I 
am  talking  about  the  house  and  garages.  Can  you  identify  those  as 
being  t  lie  same  structures? 

Mr.  Montana.  They  look  a  little  different,  but  I  think  they  are 
the  same. 

The  Chairman.  I  see.  You  think  they  are  the  same.  All  right, 
where  was  the  road?  Is  this  the  road  out  to  the  side  of  the  house 
[indicating]  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  That  is  right, 

The  Chairman.  Where  did  you  walk  from?  You  were  in  the 
house.  When  you  left  the  house,  where  did  you  go  to  when  you 
left  the  house? 

Mr.  Montana.  I  went  down  that  way  [indicating]. 

The  Chairman.  There  are  no  woods  there.  Did  you  ever  get  into 
the  woods  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  Well,  this  [indicating]  would  be  the  first  time  I 
was.  Maybe  it  was  this  way.  I  don't  know.  I  can't  tell  exactly 
where  it  is. 

The  Chairman.  Did  you  get  down  into  these  heavy  woods? 

Mr.  Montana.  No ;  I  don't  think  so. 

The  Chairman.  Are  you  sure  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  I  am  not  positive. 

The  Chairman.  Did  you  get  over  into  these  other  woods  [indi- 
cating] ? 

Mr.  Montana.  Is  this  the  road  here  [indicating]  ?     I  don't  know. 

The  Chatrman.  Here's  the  road  right  here,  coming  along  here 
[indicating]. 

Mr.  Montana.  Which  road  is  it,  right  here,  or  right  here?  [Indi- 
cating.] 

The  Chairman".  Show  him  the  road. 

Mr.  Crosswell.  You  went  through  these  woods  [indicating]  and 
on  to  a  road  that  does  not  show. 

The  Chairman.  Where  would  we  have  walked  to  the  road  block? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  He  would  have  walked  this  way,  to  the  road  block 
over  here  [indicating]. 

The  Chairman.  And  here  is  a  road  leading  from  the  side  of  the 
house  where  he  had  come  in,  a  road  leading  right  down  here  [indi- 
cating]. 

Mr.  Montana.  This  is  the  way  I  went  down  [indicating]. 

Mr.  Crosswell.  You  were  picked  up  over  here  on  McFadden  Koad, 
after  going  through  these  woods  [indicating]. 

The  Chairman.  Did  you  go  through  these  woods?  You  know 
whether  you  went  out  this  way  or  went  out  the  road,  you  haven't 
forgotten  that. 

Mr.  Montana.  Well,  I  thought  I  went  this  way  [indicating] .  That 
is  my  best  judgment. 

The  Chairman.  Well,  you  went  out  through  the  woods,  then,  didn't 
you? 

Mr.  Montana.  I  said  that. 

The  Chairman.  I  thought  you  walked  right  down  the  road. 

Mr.  Montana.  Yes,  sir,  there  is  a  road  here,  too. 

The  Chairman.  Where  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  Down  here  some  place  [indicating]. 


12310  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

The  Chairman.  You  came  through  the  woods  to  the  road  over 
here,  didn  t  you  [indicating]. 

Air.  Montana.  Righthere  [indicating]. 

The  Chairman.  If  you  were  going  through  the  woods,  how  could 
you  go  up  the  road?     You  knew  that  was  not  the  way  you  came      If 
you  wanted  to  get  out,  why  didn't  you  go  back  the  way  you  came« 
W  ell,  is  there  anything  further  ? 
Mr.  Kennedy.  Yes. 

The  Chairman.  Has  that  large  picture  been  made  an  exhibit  ? 
Neither  one  has  been  made  an  exhibit.     Let  the  smaller  one  be 
made  exhibit  No.  8,  and  the  large  one  be  made  exhibit  No  9 

(The  documents  referred  to  were  marked  "Exhibits  Nos.  8  and  9"  for 
reference  and  may  be  found  in  the  files  of  the  select  committee.) 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Montana,  did  you  see  any  of  your  friends  or 
associates  around  at  that  time  ? 
Mr.  Montana.  I  did  not. 
Mr.  Kennedy.  You  didn't  see  anybody  ? 
Mr.  Montana.  No. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  When  Mr.  Barbara  came  in  and  had  this  conversa- 
tion with  you,  did  he  explain  what  all  of  these  other  people  were  do- 
ing there? 

Mr.  Montana.  He  did  not  say. 
Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  you  see  Mr.  Falcone  ? 
Mr.  Montana.  I  did  not. 
Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  know  Mr.  Falcone  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  Yes,  I  do.  I  didn't  know  who  was  there  until  the 
next  morning  when  I  picked  up  the  paper. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  know  Mr.  Salvatore  Falcone  ? 
Mr.  Montana.  Yes,  I  do. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  He  was  present  at  that  time.     You  did  not  see  him  ? 
Mr.  Montana.  I  did  not  see  him. 
Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Joseph  Falcone,  do  you  know  him « 
Mr.  Montana.  Yes. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  He  was  present  at  the  Apalachin  meeting. 
Mr.  Montana.  According  to  the  paper  he  must  have  been. 
Mr.  Kennedy.  You  did  not  see  him  ? 
Mr.  Montana.  No,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Russell  Bufalino,  do  you  know  him  ? 
Mr.  Montana.  Yes,  he  worked  for  me  in  1920. 
Mr.  Kennedy.  He  worked  for  you  ? 
Mr.  Montana.  Yes,  as  a  mechanic. 
Mr.  Kennedy.  You  did  not  see  him  ? 
Mr.  Montana.  I  did  not  see  him. 
Mr.  Kennedy.  James  La  Duca,  do  you  know  him  ? 
Mr.  Montana.  Yes. 

M  r.  Kennedy.  You  were  in  business  together,  were  you  not? 

Mr.  Montana.  He  worked  for  me  also  as  a  dispatcher  years  back. 

Senator  Ives.  Do  you  know  that  earlier  this  afternoon  when  Mr. 

La  Duca  appeared  before  us  he  would  not  admit  knowing  you  in  any 

way    shape,  or  manner  because  he  said  it  would  incriminate  him  if 

he  did? 

Mr.  Montana.  Senator,  I  am  not  responsible  for  what  Mr.  La  Duca 
says. 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12311 

Senator  Inks.  Why  would  he  make  thai  statement  regarding  you? 
You  are  no)  taking  the  fifth  amendment. 
Mr.  Montana.   I  never  will,  either. 

Senator  Ives.  I  know  that. 

Mr.  Montana.  That  is  one  thing  I  would  never  do.  I  would  as 
soon  die  than  take  the  fifth  amendment,  because  I  have  not  done  any- 
thing in  my  life  that  I  am  ashamed  of. 

Senator  Ives.  You  certainly  got  into  had  company.  I  will  put  it 
that  way. 

Mr.  Montana.  Senator,  what  happened  to  me,  I  think,  could  hap- 
pen to  anybody. 

Senator  Ives.  Well,  that  is  a  little  hard  to  believe.  The  story 
doesn't  make  too  much  sense,  Mr.  Montana,  I  am  sorry  to  tell  you. 

Mr.  Montana.  I  am  sorry  you  feel  that  way  about  it,  Senator. 

Senator  Ives.  You  are  a  highly  intelligent  person,  a  person  who 
has  been  highly  respected  in  Buffalo. 

Mr.  Montana.  Thank  you. 

Senator  Ives.  You  have  had  a  very  high  position  to  occupy  in  that 
city,  and  probably  righteously  so.  But  here  you  have  gotten  tied 
up  in  Apalachin,  on  top  of  a  hill  in  this  house,  and  suddenly  somebody 
says  there  is  a  roadblock  and  you  go  jumping  through  the  woods  for 
no  apparent  reason. 

It  just  doesn't  make  any  sense.  You  are  a  highly  intelligent  per- 
son.    You  will  have  to  admit  it  doesn't  make  any  sense. 

Maybe  you  can  tell  that  to  some  people  and  get  away  with  it,  but, 
after  all,  I  think  this  committee  has  more  sense  than  to  believe  that 
kind  of  a  yarn. 

The  Chairman.  Proceed,  Mr.  Kennedy. 

(The  witness  conferred  with  his  counsel.) 

Senator  Ives.  Are  you  trying  to  have  him  take  the  fifth? 

Mr.  Montana.  I  beg  your  pardon  ? 

Senator  Ives.  I  was  asking  your  counsel  if  he  was  trying  to  have 
you  take  the  fifth. 

Mr.  Raichle.  I  was  trying  to  persuade  him  to  stop  debating  with 
you  and  wait  until  the  question  was  asked  and  then  answer  it. 

Mr.  Montana.  He  didn't  ask  me  to  take  the  fifth  and  I  never  would. 

Senator  Ives.  Just  see  if  you  can't  make  more  sense  out  of  your 
story. 

Mr.  Montana.  I  am  telling  the  story  as  it  happened. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  James  La  Duca,  you  did  see  him  there  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  I  did  not. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  know  Anthony  Maggadino  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  Of  course.  He  was  driving  with  me,  so  I  would 
know  him. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  happened  to  him  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  He  sat  in  the  car  until  I  got  back  and  he  walked 
down  with  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  He  walked  into  the  woods  with  you  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  He  walked  down  with  me ;  yes,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  went  to  the  front  and  told  him  you  both  better 
run  to  the  woods? 

Mr.  Montana.  We  didn't  run,  Mr.  Kennedy.  I  wish  you  would 
stop  saying  that  we  ran,  because  we  didn't.     We  were  just  walking. 


12312  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  walked  into  the  woods  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  We  walked  into  the  road. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  had  to  walk  through  the  woods  before  you  got 
to  the  road  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  We  walked  from  the  woods  into  the  road. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  If  he  was  sitting  in  the  car,  why  didn't  you  let  him 
sit  there? 

Mr.  Montana.  If  you  were  with  me,  I  wouldn't  leave  you  any  more 
than  I  would  him.  I  thought  it  was  my  duty  to  tell  him  I  was  leav- 
ing.    So  he  followed  me. 

Senator  Ives.  Through  the  woods  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  The  way  I  went,  he  went. 

Senator  Ives.  Did  you  get  a  little  damp  doing  that? 

Mr.  Montana.  Well,  we  did  a  little  bit. 

Senator  Ives.  I  thought  so. 

Mr.  Montana.  Yes,  we  did. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  about  Steve  Maggadino  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  His  name  was  not  in  the  paper,  so  he  couldn't  have 
been  there. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Is  he  related  to  Anthony  Maggadino  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  Brothers. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  Anthony  know  his  brother  was  there  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  I  don't  know.  Don't  ask  me.  His  name  was  not  in 
the  paper,  so  he  couldn't  have  been  there. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Just  a  question  again  on  your  brakes,  just  exactly 
where  did  your  brakes  go  bad  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  Front  and  rear  both. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Front  and  rear  both  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  That  is  right. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  had  trouble  with  the  windshield  wiper,  the 
front  end  and  the  rear  end  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  Just  a  second.  The  windshield  wiper  has  nothing 
to  do  with  the  brakes,  Mr.  Kennedy.  That  flew  right  off  of  the  car. 
That  is  something  different  than  the  other. 

Senator  Ives.  What  was  the  trouble  with  your  brakes? 

Mr.  Montana.  Well,  brakes,  when  they  get  wet 

Senator  Ives.  They  got  wet  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  Yes,  they  got  wet.     It  was  raining  all  morning. 

Senator  Ives.  Where  did  you  go  to  get  them  wet? 

Mr.  Montana.  It  rained. 

Senator  Ives.  I  understand.  I  have  driven  in  the  rain,  too.  But 
I  never  had  trouble  with  brakes  getting  wet  like  that,  except  when  I 
happen  to  go  through  water.  If  I  run  through  water  with  my  car, 
my  brakes  get  wet.     You  say  you  know  something  about  cars. 

Mr.  Montana.  Yes,  I  do. 

Senator  Ives.  Do  you  know  how  to  stop  a  car  when  the  brakes  get 
wet? 

Mr.  Montana.  Not  if  they  get  wet. 

Senator  Ives.  Do  you  know  how  to  dry  them  off  in  a  hurry  when  they 
(Xot  wet? 

Mr.  Montana.  No. 

Senator  Ives.  Then  you  don't  know  much  about  a  car.  All  you 
have  to  do  is  put  on  your  brakes,  put  the  car  in  gear,  give  the  motor 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12313 

full  power  and  that  dries  them  off  in  a  hurry.     You  know  that,  if  you 
know  any  thing  about  driving  a  car. 

You  must  know  that. 

Mr.  Montana.  You  can't  get  brakes  dry  that  way,  Senator. 

Senator  Ives.  I  know  you  can,  because  I  drive  a  Cadillac  myself 
and  have  been  through  water  2  feet  deep  and  have  gotten  my  brakes 
dried  that  way  when  I  had  to. 

Mr.  Montana.  Yes,  sir. 

The  Chairman.  Is  that  all  that  was  wrong  with  your  brakes,  that 
they  were  wet? 

Mr.  Montana.  No,  there  was  a  little  more  wrong  with  that,  because 
I  had  to  send  two  mechanics  later  from  Buffalo  to  pick  up  the  car  on 
Sunday.  They  worked  on  them,  repaired  them,  and  brought  the  car 
back. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Where  is  it,  briefly,  that  your  brakes  got  bad  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  About  8  or  10  miles  from  this  place. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  From  Apalachin? 

Mr.  Montana.  That  is  right. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  was  before  Owego,  then  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  That  is  right, 

Mr.  Kennedy.  So  you  drove  all  the  way  through  Owego  and  then 
on  the  road  to  Apalachin  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  Which  is  not  too  far. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  There  is  a  Cadillac  agency  in  Owego,  and  there  are 
two  gasoline  filling  stations  on  the  road  from  Owego  to  Apalachin, 
did  you  know  that  ? 

Did  you  think  of  stopping  there  ? 

Mr!  Montana.  I  don't  know  of  gasoline  stations  that  can  work  on 
brakes.  Believe  me,  I  don't  know  of  one  that  can  do  a  good  job  or 
fairly  good  job. 

Senator  Ives.  How  about  a  Cadillac  agency? 

Mr.  Montana.  That  is  in  Binghamton. 

Senator  Ives.  There  is  one  in  Owego  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  I  didn't  know  there  was  one. 

Senator  Ives.  You  didn't  stop  to  inquire  about  it  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  No,  I  did  not. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  After  you  came  out  of  the  woods  onto  the  road,  you 
were  picked  up  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  I  wasn't  picked  up.  I  stopped  and  there  was  two 
men  there.  They  asked  me  who  I  was,  and  I  told  them,  very  politely, 
and  then  they  said  to  me  I  have  to  see  Sergeant  Crosswell,  we  drove 
over  and  I  sat  right  in  the  car,  and  I  called  Sergeant  Crosswell.  I 
didn't  even  get  out  of  the  car. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  you  tell  the  sergeant  that  if  he  let  you  go,  you 
thought  you  could  do  something  for  him  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  Well,  he  is  over  here  now,  and  I  will  say  right  in 
front  of  him  that  I  didn't  tell  him  anything  of  the  kind,  and  he  didn't 
see  my  shoes  either,  because  I  never  got  off  of  the  car,  and  he  didn't 
see  my  clothes  because  I  never  got  off  of  the  car. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  How  long  were  you  held  then  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  Maybe  10  or  15  minutes.  Then  I  said  to  him  all 
right,  I  haven't  done  anything,  and  I  said  "If  you  want  to  know  who 


12314  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

I  am,  I  say  call  Captain  Roan  in  Batavia  and  he  will  tell  you  the 
kind  of  gentleman  that  I  am." 

He  said  "Well,  you  will  have  to  go  to  Vestal,  then"  which  would 
be  the  station. 

I  didn't  know  there  was  a  station  there.  So  one  of  the  boys  drove 
me  up.  I  went  inside,  and  there  was  two  gentlemen  in  there.  They 
asked  me  for  my  credentials.  I  showed  them  to  them.  I  was  never 
searched.  They  told  me  to  go.  I  took  a  cab.  I  went  down  to  the 
railroad  station.    I  took  a  train  and  went  home. 

Senator  Ives.  May  I  raise  a  question  there  ? 

You  said  the  sergeant  never  saw  you  outside  the  car  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  No,  he  didn't. 

Senator  Ives.  Whom  did  you  run  into  after  you  walked  through 
the  woods  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  Some  of  his  men,  1  or  2, 1  guess,  2  men  of  his. 

Senator  Ives.  They  took  you  where  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  Right  to  him,  a  little  ways  from  where  he  was. 

Senator  Ives.  In  their  car  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  In  their  car. 

Senator  Ives.  You  didn't  get  out  of  the  car  at  all  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  I  did  not.  He  did  not  question  me.  He  is  here,  you 
can  ask  him. 

Senator  Ives.  I  am  not  doubting  you.    I  am  just  trying  to  find  out. 

Mr.  Montana.  Thank  you,  Senator. 

Senator  Ives.  I  am  trying  to  find  out  the  truth  here. 

Mr.  Montana.  Thank  you. 

Senator  Ives.  The  story  you  are  telling  does  not  make  any  sense, 
is  all.  I  am  trying  to  get  2  and  2  together  and  have  4  out  of  it.  All 
you  are  getting  is  about  10  or  12. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Montana,  you  did  not  realize  until  the  follow- 
ing day  that  you  had  five  other  friends  that  were  present  at  the  meet- 
ing? 

Mr.  Montana.  I  did  not. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  know  Mr.  Joe  DiCarlo  from  Buffalo  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  Everybody  in  Buffalo  knows  him. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  He  was  labeled  as  public  enemy  No.  1  in  Buffalo  some 
time  ago. 

Mr.  Montana.  According  to  the  papers  he  was. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  How  long  have  you  known  him  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  Well,  he  went  to  No.  2  school  and  so  did  I,  only  T 
had  to  leave  school.  I  had  to  go  to  work  at  the  age  of  14^,  and  he 
stayed  in  school.  Then  I  went  to  night  school  so  I  did  not  see  him 
after  that. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  haven't  seen  him  at  all  lately  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  I  haven't  seen  him  in  15  years. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  about  Paul  Palmeri,  of  Buffalo  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  I  know  who  he  is,  because  he  had  a  brother  in  Buf- 
falo, but  I  haven't  seen  him  in  20  years. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  know  of  his  criminal  record  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  I  do  not. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Here  is  a  picture.  Have  vou  seen  this  picture  of 
you  and  Mr.  Palmeri,  in  1939? 

Mr.  Montana.  A  picture  of  me? 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12315 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Is  this  you  ? 

The  Chairman.  I  hand  you  a  picture  and  ask  you  to  examine  it 
•and  state  if  you  identify  the  persons  on  it. 
(Photograph  handed  to  the  witness.) 

Mr.  Montana.  I  think  this  picture  was  taken  at  the  Rex  Club  in 
Niagara  Falls  and  I  was  the  speaker  of  the  evening. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Who  are  the  people? 

Mr.  Montana.  Well,  this  is  Palmeri  here.  The  other  man  I  don't 
remember.    I  don't  know  who  he  is. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Is  that  you  and  Paul  Palmeri  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  Well,  that  is  one  of  them.  There  was  other  people 
at  the  speaker's  table  besides  him.  But  he  was  the  president  of  the 
Rex  Club,  which  is  the  Republican  Club  in  Niagara  Falls.  I  think 
that  is  when  that  picture  was  taken.    I  was  the  speaker  of  the  evening. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  know  of  his  criminal  record  '. 

Mr.  Montana.  I  do  not. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  know  he  has  been  arrested  some  dozen  times  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  I  do  not,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  that  some  15  years  prior  to  this  time  he  had 
been  arrested  about  a  dozen  times  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  I  did  not  know  about  that. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  From  assault  in  the  second  degree  to  kidnaping? 
You  did  not  know  that  at  all  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  I  did  not  know  it. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  I  don't  believe  this  was  the  Republican  Club.  I 
believe  it  was  a  society  meeting. 

Mr.  Montana.  Well,  I  attend  so  many  dinners,  Mr.  Kennedy,  I 
would  not  be  able  to  tell  you. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  I  believe  it  was  a  club  meeting  that  had  nothing  to 
do  with  any  political  party.    I  have  the  name  here. 

Mr.  Montana.  Is  it  the  Rex  Club  ? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  It  is  the  Del  Golf o  Society. 

Mr.  Montana.  That  is  their  hometown  society. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  He  had  been  arrested  in  Niagara  Falls,  Brooklyn, 
Chicago,  New  York,  Springfield,  Mass.,  Buffalo,  and  Lockport,  N.  Y. 

Mr.  Montana.  I  don't  know  anything  about  it. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  you  know  that  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  I  do  not,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  you  know  that  he  was  held  as  a  material  witness 
in  the  Willie  Moretti  slaying  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  I  wouldn't  know,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  know  Mr.  Charles  Buf alino  from  Pittston  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  Do  you  mean  the  uncle  of  Russell  ? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Yes. 

Mr.  Montana.  Yes,  I  do. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  How  long  have  you  known  Charles  Buf  alino  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  He  was  born  in  the  same  town  I  was  born  in,  and  I 
knew  him  since  then. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  know  the  Sciaridras  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  Well,  I  don't  know  the  son.  but  I  knew  the  fat  tier. 

His  father  was  born  in  the  same  town  I  was  born. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  How  long  have  you  known  him  \ 

21243— 58— pt.  32 9 


12316 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 


Well,  he  is  dead  now,  but  I  knew  him  since  we  were 

Did  you  know  the  children  ? 
No,  I  don't. 
You  never  met  them  ? 
I  have  met  the  wife,  but  I  don't  believe  I  met  the 


Mr.  Montana. 
kids. 

Mr.  Kennedy. 

Mr.  Montana. 

Mr.  Kennedy. 

Mr.  Montana. 
boys. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Could  you  tell  the  committee  why  the  Van  Dyke 
Taxicab  Co.  would  be  calling  the  Carmela  Mia  Packing  Co.,  owned  by 
Joe  Prof  aci  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  I  have  explained  that  to  the  legislative  committee 
and  I  will  be  glad  to  explain  it  here.  I  have  a  brother,  75  years  old. 
His  daughter  is  my  secretary,  Rose  Montana,  and  he  sells  olive  oil  on 
commission  for  them.  He  went  in  and  used  the  telephone.  I  wish  that 
telephone  was  tapped.  If  it  was,  that  would  prove  to  this  committee 
and  any  other  committee  that  I  never  had  a  contact  with  that  man 
or  any  other  man. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Who  would  be  calling  them  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  My  brother  did. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  didn't  use  it  yourself  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  No,  I  didn't. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  about  Rosario  Mancuso  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  I  don't  know  anything  about  him. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  he  do  any  work  for  your  cab  company  in  1952  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  He  did  not. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  deny  the  fact  that  he  was  engaged  to  drive 
surplus  cabs  of  your  cab  company  in  1952  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  He  didn't  drive  them  for  me. 
to  a  man  in  Utica. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Who  did  you  sell  them  to  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  I  am  sorry,  I  have  not  got  the  name  here,  but  some 
second-hand  dealer,  and  he  drove  some  cars  for  them,  maybe,  but  not 
for  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  know  that  he  in  fact  drove  them  for  that 
company  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  I  couldn't  tell  you  that. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  say  that  you  visited  Barbara  in  1956  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  Yes,  I  did. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  For  what  reason  did  you  visit  him  in  1956  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  1956  ?  I  drove  back  from  New  York  and  I  stopped 
in  there  and  had  lunch  in  his  home. 

His  wife  was  there,  his  daughter  was  there,  and  he  was  there. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  have  been  friends  with  him  for  a  long  time? 

Mr.  Montana.  Well,  friends,  a  business  acquaintance.  Pie  has  a 
boy  that  goes  to  Buffalo  University.  He  is  on  the  dean's  list,  and  he 
comes  over  to  see  the  boy  from  time  to  time,  at  least  he  did. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  See  what  boy  ? 

Montana.  His  boy.    And  his  boy  comes  into  my  office  and  sees 


I  sold  a  lot  of  cabs 


Mr 

me. 

Mr.  Kennedy. 
Mr.  Montana 


So  does  Barbara  visit  you  in  your  office? 
Every  time  he  comes  or  to  see  his  boy,  he  would  come 
over  to  my  office  and  say  hello. 

Mi-.  Kennedy.  When  you  came  up  from  New  York  you  stopped  in  ? 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12317 

Mr.  Montana.  lie  stopped  in  and  asked  me  if  I  would  stop  in  and 
see  him  at  his  home,  and  I  was  coming  back  from  New  York,  and  I 
stopped  in. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  have  been  friends  for  a  number  of  years  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  Well,  a  business  acquaintance,  that  is  the  way  it 
started. 

I  know  the  man  very  well.  I  didn't  know  his  background.  His 
background  has  been  published  :,i  the  paper  lately.  It  was  never 
pub!  ished  before,  there  it  is. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  It  is  just  a  coincidence  that  all  of  these  individuals 
that  you  know  were  attending  this  meeting  in  Apalaehin  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  Well,  Mr.  Kennedy,  you  know  as  much  about  it  as 
I  do,  believe  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Maybe  I  do. 

Mr.  Montana.  Well,  I  would  say  yes. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  I  would  say  yes. 

Mr.  Montana.  Thank  you  for  saying  yes. 

Senator  Ives.  Wait  a  minute  on  that. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Just  as  far  as  your  attendance  at  the  meeting  is 
concerned. 

Mr.  Montana.  That  is  right. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Your  attendance. 

Mr.  Montana.  That  is  right,  it  is. 

Senator  Ives.  One  tiling  that  I  don't  think  has  been  reconciled  here 
at  all  is  Mr.  Montana's  dash  through  the  woods.  I  just  don't  under- 
stand it. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  All  I  am  saying,  Senator,  is  that  I  feel  as  much  about 
his  dash  through  the  woods  as  he  knows.    I  think  it  is  obvious. 

Mr.  Montana.  Senator,  if  I  had  to  do  it  over  again,  I  probably 
would  not.  I  will  put  it  that  way.  It  was  just  a  moment,  that  is  the 
way  my  mind  went,  and  I  did  it,  and  that  is  what  I  did. 

Senator  Ives.  But  you  are  a  well-balanced  individual.  After  all 
is  said  and  done,  just  because  somebody  yells  "roadblock,"  every  time 
that  happens  you  don't  go  dashing  through  the  woods,  do  you? 

After  all,  you  are  a  rational  person,  rather  than  any  other  type. 

Mr.  Montana.  Well,  there  is  always  the  first  time,  Senator.  That 
is  what  happened. 

Senator  Ives.  Do  you  mean  to  tell  me  you  are  losing  your  equili- 
brium as  you  are  getting  older  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  I  hope  not. 

Senator  Ives.  Well,  all  right.  That  is  the  only  way  to  explain  such 
an  irrational  thing  as  you  did. 

Mr.  Raichle.  Could  I  ask  for  something  ? 

Here  are  two  letters  or  documents  we  would  like  to  offer  as  part  of 
the  record.    They  pertain  to  the  setup  of  this  meeting  in  New  York. 

Senator  Ives.  May  I  ask  a  question  on  that,  Mr.  Counsel? 

Have  you  the  envelopes  that  these  were  sent  in,  with  the  dates  on 
them  as  well  as  the  typewritten  dates  on  the  letters? 

Mr.  Raichle.  They  were  given  to  me  by  Mr.  Montana.  I  cannot 
Vouch  for  them  any  more  than  that.  But  I  think  that  the  legislative 
committee  of  the  State,  which  had  them  in  its  possession,  made  some 
investigation.    That  is  my  belief.    I  procured  their  return  from  them. 


12318  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Those  are  reputable  people  who  sponsored  that  organization  from 
which  the  letters  come.  The  fact  can  be  very  readily  ascertained 
as  to  whether  or  not  the  dates  are  true  and  accurate. 

Mr.  Montana.  I  think  Mr.  Kennedy  can  prove  that  with  Mr. 
Sawyer. 

You  probably  know  Mr.  Frank  Sawyer,  don't  you,  Mr.  Kennedy; 
don't  you? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  I  don't  believe  I  do. 

Mr.  Montana.  The  Checker  Cab  Co.,  of  Boston  ? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  I  don't  think  I  do. 

Mr.  Montana.  I  thought  you  would. 

Mr.  Eaichle.  I  would  be  very  glad  to  undertake  to  procure  an 
affidavit  or  satisfactory  proof  of  the  authenticity  of  the  dates  or  signa- 
tures of  the  letter. 

Senator  Ives.  Mr.  Raichle,  are  you  satisfied  that  those  are  accurate 
in  what  they  seem  to  be,  yourself?  You  have  not  taken  any  oath 
here,  but  I  have  known  you  a  good  many  years. 

If  you  are  satisfied,  so  far  as  I  go  personally,  I  am.  That  is  just 
a  question  of  whether  you  are  or  are  not. 

Mr.  Raichle.  I  am.  I  will  state  for  the  committee  the  source  of  my 
information  is  Mr.  Montana,  and  I  have  confidence  in  Mr.  Montana. 

The  Chairman.  Mr.  Montana,  you  have  presented  to  the  Chair 
2  letters,  1  dated  November  1,  1957,  written  on  Cab  Research  Bureau, 
Inc.  stationery,  addressed  to  you  and  signed  Horace. 

Mr.  Montana.  Horace  Gwilym,  sir. 

The  Chairman.  The  other  is  dated  November  11,  1957,  addressed 
to  you  and  signed  Horace  over  the  typewritten  name  of  H.  I.  Gwilym. 

Mr.  Montana.  Gwilym. 

The  Chairman.  Did  you  receive  these  letters  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  Yes,  I  did,  sir. 

The  Chairman.  Did  you  receive  both  of  them  through  the  mail 
prior  to  November  14, 1957  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  Yes;  1  did. 

The  Chairman.  You  didn't  receive  them  some  time  after  ? 

Mr.  Montana.  I  did  not.     I  received  them  just  before  that  date. 

The  Chairman.  You  testify  that  they  were  received  in  due  course 
through  the  United  States  mails  shortly  after  written  and  both  of 
them  on  or  before 

Mr.  Montana.  Within  a  day  or  two. 

The  Chairman.  Both  of  them  before  November  14,  1957 1 

Mr.  Montana.  Yes,  sir. 

The  Chairman.  The  letters  may  be  attached  as  exhibits  10  A  and  B. 

(The  documents  referred  to  were  marked  "Exhibits  Nos.  10-A  and 
B"  for  reference,  and  will  be  found  in  the  appendix  on  pp.  12497- 
12498.) 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  is  all  for  this  witness. 

The  Chairman.  All  right,  thank  you,  Mr.  Montana. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Chairman,  I  might  say  that  we  have  these  pic- 
tures through  the  cooperation  and  assistance  of  the  New  York  Daily 
News. 

The  Chairman.  All  right.  We  are  grateful  to  the  New  York 
Daily  News  for  their  assistance. 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN   THE    LABOR    FIELD  12319 

TESTIMONY  OF  EDGAR  D.  CROSSWELL—  Resumed 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Sergeant,  you  testified  yesterday  that  you  came  to 
this  Barbara  home  some  time  around  noon  or  shortly  after  noon  on 
November  14;  is  that  right? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  At  12 :  40  p.  m. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  drove  into  the  driveway ;  did  you  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Yes,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Montana  has  marked  with  an  X  where  he  parked 
his  car.  Would  you  look  at  this  photograph  and  tell  the  committee 
if  Mr.  Montana's  automobile 

Mr.  Crosswell.  I  looked  at  it  at  the  time  he  marked  it. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Was  his  automobile  there  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  No,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  How  do  you  know  his  automobile  was  not  there? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Because  that  is  right  where  we  drove  this  car, 
alongside  this  fence,  and  we  could  look  clear  down  to  the  end  of  the 
garage  where  all  of  these  men  were  coming  from  the  direction  of  the 
barbecue  pit. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Were  there  in  fact  automobiles  behind  the  house? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Yres,  sir.  Where  these  3  cars  are  parked  now 
there  were  4  or  5  cars  parked  there. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Where  were  the  rest  of  the  automobiles  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  It  doesn't  show  on  this  photograph.  They  were 
up  belli nd  the  farthest  barn,  way  up  in  the  field. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Hidden  back  there  during  the  meeting? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  That  is  right. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Only  4  or  5  automobiles  in  front  of  that? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  That  is  right. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  where  Mr.  Montana  placed  the  X  where  he 
parked  his  automobile  with  Mr.  Maggadino  sitting  there,  that  auto- 
mobile was  not  there  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  It  was  not  there  at  12 :  40 ;  no,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Montana  states  he  arrived  some  time  after  1 
o'clock  and  probably  around  2  o'clock.  Could  he  have  come  into 
Barbara's  home  at  2  o'clock? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  No,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  How  can  you  tell  he  could  not  have  come  in? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  At  12 :  40  when  we  visited  this  place,  we  met  no 
cars  en  route  back  down  to  the  roadblock. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  you  established  the  roadblock  immediately? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  We  established  a  roadblock  at  12 :  50.  During  the 
interval  10  minutes  we  were  traveling  that  road,  we  saAv  no  cars  and 
no  cars  passed  us  from  that  time  on  that  we  don't  know  about  or 
don't  have  a  record  of. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  have  your  original  notes,  Sergeant,  as  to 
the  time  you  established  the  roadblock  below? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  I  have  them  in  the  hotel.  I  don't  have  them 
with  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  It  would  have  been  impossible  to  come  in  after  that 
period  of  time  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  After  12 :  40  p.  m. ;  yes,  sir. 


12320  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  state  after  the  roadblock  was  established,  that 
Mr.  Montana,  from  where  you  picked  him  up  afterward,  or  the  po- 
lice officials  picked  him  up  afterward,  came  out  through  the  woods? 
He  went  over  the  open  field  and  through  the  woods  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  In  through  the  woods  and  out  on  to  McFadden 
Road. 

The  Chairman.  How  far  is  McFadden  Road  from  this  house? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  It  is  at  least  a  mile,  Senator,  possibly  between  a 
mile  and  2  miles. 

The  Chairman.  It  is  almost  in  the  opposite  direction  from  where 
you  had  the  roadblock  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  It  is  in  the  opposite  direction  from  where  we  had 
the  roadblock. 

The  Chairman.  How  long  was  it  after  you  were  discovered  and 
they  began  to  try  to  get  away  before  Mr.  Montana  came  around  to 
contact  you  ? 

Mr.  (Jrosswell.  He  was  brought  around  by  one  of  our  uniformed 
patrols  that  picked  him  up. 

The  Chairman.  I  understand  the  patrols  picked  him  up  and 
brought  him  to  you.    How  long  was  that  after  they  had  been  flushed  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  I  have  no  record  of  the  times  that  each  individual 
was  picked  up.  Things  were  happening  pretty  fast  that  day.  It  was 
some  time  after  the  roadblock  had  been  set  up.  But  as  to  what  time 
it  was,  I  could  not  testify  to  that. 

The  Chairman.  Assuming  one  wanted  to  leave  the  Barbara  home 
and  go  down  to  the  road,  or  get  onto  the  highway,  Highway  17,  I 
believe  you  said,  would  there  be  any  occasion  to  go  through  the 
woods,  the  back  of  the  house? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  It  is  a  very  roundabout  way  to  go. 

The  Chairman.  Was  there  a  road  leading  directly  from  where 
you  went  in  and  parked  your  car  there,  on  this  same  apron,  was 
there  a  dirt  road  or  a  road  upon  which  cars  traveled  leading  from 
there  to  the  highway  where  you  had  the  roadblock? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Yes,  it  starts  out  from  the  Barbara  residence  as 
as  a  dirt  road  and  leads  into  a  macadam. 

The  Chairman.  If  he  had  come  in  that  way  a  few  minutes  before 
or  an  hour  before,  there  would  be  no  reason  for  him  not  knowing 
the  way  to  get  back  down  to  the  village? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  I  would  rather  come  down  that  way  than  start  out 
through  the  woods. 

The  Chairman.  So  there  is  just  no  sense  in  going  through  the 
woods  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Not  to  me ;  no,  sir. 

Senator  Goldwater.  Mr.  Chairman? 

The  Chairman.  Senator  Goldwater. 

Senator  Goldwater.  After  Mr.  Montana  came  back  to  where  you 
were,  did  you  go  down  to  the  house  to  look  for  cars? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  I  did  not,  but  Ave  had  patrols  down  there. 

Senator  Goldwater.  Did  you  ever  find  Mr.  Montana's  car? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Late  at  night  one  of  the  patrols  radioed  in  and 
gave  me  the  license  number  of  Mr.  Montana's  car  and  said  it  was 
parked  in  the  Barbara  garage. 

Senator  Goldwater.  Did  you  go  down  and  look  for  it? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  No;  I  did  not. 

Senator  Goldwater.  Was  it  in  the  garage? 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12321 

Mr.  Crosswell.  I  presume  so.  Our  uniformed  patrol  had  seen  it 
in  there. 

Senator  Goldwater.  They  radioed  from  the  house? 

Mr.  Crossavell.  They  radioed  from  the  house  and  said  the  car  -was 
there  and  wanted  to  know  what  they  were  to  do  about  it. 

Senator  Goldwater.  After  you  established  the  block,  did  you  go 
up  to  the  house? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  No,  sir. 

Senator  Goldwater.  Did  any  of  your  men  go  up? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Yes,  sir.  Periodically  they  went  up  to  see  how 
many  cars  were  left. 

Senator  Goldwater.  Did  they  ever  find  Mr.  Montana's  car? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  They  never  furnished  me  the  license  number  of  it. 
Every  time  they  would  see  a  car  up  there,  they  would  radio  the  li- 
cense number  down,  and  I  never  got  Mr.  Montana's  until  late  that 
night. 

Senator  Goldwater.  All  right. 

The  Chairman.  When  you  first  drove  up  there,  where  you  say 
you  drove  your  car  where  Mr.  Montana  said  his  car  was  parked,  and 
you  said  there  were  some  4  or  5  cars  parked  over  at  another  place, 
were  they  in  sight  of  you? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Yes,  they  were  right  where  those  three  cars  are 
shown  now. 

The  Chairman.  They  were  on  the  same  parking  apron? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  That  is  right. 

The  Chairman.  In  daylight? 

Mr.  Crossavell.  Yes,  sir. 

The  Chairman.  Could  you  see  anyone  in  a  car  if  someone  had  been 
sitting  there  in  a  car? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Yes,  sir. 

The  Chairman.  Was  anyone  sitting  in  those  cars  that  were  parked 
there  ? 

Mr.  Crossavell.  No,  sir. 

The  Chairman.  If  you  were  looking  for  people 

Mr.  Crossavell.  We  were  looking  for  people,  and  Ave  took  the  li- 
cense numbers  of  the  four  cars  that  were  there. 

The  Chairman.  You  took  the  license  number  of  the  cars  that  were 
there. 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Yes,  sir. 

The  Chairman.  So  had  there  been  someone  in  there,  you  aatouM 
have  observed  them? 

Mr.  Crossavell.  Unless  they  were  laying  doAvn  in  the  seat. 

The  Chairman.  And  none  of  them  were  in  Mr.  Montana's  auto- 
mobile ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  No,  sir. 

The  Chairman.  What  time  did  they  start  running  toward  the 
woods  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  About  12 :  50  to  12 :  55. 

The  Chairman.  We  will  have  to  suspend,  and  as  late  as  it  is,  it 
would  be  too  late  to  resume. 

Therefore,  the  committee  will  stand  in  recess  until  10  o'clock  to- 
morrow. 

(Whereupon,  at  5  p.  m.  the  hearing  was  recessed,  to  reconvene  at 
10  a.  m.  Wednesday,  July  2,  1958,  with  the  following  members  pres- 
ent: Senators  McClellan,  Ives,  and  Goldwater.) 


INVESTIGATION  OF  IMPROPER  ACTIVITIES  IN  THE 
LAROR  OR  MANAGEMENT  FIELD 


WEDNESDAY,   JULY   2,    1958 

United  States  Senate, 
Select  Committee  on  Improper  Activities 

in  the  Labor  and  Management  Field, 

Washington,  D.  C. 

The  select  committee  met  at  10  a.  m.,  pursuant  to  Senate  Resolu- 
tion 74,  agreed  to  January  30,  1957,  in  the  caucus  room,  Senate  Office 
Building,  Senator  John  L.  McClellan  (chairman  of  the  select  com- 
mittee) presiding. 

Present :  Senator  John  L.  McClellan,  Democrat,  Arkansas ;  Senator 
Irving  M.  Ives,  Republican,  New  York;  Senator  Sam  J.  Ervin,  Jr., 
Democrat,  North  Carolina;  Senator  Barry  Goldwater,  Republican, 
Arizona ;  Senator  Karl  E.  Mundt,  Republican,  South  Dakota ;  Senator 
Carl  T.  Curtis,  Republican,  Nebraska. 

Also  present :  Robert  F.  Kennedy,  chief  counsel ;  Paul  J.  Tierney, 
assistant  counsel;  John  P.  Constandy,  assistant  counsel;  John  J.  Mc- 
Govern,  assistant  counsel ;  Pierre  E.  G.  Salinger,  investigator ;  Walter 
R.  May,  investigator;  George  H.  Martin,  investigator;  Sherman 
Willse,  investigator ;  Ruth  Young  Watt,  chief  clerk. 

The  Chairman.  The  committee  will  come  to  order. 

(Members  of  the  committee  present  at  the  convening  of  the  session 
were :  Senators  McClellan  and  Ives.) 

The  Chairman.  Senator  Curtis  had  a  brief  statement  he  wished 
to  make  this  morning,  before  we  proceed  with  testimony. 

Senator  Curtis. 

Senator  Curtis.  Mr.  Chairman,  I  thank  you. 

Yesterday  I  made  a  statement  concerning  the  immunities  of  labor 
unions,  and  certain  practices  of  Government  that  in  my  opinion 
ought  to  be  changed  because  it  gave  a  refuge  for  the  wrong  type  of 
labor  leaders. 

When  this  appeared  in  the  newspapers,  Mr.  William  Rogers,  the 
Attorney  General,  felt  that  what  I  had  said  had  caused  a  chain  of 
reaction  that  the  Department  of  Justice  was  unfairly  criticized. 

I  want  to  say,  Mr.  Chairman,  it  was  not  my  intention.  I  did  not 
speak  from  notes.  I  certainly  did  not  want  to  indict  the  present 
Attorney  General,  Mr.  William  Rogers,  or  any  of  his  predecessors, 
and  I  intended  to  speak  of  general  practices  and  immunities  some 
of  which  are  definitely  the  responsibility  of  the  Congress. 

12323 


12324  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Now,  on  page  163  of  the  transcript  for  yesterday,  I  said  to  Mr. 
Pera : 

Now,  the  fact  that  unions  enjoy  certain  immunities  that  other  groups  in  the 
country  do  not  have  gives  a  group  an  opportunity  for  a  base  of  operations ;  isn't 
that  correct? 

Those  immunities  are  admitted  to  exist,  with  you  again  I  say  that 
the  Congress  has  a  responsibility  in  that  regard. 

I  later  referred  to  the  case  of  a  Mr.  Ed  McCarthy,  a  witness  who 
appeared  before  this  committee  who  had  been  the  victim  of  a  severe 
beating,  and  the  magistrate  before  whom  he  was  taken  brushed  it 
aside  and  said,  "That  is  a  union  brawl,  we  do  not  have  anything  to 
do  with  it." 

I  should  have  pointed  out  that  that  was  not  a  Federal  court. 

Now,  the  particular  remarks  that  I  made  about  the  Department  of 
Justice  are  as  follows — and  this  is  bottom  of  page  163  : 

I  think  it  is  also  true  that  it  is  a  rather  standing  principle  or  policy  of  the 
Department  of  Justice  not  only  in  this  administration  but  for  some  time  that 
United  States  attorneys  over  the  country  cannot  start  prosecutions  that  involve 
unions  or  so-called  labor  problems  with  clear  answer  from  their  superiors  in 
Washington.  All  of  that  gives  a  cloak  of  protection  for  people  who  shouldn't 
have  this  power. 

Mr.  Chairman,  I  want  to  make  it  clear  that  I  was  not  referring  to 
prosecutions  of  individuals  who  happened  to  be  labor  leaders  or  labor 
members.  I  do  not  know  of  any  laxness  or  favoritism  to  them.  I 
did  have  in  mind  that  in  my  opinion  there  was  a  question  in  such 
problems  as  prosecuting  an  entire  union  for  violating  the  Corrupt 
Practices  Act  in  reference  to  contributing  to  a  candidate  or  something 
of  that  sort.,  and  having  it  initiated  in  the  field.  I  may  be  wrong 
about  that.  I  have  made  no  extensive  investigation,  and  so  I  do  not 
want  my  remarks  to  stand  critical  of  any  individual  in  or  out  of  Gov- 
ernment, and  do  him  an  injustice. 

Now,  Mr.  Chairman,  I  am  about  through.  Mr.  William  Rogers  has 
written  me  a  letter  that  sets  up  the  facts  and  figures  about  the  prose- 
cutions carried  on,  and  it  is  a  brief,  and  I  will  insert  that  and  then 
I  will  yield  the  floor. 

I  was  surprised  to  read  your  statements  before  the  McClellan  committee  today 
regarding  the  prosecution  of  extortion  by  labor  officials. 

From  the  time  the  Hobbs  Act  (which  is  the  act  under  which  labor  extortion 
is  prosecuted)  was  enacted  in  July  1946,  until  January  1953,  only  three  indict- 
ments were  returned.  From  January  1953  to  date  the  departmental  records 
show  that  114  defendants  were  convicted  for  violation  of  the  Hobbs  Act. 

These  cases  against  labor  racketeers  are  difficult  to  investigate  and  prosecute. 
All  too  often  the  public  is  not  aware  of  our  progress.  Leaving  cold  statistics, 
let  me  recite  three  examples.  Evan  Raymond  Dale,  the  best  known  and  most 
powerful  labor  official  in  southern  Illinois,  attempted  to  extort  the  sum  of 
$1,030,000  for  "labor  peace"  in  the  construction  of  the  plant  to  furnish  power 
to  the  Atomic  Energy  Commission.  Upon  a  verdict  of  guilty,  Dale  was  sen- 
tenced to  15  years'  imprisonment. 

Nicholas  A.  Stirone,  the  czar  of  common  laborers  in  the  Pittsburgh  area,  was 
tried  and  convicted  of  extorting  $32,000  for  "labor  peace."  He  was  sentenced 
to  3  years'  imprisonment. 

Another  high  labor  official  we  encountered  was  Orville  B.  Soucie,  "the  Duke 
of  Indiana,"  who  attempted  to  extort  $400,000  on  one  contract  and  $600,000 
on  another.  He  was  sentenced  to  5  years'  imprisonment  upon  his  plea  of 
guilty.  Just  within  the  past  week  Soucie  was  sentenced  for  an  additional  18 
months  for  income-tax  evasion. 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12325 

As  for  restraint  upon  United  States  attorneys,  the  reverse  has  been  true. 
We  have  constantly  urged  United  States  attorneys  to  be  vigorous  in  their  in- 
vestigation and  prosecution  in  this  area.  Prior  to  indictment  the  matter  is 
reviewed  in  the  Criminal  Division.  This  is  true  in  all  important  and  difficult 
cases.  The  reason  is  to  obtain  uniformity  of  application  of  the  statute  and 
to  aid  the  United  States  attorney  in  any  way  possible. 

If  you  believe  it  is  appropriate,  I  would  appreciate  your  making  the  record 
of  accomplishment  of  the  Department  of  Justice  in  this  area  a  part  of  the  rec- 
ord of  your  hearings. 

With  best  regards. 

(Signed)     William  P.  Rogers. 

Mr.  Chairman,  I  am  sorry  to  have  taken  the  time  of  the  committee 
and  I  appreciate  the  opportunity  to  insert  the  Attorney  General's 
statement,  and  also  to  make  clear  my  statement  and  prevent  any 
wrong  impression  being  made  concerning  what  the  real  facts  are. 

I  thank  you. 

The  Chairman.  Thank  you,  Senator  Curtis.  The  Chair  would 
make  this  brief  observation :  I  think  the  work  of  this  committee,  the 
disclosures  it  has  made,  clearly  indicate  the  urgent  necessity  for  dili- 
gence on  the  part  of  law-enforcement  officers,  not  only  those  of  the 
Federal  Government  but  also  of  States  and  political  subdivisions 
thereof. 

I  think  we  should  all  bear  in  mind  that  the  work  of  law-enforce- 
ment officers  is  not  always  easy  and  it  is  sometimes  most  difficult  if 
not  impossible,  and  if  anyone  has  followed  these  hearings  and  has 
observed  the  lack  of  cooperation  this  committee  receives  from  those 
who  are  in  position  to  know  what  facts  are  and  who  are  in  position 
to  give  information  that  would  enable  the  law-enforcement  officers 
to  perform  their  duties  effectively  and  to  punish  those  who  are  guilty 
of  wrongdoing,  they  would  readily  see  the  problem  that  confronts  us. 

Certainly  these  hearings  and  the  conditions  that  have  been  re- 
vealed to  exist  in  some  areas  should  alert  and  stimulate  and  compel 
law-enforcement  officers  to  be  as  vigilant  and  as  diligent  and  as  per- 
sistent in  the  performance  of  their  duties  as  it  is  possible  to  be.  There 
are  conditions  in  some  areas  that  really  strike  at  the  liberty  of  our 
people.  They  should  be  dealt  with,  and  I  am  not  critical  of  any  law- 
enforcement  agencies  or  officers  anywhere  but  I  am  hopeful  and  I  am 
sure  the  American  people  desire  that  in  some  areas  their  vigilance  be 
redoubled  and  that  they  pursue  these  matters  and  follow  up  on  them 
to  the  end  that  justice  may  ultimately  be  administered  and  prevail. 

Call  the  next  witness. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Chairman,  this  morning  we  expect  to  have 
probably  four  witnesses  and  we  expect  to  have  Capt.  James  Hamil- 
ton from  the  Los  Angeles  Police  Department.  Mr.  Sullivan  who  will 
testify  later  in  the  morning,  and  Mr.  Daniel  Sullivan  from  the  Miami 
Crime  Commission,  and  we  also  expect  to  have  in  between  those  two 
witnesses  two  individuals  who  attended  the  meeting  at  Apalachin. 
I  would  like  to  call  as  the  first  witness  Capt.  James  Plamilton,  from 
the  Los  Angeles  Police  Department. 

The  Chairman.  Captain  Hamilton,  will  you  come  around,  please? 

You  do  solemnly  swear  that  the  evidence,  given  before  this  Senate 
select  committee  shall  be  the  truth,  the  whole  truth,  and  nothing  but 
the  truth,  so  help  you  God  ? 

Mr.  Hamilton.  I  do. 


12326  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

TESTIMONY  OF  CAPT.  JAMES  E.  HAMILTON 

The  Chairman.  Captain,  will  you  state  your  name,  and  your  place 
of  residence,  and  your  profession  and  occupation,  please,  sir? 

Mr.  Hamilton.  James  E.  Hamilton,  1314  Roseway  Street,  West 
Venna,  captain  of  police,  Los  Angeles  Police  Department,  command- 
ing the  intelligence  division. 

The  Chairman.  The  committee  is  very  happy  to  welcome  you  back 
again,  and  you  have  been  before  our  committee  before,  I  believe,  and 
from  the  very  inception  of  this  committee  you  have  given  excellent 
cooperation  and  assistance  to  the  committee,  and  we  are  very  glad 
that  you  can  be  present  this  morning  and  testify  in  this  particular 
hearing. 

How  long  have  you  been  in  the  police  department? 

Mr.  Hamilton.  Twenty-two  years. 

The  Chairman.  Just  briefly,  what  has  been  the  nature  of  your 
work  in  the  position  you  hold,  Captain?  What  are  your  responsi- 
bilities and  the  type  of  criminal  work  that  you  perform? 

Mr.  Hamilton.  Well,  for  over  8  years  now,  as  commander  of  the 
intelligence  division — it  is  the  responsibility  of  the  division  to  investi- 
gate organized  crime.  We  are  a  nonenforcement  unit  and  that  is 
our  sole  responsibility  in  the  field  of  police  service.  It  is  the  investi- 
gation of  organized  crime. 

The  Chairman.  All  right,  thank  you. 

Mr.  Kennedy,  you  may  proceed. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Now,  in  the  course  of  those  investigations,  Captain 
Hamilton,  have  you  found  that  there  is  an  effort  on  the  part  of  known 
hoodlums  and  criminals  and  gangsters,  to  infiltrate  into  the  labor- 
management  field? 

Mr.  Hamilton.  Well,  there  is  a  continuing  effort  among  not  only 
the  Sicilian  group  but  others  to  move  into  both  labor  unions  in  po- 
sitions of  responsibility,  and  of  course  we  also  have  the  same  infiltra- 
tion into  legitimate  business. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  From  your  experience  and  the  work  you  have  done, 
do  you  find  that  this  is  an  organized  effort  on  the  part  of  these  hood- 
lums and  gangsters  ? 

Mr.  Hamilton.  Well,  it  appears  on  the  surface  as  an  individual 
effort,  but  we  find  the  same  individuals  trying  in  first  one  instance, 
and  if  they  are  not  successful,  they  will  try  again,  and  again.  We 
feel  that  it  has  a  definitely  established  pattern,  yes. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Would  that  be  a  pattern?  Based  on  the  work 
that  you  have  done  and  the  contacts  that  you  have  had  on  the  west 
coast  as  well  as  with  other  police  departments  throughout  the  United 
States,  this  is  not  just  a  situatiion  that  exists  in  Los  Angeles  or  1  or 
2  other  cities  but  it  is  a  nationwide  problem.  Would  you  discuss 
that? 

Mr.  Hamilton.  Yes,  it  is.  We  are  on  the  receiving  end,  of  course, 
in  this  problem  quite  often.  It  is  almost  an  axiom  that  whenever  a 
hoodlum  or  criminal  is  displaced  in  his  own  locality  by  some  hap- 
pening that  involves  him,  publicity  or  perhaps  jail,  lie  looks  for  new 
fields,  either  to  get  away  from  publicity  or  when  he  gets  out  of  jail. 

Now,  whether  he  looks  for  new  fields,  or  he  is  assigned  a  new  field 
is  something  we  don't  know.  But  Los  Angeles,  with  its  growth  and 
the  whole  southern  California  area  in  the  last  few  years,  is  often  on 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12327 

the  receiving  end.  I  could  give  as  an  example  in  the  garment  racket 
investigation  in  New  York  here  about  a  year  and  a  half  or  two  ago, 
one  individual  that  was  mentioned  quite  prominently  in  the  press 
was  Louis  "Scarface"  Lieberman.  About  a  year  or  over  a  year  now, 
Louis  "Scarface"  Lieberman  and  another  individual  by  the  name  of 
Fiano  showed  up  in  Los  Angeles. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Does  he  also  have  a  long  criminal  record? 

Mr.  Hamilton.  Yes,  he  is  presently  under  indictment  on  a  nar- 
cotics conspiracy  and  he  was  arrested  in  Los  Angeles,  and  a  sizable 
buy  was  made  from  him  by  Federal  narcotic  agents,  and  as  a  matter 
of  fact  there  are  two  cases  against  him  at  this  time. 

But  about  18  months  ago  we  first  received  the  story  that  Louis 
Lieberman  and  Fiano,  who  was  known  to  us  at  that  time,  the  first 
name  we  had  on  him  was  "Friedman"  were  in  Los  Angeles  and  had 
come  out  there  with  2  kilos  of  heroin  and  had  sold  the  heroin  and 
were  going  to  use  that  money  to  start  a  trucking  company  in  the 
garment  industry. 

"Well,  after  some  investigation  we  identified  Friedman  as  Louis 
Fiano,  and  they  did  start  the  Luck  Trucking  Co.  with  two  trucks. 
Now  that  was  the  pickup  and  delivery  of  garments  in  the  garment 
district  and  also  the  buying  or  acquiring  of  scrap  which  is  quite 
an  item  in  that  business. 

(At  this  point,  the  following  members  were  present:  Senators  Mc- 
Clellan  and  Ives.) 

As  an  example  of  their  intentions,  Louis  Lieberman  stated  on 
numerous  occasions  to  a  police  officer  that  was  at  that  time  working 
under  cover  in  this  matter,  he  stated  in  effect  that  "You  stick  with 
me  and  in  the  next  year  we  will  both  be  living  in  $100,000  houses." 

So  he  had  no  intention  of  just  having  a  small  trucking  company. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  you  ever  find  out  or  learn  where  their  backing 
came  from  ? 

Mr.  Hamilton.  "Well,  we  can't  prove  it,  but  in  New  York  they 
were  very  closely  connected,  particularly  Lieberman,  with  Sam  Ber- 
ger  and  Johnnie  Dio. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Sam  Berger,  with  local  102  of  the  ILGWU? 

Mr.  Hamilton.  That  is  right. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  who  was  the  other  individual  ? 

Mr.  Hamilton.  Johnny  Dioguardia. 

I  might  also  mention,  Mr.  Kennedy,  in  that  investigation  last  fall 
we  worked  with  a  State  assembly  committee  that  was  investigating 
a  similar  field  to  the  field  this  committee  is  interested  in.  Of  course, 
they  were  interested  only  in  activities  within  the  State.  All  of  these 
people  were  called  before  that  State  assembly  committee. 

The  Immigration  Service  shortly  after  proceeded  against  Scarface 
Lieberman,  and  he  is  presently  under  order  of  deportation.  So  the 
Lucky  Trucking,  and,  of  course,  with  Fiano  being  well  taken  care  of 
by  Federal  narcotics 

Mr.  Kennedy.  The  name  of  the  company  was  Lucky  Trucking? 

Mr.  Hamilton.  Lucky  Trucking,  yes.  In  connection  with  that, 
one  of  the  first  customers  that  Lucky  Trucking  picked  up  was  one 
of  our  old  friends — that  was  Louie  Dragna,  who  has  a  dress  shop 
in  the  town  of  Covina. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  D-r-a-g-n-a? 

Mr.  Hamilton.  That  is  right. 


12328  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  Kennedy.  He  had  a  dress  shop  himself. 

Mr.  Hamilton.  Yes.  Well,  he  is  one  of  the  owners  of  the  dress 
shop  of  record.  I  think  there  are  three  of  them.  He  is  a  nephew  of 
the  deceased  Jack  Dragna,  who  is  often  referred  to  as  the  Mafia 
chieftain  of  the  west  coast,  he  and  Momo  Adamo,  who  is  also  now 
deceased,  were  considered  the  two  top  boys. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  was  the  name  of  their  dress  shop  ? 

Mr.  Hamilton.  I  believe  it  is  Save-On. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  talked  about  Jack  Dragna  as  the  former  head 
of  the  Mafia  in  that  area.  Did  he  have  any  front  organizations  and 
companies  ? 

Mr.  Hamilton.  Yes.  Well,  let's  see,  at  one  time  he  had  the  Trans- 
America  Wire  Service  out  there.  After  that  it  was — of  course,  John 
Usala  and  some  others  were  in  on  that. 

After  that,  he  had  the  Latin  Import  &  Export,  and  then  he  had 
Rosemarie,  of  California. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  was  Rosemarie? 

Mr.  Hamilton.  That  was  a  dress  manufacturing. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Who  were  the  partners  with  him  in  that  company  ? 

Mr.  Hamilton.  Sam  Scozzari,  and  Frank  DeSimone  was  in  that. 

He  is  a  local  attorney.  Scozzari  and  DeSimone  were  the  two,  shall 
I  say,  representatives  from  southern  California  at  Apalachin. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Both  of  those  individuals  went  to  Apalachin,  did 
they  not  ? 

Mr.  Hamilton.  Yes,  they  did. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Scozzari  and  DeSimone? 

Mr.  Hamilton.  Yes. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  They  were  partners  of  Jack  Dragna  in  this  dress 
shop  ? 

Mr.  Hamilton.  Yes. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  see,  Mr.  Chairman,  the  same  kind  of  problem 
that  exists  on  the  east  coast,  in  Pennsylvania,  New  York,  and  New 
Jersey,  and  some  of  these  other  States,  also  exists  in  California  as 
far  as  the  infiltration  of  some  of  these  gangsters  into  trucking  and 
into  the  dress  business. 

DeSimone  was  also  a  partner  of  Jack  Dragna,  as  I  understand  it, 
in  this  import-export  business? 

Mr.  Hamilton.  Latin  Import  &  Export,  That  was  a  banana 
importation.     It  was  a  banana  house  in  the  produce  market. 

DeSimone  and  Momo  Adamo  were  also  down  at  the  Latin  Import. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Could  you  give  us  another  example  of  the  infiltra- 
tion into  some  of  these  businesses? 

For  instance,  we  have  had  some  information  that  there  is  some 
infiltration  of  gangsters  and  hoodlums  into  the  shoulder  pad  indus- 
try in  New  York  City.  Is  there  any  kind  of  a  similar  problem  out 
there? 

Mr.  Hamilton.  Yes.     I  hadn't  realized  (hat  the  shoulder  pad  in- 
dustry was  such  an  industry  until  we  got  info  it.     We  have  a  char- 
acter out  there  who  prefers  to  be  known  as  Danny  Wilson,     llis  true 
name  is  James  Iannone. 
Mr.  Kennedy.  La-n-n-0-n-e? 
Mr.  1  [amilton.  ( Jorrect. 

Mi\  Kennedy.   lie  is  also  known  as  Danny  Wilson? 
Mr.  Hamilton.  Yes. 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12329 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Would  yon  give  a  little  bit  of  his  background? 

Mr.  Hamilton. Danny,  we  will  cull  him  Danny,  be  came  orig- 
inally out  of  New  York.  He  has  a  reputation  of  being  one  of  the 
younger  men,  in  the  old  days  one  of  the  younger  men,  in  the  Murder, 
Inc.,  mob  and  the  Hug  and  Meyer  mob.  He  has  been  in  Los  Angeles 
for  at  least  15  years  now.  He  has  served  time  on  bookmaking.  He 
generally  has  a.  bookmaking  operation  of  some  sort  going.  Here 
about,  I  would  say,  5  years  ago,  when  we  would  have  reason  to  ques- 
tion Danny  ami  search  him,  he  always  had  check  stubs  for  the  Cus- 
tom Made  Shoulder  Pads. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Custom  Made  Shoulder  Pads  '. 

Mr.  Hamilton.  Yes.  That  is  one  of  the  manufacturing  outfits  in 
Los  Angeles.  He  would  maintain  that  he  was  regularly  employed 
there,  that  he  had  a  desk  there.  These  checks,  as  I  recall,  were  $50 
a  week.  Some  time  later  he  switched  his  affiliation  to  a  second 
shoulder  pad  company.  The  investigators,  in  talking  to  a  Mr.  Henry 
Bosen,  at  Colony  Casuals,  another  manufacturer — and  this  was  in 
1953,  they  talked  to  Mr.  Bosen  on  Xovember  16 — he  said  that  he  had 
hired  Jimmie  Wilson,  or  Jimmie  Iannone,  rather,  Danny  Wilson; 
that  Jake  Orloff  Custom  Made  Shoulder  Pad  Co.  had  recommended 
Mr.  Wilson  to  him;  that  he  had  noticed  that  as  long  as  Wilson  was 
with  Custom  Made  Shoulder  Pads,  that  Custom  Made  had  no  labor 
trouble. 

So  that  is  why  he  had  hired  Danny  on  pretty  much  the  same  basis ; 
that  he  was  on  the  payroll  and  he  made  sure  that  Iannone  was  paid 
by  check  so  there  would  be  a  record  of  it.  His  statement  was  that 
he  knew  that  the  Bureau  of  Internal  Revenue  would  more  than  likely 
come  around  to  question  about  the  hiring  of  Jimmie  Iannone.  At 
that  time,  the  date  that  we  talked  to  him,  he  stated  that  Iannone 
was  no  longer  on  his  payroll  and  had  not  been  for  about  2  weeks. 

Mr.  Iannone  was  on  his  payroll  as  a  labor — it  is  an  odd  term. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Adjuster? 

Mr.  Hamilton.  Labor  adjuster,  yes.  We  had  had  stories,  and  it 
is  my  understanding  that  this  is  rumor  that  we  could  never  substan- 
tiate, that  Iannone  has  always  been  very  close  to  the  Sica  brothers, 
who  are  notorious  in  California  because  of  their  involvement  in  a 
Federal  narcotics  case  in  which  the  principal  witness  who  was  the 
informant  for  the  Federal  Government  was  slain  before  the  case  went 
to  trial,  and  as  a  result  of  which  both  Joe  and  Fred  Sica  were  free; 
since  there  was  no  principal  witness,  there  was  no  trial. 

We  got  the  story  on  the  street  that  Danny  Wilson  was  valuable  to 
his  employers  because  at  the  outset  there  was  a  picket  line  on  one 
of  the  shoulder  pad  companies.  Danny  Wilson  went  to  the  man- 
agement and  told  them  that  if  he  was  their  labor  consultant  there 
would  not  be  any  picket  line. 

The  following  day,  Joe  Sica  walked  into  the  office  of  the  union 
and  told  them  to  get  that  blank-blank  picket  line  off  and  get  it  off 
now.  I  say  this  is  the  story  we  picked  up  on  the  sheet,  however, 
and  we  could  not  verify  the  story. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  But  these  companies  with  whom  he  was  associated 
had  no  labor  difficulties  while  he  was  with  them? 

Mr.  Hamilton.  That  is  right.  The  picket  line  was  withdrawn. 
Danny  Wilson  went  on  the  payroll  and  that  was  his  position  in  that 
industry. 


12330  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  Kennedy.  I  might  say  on  that  question,  Mr.  Chairman,  as  far 
as  the  east  coast  is  concerned,  we  have  information  that  Natale  Joseph 
Evola,  who  attended  the  meeting  at  Apalachin,  controls  a  good  deal 
of  the  shoulder-pad  industry  in  New  York  City,  through  an  asso- 
ciation  of  manufacturers  with  whom  he  is  associated.  He  is  also  an 
officer  in  two  garment  companies  or  dress  shops. 

Mr.  Hamilton.  As  an  example  of  this  same  individual  moving 
from  labor  into  management,  with  pretty  much  the  same  tactics, 
Danny  Wilson  presently  has  the  Buy-Rite  Disposal  Co.,  which  is 
manufacturer  or  at  least  distributor,  and  I  believe  manufacturing  as 
well — perhaps  the  manufacturing  is  let  out  to  a  contract — of  a  com- 
mercial garbage-disposal  unit. 

Two  or  three  years  ago  Danny  Wilson  and  Joe  Sica  first  started 
hanging  around  the  office  of  the  Buy-Rite  Disposal ;  which  was  out  in 
county  territory.  There  was  a  man  by  the  name  of  Sam  Eglit,  who 
was  the  principal  of  Buy-Rite  at  that  time.  It  was  a  small  concern. 
Today  Mr.  Eglit  is  gone.  Danny  Wilson  is  the  man  at  Buy-Rite  Dis- 
posal. This  isn't  the  first  time  we  have  seen  this  happen.  We  have 
seen  it  tried  in  other  places.  When  this  type  of  individual  moves  into 
a  legitimate  business,  the  legitimate  people  get  pushed  out. 

And  I  understand  that  the  Buy-Rite  Disposal  is  a  rather  success- 
ful business  at  this  time. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  So  it  was  a  question  of  a  gangster  moving  into  one 
of  these  companies  and  eventually  ovniing  it,  is  that  right? 

Mr.  Hamilton.  Yes.  I  would  like  to  point  out  in  connection  with 
that,  that  the  reason  that  I  have  to  testify  as  to  what  we  hear  and  what 
we  understand  is  the  same  old  thing,  that  the  police  do  not  have  the 
power  of  subpena,  and  as  this  committee  well  knows  we  get  just  about 
as  much  cooperation  from  this  type  of  individual  as  the  committee  has 
been  getting  from  that  type  of  witness  up  here. 

They  either  give  us  silly  answers  or  maintain  that  they  are 
thoroughly  abused  that  we  should  even  think  that  they  might  be  doing 
something  wrong,  when  at  the  same  time  through  the  years  you  see 
them  with  no  visible  legal  means  of  support.  Yet  the  police  are  pretty 
much  powerless  to  investigate. 

Victims  of  this  type  of  operation  do  not  come  to  law  enforcement 
complaining.  For  instance,  the  proprietor  of  a  manufacturing  con- 
cern that  is  the  victim  of  a  shakedown  by  this  type  of  individual  does 
not  come  to  law  enforcement  complaining  that  he  has  been  shaken 
down.   He  is  a  voluntary  victim  of  extortion. 

So  in  the  job  of  investigating  the  tools  that  we  have  to  work  with 
are  so  inadequate  that  the  job  is  extremely  frustrating,  I  think,  in  the 
whole  field  of  law  enforcement. 

Of  course,  in  the  last  number  of  years,  particularly,  the  courts  have 
further  restricted  us,  and  we  have  fewer  tools  to  work  with  than  we 
had  even  5  years  ago. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Just  to  straighten  the  record  out,  the  witness  who 
was  murdered  in  that  case  is  Abraham  Dayidian. 

Mr.  1 1  am  11, ton.  Yes. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  spoke  about  Sam  Berger  coming  in  from  the 
east  coast,  a  former  union  official.  Did  yon  find  thai  be  came  in  in 
any  other  instance  other  than  the  one  that  you  mentioned? 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12331 

For  instance,  did  yon  learn  any  information  of  their  efforts,  Sam 
Berger  and  another  individual's  efforts,  to  take  over  a  local  union  out 
there? 

Mr.  Hamilton.  Yes.  We  have  another  character  out  there  that, 
again,  conies  from  New  York. 

Happy  Meltzer,  Harold  Meltzer,  who  lias  a  rather  extensive  record 
of  accomplishments.    He  has  a  three-page  FBI  kickback. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  M-e-1-t-z-e-r? 

Mr.  Hamilton.  Yes.  His  last  time  served  was  in  about  1951-52. 
1951,  I  believe.  He  came  back  to  Philadelphia  and  plead  guilty  on  a 
narcotics  conspiracy  and  did  5  years.  He  presently  has  Dabill,  Inc., 
which  was  formerly  known  as  the  A.  F.  of  L.  Buyers  League,  a  dis- 
count house  catering  particularly  to  some  local  unions. 

Happy  Meltzer,  we  believe  through  the  efforts  of  Sam  Berger  and 
Duke  Kaminetsky,  approached  a  union  official  in  Los  Angeles  that  he 
had  never  met  before,  and  requested  this  union  official  to  support  a 
certain  candidate  for  an  international  office  in  that  union. 

And  he  requested  him  in  rather  obvious  terms  to  this  official.  How- 
ever, the  official  did  not  follow  Mr.  Meltzer's  request,  but  went  to  other 
people.  What  Mr.  Berger  and  Kaminetsky  were  after  did  not  come 
about. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  is  Duke  K-a-m-i-n-e-t-s-k-y. 

Mr.  Hamilton.  Well,  I  don't  spell  it  quite  that  way. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Duke  Kaminetsky  is  one  of  the  lieutenants  of  "Tony 
Ducks"  Corallo,  and  was  a  witness  here  himself  during  the  paper 
local  hearings. 

Senator  Ives.  Mr.  Chairman,  may  I  ask  a  question  along  that  line? 

The  Chairman.  Senator  Ives. 

Senator  Ives.  Captain  Hamilton,  can  you  tell  us  how  many  of  these 
persons  to  whom  you  are  referring  are  members  of  the  Mafia  ? 

Mr.  Hamilton.  Well,  all  of  those  that  I  have  mentioned  that  are  of 
Sicilian  origin.  I  would  not  say  all  of  them.  The  Sicas  we  do  not 
classify  as  members  of  the  Mafia.  If  they  are,  they  are  in  a  family 
that  very  seldom  shows  activity.  They  are  of  no  stature  in  the  or- 
ganization. That  is  our  evaluation  of  them.  Willie  Dragila,  yes, 
he  is  of  a  considerable  stature.  Frank  DeSimone,  definitely.  Sam 
Scozzari  is  one  of  the  dons. 

We  have  some  others,  Joe  Giammona,  who  associates  on  that  same 
level.     We  evaluate  them  by  their  level  of  contact. 

Senator  Ives.  Then  you  know  rather  definitely  who  the  members  of 
the  Mafia  are  out  there,  don't  you? 

Mr.  Hamilton.  We  know  some  of  them,  yes.  Certainly  we  don't 
know  all  of  them.     We  are  stumbling  into  them  from  time. 

Senator  Ives.  Thank  you. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  believe  there  is  such  an  organization  through- 
out the  United  States? 

Mr.  Hamilton.  I  think  Commissioner  Anslinger  for  years  has 
maintained  without  wavering  in  position  that  there  is  such  an  organ- 
ization, and  I  think  the  Federal  Bureau  of  Narcotics  has  spent  more 
time  and  effort  in  establishing  that. 

It  is  very  difficult  to  establish,  but  we  have  been  thoroughly  con- 
vinced for  a  number  of  years  likewise,  that  there  is  such  an  organiza- 

21243—  58— pt.  32 10 


12332  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

tion.  We  have  concentrated,  spent  a  lot  of  the  city's  money,  on 
investigating  these  individuals.  And  as  a  result  of  our  investigation, 
we  have  been  convinced  for  some  time  that  there  is  a  very  tight  organ- 
ization. Call  it  what  you  may,  the  Mafia  or  the  Bird  Watchers  So- 
ciety, it  is  still  the  same  thing. 

They  operate  by  a  very  definite  code  and  it  is  restricted  to  Sicilians 
or  ones  of  Sicilian  origin. 

They  use  other  people  very  much.  Happy  Meltzer  is  very  closely 
associated,  but  he  is  certainly  not  of  Sicilian  origin  and  not  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Mafia. 

But  he  is  very  closely  associated.  He  is  a  contact  for  undesirables 
of  stature  that  come  to  Los  Angeles.  As  an  example  of  that,  there 
is  a  Morris  Sedikaner,  who  has  a  long  record  in  New  York.  He 
arrived  in  Los  Angeles  using  the  alias  of  Sam  Miller,  and  about  his 
first  contact  seemed  to  be  Dabill,  Inc.,  or  Happy  Meltzer.  He  was 
wanted  on  a  youth  rap.  He  was  picked  up  at  DabilPs  at  Meltzer's 
place  of  business,  and  returned  to  New  York. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Captain,  what  about  Frank  DeSimone,  who  at- 
tended the  meeting  in  Apalachin  ? 

Mr.  Hamilton.  Frank  has  long  been  of  interest  to  us  because  of 
his  association.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Bar  of  the  State  of  California. 
We  have  never  seen  him  in  court  in  front  of  the  railing.  Any  time 
one  of  the  top  Sicilians  is  in  court  on  a  criminal  charge  or  on  a  civil 
matter,  you  are  quite  likely  to  see  DeSimone  on  the  spectator's  side  of 
the  railing. 

We  are  convinced  that  he  is  the  one  that  makes  the  arrangements 
for  adequate  counsel  for  only  the  top  members,  when  they  get  into 
trouble.  As  an  example  of  how  the  man  circulates,  about  3  years 
ago,  March  14,  1956,  some  of  the  investigators  saw  DeSimone's  ear 
parked  outside  of  Tony  Penelli's  place  up  in  Sierra  Madre. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  is  P-a-n-e-1-l-i  ? 

Mr.  Hamilton.  P-e-n-e-1-l-i,  I  think. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  All  right. 

Mr.  Hamilton.  He  first  came  to  our  attention  in  Momo  Adamo's 
address  book  in  1950.  It  has  generally  been  referred  to  as  Memo's 
green  address  book.  Tony  Penelli's  name,  address,  and  telephone 
number  were  in  there.  At  that  time  he  lived  on  School  Street  in 
Chicago.  Tony  has  little  if  any  criminal  record.  I  believe  he  has 
an  old  alcohol  case  of  many  years  ago,  and  that  is  all.  He  lives  in 
Sierra  Madre  in  a  very  elaborate  establishment  along  with  at  least 
two  of  his  children,  who  also  have  houses  on  the  same  piece  of 
property. 

Frank  DeSimone's  ear  was  out  front  on  this  one  evening,  so  we  fol- 
lowed it  back  into  Los  Angeles,  stopped  it,  and  the  two  passengers 
in  the  car  with  him  were,  one,  John  S.  LaEocca.  of  Pittsburgh,  Pa., 
and,  the  second,  Salvatore  Marino.  Salvatore  Marino  was  known  to 
us  as  the  operator  of  the  California  Cheese  Co.  in  San  Jose,  and  they 
did  have  a  branch  store  in  Los  Angeles. 

Salvatore  Marino  came  out  from  Pennsylvania  several  years  ago, 
and  has  been  considered  in  the  racket  class.  As  a  side  line  on  Sal- 
vatore, about  4  or  5  years  ago  we  picked  up  an  individual  (hat  was 
going  under  the  name  of  Drake,  and  he  had  one  other  alias,  on  finger- 
printing. It  turned  out  to  be  Leo  Moceri.  Leo  Mooeri  was  a  part- 
ner of  Leo  Licavoli,  the  cousin  of  Pete  Licavoli,  and  the  l*  of  them. 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12333 

along  with  a  third  individual,  were  responsible  for  at  least  12  murder- 
in  southern  Michigan  and  Ohio. 

Leo  Licavoli  has  been  in  prison  many  years.  Moceri  was  never 
apprehended  and  was  wanted  for  17  years  for  these  murders. 

There,  was  a  youth  rap  on  him.  The  Federal  Bureau  of  Investiga- 
tion was  actively  looking  for  him.  We  picked  him  up.  lie  had  a 
Cadillac,  a  new  Cadillac,  and  si  ,m  10  in  his  pocket,  but  no  visible  means 
of  support.  We  were  never  able  to  ascertain  how  he  had  been  living 
during  the  past  17  years.  He  was  returned  to  Ohio  for  prosecution. 
The  mail  drop  for  Leo  Moceri  at  the  time  we  apprehended  him  was 
the  Cali  fornia  Cheese  Co.  office  in  Los  Angeles. 

It  just  indicates  how  these  people  all  tie  together,  and  the  business 
fronts  that  they  may  have  at  times  are  more  a  matter  of  convenience 
than  anything  else. 

"Well,  by  the  same  token,  John  LaRocca,  who  was  with  DeSimone 
that  night,  was  classified  by  Senator  Williams  probably  5  years  ago 
now  in  an  investigation,  at  least  the  press  quoted  Senator  Williams 
as  classifying  John  LaRocca  as  the  top  racketeer  of  the  Pittsburgh 
area. 

And  that  is  how  we  knew  who  we  had  when  we  stopped  John 
LaRocca. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  you  find  Penelli's  connection  with  any  of  these 
other  people  from  the  Midwest  ? 

Mr.  Hamilton.  Well,  yes.  Tony  Accardo  paid  us  a  visit  about 
5  years  ago.  Our  men  at  the  airport  spotted  him  coming  in  there. 
He  said  he  was  on  his  way  to  Las  Vegas  and  had  not  intended  to 
stop  in  Los  Angeles. 

But  with  Tony  Accardo,  was  Monny  Giancanna,  traveling  under 
a  fictitious  name.  There  were  two  people  there  to  meet  him  at  the 
airport.  One  was  Tony  Penelli.  So  Tony  Penelli  moves  in  pretty 
high  circles. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  On  Scozzari,  did  you  come  across  Carlo  Licata  \ 

Mr.  Hamilton.  Yes.  Carlo  Licata  is  quite  a  well-known  boy. 
He  is  the  son  of  Nick  Licata.  Nick  Licata,  again,  is  one  of  the  older 
dons  of  the  organization  in  our  area. 

He  is  of  the  same  general  level  as  DeSimone,  Scozzari,  and  Tom 
Dragna,  and  a  few  others.  Carlo  Licata  was  formerly  a  bartender 
at  the  Five  O'Clock  in  Burbank.  That  was  1951.  *  Incidentally, 
Nick  Licata  at  that  time  was  the  alibi  witness  for  "Jimmy  the  Weasel" 
Fratiano,  who  was  the  prime  suspect  in  the  double  murder  of  Ton  v 
Trumbino  and  Tony  Broncato,  on  June  (>,  1951,  in  Los  Angeles,  which, 
by  the  way,  was  the  last  gang  slaying.  Carlo  at  that  time  was  the 
bartender  at  the  Five  O'Clock.  Approximately  6  months  later  he 
-disappeared  from  the  local  scene.  The  next  I  heard  of  him  was 
receiving  a  letter  from  a  law  enforcement  official  from  the  State  of 
Michigan  inquiring  about  Carlo  Licata  who  had  just  married  a 
daughter  of  Black  Bill  Tocco,  who  has  sometimes  been  called  the 
racket  boss  of  southeastern  Michigan.  There  had  been  a  \vvy  large 
wedding  and  reception  there  to  this  unknown,  as  far  as  Michigan 
was  concerned.     We  thereby  located  Carlo  Licata. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  you  know  he  is  now  secretary-treasurer  of  the 
Melrose  Linen  Company  of  Detroit  \ 

Mr.  Hamilton.    Yes.    He  is  quite  a  businessman  now.  I  understand. 


12334  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Just  in  summary,  Captain  Hamilton,  could  you  tell 
the  committee  what  you  feel  the  situation  is  now  as  far  as  the  operation 
of  some  of  these  gangsters  and  hoodlums,  and  just  briefly  what  you  feel 
should  be  done  to  combat  them  ? 

Mr.  Hamilton.  Well,  No.  1, 1  think  these  hearings  are  an  excellent 
thing,  because  if  there  is  one  thing  that  these  boys  do  not  like,  it  is 
publicity. 

It  frustrates  them  very  much.  But  I  would  like  to  take  just  a  minute 
on  the  problems  that  I  know  you  have  seen  that  law  enforcement  has 
in  trying  to  cope  with  the  whole  field  of  organized  crime. 

No.  1  is  the  lack  of  information.  In  September  of  1952,  at  the 
International  Conference  of  the  International  Association  of  Chiefs  of 
Police,  there  was  a  resolution  adopted  calling  upon  Congress,  calling 
upon  the  President  and  Congress,  to  either  give  to  an  existing  Federal 
agency  or  to  create  a  Federal  agency,  to  assemble  information  on 
the  members  of  organized  crime,  and  make  that  information  available 
to  local  law  enforcement.  There  was  a  bill  introduced  in  the  Senate  as 
a  result  or  at  least  parallel  to  that  resolution,  and  the  bill  died  in 
committee. 

I  would  like  to  file  a  copy  of  the  original  resolution  with  the  com- 
mittee, and  ask  that  consideration  be  given,  because  of  the  obvious 
inadequacy  in  this  field. 

Using  John  LaRocca  as  an  example,  we  knew  who  John  LaRocca 
was,  not  because  anybody  had  ever  given  us  any  information  on  John 
LaRocca,  but  we  got  it  out  of  the  newspapers.  We  subscribe  to  14 
national  newspapers.  The  city  of  Los  Angeles  is  paying  for  this.  We 
subscribe  to  the  newspapers.  We  have  our  own  clipping  service,  and 
we  index  anything  that  looks  like  a  hoodlum.  It  was  out  of  five  news 
clips  on  John  LaRocca's  card  that  we  knew  very  well  who  he  was. 
We  were  then  able  to  deal  with  him  accordingly. 

But  it  is  an  impossible  task  to,  on  a  local  level,  be  expected  to  deal 
in  the  field  of  organized  crime  without  having  a  central  agency  to 
call  upon  for  information,  and  we  have  no  such  central  agency. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Are  these  individuals  getting  stronger? 

Mr.  Hamilton.  Well,  they  are  certainly  not  getting  weaker.  They 
multiply  as  time  goes  along. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  think  it  is  a  major  problem  ? 

Mr.  Hamilton.  Certainly  I  do;  yes.  It  is  a  very  dangerous  one. 
They  are  so  closely  knit.  You  cannot  penetrate  that  organization  with 
an  operator,  such  as  you  will  in  other  things.  They  have  to  be  born 
into  it  or  marry  into  it.  They  don't  take  outsiders.  We  can't  get  an 
operator  in. 

Then  I  would  also  like  to  file  with  the  committee 

The  Chairman.  Will  you  submit  the  resolution  ? 

Mr.  Hamilton.  Yes.  The  resolution  of  the  International  Associa- 
tion of  Chiefs  of  Police  of  September  1952  is  the  title  of  the  paper. 

The  second  problem  that  is  not  exactly  restricted  to  the  field  of 
organized  crime  but  which  is  of  great  concern  to  police  service  has 
been  the  recent  trend  of  decisions  of  the  Supreme  Court  in  the  field 
of  criminal  law.  We  now  have  the  Federal  evidence  rule  in  California 
in  the  State  courts.  It  started  with  the  Irvine  decision  of  the  United 
States  Supreme  Court  and  was  followed  by  the  Cahan  decision  of  the 
State  supreme  court.  The  State  supreme  court  is  still  taking  cases  and 
trying  to  come  up  with  refinements  of  the  Federal  evidence  rule. 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN   THE    LABOR    FIELD  12335 

Mr.  Virgil  Peterson,  the  operating  director  of  the  Chicago  Crime 
Commission,  at  a  regional  meeting  of  the  American  Bar  Association  in 
St.  Louis,  on  June  13,  read  a  paper  entitled  "Recent  Trends  of  De- 
cisions of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States  in  the  Field  of 
Criminal  Law." 

I  have  a  copy  of  that  paper  with  me.  In  my  opinion  it  is  one  of  the 
finest  dissertations  on  the  effect  of  recent  court  decisions  on  the  police. 
We  are  working  under  handicaps  now  that  did  not  exist  even  5  years 
ago.  Crime,  statistically,  is  increasing.  Nationally,  Mr.  Hoover  said 
that  crime  is  increasing  four  times  the  rate  of  the  population. 

In  California  it  is  increasing  at  six  times  the  rate  of  the  population. 
Yet  the  police  service,  which  is  the  first  line  of  defense  against  crime, 
is  expected  to  cope  with  the  problem  with  handicaps  that  didn't  exist 
hefore.  We  actually  needed  more  help,  more  legislative  support,  than 
we  had  5  years  ago. 

Instead,  today  we  have  much  less.  It  certainly  is  in  the  field  of 
legislation  that  we  are  going  to  get  help.  When  the  police  service  is 
helped,  it  is  only  the  people  that  are  being  helped  and  not  the  criminal. 
So  far,  in  the  last  5  years,  the  criminals  have  been  the  only  ones  getting 
helped.  It  is  not  a  police  problem.  Our  salaries  go  on  whether  we 
make  an  arrest  or  not.  It  is  a  problem  for  the  police  through  their 
representatives  in  the  legislatures  to  give  serious  consideration. 

The  Chairman.  The  Chair  has  read  the  resolution  of  the  Inter- 
national Association  of  Chiefs  of  Police.  I  think  it  is  excellent.  With- 
out objection,  I  shall  insert  it  in  the  record.  I  am  intrigued  by  your 
suggestion  that  there  should  be  a  continuous  and  meticulous  study  of 
organized  crime. 

What  do  you  have  in  mind  with  respect  to  that?  Do  you  mean  a 
standing  committee  of  the  Congress,  or  select  committees  of  the  Con- 
gress, charged  with  a  continuing  duty  of  investigating?  Or  do  you 
mean  possibly  there  should  be  a  commission  on  crime  created  and  vested 
with  powers  of  subpena  and  hearing,  and  so  forth  ? 

Mr.  Hamilton.  Yes;  Senator,  I  think  the  latter,  a  commission,  be- 
cause of  the  permanency,  set  up  as  a  permanent  body  with  the  very 
powers  you  mentioned.    That  is  highly  desirable. 

The  information  is  available,  but  it  needs  to  be  correlated,  evalu- 
ated, and  made  available  to  local  law  enforcement.  An  organization 
that  you  mentioned,  which  has  the  power  of  subpena  and  which  has 
a  permanent  staff,  in  the  field  to  send  the  information  in  and  to  be 
evaluated  at  a  central  location,  would  be  desirable. 

The  Chairman.  As  you  say,  it  is  not  a  police  problem.  It  is  a 
citizenship  problem,  it  is  for  the  good  of  all. 

Mr.  Hamilton.  That  is  correct. 

The  Chairman.  In  other  words,  you  think  crime,  organized  crime, 
is  making  continuous  strides  toward  achieving  its  goals. 

Mr.  Hamilton.  Yes.  They  are  able  to  take  advantage  of  all  of 
these  refinements  that  we  have  seen  in  the  last  5  years.  I  don't  be- 
lieve that  15  years  ago  men  that  sat  here  yesterday  and  refused  or, 
as  you  choose,  the  word  is  not  refused,  it  is  decline  to  answer 

The  Chairman.  Well,  they  choose  the  word  "refused,"  and  we 
were  able  to  pursuade  them  to  be  a  little  more  respectful. 

Mr.  Hamilton.  You  were  very  generous  to  them.  But  15  years 
ago  they  would  not  have  shown  this  effrontery  to  their  Government. 


12336  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Today  they  are  taking  advantage  of  the  recent  trends  in  Court  deci- 
sions. As  they  sit  here  and  conduct  themselves  in  such  a  manner,  they 
also  go  out  and  take  advantage  of  that  in  their  business  on  the  outside. 

The  Chairman.  You  feel,  then,  that  there  is  some  responsibility 
on  the  part  of  the  courts. 

Mr.  Hamilton.  Definitely. 

The  Chairman.  Without  being  critical  of  any  court  decision,  as- 
suming that  the  court  decisions  based  upon  present  law  are  correct, 
and  that  the  court  had  no  alternative  except  to  find  as  it  did,  then 
there  is  need  for  the  strengthening  of  our  laws  and  the  enforcement 
procedures;  is  that  correct? 

Mr.  Hamilton.  That  is  correct,  sir;  yes.  In  the  first  place,  the 
court's  interpretation  is  only  a  judicial  interpretation  of  the  law. 
The  court  has  said  many  years  ago  that  these  interpretations  may 
be  negated  by  legislative  action.    It  is  a  well-established  doctrine. 

The  Chairman.  You  think  a  permanent  commission,  crime  com- 
mission, that  would  make  a  continuous  investigation  with  the  power 
of  subpena,  and  hearings  such  as  these,  and  discover  where  these 
loopholes  are  in  the  law  and  where,  within  the  Constitution,  they  can 
be  tightened  up  to  give  better  protection  to  the  public  and  society, 
would  serve  a  valuable  and  most  useful  purpose? 

Mr.  Hamilton.  Correct,  because  the  refinements  of  recent  years 
are  not  helping  society.  They  are  helping  the  law  violator.  They 
are  in  nowise  helping  the  innocent  man.  They  are  helping  the  guilty 
man.  There  is  no  refinement  of  the  courts  in  the  last  5  years  that 
would  free  an  innocent  man.  The  refinements  are  all  freeing  guilty 
men.  I  defy  anyone  to  point  out  one  example  of  where  an  innocent 
man  was  freed  by  any  of  the  court  decisions  in  the  last  5  years  in  the 
field  of  criminal  law. 

The  Chairman.  And  there  can  hardly  be  anything  more  danger- 
ous to  a  free  society  than  for  that  trend  to  continue. 

Mr.  Hamilton.  That  is  right.  It  is  undermining  society.  The  in- 
crease in  crime  is  proof  of  that.  We  don't  have  to  be  concerned  about 
the  invasion  from  without.  It  is  this  deterioration  that  is  pointed 
up  by  the  terrific  increase  in  crime  that  is  dangerous. 

The  Chairman.  And  you  regard  these  trends  as  a  mark  of  deterio- 
ration from  within. 

Mr.  Hamilton.  Absolutely. 

The  Chairman.  This  resolution  may  be  printed  in  the  record  at  this 
point. 

(The document  referred  to  follows:) 

Resolution  of  IACP  of  September  19.">2 

Whereas  the  freedom  of  the  people  of  America  is  undergoing  an  attack  of 
three  dimensions — the  armed  might  of  Russia,  the  Communist  fifth  column,  and 
organized  crime ;  and 

Whereas  it  is  the  primary  responsibility  of  local  law  enforcement  agencies 
to  thwart  the  efforts  of  criminal  syndicates  to  establish  an  invisible  govern- 
ment, under  which  public  officials  will  be  mere  puppets  doing  the  bidding  of  their 
criminal  overlords;  and 

Whereas  the  fluidity  of  travel  and  communication  which  has  established 
solid  links  among  the  underworld  from  coast  to  coast  has  rendered  it  extremely 
difficult  for  local  law  enforcement  officers  to  know  and  combat  the  enemies  of 
society ;  and 

Whereas  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  guarantees  free  ingress  and 
egress  among  the  several  States  to  all  people,  including  the  criminals  of  the 
Nation ;  and 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12337 

Whereas  there  is  a  definite  and  compelling  need  or  an  agency  on  the  na- 
tional level  to  eonducl  a  continuing  study  of  organized  crime  in  pinpoint  its 
members,  to  chart   their  modus  operandi,  to  determine  their  associations,  and 

to  supply  to  local  Law  enforcement   tins  information,  without  which  they  cannot 
adequately  combat  the  criminal  cartels  :  Therefore,  be  it 

Resolved,  That  the  International  Association  of  Chiefs  of  Police,  duly  as- 
sembled in  annual  conference  in  the  city  of  Los  Angeles  this  25th  day  of  Sep- 
tember, 1952,  does  hereby  importune  the  President  of  the  United  States  and  the 
Congress  of  the  United  States  to  take  the  necessary  action  to  establish  an 
agency  on  the  Federal  level  charged  with  the  responsibility  of  a  continuous 
and  a  meticulous  study  of  organized  crime,  its  members  and  its  methods,  and 
further  charged  with  the  responsibility  of  supplying  to  local  law  enforcement 
the  information  that  will  enable  the  local  police  officer  to  know  and  combat  the 
criminal  enemies  of  society. 

The  Chairman.  You  had  some  other  document  \ 

Air.  Hamilton.  Yes.  It  is  the  paper  given  by  Mr.  Virgil  Peterson 
before  the  bar  association  on  June  13. 

The  Chairman.  If  it  is  just  a  speech,  we  will  accept  it  and  make 
it  exhibit  11,  for  reference.  I  will  not  print  it  in  the  record  at  this 
point. 

(The  document  referred  to  was  marked  "Exhibit  Xo.  11"  for  ref- 
erence, and  may  be  found  in  the  iiles  of  the  select  committee.) 

The  Chairman.  Is  there  anything  further? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  I  wish  to  thank  Captain  Hamilton  for  his  assistance. 

The  Chairman.  Thank  you  very  much,  Captain.  I  am  sure  the 
committee  and  the  Congress  will  give  considerable  weight  to  your 
testimony  and  to  your  recommendations.  I  especially  welcome  your 
resolution  and  the  views  of  your  group  because  we  need  suggestions  in 
that  field.  Those  of  you  who  come  in  personal  contact  with  it,  who 
live  it  day  by  day  and  experience  it,  are  the  most  competent,  I  think, 
to  suggest  remedies  that  the  Congress  might  apply.  Thank  you  very 
much. 

Have  you  anything  to  say,  Senator  ? 

Senator  Ives.  I  think  he  has  been  a  great  help  to  us. 

The  Chairman.  Thank  you. 

Mr.  Hamilton.  Thank  you.  I  appreciate  the  opportunity  of  being 
heard. 

The  Chairman.  Call  the  next  witness. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Joseph  Profaci. 

The  Chairman.  Be  swrorn,  please.  You  do  solemnly  swear  the  evi- 
dence you  shall  give  before  this  Senate  select  committee  shall  be 
the  truth,  the  whole  truth,  and  nothing  but  the  truth,  so  help  you 
God? 

AIr.  Profaci.  I  do. 

TESTIMONY  OF  JOSEPH  PROFACI,  ACCOMPANIED  BY  COUNSEL. 

SAMUEL  PAIGE 

The  Chairman.  State  your  name,  your  place  of  residence,  and  your 
business  or  occupation. 

Mr.  Profaci.  Joseph  Profaci,  8863  15th  Avenue,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

The  Chairman.  What  is  your  business  or  occupation,  please? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  refuse  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  might  be  in- 
criminating me. 

The  Chairman.  You  what  ? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  refuse  to  answer  on  the  ground 


12338  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

The  Chairman.  I  don't  think  you  better  use  the  word  "refuse."  I 
think  that  shows  disrespect  for  your  Government.  Do  you  want  to 
place  yourself  in  that  attitude? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  am  sorry. 

The  Chairman.  I  would  use  the  word  "decline." 

Senator  Ives.  Mr.  Chairman,  may  I  interpose  a  question  ? 

The  Chairman.  Yes. 

Senator  Ives.  Who  instructed  you  to  use  that  word  "refuse"  ? 

Mr.  Profaci.  Well,  I  couldn't  say,  I  misread. 

Senator  Ives.  You  have  it  written  out  there  ? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  have  it  written  out. 

Senator  Ives.  Who  wrote  it  out  for  you  ? 

Mr.  Profaci.  You  see,  I  misread. 

Senator  Ives.  You  do  what  ? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  misread.  I  have  "respectfully  refuse  to  answer  on 
the  ground  that  might  be — — " 

Senator  Ives.  Who  gave  you  that  word  "refuse"?  Where  did  you 
get  that  word  "refuse"  ?     Did  your'counsel  give  you  that  ? 

Where  did  you  get  that  piece  of  paper  there,  that  writing?  Who 
gave  it  to  you? 

Mr.  Profaci.  My  counsel. 

Senator  Ives.  Your  counsel  gave  it  to  you  ? 

Mr.  Profaci.  Yes. 

Senator  Ives.  He  had  the  word  "refuse"  there  ? 

Mr.  Profaci.  Respectful. 

Senator  Ives.  You  should  use  "decline"  always  instead  of  "refuse" 
when  you  are  speaking  before  the  Government.  Your  counsel  should 
know  that.     I  am  not  criticizing  you. 

The  Chairman.  Counsel,  will  you  identify  yourself  for  the  record, 
please  ? 

Mr.  Paige.  Samuel  Paige,  261  Broadway,  New  York  City. 

The  Chairman.  Thank  you. 

Do  I  understand  that  you  are  stating  to  this  committee  that  if  you 
answered  the  question  as  to  what  is  your  business  or  occupation,  that 
a  truthful  answer  to  that  question  might  tend  to  incriminate  you  ? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  refuse  to  answer 

Senator  Ives.  I  wish  you  would  stop  using  that  word  "refuse." 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer,  I  am  sorry. 

Senator  Ives.  All  right. 

The  Chairman.  The  Chair  is  going  to  order  you  to  answer  that 
question.  I  asked  you  if  you  honestly  believed  that  if  you  answered 
the  question  truthfully  as  to  what  is  your  business  or  occupation,  if 
you  believed  that  a  truthful  answer  to  that  question  might  tend  to 
incriminate  you. 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that  it  might  be 
incriminating  me. 

The  Chairman.  This  would  not  incriminate  you,  to  state  whether 
you  honestly  believe  that  it  might.     Do  you  or  don't  you  ? 

Mr.  Profaci.  Yes ;  I  believe. 

The  Chairman.  You  honestly  believe  that  if  you  gave  a  truthful 
answer  and  told  this  committee  what  your  business  or  occupation  is, 
that  the  truth  in  that  answer  might  tend  to  incriminate  you? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  believe. 

The  Chairm  a  n\  You  honestly  believe  that. 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12339 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  believe  that. 

The  Chairman.  Proceed. 

Senator  Ives.  Is  he  under  indictment,  Mr.  Counsel  ? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  No  ;  I  don't  believe  he  is. 

The  Chairman.  I  will  ask  him. 

Are  you  under  indictment  now  for  anything  ? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  be  incrimi- 
nating me. 

The  Chairman.  Ask  him  any  questions  you  want  to,  then. 

If  we  knew  you  were  under  indictment,  we  would  undertake  to 
avoid  asking  you  questions  in  that  area,  in  the  area  of  the  crime  for 
which  you  may  be  indicted.  But  without  your  willingness  to  state 
whether  you  are  or  not,  we  will  proceed  as  if  you  are  not. 

Mr.  Kennedy,  you  may  ask  him  any  questions  you  desire. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Profaci,  we  had  a  talk  yesterday,  a  nice  con- 
versation ;  did  we  not ?     Didn't  we  have  a  little  talk  in  the  office? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Profaci,  j^our  English  was  so  much  better  yester- 
day.    What  has  happened  in  the  last  24  hours  ? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  don't  catch  your  words  right. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  don't  ? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  don't  catch  you. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  caught  it  awfully  well  yesterday,  Mr.  Profaci. 
You  spoke  very  good  and  you  understood  everything  I  said. 

Mr.  Profaci.  If  you  will  be  patient,  I  will  catch  it. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  I  don't  have  to  be.  Yesterday  you  spoke  very  freely 
and  easilj7.  Your  accent  has  gotten  so  bad  today.  What  happened 
overnight,  Mr.  Profaci  ?  You  understood  and  answered  all  the  ques- 
tions I  asked  you  yesterday,  and  you  spoke  very  easily,  with  very 
little  accent.     What  has  happened  since? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  don't  catch  the  words  right  when  you  use  big  words. 

Senator  Ives.  Are  you  an  American  citizen  ? 

Mr.  Profaci.  Yes,  sir. 

Senator  Ives.  Were  you  born  here  in  the  United  States? 

Mr.  Profaci.  No,  sir. 

Senator  Ives.  Where  were  you  born  ? 

Mr.  Profaci.  In  Italy. 

Senator  Ives  What  part  of  Italy  ? 

Mr.  Profaci.  Sicily,  Palermo. 

Senator  Ives.  When  did  you  come  here  to  this  country  ? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  might  be  in- 
criminating to  me. 

The  Chairman.  You  ought  to  be  deported  if  you  think  it  would 
incriminate  you  to  tell  when  you  came  to  this  country.  You  are 
not  worthy  of  being  an  American  citizen,  anyone  who  takes  that 
position,  that  he  can't  tell  when  he  came  to  this  country. 

Senator  Ives.  How  did  you  get  your  citizenship,  if  you  can't  tell 
that? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  be  incrimi- 
nating me. 

The  Chaerman.  Proceed,  Mr.  Kennedy. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Well,  from  what  we  understand,  you  were  born 
in  Italy  on  October  1, 1897 ;  isn't  that  right,  Mr.  Profaci  ? 


12340  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    EST    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  answered  before  that  you  were  born  in  Italy. 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  might  be  in- 
criminating me. 

Senator  Ives.  Being  born  in  Italy  would  incriminate  you? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  was  born  in  Italy. 

Senator  Ives.  But  the  date  you  were  bom,  would  that  incriminate 
you? 

(Witness  consulted  with  counsel.) 

Mr.  Profaci.  First  of  October  1897. 

Senator  Ives.  When  did  you  arrive  here  in  the  United  States? 
How  old  were  you  when  you  arrived  here  in  the  United  States? 
What  is  there  about  that  that  is  going  to  incriminate  you?  There 
is  nothing  there  that  can  incriminate  you,  and  you  ought  to  be  proud 
that  you  got  here. 

Mr.  Profaci.  Well,  I  was  21  years  old. 

Senator  Ives.  Well,  you  have  been  here  approximately  36  years, 
haven't  you  ? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  don't  catch  you. 

Senator  Ives.  It  is  40  years  you  have  been  here. 

Mr.  Profaci.  About ;  yes. 

Senator  Ives.  You  mean  to  tell  me  that  you  still  have  to  speak  in 
that  broken  English. 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  don't  speak  too  good,  I  guess. 

Senator  Ives.  Well,  I  judge  from  what  the  counsel  says,  your 
English  yesterday  was  a  good  deal  better  than  it  is  today,  and  I  can't 
understand  that. 

However,  I  know  cases  where  that  does  exist. 

The  Chairman.  Proceed. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  We  understand  that  you  came  to  the  United  States 
about  1922 ;  is  that  right  ? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  be  in- 
criminating me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  you  went  to  Chicago  where  you  opened  up  a 
grocery  store ;  isn't  that  right  ? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  incriminate 
me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Yesterday  when  we  were  talking  you  were  telling 
me  about  going  up  to  Apalachin.  Could  you  tell  the  committee  about 
it  ?    They  are  very  much  interested  in  that. 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  be  in- 
criminating. 

Senator  Ives.  What  did  he  say  ? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  As  I  understood  it,  your  partner  had  died,  and 
you  didn't  know  Mr.  Joseph  Barbara,  but  your  partner  had  died 
in  early  November  of  1957 ;  isn't  that  right? 

Mr.  Profaci.  Counsel,  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  be 
incriminating  to  me. 

The  Chairman.  You  mean  the  death  of  your  partner  might  in- 
criminate you?  Does  that  carry  with  it  some  implication?  Are 
you  saying  that  the  death  of  your  partner  might  incriminate  you,  if 
you  admitted  he  died? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  incriminate 
me. 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12341 

The  Chairman.  Proceed. 

Air.  Kennedy.  Your  partner  died  in  early  November  of  1957, 
and  he  knew  Joseph  Barbara.  You  were  not  personally  acquainted 
with  Joseph  Barbara,  but  your  partner  told  you  before  he  died  that 
Joseph  Barbara  was  sick,  and  wasn't  feeling  very  well;  isn't  that 
right  ? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  be  in- 
criminating. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Because  he  was  sick,  you  thought  that  you  would 
go  up  and  see  him,  and  see  if  he  was  feeling  better? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  incriminate 
me. 

The  Chairman.  Did  he  make  these  statements  to  you  yesterday? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Yes,  sir. 

The  Chairman.  All  right,  proceed. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  you  really  went  up  to  Mr.  Barbara's  home 
for  was  just  to  visit  this  sick  man  whom  you  didn't  know.  That 
is  what  you  told  me  yesterday;  isn't  that  right? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  incriminate 
me. 

Senator  Ives.  Mr.  Counsel,  are  you  going  to  ask  him  questions  about 
his  sojourn  at  Apalachin  ? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Yes. 

Senator  Ives.  I  want  to  find  out  whether  he  landed  in  the  bushes 
or  not. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Chairman,  we  have  a  detective  here,  Thomas 
O'Brien  of  the  New  York  Police  Department.  The  New  York  Police 
Department  has  been  very  cooperative  in  this  investigation,  and  De- 
tective Thomas  O'Brien  and  a  number  of  others  have  been  working 
with  the  committee  over  the  last  few  weeks.  The  detective  interviewed 
Mr.  Profaci  when  the  subpena  was  served  on  him  and  also  interviewed 
him  at  an  earlier  time  after  he  came  back  from  Apalachin. 

I  would  like  to  call  Detective  O'Brien  just  to  summarize  what  Mr. 
Profaci  told  him  at  that  time. 

The  Chairman.  Detective  O'Brien,  will  you  come  around,  please? 

Do  you  solemnly  swear  that  the  evidence  given  before  this  Senate 
select  committee  shall  be  the  truth,  the  whole  truth,  and  nothing  but 
the  truth,  so  help  you  God  ? 

Mr.  O'Brien.  I  do. 

TESTIMONY  OF  THOMAS  O'BRIEN 

The  Chairman.  State  your  name  and  your  place  of  residence  and 
your  business  or  occupation. 

Mr.  O'Brien.  My  name  is  Thomas  O'Brien,  and  I  am  a  detective  as- 
signed to  the  New  York  City  Police  Department,  and  I  reside  in 
Staten  Island,  N.  Y. 

The  Chairman.  How  long  have  you  been  on  the  police  force  of 
New  York. 

Mr.  O'Brien.  Fifteen  years. 

The  Chairman.  Were  you  at  the  notorious  Apalachin  meeting? 

Mr.  O'Brien.  No,  sir;  I  wasn't. 

The  Chairman.  I  didn't  know  but  what  you  were  there  on  duty 
servino-  with  the  other  officers. 


12342  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

All  right,  proceed,  Mr.  Kennedy. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  have  interviewed  Mr.  Profaci,  have  you  notr 
detective  ? 

Mr.  O'Brien.  I  have. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  On  how  many  different  occasions? 

Mr.  O'Brien.  On  June  6,  1958,  on  that  occasion  and  a  previous  oc- 
casion before  that. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  was  at  the  time  that  a  subpena  was  served  on 
him? 

Mr.  O'Brien.  Yes,  sir ;  it  was. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Now,  could  you  tell  us  in  brief  what  Mr.  Profaci 
told  you  at  that  time  when  you  interviewed  him  ? 

Mr.  O'Brien.  As  regards  the  Apalachin  meeting? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  First  on  his  marriage  in  his  family,  and  we  would 
like  to  get  that  in  the  record. 

Mr.  O'Brien.  At  the  time  he  was  interviewed  which  was  on  No- 
vember 21, 1957 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  was  an  interview  that  was  conducted  by  one 
of  your  colleagues;  is  that  right? 

Mr.  O'Brien.  That  is  right. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  you  are  reading  from  his  report  ? 

Mr.  O'Brien.  That  is  right. 

Senator  Ives.  Mr.  Counsel,  may  I  interrupt  here  to  ask  a  question  of 
Mr.  Profaci  ? 

Can  you  hear  what  is  being  said  ? 

Mr.  Profaci.  Yes,  sir. 

Senator  Ives.  Do  you  understand  it  ? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  don't  understand. 

Senator  Ives.  You  don't  understand  it  ? 

Mr.  Profaci.  If  I  don't  understand,  I  will  ask. 

The  Chaerman.  If  you  don't  understand  you  can  ask  and  we  will 
make  it  clear  to  you. 

Proceed. 

Mr.  O'Brien.  Mr.  Profaci  stated  he  was  born  in  Palermo,  Sicily,  on 
October  2,  1897,  and  he  said  that  he  had  6  children,  4  sons  and  2 
daughters,  and  that  his  wife's  maiden  name  was  Ninfa  Magliocco,  and 
his  daughter,  Carmela,  who  was  23  years  old,  is  married  to  one  An- 
thony Tocco  and  she  resides  in  Michigan. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  is  Anthony  Tocco.  The  names  appear  on  the 
chart. 

Senator  Ives.  Is  that  right,  Mr.  Profaci  ? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that  it  might  be 
incriminating  me. 

Senator  Ives.  You  mean  this  relationship  is  going  to  incriminate 
you  ?     Are  you  ashamed  of  it  ? 

Mr.  Profaci.  Excuse  me. 

Senator  Ives.  Goodness  sakes,  I  can't  imagine  being  ashamed  of  my 
wife. 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  don't  get  you,  Senator.     I  am  proud  of  my  wife. 

Senator  Ives.  Why  don't  you  admit  what  he  is  saying  to  be  the 
truth,  because  there  is  nothing  there  that  can  possibly  hurt  you. 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  don't  get  you. 

Senator  Ives.  All  right. 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN   THE    LABOR    FIELD  12343 

Mr.  O'Brien.  lie  also  stated  that  he  had  another  daughter,  Rosalie, 
27  years  of  age,  who  is  married  to  Anthony  Zerilli,  and  she  resides  in 
Michigan. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Is  that  correct,  Mr.  Prof  aci  ? 

Mr.  Peopaci.  I  refuse  to  answer  or  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground 
it  might  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  The  Toccos  and  Zerillis  are  two  of  the  leading  gang- 
ster families  in  Detroit,  Mich.,  and  in  the  Michigan  area. 

Could  you  tell  us  how  it  came  that  your  2  daughters  were  married 
to  those  2  families? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  be  incrimi- 
nating me. 

Senator  Ives.  Mr.  Counsel,  I  can  see  how  that  might  incriminate 
him,  but  on  anything  before  that  I  can't  understand  his  reasoning. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Now,  according  to  the  reports  that  we  have,  Mr. 
Profaci,  you  are  connected  with  the  Mama-Mia  Olive  Oil  Co.,  of 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  might  incriminate 
me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  the  Carmela  Mia  Packing  Co.,  of  Brooklyn, 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  incriminate 
me. 

The  Chairman.  Is  that  some  kind  of  an  illegitimate  business  or  is 
it  a  legal  business? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  incriminate 
me. 

The  Chairman.  Do  you  honestly  believe  it  might  incriminate  you 
if  you  told  the  truth  in  answer  to  that  question  ? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground 

The  Chairman.  I  order  and  direct  you  to  answer  that  question. 
Do  you  honestly  believe  that  if  you  told  the  truth  as  to  this  business, 
whether  you  have  an  interest  in  it  or  not,  that  such  truth  might  tend 
to  incriminate  you  \     Do  you  honestly  believe  that? 

Mr.  Profaci.  Yes,  sir,  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may 
incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  I  don't  believe  you  are  quite  as  dumb  as  you  are 
acting.  You  are  not  fooling  me  very  much.  I  asked  you  the  question, 
whether  you  honestly  believe,  and  I  expect  an  answer  to  this  question. 
Do  you  honestly  believe  that  if  you  told  the  truth  about  whether  you 
have  an  interest  in  this  company,  this  business  or  not,  that  a  truthful 
answer  might  tend  to  incriminate  you? 

Mr.  Profaci.  Yes,  sir.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that  it 
might  mcrimmate  nie. 

The  Chairman.  Did  you  say  "yes,"  you  honestly  believe  that  it 
would  tend  to  incriminate  you  ? 

Air.  Profaci.  Yes,  sir. 

The  Chairman.  A  little  louder. 

Mr.  Profaci.  Yes,  sir,  Senator. 

The  Chairman.  You  honestty  believe  that  ? 

Mr.  Profaci.  Yes,  sir. 

The  Chairman.  All  right,  proceed. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Xow,  these  two  companies  are  import  companies, 
in  the  import-export  business,  are  they  not,  Mr.  Profaci '. 


12344  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  incriminate 
me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  We  also  understand  that  through  your  brother  you 
have  an  interest  in  the  United  Uniform  Corp.,  a  clothing  company,  and 
that  you  also  have  an  interest  in  the  T.  L.  S.  Suit  &  Coat  Factory,  of 
Newburgh.  N.  Y.,  in  Jerry  James  Frocks,  Inc.,  of  Newburgh,  and  in 
Christine  Dresses,  of  Brooklyn,  is  that  correct? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  incriminate 
me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  when  you  were  arrested,  Mr.  Profaci,  on  No- 
vember 21,  1957,  or  when  you  were  questioned,  you  had  a  number  of 
cards  of  various  union  officials  throughout  the  eastern  part  of  the 
United  States  on  your  person.     Isn't  that  correct? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that  it  may  be  in- 
criminating. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  For  instance,  you  had  the  card,  and  Detective 
O'Brien,  will  you  confirm  this,  that  he  had  the  card  of  Frank  B. 
Tortorici  on  his  person. 

Mr.  O'Brien.  That  is  right, 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  is  from  Local  222  of  the  International  Jewelry 
Workers  Union  ? 

Mr.  O'Brien.  That  is  correct. 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  incriminate 
me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Isn't  it  a  fact  that  Joe  Stracci,  also  known  as 
Stretch,  is  the  one  that  really  controls  and  operates  that  union? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that  it  may  incrimi- 
nate me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  another  card  that  you  had  is  Philip  Wachtell, 
secretary-treasurer  of  Local  138  of  the  Teamsters  ? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  incriminate 
me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  Teddy  Land,  of  the  Restaurant  and  Cafe  Em- 
ployees Union,  Local  26  ? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  incriminate 
me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  Edward  Wisotsky,  a  delegate  from  the  Blue- 
print and  Photostat  Union? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  incriminate 
me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  Joseph  Pecora,  secretarv-treasurer  of  Local 
883  of  the  Teamsters,  in  Newark,  N.  J.  ? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  incriminate 
me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  Frank  Eulo,  of  Local  180  of  the  Teamsters 
Union,  in  Oak  Park,  111. 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  incriminate 
me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  also  S.  L.  Zaeb,  Local  275  of  the  Teamsters 
Union  \ 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  incriminate 
me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  is  a  local  union,  is  it  not,  Local  275  of  the 
Teamsters,  that  is  controlled  by  "Tony  Ducks"  Corallo? 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12345 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  incriminate 
me. 

Senator  Ives.  I  would  like  to  get  something  on  the  record,  and  I 
would  like  to  ask  the  detective  if  those  cards  were  found  on  him? 

Mr.  O'Brien.  They  were. 

Senator  Ives.  All  of  theni '. 

Mr.  O'Brien.  Yes,  sir;  all  of  them. 

Senator  Ives.  Thank  you. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  do  you  have  the  criminal  record  of  Mr.  Pro- 
faci ? 

Mr.  O'Brien.  Yes,  sir;  I  do. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Have  you  been  arrested? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  incriminate 
me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Chairman,  I  would  like  to  say  Mr.  Profaci  is 
one  of  the  most  powerful  underworld  figures  in  the  United  States, 
according  to  the  information  that  we  have,  and  we  expect  to  be  able 
to  develop  that  information.  We  would  be  able  to  do  it  much  more 
successfully  if  Mr.  Profaci  would  answer  the  questions. 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  incriminate 
me. 

The  Chairman.  Obviously  this  witness  is  not  going  to  cooperate, 
and  so  make  the  record  and  the  Chair  will  have  a  little  comment  at 
the  conclusion. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Would  you  just  summarize  his  criminal  record? 

Mr.  O'Brien.  On  April  18,  1916,  he  was  arrested  in  Sicily,  Italy, 
for  theft,  violation  of  the  domicile,  and  attempted  rape,  and  the  charge 
was  dismissed. 

The  Chairman.  Is  that  correct,  I  see  you  are  nodding  your  head; 
is  that  correct? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to  in- 
criminate me. 

The  Chairman.  Let  the  record  show  that  the  witness  was  nodding 
his  head  in  affirmative  as  the  sergeant  was  testifying. 

Mr.  O'Brien.  On  November  23,  1920,  he  was  arrested  in  Palermo, 
Italy,  for  theft  and  false  witness  of  a  public  document,  for  which  he 
received  a  year  in  prison. 

The  Chairman.  Is  that  correct? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  incriminate 
me. 

The  Chairman.  If  you  said  "No,"  it  wouldn't  incriminate  you,  I 
can  assure  you.     Do  you  want  to  say  "No"  ? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer.  Senator. 

The  Chairman.  All  right,  proceed. 

Mr.  O'Brien.  On  August  19,  1934,  he  was  picked  up  for  an  investi- 
gation in  connection  with  the  murder  of  Ferdinand  Boccia,  in  Brook- 
lyn, N.  Y.,  with  Yito  Genovese,  Nick  Miranda,  Sebastiano  Nani, 
Gus  Frasca,  and  Joseph  Smurra  and  Pete  DeFeo. 

The  Chairman.  Do  you  recall  anything  about  that  ? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  incrimi- 
nate me. 

The  Chairman.  Do  you  want  to  deny  it  ? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to  in- 
criminate me. 


12346  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

The  Chairman.  Do  you  honestly  believe  that  if  you  denied  it  as 
being  the  truth,  that  a  denial  might  tend  to  incriminate  you? 

Mr.  Profaci.  Yes ;  I  decline  to  answer,  Senator. 

The  Chairman.  All  right,  proceed. 

Mr.  O'Brien.  On  December  5,  1928,  he  was  arrested  in  Cleveland, 
Ohio,  for  investigation. 

The  Chairman.  Is  that  correct  ? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  incrimi- 
nate me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Now,  wasn't  that  arrest  in  connection  with  another 
meeting  of  the  Mafia  in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  in  1928  ? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer,  Mr.  Kennedy,  on  the  ground  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Didn't  the  meeting  in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  of  the  Mafia 
in  1928,  as  well  as  the  meeting  at  Apalachin  of  the  Mafia  in  1957  ? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  incrimi- 
nate me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Didn't  you  go  to  the  meeting  in  1928  in  Cleveland, 
Ohio,  with  the  same  individual  you  went  to  the  meeting  with  in  1957  ? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  ma}7  tend  to  in- 
criminate me. 

Senator  Ives.  May  I  interrupt?  I  would  like  to  ask  him,  Are  you 
a  member  of  the  Mafia  ? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  might  be  in- 
criminating. 

Senator  Ives.  That  is  quite  sufficient. 

Mr.  Profaci.  No  ;  I  decline  to  answer. 

Senator  Ives.  Are  you  a  member  or  aren't  you  ? 

Mr.  Profaci.  No  ;  I  decline  to  answer.     No,  sir. 

Senator  Ives.  You  are  not? 

Mr.  Profaci.  No,  sir. 

Senator  Ives.  You  are  under  oath,  you  know  ? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to  in- 
criminate me. 

Mr.  O'Brien.  On  May  9,  1946,  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  he  was  arrested 
for  forgery  of  an  auto  registration. 

The  Chairman.  Do  you  remember  that  incident  ? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer,  sir. 

The  Chairman.  I  believe  you  do,  and  I  think  that  I  can  see  that 
deep. 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  Proceed. 

Mr.  O'Brien.  On  April  7,  1949,  he  was  arrested  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y., 
for  violation  of  the  Food  and  Drug  Act,  and  he  pleaded  guilty  and 
received  a  suspended  sentence  and  was  put  on  probation  for  1  year. 

The  Citairman.  Are  you  still  on  probation  \ 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  might  tend  to 
incriminate  me,  Senator. 

The  Chairman.  Did  you  serve  any  time  on  that  conviction? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer. 

The  Chairman.  What  is  that? 

Mr.  Profaci.  No,  sir ;  I  never  served  any  I  ime. 

The  Chairman.  You  didn't  ? 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12347 

Mr.  Pkofaci.  No. 

The  Chairman.  Thank  you. 

Mr.  O'Brien.  On  October  27,  1952,  he  was  arrested  in  Brooklyn, 

N.  Y.,  for  violation  of  the  Food  and  Drug  Act,  and  fined  $4,000. 

The  Chairman.  Did  you  pay  your  fine? 

Mr.  Pkofaci.  I  decline  to  answer,  Senator. 

The  Chairman.  Do  you  still  owe  it? 

Mr.  Pkofaci.  It  might  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  Do  you  still  owe  it  ? 

Mr.  Pkofaci.  I  decline  to  answer,  Senator,  on  the  ground  it  may 
incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  If  you  haven't  paid  it,  I  hope  this  will  alert  some- 
body up  there  to  try  to  do  a  little  collecting  business. 

Proceed. 

Mr.  O'Brien.  On  September  21,  1953,  he  was  arrested  in  Brooklyn, 
N.  Y.,  for  evasion  of  income  taxes. 

The  Chairman.  You  are  surely  not  guilty  of  that,  are  you? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  might  incrimi- 
nate me. 

The  Chairman.  Proceed. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Now,  what  did  Mr.  Profaci  state  at  the  time  after 
being  questioned  regarding  his  visit  to  Apalachin  and  his  visit  to 
Cleveland  in  1928,  according  to  the  official  records  of  the  police 
department  ? 

Mr.  O'Brien.  When  he  was  questioned  on  November  21,  1957,  in 
regard  to  the  Cleveland,  Ohio,  affair,  he  said  that  he  was  arrested 
in  either  1928  or  1929,  and  he  doesn't  remember,  and  it  was  for  play- 
ing cards  with  a  group  of  men  in  Cleveland,  Ohio.  When  I  inter- 
viewed him  on  June  6,  1958,  he  said  that  he  was  driven  to  Cleveland 
by  his  brother-in-law,  Joe  Magliocco,  and  he  was  in  the  lobby  of  a 
hotel  when  these  men  came  up  to  him  and  told  him  that  there  were 
guns  up  in  the  room,  and  he  was  being  charged  with  it,  and  he  was 
arrested  at  the  time  for  possession  of  guns. 

AIr.  Kennedy.  Were  there  guns  up  in  the  room  ? 

Mr.  O'Brien.  There  were. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  How  man}  ;  do  you  know  ? 

Mr.  O'Brien.  Thirteen  guns. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Was  this  at  the  famous  meeting  of  the  Mafia  in 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  in  1928  ? 

Mr.  O'Brien.  Yes,  sir. 

The  Chairman.  What  kind  of  guns ;  do  you  know  ? 

Mr.  O'Brien.  I  really  don't  know. 

The  Chairman.  Was  that  at  this  Mafia  meeting  in  Cleveland? 

Mr.  O'Brien.  Yes,  sir. 

The  Chairman.  And  when  he  was  arrested  they  found  13  guns  in 
1  room? 

Mr.  O'Brien.  Yes,  sir. 

Air.  Kennedy.  What  did  he  say  about  that  \ 

Mr.  O'Brien.  Relative  to  Apalachin,  in  November  he  seated  that 
since  the  death  of  Adriano  Liberator,  he  decided  he  would  have  to 
make  a  business  trip  to  Scranton,  Easton,  and  Wilkes-Barre,  and  on 
Wednesday,  November  13,  1957,  at  about  3  p.  m.,  he  and  his  brother- 
in-law,  Joseph  Magliocco,  a  beer  distributor  of  Islip,  N.  Y.,  drove 
off  in  Maglioceo's  Cadillac. 

21243— 5S— pt.  32 11 


12348  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  Kennedy.  This  is  the  same  one  he  had  been  arrested  with  in 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  and  he  had  gone  to  the  meeting  of  the  Mafia  in 
Cleveland  with? 

Mr.  O'Brien.  The  same  person,  yes. 

Senator  Ives.  Just  a  moment.     What  model  was  that  Cadillac? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  refuse  to  answer ;  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground 
it  may  incriminate  me. 

Senator  Ives.  Don't  you  know  the  year  it  was  ? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer,  Senator. 

Mr.  O'Brien.  He  said  they  arrived  that  night  at  Wilkes-Barre, 
Pa.,  and  he  stayed  overnight  at  the  Hilton  Hotel,  in  a  room  on  the 
12th  floor.  He  said  the  next  morning  he  remembered  his  friend,  Joe 
Barbara,  who  was  sick,  was  nearby,  Endicott,  and  they  decided  to 
go  visit  him  and  wish  him  luck. 

He  said  they  arrived  at  Barbara's  house  November  14,  about  2:  30 
p.  m.,  and  they  talked  to  Barbara  for  about  15  minutes  and  then  left. 

Senator  Ives.  Just  a  minute  there.  Are  you  going  to  trace  this  up, 
Mr.  Counsel,  to  find  out  how  he  got  up  there  through  that  roadblock  ? 
The  road  was  supposed  to  be  blocked  at  12 :  40.  How  is  he  going  to 
get  up  there?     I  want  to  check  him  on  this  business. 

Mr.  O'Brien.  He  states  that  he  did  not  see  anyone  he  knew  there, 
or  any  other  automobiles,  and  he  said  while  driving  away  from  the 
house  they  were  stopped  by  two  State  troopers  who  checked  the  auto 
registration  and  asked  for  their  identification,  and  then  let  them  go, 
and  they  drove  on  to  Wilkes-Barre.  They  stayed  overnight,  and  on 
Friday  morning  he  called  his  wife,  and  she  advised  him  of  the  big 
story  in  the  newspapers,  and  he  came  right  home. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  was  in  November  of  1957  that  he  told  that. 
What  did  he  tell  you  when  you  served  a  subpena  on  him  ? 

Mr.  O'Brien.  On  June  6  he  told  me  that  his  left  leg  hurt  from  a 
boat  accident,  and  so  he  didn't  like  to  drive,  and  he  knew  that  this 
would  be  a  fantastic  story,  and  he  didn't  think  I  would  believe  it, 
but  he  said  because  of  his  bad  leg  he  got  an  innocent  man  in  trouble 
and  his  brother-in-law,  Magliocco.  He  said  he  had  a  corporation 
partner  in  Philadelphia  who  had  died  and  he  wanted  to  go  to  Wilkes- 
Barre  and  other  places  to  inform  the  jobbers  that  the  man  had  died, 
and  he  also  wanted  to  collect  some  debts. 

This  was  the  day  before  Apalachin.  So  he  asked  his  brother-in- 
law,  Magliocco,  to  drive  him.  He  said  they  went  first  to  Binghamton 
and  stayed  overnight,  and  they  talked  that  night,  and  the  subject 
said  that  Barbara  had  been  giving  Magliocco  a  lot  of  business  and 
Barbara  was  a  good  friend  of  Profaci  and  it  would  be  nice  if  they 
stopped  in  and  made  a  personal  touch,  and  to  that  he  said  the  next 
day  they  didn't  even  know  where  Barbara's  house  was  and  they  had 
to  call  and  ask  directions. 

He  said  when  they  drove  there,  Profaci  said  he  got  out  of  the  car 
and  he  saw  some  cars  there,  but  he  went  right  into  the  house  and  he 
went  right  into  Barbara's  bedroom  and  lie  paid  his  respects,  and 
Magliocco  stayed  in  the  car  all  of  the  time,  and  he  said  he  came 
out  and  he  got  in  the  car  and  started  down  the  hill.  At  the  bottom 
of  the  hill  a  car  piled  up  and  blocked  the  road  and  Magliocco  said, 
"Do  you  think  this  is  a  stickup,  Joe?"  and  Profaci  said,  "No;  they 
are  State  cops." 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES   IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12349 

They  were  asked  by  the  State  troopers  to  identify  themselves,  and 
Profaci  said  to  show  he  was  a  right  guy  he  gave  his  own  identifica- 
tion, because  he  had  his  dead  partner's  registration,  and  his  dead 
partner's  operators'  license  in  his  pocket  and  if  he  wasn't  legitimate 
he  would  have  offered  those  instead  and  no  one  would  have  known 
him  but  he  was  legitimate,  and  they  told  him  to  go  on.  Then  he 
went  to  Wilkes-Barre,  where  he  had  his  own  barbecue  and  he  paid 
$11  for  it,  and  he  called  home  the  next  day,  and  his  wife  was  all 
excited  and  she  said,  "There  was  headlines  in  the  paper  about  a  Mafia 
meeting,"  and  he  said,  "Well,  gee,  I  hope  no  one  got  shot  there." 
And  she  said,  "No,  it  is  just  a  meeting."  And  he  said,  "It  is  all  right, 
the  same  old  business,  invisible  government,  the  same  old  thing. 
All  of  this  is  the  responsibility  of  the  Communist  newspapers  in  the 
United  States." 

Mr.  Kennedy.  He  said  the  Communist  newspapers  in  the  United 
States? 

Mr.  O'Brien.  Yes,  sir. 

Senator  Ives.  Is  the  Mafia  combating  Communism,  am  I  to  under- 
stand that? 

Mr.  Profaci.  Excuse  me,  sir. 

Senator  Ives.  Is  the  Mafia  fighting  Communism,  is  that  it? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer,  Senator,  on  the  ground  it  might 
be  incriminating. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  he  explain  his  criminal  record  to  you  at  that 
time  ? 

Mr.  O'Brien.  He  explained  his  own  version  of  it,  yes,  sir,  he  did. 

The  Chairman.  What  was  his  version  of  it? 

Mr.  O'Brien.  He  said  as  far  as  the  first  violation  was  concerned, 
he  was  coming  out  of  the  army  in  Italy  in  World  War  I,  and  the 
custom  of  the  time  was  if  you  received  an  honorable  discharge  they 
gave  you  a  horse,  which  he  wanted  to  have  for  a  business,  and  you 
pay  750  lire  for  the  horse  if  you  had  a  good  discharge.  They  gave 
him  a  bad  horse,  and  he  brought  the  horse  home  and  the  horse  died. 
So  he  went  back  to  the  original  market  place,  and  he  met  a  soldier 
and  he  gave  this  soldier  100  lire  for  another  application  to  get  a  horse. 
And  he  brought  the  horse  home,  and  he  paid  750  lire  for  it  but  when 
he  was  home,  someone  came  and  knocked  on  the  door,  a  policeman, 
and  he  arrested  him. 

At  that  time,  Italy  was  Fascist  and  Mussolini  didn't  care  for  him 
anyhow,  and  there  were  no  bail  bondsmen  like  here  in  America,  and 
he  was  put  in  jail  for  a  year  while  his  family  tried  to  find  that  soldier, 
and  they  couldn't  find  him,  and  he  stayed  in  jail  for  a  year. 

On  his  record  it  says  a  year  but  actually  it  was  just  because  of  his 
bail  bond. 

(At  this  point  Senator  Mundt  entered  the  hearing  room.) 

Senator  Ives.  When  was  that? 

Mr.  O'Brien.  This  would  be  before  World  War  I. 

Senator  Ives.  Before  World  War  I  ? 

Mr.  O'Brien.  No,  right  after  World  War  I.  the  end  of  World  War 

Senator  Ives.  I  take  it  Mussolini  had  then  taken  over  Italy  at  that 
time? 

Mr.  O'Brien.  No,  sir,  I  don't  think  so. 


12350  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Senator  Ives.  I  thought  you  were  talking  about  that.  Isn't  that 
right,  you  are  nodding  your  head,  I  see. 

The  witness  is  nodding  and  that  is  all  I  can  tell.  He  is  a  pretty 
good  noclder,  but  that  is  all  you  can  get  out  of  him. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Then  he  came  to  the  United  States  and  did  he  say 
he  had  difficulty  then  ? 

Mr.  O'Brien.  Yes,  about  his  income  tax,  you  mean  ? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  About  coming  into  the  United  States  and  answering 
the  questions  of  the  immigration  authorities. 

Mr.  O'Brien.  He  said  he  was  coming  into  the  United  States,  that 
he  had  difficulty  with  the  language,  and  they  brought  him  to  a  place 
and  he  was  asked  certain  questions,  and  he  signed  a  certain  document, 
and  he  said  he  was  under  the  impression  that  they  asked  him,  did  lie 
have  a  record  in  the  United  States,  and  he  said  "No,"  and  he  said 
that  now  the  immigration  authorities  are  bringing  back  this  piece 
of  paper  and  saying  that  he  was  asked  if  he  had  a  record,  and  that 
he  gave  a  false  answer,  answer  of  "No." 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Does  he  say  that  is  the  basis  of  some  proceedings 
against  him  ? 

Mr.  O'Brien.  Yes,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Now,  did  we  also  get  some  information  regarding 
the  $3,000  he  sent  to  Italy  in  1947  ? 

Mr.  O'Brien.  Yes,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  $3,000  was  sent  by  cable  ? 

Mr.  O'Brien.  That  is  right. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  To  a  John  Valsamo  ? 

Mr.  O'Brien.  That  is  right. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Now,  Mr.  Profaci  stated,  did  he  not,  that  he  sent 
that  money  over  for  some  nuns  in  Italy  ? 

Mr.  O'Brien.  Yes,  sir,  and  he  said  prior  to  the  war  he  had  made 
an  arrangement  with  the  church  to  build  a  new  convent  and  to  bring 
some  nuns  over  from  Italy.  When  the  war  came  about  it  was  im- 
possible, but  after  the  war  he  received  information  that  this  Valsamo 
who  came  from  a  nearby  area  in  Brooklyn  was  an  intelligent  fellow 
who  could  accomplish  this  mission  for  him. 

So  Profaci  deposited  the  $3,000  check  in  a  bank  in  Brooklyn  which 
was  to  be  sent  to  Valsamo,  and  he  said  evidently  over  in  Italy, 
Valsamo  mixed  up  something,  and  Valsamo  got  in  trouble  over  the 
money.  He  said  that  in  the  newspapers,  the  Federal  Narcotics  Bu- 
reau put  in  all  of  this  money  was  for  cocaine,  and  he  said,  "I  sent 
over  for  nuns,  and  they  make  cocaine  out  of  it." 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Wasn't  it  an  established  fact  that  John  Valsamo  to 
whom  this  money  went  was  an  intimate  friend  of  "Lucky"  Luciano? 

Mr.  O'Brien.  I  have  read  files  of  the  Federal  Narcotics  Bureau, 
where  he  was  questioned,  and  he  said  or  his  version  of  it  was  that 
"Lucky"  Luciano  was  a  very  nice  man,  and  ho  palled  around  with 
him  and  he  thought  he  was  a  nice  fellow,  and  as  a  result  Valsamo  was 
fired,  and  he  came  back  to  this  country,  and  he  happened  (o  get  a  job 
with  Profaci's  brother-in-law,  Magliocco,  in  the  beverage  company. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Isn't  it  correct  that  it  lias  been  established  thai  .Mr. 
Profaci  knows  and  is  an  associate  of  such  individuals  as  "Lucky" 
Luciano? 

Mr.  O'Brien.  Yes,  sir. 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12351 

Mr.  K  i :  n  n  edy.  Is  that  true  ? 

Mr.  Pbgfagl  You  are  asking  me  ? 

M  v.  Kennedy.  I  will  ask  both  of  you. 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  might  be  in- 
criminating. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  know  "Lucky"  Luciano? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  be  in- 
criminating. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  Frank  Costello? 

M  i\  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  same  ground. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  It  has  been  established  that  he  is  an  associate  of 
Frank  Cost  olio. 

Mr.  O'Brien.  Yes,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  John  Oddo? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Has  that  been  established? 

Mr.  O'Brien.  Yes,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  Joe  Bananas? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  O'Brien.  Yes,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Paul  "The  Waiter"  Kicca  ? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that  it  may  tend 
to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Vito  Genovese? 

M r.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  O'Brien.  According  to  our  records,  that  is  true. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Sebastiano  Nani  ? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  Gus  Frasca? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  Peter  De  Feo  ? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Joseph  Smurra? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Joe  Rinaldi  ? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Nicolo  Impastato? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Now  these  are  men  with  long  criminal  records,  are 
they  not  '. 

Mr.  O'Brien.  That  is  right, 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  it  has  been  established  that  he  is  an  associate 
of  these  people  ? 

Mr.  O'Brien.  That  is  true. 


12352  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  Carlo  Gambino? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Jack  Dragna  ? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  It  has  been  established  that  he  was  an  associate  of 
Jack  Dragna  until  the  time  of  his  death  ? 

Mr.  O'Brien.  Yes,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Natale  Evola,  Frank  Livorsi  ? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that  it  might  tend 
to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Big  John  Ormento? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that  it  may  be 
incriminating. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Thomas  Lucchese,  known  as  "Three-Finger 
Brown?" 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  be  in- 
criminating. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  We  have  a  long  list  here.  I  don't  want  to  go 
through  them  all.    John  Dioguardi,  Tom  Dioguardi  ? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  be  in- 
criminating. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  "Tough  Tony"  Anastasia  ? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  be  in- 
criminating. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Jerry  Catena? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  be  in- 
criminating. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Longy  Zwillman  ? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  be  in- 
criminating. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Anthony  Tocco  ? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  be  in- 
criminating. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Dominick  Corrado  ? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  it  may  be  incrimi- 
nating. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  At  the  wedding  of  your  daughter  to  Anthony  Joseph 
Tocco — that  wedding  took  place,  did  it  not  ? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  might  be  incrimi- 
nating. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  invited  some  of  your  best  friends  to  that  wed- 
ding? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  it  may  be  incrimi- 
nating. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Let  me  list  some  of  the  individuals  who  were  there. 
Frank  Livorsi,  Thomas  Dioguardi,  Johnny  Dio,  John  Oddo,  known 
as 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline 


Mr.  Kennedy.  Wait  a  minute.  I  will  read  th&  list.  John  Oddo, 
known  as  "Bathbeach  Johnnie";  Anthony  Bonisera,  alias  "The 
Chief";  Anthony  Anastasia,  "Tough  Toney";  Vito  Genovese;  Mike 
Miranda;  John  Ormento,  Salvatore  Masacchio,  alias  "The  Sheik"; 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12353 

Alex  DiBrezzi;  Angelo  Folizzi;  Angelo  Meli;  Pete  Licavoli,  and 
Anthony  Tocco — of  course,  he  was  the  bridegroom — and  Dominick 
Corrado,  the  best  man.  Were  they  all  at  the  wedding  of  your 
daughter? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  be  incrimi- 
nating. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  These  are  the  top  gangsters  and  hoodlums  in  the 
United  States. 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  be  incrimi- 
nating. 

Senator  Ives.  May  I  observe,  Mr.  Chairman,  this  was  some  wedding 
party. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  This  was  the  wedding  he  had  for  his  daughter  and 
the  top  hoodlums  and  gangsters  were  in  attendance? 

The  Chairman.  Wouldn't  you  like  to  deny  that  ? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer,  Mr.  McClellan,  on  the  ground  it 
may  be  incriminating. 

The  Chairman.  Well,  some  of  this  testimony  here  would  be  a  little 
bit  incriminating,  I  think,  but  if  it  is  not  true,  we  want  to  give  you 
the  opportunity  to  deny  it.     Do  you  wish  to  deny  it  ? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  be  incrimi- 
nating to  me,  Mr.  McClellan. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Are  any  of  your  employees  organized  members  of 
unions? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer,  Mr.  Kennedy,  on  the  ground  it 
may  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  Are  there  any  questions,  Senators  ? 

Senator  Mundt. 

Senator  Mundt.  Mr.  Chairman,  on  a  related  matter,  I  stated  some- 
thing yesterday  about  this  group  of  people  who  attended  the  Apala- 
chin  meeting,  and  that  I  thought  activities  should  be  pursued  to  deport 
those  who  were  deportable.  I  am  happy  to  report  that  I  had  a  letter 
delivered  to  my  office  about  an  hour  ago  from  the  Attorney  General. 

I  would  like  to  read  part  of  that  letter  which  sheds  some  light  on 
what  is  being  done,  and  ask  that  the  entire  letter  be  inserted  into  the 
record. 

The  Chairman.  The  letter  may  be  inserted  as  a  matter  of  informa- 
tion. 

Senttor  Mundt.  This  is  the  letter  from  the  Attorney  General  that 
just  came  in. 

When  the  identities  of  those  in  attendance  at  Apalachin,  N.  Y.,  on  November 
14,  1957,  were  disclosed,  many  of  them  had  already  been  under  Service  scrutiny 
for  denaturalization  and  deportation.  Of  the  principals  attending  the  conven- 
tion, Vita  Genovese  had  already  been  denaturalized  on  September  1,  1955,  at 
Newark,  N.  J.,  and  similar  proceedings  had  been  pending  against  Joseph  Profaci 
in  the  United  States  district  court  at  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  since  March  15,  1957. 
Eight  naturalized  citizens  and  one  alien  in  attendance  at  the  meeting  had  already 
been  thoroughly  investigated  and  determined  not  amenable  to  Service  action. 
Of  the  29  native-born  American  citizens,  the  Service  could  exercise  no  jurisdic- 
tion. Russel  Bufalino,  of  Pittston,  Pa.,  Carlo  Gambino,  of  New  York,  and 
Simone  Scozzari,  of  Los  Angeles,  three  of  the  aliens  present  at  that  meeting, 
were  immediately  placed  under  investigation  and  deportation  proceedings  insti- 
tuted against  them.  Scozzari  has  been  ordered  deported  after  hearing  before 
a  special  inquiry  officer  on  February  12,  195S,  and  Bufalino  similarly  on  April  2, 
1958.  As  to  Gambino,  deportation  proceedings  have  been  deferred  because  of 
illness.  As  of  June  30,  1958,  nine  of  those  attending  the  Apalachin  meeting 
were  still  under  active  investigation  by  the  Service. 


12354  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

The  Service  has  also  vigorously  acted  against  other  members  of  the  criminal 
element,  who  although  not  present  at  the  Apalachin  meeting  are  nonetheless 
reputed  as  leaders  within  organized  and  syndicated  crime.  The  citizenship  of 
Bartolo  Failla  was  revoked  at  Newark,  N.  J.,  on  December  5,  1957.  Louis 
Lieberman,  reputed  bodyguard  of  Johnny  Dio,  of  New  York,  was  placed  under 
deportation  proceedings  on  January  2,  195S,  at  Los  Angeles,  and  is  now  under  an 
order  of  deportation. 

His  activities  on  the  west  coast  in  connection  with  the  California  garment 
industry  were  exposed  in  the  course  of  hearings  by  a  California  legislative 
committee  during  January  1958. 

In  the  Midwest,  Mauro  John  Montana,  long  a  subject  of  inquiry  and  interest 
by  law-enforcement  agencies  for  alleged  abuses  of  union  welfare  funds  of  the 
Chicago  Motion  Picture  Operators  Union  in  1956,  was  ordered  deported  by  a 
special  inquiry  officer  on  May  28,  1958.  At  Chicago,  Tony  Zito,  well  known 
to  police  agencies  for  his  activities,  was  placed  under  deportation  procedings 
on  September  22,  1957,  and  is  now  under  an  order  of  deportation. 

At  New  York,  Irving  Sherman,  described  by  J.  Edgar  Hoover,  Director  of 
the  Federal  Bureau  of  Investigation  in  hearings  before  the  Senate  in  1951  as 
"one  of  the  most  prominent  criminals  of  the  underworld  and,  also,  a  very 
powerful  politician  in  New  York  City,"  was  also  ordered  deported  from  the 
United  States  on  February  10, 1958. 

The  continuing  efforts  and  results  of  this  campaign  in  enforcing  the  immigra- 
tion and  nationality  laws  against  racketeers  and  criminals  is  attested  to  by 
the  physical  deportations  effected  since  July  7,  1954,  in  the  cases  of  Giuseppe 
Agostino,  a  Pennsylvania  racketeer  and  gambler:  Joseph  Accardi  and  Joe 
Adonis,  New  Jersey  racketeers ;  Guiseppe  Gagliano,  reputed  as  the  largest 
dope  peddler  in  the  South,  Niccolo  Impastato,  engaged  in  narcotics  traffic  in 
the  Kansas  City  area ;  Sebastiano  Nani,  also  engaged  in  illicit  narcotics  traffic 
between  New  York  and  San  Francisco;  Frank  Orlando,  Sebastiano  Vermiglio, 
Joseph  Catalanotte,  Nicholas  Circella,  and  Bruno  Corasaniti. 

This  roster  of  deported  racketeers  comprises  a  substantial  number  of  aliens 
who  have  engaged  in  large-scale  criminal  operations.  It  is  of  course  only  an 
example  of  success  of  the  Department  in  effecting  many  thousands  of  deporta- 
tions every  year. 

I  am  confident  that  the  foregoing  record  of  achievement  by  the  Department 
of  Justice  Immigration  and  Naturalization  Service  is  one  of  forceful  and  vigorous 
enforcement. 

While  the  Department  has  succeeded  in  expediting  deportation  proceedings, 
deportation  is  frequently  delayed  by  protracted  court  actions  instituted  by 
the  alien  racketeer  which  are  available  to  him  under  existing  law. 

It  was  against  that,  Mr.  Chairman,  that  I  spoke  yesterday,  because 
it  is  an  exasperating  experience  to  find  these  crooks  being  able  to  beat 
the  law,  to  stay  in  this  country,  even  after  deportation  proceedings 
have  been  enacted  against  them. 

We  have  had  considerable  discussion  by  members  of  the  committee 
about  the  ethics  of  lawyers  in  representing  certain  unscrupulous  people 
in  this  country,  and  in  trying  to  represent  two  sides  of  the  same  case 
in  union  practices.  I  would  suggest  that  the  bar  association  give  some 
thought  to  their  responsibility  as  American  citizens  when  they  try 
in  every  conceivable  way  to  frustrate  the  laAv  from  the  standpoint 
of  keeping  in  this  country  narcotics  agents,  vicious  criminals,  and 
members  of  the  Mafia,  who  have  been  ordered  deported,  to  keep  them 
here  to  mess  up  our  community  for  decent  Americans  as  long  as  they 
possibly  can. 

Continuing  the  letter  from  the  Attorney  General : 

By  resorting  to  innumerable  declaratory  judgment  actions,  petitions,  and 
other  dilatory  tactics,  aliens  are  able  to  avoid  deportation  for  years.  In  de- 
naturalization cases  the  congested  court  calendars  serve  to  further  delay 
deportation. 

In  that  connection,  Mr.  Chairman,  T  think  the  American  public 
should  look  well  to  the  actions  of  the  judges  of  this  country,  who,  them- 
selves, cannot  be  immune  from  some  criticism  if  they  fail  to  clear 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IX    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12355 

dockets,  hear  cases,  and  make  decisions  dealing  with  this  very  serious 
internal  difficulty  eating  like  a  cancel-  at  this  great  country  of  ours. 

Senator  hi.s.   Will  the  Senator  yield  at  that  point  \ 

Senator Mundt.  I  will  yield. 

Senator  Eves.  I  believe  there  is  legislation  before  the  Congress  to 
increase  the  number  of  judges  in  Federal  courts,  in  district  courts. 
As  far  as  New  York  is  concerned  that  would  help  very  materially  in 
reducing  this  number  of  cases  to  which  the  Senator  refers.  I  think 
we  have  to  take  part  of  the  responsibility  for  this  situation  ourselves. 

Senator  Mr  not.  I  think  the  Senator  is  right.  In  the  next  para- 
graph of  the  Attorney  General's  letter,  he  points  out.  That  is  why 
1  started  to  suggest  that  you  defer  the  interruption. 

For  over  4  years  the  administration  has  sought  legislation  which  would 
strengthen  our  immigration  laws  by  limiting  judicial  review  from  deportation 
orders  within  reasonable  bounds  so  as  to  avoid  its  repeated  abuse  solely  as  a 
delaying  tactic. 

There  is  now  pending  before  the  Senate  S.  345.  introduced  by  Senator  Watkins, 
to  carry  out  this  administration  proposal.    In  view  of  your  interest  in  expediting 
the  deportation  of  undesirable  alien  racketeers,  I  urge  you  to  make  every  effort 
to  secure  passage  of  this  bill  by  the  Congress  this  year. 
With  best  regards, 
Sincerely, 

William  I'.  Rogers, 

Attorney  General. 

Senator  Mundt.  May  I  say,  Mr.  Chairman,  that  today  I  have 
addressed  a  letter  to  the  chairman  of  the  Judiciary  Committee,  Sena- 
tor Eastland,  of  Mississippi,  and  to  Senator  Watkins,  assuring  them 
that  within  my  capacity,  I  will  do  everything  I  can  do  to  expedite 
action  on  S.  345;  and  urging  them  to  take  action  on  this  important 
bill  this  year.  Obviously,  unless  they  take  such  action,  it  will  be  diffi- 
cult, probably,  for  us  to  pass  sufficient  laws,  recruit  judges  enough, 
and  appoint  them  fast  enough,  to  take  care  of  such  dilatory  tactics. 
"We  wouldn't  need  as  many  judges  once  we  can  clarify  the  law  and 
streamline  the  procedures.  I  think  that  these  important  disclosures 
by  our  committee  can  much  better  serve  the  public  interest  if  out  of 
them  we  can  find  the  stimulus  and  aroused  public  opinion  essential 
to  stop  these  delaying  tactics  which  have  frustrated  law  enforcement 
officers  in  this  country  for  too  long  a  time. 

I  am  happy  to  put  the  entire  letter  in,  Mr.  Chairman.  I  have  just 
read  portions  of  it. 

The  Chairman.  The  entire  letter  may  be  printed  in  the  record 
at  this  point. 

(The  document,  referred  to  follows:) 

Office  of  the  Attorney  General, 

Wash  hit/ton,  D.  C,  July  1, 1958. 
Hon.  Karl  E.  Mundt, 

/  nited  state*  Senate,  Washington,  B.C. 

Dear  Senator  Mundt  :  I  am  completely  unable  to  understand  the  statements 
attributed  to  you  by  the  Associated  Press,  in  hearings  before  the  Senate  Rackets 
Committee  today,  that  law  enforcement  officials  have  been  lethargic  in  launching 
deportation  proceedings  against  alien  crime  barons.  If  the  press  report  is  ac- 
curate, you  are  obviously  .badly  informed  concerning  the  concentrated  drive  by 
the  Department  of  Justice  in  this  held. 

Shortly  after  the  appointment  of  Joseph  M.  Swing  as  Commissioner  of  Immi- 
gration and  Naturalization,  the  Service,  under  his  direction,  on  July  7.  1954, 
launched  a  top  priority  program  of  intensive  investigations  of  racketeers  and 
criminals  for  denaturalization  and  deportation. 

No  efforts  have  been  spared  to  make  this  program  successful. 


12356  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

When  the  identities  of  those  in  attendance  at  Apalachin,  N.  Y.,  on  November 
14,  1957,  were  disclosed,  many  of  them  had  already  been  under  Service  scrutiny 
for  denaturalization  and  deportation. 

Of  the  principals  attending  the  convention,  Vito  Genovese  had  already  been 
denaturalized  on  September  1,  1955,  at  Newark,  N.  J.,  and  similar  proceedings 
had  been  pending  against  Joseph  Profaci  in  the  United  States  district  court  at 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  since  March  15,  1957.  Eight  naturalized  citizens  and  one  alien 
in  attendance  at  the  meeting  had  already  been  thoroughly  investigated  and  de- 
termined not  amenable  to  Service  action.  Of  the  29  native-born  American  citi- 
zens, the  Service  could  exercise  no  jurisdiction.  Russel  Bufalino,  of  Pittston, 
Pa.,  Carlo  Gambino,  of  New  York,  and  Simone  Scozzari,  of  Los  Angeles,  three 
of  the  aliens  present  at  that  meeting,  were  immediately  placed  under  investiga- 
tion and  deportation  proceedings  instituted  against  them. 

Scozzari  has  been  ordered  deported  after  hearing  before  a  special  inquiry  officer 
on  February  12,  1958,  and  Bufalino  similarly  on  April  2,  1958.  As  to  Gambino 
deportation  proceedings  have  been  deferred  because  of  illness.  As  of  June  30, 
1958,  9  of  those  attending  the  Apalachian  meeting  were  still  under  active  inves- 
tigation by  the  Service. 

The  Service  has  also  vigorously  acted  against  other  members  of  the  criminal 
element,  who  although  not  present  at  the  Apalachian  meeting  are  nonetheless 
reputed  as  leaders  within  organized  and  syndicated  crime. 

The  citizenship  of  Bartolo  Failla  was  revoked  at  Newark,  N.  J.,  on  December 
5,  1957.  Louis  Lieberman,  reputed  bodyguard  for  Johnny  Dio,  of  New  York, 
was  placed  under  deportation  proceedings  on  January  2,  1958,  at  Los  Angeles 
and  is  now  under  an  order  of  deportation.  His  activities  on  the  west  coast  in 
connection  with  the  California  garment  industry  were  exposed  in  the  course  of 
hearings  by  a  California  legislative  committee  during  January  1958. 

In  the  Midwest,  Mauro  John  Montana,  long  a  subject  of  inquiry  and  interest 
by  law  enforcement  agencies  for  alleged  abuses  of  union  welfare  funds  of  the 
Chicago  Motion  Picture  Operators  Union  in  1956,  was  ordered  deported  by  a 
special  inquiry  officer  on  May  28, 1958. 

At  Chicago,  Tony  Zito  well  known  to  police  agencies  for  his  activities,  was 
placed  under  deportation  proceedings  on  September  22,  1957,  and  is  now  under 
an  order  of  deportation. 

At  New  York,  Irving  Sherman,  described  by  J.  Edgar  Hoover,  Director  of  the 
Federal  Bureau  of  Investigation,  in  hearings  before  the  Senate  in  1951  as  "one 
of  the  most  prominent  criminals  of  the  underworld  and,  also,  a  very  powerful 
politician  in  New  York  City,"  was  also  ordered  deported  from  the  United  States 
on  February  10,  1958. 

The  continuing  efforts  and  results  of  this  campaign  in  enforcing  the  immi- 
gration and  nationality  laws  against  racketeers  and  criminals  is  attested  to  by 
the  physical  deportation  effected  since  July  7,  1954,  in  the  case  of  Giuseppe 
Agostino,  a  Pennsylvania  racketeer  and  gambler ;  Joseph  Accardi  and  Joe 
Adonis,  New  Jersey  racketeers ;  Guiseppe  Gagliano,  reputed  as  the  largest  dope 
peddler  in  the  South ;  Niccolo  Impastato,  engaged  in  narcotics  traffic  in  the 
Kansas  City  area ;  Sebastiano  Nani,  also  engaged  in  illicit  narcotics  traffic  be- 
tween New  York  and  San  Franciso ;  Frank  Orlando,  Sebastiano  Yermiglio, 
Joseph  Catalanotte,  Nicholas  Circella,  and  Bruno  Corasaniti. 

This  roster  of  deported  racketeers  comprises  a  substantial  number  of  aliens 
who  have  engaged  in  large  scale  criminal  operations.  It  is  of  course  only  an 
example  of  success  of  the  Department  in  effecting  many  thousands  of  deporta- 
tions every  year. 

I  am  confident  that  the  foregoing  record  of  achievement  by  the  Department 
of  Justice  Immigration  and  Naturalization  Service  is  one  of  forceful  and  vig- 
orous enforcement. 

While  the  Department  has  succeeded  in  expediting  deportation  proceedings, 
deportation  is  frequently  delayed  by  protracted  court  actions  instituted  by  the 
alien  racketeer  which  are  available  to  him  under  existing  law.  By  resorting 
to  innumerable  declaratory  judgment  actions,  petitions,  and  other  dilatory  tac- 
tics, aliens  are  able  to  avoid  deportation  for  years.  In  denaturalization  cases 
the  congested  court  calendars  serve  to  further  delay  deportation. 

For  over  4  years  the  administration  has  sought  legislation  which  would 
strengtben  our  Immigration  laws  by  limiting  judicial  review  from  deportation 
orders  within  reasonable  bounds  so  as  to  avoid  its  repeated  abuse  solely  as  a 
delaying  tactic.  There  is  now  pending  before  the  Senate  S.  315.  introduced  by 
Senator  Watkins,  to  carry  out  this  administration's  proposal.     In  view  of  your 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN   THE    LABOR    FIELD  12357 

interest  in  expediting  the  deportation  of  undesirable  alien  racketeers.     I  urge 
you  to  make  every  effort  to  secure  passage  of  this  bill  by  the  Congress  this  year. 
With  best  regards. 
Sincerely, 

William  P.  Rogers, 

Attorney  General. 

The  Chairman.  Are  there  any  further  questions  ? 

The  Chair  had  intended  to  make  this  observation. 

I  think  your  letter,  Senator  Mundt,  mentions  the  witness  as  one  of 
those  against  whom  deportation  proceedings  are  now  pending? 

Senator  Mundt.  I  so  interpreted  it,  although  I  camt  be  sure  oecause 
of  the  names.  But  I  think  one  of  the  names  is  the  man  presently  on 
the  stand. 

That  is  why  I  took  this  opportunity  to  read  the  letter.  Even  the 
fifth  amendment  dodge  will  not  protect  people  who  are  subject  to 
deportation  in  America  for  violating  the  terms  of  immigration  and 
naturalization. 

The  Chairman.  Would  you  like  to  advise  us  whether  deportation 
proceedings  are  now  pending  against  you  or  not  ? 

Are  they  I 

( The  witness  conferred  with  his  counsel. ) 

Mr.  Profaci.    I  don't  get  you,  Senator,  excuse  me.     I  am  sorry. 

The  Chairman.  Let  me  see  if  I  can  get  it  to  you  so  you  will  get  it. 
Has  any  action  been  started  to  deport  you?  You  know  what  deport 
means,  don't  you? 

Mr.  Profaci.  Yes,  sir. 

The  Chairman.  You  know  what  that  means? 

Mr.  Profaci.  Yes. 

The  Chairman.  Is  the  Government  now  attempting  to  deport  you 
from  this  country  ? 

Mr.  Profaci.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  incriminate 
me. 

The  Chairman.  All  right.  The  Chair  wishes  to  make  this  ob- 
servation :  I  was  going  to  suggest  that  the  transcript  of  this  witness' 
testimony  be  immediately  forwarded  to  the  Department  of  Justice 
with  the  request  from  the  committee  that  if  deportation  proceedings 
have  not  already  been  started  against  this  witness,  that  the  Justice 
Department  consider  taking  such  steps  promptly.  Then  I  was  going 
to  express  the  hope,  and  I  believe  I  certainly  am  supported  by  every 
member  of  this  committee,  and  I  believe  by  every  loyal  American 
citizen,  that  the  courts  decline,  respectfully,  to  continue  your  citizen- 
ship, revoke  your  naturalization,  and  deport  you  back  to  the  land 
from  which  you  came,  and  in  that  course,  in  your  case,  and  in  many 
others,  I  am  very  hopeful  that  the  courts  will  give  credence  to  the 
term  which  was  applied  in  the  decision  of  a  case  not  too  many  years 
ago  that  the  courts  will  move  in  these  cases,  and  all  law-enforcement 
officers  who  are  involved  with  all  deliberate  speed.  We  should  rid 
the  country  of  characters  who  come  here  from  other  lands  and  take 
advantage  of  the  great  freedom  and  opportunity  our  country  affords, 
who  come  here  to  exploit  these  advantages  with  criminal  activities. 

They  do  not  belong  to  our  land,  and  they  ought  to  be  sent  some- 
where else. 

In  my  book,  they  are  human  parasites  on  society,  and  they  violate 
every  law  of  decency  and  humanity.  For  my  part,  they  are  not 
welcome  in  this  country.     I  hope  we  can  find  the  processes  and  the 


12358  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

means  by  which  we  can  get  rid  of  them,  promptly,  and  prevent  here- 
after others  from  coming  in. 

Senator  Mundt.  Mr.  Chairman,  I  would  like  to  associate  myself 
emphatically  with  that  fine  statement  that  you  have  just  made.  In 
answer  to  what  you  have  said,  I  quote  the  sentence  which  is  pertinent 
to  this  witness  from  the  Attorney  General's  letter  of  this  morning. 

He  refers  to  the  Apalachin,  N.  Y.,  meeting  on  November  14,  1957, 
and  says : 

Of  the  principals  attending  the  convention,  Vito  Genovese  had  already  been 
denaturalized  on  September  1,  1955,  at  Newark,  N.  J.,  and  similar  proceedings 
had  been  pending  against  Joseph  Profaci, 

the  man  on  the  stand — 

in  the  United  States  district  court  at  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  since  March  15,  1957. 

So  we  know  where  the  responsibility  is.  It  is  in  the  court  at  Brook- 
lyn, N.  Y.,  and  it  has  been  there  for  well  over  a  year. 

It  seems  to  me  that  the  country  would  do  well  to  recognize  that 
after  these  men  have  been  moved  against  by  the  Department  of  Jus- 
tice, after  denaturalization  and  deportation  proceedings  had  been 
instigated,  they  were  still  up  there  in  the  home  of  Mr.  Barbara,  con- 
niving, organizing  crime  in  complete  defiance,  of  the  United  States. 
It  is  necessary  for  the  United  States  Senate  to  pass  the  Watkins  bill, 
S.  345.  I  hope  we  do  it  before  adjournment  so  that  we  can  stream- 
line these  tactics,  so  that  we  can  take  some  of  the  filthy  loot  out  of 
the  hands  of  those  attorneys  who  are  practicing  the  business  of  keep- 
ing these  deportation  dodgers  in  the  country. 

And  so  that  we  can  provide  a  court  procedure  which  will  operate 
and  function  to  protect  America  and  not  to  protect  the  crooks  and 
the  thugs.  After  all,  that  is  what  Congress  had  in  mind,  what  the 
constitutional  forefathers  had  in  mind,  in  creating  the  judiciary. 

It  is  a  pretty  sickening  thing  to  realize  after  the  evidence  is  in, 
after  the  deportation  actions  have  been  started,  and  a  year  has  gone 
by,  to  find  up  here  in  this  plush  home  in  New  York  these  same  in- 
dividuals conniving  to  peddle  dope,  to  violate  every  conceivable  law 
on  the  Federal  statute  books,  thumbing  their  nose  at  America  and 
at  the  judges  and  at  the  courts  and  at  the  Constitution  and  the  Con- 
gress. 

Senator  Ives  is  correct.  Legislation  is  needed  and  we  cannot 
dodge  our  responsibilities.  I  submit,  Mr.  Chairman,  neither  can  the 
courts  and  neither  can  the  attorneys  involved. 

Senator  Ives.  Mr.  Chairman. 

The  Chairman.  Senator  Ives. 

Senator  Ives.  In  the  first  place,  I  want  to  commend  you  and  asso- 
ciate myself  with  your  very  fine  remarks,  in  connection  with  this 
situation. 

This  is  a  great  challenge  to  America,  as  I  see  it,  a  challenge  to  all 
of  us.  We  can't  ignore  it.  It  is  a  challenge  to  the  rank  and  file  of 
people,  whether  they  are  in  Government  or  out  of  Government,  the 
rank  and  file  of  American  citizens,  to  local  authorities  as  well  as 
Federal  authorities.  We  are  doing  what  we  can  as  a  committee,  but 
there  isn't  too  much  we  can  do  in  the  final  analysis,  outside  of  dis- 
closing these  things. 

The  fact  remains,  as  I  pointed  out  earlier,  that  the  Congress  itself 
is  somewhat  to  blame  for  this  situation,  because  we  have  been  so  re- 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12359 

miss  when  it  comes  to  this  matter  of  legislation,  such  as  to  supply 
additional  judges.  The  courts  also  are  oehind.  But  I  don't  think 
we  can  place  this  blame  on  anyone.  The  whole  country  is  to  blame 
for  allowing  this  terrible  thing  to  get  started  here. 

And  when  the  people  finally  get  aroused,  we  will  wipe  it  out,  and 
we  will  wipe  it  out  for  good.  1  serve  warning  now  on  this  criminal 
element  that  their  days  in  this  country  are  numbered;  they  are 
doomed.     I  don't  want  them  to  forget  that. 

The  Chairman.  All  right. 

Stand  aside. 

Call  the  next  witness. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  John  Scalish. 

The  Chairman.  Come  forward,  please.     Be  sworn. 

You  do  solemnly  swear  the  evidence  you  shall  give  before  this  Sen- 
ate select  committee  shall  be  the  truth,  the  whole  truth  and  nothing 
but  the  truth,  so  help  you  God  ? 

Mr.  Scalish.  I  do. 

TESTIMONY  OF  JOHN  SCALISH,  ACCOMPANIED  BY  COUNSEL, 
FEED  H.  MANDEL 

The  Chairman.  State  your  name,  your  place  of  residence,  and  your 
business  or  occupation. 

Mr.  Scalish.  John  Scalish,  11706  Farrington  Avenue. 

The  Chairman.  What  is  your  address  ? 

Mr.  Scalish.  11706  Farrington  Avenue,  Cleveland,  Ohio. 

The  Chairman.  Would  you  tell  us  your  business  or  occupation,  Mr. 
Scalish,  please  % 

Mr.  Scalish.  With  all  due  respect  to  this  committee,  I  have  to  de- 
cline to  answer  that  question  on  the  ground  it  might  tend  to  incrimi- 
nate me. 

The  Chairman.  Do  you  honestly  believe  that  if  you  truthfully  an- 
swered that  question  as  to  what  is  your  business  or  occupation,  a 
truthful  answer  to  that  question  might  tend  to  incriminate  you  ? 

Mr.  Scalish.  I  decline  to  answer  that  on  the  ground  it  might  tend 
to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  Listen  to  the  question.  I  have  asked  you  to  state 
your  business  or  occupation.  You  declined  to  answer  on  the  ground 
that  if  you  answered,  the  answer  might  tend  to  incriminate  you. 

Xow  I  ask  you  the  question,  and  I  repeat  it : 

Do  you  honestly  believe  that  if  you  gave  a  truthful  answer  to  the 
question  "What  is  3Tour  business  or  occupation,"  that  a  truthful  an- 
swer thereto  might  tend  to  incriminate  you  ? 

(The  witness  conferred  with  his  counsel.) 

Mr.  Scalish.  Yes. 

The  Chairman.  You  have  counsel  '. 

Air.  Scalish.  Yes. 

The  Chairman.  Air.  Counsel,  identify  yourself  for  the  record. 

Mr.  Mandel.  May  name  is  Fred  H.  Mandel.  My  offices  are  at  210 
Leader  Building.  Cleveland,  Ohio. 

The  Chairman.  All  right.  Mr.  Kennedy,  proceed. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Scalish,  according  to  the  information  we  have, 
you  attended  a  meeting  at  the  home  of  Mr.  Barbara  in  November  of 
1957,  is  that  correct  \ 


12360  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  Scalisii.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  might  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Could  you  tell  the  committee  what  you  were  doing 
there  at  that  meeting  ? 

Mr.  Scalish.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  might  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Could  you  tell  us  how  you  happened  to  be  invited 
to  attend  ? 

Mr.  Scalish.  I  decline  to  answer  that  on  the  ground  it  might  tend 
to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  We  understand  that  according  to  the  reports  of  the 
State  police,  you  drove  an  automobile  which  was  identified  as  an  auto- 
mobile belonging  to  the  Buckeye  Cigarette  Service  Co.,  of  Cleveland, 
Ohio.     Is  that  right? 

Mr.  Scalish.  I  decline  to  answer  that  on  the  ground  it  might  tend 
to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  that  you  drove  that  automobile  to  the  meeting 
at  Barbara's  home,  and  that  with  you  in  the  automobile  was  Mr. 
John  DeMooco.     Is  that  right  ? 

Mr.  Scalish.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  ground  it 
might  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  you  know  Mr.  DeMooco  a  long  period  of  time  ? 

Mr.  Scalish.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  ground  it 
might  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  According  to  the  information  we  have,  he  has  con- 
victions for  extortion  and  for  blackmail.     Did  you  know  that? 

Mr.  Scalish.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question. 

Senator  Ives.  Let  me  ask  the  witness  a  question.  Was  it  raining 
that  day  ? 

Mr.  Scalish.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question. 

Senator  Ives.  Thank  you. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  When  you  arrived  there,  you  refused  to  register  at 
the  hotel  or  motel,  the  Parkway  Motel,  is  that  right  ? 

Mr.  Scalish.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  ground  it 
might  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Later  on,  after  the  meeting,  after  the  roadblock  was 
put  up,  you  were  arrested  in  the  company  of  James  La  Duca,  a  union 
official  from  Buffalo,  and  John  DeMooco;  would  you  tell  us  about 
that? 

Mr.  Scalish.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  it  might  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  How  many  times  have  you  been  arrested,  Mr. 
Scalish? 

Mr.  Scalish.  I  decline  to  answer  that  on  the  ground  it  might  tend 
to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  Are  you  an  American  citizen  ? 

Mr.  Scalish.  Yes,  sir. 

The  Chairman.  Where  were  you  born  ? 

Mr.  Scalish.  Cleveland,  Ohio. 

The  Chairman.  Proceed. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  have  been  arrested  approximately  10  times, 
have  you,  Mr.  Scalish  ? 

Mr.  Scalish.  I  decline  to  answer  that  on  the  grounds  it  might  tend 
to  incriminate  me. 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12361 

Mr.  Kennedy.  A  number  of  different  times  for  burglary  and  rob- 
bery, and  you  had  a  conviction  in  1930  for  attempted  burglary,  re- 
ceiving a  sentence  of  probation  of  1  year,  is  that  right  ? 

Mr.  Scalisii.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  might  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Then  1931,  violation  of  parole,  and  you  went  to  the 
Ohio  State  Reformatory,  is  that  right? 

Mr.  Scalisii.  I  decline  to  answer  that  on  the  ground  it  might  tend 
to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Then  in  1933,  in  Mansfield,  Ohio,  robbery,  sentenced 
to  10  to  25  years,  and  you  were  pardoned  in  1935,  is  that  right  ? 

Mr.  Scalish.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  might  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  run  this  cigarette  service  company,  the  Buck- 
eye Cigarette  Co.  of  Cleveland,  Ohio?  Do  you  know  Mr.  William 
Presser,  of  the  Teamsters  Union  ? 

Mr.  Scalish.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  it 
might  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  It  is  Mr.  Presser,  is  it  not,  who  has  the  control  over 
the  employees  of  your  company  ? 

Mr.  Scalish.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  it 
might  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  According  to  our  information,  Mr.  Scalish,  you  are 
head  of  a  group  that  has  been  known  as  the  Mayfield  Road  Gang,  is 
that  correct  ? 

Mr.  Scalish.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  it  might  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  you  are  an  associate  of  Don  Angersola,  and 
Mickey  Cohen.    Do  you  know  Mr.  Mickey  Cohen  ? 

Mr.  Scalish.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  it  might  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Al  Polizzi  ? 

Mr.  Scalish.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  it  might  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  as  has  been  pointed  out  already,  a  close  associate 
of  John  DeMooco,  isn't  that  right  ? 

Mr.  Scalish.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  it  might  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Would  you  tell  us  what  your  relationship  has  been 
with  Mr.  William  Finnegan,  who  is  the  secretary  of  the  Cleveland 
Federation  of  Labor,  or  who  has  been  secretary  of  the  Cleveland  Fed- 
eration of  Labor? 

Mr.  Scalish.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  might  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Isn't  it  correct  that  you  have  a  very  close  working 
relationship  with  that  gentleman  ? 

Mr.  Scalish.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  might  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Are  you  aware  that  Mr.  Finnegan  also  has  a  criminal 
record  for  burglary  ? 

Mr.  Scalish.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  might  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Senator  Mundt.  Are  you  the  president  of  the  Buckeye  Cigarette 


12362  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IX    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  Scalish.  I  decline  to  answer  that  on  the  ground  it  might  tend 
to  incriminate  me. 

Senator  Mundt.  Are  you  a  partial  owner  or  a  functionary  of  any 
kind  in  the  Buckeye  Cigarette  Co.  ? 

Mr.  Scalish.  I  decline  to  answer  that  on  the  ground  it  might  tend 
to  incriminate  me. 

Senator  Mundt.  Is  it  true  that  the  Buckeye  Cigarette  Co.  of  Cleve- 
land, Ohio,  is  simply  a  false  front  for  another  operation?  For  a 
counterfeiting  organization  ? 

Mr.  Scalish.  I  decline  to  answer  that  on  the  ground  it  might  tend 
to  incriminate  me. 

Senator  Mundt.  Have  you  been  engaged  in  counterfeiting  ? 

Mr.  Scalish.  I  decline  to  answer  that  on  the  ground  it  may  tend 
to  incriminate  me. 

Senator  Mundt.  Is  the  Buckeye  Cigarette  Co.  simply  the  name 
that  you  use  to  deceive  the  general  public  and  the  law-enforcement 
officers  about  these  counterfeiting  operations  ? 

Mr.  Scalish.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  it  might  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Senator  Mundt.  Mr.  Chairman,  I  would  like  to  make  one  comment 
in  connection  with  something  Senator  Ives  said  when  he  said  that 
responsibility  for  these  criminals  is  the  responsibility  of  the  entire 
country.  I  think  in  a  sense  that  is  correct,  but  in  a  sense  it  is  more 
specifically  the  responsibility  of  whatever  element  is  in  the  country 
that  has  provided  means  or  methods  whereby  these  criminals,  once 
apprehended  by  diligent  law-enforcement  officers,  State  and  county, 
local  and  FBI,  virtually  no  sooner  get  into  the  penitentiary  than 
somebody  gets  them  out. 

In  the  case  of  the  instant  witness,  for  example,  we  find  a  record  going 
back  to  1930 — probation,  released,  paroled.  After  all  that,  in  1933,  in 
Mansfield,  Ohio,  he  was  arrested,  convicted,  sentenced  to  10  to  25  years. 
Two  years  later  he  was  paroled.  I  think  the  public  ought  to  do  a 
little  exploration  about  who  does  all  of  this  pardoning,  and  why. 
There  must  be  some  reason  for  it.  Why  let  a  man  out  who,  for  30 
years  involved,  has  been  burglarizing  and  doing  all  kinds  of  repre- 
hensible criminal  activities  in  Ohio  ? 

Finally  they  catch  him  the  eighth  time  or  ninth  time  and  lock  him  up 
for  25  years.    But  2  years  later  somebody  pardons  him. 

Why?  Was  there  a  payoff?  Was  it  political,  financial?  What 
gives?  How  are  you  ever  going  to  correct  the  situation  ?  I  can't  un- 
derstand, when  you  have  some  place  high  up  in  Government  or  in  the 
judiciary,  an  attitude  of  once  you  catch  them  they  turn  them  loose 
again.  Practically  everyone  of  these  fellows  have  been  repeaters,  re- 
peaters, repeaters,  ad  infinitum,  ad  nauseam.  That  has  nothing  to 
do  with  the  American  public.  That  is  the  responsibility  of  the  Ameri- 
can Bar  Association,  for  a  council  of  the  judiciary,  if  there  is  such  a 
thing,  for  the  governors,  the  Presidents,  whoever  make  these  pardons. 
I  don't  know,  but  I  don't  think  yon  are  ever  going  to  make  much 
headway  in  eliminating  crime  in  this  country  if  after  von  spend  the 
taxpayer's  dollars  in  getting  good  law  enforcement  officers  and  good 
prosecuting  attorneys,  and  find  that  (he  men  are  guilty,  if  after  all 
of  thai,  yon  I  urn  them  loose  again. 

This  is  nonsense.  This  is  circumvention  of  justice  on  the  part  of 
somebody.    I  would  think  the  society  interested  in  eliminating  crime 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12363 

and  juvenile  delinquents,  and  whatever  else  happens  in  this  country, 
would  pay  some  attention  to  who  it  is  that  is  opening  up  the  doors 
of  the  penitentiaries  all  the  time  so  that  the  rats  can  gel  out. 

That  is  not  the  responsibility  of  the  whole  country.  Something  is 
wrong  somewhere.  Editors,  people  in  positions  of  religious  leadership, 
sociological  organizations,  people  interested  in  improving  America, 
should  spend  a  little  time  spotlighting  these  escape  hatches,  and  who 
opens  them  up,  to  turn  loose  the  ilood  of  criminals  for  the  5th,  6th, 
Till.  8th,  loth  time.  Then  we  can  begin  making  a  little  headway.  I 
toss  that  out  for  consideration  to  those  in  this  country  who  make  it  a 
part  of  their  business  to  improve  America. 

Senator  Ives.  Air.  Chairman  ? 

The  Chairman.  Senator  Ives. 

Senator  Ives.  I  would  like  to  add  one  statement  to  Senator  Mundt's 
comments.  I  think  it  bears  out  exactly  what  I  said  earlier.  I  think 
I  should  add  the  word  ''parole"  to  what  he  said.  I  think  that  should  be 
looked  into.  I  think  probably  that  causes  more  difficulty  and  more 
trouble  than  the  question  of  pardons. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  I  might  say  that  one  of  the  centers  of  all  of  this,  of 
course,  has  been  "Lucky"  Luciano,  and  the  committee  has  a  good  deal 
of  information  in  the  file  that  Senator  Mundt  would  be  interested  in,  on 
his  getting  out  of  prison  in  New  York  and  then  being  deported  to 

Italy- 

Senator  Mundt.  It  is  an  astonishing  thing. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  I  am  finished. 

The  Chairman.  Are  there  any  further  questions  I 

Air.  Scalish,  you  have  repeatedly,  in  response  to  every  question  asked 
you,  I  think,  except  your  name  and  address,  stated  that  you  declined  on 
the  grounds  that  if  you  answered  the  answer  might  tend  to  incriminate 
you.  It  cannot  help  but  cause  people  to  draw  inferences  that  might 
possibly,  in  some  instances,  be  incorrect,  though  I  think  the  committee 
should  give  you  an  opportunity  to  correct  an}^  wrong  inferences  that 
would  naturally  be  drawn  from  your  testimony.  So  I  ask  you  the 
question:  Are  you  now  engaged  in,  or  have  you  been  engaged  in,  at 
any  time  during  the  past  dozen  years,  any  business  or  other  enterprise 
about  which  you  could  tell  us  that  would  not  incriminate  you  \ 

Mr.  Scalish.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  might  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  Then  I  have  to  accept  your  word  for  it  that  if 
you  answered  the  question,  the  answer  might  tend  to  incriminate  you. 

Mr.  Scalish.  I  decline  to  answer 

The  Chairman.  I  didn't  ask  you  a  question.  I  am  just  pointing 
out  that  no  other  inference  can  be  drawn.  If  you  can't  state  that  you 
have  been  in  some  legitimate  busines,  some  enterprise  that  wouldn't 
tend  to  incriminate  you,  there  is  no  way,  and  I  don't  care  what  law 
you  have  or  constitution  or  anything  else,  there  is  no  way  to  keep  the 
human  mind  from  drawing  inferences. 

You  are  leaving  yourself  before  this  committee  and  before  the  whole 
country  to  such  inferences.  It  is  a  bad  record  to  leave.  If  you  want 
to  leave  it,  that  is  your  privilege.  But  I  am  asking  if  you  have  done 
anything  that  is  decent  and  honest  that  you  can  talk  about  without 
incriminating  yourself.    That  is  all.    Have  you? 

21243 —  58--pt.  32 12 


12364  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  Scalish.  I  decline  to  answer,  sir,  on  the  grounds  it  might  tend 
to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  I  am  convinced  it  would. 

Is  there  anything  further  ? 

Senator  Ives.  I  want  to  ask  the  witness  if  he  is  married  ? 

Mr.  Scalish.  Yes. 

Senator  Ives.  What  was  your  wife's  maiden  name  ? 

Mr.  Scalish.  I  decline  to  answer  that  on  the  grounds  it  might  tend 
to  incriminate  me. 

Senator  Ives.  My  Lord,  is  it  that  bad  ?  Are  you  ashamed  of  your 
wife?  That  is  pretty  serious,  to  make  that  kind  of  a  statement.  I 
asked  you,  are  you  ashamed  of  your  wife? 

Mr.  Scalish.  I  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the  grounds  it 
might  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Senator  Ives.  All  right. 

The  Chairman.  Is  there  anything  further  ? 

If  not,  the  committee  will  stand  in  recess  until  2  o'clock. 

(Recessed  at  12:  30  p.  m.,  with  the  following  members  of  the  com- 
mittee present:  Senators  McClellan,  Ives,  and  Mundt,  to  reconvene 
at  2  p.  m.,  the  same  day. ) 

AFTER   RECESS 

(The  select  committee  reconvened  at  2  p.  m.,  Senator  John  L.  Mc- 
Clellan (chairman)  presiding.) 

(Members  of  the  select  committee  present  at  time  of  reconvening: 
Senators  McClellan  and  Curtis.) 

The  Chairman.  The  committee  will  be  in  order. 

We  will  proceed. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  We  have  been  inquiring  into  the  meeting  at  Apal- 
achin,  and  the  associates  of  some  of  the  individuals  who  participated 
in  this  meeting  in  November  of  1957,  and  we,  of  course,  are  interested 
in  their  backgrounds  and  their  connections. 

Mr.  Willse  was  a  detective  with  the  New  York  Police  Depart- 
ment and  we  have  some  pictures  here  showing  that  the  individuals 
who  participated  at  the  meeting  at  Apalachin  have  a  meeting  place 
in  New  York  City,  at  least  some  of  them,  and  that  Mr.  Willse  himself 
personally  took  some  pictures  of  some  of  these  people  who  met  there 
in  front  of  this  Alto  Knights  Club. 

Now,  what  Mr.  Willse  will  develop  is  some  of  the  background  on 
some  of  the  individuals,  particularly  Vito  Genovese,  who  is  expected 
to  be  a  witness  this  afternoon,  and  Mr.  Mike  Miranda,  whose  pictures 
will  be  shown  on  the  screen,  and  he  will  give  some  background  informa- 
tion on  these  individuals  which  we  expect  to  develop  further  as  the 
testimony  proceeds. 

The  Chairman.  Mr.  Willse  has  been  previously  sworn,  and  he  will 
remain  under  the  same  oath. 

Are  you  prepared  to  proceed  with  t  he  picture  ? 

TESTIMONY  OF  SHERMAN  WILLSE— Resumed 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Perhaps  just  on  the  background  before  we  turn  oil' 
the  lights,  it  is  correct,  is  it  not,  Mr.  Willse,  that  from  September 
of  1955  to  February  of  1956  you  conducted  an  investigation  as  a 
detective  of  the  narcotics  squad  ? 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12365 

Mr.  Willse.  Yes,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  particularly  this  investigation  was  concentrated 
around  a  cafe  in  lower  Manhattan? 

Mr.  Willse.  That  is  correct . 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Could  you  tell  us  a  little  bit  about  this  place,  and 
what  it  is  called? 

Mr.  Willse.  It  is  called  the  Alto  Knights  now  and  it  has  had 
several  names  over  the  years.  For  some  years  prior  to  that  it  was 
called  the  Cafe  Royale,  and  before  that  it  had  other  names  which  I 
don't  recall.  It  has  been  in  existence  for  well  over  40  years,  and 
recognized  as  a  headquarters  for  the  alcohol  traffic  in  particular,  but 
as  a  meeting  place  for  some  of  the  top  mobsters  in  New  York  and 
other  parts  of  the  country. 

Usually  when  a  gangster  hits  New  York,  that  is  one  of  his  first 
stops,  to  make  his  contacts  there. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Now,  we  will  put  the  lights  out  and  put  on  the  first 
picture. 

Senator  Curtis.  I  have  one  question.  Is  it  a  place  frequented  by 
the  general  public,  unsuspecting  or  otherwise? 

Mr.  Willse.  No,  sir ;  it  is  not. 

Senator  Curtis.  It  is  not  ? 

Mr.  Willse.  No,  sir. 

(  Picture  shown. ) 

Mr.  Willse.  In  this  first  picture,  the  man  on  the  left  is  Vito  Geno- 
vese,  and  on  the  right  is  Mike  Miranda,  and  both  of  these  men  were 
at  Apalachin.  This  picture  was  taken  during  the  period  of  the  inves- 
tigation, which  was  intermittently,  and  not  every  day,  from  September 
of  1955  to  February  of  1956. 

In  1931  a  man  by  the  name  of  Ferdinand  Boccia,  who  was  known 
as  The  Shadow,  was  murdered  in  his  uncle's  cafe  in  Brooklyn. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  We  are  going  to  go  into  this  a  little  later.  Pie  was 
murdered  in  1934  ? 

Mr.  Willse.  Yes,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  All  right. 

Air.  Willse.  Now,  the  murder  was  supposed  to  occur  for  two  rea- 
sons. One  was  that  Genovese  and  Miranda  with  several  others  had 
set  up  a  rigged  card  game  and  a  money  machine  swindle  in  which 
they  obtained  around  $150,000.  Boccia  had  been  promised  $65,000 
and  he  didn't  get  the  full  amount,  and  he  started  to  complain  about 
it. 

In  addition  to  that,  some  time  prior  Boccia  had  held  up  the  liquor 
headquarters  of  Anthony  Strollo,  alias  Tony  Bender.  This  was 
located  just  a  block  from  the  location  of  the  Alto  Knights,  where  these 
men  are  seen  now.  $5,000  was  taken  in  that  stickup.  Bender  was  a 
very  good  friend  of  Vito  Genovese,  and,  in  fact,  Bender  and  his  wife 
stood  up  for  Vito  when  he  was  married,  and  the  reverse  happened, 
Vito  and  his  wife  stood  up  for  Bender. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Now,  Bender  operates  and  runs  a  number  of  the 
union  rackets  in  lower  New  York,  does  he  not  ? 

Mr.  Willse.  That  is  true,  particularly  around  Greenwich  Village. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  according  to  the  information  that  we  have, 
Vito  Genovese  runs  a  number  of  the  rackets  and  has  run  a  number 
of  the  rackets  along  the  waterfront  in  New  York  City. 

Air.  Willse.  That  is  true. 


12366  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Now,  this  man  Boccia  was  murdered  in  1934.  Vito 
Genovese  wanted  to  knock  him  off  because  the  money  had  not  been 
paid  after  this  rigged  game. 

Mr.  Willse.  That  is  right,  because  Boccia  was  complaining  too 
much  about  not  having  received  his  share,  and  the  other  reason  was 
that  Boccia  had  stuck  up  Tony  Bender's  place. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  So  what  happened  ? 

Mr.  Willse.  The  story  of  the  killing  didn't  come  to  light  until  10 
years  later,  in  1944,  when  a  man  by  the  name  of  Ernest  Rupolo,  known 
as  The  Hawk 

Mr.  Kennedy.  How  do  you  spell  his  name  ? 

Mr.  Willse.  R-u-p-o-l-o. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  He  is  known  as  The  Hawk  ? 

Mr.  Willse.  Yes,  and  he  appeared  in  court  on  a  charge  of  shooting 
another  man  and  he  saw  he  was  facing  a  jail  sentence  and  he  had  just 
completed  serving  a  term  that  had  been  from  9  to  20  years.  He  had 
only  served  a  portion  of  it  and  he  was  just  out  of  jail,  and  he  felt  that 
he  hadn't  been  treated  right  by  the  boys  in  connection  with  the  Boccia 
killing  and  so  he  started  to  talk  and  he  gave  his  story. 

He  said  that  just  prior  to  Boccia,s  killing,  Mike  Miranda  had  come 
to  him  and  said,  "Boccia  has  to  go  and  we  want  the  boy  cowboyed,'' 
which  means  he  was  to  be  knocked  off  whenever  they  ran  into  him 
without  any  talking  whatever. 

Mike  Miranda  set  it  up  in  this  way :  He  wanted  Rupolo  to  take  a 
fellow  named  Willy  Gallo  with  him. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Rupolo  is  the  one  telling  the  story  ? 

Mr.  Willse.  That  is  right,  and  Rupolo  testified  to  this. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  So  Rupolo  is  telling  the  story  and  Willy  Gallo  is 
another  individual  that  they  wanted  to  have  knocked  off;  is  that 
right? 

Mr.  Willse.  But  first  they  wanted  Rupolo  and  Gallo  to  knock  off 
Boccia  and  then  Rupolo  was  to  knock  off  Gallo.  The  succeeding  night 
Rupolo  was  called  to  this  same  neighborhood  where  this  picture  was 
taken,  and  there  was  Miranda  and  Genovese  and  Pete  DeFeo. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  DeFeo? 

Mr.  Willse.  Yes,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  Pete  DeFeo's  son  now  operates  the  Cardinal 
Insurance  Agency,  or  one  of  those  who  operates  the  Cardinal  Insur- 
ance Agency  which  handles  a  large  number  of  union  pension  and  wel- 
fare funds ;  isn't  that  right  ? 

Mr.  Willse.  That  is  true. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  All  right. 

Mr.  Willse.  Then  they  repeated  their  instructions  to  them  as  to 
how  the  job  was  to  be  done.  Pete  DeFeo  gave  him  two  pistols  and 
$175.  The  following  night,  September  9.  L934,  Rupolo  and  Gallo  and 
another  man  known  as  Sal  Palmira  wont  to  a  movie  in  Brooklyn,  and 
their  plans  were  rather  sketchy  at  that  time,  bn(  they  did  intend  to 
knock-  off  Boccia. 

However,  Palmira  left  the  movie  and  when  he  came  back  he  said 
thai  Boccia  had  already  been  killed,  and  then  the  three  of  them  left  the 
movies. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  The  only  person  then  to  be  killed  was  Gallo? 

Mr.  Wi!  LSE.  Thai  is  right  ;  and  the  three  of  them  Left  and  walked 
a  short  distance  when  Rupolo  pulled  his  gun  and  aimed  it  at  Gallo 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12367 

and  pulled  the  trigger  several  limes  and  it  misfired.  lie  made  a  joke 
out  of  the  thing  and  pacified  Gallo,  and  they  walked  a  few  more 
minutes. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  lie  had  put  the  pistol  to  Gallo's  head  and  pulled  the 
trigger  and  it  hadn't  gone  off  and  then  he  made  a  joke  about  it  \ 

Mr.  Willse.  That  is  right.  They  walked  for  a  few  more  minutes, 
and  visited  the  house  of  a  mutual  friend.  There  Gallo,  I  assume,  oiled 
the  ixwn  and  fixed  it  and  they  left  the  house  and  they  walked  a  few 
more  blocks,  and  then  Rupolo  shot  Gallo.    However,  Gallo  didn't  die. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  This  time  the  gun  did  go  off,  and  he  shot  him  three 
times  ? 

Mr.  Willse.  I  don't  recall  the  number.  The  next  day  Rupolo  went 
back  to  this  neighborhood  where  he  saw  Mike  Miranda  and  as  Rupolo 
testified,  he  said,  ''Mike  was  hollering,  and  he  yelled  at  me  because  I 
didn't  kill  Gallo  and  pour  gasoline  on  him  as  he  had  told  me  to  and 
he  wanted  me  to  dump  him  in  Bath  Beach." 

So  Gallo  having  survived,  he  put  the  finger  on  Rupolo  and  he  went 
to  jail  for  9  to  20  years  sentence  and  he  came  out  and  after  shooting 
this  other  man,  he  appeared  in  court  and  that  is  when  he  started  to 
tell  his  story. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Xow,  both  of  these  individuals,  Mike  Miranda  and 
Vito  Genovese,  were  at  the  meeting  at  Apalachin  ? 

Mr.  Willse.  That  is  true. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  in  1944  or  1945,  based  on  the  testimony  and 
admissions  of  Rupolo,  is  was  arranged  to  bring  Vito  Genovese  to  trial ; 
it  that  right? 

Mr.  Willse.  Yes,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Xow  can  you  tell  what  happened  regarding  the 
trial? 

Mr.  Willse.  Following  Rupolo's  testimony,  these  two  men  and  a 
Gus  Frasca  and  George  Smurra,  and  the  other  fellow  were  all  indicted 
for  the  murder  of  Boccia.  But  even  before  the  indictment,  the  word 
got  around  that  somebody  was  talking,  and  I  suppose  the  finger 
naturally  went  to  Rupolo,  and  all  of  them  disappeared.  It  was  some 
time  later  that  Genovese  was  located  in  Italy. 

Now,  pending  Vito's  return  to  this  country  there  was  another  man 
by  the  name  of  Pete  LaTempa,  known  as  Petey  Spats.  He  would 
have  been  the  corroborating  witness  to  this,  necessary  for  the  con- 
viction of  these  men  in  the  murder,  and  he  Avas  picked  up  as  a  material 
witness  and  locked  in  Raymond  Street  jail  in  Brooklyn. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  He  was  taken  to  jail  for  his  own  protection,  was  he 
not? 

Mr.  Willse.  Actually,  he  asked  to  be  taken  there. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  is  his  name  ? 

Mr.  Willse.  LaTempa,  known  as  Petey  Spatz. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  So  he  went  to  jail  at  his  own  request  so  he  could  be 
protected. 

Mr.  Willse.  He  suffered  from  a  stomach  ailment  so  that  he  had  to 
take  regular  medication,  and  while  he  was  in  jail  he  started  to  suffer 
and  asked  that  the  medicine  he  was  accustomed  to  using  be  supplied  to 
him. 

Some  way  he  got  into  the  jail  and  the  following  day  at  the  inquest; 
he  said  he  was  suffering  great  pain  and  asked  that  he  be  given  a  mix- 
ture.   He  was  handed  a  glass  with  a  liquid  and  later  on  they  found 


12368  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

him  dead.  That  removed  the  corroborating  witness,  which  meant 
there  could  not  be  a  conviction  in  the  case. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Didn't  the  doctor  say  afterward,  after  an  autopsy 
of  this  witness,  that  he  had  taken  enough  poison  to  kill  8  horses  ? 

Mr.  Willse.  That  is  right. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Isn't  it  true  also  that  one  of  the  other  witnesses  who 
would  have  supported  evidence  against  Genovese  and  Miranda  was 
killed? 

Mr.  Willse.  That  is  right. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  a  number  of  witnesses  who  had  some  corrobora- 
tion refused  to  testify  or  changed  their  testimony  ? 

Mr.  Willse.  That  is  true. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  With  the  result  that  these  two  individuals  were 
acquitted,  is  that  right  ? 

Mr.  Willse.  Yes. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  In  that  as  far  as  Mr.  Genovese  is  concerned,  he  is  now 
separated  from  his  second  wife  ? 

Mr.  Willse.  Yes. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  How  long  had  he  been  married  to  her  ? 

Mr.  Willse.  About  12  or  13  years  at  the  time  of  this  murder.  Dur- 
ing the  investigation  of  the  murder,  particularly  in  seeking  to  locate 
Genovese  and  the  other  defendants  under  indictment,  the  police  visited 
Ann  Genovese,  his  wife,  and  she  said  she  didn't  know  where  Vito  was, 
she  hadn't  seen  him  in  4  months,  but  she  had  received  a  letter  post- 
marked some  place  in  Italy.  She  said  she  had  been  married  to  him  for 
about  12  years. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Had  she  been  married  prior  to  that  time  ? 

Mr.  Willse.  Yes,  she  had. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  happened  to  her  husband  ? 

Mr.  Willse.  Well,  when  the  police  questioned  her,  they  asked  her 
who  her  first  husband  was,  and  she  said  she  didn't  remember  his  name. 
However,  her  first  husband's  name  was  Vernotico.  I  just  don't  recall 
the  date  now,  but  he  and  another  man  had  been  found  strangled  with 
nooses  about  their  necks  and  shotgun  shells  and  pistol  shells  found 
nearby  on  a  roof  in  lower  Manhattan. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Had  they  been  knifed,  shot,  and  strangled? 

Mr.  Willse.  They  had  also  been  knifed. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Wasn't  it  true  that  15  days  after  her  husband  was 
shot,  knifed,  and  strangled,  she  married  Vito  Genovese  ? 

Mr.  Willse.  Yes.   It  was  actually  14  days — 2  weeks. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  All  right.  We  will  have  some  more  on  Mr.  Genovese 
in  a  little  while.  Will  you  show  a  few  more  of  the  pictures  that  you 
have  ? 

The  Chairman.  Let  these  pictures  be  made  exhibits.  They  will  be 
made  exhibit  12-A,  B,  C,  and  D,  and  all  of  those  that  are  shown  may 
be  in  this  series.  They  will  be  made  exhibits  without  further  order 
of  the  Chair. 

(The  documents  referred  to  were  marked  "Exhibit  Nos.  12-A  for 
reference  and  may  be  found  in  the  files  of  the  Select  Committee.) 

Mr.  Willse.  This  is  the  same  location.  This  is  Pete  DeFeo,  the 
other  man  indicted  in  Boccia  murder,  the  one  who  supplied  the  two 
guns  to  Ivupolo.  With  him  is  Frank  Tieri.  During  the  investiga- 
tion he  was  seen  regularly  driving  a  car  listed  to  another  man  other 
than  his,  but  with  the  same  address  as  Tieri's  residence  in  Coney 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12369 

Island.  There  was  a  business  address  registered  for  the  car  for,  I 
believe,  813  Sterling  Place,  in  Brooklyn,  which  is  the  business  address 
of  Peerless  Importers,  importers  of  wines  and  liquors. 

I  believe  it  is  the  treasurer  or  one  of  the  officials  of  that  company, 
Antonio  Magliocco,  who  is  the  brother  of  Joseph,  who  was  also 
at  Apalachin. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Both  of  these  individuals  have  police  records? 

Mr.  Willse.  They  have. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Go  ahead.     This  is  out  in  front  of  the  same  cafe. 

(The  document  referred  to  was  marked  "Exhibit  No.  12-B"  for 
reference  and  may  be  found  in  the  files  of  the  selected  committee.) 

Mr.  Willse.  The  man  on  the  right  is  Mike  Miranda,  again  without 
the  hat.  Next  to  him  is  Pasquale  Normando,  who  is  known  as  Patsy 
Murray. 

Back  in  1935  he  was  1  of  the  11  defendants  indicted  in  connection 
with  a  taxicab  racket.  In  1933  there  was  a  taxi  union  set  up,  and  in 
1935  a  charter  received  from  the  A.  F.  of  L.  with  a  change  in  the 
union's  name.  That  charter  was  subsequently  revoked.  However, 
in  1934  there  was  a  strike  of  the  cabs.  There  was  a  wave  of  burnings 
of  cabs,  assaults,  beatings,  and  so  on. 

The  head  of  that  racket  was  supposed  to  be  a  Matthew  Polizzoto, 
alias  Matty  Brown,  and  Abe  Reles,  the  one  who  did  most  of  the 
talking  in  the  Murder,  Inc.,  case,  said  that  '"Pittsburgh  Phil"  Strauss, 
also  connected  with  Murder,  Inc.,  had  told  him  that  Anastasia  said 
Joe  Adonis  had  two  people  connected  with  that  racket  that  he  wanted 
taken  care  of. 

He  said  that  Polizzoto  and  his  wife  disappeared  that  day  and  to 
this  day  have  not  been  located. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  This  individual  was  involved  in  a  union  taxicab 
racket  ? 

Mr.  Willse.  That  is  right.  The  racket  consisted  of  collecting  from 
the  cabs.  They  went  to  4  different  fleet  operators  which  composed  the 
5,000  cabs.  The  fleet  signed  up.  The  tribute  was  30  cents  a  cab  per 
week.  The  union  then  raised  it  to  50  cents  a  week  because  they  were 
going  to  institute  an  inspection  service,  which  meant  watching  the 
drivers  and  checking  the  meters.  But  then  the  union  went  into  usury 
where  they  loaned  money  under  shylocking  terms  to  the  drivers. 

The  drivers  then  complained  to  the  district  attorney,  and  the  11  in- 
dictments came  out.  In  addition  to  the  5,000  cabs  that  were  actually 
paying  this  money,  there  were  15,000  others  who  were  affected  by  it. 

The  indictment  called  for  50  counts  of  extortion. 

(The  documents  referred  to  were  marked  "Exhibit  No.  12-C"  for 
reference  and  may  be  found  in  the  files  of  the  select  committee.) 

Mr.  Willse.  This  is  Joseph  Stracci.  He  has  been  in  the  garment 
industry  for  years.  He  was  planned  to  be  a  protege  of  Lepke 
Buchalter  and  Joseph  Shapiro,  who  were  actually  the  starters  or  fore- 
runners of  the  mob  getting  into  the  garment  area. 

He  has  a  record  of  12  arrests,  including  murder,  armed  robbery,  the 
usual.     In  the  middle  of  that  is  Joe  Tortorici,  known  as  Joe  Stutz. 

He  also  has  several  arrests.  Here  is  Lorenzo  Brescia,  known  as 
Chapin.  He  also  was  connected  with  that  taxicab  racket  which  I 
described.     He  did  a  year  in  the  penitentiary  for  that. 


12370  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  Kennedy.  He  also  was  the  bodyguard  for  a  while  of 

Mr.  Willse.  He  was  the  bodyguard  for  Lucky  Luciano  when  Lucky 
was  in  this  country,  as  was  Pasquale  Normando,  in  the  previous 
picture. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  he  was  a  close  associate  of  Max  Block  of  the 
Meat  Cutters  Union  ? 

Mr.  Willse.  That  is  true. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  His  brother  works  for  the  Meat  Cutters  Union  as 
organizer,  does  he  not  ? 

Mr.  Willse.  That  is  right.  In  1947,  this  brother  Brescia  and  Pete 
DeFeo,  whom  you  saw  before,  left  this  location  and  drove  in  a  car 
up  to  Pleasant  Avenue,  where  they  parked  between  115th  and  116th 
Streets  in  New  York.  As  they  got  out  of  the  car,  Brescia  was  shot 
in  the  neck  and  Pete  in  the  back  under  his  left  shoulder.  The  man 
picked  up  for  the  shooting  was  the  man  in  the  middle,  Joe  Stutz. 
Brescia  and  DeFeo  would  not  go  through  with  the  identification,  so 
Stutz  was  released. 

The  Chairman.  May  I  ask  you,  were  these  pictures  all  made  at  the 
same  location,  in  front  of  this  Alto  Knights  ? 

Mr.  Willse.  Yes,  sir. 

The  Chairman.  All  right. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  They  were  all  made  actually  within  a  couple  of  days 
of  one  another,  were  they  not  ? 

Mr.  Willse.  Yes.  They  were  made  on  3  days,  September  8,  Sep- 
tember 19,  and  September  21, 1955. 

Senator  Curtis.  Mr.  Chairman  ? 

The  Chairman.  Senator  Curtis. 

Senator  Curtis.  By  whom  were  they  made  ? 

Mr.  Willse.  By  me.  I  wanted  to  say  that  the  shooting  in  this  case 
was  attributed  by  the  police  to  labor  trouble,  as  Pete  DeFeo  who 
was  in  the  other  picture  was  connected  with  a  wastepaper  loading 
union. 

(The  document  referred  to  was  marked  "Exhibit  No.  12-D"  for 
reference  and  may  be  found  in  the  files  of  the  select  committee.) 

Mr.  Willse.  This  is  Anthony  Russo,  who,  from  observations,  ap- 
peared to  be  the  chauffeur  for  Vito  Genovese,  who  appears  here  again. 
Anthony  Russo  was  picked  up  around  1950  or  1951  in  Miami  Beach 
as  a  known  criminal  and  gangster,  with  two  other  men.  One  of  them 
was  a  fellow  named  De  Benedetto,  an  alias  of  "Coca  Cola",  and  the 
other  one  Charles  Tourine.  He  is  known  as  the  "Blade"  and  as 
Charlie  White.  Tourine  is  now  connected  with  Santo  Trafficante,  Jr., 
in  the  Habana  gambling  operations. 

Trafficante,  Sr.,  has  been  in  charge  of  rackets  for  years  in  Tampa, 
Fla. 

(The  document  referred  to  was  marked  "Exhibit  No.  12-E"  for 
reference  and  may  be  found  in  the  files  of  the  select  committee.) 

Mr.  Willse.  This  is  Gregory  Ardito,  known  as  "Buster",  Alfonso 
•Criscuolo,  known  as  "Good-looking  Al".  They  are  both  on  the  Fed- 
eral Bureau  of  Narcotics  international  list,  and  they  both  have  ex- 
tensive records,  something  like  7  to  9  arrests  each. 

(The  document  referred  to  was  marked  "Exhibit  No.  12-F"  for 
reference  and  may  be  found  in  the  files  of  the  Select  Committee.) 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12371 

Mr.  Willse.  This  is  Barney  Miranda,  who  disclaims  any  relation- 
ship about  Mike.  lie  has  a  record  for  carrying  a  concealed  weapon 
and  was  a  regular  visitor  to  that  location. 

This  is  Louis  Arminante,  alias  "Gee  Gee".  He  has  several  arrests, 
loitering,  policy,  and  others. 

(The  document  referred  to  was  marked  "Exhibit  No.  12-G"  for 
reference  and  may  be  found  in  the  files  of  the  select  committee.) 

Mr.  Willse.  John  Berra  who  was  there  every  day  that  we  were. 
He  has  convictions  for  alcohol  violations  and  the  Federal  Narcotic 
Act.  He  also  was  convicted  of  desertion  from  the  Army  and  sen- 
tenced to  5  years. 

(The  document  referred  to  was  marked  "Exhibit  No.  12-H"  for 
reference  and  may  be  found  in  the  files  of  the  select  committee.) 

Mr.  Willse.  The  man  furthest  left  is  Frank  Tiera,  again,  he  was 
there  practically  every  day.  He  also  has  the  alcohol  tax  violations. 
This  man  is  Joseph  Gorgone,  known  as  "Joe  Black".  He  has  a 
number  of  arrests,  particularly  burglary.  He  is  recognized  as  a 
pretty  good  burglar.  He  is  known  to  have  direct  contact  with 
Carmine  DiBiasic,  who  is  now  a  fugitive  from  a  murder  charge. 

(The  document  referred  to  was  marked  "Exhibit  No.  12-1"  for 
reference  and  may  be  found  in  the  files  of  the  select  committee.) 

Mr.  Willse.  These  are  merely  enlargements  of  some  of  the  other 
pictures  that  were  taken,  but  they  show  the  type  of  person  frequent- 
ing that  neighborhood  from  day  to  day. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Is  that  all  of  the  pictures  ? 

Mr.  Willse.  Yes,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  I  just  have  a  couple  of  questions.  Can  we  put  the 
lights  back  on  ? 

Can  we  put  the  light  out  for  one  more  moment  ? 

There  is  one  other  picture. 

Mr.  Willse.  I  would  like  to  say  that  this  location,  although  one  of 
the  most  important  in  the  city,  is  merely  one  of,  I  suppose,  about  200 
scattered  about  the  city.  We  have  given  all  of  them  attention  from 
time  to  time,  but  they  all  operate  practically  the  same  way.  As  I 
say,  this  is  most  important  because  of  the  type  of  individual  who 
appears  here.     Vito  Genovese  and  Mike  Miranda  alone  show  that. 

One  thing  is  that  there  is  very  little  activity  that  takes  place  in  a 
location  of  this  sort  that  warrants  police  action.  Actually,  they  don't 
do  anything  but  meet,  plan  and  scheme,  to  keep  their  own  enterprises 
and  to  plan  new  ones,  legitimate  and  illegitimate.  However,  they 
are  very  watchful.  The  location  is  their  own.  I  mean  that  with  the 
Alto  Knights  they  have  been  there  for  40  years,  and  they  know  every 
businessman  and  everybody  that  lives  around  there. 

Even  if  there  was  anything  that  would  require  police  attention 
and  cooperation  from  the  people  in  the  vicinity,  it  is  hardly  ever 
obtained  because  of  the  reputation  of  the  men  hanging  out  there. 

People  just  wouldn't  go  along  with  any  cooperation.  We  have 
also  felt  that  the  main  part  of  the  watchfulness  of  these  men  which 
was  quite  obvious  is  mainly  not  because  they  fear  the  police,  because 
they  are  not  doing  anything  to  be  picked  up  for,  but  they  fear 
assassination. 


12372  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

I  think  as  an  example  of  that  would  be  the  story  going  with  this 
picture.  Big  John  Ormento  was  under  investigation  which  had 
been  going  on  for  some  time.  It  was  a  coordinated  activity  of  the 
New  York  Police  detectives  and  agents  of  the  Federal  Narcotics 
Bureau.  On  one  day,  just,  I  think,  a  couple  of  years  ago,  the  au- 
thorities had  reason  to  believe  that  contraband  of  some  sort  was  going 
to  be  transported  in  a  car.  They  kept  Big  John  under  observation 
and  saw  him  meet  with  one  Sol  LoPronto.  They  tailed  the  car  with 
both  of  the  men  in  it,  LoPronto  driving.  It  was  a  bad  day,  with 
clean  snow.  It  obstructed  the  rear  vision  of  LoPronto  and  Ormento, 
so  that  when  their  car  stopped  at  a  red  light,  the  agents  and  detectives 
took  that  opportunity  to  rush  up  on  the  car  before  it  could  get  started 
again. 

Two  men  went  up  on  each  side.  One  of  the  detectives  who  went  up 
on  the  right  side  described  what  happened.  He  said  that  Big  John 
was  sitting  in  this  seat  next  to  the  driver.  His  window  was  down  a 
few  inches.     All  of  the  men  that  ran  up  on  the  car  had  drawn  guns. 

As  this  detective  looked  in  at  John,  John  saw  him  and  the  gun,  and 
he  gasped  and  threw  back  his  hands.  Detective  said  "Come  on  out 
of  the  car,  John." 

He  got  him  out  and  started  to  talk  to  him.  But  he  said  Ormento 
had  to  take  6  or  8  deep  breaths  before  he  could  find  his  voice.  Then 
it  was  obvious  relief  when  he  found  out  they  were  police  and  not 
somebody  out  to  kill  him.  I  think  that  is  typical  or  at  least  it  demon- 
strates the  watchfulness  of  the  attitude  of  these  people  as  they  stand 
around  the  corner  planning. 

They  know  they  are  target  for  somebody.  In  this  car,  after  the  car 
was  stopped  and  these  men  taken  out,  the  agents  and  detectives  con- 
ducted a  search  which  took  about  3  hours  and  went  to  every  likely 
place  that  would  be  searched  in  the  car,  which  means  false  gas  tanks, 
taking  off  the  hubcaps,  looking  into  the  motor  and  so  forth. 

Finally  in  pulling  this  seat  forward  in  order  to  enter  the  rear  of 
the  car,  they  heard  a  noise  in  here.  To  get  in,  they  forced  it.  After 
forcing  it,  then  they  found  out  how  it  was  supposed  to  operate.  By 
turning  on  the  heater  and  the  blower  and  the  ignition,  and  then  press- 
ing a  concealed  button  beneath  the  upholstery  there  in  front  part  of 
this  seat,  these  locks,  which  were  electrically  operated,  would  release, 
and  this  would  pull  forward. 

Then  there  was  this  compartment  built  in  there.  At  this  time  when 
they  stopped  it,  this  car,  there  were  two  guns,  one  with  a  silencer  on 
it.  Of  course,  they  have  found  out  since  that  this  sort  of  thing  has 
been  built  in  other  places. 

Generally  it  is  used  to  conceal  narcotics. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  As  I  understand  it,  in  order  to  get  into  that,  you 
would  have  to  turn  on  the  ignition  first,  then  put  on  the  fan,  then  the 
blower,  and  then  push  the  button,  is  that  right? 

Mr.  Willse.  That  is  right. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  This  isn't  the  only  instance  where  traps  of  this  kind 
have  been  used,  is  that  right  ? 

Mr.  Willse.  No.  They  have  been  found  in  other  cars,  and  in  one 
instance  it  was  found  in  a  hassock,  and  within  the  hassock  was  a  con- 
siderable amount  of  drugs. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  is  all,  Mr.  Chairman. 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12373 

Mr.  Willse,  briefly,  what  kind  of  a  neighborhood  is  (his  Alto  Knights 
located  in,  and  what  does  the  Alto  Knights  itself  look  like? 

Mr.  Willse.  Well,  the  neighborhood  itself  is  typical  of  that  sec- 
tion of  New  York  on  the  Lower  East  Side. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  is  the  address  ? 

Mr.  Willse.  10th  and  Mulberry  Street,  on  the  corner.  As  I  say, 
it  is  typical  of  the  Lower  East  Side.  However,  if  you  go  to  the  Upper 
East  Side,  there  is  also  a  meeting  place  of  the  same  type  of  individual, 
and  you  will  find  the  same  type  of  neighborhood,  usually  6  story 
walk-ups,  and  with  stores  on  the  ground  floors. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  It  is  a  very  unpretentious  place,  is  it  not? 

Mr.  Willse.  That  is  true. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Could  you  describe  what  protections  the  people  in 
that  neighborhood  take  to  be  sure  that  nobody  comes  into  the  Alto 
Knights  that  they  don't  know  about? 

Air.  Willse.  Well,  in  addition  to  the  difficulty  of  getting  any  co- 
operation from  the  regular  inhabitants  of  the  neighborhood,  these 
men,  naturally,  in  a  place  like  that  being  there  for  40  years,  and  these 
men  being  born  and  brought  up  in  the  neighborhood,  in  the  atmos- 
phere, they  have  developed  their  own  system.  They  continually  patrol 
the  streets,  sometimes  by  car  and  sometimes  by  foot.  I  recall  one  oc- 
casion in  making  a  case  in  the  vicinity  of  Hester  and  Mulberry.  That 
is  about  3  or  4  blocks  out  south  of  this  one.  That  was  Luciano's  old 
headquarters  when  he  was  first  rising  to  any  prominence  in  the  under- 
world. 

One-Twenty-One  Mulberry  Street  was  a  cafe  somewhat  similar  to 
the  one  we  have  seen  here.  Actually,  it  was  the  main  spot  for  nar- 
cotics in  that  section  of  New  York. 

Well,  there  were  other  rackets  that  went  on.  It  was  finally  dis- 
covered that  they  called  the  stash,  the  place  where  they  kept  their 
working  plans,  that  is,  the  supply  of  drugs  needed  for  1  or  2  days' 
operation,  by  lifting  the  window  sill  in  a  bathroom.  Underneath  that, 
the  bricks  had  been  removed  so  that  there  was  a  hollow  space  for  quite 
an  amount  of  drugs. 

In  there  were  the  papers  containing  the  license  plate  numbers  of 
narcotic  squad  detectives  and  narcotic  agents.  We  can  only  assume 
that  these  were  picked  up  by  patrols  who  had  found  the  license  num- 
bers and,  of  course,  who  had  some  connection  whereby  they  were  able 
to  check  the  listing  and  found  out  who  they  belonged  to. 

In  addition  to  that  they  hung  around  the  headquarters  wherever  the 
narcotics  squads  located  and  found  out  if  those  cars  were  in  the  vi- 
cinity at  that  time. 

If  they  were,  then  they  were  extra  guarded  in  their  activities. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  It  amounts  almost  to  a  fortress  type  operation. 

Mr.  Willse.  That  is  what  we  call  it. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  is  all. 

Now,  Mr.  Chairman,  we  are  going  into  the  case  of  Mr.  Vito  Geno- 
vese,  whose  picture  has  appeared  here,  and  who  attended  the  meeting  at 
Apalachin.  We  have  information  that  he  has  been  prominent  in  the 
dock  rackets  in  the  city  of  New  York. 

Regarding  his  background  I  would  like  to  call  another  witness, 
Mr.  Dickey. 


12374  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

The  Chairman.  Come  forward,  please.  Do  you  solemnly  swear 
the  evidence  you  shall  give  before  this  Senate  select  committee  shall 
be  the  truth,  the  whole  truth,  and  nothing  but  the  truth,  so  help  you 
God? 

Mr.  Dickey.  I  do. 

TESTIMONY  OF  ORANGE  C.  DICKEY 

The  Chairman.  State  your  name,  your  place  of  residence,  and  your 
business  or  occupation. 

Mr.  Dickey.  Orange  C.  Dickey,  623  Jackson  Avenue,  Altoona,  Pa., 
presently  the  owner  and  operator  of  Lueckert's  Bakery. 

The  Chairman.  Do  you  waive  counsel,  Mr.  Dickey  ? 

Mr.  Dickey.  I  do. 

The  Chairman.  Proceed,  Mr.  Kennedy. 

(At  this  point,  Senator  Ives  entered  the  hearing  room.) 

Mr.  Kennedy.  How  long  have  you  been  living  in  Pennsylvania. 
Mr.  Dickey  ? 

Mr.  Dickey.  I  am  a  native  of  that  State. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  went  to  Pennsylvania  State  University,  did 
you? 

Mr.  Dickey.  I  attended  Pennsylvania  State  College. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  you  went  into  the  Army  in  1942  ? 

Mr.  Dickey.  November  27, 1942. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Subsequently  you  went  into  the  Intelligence  Divi- 
sion of  the  Army,  CID  ? 

Mr.  Dickey.  That  is  right. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  ultimately  made  an  agent  for  CID  ? 

Mr.  Dickey.  That  is  right. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  were  sent  overseas,  where  you  not? 

Mr.  Dickey.  Yes,  I  was.  I  was  sent  to  the  Mediterranean  theater 
of  operations. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  When  was  that  ? 

Mr.  Dickey.  1943. 

(At  this  point,  Senator  McClellan  withdrew  from  the  hearing 
room. ) 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  area  were  you  sent  to  in  Europe? 

Mr.  Dickey.  I  was  originally  sent  to  England,  later  transferred 
to  North  Africa,  and  later  to  Italy. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  When  did  you  arrive  in  Italy  ? 

Mr.  Dickey.  In  December  of  1943. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  were  assigned  as  an  intelligence  sergeant  in 
a  service  squadron,  CID  intelligence. 

Mr.  Dickey.  I  had  originally  been  intelligence  sergeant  with  a 
service  squadron.  I  was  appointed  Criminal  Investigation  Division 
agent  in  February  1944. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  were  you  working  on  when  you  got  to  Italy 
in  1944? 

_  Mr.  Dickey.  I  was  principally  concerned  with  black-market  ac- 
tivities, those  oilViisos  involving  Army  personnel  or  United  State- 
Government  equipment  or  supplies. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  was  the  situation  specifically  that  you  were 
working  on,  and  what  is  the  thing  that  you  found? 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12375 

Mr.  Dickey.  Specifically  there  was  a  large  amount  of  black-market 
activity  between  the  Provinces  of  Naples  and  Nola.  1  at  that  time 
was  stationed  at  Nola,  which  is  essentially  on  the  eastern  side  of 
Italy. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  is  Foggia  ? 

Mr.  Dickey.  Foggia.  A  large  part  of  the  black-market  activities 
that  were  carried  on  there  were  not  centered  within  that  area.  It 
was  a  transient  type  of  crime.  It  originated  somewhere  else,  and  it 
was  completed  somewhere  else,  but  it  passed  through  that  district. 
In  that  connection,  I  had  spoken  with  my  commanding  officers  and 
received  their  permission  and  authorization  to  proceed  to  the  Naples 
district  to  continue  the  investigations.  I  had  arranged  to  have  re- 
leased from  jail  certain  a.w.o.l.  soldiers  awaiting  trial  whom  I  had 
taken  with  me  for  the  purpose  of  identifying  many  of  the  individuals 
concerned. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Was  this  a  big  operation,  the  black-market  opera- 
tion in  that  area  ? 

Mr.  Dickey.  This  was  a  very  extensive  operation. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  were  they  dealing  in,  particularly? 

Mr.  Dickey.  From  the  western  side  of  Italy  to  the  eastern  side, 
they  were  dealing  largely  in  Army  supplies — sugar,  blankets,  cloth- 
ing, foods — -and  the  movement  in  the  opposite  direction,  from  the 
eastern  side  to  the  western  side  was  largely  in  civilian  products,  such 
as  wheat,  olive  oil,  beans,  and  so  forth. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Were  they  stealing  these  Army  supplies? 

Mr.  Dickey.  To  a  large  extent.  All  the  Army  supplies  were  either 
stolen  or  purchased  illegally  by  Italian  civilians.  They  were  trans- 
ported in  various  ways,  but  principally  by  stolen  United  States 
Army  vehicles,  to  the  areas  where  they  were  sold  on  the  black  market. 

(At  this  point,  Senator  McClellan  entered  the  hearing  room.) 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Then  what  would  they  do  with  the  Army  vehicles  ? 

Mr.  Dickey.  In  some  cases  the  Army  vehicles  were  loaded  with 
wheat,  olive  oil,  or  other  products  and  returned  to  the  Naples  area, 
or  in  other  cases  the  vehicles  were  run  out  in  the  hills,  abandoned, 
and  set  on  fire  and  destroyed. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  this  appear  to  be  an  organized  operation? 

Mr.  Dickey.  Yes,  it  did.  This  appeared  to  be  a  very  highly 
organized  operation. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  So  you  were  assigned  to  investigate  into  it;  is  that 
right? 

Mr.  Dickey.  That  is  correct. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You,  with  some  of  these  a.w.o.l.  soldiers,  soldiers 
waiting  to  be  sentenced,  went  into  the  area  where  this  was  supposed 
to  originate  ? 

Mr.  Dickey.  That  is  correct. 

Mr.   Kennedy.  Would  you   relate  to   the  committee  what  you 
found  ? 

Mr.  Dickey.  As  a  result  of  this  investigation,  we  eventually  were 
able  to  arrest  between  35  and  40  of  these  soldiers  who  had  banded 
themselves  together  in  one  group,  and  together  with  those  we  ar- 
rested some  8  or  9  Italian  civilians,  among  whom  was  one  of  the 
top  leaders  of  the  black-market  activities  in  the  Naples  and  Nola 
areas.  That  individual  during  the  time  of  questioning  had  admitted 
that  many  officers  previously  had  talked  to  him,  but  that  he  was 


12376  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN   THE    LABOR    FIELD 

not  disturbed  about  being  prosecuted  because  he  had  friends  in  the 
Italian  courts  and  in  the  allied  military  government  that  would 
give  him  protection  and  in  this  connection  he  first  brought  up  the 
name  of  Vito  Genovese,  whom  he  claimed  was  an  interpreter  in  the 
allied  military  government  at  Nola,  who  had  assured  him  that  even 
in  the  event  of  his  arrest,  nothing  would  come  of  the  case. 

Senator  Ives.  May  I  interrupt  there,  Mr.  Chairman? 

The  Chairman.  Senator  Ives. 

Senator  Ives.  Who  was  in  charge  then  of  the  allied  military 
government  ? 

Mr.  Dickey.  The  allied  military  governor  at  that  time  was  Colonel 
Poletti. 

Senator  Ives.  Charles  Poletti  ? 

Mr.  Dickey.  That  is  correct. 

Senator  Ives.  In  that  connection,  I  know  Poletti  pretty  well;  was 
anything  ever  revealed  that  would  indicate  that  he,  himself,  in  any 
way  was  involved  in  any  of  this  business  that  you  are  talking  about  ? 

Mr.  Dickey.  Not  to  my  knowledge. 

Senator  Ives.  I  can't  imagine  it,  but  you  indicated  the  allied 
military  government,  and  I  didn't  know  who  might  be  the  person. 

Mr.  Dickey.  I  have  never  met  or  spoken  to  him. 

Senator  Ives.  Charlie  Poletti  was  the  very  top  of  it,  as  I  recall. 

Mr.  Dickey.  That  is  correct. 

Senator  Ives.  Thank  you. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  This  individual  that  you  picked  up,  and  who  was 
in  charge  of  this  one  area  for  the  black  market,  said  that  he  was 
assured  protection  by  Vito  Genovese? 

Mr.  Dickey.  That  is  correct. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  he  said  at  that  time  that  Vito  Genovese  worked 
for  the  courts  ? 

Mr.  Dickey.  That  is  correct. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  for  the  military  government,  the  American 
military  government? 

Mr.  Dickey.  He  had  said  that  Genovese  was  employed  at  that  time 
as  an  interpreter  in  the  Allied  military  courts  at  Nola. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  he  speak  to  you  or  tell  you  at  that  time  any- 
thing about  Genovese's  operations  in  Italy  ? 

Mr.  Dickey.  Other  than  his  connection  and  standing  with  the 
courts  in  Nola,  the  fact  that  Genovese  was  considered  to  be  an  im- 
portant man  over  there,  he  described  him  as  Don  Vito  which 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Described  him  as  what  ? 

Mr.  Dickey.  As  Don  Vito,  which  seems  to  have  some  significance  in 
relation  to  the  Mafia  organizations. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  he  or  any  other  informant  tell  you  what  Geno- 
vese's role  was  toward  the  Italian  Government? 

Mr.  Dickey.  During  this  investigation,  I  had  talked  with  a  large 
number  of  informers,  who  were  rather  widely  scattered  over  the  cen- 
tral section  of  Italy.  Many  of  them  were  persons  having  Important 
positions  with  the  Italian  Government  at  that  time;  others  holding 
titles  that  had  been  conferred  on  them  earlier  by  Mussolini  or  some  of 
the  other  authorities.  In  general  these  people  described  Genovese  as 
being  very  influential  and  powerful,  as  the  former  member  of  Squad- 
rista  organizations,  as  being  personally  acquainted  with  Mussolini,  as 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12377 

having  contributed  very  heavily  to  the  Fascist  Party,  as  having  do- 
nated heavily  to  the  construction  of  the  municipal  building  at  Nola. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Were  these  people  individuals  who  were  in  posi- 
tions to  know '. 

Mr.  Dickey.  Yes ;  they  were. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  they  said  that  Vito  Genovese  had  been  con- 
tributing heavily  to  the  Fascist  Party  in  Italy  ? 

Mr.  Dickey.  Yes ;  they  did. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  that  he  was  personally  acquainted  with  Mus- 
solini? 

Mr.  Dickey.  Yes. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Had  he  personally  donated  any  money  for  the  con- 
struction of  any  of  the  buildings  in  Italy  under  Mussolini? 

Mr.  Dickey.  It  was  alleged  by  several  of  the  informants  that  he 
had  contributed  very  heavily,  financially,  to  the  construction  of  the 
city  building  at  Nola. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Specifically,  had  he  received  a  commendation  from 
Mussolini  and  the  Government  for  that? 

Mr.  Dickey.  For  his  activities  with  the  Government  and  his  dona- 
tions, he  was  alleged  to  have  been  elevated  to  the  title  of  Commenda- 
tore  Del  Rei,  which  is  supposedly  the  highest  Italian  honor  you  can 
receive. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  you  in  fact  find  out  that  he  had  received  that 
honor  and  award? 

Mr.  Dickey.  I  did,  and  at  a  later  time  when  I  personally  inter- 
viewed Vito,  he  confirmed  that  personally. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  he  had  received  the  highest  award  that  the 
Italian  Government  could  bestow  ? 

Mr.  Dickey.  That  is  right. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  For  the  donations  he  had  made  ? 

Mr.  Dickey.  And  for  his  activities  with  the  Fascist  movement  and 
the  Squadrista  and  so  on. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  you,  in  the  course  of  your  investigation,  learn 
of  what  relationship  Vito  Genovese  had  with  the  Mafia  here  in  the 
United  States  or  in  Italy  ? 

Were  you  told  and  informed  about  that? 

Mr.  Dickey.  Among  the  informers  were  a  number  of  individuals 
who  had  at  one  time  been  in  the  United  States.  Some  were  deported. 
Others  had  gone  there  voluntarily.  Some  of  those  informers  told  me 
that  when  the}^  knew  Genovese  in  this  country  and  associated  with 
him  here,  that  he  was  at  that  time  considered  as  a  member  of  the 
Mafia. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Can  you  tell  us  the  name  of  one  of  the  individuals? 

Mr.  Chairman,  he  has  told  the  staff  the  names  of  some  of  these  in- 
dividuals who  gave  him  this  information  on  Vito  Genovese.  Some 
of  them  are  still  living,  and  I  felt  that  it  would  be  better  to  give  that 
information  confidentially,  which  he  is  prepared  to  do,  to  the  com- 
mittee. But  there  is  the  name  of  one  individual  that  I  think  he  can 
name,  who  gave  him  this  information,  and  could  put  it  on  the  record 
publicly. 

Can  you  tell  us  who  that  was  ? 

Mr.  Dickey.  One  of  these  names  was  mentioned  publicly  once  pre- 
viously, Julius  Simonelli,  who  had  turned  over  to  me  at  one  time  a 
book  which  was 


12378  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Written  about  15  years  ago? 

Mr.  Dickey.  Roughly  15  years  ago.  It  was  entitled  "The  Story 
of  a  Lawless  Era,"  written  by  Craig  Thompson  and  Allen  White. 

That  book  contained  certain  material  regarding  Genovese. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  Simonelli  know  Vito  Genovese  himself  ? 

Mr.  Dickey.  Yes,  he  did.  He  knew  him  personally  both  in  this 
country  prior  to  the  time  that  they  had  both  gone  to  Italy,  and  also 
he  knew  of  him  after  returning  to  Italy. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  he  describe  Vito  Genovese  as  a  member  of  the 
Mafia  or  secret  organization  ? 

Mr.  Dickey.  Yes,  he  did. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Here  in  the  United  States  ? 

Mr.  Dickey.  And  back  in  Italy. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  first  heard  about  Vito  Genovese,  in  this  dis- 
cussion that  you  had  with  the  man  in  the  black  marketing  activities. 
Did  you  make  a  further  investigation  of  Genovese  in  connection  with 
that? 

And,  if  so,  would  you  relate  what  you  found  ? 

Mr.  Dickey.  This  investigation  actually  extended  over  many 
months,  during  which  time  I  had  gone  to  the  extent  of  photographing 
large  areas  where  these  trucks  had  been  abandoned  and  burned  and 
so  on.  During  the  course  of  the  entire  investigation  I  had  arrested 
two  Canadian  a.  w.  o.  1.  soldiers,  who  had  driven  into  this  area  United 
States  Army  trucks  and  turned  them  over  to  Italian  civilians.  These 
Canadian  soldiers  had  made  statements  to  me,  and  it  was  later  con- 
firmed by  some  of  the  Italian  civilians,  that  they  had  been  instructed 
to  say  when  they  arrived  in  this  area  and  turned  the  vehicles  over 
that  they  had  been  sent  there  by  Genovese. 

Of  course,  after  delivering  the  trucks  they  were  paid  and  they  then 
returned  to  rooming  houses  in  Naples,  as  was  common  for  the 
a.  w.  o.  1.  soldiers. 

They  all  had  a  rooming  house  somewhere,  and  they  would  wait 
there  until  they  were  contacted  again  by  someone  else  to  send  them 
out  on  another  trip. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  found,  therefore,  that  it  was  Genovese  who 
was  behind  a  good  deal  of  this  black  marketing  ? 

Mr.  Dickey.  This  was  simply  another  indication  of  his  connection 
with  it,  although  in  talking  with  many  of  the  Italian  civilians  who 
were  concerned,  Genovese's  name  came  up  quite  frequently  as  being 
a  person  they  could  go  and  see  and  he  would  tell  them  where  there 
was  a  large  quantity  of  wheat  that  could  be  moved  in  the  black  market 
or  a  large  quantity  of  olive  oil,  or  who  it  could  be  sold  to,  once  it 
was  transported  from  one  district  to  another. 

Also  in  the  middle  of  this  there  was  an  investigation  into  a  mica 
rock  transportation  deal.  This  mica  rock  was  used  in  Italy  in  the 
preparation  of  plaster,  in  building  construction. 

It  was  used  from  one  section  to  another  and  sold  at  very  high  prices. 
There  was  an  indication  at  one  time  that  Genovese  had  some  connec- 
tion with  the  firm  to  whom  this  mica  rock  was  delivered. 

Mi-.  Kennedy.  You  found  out,  did  you  not,  that  they  would  take 
these  trucks  and  load  them  as  they  came  off  the  ships,  and  then  they 
would  drive  them  to  this  area  where  the  goods  would  be  unloaded  and 
then  often  I  he  I  rucks  were  burned,  is  that  right? 
Mi-.  Dickey.  That  is  correct. 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IX    THE    LABOR    EI  ELD  12379 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  you  ever  go  to  any  of  these  areas  yourself? 

Mr.  Dickey.  Yes,  I  did. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  you  find  these  trucks? 

Mr.  Dickey.  Yes,  [did.     On  one  occasion  I  photographed  in  one 

section,  1  would  say  in  less  than  5  square  miles  in  area,  in  a  grove  of 
hazelnuts,  in  the  vicinity  of  Mount  Vesuvius,  less  than  5  miles  in 
area,  and  there  were  between  35  and  lo  of  these  trucks  in  that  area  at 
that  time,  all  of  which  had  been  set  on  fire. 

.Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  you  then  move  against  Vito  Genovese  to  try  to 
arrest  him? 

Mr.  Dickey.  Yes,  I  did.  I  had  spoken  to  my  commanding  officers 
early  in  the  month  of  August  and  explained  the  entire  situation  to 
them,  and  they  concurred  in  attempting  to  arrest  Genovese.  How- 
ever, right  at  that  time  the  allied  military  courts  in  the  Xola  district 
had  been  discontinued.  The  front  lines  had  moved  farther  north. 
There  was  not  such  a  prevalent  need  for  them,  so  they  had  been  dis- 
continued. Right  at  the  time  being  we  were  unable  to  locate  Vito. 
So  over  the  period  of  the  next  few  weeks,  much  of  the  time  was  con- 
sumed in  actually  locating  and  arresting  him. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  How  did  you  finally  locate  him? 

Mr.  Dickey.  I  eventually  located  him  through  the  assistance  of 
another  underworld  figure. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  was  his  name  ? 

Mr.  Dickey.  Mario  Umberto  Costello.  He  supposedly — according 
to  one  story  he  had  been  deported  from  the  United  States,  and  ac- 
cording to  another  story  he  had  fled  from  justice. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Where  was  Mr.  Costello  from  ? 

Mr.  Dickey.  He  was  from  the  St.  Louis  area.  I  do  not  know  which 
story  is  true,  or  if  in  fact,  either  story  is  true.  But  in  any  event,  he 
cooperated  to  the  extent  that  he  resided  in  an  apartment  adjacent  to 
the  one  in  which  Genovese  had  just  moved,  and  he  gave  us  informa- 
tion which  led  to  his  actual  arrest. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  you  find  later  on,  after  Costello  told  you  where 
Genovese  was  located,  that  he  himself  disappeared  \ 

Mr.  Dickey.  Yes,  he  did. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  when  you  were  looking  for  him,  you  could  no 
longer  find  him  ? 

Mr.  Dickey.  We  could  no  longer  find  even  he. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  you  go  and  arrest  Genovese  then  ? 

Mr.  Dickey.  Genovese  was  arrested  in  the  town  of  Xola,  if  I  recall 
correctly  August  27,  19-44,  at  a  time  when  he  stopped  at  the  municipal 
building  to  request  a  travel  permit. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  you  find  after  you  arrested  him  that  he  had 
received  these  travel  permits  quite  freely  ? 

Mr.  Dickey.  He  had,  over  a  period  of  many  months,  received  these 
permissions  quite  freely.  In  fact,  he  had  in  his  possession  at  the  time 
of  his  arrest  some  blanket  permissions. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  you  find  on  investigation  that  he  had  a  close 
association  with  a  number  of  the  American  officials  in  Italy  ? 

Mr.  Dickey.  Yes,  we  did. 

He  carried  on  his  person  at  the  time  of  his  arrest  letters  from  quite 
a  large  number  of  army  officers,  some  American,  some  British,  letters 

21243— 58— pt.  32 13 


12380  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

of  commendation,  other  letters  saying  that  he  had  given  his  services 
to  the  allied  military  government  without  fee  or  charge. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  He  had  not  charged  for  this  ? 

Mr.  Dickey.  Pardon? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  He  had  not  charged  any  money  for  the  work  he  was 
doing? 

Mr.  Dickey.    Apparently  not,  although  he  was  entitled  to  pay. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  At  the  time  you  arrested  him,  did  he  have  an  armed 
guard  ? 

Mr.  Dickey.  He  had  a  chauffeur  in  the  car,  and  in  searching  the  car 
there  were  guns  in  the  car. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Subsequently  was  any  action  taken  against  him  in 
Italy  for  these  offenses? 

Mr.  Dickey.  At  the  time  of  original  arrest,  he  was  confined  only 
temporarily  in  a  jail  at  Nola,  and  was  moved  almost  directly  to  a 
military  government  jail  in  the  town  of  Naples. 

He  remained  there  for  several  months.  Meanwhile  he  had  been 
questioned  to  some  extent.  He  was  then  transferred  to  a  civilian 
prison  at  Avellino,  where  he  was  again  held  for  a  number  of  months, 
and  was  again  transferred  to  a  civilian  prison  at  Bari,  where  he  re- 
mained until  the  time  of  his  return  to  the  United  States. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Why  was  he  transferred  to  those  so  frequently  ? 

Mr.  Dickey.  During  that  time  we  had  attempted  to  get  some  dispo- 
sition of  charges  against  Genovese,  so  far  as  the  allied  military  gov- 
ernment was  concerned. 

Meanwhile  we  had  heard  that  he  was  wanted  in  the  United  States 
on  homicide  charges,  and  we  sent  word  back  here  to  try  to  do  something 
about  those.  For  some  reason  there  was  a  general  delay  in  the  things 
that  were  going  on.  We  had  contacted  certain  officers  in  the  allied 
military  government  regarding  prosecution  of  the  charges  over  there, 
but  they  always  seemed  to  be  of  the  opinion  that  the  charges  in  the 
United  States  were  much  more  serious  than  those. 

They  eventually  declined  the  prosecution  in  order  that  he  might  be 
returned  to  the  United  States  for  the  charges  here. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  How  long  was  he  in  Italy  in  your  custody  prior  to 
his  return  to  the  United  States  ? 

Mr.  Dickey.  He  was  arrested  August  27,  1944.  He  remained  in 
custody  until  May  14,  1945. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  was  the  date  in  1945  ? 

Mr.  Dickey.  May  14,  1945,  when  I  took  custody  to  return  him  to 
the  United  States. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  no  legal  action  had  been  taken  against  him 
during  that  period  of  time? 

Mr.  Dickey.  No  legal  action  had  been  taken  toward  prosecution. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  returned  with  him  to  the  United  States  by 
yourself? 

Mr.  Dickey.  Yes,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Just  you  and  Mr.  Genovese  ? 

Mr.  Dickey.  Myself  and  Vito  Genovese;  yes,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  How  did  you  come  back ;  by  boat  ? 

Mr.  Dickey.  We  came  back  by  steamship,  the  steamship  James 
Lykes. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  How  did  you  arrange  your  sleeping  quarters,  for 
instance? 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12381 

Mr.  Dickey.  En  route  Genovese  and  I  occupied  the  same  room,  and 
we  were  constant  companions  and  there  were  no  other  guards  on  the 
boat,  and  I  and  I  alone  was  responsible  for  custody  coining  back. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  did  you  do  at  night,  for  instance? 

Mr.  Dickey.  At  night  we  shared  the  same  room.  As  a  rule  I 
gave  my  weapons  to  the  ship's  captain,  and  we  would  simply  occupy 
a  room  together,  and  that  is  all.  Of  course,  he  offered  no  resistance 
at  any  time. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  he  talk  freely  to  you  ? 

Mr.  Dickey.  He  would  speak  freely  about  many  things,  such  as 
horseracing  or  policy  or  things  of  that  nature. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  he  describe  to  you  how  horses  could  be  fixed? 

Mr.  Dickey.  He  told  me  how  they  could  be  fixed  and  how  they 
would  run  a  "ringer"  and  so  on,  and  he  told  me  how  policy  operated 
and  how  it  could  be  fixed,  and  he  talked  about  his  family,  and  he 
talked  about  many  things,  visits  to  Hot  Springs,  and  Little  Rock, 
and  his  travels,  and  so  on,  and  we  talked  about  everything  except 
he  would  not  talk  about  murder  or  the  charges  he  was  wanted  for 
in  the  United  States,  or  anything  that  seemed  to  get  him  involved. 

In  general,  he  talked,  and  he  sort  of  gave  me  an  education  coming 
back. 

The  Chairman.  Did  he  tell  you  he  had  been  to  Little  Rock? 

Mr.  Dickey.  In  his  conversations,  he  mentioned  Little  Rock  a  num- 
ber of  times. 

The  Chairman.  And  Hot  Springs ;  you  assume  Hot  Springs,  Ark.  ? 

Mr.  Dickey.  He  mentioned  those  a  number  of  times. 

The  Chairman.  Proceed. 

Mr.  Kennedy^.  Did  he  indicate  to  you  or  could  you  tell  that  he 
lived  quite  lavishly? 

Mr.  Dickey.  The  manner  in  which  he  lived,  I  think,  was  most  evi- 
dent when  I  searched  the  apartment  where  he  resided  in  Naples.  I 
don't  recall  ever  in  my  life  having  seen  a  man  with  so  many  pairs 
of  shoes,  or  so  many  suits  of  clothing,  as  he  had.  He  had  an  apart- 
ment which  was  very  lavishly  furnished,  and  very  expensive  clothing, 
and  apparently  custom-made  clothing,  and  a  large  number  of  shoes, 
and  I  have  never  seen  anything  like  that  in  my  life. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  he  have  a  radio  ? 

Mr.  Dickey.  At  the  time  we  searched  the  apartment  there  was  a 
radio  in  there,  and  I  think  it  was  connected  at  the  time,  and  it  is 
one  of  those  radios  that,  while  only  the  reserve  was  there,  the  power- 
cable  attachments  that  would  ordinarily  fit  a  transmitter  were  also 
there,  and  the  transmitter  we  did  not  find. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Was  this  a  very  powerful  radio? 

Mr.  Dickey.  It  apparently  was. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  you  understand  also  that  he  had  some  deposit 
boxes? 

Mr.  Dickey".  Mention  was  made  of  the  safe-deposit  box  on  a  num- 
ber of  occasions  and  that  arose  principally  over  informers  having 
mentioned  that  Genovese  was  supposedly  collecting  United  States 
currency  other  than  the  invasion  type  of  money.  The  invasion  type 
of  money  had  a  yellow  seal  on  it,  but  we  had  understood  from  the 
informers  that  he  was  attempting  to  collect  the  other  types  of  cur- 
rency ;  that  is,  red  and  black  and  green  and  blue-seal  money. 


12382  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

In  attempting  to  follow  this  through,  we  had  learned  of  him  having 
a  safe-deposit  box  in  a  bank  at  Dorn.  As  near  as  we  could  find  out, 
that  box,  however,  was  under  the  name  of  Salvatore  Profetti,  who 
was  alleged  to  have  been  married  to  the  sister  of  Genovese,  and  I 
learned  later  that  he  had  been  deported  from  the  United  States. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  you  learn  how  much  money  he  was  supposed 
to  have  given  for  this  building  in  Italy  ? 

Mr.  Dickey.  I  had  heard  a  number  of  figures  at  various  times,  and 
the  largest  amount  I  heard  was  $250,000. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  When  you  had  him  in  your  custody  prior  to  going 
back  to  the  United  States  with  him,  were  you  ever  ottered  any  money 
or  inducement  to  allow  him  to  escape  ? 

Mr.  Dickey.  At  various  times  I  was  offered  many  things,  and  I 
never  discussed  it  with  the  people  offering,  but  the  officials  of  some 
of  the  jails  where  he  was  held,  some  of  the  guards,  and  I  was  also 
approached  on  the  outside  by  a  number  of  individuals.  In  fact,  at 
one  point  I  was  offered  a  quarter  of  a  million  dollars  to  let  this  fellow 
out  of  jail,  and  on  one  occasion  when  I  was  offered  another  sum  of 
money  I  had  with  me  an  officer  by  the  name  of  Lieutenant  Dillon, 
and  we  had  thought  it  was  for  the  purpose  of  transferring  Genovese 
from  the  civilian  prison  to  the  civilian  prison  at  Mario,  and  we  were 
offered  a  sum  of  money  on  that  occasion  to  even  leave  him  there  if 
not  let  him  free. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Just  to  keep  him  there  ? 

Mr.  Dickey.  That  is  right,  rather  than  transferred  to  the  jail. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  These  were  all  civilian  prisons ;  is  that  right  ? 

Mr.  Dickey.  Yes,  they  were. 

Senator  Ives.  May  I  ask  a  question  there:  What  was  your  remark 
at  that  particular  time  ? 

Mr.  Dickey.  I  was  with  the  Army  Intelligence  Division. 

Senator  Ives.  How  old  were  you  ? 

Mr.  Dickey.  At  that  time  ? 

Senator  Ives.  You  weren't  very  old,  I  imagine? 

Mr.  Dickey.  Certainly  at  that  time  in  1944  I  was  24  years  old. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Now,  you  say  you  were  offered  this  quarter  of  a 
million  dollars.     That  was  a  quarter  of  a  million  dollars,  was  it? 

Mr.  Dickey.  Yes,  it  was. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  How  much  were  you  making  at  that  time? 

Mr.  Dickey.  That  is  almost  impossible  for  me  to  remember  that. 
I  think  at  that  time  I  was  making  around  $210  a  month,  plus  quar- 
ters and  rations,  if  I  recall  correctly. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Other  than  Costello,  from  St.  Louis,  did  you  meet 
any  others  besides  this  Simonelli  ?  Did  you  meet  any  other  of  the  un- 
derworld figures  from  the  United  States  over  there  in  Italy  ? 

Mr.  Dickey.  There  were  some  I  met  at  various  times.  On  one  oc- 
casion I  had  been  talking  with  certain  ranking  officials  of  the  local 
Italian  police  agency,  who  had  described  a  man  to  me  whom  he  said 
was  Miranda,  and  he  talked  about  Miranda  having  been  an  associate 
of  Genovese  over  the  years,  and  so  on,  and  so  forth,  and  he  described 
him  as  an  arch-criminal  from  the  United  States,  and  so  on. 

In  fact  he  pointed  that  man  out  to  me.  Whether  in  fact  it  was 
Miranda  or  not,  I  don't  know. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  you  meet  this  man  ? 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12383 

Mr.  Dickey.  He  was  introduced  to  me  at  that  time;  yes. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  By  what  name  was  he  introduced  to  you? 

Mr.  Dickey.  As  Mike  Miranda,  and  he  said,  "Just  call  me  Mike." 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  yon  know  that  he  was  one  of  the  bio;  criminals 
here  in  the  United  States '. 

Mr.  Dickey.  I  do  not  know  it  for  a  fact,  and  as  I  say  1  saw  the 
man  on  that  occasion,  and  at  that  time  only. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  was  Genovese's  attitude  toward  coming  back 
to  the  United  States?  Did  he  make  any  statement  as  to  his  feelings 
about  it? 

Mr.  Dickey.  Well,  on  the  night  I  took  custody  to  bring  him  back- 
to  the  United  States,  he  at  first  objected  rather  violently,  and  lie  did 
not  wish  to  come  back  here,  and  he  was  demanding  counsel  and  all 
of  that  sort  of  thing.  He  insisted  on  not  coming  back  to  the  United 
States.  However,  after  were  were  on  the  water  his  attitude  changed 
considerably,  and  he  repeatedly  told  me,  "Kid,  you  are  doing  me  the 
biggest  favor  anyone  has  ever  done  to  me.  You  are  taking  me  home. 
You  are  taking  me  back  to  the  United  States."  As  I  say  once  we 
were  on  the  water  he  had  a  completely  different  attitude. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Were  you  aware  of  the  fact  that  at  that  time,  that 
his  chief  witness  against  him  in  the  murder  trial  had  died  of  poison? 

Mr.  Dickey.  Xo,  I  was  not. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Without  getting  into  any  specific  names,  did  he  dis- 
cuss with  you  on  the  trip  back  his  union  activities  and  what  he  knew 
about  the  handling  of  strikes  and  those  with  whom  he  was  asso- 
ciated? 

Mr.  Dickey.  Only  in  a  general  sense.  As  far  as  relating  inci- 
dents or  facts  or  anything  of  that  nature,  he  never  discussed  it  from 
that  angle  but  he  very  frequently  would  say  to  me,  "Xow,  look,  you 
are  young,  and  there  are  things  you  don't  understand,  and  this  is  the 
way  it  works,"  and  then  he  would  go  ahead  and  talk  a  little  bit  about 
some  of  those  activities. 

As  I  say,  it  was  only  in  a  general  sense. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  he  discuss  bringing  in  scabs,  for  instance,  and 
who  was  responsible  for  some  of  that  ? 

Mr.  Dickey.  He  told  me  something  about  those  activities  at  one 
point  coming  back,  yes. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  how  he  could  work  this  for  both  labor  and 
for  management  ? 

Mr.  Dickey.  That  is  correct. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  provide  muscle  men  for  both  sides? 

Mr.  Dickey.  For  either  side;  yes. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Xow,  when  you  came  back  in  the  United  States  you 
then  turned  him  over  to  the  authorities  here? 

Mr.  Dickey.  That  is  correct.  On  arrival  here  he  was  released 
to  the  district  attorney  in  Kings  County,  X.  Y. 

The  Chairman.  Are  there  any  questions  \ 

All  right,  thank  you.    ( 'all  the  next  witness. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Yito  Genovese. 

The  Chairman.  Will  you  be  sworn? 

You  do  solemnly  swear  that  the  evidence,  given  before  this  Senate 
select  committee  shall  be  the  truth,  the  whole  truth,  and  nothing  but 
the  truth,  so  help  you  God  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  do. 


12384  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

TESTIMONY  OF  VITO  GENOVESE,  ACCOMPANIED  BY  HIS  COUNSEL, 

WILFORD  L.  DAVIS 

The  Chairman.  State  your  name  and  your  place  of  residence,  and 
your  business  or  occupation. 

Mr.  Genovese.  My  name  is  Vito  Genovese.  I  live  at  68  West  Island 
Avenue,  Atlantic  Highlands,  N.  J. 

The  Chairman.  Proceed.     You  didn't  answer  all  of  the  question. 

(Witness  consulted  with  counsel.) 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  What  part  of  the  question  are  you  refusing  to 
answer  on  that  ground  ? 

(Witness  consulted  with  counsel.) 

Mr.  Genovese.  The  latter  part. 

The  Chairman.  I  beg  your  pardon. 

Mr.  Genovese.  The  latter  part. 

The  Chairman.  What  does  that  refer  to,  as  you  understand  it  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  I  believe  I  asked  you  what  was  your  present  business 
or  occupation.     Did  you  understand  the  question  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer. 

The  Chairman.  I  am  asking  you  whether  you  understood  the 
question. 

Mr.  Genovese.  My  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  You.  can  surely  say  whether  you  understand  the 
question. 

(Witness  consulted  with  counsel.) 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  do,  sir. 

The  Chairman.  You  understand,  and  you  decline  most  respectfully 
to  tell  the  committee  what  your  business  or  occupation  is,  is  that  right? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  do,  sir. 

The  Chairman.  Do  you  have  a  lawyer  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  Yes,  sir. 

The  Chairman.  Mr.  Counsel,  identify  yourself  for  the  record, 
please,  sir. 

Mr.  Davis.  My  name  is  Wilford  L.  Davis.  I  am  counsel  to  Vito 
Genovese ;  my  office  is  at  149  Broadway,  New  York  City. 

The  Chairman.  All  right,  Mr.  Kennedy,  proceed. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Would  you  tell  the  committee  where  you  were  born  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
the  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  From  the  information  we  have,  and  would  you  tell 
me  if  it  is  correct  you  were  born  November  21,  1897? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  we  have  from  various  statements  that  you  have 
made  at  various  times,  that  you  were  born  in  either  Eisigliano,  how 
do  you  pronounce  that  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Risigliano,  Italy,  or  Naples,  Italy,  or  Dardia,  Italy, 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12385 

and  according  to  your  marriage  record  you  were  born  in  Casetta, 
Italy. 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  were  born  in  Italy,  were  you  not? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  Is  there  any  real  mystery  about  where  you  were 
born  ? 

Mr.  Davis.  At  this  time,  I  would  like  to  state  that  he  is  the  subject 
of  other  investigations. 

The  Chairman.  The  witness  heard  me,  I  believe.  There  is  no  mys- 
tery about  the  fact  that  you  were  born,  and  you  were  born  somewhere, 
and  is  there  anything  about  where  you  were  born  you  think  would  be 
self-incriminating  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  It  may. 

The  Chairman.  It  might  incriminate  you  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  It  may  do  so. 

The  Chairman.  Proceed. 

Senator  Curtis.  Mr.  Genovese,  did  you  ever  perform  any  services 
or  were  you  in  the  employ  with  or  without  pay  for  the  United  States 
Government  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Senator  Curtis.  Who  recommended  you  for  such  employment? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Senator  Curtis.  That  is  all. 

The  Chairman.  Are  you  a  citizen  of  the  United  States  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  Are  you  a  naturalized  citizen  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  Did  you  ever  do  anything  in  your  life  that  you 
could  tell  about  that  wouldn't  incriminate  you  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Senator  Ives.  I  would  like  to  carry  this  thing  out  and  find  out  why 
the  witness  declines  to  say  whether  he  is  an  American  citizen  or  not. 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline 

Senator  Ives.  Are  you  ashamed  of  being  an  American  citizen? 

Mr.  Genovese.  It  might  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Senator  Ives.  Do  you  mean  being  an  American  citizen  would  in- 
criminate you? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline,  that  the  answer  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Senator  Ives.  I  don't  know  how  that  would  work.  Maybe  your 
counsel  can  explain  it,  but  I  can't  see  anything  incriminating  about 
being  an  American  citizen.  If  anything,  being  an  American  citizen 
might  do  you  some  good. 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer. 

Senator  Ives.  I  didn't  ask  you  a  question.  I  am  telling  you  some- 
thing. 


12386  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  Genovese.  It  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Senator  Ives.  All  right. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  According  to  our  information,  you  were  naturalized 
on  November  25, 1936,  is  that  right  % 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  Are  deportation  proceedings  pending  against  you 
now? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  Do  we  have  any  information? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  We  have  information  that  he  was  naturalized  on 
November  25,  1936,  and  he  was  denaturalized  in  November  of  1953, 
on  the  basis  that  he  concealed  his  criminal  record  in  application  for 
citizenship.  However,  in  May  of  1957,  Mr.  Genovese  put  in  an  ap- 
plication and  instituted  proceedings  at  the  Newark  Federal  court  for 
citizenship  in  the  United  States. 

Now,  I  will  have  to  check  and  see  if  we  have  any  information  that 
there  is  any  action  to  deport  Mr.  Genovese  at  this  time. 

The  Chairman.  At  this  stage  of  the  proceedings,  I  will  direct  the 
staff- 
Mr.  Kennedy.  I  understand  that  there  are  proceedings.  We  don't 
know  the  status. 

The  Chairman.  At  the  conclusion  of  these  hearings,  the  Chair  di- 
rects the  staff  to  make  certain  that  the  tribunal  before  whom  the  pro- 
ceedings are  pending,  either  to  deport  him  or  denaturalize  him  or  to 
again  gain  citizenship  in  this  country,  whatever  the  proceedings  are 
pertaining  to  his  presence  in  this  country,  that  they  be  furnished  a 
transcript  of  this  testimony. 

I  would  rather  say  this  performance,  because  I  don't  think  that  we 
are  going  to  get  any  performance,  and  I  again  express  the  hope  that 
I  did  this  morning  when  another  witness  testified,  that  the  court  and 
the  authorities  having  jurisdiction  of  the  subject  matter  will  proceed 
with  all  deliberate  speed  to  adjudicate  the  matter. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Chairman,  we  have  some  information  that  we 
would  like  to  put  in  the  record  regarding  Mr.  Genovese's  activities, 
from  various  sources. 

The  Chairman.  You  may  announce  or  state  the  information  that 
you  have,  and  ask  the  witness  if  it  is  true.  That  will  give  him  an 
opportunity  to  clear  the  record,  and  clarify  anything  or  refute  any 
information  we  have  as  to  what  it  is. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  I  will  ask  him  about  some  of  his  associates  that  we 
have  information  about,  that  he  is  connected  with.  We  will  start  out 
with  Mr.  Mike  Miranda.  I  think  that  you  were  here  in  the  room 
when  a  picture  of  you  and  Mike  Miranda  was  shown  on  the  screen. 

Do  you  know  Mike  Miranda  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  were  associated,  were  you  not,  with  Mike  Mi- 
randa in  the  Boccia  murder  in  1!>.">  I  '. 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mi-.  Kennedy.  Did  you  know  Boccia  \ 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IX    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12387 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Now,  Mr.  Sherman  Willse  of  the  committee  stall' 
has  given  a  recitation  of  the  facts  regarding  the  Boccia  murder  in 

which  you  arc  quite  clearly  involved.  Would  you  make  a  statement 
about    that  '. 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Is  it  true  that  you  made  arrangements  to  have  Mr. 
Boccia  killed? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Now  we  also  have  information  that  you  were  asso- 
ciated with  Albert  Anastasia;  is  that  correct,  Mr.  Genovese? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Could  you  tell  us  anything  about  Mr.  Albert  Anas- 
tasia being  killed,  in  Xew  York  City,  on  October  25,  1957? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  Mr.  Joseph  Profaci  who  testified  this  morning; 
he  is  also  a  close  associate  of  yours ;  is  he  not  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  how  about  Anthony  Strollo,  known  as  Tony 
Bender? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  stood  up  did  you  not  in  Mr.  Strollo's  wedding, 
and  you  were  the  best  man  \ 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  he  was  best  man  for  you,  wasn't  he,  Mr.  Geno- 
vese ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  is  it  about  Mr.  Strollo  that  makes  you  such 
good  friends? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  about  the  Alto  Knights;  have  you  ever  heard 
of  the  Alto  Knights  in  Xew  York  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  Mr.  Genovese,  we  also  understand  that  one  of 
your  close  friends  is  Frank  Costello;  is  that  right  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  when  Mr.  Costello  had  that  dinner  in  1949, 
to  raise  money  for  the  Salvation  Army,  you  were  present ;  isn't  that 
right  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 


12388  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  Kennedy.  We  also  understand  that  you  were  a  friend  and  have 
been  a  friend  of  Mr.  Vincent  "Chin"  Gigante? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  He  has  worked  for  Tony  Bender ;  has  he  not  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  know  anything  about  his  being  arrested  and 
tried  in  the  case  of  trying  to  shoot  Frank  Costello  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  He  ultimately  was  acquitted  for  that;  was  he  not? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Now,  you  were  seen  getting  out  of  an  automobile  in 
front  of  the  Alto  Knights  with  Mr.  Gigante  in  1956  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  we  have  information  that  you  are  an  associate 
of  Russell  Buf alino,  a  garment  figure  from  Pittston,  Pa  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  Salvatore  Chiri  who  took  over  after  Joe 
Adonis  passed  on? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  then  we  have  another  one  of  your  close  friends 
is  Vincent  Rao,  who  was  very  close  to  "Three-Finger  Brown" ;  is  that 
right? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  know  "Three-Finger  Brown"  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  know  him  under  the  name  of  Thomas 
Lucchese  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  another  friend  of  yours,  as  we  understand  it,  is 
Tom  Papadio,  now  under  indictment  on  Federal  narcotics;  is  that 
right? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  Jerry  Catena,  who  operates  the  jukeboxes,  and 
I  understand  you  are  a  friend  of  his  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Isn't  it  correct  that  Jerry  Catena  works  for  "Longy" 
Zwillman? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  you  were  a  friend  of  Willie  Moretti  before  he 
was  shot  ? 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN   THE    LABOR    FIELD  12389 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  Joe  Stassi;  are  you  a  friend  of  his,  too? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  Peter  DeFeo ;  could  you  tell  us  what  you  know 
about  him  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  I  thought  you  might  know  him  quite  well  because 
you  were  indicted  with  DeFeo  and  Miranda  in  connection  with  the 
murder  of  Baccia? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  Frank  Livorsi ;  we  understand  you  are  a  friend 
of  Frank  Livorsi  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  then  we  had  another  witness  here  before  the 
committee,  Professor  Modica.    Do  you  know  Professor  Modica? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  He  has  stated  that  he  tutored  your  children ;  is  that 
correct  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  How  about  George  Smurra?  We  understand  you 
are  a  friend  of  George  Smurra? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  he  was  also  indicted  with  you  and  DeFeo  and 
Miranda,  in  the  Boccia  murder;  isn't  that  right? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  we  understand  one  of  your  real  close  friends 
is  Charley  "Lucky"  Luciano;  is  that  right? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  Joe  Adonis;  wasn't  he  one  of  your  close 
friends  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

(At  this  point,  the  following  members  were  present:  Senators  Mc- 
Clellan  and  Ives.) 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  we  understand  you  were  present  at  the  wed- 
ding of  Joe  Tocco  with  Carmela  Prof  aci,  the  daughter  of  Joe  Prof  aci ; 
is  that  right  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  you  attend  the  wedding  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  you  see  many  of  your  friends  there  ? 


12390  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  attended  the  meeting  at  Apalachin,  did  you 
not,  Mr.  Genovese  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  that  on  the  ground 
that  my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  At  the  time  of  the  meeting,  at  Apalachin,  and  this 
might  refresh  your  recollection,  State  police  checked  Russell  Bufa- 
lino's  Chrysler  Imperial,  and  they  found  that  when  they  stopped  the 
car,  that  in  the  car  with  Bufalino  was  Vito  Genovese.  Do  you  remem- 
ber that? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  Jerry  Catena  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  might  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Dominick  Olivetto? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  might  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  we  understand  that  you  attended  a  meeting  of 
the  Mafia  in  May  of  1952  in  the  Florida  Keys;  is  that  right,  Mr. 
Genovese  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  might  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  we  understand  that  Vincent  Railla  was  pres- 
ent also? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  might  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Governor  Dewey  described  you  as  the  King  of  the 
Rackets  in  1940,  and  that  you  had  supplanted  Costello  as  the  head 
of  the  New  York  underworld.     Is  that  correct,  Mr.  Genovese? 

(The  witness  conferred  with  his  counsel.) 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  On  what  ground  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  might  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  We  understand,  and  we  have  some  information  on 
the  fact,  that  you  ran  the  rackets  on  the  docks,  on  the  waterfront  of 
East  River,  in  New  York  City,  over  the  period  of  the  last  8  or  10  years. 

Is  that  right? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  might  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  took  this  over  after  you  came  back  from  Italy 
in  1945? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  might  tend  to  incriminate  inc. 

Mi-.  Kkn  nedy.  I  )o  you  remember  your  trip  back  from  Italy  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  might  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  I  wonder  if  you  would  turn  around  and  see  if  you 
recognize  Mr.  Dickey,  with  whom  you  shared  your  stateroom. 
(The  witness  complied.) 

The  Chairman.  Stand  up,  Mr.  Dickey,  so  he  can  see  you  well. 
M  r.  Kkn  nedy.  Do  you  recognize  him  ? 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12391 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  thai  my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  you  conic  back  together,  the  two  of  you? 

Mr.  Genovese.  1  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
the  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  How  did  you  happen  to  go  to  Italy  in  the  first  place, 
Mr.  Genovese  \     We  find  that  of  some  interest. 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
the  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy,  Was  it  because  of  the  investigation  that  was  going 
on  at  that  time  of  the  rackets  in  New  York  \ 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  did  you  and  Mr.  Mike  Miranda,  go  over  to  Italy 
together  after  Mr.  Boccia  was  murdered? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  once  you  got  over  there,  did  you  then  support 
Mussolini  by  funds  and  in  other  ways  \ 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Could  you  tell  us  what  you  did  while  we  were  at  war 
with  Italy,  during  1942  and  1943  i 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Is  it  true  that  you  contributed  the  $250,000  to  this 
building  in  Italy  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  know  Anna  Genovese  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
the  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  She  was  your  wife,  was  she  not  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  She  did  some  talking  at  your  separation  hearing,  did 
she  not,  your  divorce  proceeding  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  I  wonder  if  we  refresh  your  recollection  with  some 
excerpts  from  that  testimony,  that  you  might  help  us  and  give  us  an 
explanation.  She  testified  to  the  sources  of  some  of  your  money  and 
how  much  money  you  were  making.  Would  you  help  us  on  that  if  we 
refreshed  your  recollection  with  some  excerpts  from  that  testimony? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  that  my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Senator  Ives.  Just  a  minute,  Mr.  Chairman. 

What  is  this  witness  under  at  the  present  time,  what  tyj>e  of  in- 
dictment ? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  I  don't  know. 

Senator  Ives.  What  is  the  matter  that  you  can't  testify? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  beg  your  pardon  ? 

Senator  Ives.  Why  is  it  you  can't  testify  I 


12392  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  decline  to  answer  that  on  the  ground  that  my  an- 
swer may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Senator  Ives.  Well,  it  might.  I  don't  know.  I  am  just  curious. 
Usually  people  have  a  reason  for  not  being  able  to  testify.  We  had 
a  gentleman  here  this  morning  who  was  supposed  to  testify  and  he 
couldn't  even  speak  English  straight  this  morning. 

He  talked  perfectly  last  night,  according  to  our  counsel.  You 
aren't  having  that  trouble  at  all.  You  talk  beautifully,  but  you  don't 
seem  to  be  able  to  say  anything  to  some  of  these  questions. 

Sergeant  Crosswell,  do  you  remember  this  witness  up  at  Apalachin, 
or  did  you  see  him  up  there  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Yes,  sir. 

Senator  Ives.  You  saw  him  up  there  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Yes,  sir. 

Senator  Ives.  Stand  up  and  look  at  Sergeant  Crosswell,  will  you? 

Do  you  remember  him  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
the  answer  might  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Senator  Ives.  You  know,  the  more  you  talk  the  more  I  think  you 
must  be  guilty  of  a  great  deal.     What  is  his  police  record? 

How  many  convictions  has  he  had,  and  for  what  ? 

Do  you  know  Thomas  E.  Dewey  ? 

(The  witness  conferred  with  his  counsel.) 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
the  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Senator  Ives.  Did  you  ever  hear  of  him  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Senator  Ives.  Have  you  that  record  here? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Yes. 

Senator  Ives.  Let's  get  it  into  the  record  at  one  point  and  then 
it  will  be  altogether. 

I  respect  him  for  saying  "I  respectfully  decline"  but  that  is  as  far 
as  I  do  go. 

What  is  he  so  fearful  of  ? 

The  Chairman.  Mr.  Constandy,  you  may  state  what  information 
we  have  regarding  his  criminal  record,  and  I  will  ask  him  the  ques- 
tions. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  want  to  swear  him  ? 

The  Chairman.  Do  you  solemnly  swear  the  evidence  you  shall  give 
before  this  Senate  select  committee  shall  be  the  truth,  the  whole  truth] 
and  nothing  but  the  truth,  so  help  you  God  ? 

Mr.  Constandy.  I  do. 

TESTIMONY  OF  JOHN  P.  CONSTANDY 

The  Chairman.  State  your  name,  your  place  of  residence,  and 
your  business  or  occupation. 

Mr.  Constandy.  My  name  is  John  P.  Constandy.  I  reside  in  New 
York  City.     I  am  employed  as  assistant  counsel  to  this  committee. 

The  Chairman.  All  right.     Proceed  with  your  testimony. 

Mr.  Constandy.  The  prisoner's  criminal  record  at  the  police  de- 
partment at  the  citjr  of  New  York  which  carries  B.  No.  5993,  begins 
on  April  15,  1917,  as  Vito  Genovese,  Manhattan,  revolver.  On  June 
4, 1917,  60  days  in  the  workhouse.     That  is  a  conviction. 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12393 

TESTIMONY  OF  VITO  GENOVESE— Resumed 

The  Chairman.  Is  that  correct? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  All  right.     Read  his  record  and  let's  ask  him. 

Mr.  Constandy.  On  April  22,  1918,  the  charge  of  felonious  assault, 
discharged  April  30,  1918. 

The  Chairman.  Is  that  correct? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
the  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Constandy.  On  April  25,  1921,  the  charge  of  revolver,  the 
charge  was  discharged  because  there  was  a  permit  from  the  justice  in 
Albany,  N.  Y. 

The  Chairman.  Is  that  correct  ? 

Air.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Constandy.  On  May  13,  1924,  homicide,  auto;  discharged  June 
23,  1924. 

The  Chairman.  Is  that  correct  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Constandy.  On  January  17,  1925,  disorderly  person;  dis- 
charged January  20,  1925. 

The  Chairman.  Is  that  true  or  false  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Senator  Ives.  How  old  were  you  at  that  time  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Senator  Ives.  You  mean  that  if  you  tell  your  age,  that  is  harmful, 
too  ?     I  think  you  were  born  in  1897,  is  that  right  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Senator  Ives.  If  you  were  born  in  1897,  and  this  was  1929,  that 
would  make  you  about  32,  wouldn't  it  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  on  the  ground  that  my  answer 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Constandy.  The  last  one  was  1925. 

Senator  Ives.  That  would  make  you  28  years  old  at  that  time,  if  you 
were  born  in  1897, 1925  being  the  year  we  are  talking  about. 

What  can  possibly  incriminate  you  if  you  admit  you  were  28  years 
old  at  that  time? 

I  can't  see  anything  incriminating  about  it  if  you  do  that. 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  on  the  ground  that  the  answer 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Senator  Ives.  It's  the  first  time  that  I  ever  knew  that  age  incrimi- 
nated everybody.  I  am  beginning  to  feel  age  myself,  but  I  don't  feel 
incriminated  by  it. 

Mr.  Constandy.  On  July  25,  1925,  burglary;  discharged  July  25, 
1925. 

The  Chairman.  Is  that  correct  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 


12394  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  Constandy.  On  October  10,  1925,  homicide,  gun ;  discharged 
October  13, 1925. 

The  Chairman.  Do  you  want  to  comment  on  that  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Constandy.  On  January  29,  1927,  1897  of  the  penal  law  which 
is  the  weapons  law  of  New  York  State,  a  conviction ;  $250  and  30  days 
in  the  city  prison. 

The  Chairman.  Do  you  recall  that  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Constandy.  On  January  13,  1931,  concealed  weapon;  no  bill 
of  indictment.  It  was  at  Jersey  City,  N.  J.  Dismissed  on  February 
3.  1931. 

The  Chairman.  Did  you  get  out  of  that  one,  too  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  Proceed. 

Mr.  Constandy.  On  December  4,  1934,  homicide,  gun;  dismissed 
December  7, 1934. 

The  Chairman.  Any  comment  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Constandy.  The  next  entry  is  on  June  2,  1945,  for  murder  in 
the  first  degree,  relating  back  to  the  same  case  in  1934,  which  was  the 
Boccia  killing.     That  was  discharged  on  June  10, 1946. 

Senator  Ives.  Who  was  the  district  attorney  in  that  case  ? 

The  Chairman.  May  I  ask  is  that  where  the  principal  witness  was 
poisoned  ? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  is  correct. 

The  Chairman.  Do  you  remember  who  the  principal  witness  was 
against  you? 

What  was  his  name  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
the  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  You  wouldn't  know  anything  about  him  drinking 
poison,  would  you  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  Proceed. 

Senator  Ives.  How  many  arrests  has  he  had,  Mr.  Chairman? 

The  Chairman.  I  have  not  counted  them. 

Senator  Ives.  Is  that  the  end  of  it  ? 

That  is  only  1945  where  you  were.  My  goodness,  he  must  have 
done  something  between  that  time  and  now. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Ten  altogether. 

Senator  Ives.  How  many  times  have  you  been  arrested  since  1945  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Senator  Ives.  Do  you  some  time  want  to  write  an  autobiography? 

Mr.  Genovese.  1  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Senator  Eves.  By  golly,  I  think  it  probably  would,  if  you  wrote  an 
autobiography. 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12395 

Mr.  Kennedy.  I  might  just  read  the  statement  here  in  connect  ion 
with  this  man,  the  statement  of  Assistant  District  Attorney  Julius 
Helfand,  in  the  case  of  People  v.  Gt  noaese. 

The  Chairman.  1  would  admonish  the  witness  to  pay  very  close 
attention  to  this.  There  may  be  something  in  here  yon  would  like  to 
deny. 

Proceed. 

Mr.  Kennedy  (reading)  : 

This  defendant,  Vito  Genovese,  was  indicted  with  5  others  on  August  17, 
1!»44,  for  the  killing  of  Ferdinand  Boccia,  alias  "The  Shadow,"  on  September  19, 
1934. 

Tlie  testimony  in  this  case,  principally  as  given  by  the  witness,  Ernest  Rupolo, 
"Thi'  Hawk,"  proves  beyond  any  question  of  a  doubt  that  this  defendant,  together 
with  Mike  Miranda,  were  the  bosses  of  an  underworld  gang  with  great  power. 

The  testimony  of  Willie  Gallo  clearly  demonstrates  the  motive  for  the  killing 
of  "The  Shadow,"  and  the  attempted  killing  of  Gallo,  himself.  Genovese  and 
Miranda  were  the  ones  who  ordered  and  planned  the  murder  of  Boccia  and 
Gallo 

The  Chairman.  At  that  point,  let's  see  if  the  witness  wants  to  make 
a  comment. 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  the 
answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy  (reading)  : 

and  Gallo  is  alive  today  only  because  "The  Hawk"  bungled  the  job  of  killing 
him. 

Unfortunately,  this  vicious  killer  and  kingpin  of  the  underworld  will  escape 
a  conviction  of  murder  in  the  first  degree  and  death  in  the  electric  chair  because 
the  district  attorney  does  not  have  available  the  necessary  corroboration  re- 
quired by  law  to  convict  him  of  this  brutal  killing. 

Witnesses  who  would  have  been  able  to  testify  in  corroboration  of  Rupolo's 
story  are  not  now  available,  either  because  they  were  killed  or  have  disappeared 
since  the  murder  of  Boccia. 

The  Chairman.  Is  that  a  part  of  your  mode  of  operations,  if  any- 
body is  about  to  testify  against  you,  to  have  him  killed  or  go  out  and 
kill  him? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  Do  you  mean  you  can't  answer  that  question  with- 
out the  risk  of  possible  self-incrimination?  Is  that  what  you  are 
saying  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  You  are  fully  cognizant  of  the  inferences  drawn 
from  your  statement  that  you  can't  answer  that  without  the  risk  of 
self-incrimination,  aren't  you  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  Well,  I  think  you  are,  and  the  record  will  so 
reflect. 

Proceed. 

Mr.  Kennedy  (reading)  : 

Julie  Falvine,  who  was  present  at  the  original  conference  between  Miranda 
and  Rupolo,  was  shot  and  killed  shortly  after  the  death  of  Boccia.  Peter  La- 
Tempa,  who  testified  before  the  grand  jury  in  this  case,  and  who  gave  sub- 
stantial testimony  identifying  the  actual  killers  of  Boccia  and  also  the  par- 
ticipation of  this  defendant  in  the  crime,  was  found  dead  from  an  overdose  of 

21243— 5S — pt.  32 14 


12396  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

sleeping  tablets,  in  1945,  and  in  the  Raymond  Street  jail  where  he  had  been 
committed  as  a  material  witness  at  a  time  when  this  defendant  was  not  within 
the  jurisdiction  of  this  county. 

Other  witnesses  who  could  have  supplied  the  necessary  corroboration  were 
likewise  not  available  to  the  district  attorney  either  because  they  were  missing 
or  refused  to  talk  and  tell  what  they  knew  of  this  crime  because  of  their  fear 
of  Genovese  and  the  other  bosses  of  the  underworld,  knowing  full  well  that  to 
talk  would  mean  their  death. 

The  Chairman.  Do  you  operate  on  that  ruthless,  brutal  basis  of 
killing  anything  that  gets  in  your  way  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  Can  you  give  an  answer  to  any  question  at  all 
without  incriminating  yourself? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  will  have  to  hear  the  question  first. 

The  Chairman.  All  right,  I  will  ask  you. 

Did  you  ever  do  any  decent  thing  in  your  life  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Then  he  talks  about  those  who  are  in  fear  of  their 
death. 

I  have  reference  to  Patsy  Bevona  and  Rosario  Palmieri,  both  of  whom  refused 
to  make  any  statement  to  the  district  attorney  or  to  disclose  any  knowledge  that 
they  had  concerning  this  murder. 

During  the  trial,  a  number  of  the  people's  witnesses  showed  by  their  action 
on  the  witness  stand,  their  fear  of  Genovese  and  his  henchmen  and  either 
changed  their  testimony  previously  given  before  the  grand  jury  or  refused  to 
admit  statements  previously  made  to  the  district  attorney.  One  look  at  the 
defendant  was  enough  to  put  fear  into  their  heart  with  the  result  that  their 
testimony  at  the  best  was  unsatisfactory  and  unreliable. 

The  Chairman.  What  defendant  were  they  talking  about? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Vito  Genovese. 

The  Chairman.  One  look  at  him  put  such  fear  in  them  that  they 
changed  their  statements  or  would  not  testify  ? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Yes. 

The  Chairman.  Do  you  want  to  make  any  comment  on  that? 

(The  witness  conferred  with  his  counsel.) 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Sir? 

The  Chairman.  Do  you  want  to  make  any  comment  on  that? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy  (reading) : 

Every  effort  was  made  by  the  district  attorney  and  the  detectives  assigned  to 
this  case  by  the  police  department  and  those  assigned  to  this  office  to  unearth 
evidence  of  any  kind  which  in  any  wise  might  further  connect  the  defendant 
with  the  commission  of  the  crime  and  insure  his  conviction. 

It  was  nearly  10  years  after  the  commission  of  the  crime  that  the  district 
attorney  of  this  county,  for  the  first  time,  had  available  to  him  the  information 
supplied  by  Ernest  Rupolo,  the  Hawk,  and  because  of  this  great  lapse  of  time 
it  was  extremely  difficult  for  the  present  district  attorney  and  his  predecessors 
to  get  the  true  facts  and  to  find  the  necessary  evidence  required  under  the 
statute  to  corroborate  the  testimony  of  the  accomplices. 

Since  January  1,  1946,  the  district  attorney  of  this  county  has  made  every 
possible  effort  to  bring  into  this  jurisdiction  the  other  defendants  in  this  case. 
In  fact,  we  have  made  numerous  requests  for  adjournments  but  we  were  finally 
obliged  to  proceed  with  the  trial  of  this  defendant  realizing  that  even  a  vicious 
killer  has  constitutional  rights  under  our  laws. 

We  are,  therefore,  constrained  to  advise  this  court  that  we  do  not  have  the 
necessary  evidence  supporting  the  accomplice,  Rupolo,  as  required  within  the 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12397 

meaning  of  section  399  of  the  Code  of  Criminal  Procedure  and  we,  therefore, 
reluctantly  consent  to  a  dismissal  of  this  indictment  against  the  defendant. 

Senator  Ives.  What  did  you  say  Governor  Dewey  called  him? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  The  kino;  of  the  rackets  who  had  supplanted  Costello 
as  head  of  the  New  York  underworld. 

Senator  Ives.  Do  you  accept  that  title  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Senator  Ives.  You  know  Governor  Dewey  is  usually  pretty  accu- 
rate in  the  way  he  describes  people  and  things.  lie  could  not  have 
been  very  far  off.  lie  must  have  known  what  he  was  talking  about. 
He  has  not  missed  yet  on  anybody  I  have  ever  heard  of. 

He  called  you  the  king  of  the  rackets.  You  must  be  the  king  of  the 
rackets,  or,  I  mean,  you  were  at  that  time.  I  assume  you  have  not 
lost  any  of  your  prestige  since,  have  you? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
the  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Senator  Ives.  Mr.  Genovese,  are  you  married  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  beg  your  pardon  ? 

Senator  Ives.  Are  you  married  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
the  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Senator  Ives.  What  is  wrong  with  your  wife,  if  you  are  married  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline. 

Senator  Ives.  Why  would  you  decline  to  answer,  to  say  whether  or 
not  you  are  married  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
the  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Senator  Ives.  Is  he  married  ? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Yes.    He  is  separated  from  his  wife. 

Senator  Ives.  Well,  he  has  some  reasons,  then. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Could  you  tell  us,  Mr.  Genovese,  and  maybe  you 
could  answer  this,  what  your  sources  of  income  are? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
the  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Could  you  tell  us  how  much  money  you  have  at  the 
present  time  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
the  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Let  me  just  see  if  I  could  refresh  your  recollection 
by  what  your  wife,  Anna  Genovese,  stated  at  the  separation  proceed- 
ings in  Trenton,  N.  J.,  on  December  19,  1952.  On  page  67  she  talked 
first  about  the  places  where  you  keep  your  money,  and  your  safe- 
deposit  boxes. 

Could  you  tell  us  where  you  have  safe-deposit  boxes? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Then  she  told  about  the  fact  that  you  had  several 
safe-deposit  boxes  in  New  York  and  New  Jersey,  but  that  you  had  a 
number  in  vaults  in  Europe.  She  said,  "We  had  1  in  Naples,  1  in 
Switzerland,  1  in  Paris,  and  1  in  Monte  Carlo." 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
mv  answer  mav  tend  to  incriminate  me. 


12398  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  did  you  keep  in  those  safe-deposit  boxes,  just 
currency  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  beg  your  pardon? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  keep  just  currency  in  those  safe-deposit 
boxes? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  She  said  that  you  and  she  traveled  a  number  of 
times  to  Europe,  that  "I  always  had  the  best  style,  the  best  hotels, 
traveled  luxuriously,  the  best  of  cars,  limousines." 

Is  that  correct  ?    Did  you  have  always  the  best  of  services  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  The  reason  I  ask  that  is  because,  for  instance,  in 
1952,  you  declared  on  your  income  tax  $6,881.72.  That  is  the  total 
amount  of  money  you  stated  you  made  in  1952. 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  I  must  say  in  1953  you  did  make  more,  you  went 
up  $10,  you  made  $6,891.67. 

Would  you  tell  us  about  that  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  In  1954,  up  to  $9,071.25;  1955,  to  $12,750;  in  1956, 
$14,300.  That  is  all  the  money  you  earned  during  that  period  of 
time? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  must  have  been  quite  a  comedown.  She  was 
talking  about  your  trips  to  Italy,  and  she  talked  about  the  fact  you 
made  numerous  trips  there.  She  was  asked,  "What  sum  did  you 
carry  in  cash  with  you  on  those  trips?"  And  she  said,  "I  had  $100,000 
with  me." 

Would  you  tell  us  about  that  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Then : 

Question.  On  your  next  trip  to  Italy,  tell  us  what  it  was  and  what  sum  of  cash 
you  had  on  you  personally  V 

Answer.  I  came  back  in  September.  I  went  back  in  November.  I  don't 
remember ;  $.10,000 — $60,000  on  me  personally.  I  mean,  I  didn't  sit  down  and 
count.     I  am  trying  to  bring  it  as  close  as  possible. 

Mr.  Davis.  Is  that  a  question,  Mr.  Kennedy  ? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Yes.     I  would  like  to  have  the  comments  on  that. 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Senator  Ives.  I  am  curious  about  your  carrying  so  much  cash  and 
currency  with  you.  What  do  you  do  when  you  are  on  the  ship,  put 
it  in  the  vaults  of  the  ship,  the  safe-deposit  box? 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12399 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  decline,  respect  fully,  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Senator  Ives.  AVell,  I  don't  donbt  but  what  it  would. 
Mr.  Kennedy.  Then  she  was  asked: 

How  many  times  did  you  have  $100,000  in  cash  on  your  person  when  you  made 
these  (rips — 

and  she  answered : 

Numerous  times. 

Question.  And  how  many  times  did  you  have  fifty,  sixty,  or  seventy  thousand 
dollars  in  cash  when  you  made  these  trips — 

and  she  answered : 

I  always  carried  big  sums  of  money. 

Question.  Can  you  tell  us  what  interest,  husiness,  gambling,  or  otherwise 
your  husband  has  in  Europe  outside  of  what  you  have  described  here  in  America — ■ 

and  she  answered : 

I  believe  he  still  owns  a  very  large  electric  plant,  which  at  that  time  I  knew 
because  it  was  discussed  in  front  of  me.  In  fact,  there  had  even  been  some 
trouble  about  it.     I  believe  he  still  owns  it. 

Do  you  own  a  large  electric  plant  in  Europe  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  I  would  just  like  to  ask  Mr.  Dickey,  if  I  could  in- 
terrupt Mr.  Genovese's  testimony,  did  you  ever  hear  while  you  were 
over  there  that  Mr.  Genovese  owned  an  electric  plant? 

TESTIMONY  OF  ORANGE  C.  DICKEY— Resumed 

Mr.  Dickey.  Yes,  I  did. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Would  you  stand  up  and  answer  ? 

Mr.  Dickey.  There  was  considerable  comment  about  that  electrical 
plant,  and  particularly  about  the  distribution  of  the  power  from 
that  plant. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Where  was  the  electric  plant  located? 

Mr.  Dickey.  I  don't  recall  at  the  present  time.  I  am  here  without 
benefit  of  reports,  notes,  or  anything  else,  as  you  know.  I  don't 
recall  the  location  of  that  plant. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  But  it  was  in  Italy  ? 

Mr.  Dickey.  It  was  in  Italy,  and  there  was  considerable  comment, 
as  I  say,  particularly  about  the  distribution  of  the  power  from  that 
plant. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  was  the  situation  as  far  as  the  distribution  of 
the  power  ? 

Mr.  Dickey.  It  was  with  respect  to  industry  getting  the  power  to 
us;  they  needed  priorities  and  all  that  sort  of  thing. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Was  it  a  question  of  shaking  down  some  of  these 
industries? 

Mr.  Dickey.  There  was  a  suggestion  of  that,  and  no  proof. 


12400  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

TESTIMONY  OF  VITO  GENOVESE— Resumed 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Now,  Mrs.  Genovese  also  stated  that  you  had  over 
half  a  million  dollars  in  Switzerland  alone;  is  that  correct? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Senator  Ives.  What  banks  did  you  keep  it  in  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  my 
answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  Do  we  have  any  information  as  to  whether  the 
Treasury  Department  is  conducting  any  proceedings  ? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  I  know  of  no  investigation  that  they  are  conducting 
at  the  present  time,  although  it  is  possible. 

Senator  Ives.  Did  they  conduct  any  ? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  I  don't  know  of  any. 

Senator  Ives.  Is  a  copy  of  this  going  to  them  ?  It  a  copy  going  to 
be  furnished  the  Treasury  Department? 

The  Chairman.  Well,  the  Chair  was  not  advised  as  to  whether 
they  were  in  the  process  of  investigating  the  witness'  income.  I  do 
not  know.  I  assumed  they  were,  with  all  of  this  information,  but 
they  may  not  have  it  and  if  they  do  not  have  it,  a  transcript  of  this 
testimony  will  be  provided  to  the  Treasury  Department,  and  also 
to  the  Justice  Department. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Now,  another  source  of  income  that  Mrs.  Genovese 
talked  about  was  the  Italian  lottery.  Did  you  ever  operate  the  Italian 
lottery  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground 
that  my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  she  stated  she  personally  handled  the  books 
for  the  Italian  lottery  for  you. 

Mr.  Genovese.  Is  that  a  question  ? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Yes. 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  that  this  Italian  lottery  which  was  being  oper- 
ated, she  stated  up  until  1950  that  the  receipts  were  approximately 
$20,000  a  week.     Is  that  correct,  Mr.  Genovese  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  If  you  were  taking  in  $20,000  a  week  just  from  the 
Italian  lottery,  why  were  you  only  declaring  $6,000  in  your  income-tax 
returns  for  the  whole  year  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  my 
answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Senator  Ives.  May  I  ask  the  counsel  a  question  on  this  income  ?  This 
$6,000  business,  which  I  think  showed  up  twice,  was  made  up  of  what? 
Was  it  interest  or  dividends  or  salary  or  what? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  It  was  from  the  Colonial  Trading  Co.  that  he  re- 
ceived $6,625,  and  then  a  third  rental,  $266.67  for  their  home,  making 
a  total  of  $6,891.67.  In  1954  he  received  from  the  Colonial  Trading 
$6,500  and  that  was  supplemented  by  miscellaneous  game  income  of 
$2,571.25. 

Senator  Ives.  What  is  that  ? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  I  suppose  that  is  the  lottery,  or  game  of  chance. 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12401 

Senator  Ives.  That  is  all  he  reported  out  of  this  s-jn.onii  ;l  week  he 
was  making  over  in  Italy? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  is  correct. 

She  also  testified  on  page  4(.)  that  in  addition  to  the  Italian  lottery, 
he  has  racetracks,  gambling  interests,  dog  interests,  piers,  and  he  is 
in  almost  all  of  the  rackets. 

I  know  specifically  about  the  Italian  lottery  because  I  myself  ran  the  Italian 
lottery. 

Would  you  tell  us  about  that? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  my 
answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Senator  Ives.  Let  me  ask  you  a  question  there.  Is  your  wife  still 
living,  even  though  you  are  divorced  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer,  sir,  on  the  ground 
that  the  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Senator  Ives.  Do  you  think  she  is  safe  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Senator  Ives.  I  would  like  to  follow  that  up,  if  I  could  get  something 
out  of  you. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Then  she  made  some  interesting  statements  also 
about  the  operation  of  some  nightclubs  in  New  York.  She  differen- 
tiated between  nightclubs  that  you  owned  or  she  owned  personally, 
and  those  nightclubs  that  were  owned  by  you  and  the  syndicate. 

Could  you  tell  us  what  the  syndicate  is,  Mr.  Genovese  ?  What  is  the 
syndicate  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  my 
answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  I  will  read  you  some  of  those.  This  is  just  a  list. 
Here,  for  instance,  was  a  question : 

"Do  you  have  a  piece  or  a  part  of  the  Club  Caravan?" 

And  the  answer : 

"I  did  not ;  that  was  part  of  the  syndicate.  That  belonged  to  his  brother  Mike, 
and  all  of  those  nightclubs." 

What  is  the  syndicate  she  was  referring  to  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  There  was  another  similar  reference  in  connection 
with  another  nightclub,  being  owned  by  the  syndicate.  Do  you  and  a 
group  of  other  of  your  friends  own  nightclubs  and  call  yourself  a 
syndicate? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  For  instance,  on  page  134 : 

You  have  no  interest  whatsoever  in  the  82  Club,  have  you? 

And  the  answer  is : 

No,  that  belongs  to  Vito  Genovese  and  the  syndicate. 

Then  it  refers  to  the  Moroccan  Club  and  the  Caravan  Club.  Now, 
according  to  this,  you  were  receiving  moneys  from  the  unions  through 
Tommy  Calandriello.     Is  that  correct '. 


12402  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IX    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  you  ran  on  the  docks  shylocking  operations, 
and  also  received  kickbacks  in  salaries  from  the  various  employees  on 
the  docks. 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  she  stated  that  your  home  in  New  Jersey  cost 
$38,000,  with  another  $32,000  for  improvements.     Is  that  correct? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Could  you  tell  us  what  you  do  for  the  Colonial  Trad- 
ing Co.  for  which  you  receive  $125  a  week? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Could  you  tell  us  what  your  connection  with  the 
Erb  Strapping  Co.,  Inc.,  is? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  is  180  Thompson  Street,  New-  York  City. 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answTer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  What  does  a  strapping  company  do,  and  what  kind 
of  business  is  it  engaged  in  ?  It  is  a  novel  thing  to  me,  the  use  of  the 
term. 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  It  is  just  a  matter  of  curiosity,  and  I  did  not  expect 
that  that  would  have  any  significance.  I  just  wondered,  and  would 
you  tell  me  privately  what  it  is  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  All  right. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  I  thought,  Mr.  Chairman,  that  Mr.  Genovese,  ac- 
cording to  our  information,  is  a  close  associate  of  Mike  Miranda,  and 
we  have  also  called  him  as  a  witness,  and  if  we  could  call  him  around 
now,  maybe  he  would  help  us  on  this  information. 

We  would  like  to  have  him  sit  there. 

The  Chairman.  Before  we  go  into  that,  and  while  he  is  coming 
around,  are  you  a  member  of  the  Mafia  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  What  is  there  about  its  operations  that  is 
unsavory  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman".  Does  it  have  a  code  of  ethics  or  of  practices,  or 
unwritten  code,  that  you  just  have  to  sort  of  memorize  it  and  under- 
stand what  it  is  in  order  not  to  get  in  trouble? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground 
my  answer  may  lend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  Who  is  the  head  of  it  in  Xew  York  >. 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  lend  to  incriminate  me. 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12403 

The  Chairman*.  Do  you  know  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman-.  How  may  different  areas  does  it  operate  in  here 
in  the  United  States? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  Do  you  know  \ 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  If  you  divulge  what  you  know  about  it,  would 
you  be  subjecting  yourself  to  death  at  the  hands  of  the  Mafia? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  These  people  and  murders  you  are  connected  with, 
according  to  the  record,  about  which  you  say  you  cannot  testify 
without  incriminating  yourself,  were  they  killed  as  a  result  of  the 
orders  of  the  Mafia  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  How  many  deaths  and  murders  do  you  suppose 
you  are  directly  responsible  for  up  to  now  '. 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  Do  you  feel  that  you  couldn't  make  any  state- 
ment about  that  without  incriminating  yourself? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  Do  you  have  any  moral  scruples  at  all  against 
killing  your  fellow  man? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  Do  you  place  any  value  at  all  on  human  life, 
above  that  of  your  own  selfish  interests  \ 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  Is  there  anything  you  can  testify  to  without  in- 
criminating yourself? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  "Would  you  give  me  just  some  lead  on  some  sub- 
ject or  on  some  matter  where  you  could  give  an  answer  to  a  ques- 
tion without  incriminating  yourself? 

Mr.  (  tkxovese.  I  would  have  to  hear  the  question  first. 

The  Chairman.  Could  you  give  me  a  lead  \ 

(The  witness  consulted  with  his  counsel.) 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  I  just  asked  for  a  little  cooperation,  and  you  said 
you  would  have  to  hear  the  question  first,  and  I  did  not  want  to 
ask  a  great  deal,  and  I  just  simply  wanted  you  to  give  me  a  sugges- 
tion of  the  area  or  the  subject  matter  so  we  would  not  waste  a  lot. 
of  time. 


12404  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

You  decline,  I  believe  you  say,  to  give  me  any  idea  of  something 
we  might  interrogate  you  about  which  you  could  answer  without 
incriminating  yourself. 

(The  witness  consulted  with  his  counsel.) 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Senator  Ives.  I  want  to  ask  him  a  question. 

Mr.  Genovese,  did  you  ever  kill  anybody  yourself  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Senator  Ives.  Well,  that  is  quite  sufficient.  It  answers  my 
suspicions. 

The  Chairman.  Mr.  Miranda,  would  you  come  forward? 

Mr.  Davis.  Could  we  have  a  short  recess  ? 

The  Chairman.  The  Chair  will  be  more  considerate  than  he  has 
been  of  us,  and  grant  him  a  2-minute  recess. 

Mr.  Davis.  Thank  you. 

The  Chairman.  The  committee  will  stand  in  recess  for  2  minutes. 

(A  short  recess  was  taken.) 

The  Chairman.  The  committee  will  come  to  order. 

Will  you  stand  and  be  sworn  ? 

You  do  solemnly  swear  that  the  evidence  you  shall  give  before 
this  Senate  select  committee  shall  be  the  truth,  the  whole  truth,  and 
nothing  but  the  truth,  so  help  you  God  ? 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  do. 

TESTIMONY  OF  MIKE  MIRANDA,  ACCOMPANIED  BY  HIS  COUNSEL, 
ABRAHAM  H.  BRODSKY 

The  Chairman.  State  your  name  and  your  place  of  residence  and 
your  business  or  occupation. 

Mr.  Miranda.  My  name  is  Mike  Miranda,  176  Greenway,  North, 
Forest  Hills,  Long  Island. 

The  Chairman.  Your  name  is  Mike  Miranda  ? 

Mr.  Miranda.  That  is  right. 

The  Chairman.  Where  did  you  say  you  lived  now,  a  little  louder, 
and  will  you  get  that  microphone  up  there  ? 

Mr.  Miranda.  176  Greenway,  North,  Forest  Hills,  Long  Island. 

The  Chairman.  What  business  or  occupation  are  you  engaged  in  ? 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that  I  will  in- 
criminate myself. 

The  Chairman.  Do  you  honestly  believe  that  if  you  answered  the 
question  truthfully,  the  question  as  to  what  business  or  occupation 
you  are  engaged  in  now,  that  a  truthful  answer  to  the  question  might 
tend  to  incriminate  you  ? 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  I  incriminate 
myself. 

The  Chairman.  I  am  going  to  give  you  the  opportunity  now  to 
show  your  good  faith.  The  question  is,  Do  you  honestly  believe  that 
if  you  gave  a  truthful  answer  to  the  question  of  what  is  your  present 
business  or  occupation  that  a  truthful  answer  might  tend  to  incrimi- 
nate you  ? 

Mr.  Miranda.  Yes. 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12405 

The  Chairman.  All  right.  Now,  counsel,  I  am  sure  you  are  familiar 
with  the  rules  of  the  committee,  but  I  will  let  you  be  identified  first. 
Do  you  have  counsel  ? 

Mr.  Brodsky.  I  am. 

The  Chairman.  Do  you  have  counsel  ? 

Mr.  Miranda.  He  is  my  counsel. 

The  Chairman.  You  do? 

Mr.  Miranda.  Yes. 

The  Chairman.  Counsel,  now  identify  yourself  for  the  record. 

Mr.  Brodsky.  Abraham  H.  Brodsky,  111  Broadway,  New  York  6, 
N.Y. 

The  Chairman.  The  Chair  tries  to  be  very  lenient  with  respect  to 
counsel,  and  I  realize  sometimes  the  difficulty  of  their  situation  in 
trying  to  represent  these  fifth  amendment  characters,  but  there  is  a 
rule  of  this  committee  that  says  the  counsel  not  put  words  into  the 
witness'  mouth.  So  I  will  ask  you  to  observe  that  rule  and  your  client 
may  counsel  with  you  and  seek  your  counsel  at  any  time  that  he  de- 
sires, but  I  think  that  I  noticed  something  that  was  possibly  unin- 
tentional or  without  knowing  about  the  rules  of  the  committee  and 
let  us  refrain  from  making  that  mistake  any  more. 

Mr.  Brodsky.  May  I  advise  with  my  client  for  just  one  second  ? 

The  Chairman.  You  may. 

(The  witness  conferred  with  his  counsel.) 

Mr.  Brodsky.  Thank  you. 

Senator  Ives.  I  would  like  to  ask  Mr.  Miranda  if  he  is  under  indict- 
ment or  if  there  is  any  particular  reason  why  he  has  to  take  the  fifth 
amendment. 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  refuse  to  answer  on  the  ground 

Senator  Ives.  I  am  just  curious;  after  all  is  said  and  done,  if  you 
have  a  particular  reason  for  taking  the  fifth  amendment  we  would  like 
to  know  it.  We  can  understand  and  we  do  not  press  people  so  hard 
when  they  have  a  real  reason  for  it. 

But  the  previous  witness  has  not  been  able  to  give  any  reason  at  all. 
Do  you  have  a  reason  ? 

I  asked  a  question. 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  refuse  to  answer. 

Senator  Ives.  You  don't  refuse  at  all ;  you  decline. 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  decline. 

Senator  Ives.  Why  do  you  decline  ? 

Mr.  Miranda.  On  the  ground  I  incriminate  myself. 

Senator  Ives.  All  right. 

The  Chairman.  The  Chair  would  suggest  unless  you  want  to 
flagrantly  challenge  or  to  show  your  arrogance  for  your  Government 
and  for  this  committee  that  if  you  are  going  to  decline,  you  use  the 
word  "decline"  instead  of  using  the  word  "refuse." 

After  all,  this  committee  represents  your  Government,  and  the 
Government  that  gives  you  protection.  You  may  in  your  heart  have 
utmost  contempt  for  it,  but  it  isn't  good  taste  or  good  manners  to  dis- 
play it  when  you  are  here  on  official  business  and  we  are  trying  to  get 
your  cooperation. 

Senator  Ives.  I  would  like  to  follow  that  up  with  a  question.  I 
would  like  to  ask  the  witness  if  he  has  any  respect  for  the  Government. 
That  is  a  question. 


12406  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

(The  witness  conferred  with  his  counsel.) 

Mr.  Miranda.  Yes,  sir. 

Senator  Ives.  You  do? 

Mr.  Miranda.    Yes,  sir. 

Senator  Ives.  I  am  glad  to  know  that,  and  then  why  don't  you 
answer  some  of  these  questions?     Are  you  a  member  of  the  Mafia  '. 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  decline  myself  on  the  ground  I  incriminate  myself. 

Senator  Ives.  As  I  understand  the  Mafia,  it  is  a  secret  organization 
in  which  the  members  are  somewhat  related,  or  at  least  a  large  number 
of  them  are  related  through  marriage,  and  for  other  reasons.  They 
have  a  law  of  their  own,  which  supersedes  the  law  of  our  country,  and 
the  law  of  any  country  in  which  they  operate. 

That  is  why  we  want  to  know,  and  we  are  going  to  find  out  some  of 
these  things  before  we  are  through.  When  this  Apalachin  thing  oc- 
curred, it  occurred  too  near  home  to  suit  me. 

The  Chairman.  Proceed,  Mr.  Kennedy. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Now,  Mr.  Miranda,  you  attended  the  meeting  at 
Apalachin,  as  I  understand  it,  in  November  of  1957. 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  will  incriminate 
me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Isn't  it  correct  that  you  flew  up  from  Newark,  N.  J., 
to  Binghamton,  N.  Y.,  to  attend  the  meeting? 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  I  might  incrim- 
inate myself. 

Mr.KENNEDY.  Would  you  tell  the  committee  why  you  went  to  the 
meeting  at  Apalachin  ? 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  decline  myself  on  the  ground  that  it  may  incrim- 
inate myself. 

The  Chairman.  Let  us  get  this  straight,  now.  We  are  making  a 
record.  I  want  to  be  a  little  helpful  to  you.  You  say,  "I  decline 
myself."  What  you  mean  is  you  decline  to  answer  the  question; 
is  that  correct? 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  might  incriminate  myself. 

The  Chairman.  What  is  that? 

(The  witness  conferred  with  his  counsel.) 

Mr.  Miranda.  Yes,  sir ;  I  decline. 

The  Chairman.  Speak  a  little  louder,  and  I  want  to  be  fair  to 
you,  and  I  don't  want  to  misunderstand  you.  But  you  have  counsel, 
I  am  sure,  who  has  told  you  how  to  answer  questions  respectfully. 

All  right.     Proceed,  Mr.  Kennedy. 

Senator  Ives.  Before  you  go  any  further,  I  would  like  to  ask  the 
sergeant,  Sergeant  Crosswell,  a  question. 

Did  you  see  this  witness  up  here  at  Apalachin  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  Yes,  sir;  I  did. 

Senator  Ives.  You  saw  them  both.     And  were  they  together? 

M  r.  (  Jrosswell.  No,  sir. 

Senator  Ives.  Not  when  you  saw  them  ? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  No. 

Senator  Eves.  One  in  one  car  and  another  in  another  car;  is  that 
right? 

Mr.  Crosswell.  I  believe  so.  I  would  have  to  check  my  original 
notes. 

Senator  Ives.  In  any  case,  yon  saw  them  separately  and  they 
weren't  together. 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12407 

Mr.  (  'rosswell.  Xot  when  I  saw  them. 

Senator  Eves.  Thank  you. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  you  arrive  there  with  Carlo  Gambino,  Mr. 
Miranda? 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  decline  to  answer 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Why  don't  you  write  it  out? 

Mr.  Brodsky.   I  have  written  it  out,  but 

(The  witness  conferred  witli  his  counsel.) 

Mr.  Brodsky.  May  I  tell  him  what  to  say,  without  incurring  the 
displeasure  of  the  chairman  \ 

The  Chairman.  Sure.  You  may  advise  him.  If  he  wishes  to 
take  t  he  fifth  amendment,  you  may  advise  him  how  to  do  it. 

You  may  use  your  own  conscience  about  whether  you  advise  him 
to  do  it  or  not.     I  can't  determine  that. 

(The  witness  conferred  with  his  counsel.) 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the  ground  that 
the  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  "Would  you  pass  this  on? 

Mr.  Brodsky.  I  have  it  all  typed  out. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Miranda,  you  know  you  can  speak  English  bet- 
ter than  that,  and  you  know  you  can  understand  the  questions.  It 
is  like  Mr.  Profaci  this  morning.  Someone  who  has  been  as  success- 
ful as  you  can  say  "I  decline  to  answer  the  question."  Don't  put 
that  act  on. 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  was  not  sure. 

(The  witness  conferred  with  his  counsel.) 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  went  to  the  meeting  in  Apalachin,  did  you 
not? 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  decline 


Mr.  Kennedy.  Speak  up,  Mr.  Miranda. 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  decline 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Why  can't  you  just  let  him  look  at  that,  if  he  is 
going  to  put  this  on  ? 

Mr.  Brodsky.  I  beg  your  pardon  ? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Why  can't  you  let  him  look  at  that  if  he  is  going 
to  put  on  that  act. 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  got  no  glass. 

Mr.  Brodsky.  This  is  not  an  act.  That  is  the  way  he  speaks.  As 
far  as  his  memory,  I  cannot  vouch  for  his  memory. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Genovese,  you  know  he  can  speak  English  bet- 
ter than  that,  don't  you? 

Mr.  Genovese.  Is  that  a  question  ? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Yes. 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question. 

The  Chairman.  Let's  have  order.     Proceed. 

Mr.  Brodsky.  Mr.  Chairman,  with  the  Chair's  permission  when  the 
witness  indicates  that  he  wants  to  decline  to  answer,  may  I  whisper 
the  appropriate  phrase  to  him  so  that  he  can  repeat  it? 

The  Chairman.  Well,  that  is  going  to  take  up  as  much  time  as 
having  an  interpreter,  is  it  not? 

How  long  have  you  been  in  this  country? 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  decline 

Mr.  Genovese.  Are  you  talking  to  me  ? 

The  Chairman.  I  am  talking  to  the  other  one. 


12408  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

How  long  have  you  been  in  the  United  States? 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  decline 

The  Chairman.  "To  answer." 

(The  witness  conferred  with  his  counsel.) 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that  the  answer 
would  tend,  I  would  be  incriminated  myself. 

The  Chairman.  Were  you  born  in  this  country  ? 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  decline 

The  Chairman.  "To  answer." 

Mr.  Miranda.  To  answer  on  the  ground  my  answer  may  tend  to  in- 
criminate myself. 

Senator  Ives.  Mr.  Chairman,  it  appears  to  me  that  is  one  statement 
he  is  going  to  learn  before  he  gets  out  of  here  this  afternoon. 

Yes,  he  will.     Are  you  an  American  citizen? 

Mr.  Miranda.  Yes,  sir. 

Senator  Ives.  Were  you  naturalized  or  were  you  born  here  ? 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that  the  answer 
may  tend  to  incriminate  myself. 

Senator  Ives.  To  do  what  to  yourself  ?  I  lost  you  around  the  last 
curve. 

Mr.  Miranda.  Incriminate. 

Senator  Ives.  All  right. 

The  Chairman.  Let's  try  to  expedite  this. 
You  growl  out  something,  and  if  it  means  anything,  besides  this 
answer  that  "I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that  it  may  tend  to 
incriminate  me,"  say  so. 

Proceed  now.     Growl  it  out. 

Mr.  Eeporter,  get  the  best  you  can  out  of  the  growl  and  put  it  down. 

Proceed. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  is  of  particular  interest  to  us,  Mr.  Miranda, 
is  your  connection  with  Mr.  Carlo  Gambino,  when  you  arrived  at  the 
Apalachin  meeting,  Carlo  Gambino  has  a  firm  or  a  company  in  New 
York  which  does  labor  consulting.  Could  you  tell  us  whether  you 
consulted  his  business  with  him  at  the  meeting  in  Apalachin  ? 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  I  might  incrimi- 
nate myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Is  his  ability  to  get  clients  based  on  his  friendship 
with  you,  Mr.  Miranda? 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  decline  on  the  ground  my  answer  may  incriminate 
myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Could  you  tell  us  what  you  discussed  at  the  meeting 
at  Apalachin? 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  I  might  incrimi- 
nate myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Would  you  turn  to  your  left  and  look  at  the  man 
sitting  next  to  you,  please? 

Mr.  Genovese,  would  you  turn  to  the  right  and  see  that  man? 

The  Chairman.  Look  at  each  other.  Turn  around  and  see  if  you 
can  identify  yourself. 

Mr.  Genovese.  This  is  for  the  picture?     Sure. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  know  Mr.  Genovese,  Mr.  Miranda? 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  I  might  incrimi- 
nate myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  you  see  him  at  Apalachin? 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12409 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  decline  on  the  ground  I  may  incriminate  myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Genovese,  did  you  see  Mr.  Miranda  at 
Apalachin  \ 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
the  answer  may  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Also  attending  the  meeting  at  Apalachin  with  you, 
Mr.  Miranda,  was  Mr.  Paul  Castellano.  Do  you  know  Mr.  Paul 
Castellano? 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  I  will  incriminate 
myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  The  information  we  have  is  Mr.  Castellano  heads 
a  butchers'  association,  and  this  association  deals  with  the  labor  union. 
Could  you  tell  us  what  you  know  about  that? 

Mr.  Miranda.  Decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  I  might  incriminate 
myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Have  you  and  Mr.  Genovese  been  in  business 
together  ? 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  I  might  incriminate 
myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  remember  a  man  by  the  name  of  Mr.  Boccia, 
who  was  killed  in  1934? 

Air.  Miranda.  I  decline  myself  on  the  ground  I  might  incriminate 
myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  According  to  the  information  available  to  the  com- 
mittee, you  ordered  or  participated  in  ordering  and  instructing  that 
Mr.  Boccia  be  killed.     Is  that  correct? 

Mr.  Miranda.  1  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  I  might  incrimi- 
nate myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  also  that  according  to  the  statement  of  Mr. 
Rupolo,  you  also  ordered  the  murder  of  Mr.  Gallo ;  is  that  right  ? 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  decline  myself  on  the  ground  I  might  incriminate 
myself. 

Senator  Ives.  I  would  like  to  ask  the  witness  this  question. 

Mr.  Miranda,  have  you  ever  killed  anybody  yourself? 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  I  incriminate 
myself. 

Senator  Ives.  "What  am  I  supposed  to  get  out  of  that;  that  you 
have  killed  somebody? 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  decline  myself  on  the  ground  I  might  incriminate 
myself. 

Senator  Ives.  Don't  you  think  this,  if  you  have  not  killed  anybody 
why  don't  you  say  "No"  ? 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  decline  myself  on  the  ground  I  incriminate  myself. 

Senator  Ives.  Apparently  you  would. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  According  to  the  information,  Mr.  Miranda,  that 
we  have,  you  are  now  associated  with  the  Tobacco  Service,  Inc.,  at 
324  East  39th  Street,  New  York.     Is  that  correct? 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  decline  myself  to  answer  on  the  ground  I  incrimi- 
nate myself. 

The  Chairman.  Will  you  suspend  just  for  a  moment? 

I  would  like  to  show  these  two  witnesses  a  little  exhibit,  exhibit 
No.  12,  a  series  of  pictures.  This  particular  picture,  according  to  the 
evidence,  was  taken  on  September  8,  1955.  Mr.  Miranda,  do  you 
recognize  yourself  in  that  picture? 


12410  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

(The  photograph  was  shown  to  the  witness.) 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  got  no  glass.     I  don't  see. 

The  Chairman.  You  can't  see  ? 

Mr.  Miranda.  Yes. 

The  Chairman.  Do  you  recall — where  are  your  glasses?  You  don't 
go  around  blind  all  the  time.     Where  are  your  glasses? 

Mr.  Miranda.  But  I  can't  read  without  my  glasses. 

The  Chairman.  Where  are  your  reading  glasses? 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  got  none.     They  are  at  home. 

The  Chairman.  You  got  them  at  home.     You  have  yours. 

Mr.  Genovese.  Thank  you,  sir. 

The  Chairman.  Can  you  help  us  out  with  respect  to  this  picture  ? 

Do  you  recognize  anybody  in  it,  in  the  top  picture,  No.  1  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  myself. 

The  Chairman.  But  that  is  a  pretty  good  picture. 

Mr.  Genovese,  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer. 

The  Chairman.  Don't  you  see  yourself  in  the  picture? 

Mr.  Genovese.  The  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  Isn't  this  you  right  here  [indicating]  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  because  my  answer  may  tend 
to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  You  were  just  about  as  close  then  as  you  are  now, 
you  and  Mr.  Miranda,  were  you  not? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  If  you  don't  recognize  yourself,  would  you  kindly 
recognize  Mr.  Miranda  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  on  the  ground  that  my  answer 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  These  are  kind  of  familiar  scenes  to  you,  aren't 
they  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  on  the  grounds  that  my  an- 
swer may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  There  is  nothing  about  this  that  haunts  you,  is 
there  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  Do  you  want  to  make  any  further  comment 
about  it? 

According  to  testimony,  it  shows  you  two  together  right  out  in 
front  of  the  Alto  Knights  establishment.  Do  you  want  to  make  any 
comment  about  it,  Mr.  Miranda  ? 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  decline  myself  on  the  ground  I  incriminate  my- 
self.    I  ain't  go  no  glass.     I  can't  see. 

The  Chairman.  Proceed. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  We  also  have  information  that  you  were  closely 
associated  with  Lucky  Luciano,  Mr.  Miranda. 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  decline 

(The  witness  conferred  with  his  counsel.) 

Mr.  Kennedy.  I  will  make  a  statement  and  then  I  would  like  to 
have  you  make  a  comment  on  it,  as  to  it  being  true,  false,  or  what- 
ever you  would  like  to  say.  We  understand  you  were  closely  asso- 
ciated with  Lucky  Luciano;  is  that  right? 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12411 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  I  might  incrimi- 
nate myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  On  December  29,  1942,  you  went  to  visit  Lucky 
Luciano  when  he  was  in  prison? 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  decline  myself  on  the  ground  I  incriminate  myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  and  Frank  Costello  visited  Lucky  Luciano. 
Meyer  Lansky,  Mike  Lascar  i,  Willie  Moretti,  all  of  you  went  to  see 
Mr.  Luciano  when  he  was  in  prison ;  is  that  correct  ? 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  decline  myself  to  incriminate  myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Why  were  you  all  around  to  go  visit  Lucky  Luciano 
at  that  time,  Mr.  Miranda? 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  I  incriminate 
myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Miranda,  you  are  an  automobile  salesman  as 
well,  are  you  not  ? 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  I  incriminate 
myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  are  an  automobile  salesman  for  Hunton  & 
Eaffo,  at  239  West  55th  Street,  New  York,  which  deals  in  Cadillacs, 
hearses,  ambulances,  and  service  automobiles,  is  that  right? 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  decline  to  answer  myself  I  might  incriminate 
myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Have  you  had  a  successful  career  selling  the  Cadil- 
lacs, the  hearses  and  the  ambulances  ? 

Air.  Miranda.  I  decline  myself  to  incriminate  myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Could  you  tell  us  what  the  Albert  Levy  special 
account  was? 

Air.  Miranda.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  I  incriminate 
myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Wasn't  the  money  in  that  account  actually  yours, 
Mr.  Miranda  ? 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  I  incriminate 
myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  didn't  you  in  fact  withdraw  money  to  invest 
down  in  Cuba  during  the  1940s  in  the  Havana  racing  association 
from  that  account? 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  decline  myself — I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground 
I  incriminate  myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Miranda,  Mr.  Dickey,  who  was  a  witness  earlier, 
states  that  he  met  somebody  who  identified  himself  as  Mike  Miranda, 
from  New  York.  Would  you  turn  around  and  see  if  you  have  ever 
seen  Mr.  Dickey  before  ? 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  I  incriminate 
myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Were  you  over  in  Italy  during  the  war? 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  decline  myself  and  answer. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Were  you  over  there  where  your  friend  Vito  Geno- 
vese  was? 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  I  incriminate 
myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Could  vou  tell  us  anvthing  about  the  murder  of 
Mr.  Tresca,  in  the  1930's? 

21243— 58— pt.  32 15 


12412  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  I  incriminate 
myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  was  Mr.  Tresca  murdered  for?  Could  you 
tell  us  that  ? 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  I  incriminate 
myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  1943,  actually,  Mr.  Tresca  was  murdered,  was  he 
not? 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  I  incriminate 
myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Didn't  he  run  a  very  anti-Mussolini  newspaper  in 
New  York? 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  I  incriminate 
myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  according  to  the  information  we  have,  you 
made  a  statement  at  the  time,  just  prior  to  his  murder,  that  what  he 
was  writing  about  Mussolini  was  proving  very  embarrassing  to  your 
friend  Vito  Genovese  in  Italy,  is  that  correct  ? 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  I  incriminate 
myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Could  you  tell  us  who  was  responsible  for  Mr. 
Tresca  being  murdered  ? 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  I  incriminate 
myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  According  to  Mr.  Rupolo,  on  the  Boccia  murder, 
you  were  very  mad  because  Gallo  had  not  been  killed  and  he  came 
back  and  reported  it  to  you,  and  you  were  furious  because  he  had  not 
poured  gasoline  on  him  and  set  him  afire. 

Could  you  tell  us  about  that  ? 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  I  incriminate 
myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  you  are  also  a  good  friend  of  Frank  Costello, 
are  you  not  ? 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  decline  myself,  to  answer  myself,  on  the  grounds 
I  incriminate  myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  know  anything  about  the  murder  of  Peter 
LaTempa,  who  was  the  important  witness  against  you  and  Vito 
Genovese,  who  was  murdered  in  prison  ? 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  decline  myself,  to  answer  myself,  on  the  grounds 
I  incriminate  myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Could  you  tell  us  how  it  was  arranged  to  get  the 
poison  into  the  drink  of  this  important  witness  before  he  testified 
against  you  and  Vito  Genovese? 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  decline  to  answer  myself  on  the  ground  I  incrim- 
inate myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Are  you  associated  at  all,  through  your  children, 
with  the  Cardinal  Insurance  Agency,  which  handles  the  insurance  for 
a  number  of  unions  in  New  York  ? 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  declare — I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  I  might 
incriminate  myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  know  John  DeFeo  ? 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  I  incriminate 
mysel  f . 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12413 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Could  you  tell  us  what  you  were  doing  when  you 
were  arrested  with  five  other  gangsters  at  the  Ocean  Palm  Hotel  in 
Santa  Monica,  Calif.,  in  1952? 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that  it  may  tend 
to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Chairman,  these  two  individuals  could  be  a 
great  help  to  the  committee  if  they  would  answer  some  of  these 
questions  and  give  us  the  information. 

I  am  sure  you  could  help  law  enforcement  in  New  York  City  a  great 
deal,  and  throughout  the  United  States.    You  don't  want  to  do  that? 

It  might  be  one  of  }*our  last  chances  before  the  committee.  Do  you 
want  to  help  us,  Mr.  Genovese  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  Is  that  a  question  ? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Yes.   "Would  you  help  us  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  decline  respectfully  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  about  you,  Mr.  Miranda,  would  you  be  willing 
to  help  and  assist  the  committee  ? 

(The  witness  conferred  with  his  counsel.) 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that  the  answer 
may  tend  to  incriminate  myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Genovese,  do  you  know  the  infiltration  of  any 
of  the  Mafia  into  any  labor  unions  or  into  legitimate  businesses? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Miranda,  do  you  know  about  that? 

(The  witness  conferred  with  his  counsel.) 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  I  incriminate 
myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  How  do  you  sell  these  automobiles,  Mr.  Miranda? 

Mr.  ]\1iranda.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  I  incriminate  my- 
self. 

The  Chairman.  Mr.  Miranda,  is  there  anything  you  can  answer 
that  might  not  tend  to  incriminate  you  ? 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  I  incriminate  my- 
self. 

The  Chairman.  Could  you  give  me  just  one  lead,  one  clue  to  some- 
thing I  might  ask  you  that  you  could  answer  without  incriminating 
yourself  ? 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  I  incriminate  my- 
self. 

The  Chairman.  Do  you  place  any  value  upon  human  life  above  your 
own  selfish  interest? 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  I  incriminate  my- 
self. 

The  Chairman.  In  other  words,  would  you  kill  somebody  just  to 
make  a  dollar  ? 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  I  might  incrim- 
inate myself. 

The  Chairman.  Are  you  a  murderer? 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  I  incriminate  my- 
self. 


12414  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

The  Chairman.  I  would  like  to  find  out  a  little  more,  if  we  can, 
about  his  citizenship.  Do  we  have  any  information  as  to  whether — 
Counsel,  he  is  a  naturalized  citizen ;  is  that  correct  ? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Which  one  is  that  ? 

The  Chairman.  Mr.  Miranda. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  I  believe  he  is. 

The  Chairman.  Would  you  tell  us  whether  you  are  a  native-born 
American  or  if  you  are  a  naturalized  citizen  ? 

(The  witness  conferred  with  his  counsel.) 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  I  incriminate 
myself. 

The  Chairman.  I  will  make  the  same  statement  about  you  I  have 
about  the  others.  I  don't  know  just  what  your  status  is,  but  if  you 
are  a  naturalized  citizen,  and  proceedings  have  not  begun,  have  not 
been  started,  to  denaturalize  you  and  to  deport  you,  I  am  asking  the 
Justice  Department  and  the  other  authorities  to  take  an  immediate 
look  at  your  record  and  proceed  with  appropriate  action  to  send  you 
back  to  the  land  from  which  you  came.  Again  I  hope  the  court  and 
the  officials  will  proceed  in  the  matter  with  all  deliberate  speed. 

I  will  conclude  at  the  moment  with  this  one  statement.  Well,  I 
will  withhold  it  until  Senator  Ives  has  spoken.    Senator  Ives. 

Senator  Ives.  Mr.  Miranda,  I  understand  you  are  the  agent  for  the 
Cadillac  car;  is  that  correct  ? 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  decline  myself  to  answer  on  the  ground  I  incrim- 
inate myself. 

Senator  Ives.  Wait  just  a  minute.  Do  you  mean  you  are  going  to 
decline  on  account  of  the  fact  that  it  might  incriminate  you  to  state 
you  are  the  agent  for  the  Cadillac  car  ? 

How  long  do  you  think  you  will  hold  that  agency  under  those  con- 
ditions, if  you  are  the  agent  for  the  Cadillac  car  ? 

I  happen  to  know  something  about  General  Motors  and  their  stand- 
ards when  it  comes  to  that.  They  aren't  going  to  have  criminals  and 
people  like  you  being  agents  for  them,  by  any  stretch  of  the  imagina- 
tion. 

This  may  get  you  into  real  trouble  if  you  don't  answer  this  ques- 
tion. Are  you  the  agent  for  the  Cadillac  car,  in  any  way,  shape,  or 
form  ? 

You  better  answer  that. 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that  the  answer 
might  tend  to  incriminate  myself. 

Senator  Ives.  Mr.  Chairman,  I  understand  that  Mr.  Miranda 
handles  the  Cadillac  funeral  cars  and  flower  cars.    Is  that  correct? 

He  is  the  salesman  for  them.    Does  he  have  the  agency  ? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  He  is  a  salesman.    It  is  not  a  Cadillac  agency. 

Senator  Ives.  What  is  the  agency's  name  ? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  It  is  a  custom  body  organization. 

Senator  Ives.  What  custom  body  ?    Fisher  ? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  It  is  Custom  Hearse  Body,  as  I  understand. 

Senator  Ives.  A  special  body  for  hearses  ? 

Mr.  Miranda.  I  decline  to  answer. 

Senator  Ives.  Mr.  Counsel,  I  would  like  to  find  out  further  about 
the  agency.    Is  this  something  that  Cadillac  puts  out? 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12415 

Mr.  Kennedy.  I  put  the  name  of  the  company  into  the  record.  They 
make  hearse  bodies,  ambulance  bodies,  and,  I  believe,  some  kind  of 
automobile  bodies. 

Senator  Ives.  They  are  manufacturers;  is  that  it;  and  he  is  a  sales- 
man for  them  ? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Yes. 

Senator  Ives.  Is  this  a  Cadillac  motor  that  is  put  into  the  car? 

Is  this  the  Cadillac  motor  that  is  put  into  the  car,  or  whatever  it  is? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Not  necessarily. 

Senator  Ives.  Then  it  is  not  strictly  a  Cadillac  proposition ;  is  that 
it? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  No. 

Senator  Ives.  He  manufactures  for  all. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Yes. 

Senator  Ives.  I  am  wondering  what  the  people  that  are  handling 
it  will  think  about  it.    I  thank  you  very  much. 

I  didn't  think  the  Cadillac  people  would  want  anything  to  do  with 
this. 

The  Chairman.  Mr.  Kennedy  ? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Anastasia — I  mean  Mr.  Genovese — I  domt  know 
whether  to  say  excuse  me  or  not — you  were  naturalized  on  November 
25,  1936.  According  to  the  testimony  before  the  committee  bj  Mr. 
Dickey,  you  then  spent  the  period  during  the  war  in  Italy.  That  is 
correct,  is  it  not  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
the  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  during  the  period  of  time  that  the  United 
States  was  at  war  with  Italy,  you  were  helping  and  assisting  the  Ital- 
ian Government;  is  that  right? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
the  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Have  any  steps  been  taken  by  the  United  States 
Government  to  try  you  for  treason,  Mr.  Genovese? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  There  is  no  statute  of  limitations  on  treason.  Have 
any  steps  been  taken  by  anybody  in  the  United  States  Government  to 
take  any  steps  against  you  along  those  lines  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  were  helping  and  assisting  an  enemy  during  a 
period  and  time  of  war,  Mr.  Genove^. 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Were  you  guilty  of  treason  during  the  war,  treason 
against  the  United  States  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Chairman,  I  would  just  like  to  put  a  witness  on, 
on  the  Tresca  murder,  to  set  the  facts  on  that. 

The  Chairman.  Call  him  forward. 

I  will  ask  this  question :  Did  you  have  any  sons  in  the  war  ? 


12416  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  beg  your  pardon  ? 

The  Chairman.  Did  any  of  your  sons  serve  in  the  war? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  Did  any  of  your  daughters  serve  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  Do  you  have  both  sons  and  daughters? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  Do  you  have  either  a  son  or  daughter  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  Do  you  think  it  might  incriminate  you  to  admit 
you  are  a  father  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  You  know  that  statement  is  not  an  honest  state- 
ment, that  you  are  afraid  it  will  incriminate  you,  don't  you? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  I  will  ask  you  the  question :  Do  you  honestly  be- 
lieve that  if  you  have  a  daughter  or  son,  that  a  truthful  answer  might 
tend  to  incriminate  you  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  decline  to  answer  respectfully  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  I  am  not  going  to  let  you  decline  it  without  plac- 
ing an  order  against  you  to  answer  it.  You  can  consult  with  your 
counsel.  Do  you  honestly  believe  that  if  you  stated  here  truthfully 
that  you  have  a  son  or  daughter,  that  a  truthful  answer  to  that  ques- 
tion would  tend  to  incriminate  you  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  It  may. 

The  Chairman.  Well,  it  might.    Proceed,  Mr.  Kennedy. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Chairman,  this  is  the  next  witness. 

Mr.  Laurendi. 

The  Chairman.  Do  you  solemnly  swear  the  evidence  you  shall  give 
before  this  Senate  select  committee  shall  be  the  truth,  the  whole  truth, 
and  nothing  but  the  truth,  so  help  you  God  ? 

Mr.  Laurendi.  I  do,  sir. 

TESTIMONY  OF  NATALE  LAURENDI 

The  Chairman.  State  your  name,  your  place  of  residence,  and  busi- 
ness or  occupation. 

Mr.  Laurendi.  Detective  Natale  Laurendi,  Shield  No.  2021,  New 
York  City  Police  Department,  assigned  to  the  district  attorney's  office 
squad  of  New  York  County.  The  district  attorney  of  New  York 
County  is  Frank  S.  Hogan. 

The  Chairman.  How  long  have  you  been  a  member  of  the  police 
force  of  New  York  ? 

Mr.  Laurendi.  Seven  years,  sir. 

The  Chairman.  How  long  have  you  been  assigned  to  the  district 
attorney's  office? 

Mr.  Laurendi.  Six  years. 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12417 

The  Chairman.  Proceed,  Mr.  Kennedy. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Detective  Laurendi,  do  you  have  the  facts  on  the 
murder  of  Tresca  ? 

Mr.  Laurendi.  I  have  a  summary  of  highly  confidential  informa- 
tion which  was  given  to  an  assistant  district  attorney  of  Mr.  Hogan's 
office  in  1946,  by  a  close  associate  of  Vito  Genovese,  concerning  the 
Carlo  Tresca  murder. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Could  3'ou  make  that  information  available  to  the 
committee  at  this  time? 

Mr.  Laurendi.  Yes,  sir. 

The  Chairman.  Can  you  make  it  public  ? 

Mr.  Laurendi.  Without  revealing  the  source,  I  have  here  a  sum- 
mary.    I  can  give  you  the  source  in  chambers. 

The  Chairman.  Give  us  the  summary,  then,  and  we  will  receive 
the  source  of  it  in  executive  session. 

Mr.  Laurendi.  This  source  was  known  to  Vito  Genovese  in  Italy 
back  in  1933.  In  1935,  Vito  Genovese  was  back  in  New  York  City, 
and  was  seen  in  frequent  contact  with  Charles  "Lucky"  Luciano,  Tony 
Bender,  Joe  Biondo,  and  others,  including  Santino  Pandolfi,  who  was 
described  as  a  henchman  of  Tony  Bender. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Would  you  spell  his  name? 

Mr.  Laurendi.  P-a-n-d-o-l-f-i.  Pandolfi's  brother  Carlo,  in  1935, 
wanted  to  start  a  club  for  Italian  seamen ;  Carlo  was  a  Fascist.  Geno- 
vese gave  his  approval  for  such  a  club.  Before  it  got  started,  Carlo 
Tresca,  an  outspoken  anti-Fascist  newsman,  sent  word  that  he  was 
going  to  fight  the  Fascist  club  and  would  do  so  by  attacking  Vito  Geno- 
veve.  Genovese  sent  word  to  Carlo  Pandolfi  to  abandon  the  idea  as  he 
did  not  want  any  trouble  with  Carlo  Tresca.  Mike  Miranda,  at  180 
Broome  Street,  New  York  City,  operated  distribution  of  mineral 
water  owned  by  a  certain  Achille  Pisani. 

The  Chairman.  Is  that  the  same  Mike  Miranda  that  sits  here  in 
the  witness  chair? 

Mr.  Laurendi.  According  to  the  statement,  it  is. 

The  Chairman.  Is  it  also  the  same  Genovese? 

Mr.  Laurendi.  Yes,  sir.  Miranda  expressed  concern  over  the 
trouble  being  caused  Genovese  in  Italy  as  a  result  of  letters  and  articles 
during  the  period  of  1940.  Tresca  was  writing  to  and  about  Geno- 
vese's  Fascist  friends.  Carlo  Tresca  was  murdered  on  January  11, 
1943.  Strong  suspicions  for  this  murder  centered  on  Carmine  Galente, 
a  hoodlum  underling  of  Genovese  and  an  associate  of  Frank  Garaf  alo. 

Galente,  an  Apalachin  guest,  is  currently  being  sought  by  author- 
ities in  connection  with  a  narcotic  conspiracy  involving  some  40  per- 
sons, including  Big  John  Ormento,  who  is  also  missing. 

The  Chairman.  Are  there  any  further  questions  ? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  this  source,  who,  as  I  understand  from  your 
testimony,  was  very  close  to  Vito  Genovese,  and  was  in  a  position  to 
know,  did  he  give  you  or  give  the  district  attorney's  office  any  ideas 
to  the  amount  of  money  that  Mr.  Vito  Genovese  had  ? 

Mr.  Laurendi.  It  was  not  this  source,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  you  have  another  source? 

Mr.  Laurendi.  Yes  sir.  There  was  another  highly  confidential 
source. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Who  was  very  close  to  Vito  Genovese? 

Mr.  Laurendi.  Who  was  very 


12418  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Extremely  close. 

Mr.  Laurendi.  This  source,  I  cannot  even  divulge  the  nature  of  it. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  But  he  was  extremely  close,  is  that  right? 

Mr.  Laurendi.  Yes,  sir. 

The  Chairman.  I  am  a  little  apprehensive  about  this.  I  don't  want 
anything  divulged  that  will  cause  somebody  to  get  murdered. 

You  don't  say  that  you  would  not  murder  somebody  if  they  gave 
some  information  against  you,  then,  do  you,  Mr.  Genovese  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.    Is  that  a  question? 

The  Chairman.  Yes. 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
might  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  That  is  the  answer  I  expected,  in  view  of  your 
previous  performance  but  I  am  very  reluctant  to  get  some  man  killed 
because  he  tells  the  truth. 

Be  careful,  Mr.  Laurendi,  and  not  divulge  a  source  at  all. 

Proceed. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Can  you  give  to  the  committee  what  this  source 
gave  you  as  to  the  net  worth  of  Vito  Genovese  during  this  period  of 
time? 

Mr.  Laurendi.  The  net  worth,  1954,  was — all  I  can  say,  sir,  is 
that  there  is  confidential  information  in  the  office  of  District  Attorney 
Frank  Hogan  to  the  effect  that  in  1954  Vito  Genovese  had  amassed 
a  f  ortune  of  $30  million. 

Senator  Ives.  And  he  declared  $6,000  on  his  income  tax. 

Is  that  right,  Mr.  Counsel? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Yes,  sir. 

TESTIMONY  OF  VITO  GENOVESE  AND  MIKE  MIRANDA— Resumed 

The  Chairman.  Is  that  slightly  exaggerated  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  Would  it  be  fair  to  say  that  is  an  understatement? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
that  my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  How  many  hoodlums  do  you  have  in  your  employ 
now  or  at  your  command  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  How  many  members  of  the  Mafia  operate  under 
your  direction  and  supervision  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground 
that  my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  Are  there  any  other  questions? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  I  think  that  that  information  which  is  from  a 
different  source,  obviously  from  Mrs.  Genovese,  would  appear  to 
support  the  testimony  that  Mr.  Genovese  gave  under  oath  at  their 
separation  hearing  in  New  Jersey  in  1952  or  1953,  Mr.  Chairman. 
She  stated  also  at  that  time  that  Mr.  Genovese  had  many  sources  of 
income,  many  companies  (hat  he  owned,  and  none  of  them  were 
in  his  own  name ;  that  he  always  used  fronts. 

Is  that  right,  Mr.  Genovese,  that  you  do  have  many  businesses, 
many  interests,  which  are  in  names  other  than  your  own? 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12419 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman".  Do  you  have  one  single  legitimate  business  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  You  don't  have  any  interest  in  any  business  that 
you  can  give  the  name  of  without  the  risk  of  incriminating  yourself  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground 
that  my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  Are  there  any  further  questions  I 

Mr.  Kennedy.  No;  but  be  would  like  for  you  to  keep  them  under 
subpena.     Maybe  they  will  come  back  again. 

The  Chairman.  Are  there  any  further  questions  from  the  com- 
mittee ? 

Senator  Ives.  No,  Mr.  Chairman. 

The  Chairman.  Will  you  accept  recognizance  to  reappear  before 
the  committee  at  any  time  we  may  need  to  further  interrogate  you 
without  being  subpenaed  % 

Mr.  Genovese.  Yes,  sir. 

The  Chairman.  Upon  reasonable  notice  to  yourself  or  to  your 
attorneys  of  record  here,  you  will  agree  to  reappear  without  further 
subpenas  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  Yes,  sir. 

The  Chairman.  What  do  you  say  ? 

Mr.  Miranda.  Yes,  sir. 

The  Chairman.  All  right. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Are  you  also  known  as  Don  Vitone? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds 
that  my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  does  that  mean,  Don  Vitone?  That  is  our 
information. 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  It  means  the  great  one  in  English,  does  it  not,  Mr. 
Genovese? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  you  give  yourself  that  name  ? 

Mr.  Genovese.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
my  answer  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  is  all. 

The  Chairman.  Before  we  recess,  the  Chair  makes  this  observa- 
tion: I  wish  that  every  American  citizen  could  have  witnessed  this 
performance  here  this  afternoon. 

It  certainly  emphasizes  the  danger  to  America,  to  our  freedoms,  to 
our  way  of  life,  to  our  free  economy,  free  society,  and  every  institu- 
tion that  we  have  today  that  was  bought  and  paid  for  by  the  blood 
of  patriots.  Men  who  come  before  this  committee  with  records  such 
as  you  two  have,  defy  your  Government,  refuse  to  cooperate,  basking 
under  the  protection,  the  benefits,  and  blessings  of  this  great  Govern- 
ment of  ours,  come  here  from  foreign  lands,  and  they  prey  upon 
the  people  of  this  country  with  your  illicit  and  criminal  activities, 
are  unworthy  of  the  protection  of  the  American  flag. 


12420  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

We  have  a  great  job  to  do  in  this  country  to  clean  you  out.  I  hope 
that  this  committee  and  others,  and  the  law-enforcement  agencies 
of  this  land,  may  pursue  to  the  utmost  the  challenging  task  that 
confronts  us,  and  that  the  day  will  come  in  America  where  it  will 
be  safe  for  people  to  operate  their  businesses,  to  have  labor  unions, 
and  to  have  a  society  that  does  not  live  under  the  shadow  of  characters 
like  those  who  find  themselves  in  a  position  where  they  have  to  take 
that  attitude  that  they  can't  be  cooperative  and  help  their  country 
drive  out  a  menace  that  threatens  its  very  existence. 

The  committee  will  stand  in  recess  until  10  o'clock  in  the  morning. 

(Present  at  the  time  of  the  recess:  Senators  McClellan  and  Ives.) 

(Whereupon,  at  5 :  20  p.  m.,  the  hearing  was  recessed,  to  reconvene 
at  10  a.  m.  Thursday,  July  3, 1958.) 


INVESTIGATION  OF  IMPROPER  ACTIVITIES  IN  THE 
LABOR  OR  MANAGEMENT  FIELD 


THURSDAY,   JULY   3,    1958 

United  States  Senate, 
Select  Committee  on  Improper  Activities 

in  the  Labor  or  Management  Field, 

Washington,  D.  C. 

The  select  committee  met  at  10  a.  m.,  pursuant  to  Senate  Resolu- 
tion 74,  agreed  to  January  30,  1957,  in  the  caucus  room,  Senate  Office 
Building,  Senator  John  L.  McClellan  (chairman  of  the  select  com- 
mittee) presiding. 

Members  of  the  select  committee  present :  Senator  John  L.  McClel- 
lan, Democrat,  Arkansas;  Senator  Frank  Church,  Democrat,  Idaho; 
Senator  Karl  E.  Mundt,  Republican,  South  Dakota;  and  Senator 
Carl  T.  Curtis,  Republican,  Nebraska. 

Also  present :  Robert  F.  Kennedy,  chief  counsel ;  Jerome  S.  Adler- 
man,  chief  assistant  counsel ;  Paul  J.  Tierney,  assistant  counsel ;  Paul 
E.  Kamerick,  assistant  counsel ;  John  J.  McGovern,  assistant  counsel ; 
Walter  R.  May,  assistant  counsel;  Pierre  E.  G.  Salinger,  investigator; 
George  H.  Martin,  investigator;  Sherman  Willse,  investigator;  and 
Ruth  Young  Watt,  chief  clerk. 

The  Chairman.  The  committee  will  be  in  order. 

(Members  of  the  committee  present  at  the  convening  of  the  ses- 
sion were:  Senators  McClellan  and  Church.) 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  James  Plumeri. 

The  Chairman.  Do  you  solemnly  swear  that  the  evidence  given 
before  this  Senate  select  committee,  shall  be  the  truth,  the  whole 
truth,  and  nothing  but  the  truth,  so  help  you  God? 

Mr.  Plumeri.  I  do. 

TESTIMONY  OF  JAMES  PLUMERI.  ACCOMPANIED  BY  HIS  COUNSEL, 
MAUEICE  EDELBAUM 

The  Chairman.  State  your  name  and  your  place  of  residence  and 
your  business  or  occupation. 

Mr.  Plumeri.  James  Plumeri,  400  East  59th  Street,  New  York  City. 

The  Chairman.  All  right,  proceed. 

Mr.  Plumeri.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  You  mean  about  your  business  or  occupation? 

Mr.  Plumeri.  Yes,  sir. 

The  Chairman.  Do  you  honestly  believe  that  if  you  told  the  truth 
about  it  that  the  truth  might  tend  to  incriminate  you? 

Mr.  Plumeri.  Yres,  sir. 

12421 


12422  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

The  Chairman.  Is  it  an  illegal  business? 

Mr.  Pltjmert.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  that  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  If  it  is  a  legitimate  business,  it  wouldn't  tend  to 
incriminate  you,  would  it? 

Mr.  Plumeri.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  that  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Edelbaum.  May  I  make  a  statement? 

The  Chairman.  Just  a  moment.    Do  you  have  counsel  with  you? 

Mr.  Plumeri.  Yes,  sir. 

The  Chairman.  All  right.  Mr.  Counsel,  you  may  identify  yourself 
for  the  record. 

Mr.  Edelbaum.  My  name  is  Maurice  Edelbaum.  My  office  address 
is  1440  Broadway,  New  York  City,  and  I  represent  the  witness,  James 
Plumeri.  May  I  have  the  permission  of  the  Chair  to  make  a  short 
statement  ? 

The  Chairman.  You  may  make  a  very  brief  statement. 

Mr.  Edelbaum.  The  witness  at  the  present  time  is  a  defendant  in 
an  action  brought  in  the  United  States  District  Court  for  the  South- 
ern District  of  New  York,  which  action  seeks  to  revoke  his  citizen- 
ship. In  addition  to  that,  Mr.  Chairman,  some  time  ago  Mr.  Paul 
Williams,  the  United  States  attorney  for  the  southern  district  of  New 
York,  impaneled  a  grand  jury  with  the  avowed  purpose  of  investi- 
gating the  garment  area  of  the  city  of  New  York,  and  during  the 
interrogation  of  the  prospective  grand  jurors  they  were  asked  whether 
or  not  they  knew  the  witness,  James  Plumeri.  In  addition  to  that, 
Mr.  Chairman,  the  district  attorney's  office  of  New  York  County 
represented  by  Mr.  Frank  S.  Hogan,  has  subpenaed  certain  books 
in  which  the  defendant  has  certain  interests — in  which  the  witness 
has  certain  interests  in  various  corporations,  and  so  has  Mr.  Williams. 

For  those  reasons,  Mr.  Chairman,  the  witness  desires  to  avail  him- 
self of  his  constitutional  privilege  against  self-incrimination.  In  do- 
ing so,  it  is  not  done  with  any  avowed  purpose  to  flout  the  purposes 
of  this  committee. 

The  Chairman.  The  committee  will  take  that  statement  into  ac- 
count as  we  proceed.  I  believe  the  witness  is  not  presently  under 
indictment  ? 

Mr.  Edelbaum.  That  is  correct. 

The  Chairman.  There  may  be  investigations  in  process  that  may 
ultimately  lead  to  an  indictment,  if  I  understand  you  correctly. 

Mr.  Edelbaum.  That  is  possible. 

The  Chairman.  I  said  "may,"  and  no  one  knows,  of  course.  What 
is  the  proceeding  now  pending  against  the  witness  ? 

Mr.  Edelbaum.  An  action  brought  by  the  United  States  Govern- 
ment to  revoke  his  citizenship  on  the  ground  of  fraud,  and  that  is 
pending  at  the  present  time. 

The  Chairman.  lie  is  a  naturalized  citizen? 

Mr.  Edelbaum.  Yes,  he  is. 

The  Chairman.  Does  this  involve  deportation? 

Mr.  Edelbaum.  Well,  it  could  possibly  involve  that  if  the  citizen- 
ship is  revoked. 

The  Ch airman.  But  for  the  present  the  only  action  is  to  revoke  his 
citizenship  for  fraud? 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12423 

Mr.  Edelbaum.  That  is  correct. 
The  Chairman.  All  right. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Where  were  you  born,  Mr.  Plumeri  ? 
Mr.  Plumeri.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  that  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  were  born  in  Italy,  were  you  not  ? 
Mr.  Plumeri.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  that  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  According  to  the  information  that  we  have,  you 
were  born  in  Italy,  in  1903,  either  April  11,  1903;  June  3,  1903;  or 
April  11,  1903.  Can  you  tell  us  which  of  those  is  correct,  Mr. 
Plumeri  ? 

Mr.  Plumeri.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  that  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Now,  are  you  known  by  any  other  name,  Mr. 
Plumeri  ? 

Mr.  Plumeri.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  that  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 
Mr.  Kennedy.  You  are  also  known  as  "Jimmy  Doyle,"  aren't  you? 
Mr.  Plumeri.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  that  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  did  you  give  as  your  present  address? 
Mr.  Plumeri.  400  East  59th  Street. 
Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  have  any  other  home  ? 

Mr.  Plumeri.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  that  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  also  have  a  place  in  Miami,  Fla.,  do  you  not? 
Mr.  Plumeri.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  that  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  is  9224  Dickens  Avenue,  Miami,  Fla.,  isn't  that 
right? 

Mr.  Plumeri.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  that  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 
Mr.  Kennedy.  And  is  Mr.  Johnny  Dioguardi  your  nephew? 
Mr.  Plumeri.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  that  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 
Mr.  Kennedy.  Would  you  name  your  nephews  for  the  committee  ? 
Mr.  Plumeri.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  that  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  How  about  Tommy  Dioguardi,  isn't  he  a  nephew 
of  yours,  also  ? 

Mr.  Plumeri.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  that  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Air.  Kennedy.  What  are  the  names  of  your  other  nephews  ?  What 
about  Frank  Dioguardi? 

Mr.  Plumeri.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  that  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  they  all  have  criminal  records,  do  they  not, 
Mr.  Plumeri  ? 

Mr.  Plumeri.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  that  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  you  teach  them  when  they  were  young  as  they 
were  coming  along  ? 


12424  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  Plumeri.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  that  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Now  according  to  the  information  we  have,  between 
1913  and  1925,  you  had  had  eight  criminal  arrests,  with  no  convic- 
tions ;  is  that  right  ? 

Mr.  Plumeri.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  that  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Then  in  1933  you  were  indicted  for  felonious  as- 
sault, coercion  and  conspiracy,  which  was  finally  dismissed  ? 

Mr.  Plumeri.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  that  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  then  in  1933,  assault,  first  degree? 

Mr.  Plumeri.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  that  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  then  homicide  also  in  1933  ? 

Mr.  Plumeri.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  that  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Then  extortion  in  1937  ? 

Mr.  Plumeri.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  that  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Then  conspiracy  and  extortion  and  assault  in  1937 
for  which  you  served  5  to  10  years,  or  were  sentenced  to  5  to  10  years 
in  Sing  Sing,  is  that  right  ? 

Mr.  Plumeri.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  that  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  you  and  your  nephew,  Johnny  Dio,  went  to- 
gether, did  you  not  ? 

Mr.  Plumeri.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  that  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Now  your  business  interests  at  the  present  time, 
according  to  our  records,  are  the  Ell-Gee  Carriers,  which  is  now 
known  as  the  Randy's  Trucking  Co.,  is  that  right  ? 

Mr.  Plumeri.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  that  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  This  is  a  garment  trucking  firm  located  218  West 
35th  Street,  New  York  City  ? 

Mr.  Plumeri.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  that  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  the  Barton  Trucking  Corp.,  218  West  35th 
Street,  New  York  City? 

Mr.  Plumeri.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  that  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  in  addition  to  these  trucking  companies,  Mr. 
Plumeri,  you  also  have  some  dress  shops,  do  you  not? 

Mr.  Plumeri.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  that  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  According  to  our  information,  you  own  the  Ad- 
vance Junior  Dress  Corp.  at  1400  Broadway  ? 

Mr.  Plumeri.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  that  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  you  have  an  interest  in  shoulder  pads  also  in 
New  York  City? 

Mr.  Plumeri.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  that  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12425 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  the  Reed  Shoulder  Pad  Co.,  which  is  also 
known  as  the  Three  Brothers  Co.,  in  Allentown,  Pa  ? 

Mr.  Plumeri.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  that  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  the  Richter  Dress  Co.,  also  known  as  the  I. 
Richter,  Inc.,  Trucking  Co.,  of  261  West  36th  Street,  New  York  City, 
is  also  owned  and  operated  by  you,  Mr.  Plumeri,  isn't  that  right? 

Mr.  Plumeri.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  that  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  is  the  Richter  Dress  Co.,  and  the  I.  Richter, 
Inc.,  Trucking  Co.  Now,  you  own  not  only  trucking  companies,  and 
dress  shops,  but  you  also  own  a  restaurant,  do  you  not,  the  Villa-Mar 
Restaurant  ? 

Mr.  Plumeri.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  that  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  is  in  Jackson  Heights,  N.  Y.,  is  that  right  ? 

Mr.  Plumeri.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  that  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  you  used  to  own  the  Bonnie  Stewart  Dress 
Co.,  isn't  that  right? 

Mr.  Plumeri.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  that  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  didn't  Mr.  Russell  Bufalino  also  have  an  in- 
terest in  this  dress  shop  ? 

Mr.  Plumeri.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  that  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  Mr.  Dominick  Alaimo,  also  had  an  interest  in 
that  dress  shop,  didn't  he,  Mr.  Plumeri  ? 

Air.  Plumeri.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  that  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

(At  this  point,  the  following  members  were  present:  Senators 
McClellan  and  Church.) 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Both  of  those  individuals  attended  the  meeting  at 
Apalachin,  did  they  not? 

Mr.  Plumeri.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  that  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  you  also  had  an  interest  in  the  Seam  Binding 
Co.,  is  that  right  ? 

Mr.  Plumeri.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  that  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  usually  stay  at  the  Hotel  Forrest  in  New 
York  City? 

Mr.  Plumeri.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  that  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  you  know  Gertrude  Krieger,  who  lived  at  the 
Hotel  Forrest  ? 

Mr.  Plumeri.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  that  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  We  also  understand  you  are  a  close  friend  of  Joe 
Stretch,  is  that  right,  Mr.  Plumeri  ? 

Mr.  Plumeri.  1  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  that  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  another  associate  of  yours  is  Mr.  Sam  Berger, 
who  used  to  be  with  local  102  of  the  ILGWU,  is  that  right? 


12426  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  Plumeri.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  that  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  Harry  Stromberg,  who  is  known  as  Nig  Roser, 
is  that  correct  ? 

Mr.  Plumeri.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  that  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  Joe  Evola,  who  was  recently  arrested  on  the 
narcotics  charge  ? 

Mr.  Plumeri.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  that  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Louis  Stromberg  ? 

Mr.  Plumeri.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  that  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Angelo  Sciandra? 

Mr.  Plumeri.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  that  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Samuel  Sobel? 

Mr.  Plumeri.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  that  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Frank  Carbo? 

Mr.  Plumeri.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  that  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  were  one  of  the  bright  young  lieutenants  of 
Lepke  during  the  1930's,  and  you  were  interested  in  the  trucking  and 
garments  during  that  period  of  time.  You  were  using  muscle  against 
some  of  the  legitimate  companies  when  you  were  sent  to  Sing  Sing. 
Are  you  still  active  in  that  operation,  Mr.  Plumeri  ? 

Mr.  Plumeri.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  According  to  police  records,  you  were  one  of  the 
five  leading  underworld  figures  in  New  York  City,  Mr.  Plumeri. 
Here  is  a  chance  to  really  tell  the  facts  on  this  whole  matter  to  the 
public.     Don't  you  want  to  say  something  to  us? 

Mr.  Plumeri.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  that  question  on 
the  ground  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  also  have  an  interest  in  promoting  fighters,  do 
you  not,  Mr.  Plumeri  ? 

Mr.  Plumeri.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  The  Barton  Truck  Co.  also.  You  have  an  interest 
in  the  Barton  Truck  Co.,  do  you  not? 

Mr.  Plumeri.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  you  take  part,  Mr.  Plumeri,  in  keeping  certain 
dress  companies  from  signing  a  contract  recently  with  the  ILGWI '  ( 

Mr.  Plumeri.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Isn't  it  a  fact  that  you  flew  up  especially  from 
Miami  on  the  3d  of  March  1958  to  give  advice  and  counsel  in  those 
negotiations? 

Mr.  Plumeri.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12427 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Isn't  it  a  fact  that  you  arrived  in  New  York  from 
Miami  on  the  3d  of  March  1958  at  12:50  p.  m.,  and  then  you  re- 
turned to  Miami  the  following  day  at  1  p.  m.  ? 

Mr.  Plumeki.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Wasn't  that  during  the  period  of  a  very  important 
meeting,  in  connection  with  the  negotiations  that  were  going  on  re- 
garding the  contract  with  the  ILGWU? 

Mr.  Plumekl  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Will  you  tell  us  what  your  participation  in  all  of 
that  was,  Mr.  Plumeri? 

Mr.  Plumeri.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Isn't  it  a  fact  also  that  not  only  do  you  have  an 
interest  in  certain  boxers,  trucking  and  dress  companies,  but  also  you 
have  had  an  interest  in  some  of  the  singers  in  the  United  States  ? 

Mr.  Plumeri.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  is  all,  Mr.  Chairman. 

The  Chairman.  Are  you  a  member  of  the  Mafia  ? 

Mr.  Plumeri.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  Are  you  married? 

Mr.  Plumeri.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

(The  witness  conferred  with  his  counsel.) 

The  Chairman.  Do  you  have  any  children? 

Mr.  Plumeri.  No. 

The  Chairman.  What  was  your  wife's  maiden  name? 

(The  witness  conferred  with  his  counsel.) 

Mr.  Plumeri.  Mary  Arapollo. 

The  Chairman.  Thank  you  very  much.  Do  you  have  any  con- 
nections with  organized  labor  \ 

Mr.  Plumeri.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  Do  you  participate  in  bargaining  negotiations 
either  on  behalf  of  management  or  on  behalf  of  labor? 

Mr.  Plumeri.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  Are  any  of  your  businesses  unionized  or  your  em- 
ployees in  any  of  your  plants  or  businesses  members  of  a  union? 

Mr.  Plumeri.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  Do  you  honestly  believe  that  if  you  answered 
these  questions,  a  truthful  answer  might  tend  to  incriminate  you? 

Mr.  Plumeri.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  I  am  going  to  ask  you  another  question  now,  and 
I  am  going  to  order  you  to  answer  it  if  you  take  that  position. 

I  will  ask  you  if  you  participate  in  the  negotiations  of  collective 
bargaining,  either  on  behalf  of  unions  or  on  behalf  of  management. 

21243 — 5S— pt.  32 16 


12428  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  Plumeri.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  Do  you  honestly  believe  that  if  you  answered  that 
question  truthfully,  a  truthful  answer  to  that  question  might  tend 
to  incriminate  you  ? 

(The  witness  conferred  with  his  counsel.) 

Mr.  Plumeri.  Yes. 

The  Chairman.  Is  there  anything  further  ? 

Senator  Church.  I  have  no  questions. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Isn't  it  a  fact,  Mr.  Plumeri,  that  approximately  5 
or  6  years  ago  you  attempted  to  push  a  well-known  singer  out  a  win- 
dow in  a  New  York  hotel  because  he  would  not  marry  a  young  lady 
that  you  wanted  him  to  marry? 

Mr.  Plumeri.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Isn't  it  correct  that  you  had  a  financial  interest  in 
that  singer  at  the  time  that  he  was  in  New  York,  singing  in  night 
clubs? 

Mr.  Plumeri.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  Is  there  anything  further? 

It  is  quite  probable  before  the  conclusion  of  these  hearings,  or  at 
some  future  time  the  committee  may  desire  to  recall  you  for  further 
interrogation.  With  your  acceptance,  the  Chair  places  you  under 
recognizance  to  return  and  give  testimony  at  such  time  as  the  com- 
mittee may  desire  to  interrogate  you  further.  Do  you  accept  that 
arrangement,  without  having  to  resubpena  you  ? 

Mr.  Plumeri.  Yes,  sir,  upon  reasonable  notice. 

The  Chairman.  Yes,  upon  reasonable  notice  to  you  or  your 
counsel. 

Mr.  Edelbaum.  Counsel  will  be  sufficient,  Mr.  Chairman.  Notice 
to  me  will  be  sufficient.  I  believe  we  are  excused  for  the  day ;  is  that 
correct,  Mr.  Chairman? 

The  Chairman.  As  far  as  I  know,  you  will  be,  in  a  moment. 

Before  the  witness  leaves  the  stand,  the  Chair  will  make  this  obser- 
vation :  As  we  proceed  with  these  witnesses  who  are  in  a  position  to 
give  this  committee  a  great  deal  of  information  that  it  needs  and 
which  the  Congress  needs,  upon  which  to  determine  and  predicate 
legislation  that  is  needed  to  deal  with  labor-management  problems 
and  to  eliminate  improper  practices,  sometimes  illegal  activities 
that  have  developed  in  this  area  of  our  business  or  society,  we  inter- 
rogate these  witnesses  and  they  resort  to  the  fifth  amendment  and 
take  the  position  they  can't  talk  about  their  business,  or  state  what 
business  they  are  in,  what  profession  they  follow,  or  give  any  account 
whatsoever  of  the  activities,  it  is  becoming  clearer  all  the  time  that 
there  is  a  challenge  from  organized  crime  m  this  country  to  the  free- 
enterprise  system  and  then  to  legitimate  businesses  and  also  legitimate 
labor  organizations. 

I  am  hopeful  that  as  we  proceed  and  this  record  is  made,  that  the 
country  will  become  sufficiently  alerted  and  alarmed  to  this  condition, 
and  that  the  Congress,  responding  to  public  sentiment  and  popular 
will,  will  proceed  and  be  able  to  enact  legislation  that  will  go  a  long 
ways  toward  cleaning  up  this  situation,  and  also  to  preventing  its 
recurring:. 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    EST    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12429 

This  is  not  a  pleasant  task  this  committee  has,  but  we  are  going  t<> 
pursue  it  and  let  the  record  be  made.  It  seems  at  times  we  should  be 
discouraged  in  this  effort,  but  the  fight  has  got  to  be  made,  and  the 
committee  will  continue,  even  though  we  may  have  a  continuation 
of  the  privilege  claimed,  the  claimed  privilege,  I  think  there  are  im- 
plications from  it  that  cannot  escape  the  attention  of  the  American 
people  and  of  the  Congress. 

All  right.    You  may  stand  aside. 

The  Chair  would  suggest  that  the  witness  remain  here  for  the 
present.    He  will  be  excused  later. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Chairman,  we  have  had  a  witness  from  Cali- 
fornia regarding  the  situation  from  the  west  coast.  I  would  like  to 
now  call  Mr.  Dan  Sullivan,  from  Miami,  Florida. 

The  Chairman.  You  do  solemnly  swear  the  evidence  you  shall  give 
before  the  Senate  select  committee  shall  be  the  truth,  the  whole  truth, 
and  nothing  but  the  truth,  so  help  you  God? 

Mr.  Sullivan.  I  do. 

TESTIMONY  OF  DANIEL  P.  SULLIVAN 

The  Chairman.  Mr.  Sullivan,  state  your  name,  your  place  of  resi- 
dence and  your  business  or  occupation,  please,  sir. 

Mr.  Sullivan.  My  name  is  Daniel  P.  Sullivan.  I  am  the  operat- 
ing director  of  the  Crime  Commission  of  Greater  Miami,  and  I  reside 
in  the  Miami  area. 

The  Chairman.  Do  you  waive  counsel,  Mr.  Sullivan  ? 

Mr.  Sullivan.  I  do. 

The  Chairman.  The  committee  appreciates  your  willingness  to 
come  here  and  give  your  testimony.  Since  I  have  not  interviewed 
you,  I  will  ask  Mr.  Kennedy  to  proceed  with  the  interrogation. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Sullivan,  you  are  director  of  the  Greater  Miami 
Crime  Commission  ? 

Mr.  Sullivan.  Yes,  I  am. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  How  long  have  3^011  held  that  position  ? 

Mr.  Sullivan.  Since  practically  its  organization  in  1948. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  did  you  do  prior  to  that  time? 

Mr.  Sullivan.  I  was  an  agent  of  the  FBI  from  1932  until  late 
1942.  I  was  in  charge  of  protection  for  Consolidated  Vultee  Aircraft 
Corp.  in  Miami  from  1942  to  1945.  1  was  chief  investigator  for  the 
Florida  State  Racing  Commission  in  1945  and  1946.  1  was  em- 
ployed by  a  group  of  outstanding  citizens  in  Miami  in  1947  to  make 
an  investigation  of  the  infiltration  of  gangsters  into  the  Miami  area. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Sullivan,  have  you  found  through  the  work 
that  you  have  done,  tiiat  this  is  a  major  problem  in  your  section  of  the 
country  ? 

Mr.  Sullivan.  We  found  in  the  Miami  area  the  concentration  of 
nationally  known  gangsters  from  practically  all  parts  of  the  country, 
particularly  east  of  the  Mississippi  River,  from  St.  Paul  down  through 
Chicago,  across  the  Lakes  to  Cleveland,  Detroit,  Buffalo,  Youngstown, 
Warren,  into  Xew7  England,  and  down  through  the  Central  States, 
practically  all  the  eastern  part  of  the  United  States  east  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi River. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Are  there  frequent  meetings  of  these  individuals  in 
the  Miami  area? 


12430  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  Sullivan.  Well,  I  think  it  goes  beyond,  meetings.  In  1948, 
when  we  were  organized  as  a  citizens  effort,  an  organized  citizens 
effort  to  stop  this  gangster  infiltrattion,  they  controlled  three  hotels 
in  Miami  Beach,  and  they  not  only  met  together  but  they  lived  to- 
gether.    They  were  in  daily  contact  with  one  another. 

The  Wofford  Hotel  was  leased  by  the  gangsters.  The  managing 
director  was  Anthony  Carfono.  In  the  crime  hearings  in  1950  there 
were  some  40  major  criminals  who  were  identified  as  guests  of  that 
hotel,  including  starting  with  Frank  Costello  and  running  down  the 
line  through  Joe  Adonis  and  Longy  Zwillman  and  many  of  the  names 
mentioned  here  today,  Jerry  Catena,  Joe  Adonis,  the  DeCarlos  from 
Buffalo  and  Youngstown,  Joe  Massei,  from  Detroit,  and  various  other 
so-called  topnotch  gangsters.  They  associated  intimately.  I  mean 
it  was  not  just  a  casual  association.  It  indicated  that  they  had  a  com- 
mon interest,  and  that  it  was  more  than  a  business  acquaintance  or 
casual  personal  acquaintance. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  mentioned  there  were  three  hotels.  Hotel 
Wofford  was  one  of  them  ? 

Mr.  Sullivan.  The  Wofford  was  one  of  them.  The  second  hotel 
was  called  the  Grand  Hotel.  It  was  a  piece  of  property  located  diag- 
onally across  the  street  from  the  Roney  Plaza  Hotel  in  the  central  part 
of  Miami  Beach,  and  included  the  hotel  itself,  proper,  which  has  con- 
nected with  it  a  barbershop  called  the  Grand  Barbershop,  then  a 
restaurant  called  the  Maxwell  Restaurant,  on  the  corner,  Tahiti  Bar, 
and  around  the  corner  a  restaurant  which  has  had  different  names 
through  the  years,  such  as  the  New  Italian  Restaurant  and  the  Chez 
Paree.  These  were  all  controlled  through  a  lease  in  the  name  of 
a  man  by  the  name  of  Angersola,  a  man  from  Cleveland,  Ohio.  Later 
the  family  bought  the  property.  It  is  now  in  the  name  of  John  Anger- 
sola.  It  is  still  the  major  headquarters  for  the  gangsters  that  come  to 
the  Miami  area,  particularly  Joe  Massei,  who  practically  lives  there  all 
the  time,  and  that  is  more  or  less  their  meeting  place,  and  place  where 
they  receive  messages,  telephone  calls,  and  join  and  meet  one  another. 
Mr.  Kennedy.  Is  there  any  specific  place  in  the  hotel  where  they 
go  to  meet  ? 

Mr.  Sullivan.  They  meet  in  the  hotel,  on  23d  Street  in  front  of  the 
hotel  and  in  the  barbershop,  immediately  next  to  the  hotel. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Chairman,  I  might  say  in  the  course  of  our  in- 
vestigation in  some  of  these  other  cities,  in  ( Cleveland  and  Detroit  par- 
ticularly, we  have  found,  from  many  of  the  individuals  that  we  are 
investigating,  telephone  calls  to  the  barbershop  at  this  hotel,  and  that 
they  are  telephone  calls  sometimes  person  to  person,  but  often  tele- 
phone calls  just  station  to  station  to  this  barbershop,  which,  after 
investigation  and  study  down  there  and  conferences  with  Mr.  Sulli- 
van, there  is  sonic  explanation  for  it. 

They  just  receive  telephone  calls  in  the  barbershop,  is  that  correct  '. 

Mr.  Sullivan.  That  is  where  they  more  or  less  hang  out,  and  thai 

is  right  outside  !  his  hotel,  which  has  been  more  or  less  a  meeting  place 

for  them  since  they  took  it  over  in  the  early  1940's.     They  have  since 

changed  I  he  nameof  the  hotel  to  theCarib  Hotel. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  is  the  name  now? 

Mr.  Sullivan.  Carib,  C-a-r-i-b.  The  bar  on  the  corner,  which  is 
the  Tahiti  Bar,  has  successively  been  controlled  by  gangsters,  rack- 
eteers, and  criminals,  practically  for  the  last  15  years.    Among  the 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12431 

various  persons  that  operated  it  were  a  couple  named  Pete  and  Ollie 
Ornstein  out  of  Chicago.  She  was  the  prime  vice  suspect  on  the  near 
northside  of  Chicago. 

Dave  Yaris,  who  is  a  former  pinball,  slot  machine  operator  from 
the  West  Side  of  Chicago,  who  is  very  close  to  Joe  Massei  and  very 
close  to  the  Cleveland  and  Detroit  crowd,  close  to  the  old  Capone  mob, 
and,  himself,  a  prime  jewel  thief. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Wasn't  he  a  suspect  in  a  murder  also? 
Mr.  Sullivan.  He  was  indicted,  he  and  Lonnie  Patrick  and  Willie 
Block,  were  indicted  for  the  murder  of  James  Kagan,  avIio  was  then 
the  president  of  the  Continental  Press  Service,  which  was  the  national 
bookie  wire  service.     There  were  three  witnesses  to  that  murder. 

One  was  wiped  out  and  one  disappeared,  and,  as  I  remember  it,  the 
third  one  refused  to  testify,  as  a  result  of  which  the  charges  against 
the  three  men  were  dismissed. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Had  Mr.  Ragan  gone  to  the  authorities  before  and 
said  he  expected  to  be  killed  ? 

Mr.  Sullivan.  He  had  made  a  lengthy  statement  to  the  State 
attorney  in  Chicago  some  time  before  his  death  in  anticipation  of 
trouble. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  We  also  have  many  telephone  calls  to  this  Tahiti 
Bar,  Mr.  Chairman,  from  various  cities  and  various  individuals. 
Was  there  a  third  hotel  ? 

Mr.  Sullivan.  The  third  hotel  was  the  Santos  Hotel,  which  was 
leased  by  two  men,  Bennie  Street  and  Dave  Glass,  who  are  more  or 
less  minor  racket  figures  from  Philadelphia.  They  were  employed 
by  Angersola  and  the  Cleveland  and  Detroit  crowd  to  run  the  Grand 
Hotel  at  the  time  they  leased  it.  Subsequently  in  1946  they  took  the 
lease  on  the  Sands  Hotel,  and  they  put  up  $90,000  in  advance  rental 
on  the  hotel,  of  which  $50,000  was  supposed  to  have  been  put  up  by 
Joe  Massei,  who  is  probably  the  major  criminal  figure  in  Detroit,  but 
who  has  resided  permanently  in  Miami  for  the  past  10  or  15  years. 
Street  and  Glass  have  run  the  hotel  since  that  time. 
Mr.  Kennedy.  Speaking  of  Joe  Massei  what  is  his  business  interest 
in  Miami,  now  that  he  lives  there? 

Mr.  Sullivan.  For  some  years  he  has  been  a  partner  in  the  Miami 
Provision  Co.,  which  is  a  provision  company  providing  very  high- 
quality  meats  and  provisions  for  restaurants  and  hotels. 

Air.  Kennedy.  Does  that  give  him  a  very  important  position  as  far 
as  the  economy  of  the  hotels  of  Miami  is  concerned  ? 

Mr.  Sullivan.  Well,  it  gives  him  a  front,  a  legitimate  front  of 
respectability.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  I  do  not  know  that  Air.  Massei 
does  anything  illegal  in  the  Miami  area.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  at  this 
time  and  for  the  last  6  or  7  years  since  we  in  the  crime  commission 
and  the  citizens  in  conjunction  with  the  paper  were  finally  able  to 
close  down  major  gambling  in  the  town,  there  is  little  opportunity  for 
any  large  sources  of  income  to  these  gangsters,  who  come  there  more 
or  less  as  vacationers. 

Massei,  however,  still,  at  least  up  to  about  a  year  or  2  ago,  had  large 
interests,  and  probably  is  the  most  powerful  man  in  the  lottery  busi- 
ness in  Detroit,  although  he  probably  never  leaves  the  Miami  area, 
excepting  when  they  have  trouble,  when  they  have  a  raid  on  a  num- 
bers house  that  upsets  the  status  quo  in  Detroit,  Massei  and  others 
will  go  there. 


12432  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN   THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Is  there  much  contact  between  these  individuals  in 
Miami  and  the  group  down  in  Habana,  Cuba  ? 

Mr.  Sullivan.  Several  of  the  individuals  that  used  the  headquar- 
ters in  Miami  have  moved  into  Habana.  A  number  of  them  moved 
originally  from  Miami  into  Las  Vegas,  when  the  county  closed  down. 

Santo  Trafficante,  who  is  the  key  figure  in  the  Mafia  circles  of 
Tampa,  is  the  operator  of  the  Sans  Souci  Casino  in  Habana.  Tampa 
has  a  fairly  large  Sicilian  population,  and  there  has  been  a  series  of 
gangland  slayings  in  Tampa,  I  guess  in  the  last  25  years. 

Up  until  1953  there  were  21  gang  killings  in  the  20-year  period, 
none  of  which  I  believe  were  ever  solved.  Trafficante  succeeded  his 
father  of  the  same  name,  Santo  Trafficante,  Sr.,  as  a  major  underworld 
racket  figure  in  Tampa. 

The  narcotics  unit  has  found  in  the  past  that  Tampa  was  intimately 
associated  in  the  smuggling  of  narcotics  with  individuals  in  Kansas 
City.  There  was  a  large  investigation  made  in  1943  which  resulted 
in  the  conviction  of  a  man  named  Paul  Antonori,  a  Tampa  figure. 
In  the  early  months  of  1953,  Antonori  was  shot  at  with  shotgun  blasts 
from  a  moving  car  and  was  wounded,  in  about  August  of  1953.  In 
November  of  1953  he  was  killed.  A  few  months  before  the  first 
attack  upon  him,  Trafficante  was  himself  the  victim  of  a  shotgun 
attemtped  murder,  and  escaped  from  it.  These  killings  that  have 
taken  place  have  been  typical  gangland  type  of  killings,  generally 
with  shotgun  blasts  from  moving  automobiles,  and  from  ambush. 
Trafficante  moved  into  Habana  about  3  or  4  years  ago  and  took  over 
the  operation  of  this  casino.  He  visits  the  Miami  area  from  time  to 
time,  apparently  on  his  trips  between  Tampa  and  Habana.  When 
he  took  over  this  casino,  he  took  it  over  from  some  people  who  have 
been  mentioned  in  testimony  here,  one  of  whom  is  one  of  the  Man- 
narino  brothers,  Sammy  Mannarino,  of  New  Kensington,  Pa.  This 
is  a  family  of  racketeers  who  are  considered  to  be  the  bosses  in  gam- 
bling, horse  books,  slot  machines,  in  the  New  Kensington  area.  They 
came  down  to  Miami  in  about  1949,  moved  in  on  a  night  club  called 
Mother  Kelly's  nightclub,  and  from  Mother  Kelly's  they  moved  to  San 
Souci,  and  Sans  Souci,  in  turn,  was  handed  over  to  Trafficante. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Both  Trafficante  and  one  of  the  Mannarinos  attended 
the  meeting  in  Apalachin  ? 

Mr.  Sullivan.  I  think  Gabriel,  known  as  Kelly,  attended. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  say  in  the  Tampa  area  there  have  been  21  gang- 
land murders  over  the  period  of  the  past  20  years  ? 

Mr.  Sullivan.  Yes.  But  there  have  been  several  since  that  time. 
That  was  1953. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  I  understand  from  a  telephone  call  I  got  last  night 
there  was  another  one  yesterday,  so  that  raises  the  total.  Did  many  of 
these  individuals  become  active  in  the  labor  field  or  try  to  move  in  as 
labor-management  consultants  ? 

Mr.  Sullivan.  We  have  had  several  attempts  to  move  in  on  labor 
in  our  area.  We  had  one  attempt  made  2  years  ago,  3  years  ago  now, 
by  a  fellow  named  Charles  Karpf .  He  came  out  of  jail,  came  to  Miami, 
and  started  to  organize  the  jukebox  business,  and  went  through  the 
usual  routine  of  setting  up,  first  of  all,  an  association  representing 
employers  and  then  going  along  with  setting  up  a  union  representing 
the  employees  or  the  maintenance  men,  the  electrical  maintenance  men, 
that  maintain  these  music  boxes. 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES   IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12433 

In  a  matter  of  about  5  or  G  mouths  lie  just  about  organized  60  percent 
of  the  industry  and  I  think  in  a  matter  of  2  or  3  more  months  would 
have  organized  the  entire  coin  machine  industry. 

He  put  on  the  payroll  a  racket  figure  from  Cleveland  named  Anthony 
Ivandazzo,  as  a  public  relations  man. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  He  also  brought  in  an  individual  named  Joseph 
Indelicato,  who  is  a  major  racket  figure  in  this  Sicilian  group. 

Mr.  Sullivan.  Yes,  he  is  known  as  Joe  Scootch. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  S-c-o-o-t-c-h  ? 

Mr.  Sullivan.  Yes.  It  was  only  by  virtue  of  the  help  and  coopera- 
tion of  the  labor  representative  of  the  International  Brotherhood  of 
Electrical  "Workers  who  already  were  representing  these  maintenance- 
men,  that  we  were  able  to  get  the  information  and  finally  expose  him 
in  the  press,  with  the  help  of  the  press,  and  knock  this  fellow  out  of  the 
box. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  he  himself  came  right  out  of  jail  and  he  had 
the  help  and  assistance  of  other  racketeers ;  is  that  right  ? 

Mr.  Sullivan.  That  is  right. 

With  this  collusive  agreement  between  the  operators  themselves  to 
use  him  as  their  representative  in  the  employers  association,  at  the  same 
time  setting  up  a  phony  union. 

He  just  took  over  one  local  there  without  any  permission  or  author- 
ity of  any  kind.  He  took  over  the  Bedding  Workers  Local  of  the 
Upholsterers  International  Union.  When  Mr.  Sol  Hoffman  from 
Philadelphia  found  out  about  it,  he  ordered  that  local  to  cease  and 
desist  from  any  efforts  to  organize  the  coin-machine  industry,  because 
they  had  no  jurisdiction.  Then  he  turned  around  and  used  the  mis- 
cellaneous Textile  Local  of  the  Textile  Workers  Union  to  represent 
these  electrical  maintenancemen. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Where  did  they  carry  on  their  negotiations,  the 
employers,  with  this  union  ? 

Mr.  Sullivan.  They  carried  on  a  lot  of  their  negotiations  in  a  place 
called  the  Painted  Doll,  a  night  club,  which  was  then  controlled  and 
was  supposed  to  be  owned  by  Joe  Scootch. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  WTiere  did  Joe  Scootch  come  from  originally,  do 
you  know  ? 

Mr.  Sulld7an.  I  think  he  came  from  New  York.  He  is  very  close 
to  the  New  York  crowd. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Is  he  related  to  Salvatore  Falcone,  do  you  know  ? 

Mr.  Sullivan.  We  have  received  information  from  a  reliable  source 
that  he  is  a  cousin  of  Falcone,  and  he  is  married  to  a  woman  named 
Gussie  Siller,  who  was  employed  by  Falcone. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  Falcone  originally  came  out  of  Utica  down  to 
Miami? 

Mr.  Sullivan.  Falcone  came  to  Miami  and  opened  up  a  wholesale 
Italian  grocery  store. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  He  was  at  Apalachin,  was  he  not  ? 

Mr.  Sullivan.  Yes,  he  was. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Now,  we  had  a  witness  on  the  stand  just  prior  to 
your  testimony,  James  Plumeri.  Do  you  know  anything  of  him  in 
Miami? 

Mr.  Sullivan.  He  has  a  home  in  Miami  area,  and  he  lives  on 
Harding  Avenue,  8819  Hardin  Avenue,  and  he  is  supposed  to  have  an 
interest  in  a  restaurant  called  Angelo  Palange's,  with  the  Dioguardis 


12434  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

and  Joe  Spasodo.  Joe  Spasodo  who  also,  I  believe,  was  at  the  Apala- 
chin  meeting  was  also  supposed  to  be  a  part  owner  of  it,  and  he  goes 
by  the  name  of  Joe  Palisades. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Palisades  ? 

Mr.  Sullivan.  Yes,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  I  don't  believe  he  was  at  Apalachin  but  he  has  a 
long  criminal  record,  does  he  not  ? 

Mr.  Sullivan.  Yes,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  I  understand  he  was  at  the  meeting  at  Apalachin. 

Mr.  Sullivan.  I  might  mention  that  Trafficante  was  at  that  meeting 
at  Apalachin,  and  on  the  day  that  Anastasia  died  suddenly,  Anastasia 
had  a  room  reserved  at  the  Warwick  Hotel  in  New  York  City,  and  had 
had  that  room  reserved.  It  was  occupied  by  Trafficante  who  moved 
out  of  the  hotel  an  hour  or  two  after  Anastasia  was  murdered. 

At  that  time  apparently  there  were  negotiations  going  on  between 
representatives  of  the  Habana  Hilton  Hotel  and  certain  people  in 
New  York,  Hilton  Hotel  representatives  of  the  Gastronomic  Union  of 
Cuba  for  leasing  the  gambling  concession  at  that  hotel. 

It  is  not  at  all  unbelievable  to  think  that  Trafficante  probably  was 
up  there  with  the  idea  in  mind  of  taking  over  the  gambling  concession 
at  the  Hilton  Hotel.  Anastasia  apparently  also  had  some  interest 
in  this  particular  concession  or  trying  to  obtain  it.  At  any  rate, 
Trafficante  from  Tampa  was  at  Apalachin  on  the  day  of  this  meeting 
and  he  was  also  in  New  York  City  just  15  days  difference  on  the  day 
Anastasia  was  murdered. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  about  "Trigger  Mike"  Capolo?  Has  he  been 
active  down  there  ? 

Mr.  Sullivan.  Mike  Capolo  has  been  in  the  Miami  area  for  15  years, 
I  suppose.  He  is  probably  a  major  racket  figure  in  the  East.  He  as- 
sociates with  practically  all  of  the  known  racketeers  that  come  into 
the  Miami  area  and  he  is  looked  up  to  as  an  important,  prominent 
underworld  figure  by  the  lesser  lights. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  Joe  Rivers  ? 

Mr.  Sullivan.  Joe  Rivers  has  been  in  and  out  of  there  for  some 
years,  and  he  books  horses  on  the  racetracks,  and  he  has  taken  part  in 
floating  crap  games  and  he  is  believed  to  have  an  interest  in  some  of 
the  casinos  in  Habana. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Is  he  also  known  as  Joe  Selisi  ? 

Mr.  Sullivan.  Yes,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Would  you  say,  based  on  your  experience,  Mr.  Sulli- 
van, that  this  is  a  national  problem,  or  a  local  problem  ? 

Mr.  Sullivan.  There  is  no  question  about  it.  It  is  a  national 
problem. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Would  you  say  that  these  people  were  organized? 

Mr.  Sullivan.  Highly  organized. 

Mr. Kennedy.  In  their  operations? 

Mr.  Sullivan.  Yes,  sir.  Nobody,  for  instance,  like  Massei,  could 
control  the  apparently  tremendous  lottery  operations  that  lie  has  in 
Detroit  and  be  able  to  sit  outside  a  barbershop  in  Miami  Beach  day 
after  day,  week  in  and  week  out,  and  month  in  and  month  out,  and  not 
have  a  tremendous  organization  to  carry  on  his  work  for  him.  No 
businessman  could  do  it  unless  he  had  a  tremendous  organization 
behind  him. 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12435 

Certainly,  we  find  this:  When  these  people  come  there,  they  are 
very  close.  For  instance,  Massei  arranged  to  have  a  boat  slip  back 
about  7  or  8  years  ago  for  Tony  Accardo,  who  is  a  topman  of  the 
Capone  mob  in  Chicago.  lie  "was  intimately  acquainted  with  Charley 
Vicetti,  who  is  now  dead,  of  the  Capone  mob.  lie  is  very  close  to  the 
Cleveland  crowd,  and  very  close  to  the  Buffalo  crowd,  and  the  New 
York  and  New  Jersey  crowd.  All  of  these  people  are  very  intimately 
associated  with  one  another,  and  there  is  no  question  in  my  mind  that 
they  are  operating  on  a  national  level,  and  that  they  are  highly 
organized. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  part  would  the  control  of  the  teamsters,  by 
this  group,  have  in  your  area? 

Mr.  Sullivan.  Well,  I  couldn't  say. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  would  be  the  effect  of  the  control  of  the  truck- 
ing in  Miami  in  the  wrong  hands? 

Mr.  Sullivan.  Miami  is  a  long  way  from  the  general  sources  of 
supply  for  practically  all  products,  and  all  of  that  stuff  has  to  be 
shipped  in  there,  and  most  of  it  is  shipped  in  by  bus  and  van. 

It  would  probably  paralyze  the  hotel  industry  there,  if  there  was  a 
strike  of  truckers.     We  have  about  450  or  500  hotels  in  Miami  Beach. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Would  the  control  of  the  union  by  the  underworld 
have  a  great  effect  on  the  economy  of  Miami  ? 

Mr.  Sullivan.  There  is  no  question  about  it.  That  is  very  much 
so. 

Air.  Kennedy.  It  could  paralyze  the  whole  city  ? 

Mr.  Sullivan.  It  certainly  could. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  in  the  hands  of  the  wrong  people,  it  could  cause 
great  havoc  ? 

Mr.  Sullivan.  That  is  right. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Would  you  have  any  suggestions  as  to  how  to  deal 
with  these  problems,  Mr.  Sullivan  ? 

Mr.  Sullivan.  Well  first  of  all,  there  is  a  very  obvious  defect, 
noted  I  guess  by  all  investigators  who  have  run  into  this  mob.  That 
is  that  there  is  no  agency  on  a  city,  county,  State,  or  Federal  level  whose 
job  it  is  primarily  to  dig  in  and  dig  out  these  characters  and  find  out 
who  they  are  and  where  they  are  and  what  they  are  doing.  It  is 
unfortunate  in  this  regard  that  even  in  our  Federal  setup,  each  of 
your  investigative  agencies  has  a  distinct  but  limited  jurisdiction. 

Therefore,  there  is  no  one  agency  that  is  interested  and  has  the 
jurisdiction  to  find  out  everything  there  is  about  these  people.  I 
think  we  need  on  a  Federal  level  what  the  Los  Angeles  Police  Depart- 
ment has  on  the  local  level.  We  need  a  general  racket  intelligence 
squad.  In  other  words,  it  is  not  particularly  interested  or  concerned 
or  responsible  for  prosecution  of  a  specific  offense,  and  not  necessarily 
concerned  with  or  responsible  for  any  court  actions  to  be  taken,  but 
just  a  general  Federal  intelligence  agency  to  do  nothing  but  collect 
information  on  these  gangsters  from  a  national  level. 

We  need  it  badly.  It  has  to  be  on  a  Federal  level  because  no  one 
small  agency  can,  on  a  local  level,  dig  these  fellows  out. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Would  you  say  to  understand  and  deal  with  these 
people  that  you  have  to  know  all  about  their  front  organizations,  and 
their  businesses,  as  well  as  their  illegitimate  operations? 

Mr.  Sullivan.  You  have  to  know  everything  about  them.  I  think 
probably  the  chart  that  Mr.  Martin  got  together  will  wind  up  to  be 


12436  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

one  of  the  most  valuable  things  that  has  ever  been  done  in  connection 
with  this  group,  the  Mafia.  I  take  my  hat  off  to  the  committee  in  that 
regard.  This  is  a  step  in  the  right  direction,  but  it  should  be  ex- 
tended out  to  cover  the  whole  United  States,  showing  the  relationship 
of  these  people,  one  to  another.  And  then  the  same  thing  ought  to 
be  done  on  a  business  level  and  on  the  social  level.  It  should  be  done 
by  an  outfit  that  has  no  responsibility  to  investigate  and  no  respon- 
sibility to  prosecute.  It  should  be  done  as  a  research  organization, 
and  possibly  in  Justice. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Would  you  say  there  was  a  major  effort  on  the  part 
of  these  people  to  infiltrate  into  the  businesses  and  into  labor  unions  ? 

Mr.  Sullivan.  There  is  no  question  about  it.  They  infiltrated  into 
the  Miami  area  in  large  numbers,  particularly  during  the  time  when 
the  gambling  was  open  and  they  were  able  to  get  into  the  gambling 
setup.  We  had  the  whole  New  York  mob — Jake  Lansky,  and  Meyer 
Lansky,  Joe  Adonis,  and  Jimmy  Blue  Eyes,  and  Frank  Erickson — 
and  they  control  all  of  the  gambling  in  the  county  next  to  us  where 
there  is  wide-open  gambling. 

They  had  the  Club  Green  Acres,  and  the  Colonial  Inn,  and  they  had 
the  Club  Bohemia. 

Then  we  had  the  Chicago  mob  that  muscled  in  on  the  S.  and  G. 
Bookmaking  Syndicate,  which  is  the  largest  bookmaking  syndicate, 
I  guess,  in  the  history  of  the  United  States,  and  the  Cap'one  mob 
moved  in  and  took  over  that  syndicate. 

When  we  were  successful  in  closing  down  the  county,  it  cut  off  that 
source.  A  lot  of  these  fellows  moved  out,  and  for  instance,  Anthony 
Carfano,  he  hasn't  been  down  there  to  any  extent  in  the  last  5  or  6 
years,  and  fellows  like  Poggi  Torello,  a  well-known  hoodlum  out  of 
New  York,  he  is  no  longer  down  there.  And  a  lot  of  them  moved  into 
Las  Vegas  and  took  jobs  in  these  gambling  casinos,  and  some  moved 
to  Habana.  But  certainly  in  order  to  get  to  the  root  of  this  situation, 
you  cannot  do  it  on  a  local  level.  It  has  to  be  done  on  a  nationwide 
basis. 

The  Chairman.  We  heard  some  testimony  yesterday  from  Captain 
Hamilton  of  the  Los  Angeles  Police.  As  I  understood  from  his  testi- 
mony, it  is  somewhat  the  same  as  yours  with  respect  to  how  this  prob- 
lem may  be  handled  and  solved.  Would  you  say  that  there  should  be 
established  what  might  be  termed  a  "national  crime  commission" 
vested  with  powers  to  investigate,  subpena,  and  compel  testimony,  and 
to  investigate  something  comparable  to  what  this  committee  has  as  a 
legislative  committee,  and  then  make  available,  to  expose  and  collect 
and  disseminate  factual  information  regarding  organized  crime  in 
this  country,  and  make  that  information  available  to  all  law  enforce- 
ment agencies  throughout  the  country ? 

Mr.  Sullivan.  I  think  it  should  be  something  along  that  line,  Sen- 
ator. The  question  of  whether  or  not  they  should  have  subpena 
powers  is  a  question  that  has  a  lot  of  problems  thrown  around  them. 
But  I  think  the  idea  of  having  some  central  agency,  whatever  you 
want  to  call  it,  possibly  it  should  come  under  Justice,  with  the  re- 
sponsibility for  prosecuting  all  Federal  law,  and  they  have  a  much 
broader  jurisdiction  than  any  other  department. 

There  should  be  some  kind  of  a  commission  or  an  intelligence  unit 
in  Justice  that  has  nothing  to  do  with  prosecutions  but  merely  a  col- 
lection of  evidence  and  transmission  of  that  evidence  to  the  respective 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12437 

Federal  agencies  and  where  it  might  be  advisable  to  pass  on  down  to 
local  agencies. 

The  Chairman.  My  thinking  about  it  at  the  moment  is  that  I  think 
it  deserves  the  best  thought  and  judgment  of  the  Congress  as  this 
information  comes  to  us,  if  we  are  able  to  develop  it,  and  point  up  the 
need  for  some  action  to  be  taken.  I  am  thinking  that  a  committee  such 
as  this,  a  permanent  congressional  committee  is  not  necessarily  the 
right  answer  to  it,  because  those  of  us  in  the  Congress  have  other  re- 
sponsibilities and  this  job  if  it  is  to  be  done  properly,  those  who  direct 
it  and  have  the  responsibility  for  it  will  not  have,  in  my  opinion,  time 
to  do  anything  else. 

There  should  be  full  time  given  to  it.  I  was  thinking  in  terms  of 
some  kind  of  a  national  commission  empowered  and  invested  with  au- 
thority  to  do  something  comparable  to  what  this  committee  is  doing  in 
the  way  of  exposing  and  in  the  way  of  getting  the  factual  information. 
Then  the  proper  dissemination  of  it  would  be  reporting  to  the  Justice 
Department  and  to  any  law  enforcement  agency  in  the  United  States 
having  jurisdiction  of  any  information  or  any  crime  or  any  activity 
that  it  may  expose. 

In  other  words,  if  it  is  on  a  national  scope,  and  if  it  is  organized 
crime  on  a  national  scope,  you  can  only  compete  with  it  by  an  or- 
ganization to  combat  it  on  a  national  scope.  That  is  my  thinking  about 
it  at  the  moment.   Do  you  agree  ? 

Mr.  Sullivan.  I  certainly  agree  with  you  very  heartily,  Senator. 

The  Chairman".  And  maybe  if  nothing  else  constructive  comes  out 
of  these  hearings,  and  I  hope  much  more  will,  we  will  find  that  this 
is  a  problem  of  such  national  scope  and  of  such  magnitude  as  a  threat 
and  a  challenge  to  our  society  that  the  Congress  will  act  in  this  field 
and  take  some  steps,  the  best  we  can  determine,  to  combat  this  grow- 
ing organized  crime  in  this  country. 

I  would  appreciate  it  and  I  know  the  committee  will,  as  long  as 
we  continue,  those  of  you  who  have  this  broad  experience  and  who 
have  followed  this  development  in  this  country  of  this  criminal  under- 
world element  and  its  activities,  we  will  appreciate  your  recommen- 
dations along  these  lines.  I  think  it  is  becoming  evident  that  we  are 
now  approaching  the  time  when  we  have  to  consider  how  to  act  and 
what  to  do  about  it. 

I  think  we  are  establishing  beyond  any  doubt  that  the  condition  pre- 
vails, and  the  evil  is  there  and  it  is  a  challenge  to  this  country  of  ours, 
and  we  have  to  take  some  action. 

Suggestions  and  recommendations  from  people  who  are  in  positions 
such  as  yours  and  who  have  had  this  tremendous  experience  can  be 
very  helpful  to  us.  I  personally  wish  to  thank  you  for  the  cooperation 
you  have  given  the  committee.  I  think  that  you  are  rendering  not 
only  the  committee  and  the  Congress  but  your  country  a  great  service 
in  your  cooperation  with  us  in  helping  us  to  try  to  find  the  answers. 

Senator  Church,  do  you  have  any  comment  ? 

Senator  Church.  I  would  just  concur  in  what  you  have  said,  and 
also  I  would  like  to  convey  to  the  witness  my  appreciation  for  his 
helpfulness  and  for  his  testimony  this  morning. 

Senator  Curtis.  I  have  no  questions. 

The  Chairman.  Is  there  anything  else  ? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Sullivan's  Bureau  has  been  of  great  help  to 
us  in  the  Florida  area  during  this  period  of  time. 


12438  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  Sullivan.  We  are  grateful  to  this  committee  and  we  think  you 
are  doing  a  fine  public  service  in  the  work  you  have  done  so  far,  and 
I  think  if  anything  you  are  getting  into  the  most  serious  phase  of  it 
right  now  when  you  get  into  this  gangster  problem.  We  are  behind 
you  100  percent,  and  I  can  assure  you  on  behalf  of  the  Commission 
that  we  will  continue  to  give  your  committee  every  possible  coopera- 
tion. 

The  Chairman.  Thank  you. 

Senator  Curtis.  Mr.  Chairman,  I  do  have  one  question.  Why  does 
this  gangster  element  move  into  the  field  of  unions  ? 

Mr.  Sullivan.  Well,  we  had  a  representative  of  one  of  the  Senate 
committees  attend  one  of  our  annual  conventions,  and  he  spoke  about 
a  man  who  moved  into  the  union  welfare  business.  They  asked  this 
man  who  had  been  in  some  other  type  of  business  why  he  had  moved 
into  this  type  of  business,  and  he  said : 

"Well  first  of  all,  when  you  have  a  checkoff  system,  you  have  a  foolproof  system 
of  collections.  It  doesn't  cost  you  any  money  to  operate.  Secondly,  if  you  run  into 
one  of  these  insurance  companies  or  welfare  outfits,  you  don't  pay  any  money  out 
and  you  take  it  all  in.  And  thirdly,  you  have  no  inspection  on  the  local,  county, 
State,  or  Federal  level.    So  your  funds  are  not  audited. 

What  it  amounts  to  here  is  that  you  have  a  kind  of  a  vacuum  in  our 
political  economy  whereby  a  great  mass  of  money  can  flow  into  the 
hands  of  individuals  where  no  accounting  and  no  inspection  of  any 
kind. 

Senator  Curtis.  And  there  is  a  situation  created  under  existing 
laws  and  circumstances  that  gives  an  opportunity  for  blackmail  and 
extortion  too,  isn't  there  ? 

Mr.  Sullivan.  That  is  right. 

Senator  Curtis.  And  there  is  also  an  area  where  fear  can  be  an  im- 
portant factor  both  in  dealing  with  employers,  both  large  and  small, 
as  well  as  with  the  membership,  isn't  that  right? 

Mr.  Sullivan.  That  is  right,  and  not  only  that,  you  also  have  this 
situation,  which  you  have  seen  develop  here  in  this  committee,  where 
you  have  these  same  individuals  on  both  sides  of  the  fence.  They 
can  control  the  workers  and  they  control  a  phase  of  management. 

Senator  Curtis.  Well,  I  think  in  your  last  remarks  here  you  have 
made  a  very  definite  and  specific  contribution  to  the  work  of  this 
committee,  because  while  we  are  very  much  interested  in  the  crime 
element,  it  is  a  labor-management  inquiry  that  we  are  conducting,  and 
I  am  so  thoroughly  convinced  that  unless  Ave  have  some  basic  changes 
in  laws  in  regard  to  union  membership  and  the  control  of  members 
over  their  officers  and  the  freedom  of  members  to  get  out  that  we  are 
going  to  have  these  things  go  on.     I  thank  you  very  much. 

Mr.  Sullivan.  Thank  you. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Chairman,  we  have  had  the  situation  now  in 
California  and  Florida.  We  have  had  some  representatives  from 
unions,  from  trucking  in  New  York,  Mr.  Plumeri,  and  also  from  some 
textile  interests  in  New  York  and  in  Pennsylvania. 

Now  I  would  like  to  call  as  a  witness  a  major  truckowner,  an  in- 
dividual who  has  some  interests  with  certain  union  officials  in  the 
Midwest,  and  I  would  like  to  call  Mr.  Busier  Wortman,  of  St.  Louis. 
mitt.ee,  shall  be  the  truth,  the  whole  truth,   and  nothing  but  the 

Mr.  Frank  "Buster"  Wortman. 

Senator  Church.  Will  the  witness  please  come  forward? 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12439 

Do  you  swear  that  the  evidence,  given  before  this  Senate  select  com- 
mittee, shall  be  the  truth,  the  whole  truth,  and  nothing  but  the 
truth,  so  help  you  God? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  do. 

TESTIMONY  OF  FRANK  WORTMAN,  ACCOMPANIED  BY  HIS  COUNSEL, 
MORRIS  A.  SHENKER 

Senator  Church.  Are  you  represented  by  counsel  this  morning  ? 

Mr.  Wortman.  Yes,  sir. 

Senator  Church.  Will  counsel  identify  himself  ? 

Mr.  Shenker.  My  name  is  Morris  A.  Shenker.  I  am  a  lawyer 
from  St.  Louis,  and  my  office  address  is  at  408  Olive  Street. 

Senator  Church.  All  right. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Would  you  identify  yourself? 

Mr.  Wortman.  Frank  Wortman. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  your  address  ? 

Mr.  Wortman.  421  Broadway,  East  St.  Louis,  HI. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  your  business  ? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  claim  my  privilege  on  that. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  privilege? 

Mr.  Wortman.  Under  the  fifth  amendment. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  refuse  to  answer  what  your  business  is? 

Mr.  Wortman.  Yes,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  On  what  grounds  ? 

Mr.  Wortman.  It  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Shenker.  Mr.  Chairman,  at  this  time  I  should  like  to  make  a 
short  statement  pertaining  to  the  situation  that  exists  insofar  as  Mr. 
Wortman  is  concerned,  which  I  think  this  committee  might  be  in- 
terested in. 

I  think  it  might  cast  some  reflections  and  reasons  why  his  fear  is 
well  substantiated  insofar  as  declining  to  answer  any  questions  per- 
taining to  certain  matters. 

The  Chairman.  Counsel  may  make  a  very  brief  statement. 

Mr.  Shenker.  If  it  please,  Mr.  Chairman,  Mr.  Wortman  has  been 
the  subject  of  a  grand- jury  investigation  beginning  with  the  early 
part  of  1954,  which  began  originally  in  the  eastern  district  of  Mis- 
souri and  then  w7as  picked  up  by  the  grand-jury  investigations  in  East 
St.  Louis,  which  is  in  Illinois  where  Mr.  Wortman  resides. 

Continuously  since  1954  he  has  been  the  subject  of  investigation 
by  various  Government  agencies,  the  FBI,  and  the  Bureau  of  Internal 
Revenue,  as  well  as  continuous  grand  jury  investigations. 

No  later  than  this  morning  there  is  an  article  which  appeared  in 
the  usually  reliable  Globe-Democrat,  a  daily  newspaper  in  the  city  of 
St.  Louis,  wherein  it  is  stated  that  a  new  grand  jury  in  the  city  of 
St.  Louis  is  to  be  impaneled  on  July  15  wherein  the  activities  of  Mr. 
Frank  Wortman  are  under  investigation  by  a  Federal  grand  jury 
in  Illinois,  but  that  the  new  grand  jury  that  is  to  be  impaneled  will 
also  be  interested  in  investigating  and  to  continue  to  investigate  his 
activities  in  Missouri. 

The  article  states  they  will  watch  carefully  the  scrutinizing  testi- 
mony of  this  honorable  committee  for  the  purposes  of  determining  as 
to  whether  they  can  connect  Mr.  Wortman  with  any  possible  criminal 
conspiracy  or  any  possible  criminal  action. 


12440  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

The  Chairman.  Is  he  under  indictment  at  the  present  time  ? 

Mr.  Shenker.  He  is  not. 

The  Chairman.  Thank  you  very  much.  He  has  a  constitutional 
right  in  the  fifth  amendment,  if  he  honestly  believes  that  a  truthful 
answer  to  the  questions  might  tend  to  incriminate  him. 

Senator  Curtis.  I  have  listened  attentatively  to  the  counsel's  state- 
ment that  the  witness  has  been  under  investigation  since  1954  by  local, 
State,  and  Federal  authorities.  I  gathered  from  his  statement  that 
this  has  been  in  reference  to  a  number  of  matters.  We  are  charged 
with  securing  information  for  legislative  purposes  in  the  field  of 
labor  and  management.  I  have  a  question  that  couldn't  possibly  in- 
criminate him,  and  I  hope  that  counsel  will  advise  him  to  answer. 

My  question  is,  Is  the  witness  an  officer  or  employee  or  agent  of 
any  labor  union  at  this  time  and  has  he  been  during  the  time  since 
1954? 

(The  witness  consulted  with  counsel.) 

Mr.  Shenker.  Prior  to  the  answer  of  this  question.  Senator  Cur- 
tis, may  I  enlighten  you  on  the  type  of  investigation  that  has  been 
going  on  pertaining  to  this  witness  ? 

Senator  Curtis.  I  have  no  objection,  if  it  is  brief. 

Mr.  Shenker.  One  of  the  facets  of  the  investigation  of  Mr.  Wort- 
man  deals  as  to  his  possible  connections  with  labor  unions  or  as  to  his 
possible  connection  with  employers  insofar  as  influencing  labor  unions. 
This  committee  as  a  matter  of  fact  knows  there  were  numerous  indict- 
ments and  convictions  in  the  St.  Louis  area  of  labor  leaders  and  labor 
representatives,  and  labor  agents,  or  agents  of  various  unions,  and 
in  that  connection  one  of  the  matters  that  official  bodies  were  con- 
cerned with  was  to  see  if  Mr.  Wortman  had  any  influence  or  any  con- 
nection with  any  of  those  labor  agents  or  labor  representatives,  I 
thought  that  the  Senator  should  be  aware  of  that  prior  to  the  answer- 
ing of  that  question. 

In  fact,  as  recently  as  April  22,  1958,  and  I  have  the  newspaper  here 
with  the  headlines  of  the  East  St.  Louis  Journal  reading  "Bricklay- 
ers Wortman's  Aids1',  and  then  it  says  "Judge  Wants  Jury  To  See 
Rackets." 

I  am  familiar  with  that  personally  because  I  represented  one  of  the 
persons  that  was  subpenaed.  One  of  the  things  that  they  were  at- 
tempting to  do  was  to  find  out  if  there  was  any  connection  between 
Mr.  Wortman,  and  whether  he  had  exerted  any  influence  in  connection 
with  the  businesses  being  investigated  in  connection  with  labor.  So 
that  is  actively  under  investigation  by  the  grand  jury  now. 

Senator  Curtis.  Well,  I  am  not  going  to  premise  that  all  unions  are 
corrupt  or  all  union  member's  are  corrupt.  For  very  valid  legislation 
purposes  I  would  like  to  know  if  this  man  who  has  been  under  all  sorts 
of  investigations  as  you  say,  is  an  officer  in  a  labor  union. 

Mr.  Shenker.  Are  you  limiting  it  to  an  officer? 

Senator  Curtis.  An  officer  or  employee  or  an  agent. 

Mr.  Shenker.  Those  are  broad  terms. 

Senator  Curtis.  I  know  they  are. 

Mr.  Shenker.  If  you  are  limiting  it  to  an  officer,  I  will  advise  this 
witness  to  answer,  frankly.  But  when  you  take  in  such  a  catchall 
phrase — 

Senator  Curtis.  That  is  not  a  catchall  phrase.  I  want  to  know  if  he 
is  running  a  labor  union.    These  people  that  come  before  us  here,  a 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12441 

lot  of  them  have  never  been  duly  elected  officers  I  think  this  commit- 
tee is  entitled  to  know  that  and  it  can't  possibly  incriminate  him,  and 
there  is  nothing  incriminat  ing,  per  se,  about  a  labor  union. 

Mr.  Siikxker.  Of  course,  when  you  pose  the  question  in  this  man- 
ner, there  being  such  a  broad  question,  in  view  of  the  investigations,  I 
would  say  that  a  witness  should  and  would  have  some  fears  that  any 
answer  he  may  give  may  tend  to  incriminate  him,  in  view  of  the  extent 
and  scope  of  the  grand- jury  investigations  that  are  in  process. 

I  would  have  no  objection  in  all  frankness,  and  I  certainly  want  to 
be  fair  with  this  committee,  I  would  have  no  objections,  if  he  were  to 
answer  the  strictly  legal  question  or  strict  question,  if  he  is  an  officer  of 
a  labor  union  and  I  would  have  no  objection  to  him  answering  that 
question. 

Senator  Curtis.  Is  he  refusing  to  answer? 

Mr.  Wortman.  Yes ;  I  decline  to  answer. 

(At  this  point,  the  following  members  were  present:  Senators 
McClellan,  Church,  and  Curtis.) 

The  Chairman.  The  Chair  is  going  to  require  you,  now.  You 
have  counsel  present.  If  you  are  going  to  decline  to  answer,  you  are 
going  to  decline  in  the  proper  way.  Bear  that  in  mind.  Your 
counsel  can  give  you  such  advice  as  he  thinks  proper. 

All  right,  proceed,  Mr.  Kennedy. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Are  you  an  officer  of  any  labor  union  ? 

(The  witness  conferred  with  his  counsel.) 

Mr.  Wortman.  No,  I  am  not. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  run  any  labor  unions? 

(The  witness  conferred  with  his  counsel) 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  might  tend 
to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  receive  money  from  certain  labor  unions 
in  St.  Louis  ? 

(The  witness  conferred  with  his  counsel) 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may  incrimi- 
nate me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  are  a  member,  are  you  not,  of  local  562  of  the 
steamfitters  union? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  didn't  hear  that. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  are  a  member,  are  you  not,  of  local  562  of  the 
steamfitters  ? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it 
may  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  How  long  have  you  been  in  that  union? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  did  you  give  as  your  residence,  Mr.  Wort- 
man ? 

Mr.  Wortman.  421  Broadway,  East  St.  Louis. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Is  that  a  hotel  ? 

Mr.  Wortman.  Yes,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  have  a  suite  in  the  hotel,  do  you  ? 

Mr.  Wortman.  Yes,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Who  pays  for  that  ? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  it 
may  incriminate  me. 


12442  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  don't  pay  for  that  out  of  your  own  money,  do 
you,  Mr.  Wortman  ? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Isn't  that  suite  paid  for  by  a  man  by  the  name  of 
Sam  Magin  ? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer.  It  might  tend  to 
incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Could  you  tell  us  who  Sam  Magin  is? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  decline  to  answer. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Isn't  it  correct  that  you  also  have  another  residence 
at  Morris  Hills,  which  is  a  suburb  of  East  St.  Louis  ? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it 
may  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Aren't  some  of  your  assistants  and  aids  also  with 
residences  there:  Dutch  Dowling,  Sam  Magin,  your  brother  Ted 
Wortman,  and  a  nephew,  Gordon  Foster  ?     Is  that  correct  ? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground 
that  it  might  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Isn't  that  area  called  Hoodlum  Hill,  in  East  St. 
Louis  ? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  How  many  times  have  you  been  arrested,  Mr. 
Wortman  ? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  I  don't  know  if  we  have  a  complete  record  here, 
but  we  have  you  down  here  as  arrested  38  times.     Is  that  right? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  includes  20  times  as  a  robbery  suspect,  2 
times  carrying  concealed  weapons,  and  you  were  questioned  in  3 
different  killings. 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground 
it  might  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Can  you  tell  us  anything  about  that  at  all  ? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it 
might  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  were  sentenced  in  1933  to  10  years  at  Leaven- 
worth and  Alcatraz.    Is  that  right  ? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  it 
might  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  were  sentenced  along  with  Blackie  Amies  to 
the  Federal  penitentiary  for  assault  on  a  prohibition  agent,  is  that 
right? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it 
might  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  served  part  time  in  Alcatraz  and  you  were 
released  in  1941,  according  to  our  information,  is  that  right? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it 
might  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Then  after  release  you  were  brought  into  the  south- 
ern Illinois  part  of  the  old  Capone  mob.  You  were  brought  into 
that  group  by  Amies  himself ,  is  that  right? 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12443 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it 

may  (end  to  incriminate  me. 

Air.  Kennedy.  Amies  passed  away  in  1945,  did  he  not  ? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it 
mighl  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  He  was  killed  in  a  gun  fight  in  southern  Illinois? 

Mr.  Wortman.  1  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Trior  to  joining  the  Capone  group,  yon  were  a 
member  of  the  Shelton  gang,  is  thai  correct? 

Mr.  Wortman.  1  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it 
might  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

All-.  Kennedy.  And  yon  had,  during  the  period  of  time  after  1915, 
some  financial  dealings  with  Orville  Hodge,  did  you  not,  up  in 
Illinois  I 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Could  you  tell  us  what  your  financial  arrangements 
have  been  with  Orville  Hodge? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  According  to  the  information  that  we  have,  you 
were  active  in  gambling,  you  own  some  gambling  casinos  around  St. 
Lonis,  is  that  right? 

Mr.  AVortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  you  ran  the  racetrack  wire  service  for  a  period 
of  time? 

Mr.  AAtortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  ran  the  Reliable  News  Service  of  Fairmount 
City,  111.,  and  the  Pioneer  News  Agency  of  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  is  that 
right  ? 

Mr.  AAtortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  the  Pioneer  controlled  the  handbooks  in 
Illinios? 

Mr.  AAr0RTMAN.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Or  part  of  Illinois,  you  might  say.  And  then  also 
controlled  a  good  number  of  the  handbooks  in  the  greater  St.  Louis 
area,  is  that  right? 

Mr.  AAtortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  from  that  you  received  at  least  $25,000  a  week, 
did  you  not,  Mr.  AAtortman  ? 

Mr.  AAtortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  the  gambling  establishments  that  yon  have  or 
have  had,  are  the  Terrace  Lounge,  the  Red  Rooster,  the  Club  Preview, 
the  Paddock,  the  Empire  Club,  7800  Club,  the  RR  Club,  and  the  Junc- 
tion T  Club,  is  that  right  I 

21243—  58— pt.  32 17 


12444  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN   THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  These  clubs  were  operated  in  the  names  of  other 
individuals,  were  they  not? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  state,  do  you  not,  that  you  have  no  bank  ac- 
counts of  your  own  ?  Is  that  right,  Mr.  Wortman  ? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  that  you  used  Ted  Wortman  and  Sam  Magin 
and  George  Frank  as  some  of  the  fronts  for  these  organizations  ? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  also  have  an  interest  in  trucking  with  one  of 
the  big  truckers  in  that  area,  it  that  right  ? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  The  trucking  company  that  you  control  was  the 
Chicago  and  St.  Louis  Express  Co.,  is  that  right? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Could  you  tell  us  what  your  relationship  is  with 
Stephen  Gorman,  of  the  Stephen  Gorman  Bricklaying  Co.? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that 
it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  The  Stephen  Gorman  Bricklaying  Co.  owns  the 
terminals  in  both  St.  Louis  and  Chicago,  out  of  which  your  express 
company  operates,  does  it  not  ? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  that 
it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  According  to  an  affidavit  we  have  here,  or  it  is  a 
statement  rather  than  an  affidavit,  from  the  accountant,  you  owe  the 
Stephen  Gorman  Bricklaying  Co.,  which  owns  these  terminals, 
$67,300,  as  of  June  30, 1958.     Is  that  correct  ? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Could  you  tell  the  committee  why  they  have  not  at- 
tempted to  collect  over  the  period  of  the  last  3  or  4  years  from  you  ? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Isn't  it  correct  that  this  Stephen  Gorman  Bricklay- 
ing Co.  did  some  work  on  your  home? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  According  to  the  statement  of  the  accountant,  rec- 
ords of  the  Gorman  Bricklaying  Co.,  show  that  in  1952  work  was 
performed  on  the  homes  of  Frank  "Buster"  Wortman  and  Elmer 
Bowling.  These  jobs  were  known  as  the  Morris  Hills  job  and  the 
Hilltop  job.  Work  on  Wortman's  house  amounted  to  $8,057  and 
work  on  Dowlirig's  house  amounted  to  $9,7G1,  for  a  total  of  $17,818 
for  the  2  jobs. 

As  of  June  30,  1958,  no  payment  has  been  received  for  this  work*. 
Could  you  explain  that  to  us? 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12445 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  that 
it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Is  is  correct  that  the  reason  that  they  have  not 
billed  you  in  any  of  these  matters  is  that  you  bring  labor  peace  to 
them  in  their  work? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Could  you  tell  us  what  your  relationship  has  been 
with  the  Bricklayers'  Union  in  the  St.  Louis  area? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  know  Leo  Havey,  of  local  1? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Hasn't  it  been  because  of  the  assistance  you  have 
given  to  the  Stephen  Gorman  Bricklaying  Co.,  that  they  have  pro- 
cured or  secured  practically  a  monopoly  on  all  the  public  housing 
projects  in  the  St.  Louis  area  ? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Hasn't  it  been  arranged  for  the  Gorman  Brick- 
laying Co.,  to  take  on  a  public  relations  man  and  a  labor  relations 
man,  who  are  close  associates  of  yours  ? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  The  payroll  records  and  the  cash  receipts  records 
of  that  company  have  disappeared.  Do  you  know  what  happened  to 
them? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  But  it  has  been  established,  Mr.  Wortman,  that 
they  had  placed  on  their  payroll  12  of  your  associates  with  criminal 
records.    Could  you  tell  us  how  that  happened  to  come  about? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  they  received  a  total  of  $35,000  on  4  jobs,  is 
that  right? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  Sam  Magin,  who  went  on  as  a  public  relations 
man,  and  Jimmy  Michaels,  who  went  on  as  a  labor  relations  man, 
received,  out  of  that  amount,  $22,000  for  their  labor  relations  serv- 
ices.   Is  that  right? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Michaels  also  has  a  record  consisting  of  about  25 
arrests.     He  served  13  years  in  Joliet,  in  1938,  is  that  right? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  He  was  arrested  in  connection  with  several  killings 
and  involved  in  a  number  of  gang  fights,  rival  mobs  in  St.  Louis? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 


12446  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Can  you  tell  us  why  Mr.  Gorman  would  place  all 
those  people  on  the  payroll  ? 

Mr.  Wortman.  1  respectfully  refuse  to  answer  on  the  ground  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Another  one  was  Joe  Yanco,  with  a  long  police  rec- 
ord, who  served  10  years  for  robbery,  2  years  for  burglary  and  as- 
sault to  kill. 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Horace  Love,  also  known  as  Frank  Brown, 
sentenced  to  15  years  in  1931  for  the  possession  of  burglary  tools? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  then  about  6  or  8  handbook  operators  and 
gamblers  who  were  also  placed  on  the  payroll. 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Out  of  all  of  those  individuals,  there  was  only  one 
individual,  Robert  Phelps,  who  held  a  union  card.  Can  you  ex- 
plain that  to  us  ? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  also  operate  a  good  number  of  the  juke  boxes, 
in  that  area,  don't  you  ? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  that  is  done  through  the  Plaza  Amusement 
Co.? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  know  John  Scalish,  of  Ohio,  also  in  the 
jukebox  business  ? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  Joey  Glimco,  of  Chicago  ? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  The  stockholders  in  your  Plaza  Amusement  Co. 
were  Louie  "Red"  Smith,  convicted  of  mail  robbery  and  tax  violation; 
"Dutch"  Dowling,  your  enforcer,  with  a  long  criminal  record;  and 
Barney  Barts,  who  is  a  well-known  hoodlum.  Can  you  tell  us  how 
you  got  all  of  those  people  on  your  payroll,  why  you  put  all  of  those 
people  on  your  payroll  ? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  about  the  C.  &  W.  Loan  Co.  of  St.  Louis.  Is 
thai  also  operated  by  you  ? 

(The  witness  conferred  with  his  counsel.) 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Ken  n edy.  And  ( he  Madison  Investment  Co. ? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds 
it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12447 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Could  you  tell  us  what  your  relationship  lias  been 
with  the  Mullen  Trucking  Service? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  the  assets  of  that  company  were  taken  over  ulti- 
mately by  the  Acme  Motor  Co.  Could  you  tell  us  your  relationship 
with  that  company '. 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  The  records  of  the  Mullen  Co.  are  missing,  so  there 
was  no  evidence  of  any  payment  for  the  assets  of  Mullen,  when  Acme 
took  it  over.     Can  you  explain  thatto  us? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  Mullen  is  related  to  you,  is  he  not? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  The  present  president  of  Acme  is  John  Saica,  who 
was  a  Teamster  official. 

Can  you  explain  to  us  how  he  was  set  up  in  business? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  Mr.  Mullen  was  related  to  yOu,  and  Saica  also 
took  over  the  Daisy  Express  Co.  and  F.  M.  Freight  Lines.  Can  you 
tell  us  about  that? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  The  construction  company  whom  we  understand 
you  are  associated  with,  is  the  GB  Realty  Co.,  where  Sam  Magin  is 
a  front  for  you.     Is  that  correct  ? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Cascade  Hills  Construction  Co.,  for  which  Magin 
again  is  a  front  for  you  ? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Could  you  tell  us  your  relationship  with  the  Gormco 
Construction  Co.  ? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  There  was  a  castle  with  a  moat  built  around  it  out 
in  East  St.  Louis,  on  which  work  was  done  by  the  Gorman  Construc- 
tion Co.     Could  you  tell  us  what  you  had  to  do  with  that  ? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  was  the  purpose  of  building  the  castle  with 
the  moat  around  it? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Isn't  it  a  fact  that  free  labor  was  supplied  in  con- 
nection with  that  building? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 


12448  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  were  you  going  to  do  in  that  building,  Mr. 
Wortman  ? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  When  it  was  being  put  up,  you  said  it  was  going  to 
be  used  as  a  boys'  club ;  is  that  right  ? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Wasn't  it  in  fact  going  to  be  used  as  a  gambling 
place  by  you,  Mr.  Wortman  ? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Chairman,  we  have  a  telegram  here  from  Mr. 
Gorman.  I  don't  think  we  will  probably  have  time  to  hear  every  one 
of  the  witnesses  in  connection  with  Mr.  Wortman,  but  he  has  sent  a 
telegram.  We  have  Mr.  Magin  here,  who  perhaps  will  throw  some 
light  on  this  situation. 

The  Chairman.  The  Chair  will  read  this  telegram  just  for  in- 
formation; it  is  not  evidence.  It  is  dated  St.  Louis,  June  30,  1958, 
addressed  to  Mr.  Kennedy  as  counsel  of  the  committee. 

It  says : 

Matters  pertaining  to  financial  transactions  of  Gorman  Bricklaying  Co.  and 
Stephen  Gorman  are  presently  under  Federal  grand  jury  and  Internal  Revenue 
Service  investigation.  In  view  of  this,  I  have  advised  Gorman  to  invoke  con- 
stitutional privilege  against  self-incrimination  when  appearing  before  your  com- 
mittee.    Under  these  circumstances,  may  his  appearance  be  excused. 

It  is  signed  Daniel  B.  Reardon. 

Do  you  know  anything  about  Mr.  Gorman's  connection  and  his  ac- 
tivities with  this  Gorman  Bricklaying  Co.,  Stephen  Gorman  ? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  May  I  ask  you  are  you  now  engaged  in,  or  have  you 
been  engaged  in,  any  legitimate  business  at  all  during  the  past  dozen 
years,  about  which  you  can  testify  without  the  risk  of  self-incrimina- 
tion ? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  Can't  you  tell  us  one  single  thing  you  have  done 
that  you  would  defend  as  being  decent  and  honorable,  one  single 
thing? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  Have  you  any  questions,  Senator  Church? 

Senator  Chttrch.  No  questions. 

The  Chairman.  Senator  Curtis? 

Senator  Curtis.  I  have  no  questions. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Wortman,  can  you  tell  us  what  your  relation- 
ship was  with  Laurence  Callanan,  who  was  the  former  business  agent 
of  local  562? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it 
would  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  He  was  convicted  and  is  presently  serving  time  for 
violation  of  the  Hobbs  Antiracketeering  Act.  Can  you  tell  us  what 
you  know  about  that? 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12449 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Is  it  correct  that  Mr.  Callanan  is  presently  on,  or 
was  as  of  a  year  ago,  still  on  the  payroll  while  he  was  in  prison,  still 
on  the  payroll  of  local  5G2  ? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  According  to  our  information,  you  also  have  a  close 
relationship  with  Paul  Hoolihan,  who  was  former  head  of  local  42  of 
the  Construction  Laborers  Union;  is  that  correct? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  he  is  also  serving  time  for  violation  of  the 
Hobbs  Act. 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Senator  Curtis.  Mr.  Chairman. 

The  Chairman.  Senator  Curtis. 

Senator  Curtis.  Do  you  know  Mr.  Harold  Gibbons  of  the  Team- 
sters Union  ? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Senator  Curtis.  Do  you  know  Mr.  Barney  Baker  of  the  Teamsters 
Union? 

Mr.  Wortman.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Senator  Curtis.  That  is  all,  Mr.  Chairman. 

The  Chairman.  Obviously,  this  witness  is  not  in  a  position  to  an- 
swer any  questions  without  possible  self-incrimination,  according  to 
his  own  judgment  of  his  own  activities  and  his  own  conduct.  So  in 
view  of  that,  we  will  let  the  record  stand  as  it  is. 

Do  you  want  him  any  more  ? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  We  will  need  him  back  some  other  time,  Mr.  Chair- 
man. 

The  Chairman.  The  Chair  will  place  you  under  recognizance  to 
return  to  the  committee  and  give  testimony  at  such  time  as  it  may 
further  desire  to  interrogate  you  without  the  necessity  of  another 
subpena.     Do  you  accept  such  recognizance  ? 

Mr.  Shenker.  That  is  correct,  Mr.  Chairman,  providing  only  one 
thing,  that  the  appearance  shall  not  be  considered  voluntary,  that  it 
will  be  considered  as  though  he  is  appearing  under  subpena. 

The  Chairman.  It  will  be  under  subpena.  He  will  remain  under 
the  present  subpena  subject  to  being  recalled. 

Mr.  Shenker.  The  witness  will  so  conduct  himself. 

The  Chairman.  And,  of  course,  subject  to  reasonable  notice  of  time 
and  place  either  to  you  as  his  counsel  or  to  himself. 

Mr.  Shenker.  Yes,  sir. 

The  Chairman.  All  right.     Stand  aside. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Sam  George  Magin  is  the  next  witness. 

The  Chairman.  Come  forward,  Mr.  Magin. 

Do  you  solemnly  swear  the  evidence  you  shall  give  before  this  Senate 
Select  Committee  shall  be  the  truth,  the  whole  truth,  and  nothing  but 
the  truth,  so  help  }'ou  God  ? 

Mr.  JMagin.  I  do. 


12450  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

TESTIMONY  OF  SAM  MAGIN,  ACCOMPANIED  BY  COUNSEL,  MORRIS  A. 

SHENKER 

The  Chairman.  State  your  name,  your  place  of  residence,  and  your 
business  or  occupation. 

Mr.  Magin.  My  name  is  Sam  Magin,  140  Hillcrest  Drive,  Collins- 
ville,  111. 

The  Chairman.  Collinsville,  111.  ? 

Mr.  Magin.  Yes,  sir. 

The  Chairman.  Did  you  finish  your  answer  ? 

Mr.  Magin.  Yes,  sir. 

The  Chairman.  Are  you  going  to  answer  as  to  your  present  busi- 
ness or  occupation  ? 

Mr.  Magin.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  it  might 
tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Siienker.  Mr.  Chairman,  may  I  make  a  statement  insofar  as 
this  witness  is  concerned,  a  short  statement? 

The  Chairman.  Do  you  have  counsel  present,  Mr.  Magin  ? 

Mr.  Magin.  Yes,  sir. 

The  Chairman.  Let  the  record  show  the  same  counsel  appears  for 
this  witness  as  for  the  preceding  witness. 

Counsel,  we  will  hear  a  brief  statement. 

Mr.  Shenker.  The  record  may  show  that  I  am  appearing  for  Mr. 
Sam  Magin  in  a  special  capacity,  that  I  am  not  his  counsel  in  the  case 
which  is  pending  but  that  his  counsel  could  not  appear  today,  and 
asked  me  since  I  was  here  that  I  participate  in  these  hearings. 

The  Chairman.  Will  you  identify  his  counsel  ? 

Mr.  Shenker.  Ray  M.  Foreman  and  he  is  from  Illinois. 

The  Chairman.  His  address,  if  you  can  give  it. 

Mr.  Shenker.  41  North  Vermilion,  Danville,  111.  I  conferred  with 
him  Wednesday  evening  pertaining  to  this  matter.  The  statement, 
Mr.  Chairman  and  members  of  the  committee,  that  I  wish  to  make 
pertaining  to  Mr.  Magin 

The  Chairman.  Have  you  submitted  that  statement  to  the  com- 
mittee? 

Mr.  Shenker.  It  is  not  a  written  statement.  It  is  just  a  document 
to  refresh  my  memory. 

The  Chairman.  I  thought  you  were  going  to  read  a  long  statement. 

Mr.  Shenker.  No,  Mr.  Chairman,  I  wouldn't  do  that.  Mr.  Magin 
is  presently  under  indictment  in  the  District  Court  of  the  United 
States  for  the  Eastern  District  of  Illinois,  and  that  is  on  criminal 
information  charging  the  violation  of  section  1621  and  section  10001 
of  title  18  of  the  United  States  Code, 

This  indictment  was  returned  some  time  ago.  Motions  on  the  mat- 
ter were  heard  yesterday,  and  the  matter,  as  of  yesterday,  was  set 
for  trial  for  July  15,  this  year. 

Furthermore,  Mr.  Magin  has  been  and  is  the  subject  of  an  extensive 
investigation  that  has  been  carried  on  and  is  being  carried  on  in  the 
eastern  district  of  Illinois  insofar  as  his  activities  as  allegedly  being 
connected  with  persons  of  bad  reputation  and  persons  who  are  gen- 
erally, according  to  the  press  at  least,  considered  as  being  engaged  in 
unlawful  occupations. 

The  Chairman.  What  is  the  charge  in  the  indictment? 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12451 

Mr.  Shenker.  The  indictment  specifically  charges  on  four  counts, 
and  charges  perjury  before  the  grand  jury  iu  L956.  The  perjury 
stems,  apparently,  according  to  the  indictment,  from  allegations  that 

in  answering;  his  questions  pertaining  to  his  associations  and  business 
affairs,  that  is,  as  to  his  associations  in  business  and  business  affairs, 
that  he  did  not  truthfully,  according  to  the  charge,  state  or  reveal  to 
the  grand  jury  his  associations;  (hat  Mr.  Magin  has  also  been  (he  sub- 
ject of  the  investigation  since  about  11)55  in  connection  with  many 
of  the  matters  about  which  this  committee  sought  information  just  a 
few  minutes  ago  from  Mr.  Frank  Wortman,  and  his  income-tax  mat- 
ters are  also  being-  under  investigation. 

The  Chairman.  We  are  not  excusing  people  from  testifying  just 
because  there  may  be  some  investigation  pending  against  them.  Where 
there  is  an  indictment  that  is  specific  with  regard  to  some  offense  we 
have  generally  not  interrogated  them  about  the  subject  matter  of  the 
indictment.  1  think,  maybe,  that  if  you  have  a  copy  of  the  indictment, 
you  might  pass  it  up  to  us  and  let  us  see  it. 

Mr.  Shenker.  I  shall  be  glad  to.    I  have  only  one  copy. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  We  have  one. 

The  Chairman.  We  have  a  copy.    Thank  you. 

If  the  witness  will  not  tell  his  business  or  occupation,  I  conceive  he 
is  going  to  talk  less  about  any  other  things,  or  certainly  not  any  more. 

Mr.  Counsel,  you  can  proceed  the  best  you  can. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Magin,  have  you  got  some  interests  in  certain 
of  the  gambling  clubs  around  St.  Louis  ? 

Mr.  Magin.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  it  may 
tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr,  Kennedy.  According  to  the  information  we  have,  you  have  at 
least  a  front  interest  in  the  R.  R.  Club,  the  Junction  T  Club,  the  Cash 
Sales  Co.,  the  Empire  Club,  and  the  7800  Club.    Is  that  correct  ? 

Mr.  Magin.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  it  may 
tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Isn't  it  a  fact  that  you  are  holding  Mr.  Wortman's 
interests  in  those  various  gambling  and  other  kinds  of  clubs  ? 

Mr.  Magin.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  it  may 
tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Could  you  tell  us  what  your  relationship  has  been 
with  Mr.  Wortman  ? 

Mr.  Magin.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  it  may 
tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Then  would  you  tell  us  what  your  relationship  has 
been  with  Mr.  Gorman  ? 

Mr.  Magin.  I  respectfully  refuse  to  answer  on  the  grounds  it  may 
tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  about  the  GB  Realty  Co.,  one  of  Gorman's 
companies?  Can  you  tell  us  what  your  relationship  has  been  with 
that  ? 

Mr.  Magin.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  it  may 
tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  the  Cascade  Hills  Development  Co.,  another 
company  ? 

Mr.  Magin.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  it  may 
tend  to  incriminate  me. 


12452  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Gormco  Construction  Co.;  can  you  tell  us  about 
that? 

Mr.  Magin.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  it  may 
tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  We  understand  that  Mr.  Gorman  has  placed  you  on 
the  payroll  as  a  labor-relations  expert.  Can  you  tell  us  what  your  ex- 
perience has  been  in  that  field  ? 

Mr.  Magin.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may 
tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Have  you  ever  had  any  labor-relations  experience? 

Mr.  Magin.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  it  may 
tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Isn't  it  a  fact  that  you  were  just  placed  on  the  pay- 
roll as  a  means  of  making  payoffs  to  Mr.  Wortman  ? 

Mr.  Magin.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  it  may 
tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  wasn't  that  part  of  the  agreement  between  Mr. 
Gorman  and  Mr.  Wortman,  whereby  Mr.  Wortman  would  not  charge 
Mr.  Gorman  for  these  various  expenses  ? 

Mr.  Magin.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  it  may 
tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Have  you  ever  been  a  member  of  any  labor  union  ? 

Mr.  Magin.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may 
tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Can  you  tell  us  about  this  castle  around  which  the 
moat  was  built  ? 

Mr.  Magin.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  it  may 
tend  to  incriminate  me. 

(At  this  point,  Senator  McClellan  left  the  room.) 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Supposedly  that  was  built  by  you  and  for  you. 

Can  you  tell  us  what  the  situation  was? 

Mr.  Magin.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  it  may 
tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  was  the  reason  for  putting  the  moat  around 
the  building? 

Mr.  Magin.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  it  may 
tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Can  you  tell  the  committee  how  you  were  able  to 
obtain  free  labor  on  that  operation  ? 

Mr.  Magin.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  it  may 
tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Can  you  tell  us  about  the  Madison  Investments  Co? 

Mr.  Magin.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may 
tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Can  you  tell  us  why  you  pay  the  expenses  for  Mr. 
Wortman's  hotel  suite  at  the  Broadview  Hotel  ? 

Mr.  Magin.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may 
tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Can  you  tell  us  what  the  relationship  is  between  you, 
Wortman,  and  Gorham,  Mr.  Magin  ? 

Mr.  Magin.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  may 
tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  is  all. 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12453 

Senator  Church.  The  witness  may  stand  aside. 

Are  there  any  other  questions  ? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  I  would  like  for  him  to  remain  under  the  same 
subpena. 

Mr.  Siienker.  The  situation  is  that  he  will  be  available  at  the  call 
of  the  committee  upon  reasonable  notice,  providing,  however,  that  it 
is  understood  that  any  answer  will  be  considered  as  replying  to  a 
subpena. 

Senator  Church.  The  present  subpena  will  continue  under  those 
arrangements,  then. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Chairman,  we  have  had  a  compilation  made  of 
the  number  of  arrests  charged  to  persons  who  appeared  on  the  re- 
lations chart.    Can  we  put  that  into  the  record  through  Mr.  Martin? 

Senator  Church.  Yes. 

TESTIMONY  OF  GEORGE  H.  MARTIN— Resumed 

Senator  Church.  Mr.  Martin,  I  understand  you  have  been  sworn 
in  connection  with  the  testimony  given  on  the  relations  matter. 

Mr.  Martin.  That  is  correct. 

Senator  Church.  Would  you  identify  yourself  for  the  record, 
please  ? 

Mr.  Martin.  George  Martin,  investigator  for  the  committee. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Could  you  tell  us,  Mr.  Martin,  if  you  have  made  a 
compilation  of  the  number  of  arrests  charged  to  persons  who  appear 
on  the  relationship  chart? 

Mr.  Martin.  Yes.  There  was  a  total  of  741  arrests.  In  the  category 
involving  crimes  where  firearms  or  the  use  of  firearms  appears,  such 
as  carrying  concealed  weapons,  armed  robbery,  assault  with  intent  to 
kill,  felonious  wounding,  et  cetera,  the  total  was  212.  In  the  category 
of  suspicion  of  murder,  attempted  murder,  conspiracy  to  commit 
murder,  murder,  the  total  was  97.  Violations  of  the  prohibition  law 
and  since  repeal,  the  alcohol  tax  laws,  such  as  possession  of  untaxed 
liquor,  operation  of  unregistered  stills,  the  total  was  86. 

Violations  of  various  Federal  statutes,  such  as  the  wage  and  hour 
laws,  OPA  regulations,  internal  revenue,  tariff,  pure  food  and  drug, 
tax  laws,  the  total  is  52. 

(At  this  point,  Senator  McClellan  entered  the  hearing  room.) 

Mr.  Martin.  There  were  21  arrests  for  kidnaping  and  attempted 
kidnaping.  There  were  112  arrests  on  gambling  charges.  In  the  cate- 
gory of  extortion,  blackmail,  and  coercion  there  were  39  arrests.  In 
the  category  which  includes  burglary,  grand  larceny,  larceny,  break- 
ing and  entering,  and  forgery  there  were  78  arrests.  There  were  32 
arrests  for  violations  on  narcotics  charges,  11  arrests  on  charges  of 
counterfeiting,  and  there  was  1  charge  of  impersonating  an  officer. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Thank  you. 

The  Chairman.  Call  the  next  witness. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  The  next  witness  will  be  Mr.  Chait. 

The  Chairman.  You  do  solemnly  swear  the  evidence  you  shall  give 
before  this  Senate  select  committee  shall  be  the  truth,  the  whole 
truth,  and  nothing  but  the  truth,  so  help  you  God? 

Mr.  Chait.  I  do. 


12454  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IX    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

TESTIMONY  OF  ABRAHAM  CHAIT,  ACCOMPANIED  BY  COUNSEL, 
SEYMOUR  WALDMAN 

The  Chairman.  State  your  name,  your  place  of  residence,  and 
your  business  or  occupation. 

Mr.  Chait.  My  name  is  Abraham  Chait.  I  live  at  720  Fort  Wash- 
ington Avenue,  New  York  City. 

The  Chairman.  What  is  your  business  or  occupation? 

Mr.  Chait.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  that  it  might  tend 
to  make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 

Mr.  Waldman.  May  I  make  a  brief  statement  in  that  connec- 
tion? 

The  Chairman.  Do  you  have  counsel  with  you  ? 

Mr.  Chait.  I  do. 

The  Chairman.  Counsel,  identify  yourself  for  the  record. 

Mr.  Waldman.  Seymour  Waldman,  305  Broadway,  New  York, 
N.  Y. 

May  I  make  a  brief  statement,  Mr.  Chairman? 

The  Chairman.  You  may  make  a  brief  statement. 

Mr.  Waldman.  Mr.  Chairman,  Mr.  Chait  is  presently  under  in- 
vestigation by  the  Intelligence  Unit  of  the  Treasury  Department,  by 
the  United  States  grand  jury  for  the  southern  district  of  New  York, 
and  by  the  New  York  State  grand  jury  impaneled  in  the  comity 
of  New  York. 

In  connection  with  the  impaneling  of  the  Federal  grand  jury  for 
the  southern  district  of  New  York,  Mr.  Chait  was  one  of  the  per- 
sons singled  out  for  special  mention  by  the  United  States  attorney. 

In  the  light  of  these  investigations,  we  have  advised  Mr.  Chait  to 
avail  himself  of  his  privileges  under  the  fifth  amendment  to  the 
United  States  Constitution. 

The  Chairman.  Proceed,  Mr.  Kennedy.  He  is  not  under  indict- 
ment. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Chait,  do  you  have  a  trucking  interest  ? 

Mr.  Chait.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  that  it  might  tend 
to  make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Isn't  it  a  fact  that  you  are  the  major  trucker  in 
the  garment  area  in  New  York  City? 

Mr.  Chait.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  that  it  might  tend 
to  make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 

(At  this  point  Senator  Curtis  left  the  hearing  room.) 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Could  you  tell  us  when  you  were  born  I 

Mr.  Chait.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  that  it  might  tend 
to  make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Even  the  time  of  your  birth  would  make  you  a  wit- 
ness against  yourself  if  you  gave  that  information  to  the  committee? 

Mr.  Chait.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  that 
I  stated. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Chait,  we  have  information  you  were  born  in 
either  1902  or  1899.     Could  you  straighten  that  out  for  us? 

Mr.  Chait.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  it 
might  tend  to  make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  did  you  give  as  your  residence? 

Mr.  Chait.  702  Fort  Washington  Avenue,  New  York  City. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  is  apartment  6-K? 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12455 

Mr.  Chait.  That  is  correct. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  do  you  have  any  other  residences? 

Mr.  Chait.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  it 
might  tend  to  make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Your  residence,  according  to  our  information,  is 
K.  F.  D.  1,  Peekskill  Hollow  Road,  Putnam  Valley,  N.  Y.;  is  that 
right? 

Mr.  Chait.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  that 
it  might  tend  to  make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Your  wife's  name  is  what,  Mr.  Chait? 

Mr.  Chait.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  it 
might  tend  to  make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Your  wife's  name  is  Sarah,  and  you  have  a  son  by 
the  name  of  Burton,  do  you  not  \ 

Mr.  Chait.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  that 
it  might  tend  to  make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  isn't  it  correct  that  these  individuals  act  as 
fronts  for  you  in  many  of  your  organizations? 

Mr.  Chait.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  it 
might  tend  to  make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Could  you  tell  us  what  your  police  record  is,  Mr. 
Chait? 

Mr.  Chait.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  it 
might  tend  to  make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  were  arrested  on  January  25,  1917,  in  Man- 
hattan for  grand  larceny  and  received  a  suspended  sentence;  is  that 
right? 

Mr.  Chait.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  it 
might  tend  to  make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  In  1918,  concealed  weapons,  grand  larceny  second 
degree,  and  you  received  a  sentence  of  6  to  11  years  in  Sing  Sing? 

Mr.  Chait.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  it 
might  tend  to  make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  in  1933  you  were  arrested  in  connection  with 
the  fact  that  you  assisted  in  securing  license  plates  for  the  car  which 
a  Vera  Miller,  a  South  Dakota  killer,  used  to  evade  arrest  in  fleeing 
from  the  law  ( 

Mr.  Chait.  I  refuse  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  that  it 
might  tend  to  make  me  testify  against  myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  The  trucking  company  that  you  operate  is  the 
Champion  Trucking  Co.  of  217  West  36th  Street',  is  it  not? 

Mr.  Chait.  I  refuse  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  it  might 
tend  to  make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 

(The  witness  conferred  with  his  counsel.) 

Mi-.  Kennedy.  And  the  owner  of  those  companies  is  your  wife 
Sarah  Chait,  and  Edwin  Alexander,  who  is  related  to  you  by  marri- 
age: is  that  right  '. 

Mr.  Chait.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  that  it 
might  tend  to  make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 

(At  this  point  Senator  Curtis  returned  to  the  hearing  room.) 

Mr.  Kennedy.  In  our  investigation  of  Johnny  Dio  and  the  paper 
locals  in  Xew  York,  we  found  that  Mr.  Tony  Ducks,  the  associate  of 
Johnny  Dio,  used  that  Champion  Trucking  Co.  as  his  headquarters 
on  many  occasions.    Could  you  tell  us  about  that  \ 


12456  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  Ciiait.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  that 
it  might  tend  to  make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  also  that  individuals  who  were  there  almost 
every  day  were  Dick  Kaminetsky  and  Carmine  Tramunti,  who  was 
the  chief  lieutenant  of  "Tony  Ducks"  Corallo.  Could  you  tell  us  about 
that? 

Mr.  Chait.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  it  might 
tend  to  make  me  a  wutness  against  myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Could  you  tell  us  what  your  relationship  has  been 
with  these  underworld  figures? 

Mr.  Chait.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  that 
it  might  tend  to  make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  also  have  an  interest  in  the  Burton  Transporta- 
tion Co.  of  217  West  36th  Street  ? 

Mr.  Chait.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  it  might 
tend  to  make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  This  company  is  located,  on  the  same  premises  as 
Champion  Trucking  Co.,  is  it  not  ? 

Mr.  Chait.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  that 
it  might  tend  to  make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  then  the  J.  B.  Express  Co.,  is  that  another  com- 
pany of  yours  ? 

Mr.  Chait.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  it  might 
tend  to  make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Does  Joseph  Berger,  the  associate  of  Johnny  Dio, 
have  anything  to  do  with  that  company  ? 

Mr.  Chait.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  it 
might  tend  to  make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Would  you  tell  me  what  relationships  you  have  had 
with  the  Friedman's  Express,  of  Wilkes-Barre,  Pa.  ? 

Mr.  Chait.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  it 
might  tend  to  make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  the  Faultless  Trucking  Co.  of  31st  Street? 

Mr.  Chatt.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  it 
might  tend  to  make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 

Air.  Kennedy.  You  still  have  a  financial  interest  in  that  company, 
do  you  not? 

Mr.  Chait.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  that  it 
might  tend  to  make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  is  29  East  31st  Street.  Was  there  ever  a  firm 
called  the  Abraham  Chait  Co.  of  West  36th  Street? 

Mr.  Chait.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  it 
might  tend  to  make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  for  a  Avhile  you  had  an  interest  in  the  Algam 
Corp. ;  did  you  not  ? 

Mr.  Ciiait.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  it 
might  tend  to  make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  was  a  holding  company  for  the  Yonkers  Race- 
way ;  is  that  correct  ? 

Mr.  Chait.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  it 
might  tend  to  make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  could  you  tell  us  about  the  horses  and  stables 
that  you  own,  Mr.  Chait  ? 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12457 

Mr.  Chait.  I  decline' to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  it 
might  tend  to  make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  We  have  information  that  the  Putnam  Stables  was 
operated  by  your  wife  and  your  son;  is  that  correct  '. 

Mr.  Chait.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  it 
might,  tend  to  make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  the  Good  News  Stables,  of  Wilkes-Barre,  Pa.? 

Mr.  Chait.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  it 
might  tend  to  make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  also  you  have  an  interest  in  Smart  Sue,  Inc., 
of  1375  Broadway? 

Mr.  Chait.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  it 
might  make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Isn't  this  the  real  key  shop  in  the  New  York  area, 
Mr.  Chait? 

Mr.  Chait.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  it 
might  tend  to  make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Is  this  the  jobbers  shop  for  all  your  enterprises  and 
operations  ? 

Mr.  Chait.  I  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the  grounds  it 
might  tend  to  make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  don't  you  have  an  interest  in  Citation  Frocks, 
Inc.,  of  225  West  35th  Street,  New  York  City  ? 

Mr.  Chait.  I  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the  grounds  it  might 
tend  to  make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  Prestige  Frocks,  Inc.,  at  240  West  35th  Street  ? 

Mr.  Chait.  I  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the  grounds  it  might 
tend  to  make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Isn't  it  a  fact  that  Sarah  Chait  appears  as  the  treas- 
surer  of  that  company  ? 

Mr.  Chait.  I  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the  grounds  that  it 
might  make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  How  about  Madison  Wearing  Apparel,  of  Wilkes- 
Barre,  Pa.?    Can  you  tell  us  if  you  have  a  financial  interest  in  that? 

Mr.  Chait.  I  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the  grounds  that  it 
might  tend  to  make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  The  Miracle  Dress  Co.,  of  Pennsylvania? 

Mr.  Chait.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  it  might 
tend  to  make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Jackie  Kay,  Inc.,  of  237  West  35th  Street,  New 
York  City? 

Mr.  Chait.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  it 
might  tend  to  make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Anita  Dress  Co.,  of  Kingston,  Pa.  ? 

Mr.  Chait.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  it 
might  tend  to  make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Sandra  Joyce,  Inc.  ? 

Mr.  Chait.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  it 
might  tend  to  make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Standard  Dress  Co.,  of  260  West  39th  Street,  New 
York  City? 

Mr.  Chait.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  it 
might  tend  to  make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 


12458  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  isn't  it  correct  that  you  are  a  partner  in  the  Tri- 
Lex  Pawn  Shop,  Inc.,  and  the  Tri-Lex  Check  Cashing  Service,  Inc., 
New  York  City,  104  East  125th  Street  ? 

Mr.  Chait.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  that 
it  might  tend  to  make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  As  far  as  your  associates,  isn't  Joey  Palisades,  known 
also  as  Joseph  Rosato,  an  associate  of  yours  ? 

Mr.  Chait.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  it  may 
tend  to  make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  we  spoke  about  Dick  Kaminetsky.  Also  Sam 
Kaminetsky.     Isn't  he  a  strongarm  man  for  you,  Mr.  Chait? 

Mr.  Chait.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  it 
might  tend  to  make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  Anthony  Strollo,  who  is  also  known  as  Tony 
Bender,  one  of  the  most  important  narcotic  traffickers  in  the  United 
States  ?    Isn't  he  a  close  associate  of  yours  ? 

Mr.  Chait.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  it 
might  tend  to  make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  "Tony  Ducks''  we  spoke  of.  And  Benjamin 
Levine,  also  a  narcotics  violator  in  New  York  City,  and  an  associate 
of  Frank  Costello.    Isn't  he  a  close  associate  of  yours  ? 

Mr.  Chait.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  it 
may  tend  to  make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Sydney  Ellis,  of  Connecticut,  a  garment  manu- 
facturer ;  isn't  he  a  close  associate  of  yours  ? 

Mr.  Chait.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  that 
it  might  tend  to  make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  Edwin  Alexander,  isn't  he  used  by  you  as  a 
front  ? 

Mr.  Chait.  I  didn't  hear  the  question. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Isn't  Edwin  Alexander  used  by  you  as  a  front  for 
your  various  operations  ? 

Mr.  Chait.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  that 
it  may  tend  to  make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  Sam  Berger,  formerly  head  of  Local  102  of  the 
ILGWU ;  isn't  he  a  close  associate  of  yours  ? 

Mr.  Chait.  1  refuse  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  it 
might  tend  to  make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 

Air.  Kennedy.  Can  you  tell  us  what  the  relationship  has  been  that 
has  existed  between  you  and  Harry  Toff  el,  who  owns  the  Balmoral 
Hotel  in  Miami '. 

Mr.  Chait.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  that 
it  might  tend  to  make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 

Mi-.  Kennedy.  He  owns  and  operates  two  dress  companies,  does  he 
no)  ( 

Mr.  Chait.  1  refuse  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  that  it 
might  tend  to  make  me  a  witness  against  myself . 

Mi-.  Kennedy.  Aren't  you  in  business  with  Mi-.  Totl'el  in  Florida? 

Mr.  Chait.  1  refuse  to  answer  thai  question  on  the  grounds  it 
mighl  tend  to  make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Isn't  it  correct  that  you  are  in  the  Charlotte  County 
Land  &  Title  Co.,  Punta  Gorda>Fla.«  ' 

Mr.  Chait.  I  refuse  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  that  it 
might  tend  to  make  me  a  wit  ness  against  myself. 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12459 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  isn't  it  a  fact  that  you  and  Mr.  Toffel  and  cer- 
tain others  were  the  ones  that  were  responsible  for  keeping  the  em- 
ployees in  Pennsylvania  nonunion? 

Mr.  Ciiait.  I  refuse  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  that  it 
might  tend  to  make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  is,  the  various  employees  of  these  dress  shops, 
and  wasn't  it  you,  through  your  efforts,  that  kept  the  manufacturers 
from  signing  a  contract  with  the  ILGWU  this  year '. 

Mr.  Ciiait.  I  refuse  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  that  it 
might  tend  to  make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  hasn't  it  been  a  fact  that  you  have  done  that 
because  of  the  key  position  that  you  hold  in  controlling  the  trucking 
in  the  garment  area? 

Mr.  Ciiait.  I  refuse  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  that  it 
might  tend  to  make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Chairman,  this  witness  is  an  extremely  import- 
ant figure  in  New  York,  and  an  extremely  important  figure  in  the 
underworld,  because  of  his  key  position  in  the  garment  industry.  He 
controls  this  trucking.  And  as  "Buster"  Wortman  operates  in  the 
Midwest.  Mr.  Chait  operates  in  the  East. 

He  has  control  over  the  lives  of  many,  many  individuals.  He  is  a 
close  associate  and  has  a  close  relationship  with  many  underworld 
figures  who  are  in  unions,  such  as  "Tony  Ducks"  Corallo,  and  Sam 
Berger,  formerly  with  Local  102  of  the  ILGWU,  and  a  number  of 
others. 

Mr.  Chairman.  Do  you  want  to  comment  on  that  statement? 

Mr.  Chait.  Xo,  sir. 

The  Chairman.  Sir? 

Mr.  Chait.  No,  sir. 

The  Chairman.  Have  you  got  any  legitimate  business  whatsoever 
about  which  you  could  talk,  give  testimony,  without  the  risk  of  self- 
incrimination? 

Mr.  Ciiait.  I  refuse  to  answer  that  question,  sir,  on  the  grounds  that 
it  might  tend  to  make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 

The  Chairman.  I  wouldn't  be  reckless  at  all  in  assuming  that  if 
you  did  answer  truthfully,  it  would  possibly  be  self -incriminating;  is 
that  correct  ? 

Mr.  Ciiait.  Well,  you  can  assume  what  you  please. 

The  Chairman.  I  know  I  can.  I  just  asked  you  if  I  would  be 
correct. 

Mr.  Ciiait.  I  wouldn't  know. 

The  Chairman.  You  wouldn't  know  ?  Don't  you  know  what  kind  of 
businesses  you  are  in? 

Mr.  Chait.  Well,  I  don't  know  what  you  want  to  assume. 
The  Chairman.  I  will  do  the  assuming.    I  ask  you,  do  you  know 
what  kinds  of  businesses  you  are  in? 

Mr.  Chait.  I  refuse  to  answer  on  the  grounds  that  if  I  do,  it  might 
tend  to  make  me  a  witness  against  mysel  f. 

The  Chairman:  T  think  it  would,  to  that  extent.  The  question  is. 
are  they  legitimate  businesses  or  are  they  something  you  can  talk 
about  ?    Which  do  you  say  they  a  re  \ 

Mr.  Chait.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  that  it  might  tend 
to  make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 

21243^58—  pt.  32 18 


12460  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

The  Chairman.  I  believe  you  said  you  are  married  ? 

Mr.  Chait.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  it  might  tend  to 
make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 

The  Chairman.  Do  you  have  children  ? 

Mr.  Chait.  I  decline  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  it 
might  tend  to  make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 

The  Chairman.  You  think  it  might  tend  to  incriminate  you  ? 

Mr.  Chait.  I  gave  the  answer  to  the  question,  sir. 

The  Chairman.  I  asked  you  another  one.  Do  you  think  it  might 
tend  to  incriminate  you  ? 

Mr.  Chait.  I  said  it  might  tend  to  make  me  a  witness  against 
myself. 

The  Chairman.  And  making  you  a  witness  against  yourself  might 
tend  to  incriminate  you  ? 

Mr.  Chait.  It  might  make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 

The  Chairman.  Will  you  answer  or  are  you  refusing  to  answer 
whether  it  might  tend  to  incriminate  you  ? 

Mr.  Chait.  I  am  answering  the  question  in  my  own  way  and  saying 
what  I  mean  to  say.  What  I  mean  to  say  is  that  it  might  make  me  a 
witness  against  myself. 

The  Chairman.  And  if  it  did  make  you  a  witness  against  yourself, 
you  think  it  might  incriminate  you  % 

Mr.  Chait.  We  are  going  a  little  further  now  than  I  want  to  go. 

The  Chairman.  I  am  going  further  than  you  want  to  go  ? 

Mr.  Chait.  You  are  making  me  go  further  than  I  want  to  go. 

The  Chairman.  I  am  making  you  go  further  than  you  want  to  go  ? 

Mr.  Chait.  I  went  as  far  as  I  want  to  go. 

The  Chairman.  You  don't  want  to  say  that  it  might  incriminate 
you? 

Mr.  Chait.  I  don't  think  it  is  necessary. 

The  Chairman.  You  think  you  are  just  staying  right  up  to  the 
borderline  of  whatever  is  necessary  to  keep  you  from  testifying;  is 
that  it  ? 

Mr.  Chait.  I  don't  know  about  the  borderline. 

The  Chairman.  I  am  asking  you  these  questions  just  to  show  the 
character  of  people  we  are  dealing  with,  and  we  are  showing  it. 

Mr.  Chait.  I  know  what  you  are  trying  to  show. 

The  Chairman.  If  you  want  to  take  that  position,  and  let  the  record 
stand,  I  am  going  to  help  you  do  it. 

Mr.  Chait.  You  are  an  experienced  and  highly  educated  man,  and 
you  are  no  fair  match  for  me.  I  only  went  to  public  school.  I  am  not 
here  matching  wits  with  you.    I  went  as  far  as  I  intend  to  go,  Senator. 

The  Chairman.  I  am  not  talking  about  matching  wits.  I  am  just 
trying  to 

Mr.  Chait.  I  am  not  going  to  attempt  it. 

The  Chairman.  Just  a  moment.  When  I  am  talking,  you  listen.  I 
am  not  trying  to  match  wits  with  you.  I  am  simply  trying  to  ascer- 
tain of  this  group  of  you  and  who  have  been  up  here  before  us,  and 
you  are  one  of  them,  whether  there  is  anything  in  your  activities,  in 
your  business  or  profession,  about  which  you  can  talk  without  running 
the  risk  of  self-incrimination. 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12461 

Mr.  Chait.  I  refuse  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  that  I 
have  previously  stated. 

The  Chairman.  Is  there  anything  further? 

Senator  Curtis.  Mr.  Chairman 

The  Chairman.  Senator  Curtis? 

Senator  Curtis.  What  connection,  if  any,  have  you  had  with 
unions? 

Mr.  Chait.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  it  might  tend  to 
make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 

Senator  Curtis.  Have  you  received  any  income  from  union 
sources? 

Mr.  Chait.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  it  might  tend  to 
make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 

Senator  Curtis.  That  is  all,  Mr.  Chairman. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Just  to  indicate  or  show  the  effect  some  of  these  in- 
dividuals can  have  through  their  union  connections,  we  have  some 
definite  information,  on  which  I  will  base  a  question,  as  well  as  some 
questions  which  preceded  this. 

You  interceded  with  Dick  Kaminetsky  in  late  1955  to  have  him  use 
his  influence  to  delay  a  strike  at  the  Balmoral  Hotel  in  Miami ;  isn't 
that  correct  ? 

Mr.  Chait.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  it  might  tend  to 
make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  had  been  contacted  by  Mr.  Harry  Toifel,  of 
that  hotel,  and  he  explained  to  you  that  he  wanted  to  get  the  strike 
delayed  until  the  first  of  the  year,  after  the  holidays,  after  the  New 
Year  holidays,  and  that  you  then  interceded  with  Dick  Kaminetsky 
to  get  that  strike  delayed.     Isn't  that  correct  ? 

Mr.  Chait.  I  refuse  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  that  it 
might  tend  to  make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  you  wanted  the  strike  delayed  from  Decem- 
ber to  early  1956  ? 

Mr.  Chait.  I  refuse  to  answer  that  question  on  the  grounds  that  it 
might  tend  to  make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Chairman,  we  have  presented  a  subpena  to  this 
witness  to  bring  all  of  his  personal  books  and  records.  I  would  like 
to  have  him  turn  those  over  to  the  committee  at  the  present  time. 

The  Chairman.  The  Chair  has  before  him  a  subpena  issued  on 
the  16th  day  of  May  1958  which  appears  to  have  been  served,  accord- 
ing to  the  return  thereon,  on  June  17,  1958,  on  the  witness  Abraham 
Chait. 

The  subpena  calls  for  you  to  produce,  bring  with  you,  any  and  all 
personal  records  for  the  period  of  January  1,  1950,  to  the  present 
date,  but  not  limited  to  Federal  and  State  income-tax  returns,  bank 
statements,  check  stubs  and  check  stub  books,  canceled  (hecks,  records 
of  stocks  and  corporations,  partnership  agreements,  loan  agreements, 
realty  mortgages,  chattel  mortgages,  records  of  rentals  of  bank  vaults 
and  safe-deposit  boxes,  bank-deposit  records,  business  correspondence, 
and  memorandums  and  other  related  documents. 

Did  you  receive  this  subpena  ? 

Mr.  Chait.  Yes,  I  have. 


12462  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

The  Chairman.  A  copy  of  it  ? 

Mr.  Chait.  What  is  that,  sir? 

The  Chairman.  This  subpena  was  served  on  you  ? 

Mr.  Chait.  Yes,  it  was. 

The  Chairman.  On  the  date  indicated.  Have  you  complied  with 
the  subpena  ? 

Mr.  Chait.  No,  I  have  not.  I  decline  to  comply  with  the  subpena, 
sir,  on  my  rights  under  the  fifth  amendment.  I  refuse  to  produce 
any  of  the  records  sought  under  that  subpena. 

The  Chairman.  On  the  basis  of  the  fifth  amendment  ? 

Mr.  Chait.  On  the  basis  of  it  being  my  personal  records  and  my 
personal  property,  and,  as  such,  that  I  feel  that  I  have  the  right  to 
keep  them  and  not  to  produce  them. 

Mr.  Waldman.  Under  the  fifth  amendment,  sir.  I  think  we  have 
written  to  the  chairman. 

The  Chairman.  I  thought  he  said  the  fifth  amendment.  I  asked 
him  that.     He  can  answer. 

Mr.  Chait.  Well,  I  don't  know  the  number  of  the  amendments. 

The  Chairman.  You  don't  know  the  number  of  the  amendments? 

Mr.  Chait.  No,  sir. 

The  Chairman.  The  question  is  whether  you  have  brought  them 
here  and  produced  them. 

Mr.  Chait.  No. 

The  Chairman.  You  failed  and  refuse  to  bring  the  records  as  or- 
dered by  the  subpena  ? 

Mr.  Chait.  Yes,  sir. 

The  Chairman.  You  do  not  have  them  here  now  ? 

Mr.  Chait.  No,  I  do  not. 

The  Chairman.  You  have  had  plenty  of  time  to  bring  them  since 
the  subpena  was  served  on  you,  have  you  ? 

Mr.  Chait.  Yes,  I  have. 

The  Chairman.  Do  you  still  intend  to  refuse  to  comply  with  the 
subpena  ? 

Mr.  Chait.  Yes,  I  do. 

The  Chairman.  You  have  no  intention  of  complying  with  the  di- 
rections in  the  subpena  to  produce  the  books,  the  records,  the  docu- 
ments, and  so  forth,  that  it  calls  for? 

Mr.  Chait.  I  intend  to  stand  on  my  rights  under  the  fifth  amend- 
ment. 

The  Chairman.  You  have  no  intention  now  of  presenting  them  ? 

Mr.  Chait.  No,  sir. 

The  Chairman.  I  am  trying  to  settle  it  insofar  as  the  committee 
is  concerned,  and  your  attitude  toward  the  committee  and  your  atti- 
tude toward  the  order  and  directive  of  the  committee  by  way  of  sub- 
pena to  you. 

You  have  not  complied  with  the  subpena  up  to  now ;  is  that  correct  ? 

Mr.  Chait.  That  is  right,  sir. 

The  Chairman.  You  have  no  intention  of  complying  with  the  sub- 


pena 


Mr.  Chait.  That  is  right,  sir. 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IX    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12463 

The  Chairman:  You  are  refusing  to  bring  the  books  and  records 
to  the  committee  as  required  by  the  subpena,  and  as  you  are  ordered 
to  do  by  the  subpena  ? 

(The  witness  conferred  with  his  counsel.) 

Mr.  Ciiait.  I  am  refusing,  sir,  to  produce  them  by  advice  of  counsel 
and  under  the  protection  of  the  fifth  amendment. 

The  Chairman.  The  question  is  whether  you  have  brought  them 
or  whether  you  intend  to  bring  them.  The  question  of  producing  is 
whether  you  have  brought  them  with  you  or  whether  you  intend  to 
bring  them  in  response  to  the  subpena.  1  wanted  to  settle  that.  I 
wanted  the  record  very  clear. 

Mr.  Ciiait.  I  decline  to  answer  the  question,  sir,  under  the  protec- 
tion of  the  fifth  amendment. 

The  Chairman.  Did  you  bring  these  records  to  Washington  with 
you  when  you  came  here  in  response  to  the  subpena? 

(  The  witness  conferred  with  his  counsel.) 

Mr.  Chait.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  that  it  may  tend  to 
make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 

The  Chairman.  You  will  not  state  whether  you  brought  them, 
although  you  have  stated  already  that  you  do  not  have  them  with 
you  now,  and  that  you  do  not  intend  to  present  them  or  to  carry 
out  the  orders  and  directions  to  you  in  the  subpena  \ 

Mr.  Chait.  On  the  advice  of  counsel,  sir,  I  decline  to  answer  on  the 
grounds  that  it  might  tend  to  make  me  a  witness  against  myself. 

The  Chairman.  Counsel,  of  course,  is  your  source  of  advice,  and 
he  may  advise  you  as  he  may  desire.  There  is  a  question  arising  in 
my  mind,  and  I  think  I  am  correct  about  it,  whether,  when  you  fail 
to  bring  the  records  as  ordered  by  the  subpena,  you  may  be  in  con- 
tempt of  the  committee. 

Counsel,  of  course,  can  advise  you  regarding  that,  if  he  wants  to. 

With  the  record  as  it  is,  I  am  willing  to  let  it  stand  that  way. 

Do  you  have  any  further  questions  ? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  No,  Mr.  Chairman. 

The  Chairman.  Senator  Church  \ 

Senator  Church.  Xo  questions. 

The  Chairman.  Do  you  want  this  witness  to  remain  under  subpena  \ 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Yes. 

The  Chairman.  You  will  remain  under  your  present  subpena  and 
be  under  recognizance  to  reappear  before  this  committee  at  such  time 
as  the  committee  may  wish  to  interrogate  you  further,  subjed  to  your 
being  given  reasonable  notice  of  the  time  and  place  when  the  committee 
desires  to  hear  you.  You  understand  it  will  not  be  necessary  for  an- 
other subpena  to  be  served  on  you? 

Mr.  Chait.  Yes,  I  understand. 

The  Chairman.  And  you  accept  that  arrangement? 

Mr.  Chait.  Yes  sir. 

The  Chairman.  You  understand  that  you  are  under  continuing 
orders  to  produce  the  books  and  records  called  for  in  this  subperial 
You  understand  that,  do  you? 

Mr.  Chait.  Yes,  sir:  I  understand. 


12464  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

The  Chairman.  All  right.     You  may  stand  aside. 
Is  there  anything  further  this  morning? 
Let  this  subpena  be  printed  in  the  record  at  this  point. 
(The  document  referred  to  is  as  follows:) 

United  States  of  America 

congress  of  the  united  states 

To:  Abraham  Chait 

Peekskill  Holloiv  Road 
Putnam  Valley,  New  York, 

GREETING  : 

Pursuant  to  lawful  authority,  you  are  hereby  commanded  to  appear  before 
the  Senate  Select  Committee  on  Improper  Activities  in  the  Labor  or  Manage- 
ment Field  of  the  Senate  of  the  United  States,  on  Forthwith  ,  195  ,  at 
o'clock  m.,  at  their  committee  room,  101,  Senate  Office  Buliding,  Washington, 
D.  C,  then  and  there  to  testify  what  you  may  know  relative  to  the  suhj  'ct 
matters  under  consideration  by  said  committee,  and  bring  with  you  any  and  all 
personal  records  for  the  period  from  January  1,  1950  to  the  present  date,  includ- 
ing but  not  limited  to  Federal  and  State  income  tax  returns,  bank  statements, 
check  stubs  and  check  stub  books,  cancelled  checks,  records  of  stocks  in  corpo- 
rations, partnership  agreements,  loan  agreements,  realty  mortgages,  chattel 
mortgages,  records  of  rentals  of  bank  vaults  and  safe  deposit  boxes,  bank  deposit 
records,  business  correspondence  and  memoranda  and  any  other  related  docu- 
ments. 

Hereof  fail  not,  as  you  will  answer  your  default  under  the  pains  and  penalties 
in  such  cases  made  and  provided. 

To  United  States  Marshal  to  serve  and  return. 
Given  under  my  hand,  by  order  of  the  committee,  this  16th  day  of  May,  in  the 
year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  nine  hundred  and  fifty-eight. 

John  L.  McClellan, 
Chairman,  Select  Committee  on  Improper  Activities  in  the  Labor  or 
Management  Field. 
Received  this  writ  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  on  May  21,  195S,  and  on  June  17,  1958, 
at  305  Broadway,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  I  served  it  on  the  within-named  Abraham 
Chait  by  leaving  a  copy  thereof  or  a  subpoena  ticket  with  Paul  Waldman, 
attorney,  authorized  to  accept. 

Thomas  J.  Lunney, 

U.  S.  Marshal,  SDNY, 
By:  Joseph  E.  Torrens, 
Deputy  U.  S.  Marshal,  SDNY. 

The  Chairman.  The  committee  will  stand  in  recess  until  2  o'clock. 

(Members  of  the  select  committee  present  at  time  of  recess:  Sena- 
tors McClellan  and  Church.) 

(Whereupon,  at  12 :  30  p.  m.  the  select  committee  recessed  to  recon- 
vene at  2  p.  m.  the  same  day.) 

AFTERNOON   SESSION 

(At  the  reconvening  of  the  session,  the  following  members  were 
present :  Senators  McClellan  and  Curtis.) 

The  Chairman.  The  committee  will  come  to  order.  Call  the  next 
witness. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Chairman,  this  morning  there  was  some  discus- 
sion about  Mr.  Gorman  and  the  telegram  that  he  sent  requesting  post- 
ponement. I  want  to  make  sure  that  the  record  is  understood,  that 
he  was  not  released  from  the  subpena ;  but  he  was  informed  that,  al- 
though his  testimony  would  be  postponed  at  this  time,  it  would  be 
expected  that  he  would  appear  at  a  later  time. 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    EN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12465 

His  attorney  lias  agreed  to  produce  him  on  48  hours' notice. 
The  Chairman.  All  right. 

The  Chair  would  make  this  observal  ion  :  We  subpena  witnesses  and 
sometimes  we  have  good  reason  to  believe  that  they  will  not  cooperate 
and  that  they  will  resort  to  the  fifth-amendmenl  privilege.  But  the 
fact  that  a  witness  may  intend  to  do  that,  or  his  counsel  ad\ rises  the 
committee  that  the  witness,  when  interrogated,  will  fail  to  cooperate, 
and  will  invoke  the  privilege,  does  not  mean  that  we  will  excuse  him 
from  attendance.  If  wo  happen  to  do  so  in  one  instance  or  another, 
it  does  not  set  a  precedent  by  which  the  committee  is  bound. 

Each  such  case  and  instance  of  that  nature  will  stand  upon  its  own 
circumstances.  We  are  trying  to  operate  this  committee  as  economi- 
cally as  possible.  If  we  find  that  it  is  not  worth  the  expense  that 
the  Government  would  be  put  to  to  bring  a  witness  here,  we  do  not 
bring  them. 

If  we  think  that  the  witness,  even  though  he  does  not  testify,  his 
appearance  here  reflects  some  information  or  the  refusal  to  give  infor- 
mation the  committee  may  need,  and  we  can  justify  the  expense  of 
bringing  him,  we  will  do  so. 

Call  the  next  witness. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  The  first  witness  this  afternoon,  Mr.  Chairman,  is 
Russell  J.  Bufalino. 

The  Chairman.  Come  forward,  Mr.  Bufalino. 

You  do  solemnly  swear  the  evidence  you  shall  give  before  this  Sen- 
ate select  committee  shall  be  the  truth,  the  whole  truth,  and  nothing 
but  the  truth,  so  help  you  God  ? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  do. 

TESTIMONY  OF  RUSSELL  J.  BUFALINO,  ACCOMPANIED  BY  COUNSEL, 

ETTOEE  AGOLINO 

The  Chairman.  State  your  name,  your  place  of  residence,  and  your 
business  or  occupation. 

Mr.  Bufalino.  My  name  is  Russell  Bufalino.  I  reside  at  304  East 
Dorrance  Street,  Kingston,  Pa. 

Mr.  Agolino.  Mr.  Chairman,  at  this  time  I  would  like  permission 
to  address  the  chair. 

The  Chairman.  Just  one  moment.  I  was  trying  to  get  the  witness 
identified.     I  asked  him  about  his  business,  profession,  or  occupation. 

Did  you  answer  that  part  of  the  question? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  that  question  on 
the  grounds  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  Do  you  have  counsel  ? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  do. 

The  Chairman.  Counsel,  identify  yourself  for  the  record,  please. 

Mr.  Agolino.  My  name  is  Ettore  S.  Agolino,  with  offices  in  the 
Kehoe  Building,  Pittson,  Pa. 

The  Chairman.  Thank  you  very  much.  You  say  you  have  a  brief 
statement  you  wish  to  make,  Mr.  Counsel  ? 

Mr.  Agolino.  Yes,  sir. 

The  Chairman.  All  right. 

Mr.  Agolino.  Mr.  Chairman.  Russell  Bufalino  is  at  present  a 
respondent  in  an  action  brought  by  the  United  States  Immigration 
and  Naturalization  Service  under  deportation  proceedings,  and  his 


12466  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

case  has  not  yet  been  disposed  of.  For  this  reason,  he  desire  to  avail 
himself  of  the  privilege  afforded  him  by  the  fifth  amendment  of  the 
United  States  Constitution. 

The  Chairman.  All  right.  We  understand  that  he  will  do  that. 
You  may  proceed,  Mr.  Kennedy. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Would  you  tell  me  where  you  were  born? 

Mr.  Bufalixo.  I  respectively  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
grounds  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Bufalino,  our  interest  in  you  centers  around 
your  attending  the  meeting  at  Apalachin  and  also  your  union  contacts. 

I  think  that  we  have  some  information  that  would  indicate  that 
you  played  a  very  prominate  role  in  setting  up  the  meeting  at  Apala- 
chin ;  that  you  did  it  with  the  assistance  of  Mr.  Barbara. 

I  wonder  if  you  would  make  any  comments  on  that  before  we  start 
to  develop  the  facts  that  we  have. 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  that  the  question  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  According  to  our  information,  you  were  born  on 
October  29,  1903,  in  Montedoro,  Italy.  That  is  in  Sicily.  Is  that 
correct  ? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
ground  that  the  question  many  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  yet  despite  that  fact,  the  records  at  Luzerne 
County  in  Wilkes-Barre,  Pa.,  show  that  you  were  born  October  29, 
1903,  in  Pittston  Township,  Pa. 

Mr.  Bufalino.  Is  that  a  question  ? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Yes. 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  that  question  on 
the  grounds  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Could  you  explain  to  the  committee  how  it  is  that 
these  records  show  that  you  were  born  in  Pittston,  Pa.,  when,  in  fact, 
you  were  born  in  Italy  ? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  that  question  on 
the  grounds  that  the  question  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Is  Mary  Bufalino  any  relation  to  you  ? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on 
the  grounds  that  the  question  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Isn't  it  a  fact  that  Mary  Bufalino  worked  in  the 
records  office  in  Wilkes-Barre,  Pa  ? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on 
the  grounds  that  the  question  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Are  you  related  to  Mr.  William  Bufalino? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  that  question  on 
the  grounds  that  the  question  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Isn't  it  correct  that  William  Bufalino,  who  is  sec- 
retary-treasurer of  Local  985  of  the  Teamsters,  is  a  cousin  of  yours? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on 
the  grounds  that  the  question  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Khnnedy.  Isn't  it  correct  also  that  Mr.  William  Bufalino  is 
an  attorney? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on 
the  grounds  that  the  question  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  Mr.  William  Bufalino  play  any  part  in  alter- 
ing the  records  at  the  Wilkes-Barre  Records  Office  ? 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12467 

Mr.  Bufallno.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on 
the  grounds  that  the  question  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

.Mr.  Kennedy.  Wasn't  it  the  purpose  of  getting  the  records  altered 
so  that  it  would  appear  that  you  were  born  here  in  the  United  States, 
and,  therefore,  could  not  be  deported  to  Italy  \ 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on 
the  grounds  that  the  question  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Can  you  tell  us  what  companies  you  own  or  operate 
in  the  Pittston-Wilkes-Barre-Scranton  area? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on 
the  grounds  that  the  question  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  own  and  operate  the  Penn  Drape  &  Curtain 
Co.,  of  South  Main  Street,  Pittston,  Pa.  ? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on 
the  grounds  that  the  question  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Are  the  Sciandras  of  Pittston,  Pa.,  in  business  with 
you? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on 
the  grounds  that  the  question  may  tend  to  degrade  or  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  was  your  wife's  maiden  name  ? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  Carolina  Sciandra. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Isn't  it  a  fact  that  Angelo  Sciandra  attended  the 
meeting  at  Apalachin? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on 
the  grounds  that  the  question  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Could  you  tell  us  if  you  have  ever  been  arrested,  Mr. 
Bufalino? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectful^  decline  to  answer  the  question  on 
the  grounds  that  the  question  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Isn't  it  a  fact  that  you  have  been  arrested  some 
7  or  8  times  ? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on 
the  grounds  that  the  question  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  that  you  have  not  been  convicted  on  any  of 
those  charges? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on 
the  grounds  that  the  question  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  We  have  a  number  of  companies  with  whom  we 
believe  you  are  connected,  starting  with  the  ABS  Contracting  Co.,  of 
Pittston,  Pa.     Is  it  correct  that  you  are  associated  with  them? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on 
the  grounds  that  the  question  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  The  Penn  Drape  &  Curtain  Co.,  in  Pittston,  Pa.? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  The  same  answer. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Would  you  answer  the  question? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on 
the  grounds  that  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  you  were  associated  with  Bonnie  Stewart,  Inc., 
of  New  York  City,  N.  Y. 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  that  question  on 
the  grounds  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Isn't  it  correct  that  Dominic  Alaimo  and  James 
Plumeri  both  had  financial  interests  in  that  company  also? 


12468  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on 
the  grounds  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  Claudia  Frocks  of  224  West  35th  Street,  New 
York? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on 
the  grounds  that  the  question  may  tend  to  degrade  or  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Isn't  it  correct  that  Angelo  Sciandra  also  has  an 
interest  in  that  company  ? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  that  question  on 
the  grounds  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  isn't  it  correct  also  that  he  pays  you  a  certain 
amount  of  money  each  week  for  the  work  that  you  do  for  that 
company  ? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
grounds  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  are  on  the  payroll  as  an  expediter. 

Could  you  tell  us  what  an  expediter  does  ? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
grounds  that  the  question  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  in  fact  do  any  work  for  this  company,  or  are 
you  on  the  payroll  because  of  your  connections,  Mr.  Bufalino  ? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
grounds  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  receive  from  that  company  $105  a  week  gross,  is 
that  right? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
grounds  that  the  question  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  you  were  put  on  the  payroll  back  in  1953,  were 
you  not? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
grounds  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Then  also  you  are  on  the  payroll  of  the  Fair  Frox  as 
an  expediter. 

You  are  on  their  payroll  also  ? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
grounds  that  the  question  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  is  F-a-i-r  F-r-o-x,  and  you  are  on  their  pay- 
roll as  expediter  at  $125  a  week,  are  you  not? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
grounds  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Could  you  tell  us  what  you  do  to  earn  that  money  ? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
grounds  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Isn't  it  a  fact  that  part  of  the  money  you  receive  is 
to  handle  labor  relations  for  those  companies,  and  to  prevent  any 
trouble  difficulties  with  the  union  ? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
grounds  that  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Aren't  you  able  to  do  that  because  of  the  contacts 
and  associates  that  you  have, Mr.  Bufalino? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
grounds  that  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  they  include  such  people,  do  they  not,  as  Johnny 
Dioguardi  ? 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    LN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  124G9 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
grounds  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  John  Ormento  ? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
grounds  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Nig  Rosen  ? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
grounds  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Dominick  Alaimo? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
grounds  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  John  Charles  Montana? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
grounds  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Vito  Genovese  ? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
grounds  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  James  A.  Osticco  ? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
grounds  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Frank  Carbo  ? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
grounds  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  James  Plumeri  ? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
grounds  i!  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Thomas  Lucchese  ? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
groimds  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  We  have  telephone  calls  from  you,  Mr.  Bufalino,  to 
L.  G.  Carriers,  which  is  James  Plumeri 's  company. 

Could  you  tell  us  what  you  discussed  with  them  ? 

Air.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
groimds  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  do  you  discuss  with  Charles  Bufalino? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
grounds  that  the  question  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  The  Tri-City  Dress  Co.,  owned  by  Anthony  Guar- 
nieri,  can  you  tell  us  about  that  ? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
grounds  that  the  question  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  The  Vic  Vera  Sportswear  Co.,  New  York  City, 
which  is  owned  and  operated  by  a  close  friend  of  James  Plumeri? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
grounds  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Isn't  it  a  fact  that  James  Plumeri  set  this  lady  up 
in  the  Vic  Vera  Sportswear  Co.  ? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
grounds  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  Harvic  Sportswear,  of  Scranton,  Pa.  Can 
you  tell  us  what  you  called  them  about? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
grounds  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 


12470  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  is  a  shop,  is  it  not,  that  is  owned  by  Thomas 
Lncchese  ? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
grounds  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Have  you  also  had  other  sources  of  income  from 
gambling,  Mr.  Bufalino? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
grounds  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  have  taken  a  great  interest  in  basketball  games, 
have  you  not? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
grounds  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  when  you  go  to  New  York,  you  stay  at  the 
Hotel  Forrest  in  New  York  City,  is  that  correct,  Mr.  Bufalino? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
grounds  that  the  question  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Why  is  it  that  you  and  the  individuals  with  police 
records  very  often  stay  at  the  Hotel  Forrest  in  New  York  City  ? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
grounds  that  the  question  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Isn't  it  correct  that  you  arranged  with  Mr.  Barbara 
to  set  up  the  meeting  at  Apalachin  in  November  1957  ? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
grounds  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Isn't  it  correct  that  you  were  talking  by  telephone 
with  Mr.  Barbara  frequently  just  prior  to  the  meeting  at  Apalachin  ? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
grounds  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  According  to  the  information  that  we  have,  you 
made  long  distance  telephone  calls  to  Barbara  on  June  8,  11,  23,  two 
on  the  28th,  July  23,  July  27,  September  4,  September  11,  September 
12,  October  6,  October  13,  and  October  26,  is  that  correct  ? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
grounds  that  the  question  may"tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  he  called  you  on  June  5,  10,  24,  July  20,  August 
9,  and  October  23? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
grounds  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  isn't  it  correct  that  you  in  fact  made  hotel 
reservations  for  some  of  these  individuals  attending  the  meeting  at 
Apalachin? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
grounds  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Isn't  it  a  fact  that  you  made  a  hotel  reservation  at 
the  Casey  Hotel  in  Scranton,  Pa.  for  November  13,  1957? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
grounds  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  you  made  hotel  reservations  for  an  individual 
by  the  name  of  J.  Cerrito,  of  Los  Gatos,  Calif.  ? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
grounds  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  that  another  reservation  for  the  same  night  was 
made  for  J.  Civello  of  Dallas,  Tex.? 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12471 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  resped  fully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 

grounds  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  this  individual  did,  in  fact,  attend  the  meeting 
at    Apalachin,  is  that  correct  \ 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
grounds  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  Scozzari,  from  San  Gabriel,  Calif.  ? 

Mr.  Bufaltno.  1  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
grounds  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  While  he  was  there,  Mr.  Scozzari  put  in  two  tele- 
phone calls  to  you,  isn't  that  correct  ? 

.Mr.  Bufaltno.  1  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  t he 
grounds  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  isn't  is  a  fact  that  Mr.  Scozzari  attended  the 
meeting  at  Apalachin? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
grounds  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  Frank  DeSimone,  you  also  made  a  reservation 
for  him  '. 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
grounds  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Scozzari,  when  he  was  arrested,  or  stopped  by 
the  police,  had  $10,000  on  him,  but  listed  himself  as  unemployed. 

Can  you  give  us  any  explanation  for  that? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
grounds  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  All  these  hotel  reservations  that  were  made  for 
these  5  individuals,  of  which  we  can  show  that  3  actually  attended  the 
meeting  in  Apalachin,  were  all  charged  to  you  personally,  isn't  that 
correct,  Mr.  Bufalino? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
grounds  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  these  other  two  individuals,  Lanza  and  Scoz- 
zari, attend  the  meeting  but  were  not  caught? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
grounds  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  When  you  came  to  the  meeting,  you  came,  did  you 
not,  with  DeSimone,  Civello  and  Scozzari? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
grounds  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  automobile  that  you  drove  was  owned  by  Wil- 
liam Medico,  was  it  not? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  th& 
grounds  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  he  owns  the  Medico  Electric  Motor  Co.  in 
Pittsburgh,  Pa  J. 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
grounds  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Excuse  me.  That  should  be  in  Pittston,  Pa.  He 
owns  the  Medico  Electric  Motor  Co.  in  Pittston.  does  he  not? 

Mr.  Bufaltno.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
grounds  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

(  At  this  point.  Senator  Mundt  entered  the  hearing  room.) 


12472  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN   THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  Kennedy.  This  is  the  same  individual  that  Mr.  Montana 
stated  that  he  was  driving  down  to  see,  to  find  out  how  his  com- 
pressor was  coming? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
grounds  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

(At  this  point,  Senator  Curtis  withdrew  from  the  hearing  room.) 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  you  in  fact  were  driving  an  automobile  be- 
longing to  one  of  his  companies  up  to  the  meeting  at  Apalachin,  were 
you  not? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
grounds  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  At  the  time  that  the  New  York  State  troopers 
checked  your  car,  you  had  Vito  Genovese  with  you,  did  you  not  ? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
grounds  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Gerardo  Cateno? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
grounds  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Dominick  Olivetto? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
grounds  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  Joseph  Ida? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
grounds  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  you  stayed,  when  you  were  in  Binghamton 
in  March— you  made  another  visit  to  Joseph  Barbara  in  March 
1957,  did  you  not,  Mr.  Bufalino? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  on  the  grounds  it 
may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  at  that  time,  you  were  with  Vincenzo  Osticco  ? 

Isn't  that  right? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
grounds  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  also  with  you  was  Angelo  Sciandra,  and  you 
stayed  at  the  Arlington  Hotel,  in  Binghamton,  N.  Y.  ? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
grounds  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  the  bill  was  charged  to  the  Canada  Dry  Bev- 
erage Co.,  of  Endicott,  N.  Y.,  was  it  not? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
grounds  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  were  you  there  for? 

What  business  were  you  there  on? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
grounds  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  know  how  your  cousin,  William  Bufalino, 
was  made  head  of  Local  985  of  the  Teamsters? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on 
the  grounds  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  know  Mr.  James  HofTa? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
grounds  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  know  Mr.  Santo  Volpe,  from  Pennsyl- 
vania? 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN   THE    LABOR   FIELD  12473 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on 
the  grounds  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Chairman,  we  consider  that  this  individual  is  a 
very  important  figure.  He  has  a  number  of  the  dress  companies  that 
operate  in  Pennsylvania.  He  also  played  an  important  role  in  the 
labor  negotiations  that  took  place  at  the  beginning  of  this  year. 
He  is  a  close  associate  of  Mr.  Chait  and  it  would  appear  that  he 
was  the  one,  together  with  Barbara,  who  set  up  and  made  the  ap- 
pointments and  arrangements  for  setting  up  the  meeting  at  Apa- 
lachin. 

He  is  a  man  of  considerable  importance  and  a  man  of  great  con- 
tacts throughout  the  United  States  and  the  underworld. 

The  Chairman.  Do  you  want  to  comment  upon  those  statements? 

Mr.  Bufalino.  I  respectfully  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the 
grounds  it  may  tend  to  incriminate  me. 

The  Chairman.  Is  there  anything  further? 

Have  you  any  questions,  Senator? 

Senator  Mundt.  I  have  no  questions. 

The  Chairman.  Stand  aside. 

Call  the  next  witness. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Thomas  Lucchese. 

The  Chairman.  Just  one  moment,  please.  The  witness  will  con- 
tinue under  the  same  subpena,  subject  to  being  recalled,  if  and  when- 
ever the  committee  desires  to  further  interrogate  him. 

If  you  will  acknowledge  the  recognizance  so  to  appear 

Mr.  Bufalino.  Yes,  sir. 

The  Chairman.  Reasonable  notice,  of  course,  will  be  given  to  you. 

Mr.  Bufalino.  O.  K.     Thank  you. 

The  Chairman.  Proceed,  Mr.  Kennedy. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Lucchese. 

The  Chairman.  You  do  solemnly  swear  the  evidence  you  shall  give 
before  this  Senate  select  committee  shall  be  the  truth,  the  whole  truth, 
and  nothing  but  the  truth,  so  help  you  God? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  do. 

TESTIMONY  OF  THOMAS  LUCCHESE,  ACCOMPANIED  BY  COUNSEL, 

EICHARD  J.  BURKE 

The  Chairman.  State  your  name,  your  place  of  residence  and  your 
business,  or  occupation. 

Mr.  Lucchese.  My  name  is  Thomas  Lucchese.  I  am  a  dress  con- 
tractor. 

The  Chairman.  You're  what  ? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  am  a  dress  contractor.  My  residence  is  74  Royale 
Street,  Lido  Beach,  Long  Island. 

The  Chairman.  And  your  business  or  occupation? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  A  dress  contractor. 

The  Chairman.  A  dress  contractor? 

M r.  Lucchese.  Yes,sir. 

The  Chairman.  Thank  you  very  much.    You  have  counsel  with  you. 

Mr.  Counsel,  will  you  identify  yourself? 

Mr.  Burke.  My  name  is  Richard  J.  Burke,  60  "Wall  Street,  New 
York. 

The  Ch airman.  Thank  you. 


12474  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Proceed,  Mr.  Kennedy. 

Mr.  Burke.  Mr.  Chairman,  may  I  make  a  request  of  the  committee '. 

The  Chairman.  You  may. 

Mr.  Burke.  May  I  ask  that  no  cameras  or  lights  be  directed  at  the 
witness  while  he  is  testifying,  on  the  ground  that  they  will  distract 
and  confuse  him. 

Senator  Mundt.  Mr.  Chairman,  before  granting  that  request,  I 
think  we  should  find  out  whether  the  witness  is  going  to  answer  ques- 
tions or  not. 

The  Chairman.  The  Chair  always  does  that.  We  are  not  about 
to  give  any  favors  to  people  who  take  the  fifth  amendment. 

Mr.  Burke.  Senator,  the  witness  will  decline  to  answer  certain 
questions,  and  will  answer  others.     I  can  say  that. 

Senator  Mundt.  Let's  give  him  a  trial  and  see  what  happens. 

The  Chairman.  The  Chair  has  previously  ruled,  and  I  think  we 
have  been  forced  to  rule,  that  if  a  witness  makes  this  request,  under 
the  rules  of  the  committee,  the  request  will  be  granted,  provided  he  is 
going  to  cooperate. 

If  the  witness'  purpose  is  simply  to  take  the  fifth  amendment,  we 
do  not  think  that  lights,  cameras,  or  much  else  detracts  from  his  ability 
to  do  that,  even  consistently.  For  the  moment,  the  lights  will  be 
turned  off  of  the  witness. 

You  can  show  up  the  committee  all  you  want  to.  If  and  when  the 
witness  elects  to  exercise  a  privilege,  then  the  committee  will  elect 
also  to  exercise  its  prerogative. 

Proceed,  Mr.  Kennedy. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Lucchese,  could  tell  us  where  you  were  born  ? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  was  born  in  Italy,  in  Palermo,  Italy. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  was  the  date  ? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  don't  recall.    Some  time  around  about  1912. 

(The  witness  conferred  with  his  counsel.) 

Mr.  Lucchese.  Did  you  say  when  I  was  born  ? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Yes. 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  am  sorry. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  When  were  you  born  ? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  1899. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  When  did  you  come  to  the  United  States  ? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  About  1912. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  you  got  your  American  citizenship  when  I 

(The  witness  conferred  with  his  counsel.) 

Mr.  Lucchese.  1943, 1  believe. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  January  25,  1943  ? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  Yes,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  did  you  say  your  present  address  was  '. 

Mr.  Lucchese.  74  Royale  Street. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Long  Island,  N.  Y.  ? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  Yes,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Could  you  tell  us  names  of  the  dress  companies  that 
you  have  an  interest  in  ? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  On  advice  of  my  counsel,  I  respectfully  decline  to 
answer,  exercising  my  right  not  to  be  a  witness  against  myself  under 
the  fifth  amendment. 

The  Chairman.  Well,  there  is  no  reason  to  assume  that  the  lights 
or  cameras  will  further  detract  from  the  witness"  testimony. 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12475 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Could  I  ask  on  another  line? 

The  Chairman.  All  right.  If  counsel  wants  to  ask  one  more  ques- 
tion, he  may,  if  he  thinks  he  will  answer  it, 

Mr.  Kennedy.  The  dress  business  that  you  are  in,  your  employees 
are  unionized,  are  they  ? 

Mr.  Luochese.  On  advice  of  counsel,  I  decline  and  exercise  my 
right 

The  Chairman.  All  right.  We  will  not  tolerate  that  any  further. 
Proceed  with  the  usual  procedure. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Could  you  tell  us  whether  any  of  the  employees  that 
you  have  in  your  various  dress  shops  are  members  of  unions,  Mr. 
Lucchese  ? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  Yes,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  They  are  ? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  They  are. 

M  r.  K  i:n  n  edy.  What  union  are  they  members  of  ? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  The  ILGWU. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Are  they  all  unionized  ? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  decline  to  answer  and  exercise  my  right  to  not  be 
a  witness  against  myself . 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Could  you  explain  to  the  committee  how  it  is  that 
some  of  your  employees  are  unionized  and  some  of  your  employees 
are  not  '. 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  decline  to  answer  the  question  on  the  right  not  to 
be  a  witness  against  myself  in  the  fifth  amendment. 

Mr.  Kennedy..  Could  you  tell  the  committee  how  you  have  been  able 
to  keep  some  of  your  employees  from  being  organized  by  labor  unions  ? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  On  advice  of  counsel  I  would  respectfully  decline 
to  answer  and  exercise  my  right  not  to  be  a  witness  against  myself 
under  the  fifth  amendment. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Lucchese,  we  understand  that  you  were  con- 
nected with  Braunnell,  Ltd.,  of  225  West  37th  Street,  New  York,  is 
that  correct? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  Yes,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  How  long  did  you  have  a  financial  interest  with 
them? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  From  1947  to  1951. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Who  else  was  interested  in  that  company  other  than 
yourself? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  On  advice  of  counsel  I  would  respectfully  decline  to 
answer  and  exercise  my  right  not  to  be  a  witness  against  myself  under 
the  fifth  amendment, 

Mr.  Kennedy.  How  did  you  happen  to  get  into  that  company,  Mr. 
Lucchese  ? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  On  advice  of  counsel  I  would  respectfully  decline 
to  answer  and  exercise  my  right  not  to  be  a  witness  against  myself 
under  the  fifth  amendment, 

Mr.  Kennedy.  How  did  you  happen  to  give  up  your  interest  in 
that  company? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  On  advice  of  counsel  I  would  respectfully  decline 
to  answer  and  exercise  my  right  not  to  be  a  witness  against  myself 
under  the  fifth  amendment. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  you  have  an  interest  in  the  Budget  Dress  Corp  \ 

21243— 58— pt.  32 19 


12476  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  Lucchese.  On  advice  of  counsel  I  would  respectfully  decline 
to  answer  and  exercise  my  right  not  to  be  a  witness  against  myself 
under  the  fifth  amendment. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Now  as  to  this  Budget  Dress  Corp.,  of  462  Seventh 
Avenue,  we  have  information  that  you  have  a  financial  interest  in  that 
company ;  is  that  correct  ? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  On  advice  of  counsel  I  would  respectfully  decline 
to  answer  and  exercise  my  right  not  to  be  a  witness  against  myself 
under  the  fifth  amendment. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  most  of  the  work  is  sent  out  from  that  com- 
pany into  some  of  these  dress  shops  in  Pennsylvania,  is  that  not  right, 
Mr.  Lucchese  ? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  On  advice  of  counsel  I  would  respectfully  decline 
to  answer  and  exercise  my  right  not  to  be  a  witness  against  myself 
under  the  fifth  amendment. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  By  the  way,  are  you  known  by  any  other  name  ? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  No,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  have  any  other  aliases? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  No,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Have  you  ever  been  known  as  "Three-finger 
Brown"? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  In  1915  I  lost  my  finger  in  an  ammunition  plant. 
The  newspapers  referred  to  me  by  that  name,  and  I  don't  know  any- 
one else  that  ever  called  me  that. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  know  how  you  got  the  name  "Brown"  ? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  believe  it  was  from  the  newspapers  or  the  police 
department,  and  I  don't  know,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  But  you  never  used  the  name  yourself  ? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  No,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  they  start  calling  you  "Brown"  back  in  1917? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  No,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  When  did  they  start  calling  you  "Brown"  ?  I  can 
see  calling  you  "Three-Finger  Lucchese,"  but  why  did  they  take  the 
"Brown"? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  don't  know. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  have  no  explanation? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  No,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  It  started  back  in  1917? 

(The  witness  conferred  with  counsel.) 

Mr.  Lucchese.  Sometime  in  1920,  the  first  time  I  was  arrested,  and 
I  don't  know  whether  it  was  1920  or  1921,  when  I  was  first  arrested 
by  the  police  department,  two  detectives  were  talking  to  one  another, 
and  one  said  "What  do  you  have,"  and  he  said,  "this  Three-Finger 
Brown,"  and  it  was  just  a  pitcher  around  that  time,  or  a  discussion 
they  were  having. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  was  used  by  the  police  after  someone  else  who 
happened  to  be  in  the  news  at  the  time? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  That  was  in  the  news  35  years  ago. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  There  was  a  baseball  player,  was  there? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  Yes,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  is  how  the  name  grew  up  but  you  never  used 
the  name  yourself? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  No,  sir. 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12477 

Mr.  Kennedy.  How  many  times  have  you  been  arrested,  Mr.  Luc- 

chese  ? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  About  5  or  6  times,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Have  you  ever  been  convicted  \ 

Mr.  Lucchese.  Yes,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  For  what  was  that  \ 

(The  witness  conferred  with  counsel.) 

Mr.  Lucchese.  As  a  boy  I  was  arrested  for  stealing  automobiles, 
and  I  was  tried  and  convicted  and  sentenced  to  3  years  8  months  to 
10  years,  when  I  was  20  years  old. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  was  in  1921  ? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  Yes,  sir,  I  don't  recall. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  then  you  were  arrested  in  1927  for  receiving? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  If  you  have  it  there,  sir,  it  is  right. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  It  said  the  name  at  that  time  was  Thomas  Arra;  is 
that  correct  ?     Did  you  use  that  name  ? 

(The  witness  conferred  with  counsel.) 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  didn't  give  the  name,  sir,  but  a  cop  put  the  name 
down. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  is  that? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  The  police  officer  put  the  name  down,  and  it  was 
just  a  plain  pickup. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  He  put  your  name  down  as  "Arra,"  although  that 
wasn't  your  name  ? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  That  is  right. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  didn't  give  him  your  name  as  "Arra"  \ 

Mr.  Lucchese.  He  never  asked  me  for  the  name,  but  it  was  sup- 
posed to  be  a  pickup  at  the  time. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  he  just  gave  you  the  name  ? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  Yes,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  in  1928,  for  homicide;  is  that  right? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  Yes,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Who  was  the  man  that  was  murdered  at  that  time? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  don't  recall,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Louis  Cerasulo.     Do  you  remember  that  name '. 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  don't  remember. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  don't  remember  the  name  ? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  No,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  you  know  or  did  you  remember  that  they  iden- 
tified you  and  Joseph  Rosato  who  was  your  brother-in-law,  as  the 
ones  who  had  committed  the  murder? 

Mr.  Burke.  Mr.  Chairman,  may  I  ask  that  counsel  state  for  the 
witness'  benefit,  what  the  pertinency  of  this  question  concerning  this 
arrest  in  1928  is  to  the  authorized  subject  matter  of  this  inquiry. 

The  Chairman.  Well,  the  Chair  will  make  the  statement  that  in 
laying  the  foundation  for  the  investigation  we  are  now  conducting,  to 
determine  if  and  to  what  extent  criminal  elements  have  infiltrated 
labor-management  relations,  it  is  quite  proper  to  ask  the  question  be- 
cause there  will  be  further  testimony  and  wt>  are  giving  this  witness 
a  chance  to  answer  it. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  I  might  say  that  we  have  had  some  testimony  before 
the  committee  that  witnesses  in  cases  such  as  this  have  been  intimidated 
to  such  an  extent  that  they  refuse  to  testify  and  cooperate  with  law- 
enforcement  agencies.     According  to  the  information  that  we  have, 


12478  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

and  Mr.  Lucchese  can  straighten  it  out,  the  wife  and  daughter  of  the 
murdered  man  identified  Mr.  Lucchese  and  his  brother-in-law  as  the 
ones  who  had  committed  the  murder,  and  when  they  were  finally 
brought  into  trial  or  brought  into  court  they  refused  to  affirm  the 
identification. 

Now,  that  is  the  situation  that  existed,  and  I  want  to  find  out  what 
Mr.  Lucchese  knows  about  it. 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  decline  to  answer  under  the  fifth  amendment.  I 
decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  is  not  pertinent. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Mr.  Lucchese,  if  you  couldn't  even  remember  the 
name  of  the  individual,  Louis  Cerasulo — do  you  know  how  to  pro- 
nounce his  name? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  No,  sir.  I  decline  to  answer  under  the  fifth  amend- 
ment. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  won't  give  us  any  information  about  that? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  What  is  that? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  won't  give  us  any  information  about  what  hap- 
pened back  in  1928  regarding  the  murder  of  this  man? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  decline  to  answer  under  the  fifth  amendment,  and 
I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  is  not  pertinent. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  In  1930  again  you  were  charged  with  homicide, 
were  you  not,  Mr.  Lucchese? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  Yes,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  happened  to  that? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  don't  recall.  I  will  have  to  look  at  the  record.  It 
was  dismissed. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Now,  when  did  you  start  going  into  the  dress  busi- 
nes,  Mr.  Lucchese? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  In  1945. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  had  you  been  in  prior  to  that  time? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  didn't  hear  you,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  had  you  been  in  prior  to  that  time. 

(The  witness  consulted  with  counsel.) 

Mr.  Lucchese.  Prior  to  that  time,  Grand  View  Construction  Co. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  How  long  had  you  been  in  the  construction  business  ? 

(The  witness  consulted  with  counsel.) 

Mr.  Lucchese.  Two  years,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  kind  of  construction  work  were  you  doing? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  Construction  work  on  building. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Whereabouts  ? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  In  New  York. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Just  in  New  York? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  Yes,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Was  it  heavy  construction  work? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  No,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Just  small  jobs,  was  it? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  Yes,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Who  was  in  business  with  you  ? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  decline  to  answer  under  the  fifth  amendment. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  How  many  employees  did  you  have  working  for  you 
at  that  time? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  decline  to  answer  under  the  fifth  amendment. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Were  any  of  the  employees  organized  ? 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12479 

Mr.  Lucchese.   I  decline  to  answer  under  the  first  amendment. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Could  you  tell  us  why  you  went  from  the  construc- 
tion business  to  the  dress  business,  Mr.  Lucchese  \ 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  decline  to  answer  under  the  fifth  amendment. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  were  you  in  prior  to  1!"  !•_!  or  L943  \ 

Mi-.  Lucchese.  The  Fordham  Hoisting  Co. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  How  long  were  you  in  that  business? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  About  3  or  4  years. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  kind  of  work  did  they  do? 

Mi\  Lucchese.  They  lift  or  hoist  things  such  as  bricks  and  mortar 
and  cement. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Where  did  that  company  operate? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  In  the  Bronx. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Was  that  just  in  New  York  City? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  Yes,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Who  were  you  in  business  with  in  that  company  ? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  decline  to  answer  under  the  fifth  amendment  and 
I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  is  not  pertinent. 

The  Chairman.  The  reference  to  pertinency  of  the  question  is  over- 
ruled. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  How  many  employees  did  you  have? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  decline  to  answer  under  the  fifth  amendment  and 
I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  is  not  pertinent. 

The  Chairman.  The  Chair  will  make  this  observation :  For  4  or  5 
questions  he  has  answered  on  the  ground  of  the  fifth  amendment  and 
on  the  ground  it  is  not  pertinent.  The  failure  to  answer  on  the  ground 
that  these  questions  are  not  pertinent  is  overruled,  but  of  course  the 
fifth  amendment  is  a  privilege  that  he  can  exercise.  I  didn't  want  the 
record  left  bare  on  the  question  of  the  pertinency. 

Proceed. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Were  the  employees  you  had  at  that  time  organized 
or  unorganized? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  decline  to  answer  under  the  fifth  amendment,  and 
decline  to  ansAver  on  the  ground  it  is  not  pertinent. 

The  Chairman.  The  reference  to  pertinency  of  the  question  is 
overruled. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  business  were  you  in  prior  to  the  hoisting 
company  ? 

(The  witness  consulted  with  counsel.) 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  decline  to  answer  under  the  fifth  amendment,  and 
I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  is  not  pertinent. 

The  Chairman.  The  reference  to  pertinency  of  the  question  is  over- 
ruled. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Could  you  tell  me  at  least  what  year  we  are  at  now? 
When  did  you  go  into  the  hoisting  business? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  In  1938. 

The  Chairman.  Mr.  Reporter,  let  your  record  show  in  each  instance 
where  he  answers  on  the  ground  that  it  is  not  pertinent,  that  the  ob- 
jection is  overruled,  unless  the  Chair  indicates  otherwise. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Can  you  tell  us  what  business  you  were  in  prior  to 
1938,  Mr.  Lucchese? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  decline  to  answer  under  the  fifth  amendment,  and 
I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  that  it  is  not  pertinent. 


12480  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

The  Chairman.  The  reference  to  pertinency  of  the  question  is  over- 
ruled. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Will  you  tell  us  any  business  you  were  in  prior  to 
1938,  if  not  the  one  at  1938,  any  of  the  businesses  you  were  in  prior  to 
1938? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  In  1934  and  1935. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  were  you  in  '. 

Mr.  Lucchese.  The  Interborough  Window  Cleaning  Co. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Could  you  tell  us  how  many  employees  you  had  with 
them  ? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  decline  to  answer  under  the  fifth  amendment,  and 
I  decline  to  answer  on  the  ground  it  is  not  pertinent. 

The  Chairman.  The  reference  to  pertinency  of  the  question  is  over- 
ruled. 

(The  witness  consulted  with  counsel.) 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  was  just  employed  there. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Were  you  a  member  of  a  union  while  you  were 
employed  ? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  Not  I,  sir,  I  was  not. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Were  the  other  employees  ( 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  believe  they  belonged  to  the  union. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Who  owned  that  company  ? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  Hyman  Stern,  and  he  is  dead  now. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  How  did  you  get  that  job  ? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  Through  Mr.  Stern. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Had  you  known  him  for  a  long  time? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  Yes,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  anybody  recommend  you  ? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  No,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  did  you  do  prior  to  that  time  % 

Mr.  Lucchese.  It  is  going  too  far  back,  and  I  don't  remember. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  is  all  of  the  record  you  have? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  Yes,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  is  a  lot  more  information  than  we  have  gotten 
from  many  witnesses. 

Mr.  Lucchese.  Thank  you. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  It  is  almost  a  pleasure.  Now,  according  to  the  in- 
formation that  we  have,  Mr.  Lucchese,  coming  up  to  the  present  time, 
you  also  have  an  interest  in  the  Sano  Textiles,  Inc.,  of  204  East  107th 
Street.    Do  you  have  any  interest  in  that  company  ? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  decline  to  answer  under  the  fifth  amendment. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  we  understand  that  you  have  an  interest  in  a 
ball-bearing  factory  in  New  Jersey ;  do  you  ? 

Mr.  Luce ' 1 1  ese.  What  is  that  ? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  A  ball-bearing  factory. 

Mr.  Lucchese.   I  decline  to  answer  under  the  fifth  amendment,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Are  you  in  business  at  all  with  "Longy"  Zwillman  \ 

( Wit  ness  consulted  with  counsel.) 

Mr.  Lucchese.  No,  sir. 

M  r.  K  en  n  edt.  I  )o  you  know  Mr.  Zwillman  ? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  No,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  never  met  him  ? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  1  don't  recall  if  I  did  or  not. 

Mr.  K  en  \  edt.   1  )o  you  know  Mr.  Michael  Coppola  ? 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12481 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  decline  to  answer  under  the  fifth  amendment. 
M  r.  Kennedy.  Do  you  know  Joseph  Rao  \ 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  decline  to  answer  under  the  lit'th  amendment. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  We  have  information  that  yon  know  Joseph   Rao 
and  Michael  Coppola.    Do  you  know  Andino Papadino  \ 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  decline  to  answer  under  the  fifth  amendment. 

M  r.  Kennedy.  I  guess  it  is  Papadio. 

Mr.  Lucchese.  1  decline  to  answer  under  the  fifth  amendment. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Tony  Bender,  do  you  know  him? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  1  decline  to  answer  under  the  fifth  amendment. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  We  have  information  that  you  know  Tony  Bender. 
How  about  Frank  Carbo  ? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  decline  to  answer  under  the  fifth  amendment. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  James  Plumeri  ? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  decline  to  answer  under  the  fifth  amendment. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Johnny  Dioguardi  ? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  decline  to  answer  under  the  fifth  amendment. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Tommy  Dioguardi  ( 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  decline  to  answer  under  the  fifth  amendment. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Vito  Genovese? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  decline  to  answer  under  the  fifth  amendment. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  yon  know  that  Vito  Genovese  was  helping  Mus- 
solini during  the  war? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  decline  to  answer  under  the  fifth  amendment. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  "We  have  information  that  you  know7  "Tony  Ducks." 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  decline  to  answer  under  the  fifth  amendment. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  that  is  "Tony  Ducks"  Corallo,  is  it  not  ( 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  decline  to  answer  under  the  fifth  amendment. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  And  Abe  Chait  I 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  decline  to  answer  under  the  fifth  amendment. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  JohnOrmento? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  decline  to  answer  under  the  fifth  amendment. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Profaci? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  decline  to  answer  under  the  fifth  amendment. 
Mr.  Kennedy.  Joe  Stretch? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  decline  to  answer  under  the  fifth  amendment. 
Mr.  Kennedy.  How  about  "Lucky"  Luciano  \ 
Mr.  Lucchese.  I  decline  to  answer  under  the  fifth  amendment. 
Mr.  Kennedy.  We  have  information  that  you  do  know  "Lucky" 
Luciano ;  is  that  correct  ? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  decline  to  answer  under  the  fifth  amendment. 
The  Chairman.  Are  you  a  member  of  the  Mafia  \ 
Mr.  Lucchese.  No,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  operate  any  of  the  illegal  enterprises  in  New 
York  City,  such  as  illegal  gambling,  or  narcotics,  or  anything  like 
that? 
Mr.  Lucchese.  Definitely  not,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  have  any  illegal  activities  in  New  York  City 
at  all? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  No,  sir. 
Mr.  Kennedy.  None  at  all  ? 
Mr.  Lucchese.  No,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Can  you  explain  at  all  to  the  committee  why  some 
of  these  dress  shops  that  are  operating  in  New  York  City  and  Penn- 


12482  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

sylvania,  why  some  of  them  are  organized  and  some  of  them  aren't 
organized? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  decline  to  answer  under  the  fifth  amendment, 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Is  it  necessary  to  make  any  kind  of  a  payoff  in  order 
to  keep  a  shop  unorganized  ? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  decline  to  answer  under  the  fifth  amendment, 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Or  is  it  just  a  question  of  contacts  and  knowing 
somebody  ? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  decline  to  answer  under  the  fifth  amendment. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  meet  very  often  with  these  individuals,  such 
as  Ormento,  Abe  Chait,  and  Vito  Genovese  ? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  decline  to  answer  under  the  fifth  amendment,  sir. 

The  Chairman.  It  would  be  very  helpful  if  you  could  cooperate 
with  us  with  respect  to  any  payoffs  or  any  practices  regarding  the 
unionization  of  these  dress  factories.  We  have  information,  and  I 
think  we  probably  already  have  established  by  some  proof,  at  least, 
that  in  some  instances  they  are  able,  either  by  knowing  the  right  people 
or  by  payoff,  to  prevent  a  shop  from  being  organized,  and  thus  the 
workers  in  that  shop  are  paid  less  and  the  cost  of  producing  is  there- 
fore less,  and  that  particular  shop  or  that  management  or  ownership 
then  can  very  successfully  compete  with  competitors  and  sometimes 
even  drive  them  out  of  business  by  reason  of  their  being  able  to  prevent 
organization  through  the  method  I  have  suggested. 

Now,  can  you  be  helpful  to  us  and  tell  us  anything  about  it? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  decline  to  answer  under  the  fifth  amendment,  sir. 

The  Chairman.  In  other  words,  you  maybe  could  be  helpful,  but  if 
you  gave  the  information  it  might  be  self-incriminating,  is  that  what 
you  mean  to  say  ? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  Yes,  sir. 

The  Chairman.  All  right,  proceed. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  know  of  any  criminal  acts  or  conspiracies  on 
the  part  of  any  of  these  other  individuals  in  New  York  City,  such  as 
Ormento  or  Abe  Chait  ? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  decline  to  answer  under  the  fifth  amendment,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  know  of  any  of  these  individuals  who  are 
engaged  in  importing  narcotics  from  Europe? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  No,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  do  not  know  of  any  of  them  ? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  No,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  know  of  any  of  them  that  are  engaged  in 
any  illegal  gambling  in  New  York  City  ? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  decline  to  answer  under  the  fifth  amendment,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  about  the  Harvic  Sportswear  Co.?  Do  you 
have  any  interest  in  the  Harvic  Sportswear  Co.  ? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  Yes,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  own  that  yourself  ? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  am  not  the  sole  owner. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Who  else  is  in  it  with  you  \ 

Mr.  Lucchese.  Me  and  my  son. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Is  there  just  one  company  or  a  number  of  them  \ 

Mr.  Lucchese.  There  are  '2  factories,  under  1  name. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Where  are  they  located  '. 

Mr.  Lucchese.  Both  of  them  are  in  Pennsylvania. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  They  are  both  in  Scranton,  are  they? 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    EST    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12483 

Mr.  Lucchese.  No,  sir;  1  is  in  Scranton,  and  1  is  in  Sweet  Valley, 
Pa. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Now,  how  much  do  you  own  and  how  much  does 
your  son  own  ? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  Half  and  half. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  he  put  up  half  of  the  money  and  you  put  up  hal  f 
of  the  money? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  No,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  you  lend  him  the  money  ? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  gave  my  son  a  half  interest. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  How  many  employees  do  you  have  in  those  two 
shops  ? 

(Witness  consulted  with  counsel.) 

Mr.  Lucchese.  In  both  shops,  you  mean  ? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Yes. 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  would  say  about  100. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  In  both  of  them  ? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  About  110. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Are  they  organized  ? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  They  are  organized ;  yes,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  They  are  members  of  the  union  \ 

Mr.  Lucchese.  Yes,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Those  two  shops  are  operating  at  the  present  time? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  No,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  They  are  shut  down,  are  they  ? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  Yes,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  By  whom  were  they  shut  down  ? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  Ever  since  the  strike  came  on. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Did  you  have  any  discussions  with  Mr.  Abe  Chait 
regarding  the  strike  ? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  decline  to  answer  under  the  fifth  amendment,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Could  you  tell  us  with  whom  you  discussed  the  fact 
of  what  your  policy  would  be  toward  the  ILGTV I    \ 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  decline  to  answer  under  the  fifth  amendment,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  about  the  Bob-France  Coat  Co.  ?  Do  you  have 
an  interest  in  that? 

(Witness  consulted  with  counsel.) 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Have  you  had  an  interest  in  that  ? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  To  my  recollection,  it  is  very  vague,  and  I  don't 
remember.  I  remember  something  about  it  and  I  might  have  had 
some  interest  there,  but  it  is  only  a  small  place,  and  I  think  it  was 
only  about  6  months. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  was  back  in  1951,  was  it? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  Maybe,  you  might  be  right. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  How  about  Monica  Modes,  Inc.,  of  225  West  37th 
Street,  New  York  City? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  decline  to  answer  under  the  fifth  amendment, 
sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  We  understood  that  in  1953.  you  were  vice  presi- 
dent of  that  corporation,  do  you  know  that? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  decline  to  answer  under  the  fifth  amendment. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Could  you  tell  us  whether  the  emploj'ees  of  that 
company  are  organized  or  unorganized  \ 

21243— 58— pt.  32 20 


12484  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  decline  to  answer  under  the  fifth  amendment, 
sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  How  about  the  Grand  View  Construction  Corp.? 
Do  you  have  a  financial  interest  in  it? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  What  is  the  question? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  have  a  financial  interest  in  the  Grand  View 
Construction  Corp.  ? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  Did  I  have  a  financial  interest? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Yes. 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  must  have. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  do  you  mean,  you  must  have? 

(The  witness  consulted  with  counsel.) 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  was  interested  in  it. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  When  were  you  interested  in  that,  and  when  did 
you  have  a  financial  interest? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  While  I  was  there. 

Mr.  Keenedy.  When  you  were  where  ? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  In  the  Grand  view  Construction  Co. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  We  discussed  that,  did  we?     When  was  that  ac- 
tive? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  In  1942  or  1943. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  haven't  had  an  interest  since  1943? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  That  is  all. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  is  the  answer? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  No,  that  is  all.    It  was  1943  and  it  went  out. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Have  you  had  any  interest  in  any  construction  com- 
pany since  1943? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  No,  sir. 

Mr.    Kennedy.  What    about    the   World    Warehouse    &    Service 
Corp.? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  decline  to  answer  under  the  fifth  amendment, 
sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  they  have  any  employees? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  decline  to  answer  under  the  fifth  amendment, 
sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Are  they  organized  or  unorganized? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  decline  to  answer  under  the  fifth  amendment. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  How  about  the  Malba  Park  Development  Co.  ?  Did 
you  ever  have  an  interest  in  that? 

(The  witness  consulted  with  counsel.) 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  fifth  amendment,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Have  you  had  any  interest  in  the  Hoisting  &  Equip- 
ment Co.  since  1930's? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  No,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  V  &  L  Hat  Co.,  22-24  West  39th  Street?     You 
wouldn't  furnish  us  that  list  would  you,  and  expedite  this? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  No,  sir,  that  is  all  right,  it  is  1936. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  is  the  answer? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  Yes,  1936. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  In  1936? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  Yes,  sir. 

Mr.   Kennedy.  Did  it  go  out  of  business  then? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  Yes,  sir. 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12485 

Mr.  Kennedy.  How  about  Yennie  Stern  Commercial  Attractions? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  No:  it  went  out  of  business. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  is  an  old  company,  also? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  Yes,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  In  the  1930's? 

Mr.  Lxjcchese.  Yes,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  What  other  sources  of  income  do  you  have  now, 
Mr.  Lucchese  \ 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  decline  to  answer  on  the  fifth  amendment,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  It  would  be  a  big  help  to  us  to  understand  how  this 
operates,  if  you  could  tell  us  what  your  sources  of  income  are,  Mr. 
Lucchese. 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  decline  to  answer  under  the  fifth  amendment, 
sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Will  you  tell  us  anything  about  the  operation  of 
Vito  Genovese,  or  James  Plumeri,  or  ''Tony  Ducks"? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  decline  to  answer  under  the  fifth  amendment. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  don't  want  to  help  or  assist  the  committee  \ 

Mr.  Lucchese.  I  decline  to  answer  under  the  fifth  amendment. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  answered  more  questions  than  any  of  your 
associates,  Mr.  Lucchese,  and  you  won't  go  on  and  answer  a  few  more 
questions  about  their  operations  \ 

Mr.  Lucchese.  1  decline  to  answer  under  the  fifth  amendment. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  is  all. 

The  Chairman.  .Vie  there  any  further  questions ? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  That  is  all  of  this  witness. 

Mr.  Luc< ' 1 1 ese.  May  1  correct  something,  Your  Honor  ? 

The  Chairman.  You  may. 

Mr.  Lucchese.  When  I  said  about  the  "Arra,"  I  used  the  name 
"Arra"  in  the  station  house.  I  asked  the  police  what  he  wanted  to 
arrest  me  for,  and  I  said,  "You  are  going  to  spoil  my  name",  and  he 
said,  "Use  Arra  or  any  name,  or  anything." 

The  Chairman.  Yon  think  now  that  you  did  use  the  name  "Arra" 
yourself  ( 

Mr.  Lucchese.  Yes,  sir:  I  mean  as  far  as  the  policeman  told  me  it 
-was  all  right  for  me  to  use  that. 

The  (  'iiairman.  Are  there  any  other  questions  ? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  I  would  like  to  have  Mr.  Lucchese  remain  under  the 
subpena,  Mr.  Chairman. 

The  Chairman.  You  will  remain  under  your  present  subpena,  sub- 
ject to  returning  and  testifying  whenever  the  committee  and  if  the 
committee  should  want  to  interrogate  you  further.  You  will  be  placed 
under  recognizance  to  appear  at  such  time  as  the  committee  may  de- 
sire you  upon  reasonable  notice  to  you  or  your  attorney  of  the  time  and 
place  where  the  committee  will  desire  to  hear  you.  Do  you  agree  to 
that? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  Yes,  sir ;  I  will. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Do  you  have  any  relatives  by  the  name  of  "Arra"  ? 

Mr.  Lucchese.  No,  sir. 

Mr.  Kennedy.  You  do  not  \ 

Mr.  Lucchese.  No,  sir. 

The  Chairman.  All  right ;  thank  you  very  much. 


12486  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Mr.  Kennedy.  Now,  Mr.  Chairman,  we  had  expected  Mr.  Anslinger 
from  the  Bureau  of  Narcotics  to  be  a  witness.  He  became  ill  and  so 
was  unable  to  testify,  but  he  submitted  a  statement  to  the  committee. 
Can  that  be  inserted  in  the  record  ? 

The  Chairman.  I  will  insert  it  in  the  record,  and  I  would  want  it 
to  be  verified  by  affidavit.  Upon  this  statement  being  verified,  it  may 
be  placed  in  the  record  at  this  point. 

(The  statement  is  as  follows : ) 

Statement  op  Commissioner  Hakry  J.  Anslinger,  Bureau  of  Narcotics, 
Treasury  Department 

On  June  4,  1958,  agents  of  the  Federal  Bureau  of  Narcotics  of  the  Treasury 
Department  arrested  28  members  of  an  international  and  national  combine 
in  New  York  City  which  smuggled  and  distributed  throughout  the  United 
States  millions  of  doses  of  heroin  for  resale  by  associated  groups  of  hoodlums 
to  adults  and  teen-agers.  Three  members  of  this  gang  had  attended  the  no- 
torious Mafia  gathering  at  Apalachin,  N.  Y.,  in  November  1957.  Several  are 
top  gangsters  on  the  Attorney  General's  list. 

Only  a  few  short  weeks  ago,  18  members  of  a  similar  gang  apprehended  by 
narcotic  agents  were  tried  and  convicted  by  Hon.  Paul  Williams,  United  States 
attorney  in  New  York  City.  Among  those  convicted  was  a  man  who  has  been 
fairly  prominent  in  the  garment  industry.  Also  convicted  in  this  same  gang 
was  John  Buccelli,  who  was  shot  to  death  2  weeks  ago  in  Boston,  Buccelli  was 
known  as  a  waterfront  labor  racketeer,  who  arranged  to  smuggle  heroin  ship- 
ments through  the  port. 

It  is  of  particular  interest  to  note  that  some  members  of  these  mobs  were 
engaged  in  labor  racketeering,  along  with  the  business  of  slow  murder  of  their 
fellow  citizens  by  selling  them  a  potent  poison,  physically  and  morally  destruc- 
tive, which  made  them  abject  slaves  to  these  hoodlums.  Top  members  of  these 
groups  are  firmly  entrenched  in  the  profitable  garment  industry,  exacting 
their  tribute  from  management  and  labor  alike. 

The  infiltration  of  the  Mafia  into  legitimate  business  provides  them  with  a 
cloak  of  respectability  behind  which  they  pursue  their  illicit  activities.  They 
have  been  found  in  almost  every  conceivable  type  of  business.  This  underworld 
group  has  deep  roots  in  certain  waterfront  labor  organizations,  since  control  of 
that  area  is  essential  to  their  smuggling  operation,  and  at  the  same  time  is  a 
source  of  financial  tribute. 

Several  years  ago  we  furnished  the  Senate  Rackets  Committee,  headed  by 
Senator  Kefauver,  a  list  of  800  members  of  this  underworld  association  who 
were  engaged  in  all  kinds  of  criminal  operations.  If  we  brought  the  list  up  to 
date,  several  hundred  names  could  be  added.  They  have  a  monopoly  of  the 
illicit  narcotic  traffic.  We  have  arrested  and  convicted  some  300  of  these 
gangsters,  none  of  whom  was  addicted,  for  narcotic  violations.  Of  these,  about 
150  have  been  deported. 

The  pattern  of  activity  by  this  group  of  hoodlums  can  be  seen  in  every  city 
where  there  is  a  narcotic  problem.  They  arrange  for  supplies  of  opium  to  be 
converted  into  heroin  in  clandestine  laboratories  of  the  Middle  East ;  smuggle 
the  narcotics  to  the  United  States  and  Canada,  using  France  and  Italy  for 
in-transit  operations ;  and  also  obtain  large  quantities  of  heroin  from  the  Far 
East,  from  Communist  China.  Through  close  associates  in  the  larger  cities,  they 
distribute  their  deadly  wares  to  smaller  groups  for  retail  on  the  street  level  to 
drug  addicts. 

In  1950  Congress  passed  a  Narcotic  Control  Act  with  teeth  so  sharp  that, 
at  long  last,  these  hoodlums  began  to  look  elsewhere  for  rackets;  it  was  not 
entirely  unexpected  that  they  would  enter  the  orbit  of  rackets  like  those  your 
distinguished  committee  is  now  investigating. 

These  gangsters  are  not  welded  into  a  single  unit.  They  operate  all  over  the 
United  States  in  separate  groups,  but  are  so  interwoven  personally  that  any  1  of 
the  800  men  can  telephone  any  other  member  of  the  group — wherever  located — 
and  arrange  for  the  accomplishment  of  unlawful  activities. 

I  wish  to  point  out  quite  emphatically  that  their  business  is  all  done  by  tele- 
phone, and  they  are  so  well  insulated  through  this  medium  of  communication  that 
they  are  virtually  immune  from  investigation  by  law-enforcement  officers.  For- 
tunately we  manage  to  infiltrate  by  means  of  undercover  operations,  but  these 
are  long,  tedious,  and  dangerous. 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12487 

We  are  encouraged  that  Congress  has  provided  a  5-year  minimum  penalty, 
With  no  probation  or  parole,  for  the  unlawful  sale  of  narcotics  and  very  heavy 
penalties  for  subsequent  offenses.  This  has  given  us  a  weapon  with  such  power- 
ful  impact  that  in  many  sections  of  the  country  the  narcotic  traffic  bias  been 
brought  under  control  through  cooperation  with  local  authorities,  prosecutors, 
and  the  courts. 

There  still  remains  much  to  be  done  to  crush  this  hoodlum  empire.  We  do 
believe,  however,  that  the  Attorney  General's  coordinated  drive  on  racketeers  in 
which  all  Federal  enforcement  agencies  are  participating  will  produce  bene- 
ficial results.  This  has  already  been  demonstrated,  as  I  mentioned  above,  by 
the  recent  New  York  arrests  of  members  of  a  vast  narcotic  combine. 

The  Chairman.  There  is  no  objection  to  the  statement  of  Mr. 
Anslinger  being  made  public,  but  for  evidence  we  will  have  it  veri- 
fied and  then  insert  it  in  the  record.  I  am  sure  he  will  have  no  objec- 
tion to  doing  that,  but  just  as  a  matter  of  keeping  the  integrity  of  the 
record  where  we  accept  something  as  proof,  I  think  that  should  be 
done. 

(Shortly  after  these  hearings  were  completed,  the  committee  ob- 
tained the  following  affidavit  of  verification  from  Mr.  Anslinger,  to 
which  was  attached  a  copy  of  his  statement  as  printed  above  in  the 
record:) 

District  of  Columbia, 

Washington,  D.  C,  ss: 
I,  H.  J.  Anslinger,  Commissioner,  Bureau  of  Narcotics,  Treasury  Department, 
do  hereby  certify  that  the  statement  attached  hereto  is  a  copy  of  the  statement 
which  I  gave  before  the  Senate  Select  Committee  on  Improper  Activities  in  the 
Labor  or  Management  Field  on  July  3,  1958,  at  Washington,  D.  C. 

H.  J.  Anslinger, 
Commissioner  of  Narcotics. 

Subscribed  and  sworn  to  before  me  this  31st  day  of  July  1958. 

I'seal]  Edward  S.  Shankle, 

Notary  Public  in  and  for  the  District  of  Columbia. 

My  commission  expires  September  30, 1962. 

The  Chairman.  Are  there  any  further  witnesses  ? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  No. 

The  Chairman.  The  Chair  makes  this  closing  statement : 

With  this  witness  we  close  this  week  introductory  hearings  into 
racketeer  and  hoodlum  infiltration  into  legitimate  labor  and  manage- 
ment. 

The  testimony  we  have  heard  can  leave  no  doubt  that  there  has  been 
a  concerted  effort  by  members  of  the  American  criminal  syndicate  to 
achieve  legitimacy  through  association  and  control  of  labor  unions 
and  business  firms.  The  extent  of  this  infiltration  poses  a  serious 
threat  to  the  very  economy  of  our  country. 

The  criminal  syndicate  which  we  have  identified  here  as  the  Mafia 
has  revealed  an  arrogant  challenge  to  the  Government  and  to  the 
decent  people  of  this  country.  The  contempt  with  which  the  leaders 
of  the  underworld,  as  they  have  displayed  it  here  on  the  witness  stand, 
regard  both  their  Government  and  the  citizens  of  this  country 
has  been  demonstrated  repeatedly  during  the  past  week  by  their  re- 
fusal to  cooperate,  even  in  the  slightest  degree,  with  this  committee, 
which  has  a  mandate  to  carry  out  an  important  function  of  this 
Government. 

The  lack  of  regard  which  these  racketeers  and  gangsters  have  for 
their  country  can  be  amply  demonstrated  by  their  extensive  police 
records  since  arriving  in  the  United  States.     In  addition,  it  has  been 


12488  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

demonstrated  in  the  case  of  Vito  Genovese  that  he  actively  collabo- 
rated with  the  Italian  Government  after  receiving  his  American  citi- 
zenship and  while  the  United  States  was  actively  at  war  with  Italy. 

The  committee  proposes  to  continue  its  study  into  this  important 
topic  by  taking-  a  direct  look  as  a  number  of  industries  and  unions 
throughout  the  country  where  underworld  elements  have  been  par- 
ticularly successful. 

In  this  connection,  we  will  open  hearings  next  week  into  the  success- 
ful infiltration  of  these  elements  into  the  Chicago  restaurant  industry 
and  show  how — through  control  of  labor  unions  and  business  associa- 
tions— they  have  fastened  an  almost  unbreakable  grip  on  this  lucra- 
tive Chicago  industry.  During  this  hearing  we  intend  to  call  some 
of  the  top  underworld  figures  in  the  Midwest,  including  Anthony 
J.  Accardo,  who  has  long  been  reputed  as  one  of  the  racket  overlords 
of  Chicago. 

For  some  2  months  we  have  been  privileged  to  have  had  the  as- 
sistance of  the  criminal  intelligence  squad  of  the  New  York  Police 
Department  and  1  lieutenant  and  3  detectives  assigned  to  that  section. 
This  special  squad  of  the  New  York  Police  Department  has  done 
excellent  work  in  documenting  and  investigating  the  activities  of 
some  of  the  Nation's  most  important  criminals.  Their  assistance  to 
this  committee,  arranged  through  the  cooperation  of  New  York 
Police  Commissioner  Stephen  P.  Kennedy,  has  been  invaluable.  I 
would  like  to  thank  these  men:  Lt.  James  Mooney  and  Detectives 
Joseph  Corrigan,  Thomas  O'Brien,  and  Cy  Jordan  for  their  whole- 
hearted cooperation  and  help  to  this  committee.  We  also  wish  to 
thank  District  Attorney  Frank  S.  Hogan  and  his  chief  assistant 
Alfred  Scotti  for  their  help  as  well  as  for  the  continuing  cooperation 
of  Detective  Natale  Laurendi,  assigned  to  the  New  York  County  dis- 
trict attorney's  office.  District  Attorney  Hogan  has  been  of  im- 
mense value  to  this  committee  during  the  entire  time  of  its  operations. 

We  also  wish  to  thank  the  United  States  Bureau  of  Narcotics,  its 
Commissioner  Harry  J.  Anslinger  and  Agent  Martin  Pera  for  their 
assistance  to  the  committee,  not  only  during  this  hearing  but  in  the 
past.  Sgt.  Edgar  Crosswell  of  the  New  York  State  Police  has  also 
been  most  helpful . 

The  United  States  General  Accounting  Office,  through  Comptroller 
General  Joseph  Campbell,  continues  to  be  of  great  assistance  to  this 
committee.  I  may  say  that  his  Office  has  granted,  I  believe,  every 
request  for  assistance  that  this  committee  has  made  of  him.  By 
reason  of  the  help  he  has  given,  the  work  of  the  committee  lias  been 
tremendously  expedited.  GAO  personnel  assigned  to  this  investiga- 
tion included  Milton  Morvitz  and  Stephen  Conley,  and  also  Mr. 
Marvin  Gettle  and  Mr.  Tom  Hegmire,  of  the  St.  Louis  office. 

We  also  wish  to  thank  the  Wage  and  Hour  Division  of  the  United 
States  Department  of  Labor  for  the  untiring  efforts  of  Miss  Lee 
Weisner. 

No  hearing  of  this  committee  could  be  successful  without  the  work 
of  our  staff.  Participating  in  this  hearing  have  been — under  the 
supervision  of  Mr.  Kennedy,  the  chief  counsel — the  Assistant  Chief 
Counsel  Jerome  S.  Adlerman,  Assistant  Counsels  Walter  May,  John 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    TN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12489 

Constandy  and  Paul  Kamerick;  and  Investigators  Sherman  Willse, 
George  Martin,  and  Pierre  Salinger. 

Is  there  any  further  statement,  Mr.  Counsel  ? 

Mr.  Kennedy.  No. 

Senator  Mundt.  Mr.  Chairman,  I  would  like  to  add  that  it  seems 
to  me  that  the  two  most  significant  points  which  this  particulai 
series  of  hearings  has  demonstrated  and  to  which  the  general  public 
and  the  Congress  and  our  State  legislatures  might  well  devote  their 
attention  are  the  following:  First,  that  the  complete  laxity  which 
has  been  demonstrated  by  the  parole  and  pardon  procedures  affecting 
habitual  criminals  has  made  it  possible  for  the  type  of  characters 
that  we  have  called  before  this  committee  in  the  past  few  days  to 
continue  lives  of  crime  in  this  country  over  generations  of  years  and 
that  it  profits  little  to  simply  disclose  this  fact  unless  everybody 
in  the  country  having  a  responsibility  in  this  area  learns  something 
from  these  disclosures. 

I  would  hope  that  all  of  those  having  anything  to  do  with  the  busi- 
ness of  pardoning  and  paroling  criminals  and  the  various  legislative 
acts  that  deal  with  these  problems  and  the  judicial  decisions  which  in- 
volve them  would  tighten  up  this  procedure  somewhat  in  the  interests 
of  law  enforcement  and  the  maintenance  of  decency  in  this  country. 

The  second  most  important  aspect  of  the  hearing,  as  far  as  this 
Senator  sees  it,  is  the  fact  that  so  many  of  these  criminals  and  char- 
acters we  have  had  before  us  are  immigrants  who  have  come  to  this 
country  and  have  been  either  naturalized  or  remained  here  as  resident 
aliens,  and  violated  every  term  and  consideration  by  which  they 
entered  the  country  by  engaging  in  lives  of  crime,  and  in  some  manner 
or  other  have  been  able  to  escape  deportation.  It  seems  to  me  that 
the  whole  process  of  deporting  undesirable  aliens  and  people  who 
violate  the  terms  by  which  they  become  naturalized  citizens  should 
be  tightened  up. 

This  is  just  another  disclosure  of  what  happens  when  people  are 
faithless  to  the  obligation  they  undertake  when  they  come  here  as 
naturalized  citizens.  I  would  hope  that  the  various  nationality  or- 
ganizations in  this  country  would  make  this  a  matter  of  imagination  or 
concern.  I  would  hope  that  all  of  those  fine  laudable  groups  pressing 
for  a  relaxation  of  immigration  laws  would  make  this  a  matter  of 
imagination  or  concern.  There  surely  is  little  inducement  to  encour- 
age greater  immigration  into  this  country  until  and  unless  we  find 
an  effective  procedure  for  deporting  those  who  come  here  and  violate 
the  terms  under  which  they  come. 

By  cleaning  up  this  type  of  situation  we  can  provide  a  much  more 
wholesome  climate  for  a  relaxation  of  immigration  laws  so  we  can 
encourage  people  of  right  disposition  and  proper  character  to  come 
here  as  they  always  have,  to  develop  in  this  great  melting  pot  a  fine 
high  class  citizenry. 

But  while  we  hear  much  from  nationality  groups  urging  that  the 
immigration  laws  be  changed  to  permit  more  people  to  come  we  hear 
discouragingly  little  from  the  same  groups  about  what  should  be  done 
to  expedite  the  deportation  of  those  coming  here  and  violating  the 
terms  of  citizenship  which  they  undertake. 


12490  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

I  would  hope  that  the  country  as  a  result  of  these  hearings  learns 
something  about  what  laxity  there  is  in  this  business  of  deportation 
means,  and  what  laxity  and  undue  generosity  in  the  field  of  pardons 
and  paroles  means.  It  is  a  terrible  situation  to  realize  that  one  witness 
testifies  that  after  he  had  been  out  of  jail  for  the  third  or  fourth  time 
he  was  returned  to  the  penitentiary  for  shooting  his  parole  officer  and 
subsequently  paroled  again. 

It  seems  to  me  that  that  demonstrates  pretty  clearly  somebody, 
somewhere,  has  fallen  down  on  the  job.  There  isn't  much  use  parad- 
ing these  characters  before  us  and  discussing  their  well-known  back- 
grounds and  have  nothing  happen  to  make  a  recurrence  seem  less  likely 
m  the  future  than  the  instances  have  developed  in  the  past. 

The  Chairman.  We  will  resume  hearings  next  week  beginning  at 
10  o'clock  Tuesday  morning.  I  am  not  sure  yet  what  room  the  com- 
mittee will  occupy.  Quite  likely  we  will  be  able  to  return  to  this 
chamber. 

The  committee  stands  adjourned. 

(Whereupon,  at  3 :25  p.  m.,  the  committee  adjourned,  to  reconvene  at 
10  a.  m.,  Tuesday,  July  8, 1958.) 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12491 

Appendix 

SELECT  COMMITTEE 
ON  LABOI?  •  MANAGEMENT 

GRACE   LINE   INC. 

THHEE   HANOVER  SQUARE  .--iin  JUL    3  1  V358 


NEW  YORK    4.  N   Y. 


ROUIED- 
IJiiTiAL 


-FILE  MO— 


July  22,  195 


Dear  Senator: 

I  have  learned  of  the  testimony  recently  given  by 
Mr.  Sherman  Willse  before  your  Committee  with  respect  to  cocaine 
being  brought  into  this  Country  on  Grace  Line  ships. 

This  testimony  might  create  the  inference  that  the 
Grace  Line  has  been  remiss  in  taking  precautions  with  respect  to 
the  smuggling  of  cocaine.  Any  such  inference  would  be  directly 
contrary  to  the  facts. 

Grace  Line  is  acutely  aware  of  its  responsibilities 
in  this  matter  and  over  its  long  years  of  operation  has  adopted 
strict  control  procedures  which  are  faithfully  carried  out. 

Grace  Line's  record  is  one  of  complete  cooperation 
with  Federal  and  local  authorities.  Those  with  whom  we  deal  in 
the  United  States  for  the  most  part  are  the  Federal  Bureau  of 
Narcotics,  the  United  States  Customs  Service  and  the  Narcotic 
Squad  of  the  New  York  Police  Department.  We  also  cooperate  with 
the  appropriate  authorities  in  foreign  countries. 

In  short,  in  the  face  of  a  problem  that  is  admitted- 
ly difficult  for  all  transportation  companies,  we  are  convinced 
that  we  have  exercised  every  reasonable  precaution  and  all  possi- 
ble diligence  to  eliminate  the  smuggling  of  this  contraband. 

I  note  that  Mr.  Willse  also  testified  that  it  is  his 
belief  that  a  Carmine  Lombardozzi  operated  a  mobile  marine  com- 
pany whose  equipment  was  leased  to  the  Grace  Line  and  that 
Mr.  Lombardozzi  seemed  to  have  a  monopoly  in  that  field  particu- 
larly with  one  Line,  i.e.  Grace.  This  is  simply  not  so.  The 
Grace  Line  has  never  had  any  dealings  with  Mr.  Lombardozzi  nor 
has  it  used  his  equipment. 

I  enclose  a  copy  of  my  letter  to  the  Waterfront  Commis- 
sion of  New  York  Harbor  dated  May  1,  1958  and  attachment  referred  to 
therein  with  the  thought  that  it  might  be  of  interest  to  you.  A 
copy  of  this  letter  and  attachment  was  also  submitted  to  the  Maritime 
Administration. 

I  respectfully  request  that  this  letter  and  enclosure 
be  incorporated  at  the  proper  point  in  the  Committee's  record  with  the 
appropriate  cross  reference. 


Lewi^A. 


Yours  most  faithfully, 

A.   Lapham' 
President 

LAL-nm 


The  Honorable  John  L.  McClellan 
The  United  States  Senate 
Washington  25,  D.  C. 


12492  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

May  1,  196* 


Waterfront  Conmission  of  New  York  Harbor 

15  Park  Row 

New  York  3S,  New  York 


Dear  Sirs » 


It  has  caste  to  our  attention  that  the  Monti 
Marine  Corporation,  which  performs  certain  maintenance  and 
repair  works  on  our  ships,  is  under  investigation  by  you.  This 
was  confirmed  in  a  discussion  had  with  Ccssnissioner  Rabino 
last  Thursday  by  a  Grace  Line  representative. 

We,  of  course,  will  be  interested  in  learning 
of  any  facts  which  would  bear  upon  the  desirability  of  Monti 
Marino  as  a  contractor.  If  your  investigation  has  coma  upon 
any  fact  that  sight  lead  to  the  conclusion  that  Monti  Marine 
is  undesirable,  it  would  be  most  appreciated  if  you  would  so 
adviso  us. 


With  the  thought  that  it  might  be  of 
sistanoe  to  your  investigation,  we  are  enclosing  a  meaorandun 
setting  forth  the  facts  of  our  relations  with  Monti  Marine.  If 
there  is  any  further  information  that  you  desire  of  us,  we  shall 
be  glad  to  furnish  it  to  you.  If  you  prefer,  wo  shall  be  happy 
to  discuss  the  aatter  with  you. 


Yours  aoet  faithfully. 


L«  A.  Laphan 

PRESIDENT 


LAL-tsa 


IMPROPER  ACTIVITIES  IN  THE  LABOR  FIELD      12493 

In  1953  Grace  Line  began  a  thorough  analysis 
of  Its  operating  costs  with  a  view  to  economizing  wherever 
possible.  The  analysis  covered ,  In  addition  to  other  aspects, 
the  maintenance  work  which  employees  of  Its  subsidiary  per- 
formed on  Grace  Line  ships. 

As  a  reault  of  the  analysis,  It  was  determined 
that  substantial  savings  might  well  be  effected  If  this  main- 
tenance work  was  contracted  out.  Accordingly,  In  August  1953, 
Grace  Line  Invited  various  firms  to  bid  on  this  work.  Ten 
bids  were  received.  The  two  lowest  bids  (substantially  below 
the  other  bids)  were  submitted  by  Monti  Marine  Corporation  and 
Kelmar  Contracting  Corporation,  with  Indications  that  Monti 
Marine's  bid  was  slightly  lower.  After  an  investigation  of 
both  these  companies,  which  included  a  check  with  the  Maritime 
Commission*,  Grace  Line  awarded  the  contract  to  Monti  Marine, 
effective  October  1,  1953. 

Some  time  later  Monti  Marine  advised  Grace  Line 
that  it  was  in  financial  difficulties  and  unless  it  obtained 
some  financing  would  be  obliged  to  cease  operations.  Grace 
Line  advanoed  Monti  Marine  $5,000.  Grace  Line  then  examined 
the  financial  situation  of  Monti  Marine  and,  after  considering 
alternative  means  of  having  its  maintenance  work  done,  decided 
to  assist  Monti  Marine  in  obtaining  the  necessary  financing. 
This  assistance  took  the  form  of  a  guarantee  by  Grace  Line  of 
s  bank  loan  by  the  C&ra  Exchange  Bank  and  Trust  Company  to 

•Captain  F  Taylor  of  the  Maritime  Commission,  in  answer  to  Grace 
Line's  inquiry,  advised  that  Itanti  had  always  given  good  service, 
got  their  vessels  out  on  time,  and  appeared  to  be  reputable. 


12494  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

-  2  - 

Monti  Marine,  originally  In  the  amount  of  $250,000.  The  loan 
was  secured  by  a  chattel  mortgage  on  Monti  Marina's  assets. 
The  loan  was  subsequently  Increased  to  $400,000. 

Monti  Marine,  by  timely  payments,  has  reduced 
this  loan  and  at  the  present  time  it  amounts  to  $123,000. 
Grace  Line,  at  the  tine  it  agreed  to  guarantee  the  loan,  in- 
sisted that  Monti  Marine  take  various  steps  looking  toward  a 
more  efficient  operation.  These  steps  included  the  following! 

1.  A  Price  tfaterhouse  accountant  was  employed 
by  Monti  Marine  to  supervise  all  accounting 
and  financial  details  and  to  countersign  all 
checks  of  the  Corporation . 

2.  The  services  of  one  Sorrentino  were  termina- 
ted, since  he  had  certain  undesirable  associ- 
ations. 

3.  Monti  Marine  was  required  to  submit  to  Grace 
Line  periodic  certified  statements  of  the 
results  of  its  operations. 

At  no  time  has  Grace  Line  or  any  of  its  affiliated 
companies  or  any  of  its  officers  or  directors  had  any  interest 
In  Monti  Marine  and  to  the  best  of  its  knowledge  and  belief  none 
of  its  employees  has  or  had  any  such  interest.  The  only  relation- 
ship between  Monti  Marine  and  Grace  Line  is  that  Grace  Line  en- 
gages the  services  of  Monti  Marine  to  do  specified  maintenance 
and  repair  work  on  its  ships  under  a  written  contract  and  as  the 
guarantor  of  the  bank  loan  above  referred  to. 

Monti  Marine  has  performed  its  contractual  relations 
under  the  contract  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  Grace  Line  and 
Grace  Line  has  effected  substantial  savings  in  maintenance  through 
the  employment  of  Monti  Marine. 

In  1955  a  Brooklyn  Grand  Jury  subpoenaed  the  books 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12495 

-  3  - 

and  records  of  Monti  Marine  and  those  records  of  Oraoe  Line 
relating  to  Its  contract  with  Monti  Marine.  No  action  was 
taken  by  the  Grand  Jury  against  Monti  Marine  or  any  of  its 
officers,  directors  or  employees. 

Grace  Line  has  no  knowledge  of  any  undesirable 
person  associated  with  Monti  Marine.  It  came  to  Grace  Line's 
attention  that  Carmine  Lombardoasi  had  been  employed  by  Monti 
Marine  and  that  he  had  a  criminal  record.  Monti  Marine  terminated 
his  services.  Upon  learning  of  this  fact*  Grace  Line  inquired 
of  Monti  Marine  as  to  whether  it  had  any  other  employees  who 
had  a  criminal  record,  and  was  assured  that  there  were  none. 


12496  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD 


STATE  OF  NEW  YORK 
COUNTY  OF  NEW  YORK 


ss:: 


LEWIS  A  LAPHAM,  being  duly  sworn,  deposes 
and  says : 

That  he  is  the  President  of  Grace  Line 
Inc . ;  that  he  signed  the  foregoing  letter  and  that  he 
knows  the  contents  thereof,  and  that  he  believes  each  and 
every  statement  therein  contained  to  be  true. 

Deponent  further  says  that  the  grounds 
of  his  belief  are  as  follows:   Interviews  with  other 
officers  and  employees  of  Grace  Line  Inc.;  the  results 
of  an  examination  of  the  records  of  Grace  Line  Inc .  which 
deponent  caused  to  be  made;  and  interviews  with  officers 
of  Monti  Marine  Corporation  who  have  represented  to 
deponent  that  (l)  Carmine  Lombardozzi  while  in  its  employ 
at  no  time  was  concerned  with  that  corporation's  work 
for  Grace  Line  Inc.;  and  (2)  that  machinery  leased  by 
Monti  Marine  Corporation  from  Marine  Mobile  Company  was 
at  no  time  used  in  connection  with  work  done  on  vessels 
of  Grace  Line  Inc . 


p 

'Lewis  A  Lapham 


9-  /%&■ 


o^a    (/■   fJSM-JU^ 


Sworn  to  before  me  -this 


KIM* 


22nd  day  of  July,    1953.  EDWr0  ite  rf  He* l0*  " 


,&**?/*•& 


Exhibit  No.  4 


AftA'SYNPIC 


VONSHfP  STUDY 


DETROIT  CLEVELAND  AREA 


BUFFALO  NIAGARA  FALLS 
YOUNGSTOWN  AREA 


ROCHESTER  AUBURN - 
SYRACUSE  AREA 


UTICA  AREA 


NEW  YORK 
NEW  JERSEY  KHl 


12 


FROM  PANCS BANP5  TO  MMDet-THE  APALACHIN   58 


POLICE 
RECORD 


?♦*» 


Domimck  Aloimo 
Joseph  Mono  Borboro 
Joseph  Bonnono 
John  Bonventro 
Russell  Bufolino 
Ignotius  Connone 
Roy  Corlisi 
Poul  Costellono 
Gerordo  Vito  Coleno 
Chorles  Solvotore  Chin 
Joseph  Froncis  Civello 
James  Collet ti 
Frank  Cucchioro 
Dommeck   DAgostino 
John  Anthony  Oe  Marco 
Frank  Desimone 
Notale  Joseph  Evolo 
Joseph  Falcone 
Solvotore  Falcone 
Carlo  Gombino 
Michael  James  Genovese 
Vito  Genovese 
Anthony  Frank  Guarnien 
Bortolo  Guccio 
Joseph  Ida 
James  Lo  Duca 
Sam  Lagattuta 
Louis  Anthony  Larosso 
Carmine  Lombardoui 
Anthony  Mogooddino 
Joseph  Mogliocco 
Frank  Thomos  Mojun 
Rosorio  Moncuso 
Gabriel  Mannanno 
Michael  Miranda 
Patsy  Monochino 
Sam  Monochino 
John     Charles  Montona 
Oommick  Oliveto 
John  Ormento 
James  Anthony  Osticco 
Joseph  Profoci 
Vincent  Roo 
Armand  Thomas  Rovo 
Joseph  Riccobono 
Anthony  Peter  Riela 
Joseph  Rosoto 
Louis  Santos 
John  Scolish 
Angelo  Joseph  Sciondro 
Potsy   Sciortino 
Simone  Scozion 
Solvotore  Tornabe 
Patsy  Turngiano 
Costenie  Peter  Volenti 
Frank  Volenti 
Emonuel  Zicon 
Fronk  Zito 


:  . 


•  •  • 


Machine  Shop 

Soft  Drink  Bottling  a  Dist 

Insurance 

Mochine  Shop  6  Gorage 


-    • 


• 


Metol  Awnings  -  Oil  8  Gas  Leoses  - 

Mineral  Rights 


Bakery 


Steel  Tanks 
Cor  Wash 
•       Cooperage  -  Neon  Signs 


Retail  Clothing 


::.••:• 


•  •  • 


: 

•  o  • 


•    * 


•       •       TV  Testing  -  Stonds 


Varied  Interests 


Voned  Interests 


•       •       •  •  • 

50    35    23     18     15    30    23    34     5      4 


•  ■  •  • 


2      4      9      9      4      4      16     10     3      II      3     22     2      II      4      12     4     17     7      3 


T  V  Service  -  Catering 
Mochine  Co  -  Orchestra 
Cleaning  Fluid 
Cigar  Stand 


IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    IN    THE    LABOR    FIELD  12497 

Exiiihit  No.  10-A 

Cab  Research  Bureau,  Inc. 

ArriLIATKO    WITH 

National  Association  of  Taxicab  Owners 

8  0  3       LEADER       BUILOINO 
CLEVELAND   14,  OHIO 


© 


November  1,  1957 


Kr.  John  C.  Montana, 
Van  Dyke  Taxi  &  Transfer,  Inc., 
New  York  Central  Terminal, 
Buffalo  12,  New  York 

Dear  John: 

At  the  Bureau  Trustees'  Meeting  in  Washington,  a 
Committee  was  appointed  to  complete  an  agenda  for  the  Spring 
Meeting  of  the  members  of  the  Bureau  which  will  be  held  at  the 
Ambassador  Hotel  in  New  York  on  May  22nd  and  23rd. 

Mr.  Viering  has  called  a  meeting  of  this  Committee 
for  November  15th  in  New  York  City.  It  will  be  a  one  day  meet- 
ing to  set  up  the  agenda. 

The  reason  for  the  early  date  —  many  of  our  members 
go  to  Florida  after  the  first  of  the  year  and  also  there  is  a 
desire  on  the  part  of  the  Committee  for  surveys  to  be  made  in 
sufficient  time  so  that  they  can  be  discussed  at  the  May  meeting. 

On  the  Committee  are  yourself,  Mr.  Sawyer,  Mr.  Viering,. 
Mr.  Darmemann  and  myself.  You  will  be  advised  at  a  later  date  of 
the  place  of  meeting  and  the  exact  time.  If  you  want  hotel 
accommodations  and  wish  us  to  make  them,  we  will  be  more  than 
happy  to  do  it.  However,  I  think  one  day  will  be  sufficient 
and  if  we  all  arrive  early  in  the  morning  of  the  15th,  we  could 
leave  that  evening  (Friday). 

I  do  hope  that  it  will  be  possible  for  you  to  be  in 
attendance  as  we  are  more  than  anxious  to  make  the  May  meeting 
an  outstanding  success. 

Kindest  personal  regards. 


12498  IMPROPER    ACTIVITIES    EST    THE    LABOR    FIELD 

Exhibit  No.  10-B 


Cab  Research  Bureau,  Inc. 

ArriUATED    WITH 

NATIONAL  ASSOCIATION    OF  TAXICAB    OWNERS  ^^ ' . 

S03       LEADER      BUILDING 
CLEVELAND   14,  OHIO 


November  11,  1957 


Mr.  John  C.  Montana, 
Van  Dyke  Taxi  &  Transfer,  Inc., 
New  York  Central  Terminal, 
Buffalo  12,  N.  Y. 

Dear  John: 

Just  a  note  to  confirm  our  telephone 
conversation  about  the  meeting  in  N»w  York  on  Friday, 
November  15th.     We  will  meet  in  Mr.  Darmemann's 
office  at  1790  Broadway.     Would  appreciate  having  you 
arrive  around  twelve  o'clock  Noon  or  a  little  earlier, 
if  possible. 

This  meeting  is  for  the  purpose  of 
preparing  an  agenda  for  the  Spring  Bureau  Meeting  in 
New  York  on  May  22nd  and  23rd. 

With  kindest  regards. 


H.    I.   Gwilym 
X 


BOSTOMPUBtKUWffl 


SK'  06352  025  6