In 1921, when JACK RUBENSTEIN was only ten years old, he became a member of the Dave "Yiddles" Miller gang, led by David Miller, a Capone-connected prizefight referee and bookie, who survived an encounter with Dion O'Banion, Chicago's top Irish hoodlum and arch-rival of Al Capone. [John Kobler, Capone, Putnams, N.Y. 1971 p80] There was a reference to a Chicago gangland figure named "Dave Miller" in the Kefauver Hearings on Interstate Organized Crime, although David Miller is a very common name. [U.S. Cong. Senate Special Committee to Invest. Organized Crime in Interstate Comm.] By the time he was 11, JACK RUBENSTEIN scalped tickets at sporting events on behalf of David Miller. In 1922 JACK RUBENSTEIN was referred to the Jewish Social Services Bureau because of his "disregard for other people's property" and an "interest in street gangs. [WCR pgs. 779-786] In 1923, when JACK RUBENSTEIN was 12, the court ordered the Jewish Welfare Bureau to place him in a foster home outside of Chicago. By 1924 JACK RUBENSTEIN was back in Chicago where he scalped tickets and made book. JACK RUBENSTEIN assaulted a police officer during an altercation about ticket scalping. Hyman Rubenstein had the charges dropped. Because of his aggressiveness, JACK RUBENSTEIN earned the nickname "Sparky."

In 1926 JACK RUBENSTEIN became a messenger for the Capone gang. Barney Ross, who had also made the transition from the Miller gang to the Capone mob, told the FBI: "When I began my prize fighting career in 1926, back in the 24th Ward, JACK RUBENSTEIN and I ran errands for Capone." Barney Ross said that Al Capone had sponsored him, and that Ralph and Matty Capone, along with Frank Nitty, were all close followers of his boxing career. [WCE 1288; WC ltr. Rankin to Hoover 6.64] During this time Al Capone collected dozens of errand boys. Charles Gioe, an associate of Johnny Rosselli, was described by the Kefauver Committee in 1950 as having once been a "messenger boy" for Al Capone. [Kefauver Hearings p5, p356 as cited by P.D. Scott] Two of RUBENSTEIN'S associates, David Yaras (born November 7, 1912; died January 1974), and Lenny Patrick, were executioners for the Capone mob. [HSCA V9 paragraph 1195; Eva Rubenstein Grant WC Test.] David Yaras began as a pinball and slot machine concessionaire under Al Capone. Robert F. Kennedy called him "a notorious Chicago racketeer." [Moldea, Hoffa Wars, p124] JACK RUBENSTEIN joined the Capone gang shortly after Al Capone inherited Chicago gangland leadership from Johnny Torrio. By 1926 the Capone family, along with Johnny Rosselli, Sam Giancana, Tony Accardo, Jake Guzik and other hoodlums had amassed hundreds of millions of dollars from bootlegging, gambling and prostitution. From 1926 to 1929 JACK RUBENSTEIN worked for the Capone mob.

Many documents linked JACK RUBENSTEIN to Al Capone and the mafia. When the FBI conducted its investigation into JACK RUBENSTEIN'S background in 1964, it interviewed James Allegretti, described as "the top local organized crime figure in Chicago." James Allegretti admitted he "may have seen RUBY back in the Al Capone days..." but became agitated when the FBI pressed the issue: "I told you, he was not connected, he was not mobbed-up!" Matty Brescia was also questioned by the FBI about RUBY. The partner of Matty Brescia, Lew Farrell, was described as being a "Top Hoodlum" from Chicago. Lew Farrell was on the fringes of the Al Capone mob and had moved into labor racketeering, where he maintained a close association with James Hoffa. [FBI #DL 44-1639 11.25.63 Chicago; FBI DL-44-1639-6266] In 1978 Matty Brescia was mentioned during the HSCA testimony of RUBY associate Lewis J. McWillie. [HSCA V5 pgs 28, 87]

Eva Rubenstein Grant, JACK RUBENSTEIN's sister, supplied evidence that linked JACK RUBENSTEIN to the Al Capone mob, when she admitted this to a friend: "Jack and I were connected with the Capone mob in Chicago." This information came to light on November 13, 1962, when the sister of a friend of Eva Rubenstein named Susan Brown, telephoned the FBI Dallas office and reported that her sister had told her that Eva Rubenstein had said this. In 1964 the Warren Commission interviewed Susan Brown and her sister. Both of them maintained their recollection of the conversation. The Warren Commission had its representative inform Eva Rubenstein about the accusations of the Brown sisters. Eva Rubenstein called the Brown sisters and confronted them with their charges. This frightened the Brown sisters and they complained to the FBI.

The FBI burned the Brown sisters because they supplied the Bureau with information which contradicted the FBI's line that Ruby was not a member of organized crime. Even in 1963, J. Edgar Hoover maintained that organized crime, or the mafia, did not exist, so how could Ruby have been a member or associate? The Brown sisters learned that FBI and the Warren Commission were intent on ignoring RUBY'S long term membership in the mafia and anyone who got in their way would be sacrificed. [FBI 44-29016-2074 10.15.64]

RUBY explained to the Warren Commission the reason he was acquainted with Chicago's top hoodlums at an early age was because of ticket scalping: "When you live in the city of Chicago and you are in the livelihood of selling tickets to sporting events, your lucrative customers are some of these people...you may know them as you get acquainted with them at the sporting events or the ball park or prizefights." [RUBY WC Test.]

Al Capone and Jack Ruby were associated with the syndicate, which was an equal opportunity criminal cartel. The syndicate began circa 1928 when the mafia began admitting Jews as associate members. Legend has it that the syndicate came into existence during a meeting between Al Capone and Meyer Lansky. Al Capone's cousin, "Lucky" Luciano brought the two gangsters together at a meeting of crime families in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and suggested that they discuss a merger between the Jewish and Italian underworld. [Hank Messick, Lansky, G.P. Putnam - N.Y. 1971; Dennis Eisenberg, Uri Dan, Eli Landau Meyer Lansky, Mogul of the Mob Paddington Press, N.Y. 1979] The Jewish and Italian gangsters formed the most powerful criminal organization in the world.

By 1930 gangland activity in Chicago began to decline. In 1932 Al Capone began serving a sentence for income tax evasion and "Lucky" Luciano took over his position. In 1933 President Franklin D. Roosevelt ended prohibition. "Lucky" Luciano began to import narcotics to make up for the loss of revenue due to the repeal of prohibition. In 1936, when "Lucky" Luciano went to prison, Joe Adonis was appointed boss of bosses. Joe Adonis put out the word to the families to co-operate with Meyer Lansky, because Meyer Lansky had promised to get "Lucky" Luciano out of prison. [McCoy, Alfred, The Politics of H in SE Asia, Harper Row, N.Y. 1972 pgs. 17-27] Meyer Lansky received a share of gambling revenue in Louisiana. Jake Lansky was listed as an officer in an outfit controlling slot machines. Meyer Lansky worked with CARLOS MARCELLO.

JACK RUBENSTEIN and his sister, Eva Rubenstein, were involved in illegal gambling, which was controlled by the syndicate. In 1934 they moved to San Francisco where they worked for Frankie Goldstein. [WCE 2328] In 1961 a confidential informant told the FBI that Frankie Goldstein was a bookmaker. The FBI opened a case on him, and investigation revealed he operated a local sporting book for many years, and he frequented the Ambassador Health Club. Information on this club was withheld by the FBI. In 1962 the FBI interviewed Frankie Goldstein's cousin, Anthony Hatsis, the owner of a Salt Lake City nightclub. Anthony Hatsis told them that Frankie Goldstein inquired as to the possibility of setting-up a bookmaking operation in Utah. The FBI tapped the business telephone of Frankie Goldstein. In 1964 Frankie Goldstein told the FBI that JACK RUBENSTEIN and Eva Rubenstein sold newspaper subscriptions for him from 1933 to 1939. Frankie Goldstein insisted that "JACK RUBENSTEIN had no association with hoodlums or with the underworld." In 1977 this researcher called Frank Goldstein and asked him about RUBY'S mob-connections: "The kid worked for me. I don't know any of these names you mention. How'd you got this information?"[FBI DC-44-1639-4707 ,4493; FBI SF 44-194; FBI DL-44-1639-CMS-Cover page, I, J.]

RUBY told the Warren Commission: "I have never been a bookmaker." His association with Frankie Goldstein told another story.

During JACK RUBENSTEIN'S six year stay in California he was also employed by Eugene Shriber, a gambler who worked under "Bones" Remer. "Bones" Remer was the owner of record of the Cal Neva Lounge in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. The Cal Neva Lounge was linked to the syndicate by numerous sources, including the Kefauver Committee. Eugene Shriber, who came to California from Chicago in 1933, managed a San Francisco card room for "Bones" Remer and employed JACK RUBENSTEIN and Eva Rubenstein as dealers. [FBI DL-44-1639-4094, 4110; WCD CD360 p115 interview with George T. Davis]

JACK RUBENSTEIN, Frankie Goldstein, "Bones" Remer, and Eugene Shriber worked under mob boss Johnny Rosselli, who controlled bookmaking in California at this time. Johnny Rosselli came to California in 1933, the same year that JACK RUBENSTEIN did. By 1936 Johnny Rosselli controlled gambling on the West Coast. JACK RUBENSTEIN sold tip sheets at Santa Anita raceway. Johnny Rosselli had risen to gangland prominence in the mid-1930's by taking over the wire service at Santa Anita. [Kefauver Hearings Part 5 p399-400; WCR p786] In 1944 Johnny Rosselli was convicted of labor extortion through a union whose organizers included JACK RUBENSTEIN'S brother-in-law. [WC H V20 p18-cited by Scott] In 1939, JACK RUBENSTEIN, 28, left California for Chicago.

When JACK RUBENSTEIN returned to Chicago in 1939 he became a labor racketeer. Johnny Rosselli had proven that labor unions could provide a steady source of revenue. JACK RUBENSTEIN contacted a friend from the Capone gang, Paul J. Dorfman (born May 22, 1901; died April 1971). The McClellan committee reported: "Paul Dorfman's connections with members of the old Capone mob are a matter of record." [McClellan Committee, Interim Report p167; FBI CG 44-645 12/18/63 Chicago; WCE 1236, 1293; FBI 44-24016-8. 62-109060-1528] Paul Dorfman gave JACK RUBENSTEIN a job in the Chicago Waste Handler's Union. Several years later Chicago private detective Bob Mullenix conducted an investigation concerning Paul Dorfman and JACK RUBENSTEIN'S entrance into the Waste Handler's Union. The FBI was unable to question Bob Mullenix in 1964. He was killed in an automobile accident in 1962. [FBI 44-24016-742] Mullenix's files were sent to his brother. [FBI 44-24016-606]

Victor Riesel wrote that Paul Dorfman made John Martin President of the Waste Handler Union. JACK RUBENSTEIN was Secretary-Treasurer. [Dallas Morn. News 11.30.63, Victor Riesel, "RUBY Linked to Racket."] Victor Riesel was a syndicated labor columnist, blinded by mob. RUBY had Riesel's telephone number in his address book. [FBI 44-1639-3123] Leon Cook, 27, the Jewish attorney who had originally formed the union, held no office. Leon Cooke only served as an advisor. In late 1939 Leon Cooke told the FBI that he had formed a rival union affiliated with the CIO and had written several letters to junk dealers about this, which he signed "Cook." John Martin had learned of these letters. [FBI DL-44-1639 F-Cover page] On December 8, 1939, John Martin shot Leon Cooke in the back. Before he died, Leon Cooke described what occurred to Chicago Police: "I went to see Martin to protest his conduct of the union. While we were scuffling he grabbed a gun. I told him he was crazy and started to leave. He fired three times. Two bullets hit my overcoat, which was over my arm. The other hit me in the back. I staggered into the hall and took a cab to the hospital." Physicians there extracted one bullet from the side of Leon Cooke and told him he would probably recover. [Chicago Tribune 12.9.39 p.l] Cooke died.

After the shooting, John Martin disappeared down the rear fire-escape with the only witness, his secretary. John Martin was under indictment for having conspired with a well known Chicago hoodlum to withhold income tax information from the Internal Revenue Service in the Gambrinus Drawing Company matter. The States Attorney Office was investigating John Martin. It believed that the Waste Handler's Union was a shakedown racket and that JACK RUBENSTEIN was a thug who would intimidate prospective members into joining the union at gunpoint. After the shooting, a member of the State Attorney's office confiscated the union's charter and records, then issued the following statement: "We are looking into the union's finances. I am trying to find out where $1,400 in dues went." When the States Attorney's investigators discovered that Carlos Fontana, a notorious West Side hoodlum, worked for the union, its investigators questioned JACK RUBENSTEIN. He told them: "I had no idea he was a hoodlum."

JACK RUBENSTEIN was questioned about Leon Cooke's murder: "During our conversation with JACK RUBENSTEIN, who is Secretary Treasurer of the Scrap Iron & Junk Handlers Union, he stated that he had been out all day with the President John Martin collecting membership dues and that they entered the office about 3:00 p.m. On their arrival there they found present Gladys Welch, Vice President of the Union, Joseph Medill, employee of Leon Cooke, and Leon Cooke. He remained in the office until about 3:20 p.m. and then left in the company of Medill to go to the northwest side for the purpose of doing some organizational work. The first he knew about the shooting was at 3:30 p.m. when he telephoned his office...Leon Cooke formerly was an organizer for the Junk Handler's Union, and upon his leaving the Union his office of Secretary-Treasurer was taken over by JACK RUBENSTEIN." [Chicago PD Report Central Complaint Room No. 55513]

One day after the shooting John Martin and his secretary turned themselves in. JACK RUBENSTEIN was with them and told the press that Martin had shot Leon Cooke in self-defense. At the trial of John Martin an assistant state's attorney informed the judge that the State had obtained no evidence beyond that presented to a coroner's jury, which had absolved John Martin of blame. John Martin's story at the inquest was that Leon Cooke drew a gun on him and struck him in the face and when he struggled for possession of the weapon, it went off. The police never found any evidence to corroborate John Martin's story that the gun belonged to Leon Cooke. John Martin was acquitted of murder. He left the union. A few months later, JACK RUBENSTEIN left. He adopted the middle name of "Leon" around this time, allegedly to honor his dead friend. RUBY told the Warren Commission: "I am not a gangster. I have never used a goon squad for union activities."

Paul Dorfman formed a new local and began to dominate it. He worked closely with Anthony Accardo, a leader of the Chicago mob since the death of Al Capone. On July 28, 1948, when millionaire industrialist Nathan "Natty" Gumbin was shot-gunned to death by two gunmen firing from a moving car, Paul Dorfman was called in for questioning. The Chicago Police stated that the slaying of Nathan Gumbin was linked to the killing of Charles Crane, another industrialist who had negotiated with the Waste Handlers Union. The Intelligence Unit of the Chicago Police Department reported that "Natty" Gumbin and Charles Crane, along with about 100 waste and rag dealers, were allegedly paying monthly installments to a person named "Dorfman," Secretary of the Waste Handlers Union, to guarantee no labor troubles. [FBI 44-24016-358] Years later the Intelligence Unit learned that during a meeting of top syndicate members in Miami in 1953, an unknown person mentioned the execution of "Natty" Gumbin, and the fact that he refused to take part in a deal. The FBI reported: "Gumbin forced to make monthly payments to laborites for labor peace in his business. Apparent guarantee of no labor problems if monthly payments made. Plant employees under two separate unions, one was Waste Material Handlers Union, Paul Dorfman, Secretary-Treasurer. The other was Scrap Iron and Junk Handlers Union founded by Leon Cooke in 1937. Cooke was slain in 1939. Paul Dorfman, upon learning of death of Gumbin, cut short vacation to avail himself for questioning. Had his union offer $1,000 reward for information leading to solution of murder." The murder of "Natty" Gumbin remained unsolved.

In 1949 Paul Dorfman joined with Jimmy Hoffa in a complex conspiracy to give a million dollars worth of Teamster Pension Fund business to an insurance company owned by Paul Dorfman's son, Allen Dorfman. [New York Herald Tribune 8.1.57 pg.1; New York Mirror 8.30.57- Riesel] Paul Dorfman continued to run the Waste Handlers Union until 1957, when he was expelled by the National Office of the AFL-CIO. [NYT 8.l.57 - Mafia Associate Ousted] The AFL-CIO tolerated Paul Dorfman for more than a decade, but Paul Dorfman's pension fund scheme brought him to the attention of the McClellan Committee, which focused on Jimmy Hoffa and the men around him. Robert F. Kennedy, an attorney for the McClellan Committee, wrote: "Everywhere Hoffa goes Paul Dorfman is close by." [Robert F. Kennedy, The Enemy Within, Harper Bros. 1960 NY] Paul Dorfman was forced into semi-retirement.

Allen Dorfman became Jimmy Hoffa's "rabbi." [NYT 8.24.67p6] When Jimmy Hoffa was indicted by a Nashville Grand Jury, Allen Dorfman and Hoffa-thug Robert "Barney" Baker helped him earn an acquittal. In early 1963 Allen Dorfman was indicted for jury-tampering in this case. The star witness for the United States Government was Edward Partin. [Sheridan, Walter, The Fall and Rise of Jimmy Hoffa, Saturday Review Press 1972; Allen Dorfman and the Teamsters, Prod. Wash. D.C.] In 1964 Allen Dorfman was indicted in Chicago on charges related to his management of Teamster Funds.

By 1967 Allen Dorfman was coordinator of the Teamster Union Pension Fund following the incarceration of Jimmy Hoffa. In 1969 Allen Dorfman was indicted by a Grand Jury in New York City. The chief witness for the United States Government in this case was also a witness against Meyer Lansky. [PROD, The Teamster Connection, bio. of Allen M. Dorfman; Overdrive, Crimes Web of Pension Fund Fraud; USDC-SDNY 66 CR. 732 - Memo From Deputy Chief U.S. Probation Office - Horvath - redirect 10433, 1333, ltr. from Lou Poller 5.3O.71] In another case, Allen Dorfman and co-defendants were acquitted after a key government witness was killed in his office by shotgun blasts fired by gunmen wearing ski masks. [Newsweek, 11.24.75 p9l] Allen Dorfman was convicted and sent to prison in 1972 for having taken a $55,000 kickback to arrange a loan from the Teamster's Union Pension Fund. In 1979, Gerald Denono, a mafia hit man under federal protective custody, gave a diary to the FBI that he said he stole from Dr. Canale, a New Orleans physician linked to CARLOS MARCELLO. The entry dated January 5, 1973, read: "Fitz OK Al Dorfman chi ok.--Tony Pro Jersey ok ($500,---to C.C. = nix OK." This signified that a payment was made to NIXON through Charles Colson which had been okayed by Teamsters Allen Dorfman, Tony Provenzano and Frank Fitzsimmons. [NY Post 11.16.79] The name of Allen Dorfman surfaced in an off-shoot of the FBI's ABSCAM investigation. Allen Dorfman was involved in an attempt to bribe Senator Howard W. Cannon, (Dem.- Nevada) to sponsor favorable legislation. These charges were never proven because Allen Dorfman was gunned down gang-land style in Chicago.

After the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, the Warren Commission received several reports that indicated an on-going relationship between RUBY and the Dorfmans. Justice Department investigator Walter Sheridan received information that RUBY had recently received money from one of the Dorfmans. Assistant United States Attorney Robert D. Peloquin was assigned to investigate the matter. Robert D. Peloquin, who at the time was part of United States Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy's "Get Hoffa Squad," was called off the case by his boss, Herbert J. Miller. [FBI 44-24016-112,1247; 62-109060-1528] Herbert J. Miller informed Robert Peloquin that he had contacted the source of the information concerning RUBY and the Dorfmans, and the source had refused to substantiate the information. Herbert J. Miller ordered "no further inquiry in this matter" because "the story would give Hoffa an opportunity to criticize the Justice Department for trying to tie Hoffa in with President Kennedy's murder." J. Edgar Hoover agreed: "I do wish Justice Department would mind it's own business." [FBI DC-44-1639 BL-E-cover pg; FBI CG 44-645- DWS: pl6, cover page B]

On November 25, 1963, an individual who called himself "Mr. Miller" contacted the FBI and told the Bureau he was "a close friend of JACK RUBY." In addition, he identified Clint Murchison and Johnny Webb as being "friends of RUBY." When J. Edgar Hoover saw this anonymous report (the name Miller and the address given by the informant were determined to be fictitious) he ordered the Bureau to "Press vigorously. I would surmise it is Clint Murchison, Jr., not Sr. I think we should talk to Clint Murchison, Jr." [FBI 44-24016-197, 198; 62-109060-363; Wash. Post 2.14.64; Drew Pearson D13; FBI Memo 1.22.64 NR 2.6.64; FBI Memo and ltr. to WC 1.3l64 NR 2.6.64] J. Edgar Hoover was close to the Murchison family and vacationed almost annually at their Del Charro Hotel, situated near the Murchison's Del Mar racetrack. [Messick, Hank, John Edgar Hoover, McKay , NY, 1972.] Clint Murchison Jr. told the FBI he never heard of RUBY or OSWALD before the events of November 1963. Tommy Webb told the FBI the same. In 1977 Tommy Webb signed an affidavit in which he admitted his association with Clint Murchison Jr. and Allen Dorfman. [Affidavit of Thomas Dougherty Webb Jr. 10.21.77] Edward Partin told Walter Sheridan that Clint Murchison Jr. was a "great benefactor" of Jimmy Hoffa's.

On November 27, 1963, Daniel Adario, Federal Bureau of Narcotics, Philadelphia, advised FBI S.A. Robert L. Tagg, Newark, that he had received information from a confidential informant that "(FNU) Cohen, aka, 'Pigface' operator of used car lots, and brother of Raymond Cohen, a former official of the Teamster's Union, Philadelphia, had told the informant of Daniel Adario that he was very friendly with JACK LEON RUBY and knows RUBY from Chicago. Cohen advised informant RUBY 'tied up with rackets in Chicago.'" Raymond Cohn was a close associate of James R. Hoffa. [FBI 44-24016-1069371] On June 8, 1965, the FBI reported: "Philadelphia Office has reviewed Xerox copies of anonymous letters naming RAYMOND COHEN as having information regarding assassination of President Kennedy, and Philadelphia has no information as to who might have written these letters. It is opinion of Philadelphia, also, that no useful purpose or productive information would be obtained through an interview with Raymound Cohen, former Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 107, Philadelphia. Cohen is presently serving a one to two year prison term for defrauding the Local, and has served six months of this sentence. There was much factional fighting in Local 107, which eventually deposed Cohen and any number of dissident teamsters on the opposite side to Cohen could have written the letters attempting to implicate Cohen." [FBI 157-916-319 Phil. 6.8.65] Arlen Spector successfully prosecuted Raymond Cohen. The FBI reported: "Because of this success Attorney General Kennedy offered Spector a job on the Justice Department Staff to assist in the prosecution of James Hoffa and other Teamster officials. Spector declined because the local case against Cohen had been appealed to the Pennsylvania Superior Court, and he wished to see it through. That case was argued in September and the court's ruling is awaited." [FDBI CIA 62-109060-61 1.9.64. Phil.]

On November 25, 1963, the Houston FBI Office received information from Al Bright, an ex-felon of Corpus Christi, Texas, to the effect that RUBY was the payoff man for the Dallas Police Department, and whenever liquor and gambling raids were to be made on the Dallas underworld, RUBY was always contacted first by some unknown person from the Dallas Police Department. Al Bright obtained this information from Roy William Pike, who had once served an a bookkeeper for RUBY, and was one of 12 persons known to have been in telephone contact with RUBY just before the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Roy William Pike was arrested for rape in 1943. Roy William Pike told Al Bright: "I think I spoke with RUBY about his relationship with Hoffa." The FBI interviewed Roy William Pike, who denied having said any of this. J. Edgar Hoover confused the report of Al Bright with that of Roy William Pike, and noted: "Pike was interviewed in connection with the case on November 25, 1963, at which time he alleged that RUBY was friendly with James Hoffa and the syndicate and was a pay-off man of the Dallas Police Department." [FBI 44-24016-1196; FBI report filed 11.25.63 Corpus Christi; FBI #110-44-939 pgs.329, 530, 531, 532]

In 1941 JACK RUBENSTEIN distributed punch board gambling devices throughout the United States while serving as a courier for the syndicate. During this period he and his associates disrupted pro-Nazi German-American Bund rallies. [WCR 779-806] In September 1941 JACK RUBENSTEIN was drafted. JACK RUBENSTEIN never saw any action, and spent his military career in the United States. One of JACK RUBENSTEIN'S army buddies, Hersey Colvin, was employed by a Chicago hoodlum when the FBI questioned him in late November 1963. [WCE 1201] He told the FBI that RUBY was not connected to organized crime. Another of JACK RUBENSTEIN'S army buddies, Urban Roschek, told the FBI that JACK RUBENSTEIN had offered him a job picking up numbers in Chicago. [FBI 44-1639-54444]

In February 1946 JACK RUBENSTEIN was discharged from the Army. He returned to Chicago where he lived with Hyman Rubenstein in the Congress Hotel. JACK RUBENSTEIN frequented the H & H Restaurant, a hang-out for bookmakers, gamblers and hoodlums. It's proprietor, Maishi Baer, got very upset when the FBI questioned him in 1964. He told the FBI that he "didn't want to get involved" then tried to unsuccessfully reach his attorney. [FBI 44-24016-275]

While JACK RUBENSTEIN was in the service, his sister Eva Rubenstein Grant moved to Dallas where she became associated with Paul Roland Jones. In 1930 Paul Roland Jones was arrested on a bootlegging charge in Kansas. In 1931 he began serving a life sentence in Lansing, Kansas, for the first degree murder of a government witness. On December 31, 1938, his life term was commuted by Kansas Governor Ratner to 20 years, and he was pardoned on July 8, 1940. Throughout the early 1940's, the offenses of Paul Roland Jones ranged from Vagrancy to OPA Violations. He was arrested in Dunkirk, N.Y. in 1944 for Grand Larceny, but no disposition of the case was shown in the records. He was later charged with swindling in Dallas, but the disposition of that case was also not shown. During the war, Paul Roland Jones and Eva Rubenstein opened up new territory for the mob. [HSCA V9 p986] Paul Roland Jones admitted that he had started gambling operations in Dallas in 1942 on behalf of Al Capone's cousins, the Fischetti brothers. [FBI LHM, Charlotte, North Carolina 6.29.64 copies destroyed 1.21.73]

Paul Roland Jones relied on bribery to keep the syndicate's gambling operations from being closed down. Paul Roland Jones had the Sheriff Smoot Schmid and various members of the Dallas Police Department "on the pad" for at least five years. Eva Rubenstein, who had purchased a building in Dallas and was opening a nightclub, introduced JACK RUBENSTEIN to Paul Roland Jones. Paul Roland Jones recalled this meeting: "It was in 1946, at the Congress Hotel in Chicago. I came up from Dallas to discuss business with Paul Labriola and Jimmy Weinberg. JACK RUBY'S sister arranged the meeting." Paul Roland Jones convinced RUBY to move to Dallas and manage a gambling joint there on behalf of the Chicago syndicate. There was one obstacle that had to be overcome: Steven Guthrie, the newly elected sheriff, who had come into office on a reform ticket had to go on the pad.

Four months after Sheriff Steven Guthrie took office (October 1946), Paul Roland Jones called Dallas Police Detective George Butler and asked him to arrange a meeting with Sheriff Guthrie. Sheriff Guthrie and Detective George Butler made recordings of their meeting with Paul Roland Jones. Sheriff Guthrie: "Shortly after my election, Jones contacted me and asked if I wanted to make some big money. At the time gambling, prostitution were wide-open in Dallas, and there were three gangland murders each month. I knew the syndicate had moved in because there were always at least 25 Chicago thugs in town. I was determined to get them." [WCE 1251] Sheriff Guthrie installed a hidden movie camera and photographed Paul Roland Jones entering and leaving the meeting. Paul Roland Jones reported his apparent success to Anthony Accardo, who sent Paul "Needlenose" Labriola and (FNU) Weinberg to Dallas. Paul Roland Jones introduced Sheriff Guthrie to Pat Manno, a friend of Anthony Accardo. On November 14, 1946, Paul Roland Jones called Detective George Butler and told him he was going to Chicago, where the syndicate was meeting for the purpose of formulating plans for moving into gambling activities in Dallas. In December 1946, Detective George Butler visited Paul Roland Jones and introduced two men identified as Murray Humphreys and Jake Guzik, both Capone-gang members.

In 1964 Sheriff Steve Guthrie told the FBI: "JACK RUBY was a small peanut with this group that tried to bribe me. His name came up on numerous occasions as being the person who would take over a fabulous restaurant and turn it into a posh gambling joint." Jack Wilner, a crime reporter for The Chicago Daily News stated that RUBY was involved in an effort to take over gambling in the Texas area at this time. [HSCA V19 par. 1131] Another reporter for the Chicago Daily News stated that Detective George Butler told him RUBY was involved in an attempt to bribe Sheriff Guthrie.

The HSCA obtained the original recordings of the Jones-Guthrie-Butler meetings. The original recordings were of such poor quality it was impossible for the Committee to determine if JACK RUBENSTEIN'S name came up. Two recordings were missing. The HSCA was unable to interview former Sheriff Steven Guthrie. Just before Christmas, 1946, Paul Roland Jones and his associate, Jack Nappi, were indicted on Bribery charges. Jack Nappi was related to Frank Nitti, Al Capone's enforcer. In early 1947 Paul Roland Jones was convicted on the bribery charge, then released on appeal bond.

In October 1947, Homer R. Padgett, a former manager of Eva Rubenstein's Singapore Club, told Detective Butler Eva Rubenstein had him beaten him when he tried to overhear one of her conversations. JACK RUBENSTEIN called Homer R. Padgett a stool pigeon. Detective George Butler investigated the Singapore Club and examined its toll records. [HSCA V9 para. 1131] The HSCA questioned Eva Rubenstein about the allegations of Homer R. Padgett. She recalled that when her club first opened, two Dallas Police Department officers asked her questions about having known Al Capone and about gangsters from Chicago who visited her club. When Detective George Butler was questioned by the HSCA he told them that "From 1947 to 1948 some members of the Capone organization were trying to move gambling into Dallas. I had a snitch in the outfit, Paul Roland Jones, who told me the Capone outfit considered RUBY too erratic for them."

Detective George Butler told the HSCA that Paul Roland Jones was a snitch. If so, why did he do time?

Meyer Lansky, as he had promised, secured the release of "Lucky" Luciano from prison by collaborating with Charles Siragusa and the OSS to stop Axis sabotage in America's sea ports during World War II. This was OPERATION UNDERWORLD. "Lucky" Luciano was released from prison in 1946 and immediately deported to Italy. "Lucky" Luciano charged Meyer Lansky with the responsibility for managing his financial empire. Meyer Lansky played a key role in organizing the heroin syndicate of "Lucky" Luciano. The relationship of Meyer Lansky with the TRAFFICANTE family was of particular importance. In 1947 Meyer Lansky and "Lucky" Luciano had a meeting in Cuba about expanding the mob's heroin trade. In 1947 Paul Roland Jones was involved in the narcotics trade, which experienced a post-war renaissance.

The narcotics operation of Paul Roland Jones involved John and Maurice Melton, two brothers who owned 127,000 acres of land near Durango, Mexico, suitable for the cultivation of opium. The opium was grown there and was flown into the United States by pilot Taylor Crossland. [FBI report filed 12.14.63 at Albuquerque, New Mexico #AQ 44-391] In August 1947 the Federal Bureau of Narcotics became aware of the operation. Maurice Melton and Paul Roland Jones were put under 24-hour surveillance and their telephone calls were monitored: "Prior to arrest above Subjects were surveilled during course of investigation and they checked into the Central Plaza Hotel on August 2, 1947. While at this hotel they made several phone calls which were checked out and the number Kedzie-1717 was listed to Hyman and JACK RUBENSTEIN." [Bureau of Narcotics Report, Chicago 10.31.47 A.E. Aman; FBI #44-24016-586; FBI 44-1639-21, Dallas] On August 27, 1947, Taylor Crossland was forced down, and arrested at the Mexican-American border with 48 pounds of raw opium worth nearly one million dollars in his aircraft. Taylor Crossland told the FBI that when he and Maurice Melton brought a load of opium from Mexico to Dallas he contacted Paul Roland Jones in an effort to dispose of the opium. He "stated Paul Roland Jones took him to an unknown motel, where Jones introduced an individual whom he believes possibly identical to RUBY as RUBENSTEIN. States Jones and RUBENSTEIN went back into motel, stayed approximately five minutes, and then Jones returned to automobile and said 'We will have to go to Chicago to dispose of this stuff' and no further reference was made to an individual believed to be JACK RUBENSTEIN." [FBI 44-1639-1629; WCE 1271, 1272, 1273; FBI 44-24016-481]

Taylor Crossland became a States witness against Paul Roland Jones, as did the Melton brothers. On October 24, 1947, Paul Roland Jones was arrested in Dallas. Five days later, the Chicago office of the Bureau of Narcotics questioned JACK RUBENSTEIN and his brother. JACK RUBENSTEIN said he knew Paul Roland Jones through his sister, Eva Rubenstein Grant, who met Paul Roland Jones while operating her supper club in Dallas. JACK RUBENSTEIN claimed he had never spoken to Paul Roland Jones in Chicago, either personally or by phone. When the calls in question occurred (August 2, 1947 and August 3, 1947) JACK RUBENSTEIN said he was visiting Dallas. JACK RUBENSTEIN said he was a sales promoter and merchandise distributor and he knew nothing about narcotics. Hyman Rubenstein admitted having known Taylor Crossland, Maurice Melton and Paul Roland Jones and told the Bureau of Narcotics investigators that the telephone call in question had been made to him. He admitted meeting with them, but insisted "I know absolutely nothing about opium, or narcotics in any shape, manner or form, nor the illicit traffic of narcotic drugs. Paul Roland Jones never mentioned opium to me nor did Taylor Crossland or Maurice Melton. I'm a business man with no arrests. We were involved in selling lumber and pipe. They gave me a sample of lumber which I showed around Chicago." During the trial, Maurice Melton testified that when Hyman and Jack Rubenstein were propositioned regarding narcotics, they refused any part in it. [FBI 44-24016-395]

The Melton's had been told by Paul Roland Jones that the Rubenstein family had connections with the Chicago crime syndicate, who would offer them the best price for the opium. The deal never went through. The Melton brothers were afraid to testify against Rubenstein because they knew he was connected to the Syndicate and they didn't want to end up dead.

On January 10, 1948, Hyman Rubenstein appeared as a witness in the narcotics trial of Paul Roland Jones in Dallas. Eleven months later, the Bureau of Narcotics closed the JACK RUBENSTEIN file, but seven years later, in 1955, the Bureau reopened it. The original file released by the Justice Department in unexcised form (over the objection of the Drug Enforcement Administration - the heirs to Bureau of Narcotics files) had the following in a box labeled "Related Files": "SE-202 Mafia pages 234 and 240." When this researcher applied for these files Benjamin R. Civiletti informed him that the materials were not of "historical interest" because "even today, the materials remain substantially related to continuing investigations...I do want you to know that no reference to JACK RUBY has been discovered in the materials which are the subject of this appeal." [Ltr. Office of Deputy Attorney General 5.8.78 re: DEA/FOIA/Req#77-492-F]

After the assassination of President John F. Kennedy RUBY did not deny that he was in touch with Paul Roland Jones in Chicago. Paul Roland Jones admitted he was a member of the syndicate during this period. In late January 1948, Paul Roland Jones, who was described as a "Dangerous Public Enemy" by the FBI, was convicted of Conspiracy to Import Narcotics and sentenced to three years in prison. An additional two years were added when his appeal on the bribery charges was denied. Released in 1952 Paul Roland Jones returned to Dallas and managed several taverns for the syndicate. In 1953 Paul Roland Jones was involved in the sale of worthless uranium stock. By 1960 he had become connected with a phoney cancer clinic. Paul Roland Jones lived in Birmingham, Alabama, but made frequent trips to Dallas.

In December 1947 JACK RUBENSTEIN changed his name to JACK RUBY. In early 1948, when Paul Roland Jones went to prison, RUBY moved to Dallas. After the assassination of President John F. Kennedy RUBY admitted he "came to Dallas because of connections with the Chicago crime syndicate." [WC Ltr. Hoover to Rankin 6.2.64] Later in 1948 Eva Rubenstein moved to California and RUBY took responsibility for the management of The Silver Spur Club.

RUBY contacted Lewis J. McWillie who helped manage the gambling interests of the syndicate in Dallas. Lewis J. McWillie was born at Kansas City, Missouri, May 4, 1908. At age 16 he was arrested for stealing a car and sentenced to two years at a boys reformatory. Lewis J. McWillie became a professional gambler, who worked river boats up and down the Mississippi. The FBI described him as a "murderer." [FBI PX-44216 12.5.63] In 1942 he worked for Benny Bickers, and Benny "the Cowboy" Binion, at the Top of the Hill Casino, located just outside the Dallas City limits. [HSCA V9 para. 1153; Lt. Butler, Kefauver Committee test; WCE1692; WCD 686d] Benny Binion had controlled gambling in Dallas ever since his rival was executed in gangland fashion. Benny Binion had been arrested for murder and possession of a sawed-off shotgun. Benny Binion left Dallas in 1948 and moved to Las Vegas where he became associated with West Coast mob figures Mickey Cohen and Jack Dragna. Jack Dragna was frequently referred to as the Al Capone of Los Angeles and was closely associated with Johnny Rosselli. In 1951 the State of Nevada granted Binion a gaming license, and he became a casino operator. [Reed, Ed, Ovid Demaris, The Green Felt Jungle, Trident Press, NY, 1963 pgs. 66, 84, 104, 184]

In 1978 Lewis J. McWillie was questioned about his association with Benny Binion and any possible connection between gambling in Las Vegas and Dallas.

Q. Did you know Benny Binion in 1947?

A. Knew him to see him.

Q. Who did you work for in the 1940's?

A. I worked for Ivy Miller and Red Scarborough.

Q. Did you know that Miller and Scarborough worked for Benny Binion in a numbers operation?

A. No I didn't.

Q. Did you know Harry Urban?

A. Didn't know him intimately. I knew him to speak to him.

Q. Did you know he was a partner of Benny Binion?

A. No.

Q. Prior to your present employment (in 1978), where did you work?

A. Binion's Horse Shoe Club in Las Vegas. [HSCA V5 pgs. 2, 22, 57, 65]

RUBY was associated with the MARCELLO family soldiers, or capos, in Dallas. These men included R.D. Matthews (born July 26, 1920, in Aspermont, Texas), Joe Civello, (born January 2, 1902; died January 1970), Joe Campisi (born October 11, 1918, Dallas), and Sam Campisi (born May 19, 1938), and Ralph Paul (born December 17, 1899, Kiev, Russia).

Lewis J. McWillie introduced RUBY to Russell Douglas Matthews. When R.D. Matthews was seven he moved to Dallas. He served in the Marine Corps from December 1941 to October 1945, after which he returned to Dallas. [HSCA V9 par 1054] By the late 1940's R.D. Matthews was actively engaged in criminal activity in Dallas. He was described in one FBI report as a burglar, armed robber, narcotics pusher and murderer. Another described him as armed and dangerous, and stated that he had been known to carry firearms and to use explosives in the past. In 1949 R.D. Matthews was arrested for burglary and in 1950 for having violated the Federal Narcotics Act.

Ralph Paul was most closely associated with RUBY. An employee of the Carousel Club testified: "If anybody gave JACK money, he would probably got it from Paul. He was a silent partner who passed on to him some of that cash." [HSCA V9p242] Ralph Paul, a Russian-Jewish immigrant whose name was Ralph Bielapolski, came to Dallas in 1947 from the South Bronx where he owned a fruit stand. Ralph Paul told the FBI that he had worked 16 hours a day for 25 years at this stand for very low wages. Yet when he came to Dallas he had amassed a considerable amount of capital; enough to purchase several nightclubs. [WCD 4 p466; HSCA V9 para. 1271] CARLOS MARCELLO was in the tomato growing and marketing business when Ralph Paul owned a fruit stand. CARLOS MARCELLO needed frontmen to invest his illegal earnings in legitimate businesses. The brother of Ralph Paul, Louis Paul, was President of the Pleasant Finance Company of Lodi, New Jersey. Frank Laduca was the manager of Pleasant Finance. [FBI tel from Newark #44-443 to Dallas 6.3.64] In 1952 RUBY took Ralph Paul on as a silent partner. By 1952 the MARCELLO family had gained control of organized crime in Dallas.

Ralph Paul was a partner of Joseph Campisi. [FBI report filed 11.24.63 Dallas, DC 44-1639, Lee and R.M. Barrett] Joseph Campisi attended high school with R.D. Matthews. In 1944 Joe Campisi was arrested for a murder that involved the shooting of an employee of Campisi's, who allegedly drew a knife on him. A Dallas County Grand Jury believed Joe Campisi had acted in self-defense. In 1947 Joe Campisi and his brother Sam Campisi bought the Idle Hour Bar in Dallas. This was the year the Campisis first met RUBY. In 1957 the Campisi brothers bought the Egyptian Lounge from John Grizzaffi; an associate of RUBY'S. John Grizzaffi, a native of Dallas, was mentioned in the Jones-Butler tapes. Employees of the Egyptian Lounge included men like Peter Piccola, who was known to the FBI as a bookmaker. [FBI 44-1639 FD-302 with P J Piccola 4.24.63 Dallas, Lee & Barrett] Other associates RUBY and Joe Campisi had in common included Lewis J. McWillie, Benny Binion and James R. Todd. [HSCA V5 para. 908] The FBI reported: "On February 17, 1959, Special Agents (Deleted) and (Deleted) observed Dallas police character and known gambler (Deleted) at the Egyptian Lounge, which is owned and operated by Joe and Sam Campisi. The connection between (Deleted) and the Campisis was not known. On May 14, 1959, Special Agents (Deleted) and (Deleted) observed Dallas-Fort Worth gambler (Deleted) at the Egyptian Lounge. On August 18, 1959, Special Agent (Deleted) observed (Deleted) and his family at the Egyptian Lounge. (Deleted) was observed in conversation with (Deleted) and (Deleted). A newspaper article in The Dallas Morning News on November 23, 1959, stated that suspected mafia adherent Charles Vincent Saterino, FBI No. 497185, had died on November 21, 1959. Among the pallbearers were Charles Civello, brother of Joseph Francis Civello, John Ross Patrono and Joe and Sam Campisi. These same individuals attended the funeral of the of the father of Pete Piccola during the same week. On November 22, 1961, while contacting Sam Campisi on another matter, Special Agent (Deleted) observed (Deleted) enter the Egyptian Restaurant and engage in what appeared to be a guarded conversation with (Deleted). He left shortly thereafter. On March 27, 1962, Special Agents (Deleted) and (Deleted) observed Joseph Francis Civello at the Egyptian Lounge apparently waiting for an order of pizza to be filled. The recent robbery of Sam Campisi was discussed with Civello. On January 31, 1963, Special Agents (Deleted) and (Deleted) observed known Dallas gambler (Deleted) in the Egyptian Lounge in contact with (Deleted). On August 7, 1963, (Deleted) advised Special Agent (Deleted) that numerous known bookmakers and dice hustlers frequent the Egyptian Lounge on a daily basis. (Deleted) no information had been received from any reliable source that the Campisis were involved at present or in the recent past in any illegal activity." [The rest of this document was highly deleted. [FBI Dallas 12-7792-2] In 1967 a friend of Joe Campisi estimated that each brother netted $100,000 per year from their restaurant business. That year the Campisis aided the promotion in Dallas of gambling junkets sponsored by the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas. From January 1967 to the day he died on December 23, 1970, Campisi was the subject of a FBI Anti- Racketeering Investigation. On April 4, 1968, the FBI in Dallas requested permission to review the Campisis telephone toll records based on their associate with Joseph Civello. In 1970 an FBI report related an assertion of an informant that Joe Campisi was close with both State judges and members of the Dallas County District Attorney's office. He allegedly had contacts within the Dallas Police Department. Joe Campisi was linked with both gambling and bookmaking activities in the Dallas area, but had never been arrested for any gambling activities. Joe Campisi's technical characterization in Federal law enforcement records was an organized crime member whose affiliation had, at one point, been termed: 'Definite.'" In the 1970's the MARCELLOS often appeared at Campisi family affairs. [Earl Golz, MARCELLO in Dallas, Iconoclast 11.2l. 76; Mike Graugnard, MARCELLO, Iconoclast 10.15, 29, 1976, 11.5.76] Sam Campisi died on December 23, 1970. The FBI recorded the license numbers of all out of state cars attending his funeral. [FBI 92-9792-25] It concluded: "A review of the list of registrations obtained from cars attending subject's funeral reflected the following individuals, members of a local group who allegedly control organized crime in the Dallas area, were noted and were personally observed being present at the Subject's funeral."

The MARCELLO family made an alliance with Dallas mafia boss Joseph Francis Civello, whom MARCELLO knew from Baton Rouge. In 1938 Civello served four years of a 15 year federal prison sentence for having participated in a heroin and cocaine distribution conspiracy that reached from Dallas, to New Orleans, to Chicago. In late 1962 the Immigration and Naturalization Service began proceedings to deport Joseph Francis Civello. The FBI: "The Campisi's are members of a small group of aliens in Dallas closely associated with Civello, deceased, former LCN leader in Dallas. The subject and brother operate the Egyptian Restaurant, 5610 Mockingbird Lane, Dallas. In addition to the above association, the subjects have been connected with gambling activities in Dallas." [FBI DL 92-9792 9.22.70]

The HSCA questioned Lewis J. McWillie about his, and RUBY'S, connection to the Campisis and the Civellos:

Q. Did you know Joe Civello?

A. I knew him, yes. I didn't know him intimately but I knew him to speak to him.

Q. Did RUBY know him?

A. No. I don't think he knew him.

Q. Did JACK RUBY know Joe or Sam Campisi?

A. I'm sure he did.

Q. Do you recall having dinner with JACK RUBY and the Campisis in 1954 or 1955?

A. I don't recall but its possible.

Q. Do you know of any business dealings between RUBY and the Campisis?

A. No. they would have no business dealings with JACK RUBY. [HSCA V3p73, V9 para.1153]

When Joe Campisi was questioned by the HSCA he admitted a close connection to Joseph Francis Civello: "I knew the whole Civello family, I had known them all of my life...They owned Civello's Liquor Store, and they had imported foods like pastas and cheese...and at that time we started buying provolone cheese from them...we were just like kinfolks, you know. Just like we are, real close friends, like being cousins, you know."

Q. Did you ever discuss with Joe Civello the fact of his having been arrested at Appalachia?

A. Never have. [HSCA V9 para. 1153]

In November 1957 a meeting of the commission took place in Apalachin, N.Y. A FBI informant reported that purpose of this meeting was to "collect money to back Fidel Castro and help Castro overthrow Batista. (Deleted) said that apparently Batista did not let the Italian racket element get into gambling or wanted too large a share of the profits from the gambling operation. Castro, according to (Deleted), was being used as a tool to sway Batista's opinion. He said that when the Italian racket element was entrenched in Cuba, they would take over all gambling operations. (Deleted) did not believe that Castro had knowledge as to why the Italian racket element was backing him, and also, based on recent news articles, that Castro had gotten out of hand." [FBI PH 92-444 12.58 - Bruno's FBI File]

In 1953 RUBY obtained an interest in a third nightclub, the Vegas Club. His partner in this venture was Joe Locurto. An FBI report filed in 1953 revealed: "RUBY and Joe Locurto always carried concealed pistols and were in constant association with Jack Todd, a well known Dallas hoodlum." In July 1953 Joe Locurto was convicted of having violated the White Slave Act and having committed unnatural sexual acts. The RUBY/Locurto partnership ended when Locurto went to prison. [FBI 287527 information concerning memo 6.11.64 JWH/jh/cac. NR 6.19.64; FBI pre-1963 traces on RUBY Item 3] From 1953 to 1955 the Vegas Club was managed by Ken McDermitt. Ken McDermitt later became "State Supervisor of the Arizona State Bureau of Identification."

James Robert Todd (born December 10, 1919, Groesbeck, Texas), was described as "knowing CARLOS MARCELLO on a first name basis." During World War II James Robert Todd was employed by North American Aviation. In 1948 Jack Todd became part of the Hollis Green Gang which specialized in burglaries of pharmaceutical houses and large drug-stores for narcotics and cash. [HSCA V9 para. 1324, 1054] Jack Todd worked closely with R.D. Matthews at this time. The son of Jack Todd, Gerald Todd, was involved in a shootout with Joe Campisi in 1973. The two business partners had a falling out. The HSCA questioned Lewis J. McWillie about RUBY'S association with Jack Todd:

Q. Did JACK RUBY know Jack Todd?

A. I'm sure he did.

Q. Did you know Todd?

A. Jack Todd, I knew him...To tell you the truth, I don't know what Jack Todd did. He was in Cuba, too, just came over visiting. I saw him once or twice. [HSCA McW Dep.]

The HSCA also questioned Campisi about Todd:

Q. Do you know Jack Todd?

A. Yes sir.

Q. And how long have you known Mr. Todd?

A. Oh, ever since we were 15, 16 years old.

Q. What business, if any, have you had with Todd?

A. No business, none.

Both Jack Todd and R.D. Matthews were questioned by the HSCA. Both admitted knowing the Campisis, Johnny Grizzaffi, the Civellos, and RUBY. They shared common gambling connections that included bookmakers Benny Binion and John Eli Stone. R.D. Matthews admitted having known "Izzy" Miller, the former employer of Lewis McWillie, while Jack Todd admitted knowing Paul Roland Jones and Joe Locurto. [HSCA Depo see V9p126 index]

In August 1953 an FBI agent witnessed RUBY threaten the Branch Manager of the American Guild of Variety Artists (AGVA). RUBY said he would kill the man if he didn't stop asking him to pay his entertainers in advance. The AGVA representative explained that he had been pistol whipped by Joe Locurto, and he heard that RUBY was a hoodlum who had experienced financial difficulties because of the Kefauver investigation.

By 1958 the Dallas mob controlled AGVA. James Henry Dolan, an associate of CARLOS MARCELLO and TRAFFICANTE, became a top AGVA official. [HSCA V9 para 924] James Henry Dolan was discharged from the Army in 1945. In 1951 James Henry Dolan was arrested and convicted for impersonating an Internal Revenue Service agent. In 1952 James Henry Dolan violated his probation when he rigged a poker game in Denver, Colorado. In 1953 James Henry Dolan was sent to federal prison where he remained until 1956. From 1958 to 1961 James Henry Dolan was employed by AGVA. An FBI report stated: "In late 1960 or 1961, George Fuqua and James Henry Dolan were introduced to SANTOS TRAFFICANTE JR., through TRAFFICANTE'S associate, Milo Bell. The purpose of the contact was to ascertain if Milo Bell and TRAFFICANTE could use James Henry Dolan and George Fuqua in the collection business, or as enforcers for TRAFFICANTE. TRAFFICANTE allegedly told these two Dallas people that he wanted a 'bolito man knocked-off and roughed-up as this man was holding out on his collections and owed TRAFFICANTE some money'...Dolan and Fuqua subsequently 'knocked off' this man and got about $7,000." In February 1961 James Henry Dolan was arrested in Dallas for breaking into a pay telephone. James Henry Dolan had placed a call to Milo Bell. In March 1963 it was learned that James Henry Dolan had been on a trip to New Orleans and had spoken to "CARLOS" (last name unknown, possibly MARCELLO), a "big time New Orleans hoodlum." On May 10, 1963, James Henry Dolan was stopped by the New Orleans police, and was found to be in the company of Dimitry Sack, who frequented the Town and Country Restaurant, which was owned by Joseph A. Poretto. James Henry Dolan was also associated with R.D. Matthews, a frequent visitor to his AGVA office. On May 29, 1963, Dallas Police Intelligence advised that James Henry Dolan was in contact with R.D. Matthews, allegedly having discussed the need for $2,000 to gain the release of their associate, George Fuqua. A 1964 investigation of telephone calls made by James Henry Dolan indicated a call was made to the American Bonding Agency in Chicago, which was operated by mobster Irwin Weiner. A 1964 FBI report listed Nofio Pecora as a known associate of James Henry Dolan's. Another FBI report placed the partner of James Henry Dolan, George Fuqua, at a restaurant located across the street from the Tropical Tourist Courts Trailer Park.

When the FBI interviewed James Henry Dolan circa December 1963, he stated he had known RUBY since 1957 and had seen him quite often when he worked for AGVA.

According to the HSCA, in 1953 RUBY was a confidential source for Kefauver Committee investigators. [HSCA V9 para. 11208] RUBY was not mentioned during the Kefauver investigation, and this researcher was unable to locate any paperwork that substantiated this.

In 1953 Senator Estes Kefauver named CARLOS MARCELLO as the boss of the Louisiana mafia. As a result, the Immigration and Naturalization Service issued an order of deportation against CARLOS MARCELLO. It cost MARCELLO a million dollars in legal fees to fight this order. In 1956 the first of MARCELLO'S deportation hearings began. MARCELLO'S strategy involved pay-offs to members of the Italian Parliament so that Italy would not accept him should he be deported. This international bribery brought CARLOS MARCELLO to the attention of the CIA, which was also funneling money to Italian politicians.

Throughout 1953 RUBY was involved in gambling activities and confidence games. His partner was Harry Hall. Harry Hall, (Harry Schwartz), was described an a big-time swindler associated with Johnny Rosselli. Harry Hall's uncle, Marty Schwartz, was a dealer at the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas. Andrew Armstrong, the janitor at the Carousel Club, stated: "JACK would tell me stories about Marty Schwartz when Marty and he did this or he and Marty did that...about things that happened in Chicago." [HSCA V9 para. 886] On December 11, 1963, the FBI interviewed Harry Hall. He told them that he had known RUBY from childhood, since he had been raised in the same neighborhood in Chicago. Harry Hall claimed he had not seen RUBY for eight years and to his knowledge, RUBY had never visited Las Vegas. The FBI marked this document "no leads."

RUBY'S close friend, Alex Gruber, told the HSCA that Barney Ross had introduced him to Harry Hall in Chicago, then he ran into him at several sporting events. Alex Gruber maintained he did not know that Harry Hall was connected with RUBY. [HSCA V9 p485; FBI 44-1639-1841, 2125; USSS File #4,3-601.0 - 454; FBI 105-82555- NR. 12.11.63; FBI # Los Angeles-44-895-WJN; mjg; HSCA V9 p251]

In Dallas, Harry Hall joined the Petroleum Club where he fleeced oil barons Clint Murchison, Sr., and H.L. Hunt. The FBI discounted the information supplied by Harry Hall about having worked with RUBY, despite the fact that Harry Hall was an FBI and Treasury Department informant who had provided the Treasury Department with reliable information in the past. Harry Hall wanted to trade his information for release from Federal prison where he was incarcerated for fraud.

In 1978 the HSCA questioned Lewis J. McWillie about Harry Hall:

Q. Who were some of the oil men who gambled at the Top of the Hill?

A. Billy Byers, he played out there. Big oilmen, H.L. Hunt, he played out there.

Q. Did you know Harry Hall?

A. I knew a dealer years and years ago by the name of Harry Hall. Hell, he's been dead 30, 40 years.

RUBY traveled to Israel in 1955. While visiting "known racketeers and gamblers" in San Francisco that year he told Harry Hall: "After I leave here I'm going to Florida to buy a load of contraband (arms) to send to Israel." RUBY'S notebook contained the phone number TE-8-7475. This number belonged to A. Snyman of New York City. The NY FBI attempted to contact A. Snyman by telephone, and personal visit, for several days without success. The agents went to her apartment and knocked on her door. As they were leaving A. Snyman appeared in the lobby. She told them that she had diplomatic immunity, and they should contact her through Ambassador M. I. Botha of the South African Mission to the United Nations. Had RUBY been involved in an arms deal between Israel and South Africa? The FBI determined the number in question was JE-8-7475 rather than TE-8-7475.

The Warren Commission re-examined the entry and determined it was TE-3-7475. This number was "possibly identified with a Fort Worth resident, Carl M. Applewhite, a cousin of well know singer and nightclub operator, Charles M. Applewhite." [FBI 44-24016-1550] Charles M. Applewhite's name appeared in RUBY'S telephone book.

James Breen, (born January 4, 1928), was arrested in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1942 and 1943. He became a welder's helper around this time. James Breen was arrested in 1944 in San Francisco, when he was 16. He was charged with illegally wearing a Navy jacket and cap. James Breen enlisted in the Army in 1947, but went AWOL a year later. In 1952 he was arrested for marijuana. In 1954 he was in Seagoville Federal Correctional Institute, and in 1955 he was arrested in Los Angeles on suspected narcotics act violations. In December 1955, the San Francisco Office of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics attempted to locate James Breen and Eileen Curry with a view in mind of possibly using these individuals in connection with a narcotics investigation, then in progress. The Federal Bureau of Narcotics could not locate them. James Breen was arrested in Long Beach, California, in December 1956. In March 1957 he was arrested in Signal Hill, California. In December 1959 James Breen was charged with auto theft and in 1961 he was charged with running a house of prostitution in Los Angeles. In 1962 James Breen was suspected of cultivating marijuana. He was arrested again May 29, 1962 in Anaheim, California. He was arrested March 9, 1963, in Los Angeles, and on March 28, 1963. The FBI "Breen was former FUDE, Los Angeles origin."

When the war ended, Meyer Lansky opened a gambling house within easy reach of Miami. In 1946, The Colonial Inn opened it's doors in Hallandale, Florida. The Sheriff of Hallandale, Walter Clark, operated a numbers racket from his office and controlled slot machines throughout Broward County. His deputies protected Meyer Lansky's holdings. Frank Erickson, Joe Adonis, CARLOS MARCELLO, SANTO TRAFFICANTE, Sr., Frank Costello all had points in the Colonial Inn. The profits from the Colonial Inn were invested in the Flamingo Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, then under construction. Meyer Lansky and "Bugsy" Siegel supervised the construction of the Flamingo. The Colonial Inn closed in 1948, but with the cooperation of corrupt law enforcement officials, other establishments like it flourished.

In 1950 the Flamingo Hotel and the Colonial Inn, along with the names Meyer and Jake Lansky recurred with regularity throughout the Kefauver Hearings. Meyer Lansky admitted having known Frank Costello, Joe Adonis, Frank Erickson, the Fishetti Brothers, Vincent Alo, Anthony Accardo, Jack Dragna, Johnny Rosselli, Doc Stacher and "Trigger-Mike" Coppola. In February 1951 Meyer Lansky was questioned again. Joe Adonis was deported, and Frank Erickson was jailed. [Testimony of Meyer Lansky - Kefauver Hearings] The televised hearings brought so much "heat" on the mob Meyer Lansky could no longer operate with immunity within the United States. The syndicate returned to Cuba where the Authentico Party of Carlos Prio Soccarras was in power. Meyer Lansky wanted to see Carlos Prio Soccarras overthrown and Batista reinstalled. Meyer Lansky had worked with Fulgencio Batista in the early 1930's. He encouraged Fulgencio Batista to run in absentia for the Cuban Senate. [Tad Szulc, The Cuban Invasion, Ballantine Books 1962] As stated in, Batista overthrew Prio on March 10, 1952. Meyer Lansky, however, could not take immediate advantage of the coup. He was in prison for one year. When he was released in 1953 Meyer Lansky invested heavily in Cuba. In 1954, Meyer Lansky moved to Havana, where he became the top syndicate figure. SANTOS TRAFFICANTE Jr. became second in command. It was easy for Meyer Lansky to persuade Fulgencio Batista to legalize gambling. In 1955 Fulgencio Batista changed the gambling laws to permit a legal casino in any nightclub or hotel worth one million dollars or more. The Cuban Minister of Labor ruled that all pit bosses, stickmen, and dealers, in casinos were skilled technicians who qualified for admission under two year visas. The Cuban Government offered in one way or another to put up a good part of the construction costs for any new casinos. For the $17 million Riviera government-controlled banks loaned $6 million. Meyer Lansky supervised the construction of the Riviera. Within four years the syndicate constructed $50 million worth of gambling casinos; the Riviera - worth $17 million; the Cleveland-mob controlled Hotel Nacional - worth $7 million; the Tropicana - worth $6 million; Capri - a property of the mafia group headed by Charlie "the Blade" Tourine - estimated worth - $5 million; Seville Biltmore - worth $4 million, Deauville - worth $2.5 million and the San Souci - worth $1 million. [Life 3.10.58; NYT 1.12.59]

Meyer Lansky and Fulgencio Batista turned Cuba into the center of gambling, narcotics and vice in the Western Hemisphere. The take was so high that Albert Anastasia, who was the "Chairman of the Board" of Murder Incorporated, tried to take-over Meyer Lansky's empire. TRAFFICANTE hit Albert Anastasia's under-boss, Frank Costello, then hit Albert Anastasia, as he lay in a barber-chair, getting a shave. New York District Attorney Frank S. Hogan named TRAFFICANTE as a suspect in the killing and announced that he wanted to question Meyer Lansky. [NY World Telegram, 1.9.59, "An Anastasia Grab at Cuba Dice Triggered Fate," Paul Meskil; Time 3.2.59]

Meyer Lansky and SANTOS TRAFFICANTE Jr., out of reach of New York District Attorney Frank S. Hogan in Cuba, prospered. The mob's major problem was that Cuba was a banana republic. This meant constant, periodic, changes of government. In order to hedge its bets some elements of the syndicate supported Fidel Castro.

According to Mack Blaney Johnson JACK RUBY owned points in Lansky's Colonial Inn. Mack Blaney Johnson (born 1900) informed the FBI of this connection on November 29, 1963: "Blaney Mack Johnson (protect identity), interviewed by S.A. Daniel D. Doyle, claims to have owned interest in Playbrook Club, Miami, Florida, in early 1950's, during which time JACK RUBY held an interest in the Colonial Inn..." The Miami City Directory for 1949 listed a Playbrook Club. It was not listed for any other year.

The Colonial Inn shut down on February 12, 1948, by an injunction by the Broward Court. Miami Office FBI files did not reflect that it ever reopened. Johnson was mistaken about the time he ran the Playbrook Club so he might have been mistaken about the year that Ruby owned points in the Colonial Inn.

In 1975 this researcher located a former Hallandale policeman, Walt Zassler, who had worked for Sheriff Walter Clark. He was familiar with the Colonial Inn operation. He was asked if Jack RUBY or JACK RUBENSTEIN was involved. Walt Zassler stated: "I do remember the name. There was Jack so and so Rubystein and Rubystine...I do remember the name. I don't know if it was the same JACK RUBY, but there was a JACK RUBY involved. I met this guy a long time ago, about 1950. I was indicted by a Grand Jury that came about as a result of the Kefauver Investigation and I went to Alaska."

Mack Blaney Johnson also told the FBI that in the early 1950's he was an independent airplane pilot engaged in flights of cargo from Miami to Havana Cuba: "In this connection he allegedly learned of illegal flights of cargo from Miami to Havana Cuba for the Castro organization in Cuba. JACK RUBY, then known as JACK RUBENSTEIN, was active in arranging these flights. He was part owner of two airplanes used for these purposes. Mack Blaney Johnson subsequently left Miami and purchased substantial share in Havana gaming house, business name unknown, in which one Carlos Prio was principal owner. Carlos Prio, Johnson explains, was within favor of former Cuban leader Batista, but was instrumental in financing and managing accumulation of weapons by pro-Castro forces. Johnson advises one Donald Edward Browder was associated with RUBY in arms smuggling operation. Johnson names one Joe Marrs, Marrs Aircraft, as having contracted with RUBY to make flights to Havana. Leslie Lewis, the former Police Chief of Hialeah, Florida, now possibly pistol instructor, Dade County Florida Sheriffs Department, possessed, according to Johnson, a detailed knowledge of persons involved in flight of weapons to Cuba and has specific knowledge of RUBY participation." [FBI 44-24016-471,76; WCE 3063; FBI 44-24016-75; FBI Report 11.29.63 and 11.30.63 Atlanta; FBI 105-3193; WCE 3063; FBI 44-24016-624; WCD 856; FBI 44-1639-4835]

Johnson stated that: "Carlos Prio, Johnson explains, was within favor of former Cuban leader Batista, but was instrumental in financing and managing accumulation of weapons by pro-Castro forces." This was never true. Johnson was confused on another point.

On November 30, 1963, Mack Blaney Johnson was recontacted by the FBI and shown a photograph of RUBY. Mack Blaney Johnson said he was convinced beyond a doubt the JACK RUBENSTEIN he knew was identical to JACK RUBY. He added that Clifton T. Bowes Jr., a pilot for National Airlines, was familiar with JACK RUBENSTEIN. The FBI claimed a problem with Mack Blaney Johnson's story was that "while there were flights of weapons to Cuba in the early 1950's, noted Castro organization was not active until about 1956." Fidel Castro tried to storm the Moncada on July 26, 1953, and his organization was active before this.

The FBI questioned Leslie Lewis on November 30, 1963. He told the Bureau he was Chief of Hialeah Police Department from May 1947 to September 1947. He never heard of JACK RUBY and had no knowledge whatsoever of persons flying weapons to Cuba. He stated he did not know Edward Browder or Joe Marrs.

Joe Marrs told the FBI on November 30, 1963, "he was a pilot for Eastern Airlines during World War II. Immediately after the war he engaged in selling airplanes and airplane parts in Miami, Florida. He never flew for hire or transported any goods by air to Cuba or otherwise. He had never heard of JACK RUBY and as far as he knows he never saw him prior to RUBY'S appearance on TV last weekend. Concerning Donald Edward Browder, he knew him as Ed Browder, and ex-RCAF Ferry Command pilot who came to Miami about 1945. He described Browder as an individual he shunned due to being a shady promotor and blowhard who was all conversation and no money. Browder spoke of plans to set up an air transport service to South American countries, but to Marrs' knowledge did not succeed in doing so. Marrs has read of Browder's alleged escapades of smuggling, but has no knowledge of them." [FBI 44-24016-594] Investigation in Miami developed that Joe Marrs was a former Eastern Airlines pilot until 1943, when he was dismissed because of ulcers.

When the FBI questioned Clifton T. Bowes on December 1, 1963, he said he has been "National Airlines pilot for the past 20 years. Says he never heard of JACK RUBY or JACK RUBENSTEIN and certain he has never met him. States never heard of RUBY until recent TV publicity and has no information concerning anyone sending arms to Cuba...Does not know Edward Browder though says he formerly knew a Mack Blaney Johnson as an independent pilot in Miami. Never closely acquainted with Mack Blaney Johnson, but understood Mack Blaney Johnson was ill and hospitalized for some unknown reason several years ago. Last saw Johnson some three years ago. Describes him as rational but highly imaginative, a story teller, and apt to identify himself with unusual situations. He says Johnson particularly imaginative when drinking." [FBI 44-24016-594] Clifton T. Bowes was questioned by this interviewer in 1975. He said Johnson "was an alcoholic who has since died. He died some five or six years ago. Don't know what he died of."

The Dallas SAC determined on December 10, 1963, that the "Investigation appears to indicate information furnished by Johnson is a fabrication in its entirety. No further inquiries in same connection are intended." [FBI 44-1639-1769 to Director] On April 3, 1964, J. Lee Rankin asked that "the allegations of Atlanta informant be fully resolved and reported to the Warren Commission." On April 10, 1964, the SAC Dallas stated that "in view of information in Miami telexs which negated information from Atlanta informant, information in Miami tels has not been submitted in report form to date, and accordingly, President's Commission, while receiving referenced Atlanta report, has not received additional investigation...Suggest Atlanta inform Johnson his identity can no longer be concealed..." The FBI informed Mack Blaney Johnson of this on April 11, 1963. Mack Blaney Johnson told the FBI that Leslie Lewis, Joe Marrs and Clifton T. Bowes were lying due to their having participated in illegal activities. [FBI 44-1639-4835] Mack Blaney Johnson "re-affirmed the truthfulness and accuracy of information heretofore furnished and expressed belief that Lewis, Marrs and Bowes, to serve their own interests, lied concerning their knowledge of, or participation in, weapons smuggling together with JACK RUBENSTEIN'S involvement." The Dallas FBI requested the Atlanta FBI check Johnson, Lewis, Marrs and Bowes criminal and credit records. No derogatory information was uncovered. [FBI 44-1639-4836] Mack Blaney Johnson had told the FBI he had no objection to his name being disclosed for official purposes. On April 13, 1964, the FBI re-interviewed Mack Blaney Johnson. "After detailed interrogation Johnson finally admitted that he could be mistaken about individual he knew as JACK RUBENSTEIN being identical with Subject JACK RUBY. He said individual he knew as JACK RUBENSTEIN described as 5'9" to 5'10", 160 lbs, black hair with full head of hair, hairline not receding, middle 40's, athletic build, was a golfer and resided in the Racket Club in Miami. Johnson also stated Bob Vollmar, of the Records Bureau, City of Miami Police Department and Bill Gould, the owner of the Playbrook Club, are individuals that should know JACK RUBENSTEIN, and were also familiar with the alleged smuggling of guns to Cuba in the early 1950's. Johnson was asked to give a more detailed time of his residence in Miami and his acquaintanceship with JACK RUBENSTEIN, and he stated this was about the time of the Kefauver Investigations. He stated it could have been 1952, or 1953, but had no way of verifying it. Records, Atlanta, Police Department, reflect no record for Mack Blaney Johnson. Credit Bureau records file established August 1961. No derogatory information. Resided in Miami 17 years prior to 1961. Johnson advised that until he suffered a heart attack several years ago he was a pilot, and had a part interest in the Playbrook Club in Miami in the early 1950's. Johnson, also as a pilot, made numerous flights of cargo from Miami to Havana, but stated he never participated in the smuggling of arms. He stated that he had participated in night club activity in Florida, and some of his activities would tend to incriminate him, but he would not go into detail. However, he indicated Playbrook Club had a gambling casino which was closed as a result of the Kefauver investigations, and he also indicated the Colonial Inn was a place where counterfeit money was handled...His wife was present during part of interview and stated she believed he was mistaken concerning the identity of JACK RUBENSTEIN, but reluctant to admit it. However Johnson converses in a rational manner and does not appear to be unstable...Johnson was shown a photograph of Eddie Browder and stated Browder not identical with the Donald Edward Browder he knew in Florida." [FBI 44-1639-4840]

Johnson finally got the message that the FBI was not going to leave him alone until he retracted his statements.

On April 13, 1964, the FBI questioned Robert Vollmar. He said he knew Johnson for many years and he understood Johnson has become an increasingly heavy drinker. He denied having known RUBY etc. and said "that he feels if Johnson has attributed such knowledge to him then Johnson must be 'off the beam.'"

On April 23, 1964, the FBI re-interviewed Mack Blaney Johnson: "During previous interview Johnson picked face photograph of JACK RUBY out of two other pictures as person he knew in Florida by the name of JACK RUBENSTEIN. On April 23, 1964, group of photographs containing full length and face photographs of RUBY were displayed to Johnson. Johnson picked out several photographs as people he thought he had seen before. He picked out both photographs of RUBY as someone he thought he had seen before. He was asked to identify the person, but he could not do so. When finally it was pointed out to him that these were photographs of JACK RUBY he became quite nervous and stated that he possibly did not recognize them because he always saw JACK RUBENSTEIN dressed in a suit and the pictures of RUBY show him dressed in casual clothing...however, although he could not go on the witness stand and state that he was sure they were identical he believes they could be. Johnson also stated that he has never suffered from emotional illness or never been treated for the same. Concerning Browder as W/M, 33-35, (10 to 12 years ago) good looking, 5'9", 155 lbs, black hair, full head of hair, sometimes wore mustache, no glasses, neat dresser, carried German Lugar pistol...Johnson stated Browder was called Don and Eddie and Don Eduardo, but was not of Latin descent. He had no known occupation, but believed Johnson to be smuggler. Johnson stated he saw him a dozen times; several times at Eric Johnson Enterprises, a machine shop located in Miami. He stated Johnson is now in Nassau, Bahamas, and would definitely know Browder, but is not sure if he would know JACK RUBENSTEIN...Johnson does not recall where he first met Rubinstein, but saw him about half dozen times, twice at the Colonial Inn, and once at Sunny Airport. Johnson never saw Browder and JACK RUBENSTEIN together, but heard both mention the other, and believed they were acquainted. JACK RUBENSTEIN was not married. He was not a pilot and did his alleged gun running by boat...In view of Johnson's inability to identify a photograph of RUBY as JACK RUBENSTEIN, and his nervous state when it was pointed out to him his lack of identification, Atlanta feels that Johnson originally furnished this information, not being sure of it and is now reluctant to back away from his original statements. He was given every opportunity to do so, but still maintains he may be correct in his identification. Atlanta recommends that this phase of the investigation be discontinued in as much as all other investigation has failed to back up any of Johnson's story... If Dallas, however, feels that this must be pursued, Atlanta recommended interviewing Browder and Eric Johnson." [FBI 44-1639-4963]

Mack Blaney Johnson furnished an accurate description of Edward Browder. The FBI could not intimidate him for very long, and in the end he stuck to his identification of JACK RUBY as JACK RUBENSTEIN.

On April 23, 1964, the FBI located Edward J. Browder and interviewed him. Edward Browder denied knowing RUBY, Mack Blaney Johnson, Clifton T. Bowes or Leslie Lewis. He said he had heard of Joe Marrs, but never met him. He also said he did not know a Donald Edward Browder. Donald Edward Browder was known as "Don" Edward Browder among the Cubans he worked with - "Don" as in "Mafia Don," or "Don" meaning "Sir" in Spanish. Johnson thought his name was Donald Edward Browder.

The FBI closed the investigation into Mack Blaney Johnson's charges. On April 30, 1963, the FBI discussed the Mack Blaney Johnson matter with the CIA: "FBI Agent said that this charge regarding RUBY sounded like a lot of nonsense, that the FBI has received many allegations of this sort, regarding RUBY, which have proved to be without foundation. I replied that since the FBI used an informant symbol for this information we have no way of determining the veracity of the source." [CIA 674-297]

Edward J. Browder was born on June 22, 1917, in Amarillo, Texas. The father of Edward J. Browder was Secretary-Treasurer of the Santa Fe Railroad. In March 1942 Edward Browder enlisted in the Army. In November 1942 he was an applicant SO Detroit, Michigan. In February 1943 he was an applicant at the CAA in Washington, D.C. In April 1943 he was a pilot in the SOS Army. In 1944 he worked with British Security Co-Ordination in New York where he was a civilian pilot trainee. HEMMING told this researcher: "He was hired for Latin American operations by William Stevenson, the famous 'Man Called Intrepid.' Hoover allowed the Brits to operate in Latin America." In 1944 Edward Browder became a volunteer pilot for the Royal Air Force.

In 1947 Edward Browder stole a cache of machine guns from an Army base located at Augusta, Georgia. A Federal Warrant was signed that charged Edward Browder with theft of government property and ordered his arrest. After Edward Browder was taken into custody on April 24, 1947, he told the authorities that he was involved in a conspiracy to overthrow President Romulo Betancourt of Venezuela. In December 1947, a Federal Grand Jury in Tulsa, Oklahoma, indicted Browder for unlawfully having exported a P-38 airplane from Tulsa to Havana, Cuba. On February 9, 1948, Browder was charged with conspiracy to smuggle arms from Florida to Cuba, arms which were destined for a revolution in the Dominican Republic against General Raphael Trujillo. A Cuban Government official was named as the instigator of the plot. In March 1948, he was charged with organizing and expedition against a friendly power, from Miami, Florida.

The judges in Miami and Tulsa gave Edward Browder probation, but the judge in Georgia gave him 18 months. Edward Browder served one year in prison and was released in September 1949. Edward Browder returned to Miami, then began to travel around America, getting arrested in 1951 in Los Angeles for bad checks, Denver in 1952 (Inv Fug), and in Tulsa in 1953 for bad checks. In 1954 Edward Browder was involved in PB SUCCESS and was not arrested in the United States that year. The son of Edward Browder, Joseph Browder, was contacted in July 1993. Joseph Browder: "He was one of the people who provided training and some operational support for the air part of the operation. My dad got shot down in that operation. And when the surviving members of the Jacobo Arbenz Government fled, they took some prisoners with them. My dad was in an unofficial prison that the Mexican Government let the Guatemalan exiles run in Mexico. My father was one of the people who worked for the Agency who wound up doing as much free lancing as he was doing Agency work. He spent many years in prison." Edward Browder returned to Miami in 1957 and worked with the 26th of July Movement. He was arrested three times that year.

In 1959 Edward Browder was arrested for possession of $136,000 worth of stolen securities. The FBI was informed by Gene Kligmann that Paul Stevens had attempted to sell his stolen bonds. The FBI contacted Paul Stevens who agreed to set Browder up. The FBI reported: "At approximately 11:05 a.m., March 2, 1959, Stevens and Browder arrived at Mr. Ford's office on the second floor of the First Federal Savings and Loan Bank in downtown Miami. Behind Ford's desk at the time was SA John P. Lenihan, who posed as Mr. Ford. Also in Ford's office at this time was SA Charles Edmiston, who posed as Stevens' contact, Tony, and SA Robert James Dwyer, who posed as Tony's principal, Mr. Martinez...During the course of the negotiations, SA Edminston asked Browder if his Canadian bonds were counterfeit, to which Browder replied, 'No, they sure aren't.' SA Edminston stated if the Canadian bonds were hot they believed they could probably get rid of them through their banking contacts in Cuba. To his, Browder replied, 'Uh, huh,' At one point in the negotiations Paul Stevens stated, referring to Browder's bonds, 'already got his bonds, whether they're hot, cold or indifferent, I don't know, I presume they are warm -- I figure they're a little on the warm side.' Browder did not reply to this comment, and in the course of the negotiations, admit the bonds were stolen." Browder was placed under arrest. The FBI found the telephone number off Morris Ernst in Browder's wallet. The law partner of Morris Ernst represented Frank Costello. [Thomas, E. The Man to See 1991 p92] The FBI also examined Browder's brief case and found more bonds along with a "cocked and load nine millimeter automatic." The FBI found Browder's passport and it indicated that he visited Italy and Zurich, Switzerland, on numerous occasions. The FBI reported: "En route to the FBI office, Browder made the statement he hoped there would be no publicity on his arrest because he pointed out the newspapers consider him a very colorful character and usually embellish his bouts with the law. He stated if he was immediately freed of this charge, the bonds were returned to him, and no publicity resulted from his arrest, he would be willing to cooperate to recover additional bonds. Special Agent Lenihan asked Browder how many additional bonds he thought he might be able to recover and his reply was that he had 80% to 85% chance of recovering $1,770,000.00 worth of Canadian bonds. Special Agent Lenihan queried Browder as to how he might draw out these additional bonds and Browder stated he would have to think about it for a while."

Browder told the FBI that he did not know that the bonds were 'hot.' Browder declined to state where he got the bonds. When Browder was shown photographs of the men suspected of having stolen the Canadian bonds Browder "examined these photographs rather flippantly and often made comments about several of them, ridiculing their facial characteristics, but would not admit being acquainted with them." When the FBI searched Browder's home on March 2, 1959, the FBI found a "contract between Edward Browder, Miami, Florida, President of the Caribbean Development Corporation, and Fidel Castro of the Revolutionary Force of the 26th of July, in which Browder agreed to deliver a 'certain quantity of material,' the material was not named, 'on the high seas,' amounting in value to $40,000."

Edward Browder claimed that the bonds did not come from the national crime syndicate. According to Edward Browder, the July 26th Movement had given him the stolen securities. The available evidence contradicted this. Edward Browder's associate, Paul Hickman, told the FBI that Vito Genovese, a nationally known hoodlum, had advised Edward Browder to "shut-up" about the origin of the bonds. Edward Browder told his business partner, Jesse Vickers, that "Cleveland mob people" were connected with the securities: "Browder mentioned that he was associated with some 'Cleveland people' who told him they did not want him to go to jail on this charge. Browder told Vickers he had told the 'Cleveland people' that Wilber [Browder's bail bondman] was pressing him for bond money and soon thereafter, the 'Cleveland people,' according to Browder, contacted Wilber to tell him not to bother Browder anymore regarding this matter." Jesse Vickers was arrested with Efren Pichardo in 1953.

In 1954 Efren Pichardo was indicted in Miami, Florida, and charged with conspiracy to ship 30 M-1 rifles to Cuba on behalf of Carlos Prio Soccarras. The charges were dropped after Efren Pichardo was indicted in New York, along with his boss, Carlos Prio Soccarras. Efren Pichardo's co-defendants in this case included Marcos Diaz Lanz and Jesse Vickers. Carlos Prio Soccarras had been indicted in December 1953 for the same offense. Contacted in April 1983, Efren Pichardo was in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he worked as a bailiff: "I used to know Carlos Prio, yes. Did I know Edward Browder? I think I did, but it's been such a long time ago. Yeah, I knew FRANK STURGIS, I think I was in the revolution with him. Okay, what do you want to know, sir? Who are you?"

During Edward Browder's trial he was asked if he knew national crime syndicate member Sam Mannarino. Edward Browder: "I was introduced to him by one of Carlos Prio's followers, on the assumption that Mr. Mannarino was going to supply some money for arms for some of the Cubans involved in fighting against Batista. I understood that this money came from sources that had gambling concessions in Cuba or slot machines in Cuba that he was trying to protect in the event that Fidel Castro overthrew Batista."

Jose Aleman was a witness against Edward Browder. He was asked if he had any knowledge of an arms deal where Edward Browder had been paid in stocks and bonds by the 26th of July Movement. Jose Aleman, who met Edward Browder in 1951 when both men were involved in smuggling arms to Fidel Castro, answered that he did not.

In April 1960 Edward Browder was convicted on two counts of having received and concealed stolen bonds. He received a three year sentence from Judge Emmett Choate. Judge Choate gave Edward Browder a week to "tie up loose ends" before sending him to prison. Edward Browder disappeared on December 20, 1961. The FBI began a fugitive investigation in the course of which they subpoenaed Edward Browder's toll records. The FBI discovered Edward Browder was in close contact with Dominick Bartone. In late 1959 Dominick Bartone and Edward Browder formed the Aero Ordinance Corporation, which allegedly dealt in government surplus. When the FBI questioned Dominick Bartone at his office in the Pan American Bank Building, Miami, he stated he did not know where Browder might be located, but he added if he did know where Browder might be located he would not advise any law enforcement agency of Browder's whereabouts...Bartone pointed out that Browder had sued him in Federal Court in Miami in connection with money Bartone stated he owed Browder...Bartone pointed out he thought is was a very stupid thing for Browder to jump bond in this case since he only had a three year sentence to serve." [FBI Miami MM 87-8756 4.4.62 - Lenihan] Later in 1962 Edward Browder turned himself in and began serving his sentence.

A State Department airgram dated May 2, 1967, to the American Embassy, Port-au-Prince, Haiti, reported that on November 24, 1964, Edward Browder leased a military aircraft in the name of a fictitious company, flew the plane to Port-au-Prince, and left it there. The airgram reported that Edward Browder cashed a $24,000 check signed by Clemard Joseph Charles.

Edward Browder was interviewed by the HSCA in January 1978 at the Federal Penitentiary at MacNeill Island, Washington, where he was serving a 25-year sentence for securities violations. The HSCA reported: "During the interview Browder discussed a series of gun running and smuggling operations he was involved in during the 1960's that were intended to result in eventual overthrow, or assassination, of Fidel Castro. Browder said that his work included assistance by the CIA in the form of money and operations. Browder said that during that period he did purchase at least two B-25 planes to be used in 'smuggling operations' that would be used to assist the gun running and raids against Cuba. Browder said he could not recall where he bought the planes. However he said a man named Pedro Diaz Lanz flew one of the planes to him."

George DeMohrenschildt was linked to Clemard Joseph Charles, who was linked to Edward Browder. Edward Browder was linked with Pedro Diaz Lanz, who was linked to STURGIS and HUNT.

In 1978 I asked STURGIS if he knew Edward Browder. He answered he was "not sure."Joseph Browder told a reporter for the Miami News that his father had worked for STURGIS. When subpoenaed in the course of HUNT v. ajweberman, Joseph Browder denied having linked the men. Joe Browder: "My dad was paroled in the early 1990's and arrested shortly thereafter when he landed a plane in one of the Mexican border towns. He was accused of flying drugs from one part of Mexico to another - grass. They found microscopic marijuana traces. He was tortured by the Mexican Police, and he signed a confession. They stuck a 45 autoloader next to his ear and fired it and blew out one of his ear drums. The powder burn caused a cancer. He still has impressions on his legs from the cattle prods. He was in prison for a year, then exchanged back here. Our government modified his sentence under the sentencing guidelines to some outrageous number of years. He is out of prison now and living in Colorado. There were all sorts of people offering him deals to spring him from Mexico, but he would not talk about his associates. He is not someone who talks. He's still alive."

This researcher asked Joe Browder to put him in touch with his father. He contacted his father: "I spoke with dad. He had already read your book. He really enjoyed it. He's not giving you an interview. There's still too many people around who care. It's still not ancient history. It's not the CIA he is worried about..." The CIA's Office of Security files of Edward Browder were "inadvertently destroyed in 1979 after the moratorium was lifted."

On November 25, 1963, (deleted) advised "during the later 1940's he knew of a racketeer named 'Rubin' around Daytona Beach, Florida, but knew nothing concerning his activities. Pictures of RUBY appear similar to Rubin as he knew him then. Informant suggested the following people should have complete knowledge of Rubin: Mattie Tracy, Daytona, Florida, a bookie, gambler and prostitute procurer. Johnnie Whalen, Daytona. If Whalen is still living, he is probably a night club operator. M.T. Browning, Daytona, Police Department. Tom Johnson, former Chief of Police South Daytona Police Department. Informant advised above people, particularly Whalen and Tracy, were buddies of Batista of Cuba when Batista in this country." [FBI Atlanta 44-1559-2]

Norman "Rough-house" Rothman was born December 26, 1914, in the Bronx, New York and died of a heart attack on October 13, 1985, (201-272,262; OS #354 878). He was the son of Rumanian immigrants, both U.S. citizens.On December 26, 1936, he married Ethel Hurwitz. On September 29, 1941, Norman Rothman was an applicant for Naval Intelligence. On March 14, 1945, joined the United States Army. Norman Rothman was arrested in 1948 in Miami Beach on a charge of bookmaking. In 1951 Norman Rothman came to the attention of the Senator Estes Kefauver and was arrested several times on gambling violations. In December 1952 Rothman was charged with operating a gambling house in the Hotel Albion in Miami Beach, Florida. In 1952 he moved to Cuba and managed the San Souci Casino with SANTO TRAFFICANTE Jr. In 1956 Norman Rothman was charged with Interstate Transportation of Gambling devices when the FBI intercepted a shipment of his slot machines on their way to Cuba. The charges were dropped after the machines were destroyed. Rothman told U.S. Attorney Guilmartin that "he had no intention whatsoever of violating Federal law and that it was his thought that he was permitted to send the equipment out of the country if he so desires."

Sam Mannerino was involved with this shipment. Norman Rothman had become the slot machine king of Havana and was busily dividing up the rest of Cuba among follow gangsters like Mannarino. The FBI reported: "Rothman's gambling activities in Cuba reportedly were backed by the Mannacine brothers from New Kensington, Pennsylvania, (deleted), all LCN figures."

Norman Rothman became the slot-king machine king of Cuba by going into partnership with the brother-in-law of Fulgencio Batista. The CIA reported "During the Batista regime Rothman was supervisor of slot machines in Camaguey province under the national supervisor, Alberto Ardura Moya, who was also one of the owners of the Tropicana nightclub in Havana." By 1956 Norman Rothman had a controlling interest in the Tropicana Casino. In 1958, Alberto Ardura awarded Rothman the concession to operate slot machines in Oriente and Camaguey Provinces in Cuba. Adura told the FBI that in early 1959 he fled Cuba and came to Florida. He had about 300,000 Cuban pesos of his own, and had access to an aggregate of eight million Cuban pesos belonging to Mrs. Fulgencio Batista. Adura was an associate of General Roberto Fernandez Miranda, who was the brother-in-law of Batista. The CIA 20l file on Norman Rothman reflected that he first came to CIA attention in 1958 when he was residing in Dallas, Texas.

In 1958 Norman Rothman spent considerable time in the United States. On May 3, 1958, $13.5 million in registered bonds, bearer bonds, cash and jewelry was stolen from Brockville Trust and Savings Company, Brockville, Ontario, Canada, by Rene Martin and four companions. Beside the open vault police discovered Rene Martin's bankbook. When Martin was arrested police found a key on his person that opened a lock with the rest of the registered bonds taken in the heist. Martin did not reveal the names of his accomplices and was sentenced to twelve years in prison. Montreal investigators focused on Rene Martin's associate, Giuseppe (Pepe) Cotroni, eastern Canadian rackets figure. When narcotics agents seized Cotroni, they found $10,000 worth of the bonds.

In August 1958, Nick Jerome, an associate of Norman Rothman, contacted Jose Aleman "late at night and said that it was urgent for Aleman to come with Jerome. Aleman accompanied Jerome in a car to Rothman's residence in Surfside, Florida. Rothman had several hundred Cuban pesos in various denominations. Rothman stated that these pesos were 'phonies.' He proposed that Cuba be flooded with a quantity of these pesos in order to destroy the Cuban economy and hasten the downfall of the Batista Government. Aleman stated that these Cuban pesos looked authentic to him, and that some appeared to be well-worn pesos. Rothman claimed that some of these pesos had been aged to make them look authentic. Rothman said that he would provide millions of such pesos to the 26th of July Movement in return for a small percentage. Aleman, who was not in the 26th of July Movement which was headed by Fidel Castro, told Rothman he would contact appropriate revolutionary leaders to see if they were interested in Rothman's proposition. Aleman sent word to Jose Lanusa, Chief of the 26th of July Revolutionary Movement in Miami, who rejected to proposal. No one else was interested."

Jose Antonio Lanusa was an associate of Edward Browder. [FBI Miami 87-8756 2.23.62 George E. Davis] This was the same Lanusa who has been mucking about with the DRE in previous nodules.

On October 14, 1958, about 317 weapons were stolen from a National Guard Armory at Canton, Ohio. On November 4, 1958, a plane load of guns piloted by Stuart Sutor of Hialeah, Florida, was tracked on radar by the Border Patrol flying from Pennsylvania to West Virginia where the soldier-of-fortune was arrested. The weapons stolen in Ohio were recovered.

What had happened behind the scenes was this: Controni contacted Gabriel and Samuel Mannarino, racket figures in New Kensington, Pennsylvania. Gabriel and Samuel Mannarino contacted Norman Rothman who rented a plane for $6,000 to run the guns, and contacted Joseph Merola, a close associate of Carlos Prio. Merola's job was to fly to Pittsburgh to contact Gabriel and Samuel Mannarino's boys about shipping guns to Cuba.

Rothman lined up William W. Rabin to handle the finances. Rabin set up a Swiss Bank account and posted the stolen securities as collateral for a loan. [Miami Herald 3.13.60] Others involved included Austin Young, who was in contact with Rabin and Rothman, and Paul Bert Hickman, an associate of Edward Browder.

Joseph Raymond Merola (201-257804 born October 9, 1925), was a gun-running pilot linked to Edward Browder. Joseph Merola served in the Marines from 1941 to 1945. In the late 1950's he ran arms to Fidel Castro. The CIA described him as a "fast dealer with connections at all levels in many foreign countries. His information is usually very good. He was Batista's personal pilot and was right next to Fidel Castro at the time of the take over." In March 1959 Joseph Merola was involved in an invasion of Panama from Cuba. In May 1959 he was involved in a plot to counterfeit Cuban currency. In February 1961 he was restricted to the Miami area following his conviction on charges of theft of arms from a National Guard Armory. On February 15, 1964, a cleared police contact advised the CIA that three men who had been caught stealing dynamite claimed it was stolen on behalf of Kubarker Joseph R. Merola. The CIA declared that Joseph Merola was not an agent, only a informant: "In an occasional contact of our overt office in Miami since 1961." In November 1972 Joseph Merola began serving a one year sentence for petty larceny in New York City. In November 1974 Joseph Merola was indicted by a Los Angeles County Grand Jury for stock manipulation and fraud. In December 1974 PHILLIPS sent a telex to an unnamed component about Joseph Merola:

1. Regarding Joseph Raymond Merola [201-257804] U.S. citizen please inform (Deleted) the following: Joseph Raymond Merola, an occasional contact of our overt office in Miami since 1961, periodically provides that office with foreign positive intelligence information. It is suggested that (Deleted) be contacted for additional information.

2. (Deleted) Headquarters informed (Deleted) June 1974 that Merola was of operational interest. They requested traces and stated he reportedly worked for (Deleted) in late 1950's. We replied that Mr. Merola had never worked for (Deleted) although we were aware that he had made such claims on number of previous instances.

3. Headquarters relaying for Station use only 20664, January 11, 1974 ,and Director 502254, January 17, 1974, which reports derogatory information on Merola.

4. Merola being processed in the ISR as (Deleted) source. Will advise when registration completed.

5. Please advise local (Deleted) Orlando Batista Viera's occupation as detective is included in category whose operational use is prohibited throughout the intelligence community and ISR policy precludes his registration. However, emphasize to (Deleted) that this fact not intended to prohibit their use of the Subject. Batista will be recorded as contact of (Deleted) in (Deleted) files in case any other U.S. Government agency expresses operational interest. (Deleted) Headquarters is being informed of above.

6. The following may be past to (Deleted). Batista was born July 10, 1933, Havana, Cuba. Was in Cuban Navy. Arrived in U.S. in early 1960's as exile. Subject was in prison several months in 1959 in Cuba accused of being member of Batista's Armed Forces and having idea opposed to Castro revolution, subsequently released. Subject of operational interest to (Deleted) in 1963 to 1964; interest dropped in 1964 and Subject terminated without prejudice. Ask (Deleted) to refer to (Deleted) for more info on Subject.

7. FYI only: POA granted 1963 for Subject's use in PM boat operations; however, POA canceled when he claimed he was unable satisfactorily treat his seasickness. In 1964 Subject interviewed by (Deleted) in Los Angeles, California, regarding group of Cubans in Miami involved in drug operations. Subject revealed his (Deleted) connections to FBI.

8. File: 200-11-11/19; 201-740127; 201-257804.

*Requested priority traces on Merola and Batista. (Deleted) Sources and register in ISR.

(DCD/OSS (Telecoord) December 6, 1974.

Unit: LA/NARC/LA/CAR DAVID A PHILLIPS C/LA LA/NARC (Deleted) DDO/NARCO (Deleted) LOSN/ISR (Deleted) C/LA/CAR.

The CIA considered using Merola as a source of information on developments in Beirut. [JM WAVE Cable 2.15.64; CIA Index Cards on Merola - type is so small it is unreadable; MFR 12.2.74 9-28-49; To: Director Domestic Contacts Service. From: Chief, Miami Field Office 11.20.72 MIN-181-72; Outgoing Message 630872]

Joseph Merola reported to Herbert J. Miller of the Criminal Division of the Justice Department.

On January 2, 1959, Norman Rothman flew to Havana. On March 27, 1959, Rothman was charged with violating the National Firearms Act. On April 9, 1959, Rothman was arrested for violation of the National Stolen Property Act in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and on June 30, 1959, Rabin, Controni, Rene Robert, Sam Marrarino and Norman Rothman were indicted in United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division for arms smuggling and stolen securities charges. [59CR374 Luis Kutner, Counsel] In July 1959 Rothman was charged with interstate transportation of stolen property and conspiracy. S.A. George Davis of the FBI observed Rothman when he left for Mexico from Miami on December 10, 1959, in the company of Richardo Madan Rivas, a gun-smuggler. In late 1959 Norman Rothman helped Fulgencio Batista establish headquarters at the Biltmore Terrace Hotel on Miami Beach. Norman Rothman managed the Biltmore Terrace. His associates included Rolando Masferrer and Orlando Piedra. At this time Norman Rothman supplied anti-Castro groups with stolen arms.

Rothman was convicted in February 1960 with others attempting to smuggle guns stolen from a National Guard Armory in Ohio to Cuba, and received a five year prison term and $10,000 fine. [FBI HO 165-689]

Sam Mannarino was interviewed by S.A. John S. Portella, who had been acquainted with Sam Mannarino for the past ten years: "Mannarino predicted that 30 days after Merola is released from Federal Prison, he will be murdered. Mannarino stated that he wanted the record to show that he himself was not going to kill Merola and probably would have nothing to do with his murder. Merola's testifying as a Government witness, however, would raise serious doubts and concern in the minds of several people that Merola has been involved with over them over the past five years. It would be one of those persons who probably committed some crime with Merola, according to Mannarino, who would wonder when Merola was going to testify against them. It would therefore be one of these former associates who would probably kill him. Herbert J. Miller, Jr., Assistant Attorney General, Criminal Division, U.S. Department of Justice by memorandum dated April 26, 1962, referred to Joseph Merola and advised that on April 13, 1962, a petition for executive clemency, together with his recommendation that petition be granted, was forwarded to pardon attorney Reed Cozart." [FBI CG 87-11127]

MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD April 25, 1975

SUBJECT: ROTHMAN, Norman

SF# 354 878

201-272262

4. In September 1960, Norman Rothman, free on a $50,000 bond from a conviction of theft and transportation of firearms, approached FRANK STURGIS, SF #353 459, and offered to obtain from Cuba two MIG aircraft. Norman Rothman claimed he could induce the defection of a Czech pilot and a Cuban who would fly the MIGs to the U.S. At the time, it was believed that Rothman was either offering assistance to the U.S. Government for a profit motive, or perhaps in an effort to reduce, or alleviate, his sentences under federal convictions. It was not clear from file information what, if any, further contact with Rothman took place regarding the proposal outlined above." [CIA MFR 4.25.75]

5. A memorandum dated April 30, 1961, reflected that a WH Officer met with Rothman in June 1961 in the office of the Deputy Attorney General. The purpose of the meeting was to evaluate Subject's claims to operational assets inside Cuba and elsewhere in Latin America. Among Rothman's claims were the following:

(1) That he has assets that would allow him to destroy Cuban arms dumps in Mexico. (2) That he could offer and operational base in the Yucatan peninsula.

(3) That he had personnel and capabilities to conduct sabotage inside Cuba.

(4) That he had a basic plan for the assassination of Fidel Castro.

Norman Rothman expressed resentment against federal charges against him for gun-running activities and stated he was being prosecuted for the same activities which were being conducted by the CIA.

6. The meeting between the Western Hemisphere Division Officer and Rothman had been apparently set up by a political figure in Democratic Party from North Carolina and apparently was a thinly disguised effort to track Rothman's services to the CIA in return for dropping federal charges against Rothman. The WH officer was not satisfied as to the capabilities claimed by Rothman and recommended no further contact with Rothman along these lines. The 201-file on Subject contained no indication as to whether Rothman was contacted again, or utilized in any way subsequent to the June 1961 conversation.

7. A form dated January 17, 1975, categorizing the Subject's 201 file, reflected Rothman's status with the CIA as 'former witting collaborator (relationship terminated). [CIA F81-03510653]

8. Office of Security indices reflect a file in the name of one Roberto Ramino Fernandez Miranda (SF# 353 706) which indicated that Subject was identical to Rothman's associate in the hotel in Miami Beach.

10. It is obvious from the foregoing that information contained in file sources pertaining to Subject and Fernandez was fragmentary and incomplete. File sources have reflected, however, that Rothman and Fernandez were involved in business together in the Miami area and that both were involved to some degree in anti-Castro activities of a revolutionary nature.

On June 26, 1961, Norman Rothman told the FBI "that if the United States would give him a free hand, he would be in a position to procure Fidel Castro's liquidation and his top Communist echelon in Cuba." [FBI 97-4030-18, 20 highly deleted]

In the course of investigating Rothman, the FBI spoke with Pedro Diaz Lanz who told the S.A. George E. Davis "that he never heard of any transaction involving the use, purchase or sale of any Canadian bonds for any such purpose, and that the July 26th Revolutionary Movement was never involved in any arms purchases involving large sums of money such as $100,000. or more. Most of the purchases were of a minor nature." [FBI Miami 87-8756 2.2.62]

The FBI questioned Tony Varona about Rothman on February 24, 1962. Varona said he had heard of him but had never met him. [FBI Miami 87-8756 2.23.62 George E. Davis]

The FBI also questioned Rufo Lopez Fresquet on February 24, 1962. During the course of HUNT v. ajweberman in Miami, FRANK STURGIS was asked if he knew Norman Rothman. STURGIS: "I have come across him on the Beach with my Cuban friends. Just 'Hello Goodbye, Have a drink" and then leave. That's it." Rothman went to prison in Atlanta, Georgia, on August 28, 1961. In 1973 Rothman pleaded guilty to income tax evasion in the Southern District of Florida for which he was sentenced to two years and 18 months. In December 1976, a Chicago newspaper reported that Joe Merola had received more than $50,000 in 1975 alone, for furnishing information to the Illinois Bureau of Investigation. In 1975 Rothman's conviction in the Canadian bond case was vacated on the basis of the fact that Rothman was not informed that Merola was an informant for the FBI and CIA. [Miami Herald 2.20.77]

The bond heist was touched off when the Canadian branch of the mafia received a hurry up order from the Caribbean for arms for the 26th of July Movement. When Fidel Castro began guerilla warfare against Fulgencio Batista, Norman Rothman and some hoods from Pennsylvania felt they needed some kind of insurance against an unfriendly revolution. Despite their close association with Batista, they smuggled arms to Fidel Castro. Norman Rothman, Mannarino and Controni were closely associated with Edward Browder, who was linked to JACK RUBY. Sam Mannarino's bonds came from the same Canadian bank as Edward Browder's. Mannarino, Rothman and Edward Browder's wife, Lilyan Martin Browder, had the same dentist, Dr. I. Fredrick Stang.

Leon Hubert wrote: "The probability that RUBY was involved in illegal activities in Cuba prior to 1959...is supported by the statement of a Delta Airlines employee in New Orleans who recalled that about seven or eight years ago, RUBY flew from New Orleans to Havana. This airline employee stated that he overheard RUBY telephone his club in Dallas and state that his trip to Cuba was being paid for by someone else, and that no one should be advised of his whereabouts." [Memo Hubert & Griffen to WC 3.20.64] State Department documents revealed that in 1958 "JACK RUBENSTEIN wrote a letter requesting permission to negotiate the purchase of firearms and ammunition from in an Italian firm."

The FBI reported that "Elum Addie Cuadell, wire service operator, Miami, Florida, and business contact of Ferrara, said he introduced Ferrera to Browder December 31, 1958, in connection with an arms deal in Italy." [FBI Miami 87-8756] In January 1959 Edward Browder traveled to Italy to negotiate the purchase of 5,000 Thompson submachine guns. This surfaced during an FBI interview with Paul Bert Hickman. "Paul Hickman stated Edward Browder had told him about an arms deal in Italy...Edward Browder was in contact with someone in the United States who was trying to buy these guns and sell them to one of the Caribbean leaders or ex-leaders. Paul Hickman stated he heard some Americans went to the Dominican Republic in early January 1959, and made a deal where a combining of General Raphael Trujillo; Anastasio Somoza; Juan Perone exiled former leader of Argentina, and Fulgencio Batista, exiled former leader of Cuba, were to put up a $1,000,000 slush fund to buy weapons to conduct a war against some of their enemies in the Caribbean. Though Edward Browder had not told him who wanted the arms, his theory is that either this group wanted to buy them, or Marcos Jimenez Perez, exiled former leader of Venezuela, now living in Miami Beach, wanted to purchase them...Paul Hickman pointed out that during the row between Batista and Castro in Cuba, Edward Browder was allegedly trading with both of them, both allegedly found out about it...For that reason he does not believe Edward Browder dares go to Cuba...Paul Hickman related that about midnight on March 5, 1959, he got a phone call from Edward Browder, who appeared to be somewhat excited. Edward Browder told him to get dressed and come over to Edward Browder's house right away, as it was very important...They related to him that at about 11:00 p.m., March 5, 1959, a man visited their house unannounced. He stated he was sent by 'Genovese' from New York City and was told tell the Browders they should shut up about the origin of the bonds, and to tell everyone else concerned to shut up about the bonds, less they meet with foul play from the 'syndicate.'" [FBI 87-8756 - 3.26.59 Miami interview with Hickman]

"JACK RUBENSTEIN" was mentioned in a 1959 Department of the Army Report concerning U.S. Arms Dealers in Scandinavia: "A JACK RUBENSTEIN is listed as a representative of the Saunders Company in the U. S." [CIA 85-31; 843-361; 1215-442; 1211-44OA; CIA Disposition Index p283, 288, 156; WC C0294bsc; DOS Memo for Chayes from OS 11.24.63 #0178; ltr. from R.A. Ericson Dep.Dir.Pol-Mil. Affairs 4.14.77; Dept. of Army H. 10.29.76, 12.3.76 from USAIA] In 1976 this researcher attempted to obtain copies of the Office of Munitions Control and Army Intelligence Reports under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act. The Army conducted a thorough search of its files and checked all reports in its possession on "JACK RUBY" and "JACK RUBENSTEIN." No report that dealt with arms trafficking was uncovered. The State Department responded that "while the existence of the letter may have been known in 1963, we are now unable to locate it." It suggested the letter might be in the inactive files at the Office of Munitions Control but demanded a $2000 fee for "a search involving 15,000 documents."

There was reason to believe that the CIA was aware of "JACK RUBENSTEIN" and his activities. In its letter to the Warren Commission regarding "Information concerning JACK RUBY (aka JACK RUBENSTEIN)" the CIA stated: "Examination of CIA records failed to produce information on JACK RUBY or his activities." The CIA had information that RUBY used the alias of "Abe Rubenstein."

In 1976 James E. Beaird told the FBI that in 1957, he became acquainted with many people in the area of Kemah, Texas, including one JACK RUBY, who was at that time "involved in the business of selling guns to Fidel Castro in Cuba...Jack stored guns and ammunition in a two-story house between the waterfront and railroad tracks in Kemah. He would take the guns to Cuba mostly on weekends. Jack had a boat about 50 feet long, surplus, a military landing craft or LST." [FBI Phoenix 89-42, 6.7.76 at Apache Junction, Arizona] In 1977 this researcher called James E. Beaird and asked him how he became acquainted with RUBY: "Playing poker. What I can't understand - this seems a little out of line. Well there was enough people like myself who know all about this. The doggone thing is that he was so open with it. Why nobody came forward with this information beats me. RUBY never talked about Castro. The boat would get loaded and RUBY would leave by car. It was a well known fact the boat was headed to Cuba."

In 1958 a former member of the Oklahoma State Crime Bureau linked an "Abe Rubenstein,"owner of the Carousel Club in Dallas, to a carload of guns and ammunition destined for Cuba. [FBI El Paso 44-274, 4.14.64; WCDS56]

In June 1958, RUBY sent arms to Cuba via Islamorada, in the Florida Keys. He was accompanied by a sleazy looking blonde.

The FBI reported: "On December 2, 1963, Mrs. Mary Thompson, 1155 Dupont, Kalamazoo, Michigan, advised S.A. V. Lemar Curran that in May 1958 she and her daughter Dolores, and son-in-law Richard Rhodes, visited her brother and sister-in-law, James and Mary Lou Woodard, at Islamorada, Florida. While there they met JACK and Isabel (LNU) who lived in a small motel in Islamorada. JACK appeared to be hiding from something and she saw him only at night. Dolores and her husband spent the first night in a room at JACK and Isabell's motel. James Woodard reportedly was a member of the Dallas, Texas, Police Department for a short time, about 1954, and James Woodard had known JACK in Dallas. Mary Lou Woodard told Mary Thompson that JACK'S real name was Leon and he was not married to Isabell. They had been in Islamorada (illegible) JACK was originally from Chicago, and reportedly killed a couple of men. JACK ran a drinking place in Dallas and there had been a knifing in his place. She said JACK had a trunk full of guns and inferred that JACK was going to supply them to the Cubans. Mrs. Thompson stayed at Islamorada one week only and had not seen JACK or Isabell since. Mrs. Thompson observed Subject's photograph on television and she believes Subject is identical with the JACK (LNU) she observed in Islamorada, Florida in 1958..."

The FBI reported: "On December 2, 1963, Dolores Thompson, whose marriage was subsequently annulled, advised that the Associated Press photograph in the November 25, 1963, issue of The Kalamazoo Gazette, resembles JACK (LNU) who had a small motel in Islamorada, Florida, in June 1, 1958, except JACK had a full head of dark brown hair and was darkly complected. She was told that JACK and Isabell had been there two weeks, and that James Woodard had met JACK in Texas. JACK was from Chicago and she was led to believe that he was part of the 'Syndicate.' James Woodard said JACK had a lot of guns but Woodard was drunk at the time." [FBI 44-24016-308] JACK drove a grey car with Texas plates.

The FBI interviewed Willa Mae Rouse, the sister of James Woodard. She told the Bureau she saw her brother on November 25, 1963, at her home in Knoxville. He said he had a job at a zinc mine in Mascot, Tennessee. Willa Mae, and her husband Ed, "both state that James Woodard not always truthful and that his sister, Mary Thompson, Kalamazoo, Michigan, also prone to make up stories. Both state in their opinion Mary Thompson insane. Willa Mae states James watched television with her on November 24 last, date Subject shot OSWALD. States she asked James if he had ever met RUBY or OSWALD since she knew James had previously lived in Dallas and states James said he did not know either one. Mr. and Mrs. Rouse both of opinion James would have readily admitted knowing RUBY or OSWALD if he had ever met either of them."

The FBI reported: "Records of Knox County So, Knoxville, reflect James Woodard arrested October 14, 1963, on basis of three Grand Larceny warrants issued Dade County, Florida, that date. Appearance bond of James Woodard executed October 16, 1963, by local bonding company with extradition hearing set for December 10, 1963, next. Records Knox County Attorney General reflect Tennessee Governor has signed extradition papers for James Woodard and he will be returned to Dade County, Florida, if located." There was also a warrant out for the arrest of James Woodard in Zapata, Texas.

The FBI interviewed the brother of James Woodard, Carl C. Woodard, who said he has not seen his brother since October 1953, when he stole his car and machine tools. "Carl stated James visited Carl's home previously, in his absence during July 1962, accompanied by a young pre\1\5 female. They had in their possession a late model white Cadillac convertible...Carl's children located a gun in the glove compartment of the Cadillac during this visit...Carl pointed out that he has a strong enmity for his brother and would attack James on sight. He also advised that he never knew James to reside in Dallas, Texas, or has he ever heard that James had worked as a policeman. He stated James came to Michigan in 1953 from San Antonio, Texas."

The FBI interviewed Paul A. Woodard, another of James Woodard's brothers. He said he had not seen James Woodard since 1948 except for one night.

The FBI interviewed the father-in-law of James Woodard, Leonard Shives. Leonard Shives said that his son received telephone calls from James Woodard on a regular basis and he was certain James Woodard would call in the next few days. [FBI 44-1639-1350]

The FBI located Mrs. W.R. Simons, the former wife of James Woodard. She stated that "she and her former husband, were at Islamorada, Florida, for approximately two months during the Summer of 1958. She was introduced by James to a JACK (LNU) and Isabell (LNU). She said she did not specifically recall where she was introduced to JACK and Isabell, or where they were residing in Islamorada. She said she did not recall any information while at Islamorada from James or from anyone else concerning any guns, connections with Cubans, or that JACK owned a bar in Dallas, Texas. She could only recall that JACK reportedly originally came from Chicago. Mrs. Simons was shown a picture of JACK RUBY and she could not identify JACK RUBY as being identical with JACK (LNU) met at Islamorada...Mrs. Simons said she had no indication or information that she has ever met JACK RUBY." Mrs. W.R. Simons said it was unlikely that her former husband would contact her, because there was a local warrant out for him for failure to pay child support. [WCE 3096 p118]

Mary Thompson was exhaustively re-interviewed. The FBI admitted: "Thompson is employed as a housewife and during interview did not give appearance of making up a story, or in need of psychiatric treatment. Information furnished by Mary Thompson was corroborated in most details by Dolores Thompson, who is employed as manager of the (illegible), a health club." The Thompsons had no criminal record with the Kalamazoo, Police Department. [FBI-44-24016-581]

James Woodard and his exploits were well known to Wallace Shanley. Information on James Woodard in his FBI file appeared to have been referred by U.S. Customs. The FBI: "Knoxville files reflect James Woodard, FBI #255317, is Subject of Miami file 52-1944, and has in past been (deleted) caliber revolver and has violent temper when drinking . Refer." Another document read: "Knoxville files reflect (deleted). When interviewed at Knoxville, September 27, 1963, and September 30, 1963, James Woodard stated he had in the past participated in a Cuban invasion prior to the Castro regime, that he participated in the Bay of Pigs invasion and furnished ammunition and dynamite to both Castro and Cuban exile forces. James Woodard's statements were at the time rambling and were not always coherent. Woodard again interviewed Knoxville, October 8, 1963, 3,150 pounds of Atlas dynamite abandoned at his residence South Dade County, Florida, which dynamite was stolen from Chastine Construction Company, Terrytown, Florida. Woodard claimed above amount of dynamite stored at his residence by Cubans to be used by Cuban exile forces against the Castro regime." [FBI Knoxville 44-383 12.4.63; WCE 3065; FBI 44-24016-1019]

The FBI did not interview James Woodard. On January 23, 1964, an order went out from the SAC, Dallas, to "discontinue active investigation to locate James Woodard...it is believed extensive investigation to locate James Woodard is not warranted." [FBI 44-24016-1019] The FBI was afraid to interview Woodard. He we was an unpredictable drunk who might have said that he knew JACK RUBY. Then where would that have left the FBI? With three witnesses to RUBY'S arms smuggling. HEMMING told this researcher: "We worked with Woodard's brother on parachute jumps."

The Rockefeller Commission admitted that STURGIS and RUBY moved in the same circles: "An example of the testimony relating to an alleged relationship between the CIA and JACK RUBY consisted of a statement that FRANK STURGIS was engaged in a series of revolutionary activities among Cuban exiles in the United States in the 1950's and the 1960's, and that the CIA also sponsored and organized anti-Castro activities among Cuban exiles in the United States in 1959 and the early 1960's. In addition, it was alleged that FRANK STURGIS was at one time Fidel Castro's Director of Games of Chance in Havana, and that in August or September of 1959, JACK RUBY made a trip to Havana at the invitation of a friend who had interests in Cuban gambling establishments. Moreover, both STURGIS and RUBY were alleged to have connections with underground figures who had interests in the United States and Cuba. From this group of allegations, the witnesses inferred that STURGIS and RUBY could have met and known each other - although no actual evidence was presented to show that RUBY or STURGIS ever met each other. Even if the individual items contained in the foregoing recitations were assumed to be true, it was concluded that the inferences drawn must be considered farfetched speculation insofar as they purport to show a connection between the CIA and either OSWALD or RUBY. Even in the absence of denials by living persons [STURGIS] that such connections existed, no weight could be assigned to such testimony. Moreover, STURGIS was never a CIA employee."

Thanks, in part, to the efforts of gangsters like RUBY, Fidel Castro was soon able to out-gun Fulgencio Batista. In September 1958, three months before Fidel Castro took power in Cuba, Lewis J. McWillie moved to Havana. Lewis J. McWillie worked as a pitboss in the Tropicana Casino. The mob knew Batista was doomed and it needed men like Lewis J. McWillie, whose associates, such as JACK RUBY, had supplied Fidel Castro with arms, to smooth over the inevitable transition, and to protect its interests. The HSCA questioned Lewis J. McWillie about his association with Norman Rothman.

Q. Do you know a Mr. Norman Rothman?

A. I know him to see him.

Q. Have you ever met Mr. Rothman?

A. It was in Cuba, yes. He'd come in and out of the Tropicana every once in awhile. He come up and introduced himself to me and shook hands with me. I'd see him gambling there when I'd go around to different places.

Q. Did you ever have any discussions with Mr. Rothman?

A. No.

The FBI reported that investigation by a confidential source reflected that "McWillie solidified his syndicate connections through his association in Havana Cuba, with SANTOS TRAFFICANTE, well known syndicate member, from Tampa Florida; Meyer and Jake Lansky; Dino Cellini and others who were members and associates of the syndicate."

The HSCA asked Lewis J. McWillie about a possible association with TRAFFICANTE. "Know him to see him. He knew who I was and he shook hands with me when he saw me, but that was it, I've been asked that a lot of times, too. But I didn't know Mr. TRAFFICANTE intimately, no. Maybe Pedro Fox introduced us."

The HSCA asked Lewis J. McWillie about Meyer Lansky: "I never laid eyes on him in my life. I know his brother, knew his brother, Jake. Very fine man. I might have met him through Dino Cellini. Mr. Lansky was around the Riviera, I don't know if he operated it or what but he was there."

Lewis J. McWillie told the HSCA that RUBY had nothing to do with his employment situation in Cuba: "A fellow named Joe Williams called me from Cuba and asked me if I'd be interested in going over there to work and I set up an appointment and went there and talked to them and then went back to Dallas and went back to Cuba in about a week, I believe. I don't know what Mr. Williams did, to tell the truth. I went to see the Foxes. The Foxes were the only owners of the Tropicana. Martinez Fox promised me a percentage of the Tropicana if it ever did any business. That was right at the time of the revolution. The Foxes didn't need any financial backing. They had a big business that made nothing but money for years and years. They had the numbers and every other thing."

The numbers or, "bolito" was controlled by TRAFFICANTE. The Foxes were also controlled by TRAFFICANTE.

Just before Fidel Castro took power on January 1, 1959, Fulgencio Batista flew to the Dominican Republic. When Fidel Castro entered Havana angry Cubans ransacked many mob owned casinos. One of Fidel Castro's first decrees ordered all the casinos padlocked. Cesar Blanco stated that on January 13, 1959, "both Lanskys attended a meeting with SANTO TRAFFICANTE Jr. a known narcotics operator who took over Lucky Luciano's operations. Blanco said he took action against them and tried to get them deported from Cuba, working with Interpol. On June 2, 1959, Blanco told Pella he received a letter from the U.S. Consul General (or U.S. Embassy) in Havana informing him that the U.S. Government would protest if Lansky were deported. Blanco also had a visit from a Vice Consul named Kessler who verbally told him the same thing. When Blanco informed INTERPOL they replied by letter that the Cuban Government would loose their confidence if Lansky was not deported. Fidel Castro, upon hearing this, gave instructions to Blanco not to deport Lansky or SANTO TRAFFICANTE Jr. Blanco said to Pella that he feels this gambling group has offered to financially assist the new government-in-exile set up in New York under Mario Garcia Kohly." [U.S. Gambling Syndicate Interest in Cuban Matters.] After this meeting, SANTO TRAFFICANTE Jr., was arrested as was Jake Lansky. Jake Lansky was released in a few hours, only to be rearrested. A week later (January 20, 1959) the Lansky brothers escaped to Florida. They had been too close to Fulgencio Batista to ever be trusted by Fidel Castro. Many other hoodlums, such as Norman Rothman and Charlie Tourine, were not arrested and remained in Cuba. Meyer Lansky and CARLOS MARCELLO attempted to free TRAFFICANTE. The syndicate wanted anyone who could influence Fidel Castro to intervene on TRAFFICANTE'S behalf. [NY Post 2.17.59; NYT 2.2l.58; Time 1.12.59]

Robert Ray McKeown (born January 28, 1911; died October 1980, SS # 460-01-8019) ran a coffee processing plant in Santiago, Cuba, with the blessings of President Carlos Prio Soccarras. When Carlos Prio Soccarras was overthrown by Batista in 1952, Robert Ray McKeown tried to restore him to power. In late 1952 Robert Ray McKeown was the Subject of an FBI Neutrality Act Investigation in connection with his having smuggled arms to the forces of Carlos Prio Soccarras within Cuba. In 1956 Robert Ray McKeown lived in Miami, having been deported by Fulgencio Batista. In Miami, Robert Ray McKeown was involved in gun-running ventures aimed at the overthrow of the Batista regime. The FBI learned that the 26th of July Movement planned a raid on Cuba from Texas, and that arms had been shipped to Robert Ray McKeown. In 1957 Robert Ray McKeown piloted arms-laden ships from Kemah or Seabrook, Texas, to a drop off point in Mexico. Fidel Castro's forces landed the Granma and picked-up the arms. On February 18, 1958, the San Antonio FBI office provided information that Robert Ray McKeown had purchased a yacht. U.S. Customs seized this vessel for having smuggled guns while it was cruising to Houston from Paterson, Louisiana. [HSCA V9 para. l808, 1105-1152; WCD7972]

On February 25, 1958, Robert Ray McKeown was charged with conspiracy to smuggle guns and related equipment to Castro forces in Cuba when an Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agent raided the home of Robert Ray McKeown and discovered a small arsenal. The FBI: "Houston will note in case entitled 'CARLOS PRIO SOCCARRAS, ET. AL. FPM - CUBA' (Houston file 109-7) Robert R. McKeown, Galena Park, Texas, and others were arrested by police and later prosecuted by U.S. Customs, for possession of arms and conspiracy to violate the Neutrality Act. In this case (deleted) was in Houston and had considerable contact with (deleted) and others involved. (Deleted) but is presently out of town. On his return he will be contacted again concerning this matter." [FBI 44-1639-4195]

Eight months later Robert Ray McKeown was given a 60-day sentence and five years probation. Shortly after this arrest and prior to his sentencing, Robert Ray McKeown and Mr.(FNU) Jarrett formed a partnership and opened the J & M Drive-In on Red Bluff Road in the vicinity of Kemah, Texas. Carlos Prio Soccarras funded this venture with a loan.

In January 1959 RUBY contacted Robert Ray McKeown and asked him "to get three individuals out of Cuba who are being held by Fidel Castro." RUBY offered Robert Ray McKeown $15,000, and said that the syndicate would be grateful for his help. One week later, RUBY and Robert Ray McKeown had a meeting near Kemah, Texas. RUBY asked Robert Ray McKeown for a letter of introduction to Fidel Castro. [WCE 1689] Robert Ray McKeown did not voluntarily give this information to the FBI after RUBY shot OSWALD. After RUBY spoke of an individual "in the vicinity of Houston" who had run guns to Fidel Castro, the FBI contacted Robert Ray McKeown.

On January 28, 1964, Robert Ray McKeown told the FBI that about a week after Fidel Castro came into power Anthony Ayo, a Houston patrolman, personally informed him that someone from Dallas had called the Sheriff's office looking for him. Robert Ray McKeown told Anthony Ayo to give the caller the phone number of the J & M Drive-in. When questioned by the FBI, Anthony Ayo confirmed Robert Ray McKeown's story. How did RUBY know that Anthony Ayo knew Robert Ray McKeown? Robert Ray McKeown said that an hour later a "JACK RUBENSTEIN" from Dallas called and offered McKeown $15,000 to help release three prisoners from Castro's jails. JACK RUBENSTEIN stated that someone in Las Vegas would provide the money. Three weeks later RUBY showed up at the J & M in person, offered Robert Ray McKeown $25,000 and stated he had access to a large number of jeeps in Shreveport, Louisiana. When McKeown demanded $5,000 in advance, RUBY left, never to return. Robert Ray McKeown said the deal was never consummated. When interviewed by Gaeton Fonzi in 1976, McKeown added that RUBY told him that aside from jeeps, he had access to slot machines in New Mexico. RUBY mentioned that he knew some members of the mafia in Cuba, and he spoke with McKeown on three occasions.

Justice Warren asked RUBY: "There was some story in one of the papers that you had been interested in shipping jeeps down to Cuba. Was there anything to that at all?" RUBY answered: "No; but this was the earlier part, when the first time Fidel Castro had ever invaded Cuba. There was even a Government article that they would need jeeps. I don't recall what it was, but I never had the facilities or the capabilities to get jeeps. But probably in conversation with other persons - you see, it is a new land, and they have to have a lot of things. As a matter of fact the United States Government was wanting persons to help them [kill Fidel Castro] at that particular time when they threw out the dictator, Batista. And at one particular time there was a gentleman that smuggled guns to Castro...I think his name was Langley or Longly out of Bay - something - Texas, on the Bayshore...He was given a jail term for smuggling guns to Castro. This is in the early part of their revolution...I think he had a boat and he lived somewhere in Bay something, Bayshore, in the center part of Texas..." [FBI 44-1639-3913; WCE 1688]

When RUBY first contacted Robert Ray McKeown he told him that he thought his name was "Davis." RUBY allegedly told Tom Howard (his first lawyer -deceased) that he had intended to begin a regular gun-running business with a "Davis." When the FBI asked Robert Ray McKeown about "Davis" in 1964, he told them he knew no-one by that name. Dallas Assistant District Attorney William Alexander reported he had learned RUBY had contact with a "Davis," described as an ex-convict from Beaumont, Texas. William Alexander stated that he understood FBI, Houston, had handled investigation of this person resulting in his conviction for gun running activities. The Houston FBI reported that it could not locate an ex-convict named Davis, and determined that RUBY meant Robert Ray McKeown.

Seth Kantor reported that in June 1958, a "Thomas Eli Davis" attempted to rob a bank in Detroit for which he served five years probation. In September 1960 the probation supervision of Thomas Eli Davis was transferred to the Federal probation office in Beaumont, Texas. His probation was terminated on February 21, 1962. [CE1688; 44-1639-3913; Seth Kantor, Who Was JACK RUBY? Everest House 1978] The HSCA discovered a FBI report dated June 25, 1963, which linked Thomas Eli Davis to a HEMMING/STURGIS type operation: In May 1963 Thomas Eli Davis placed an advertisement that offered employment to men who wished to go to Haiti to overthrow "Papa Doc" Duvalier. The FBI, through liaison, asked the CIA if this was one of its operations. The CIA denied it. The wife of Thomas Eli Davis told an official of the State Department that her husband was a soldier-of-fortune who had worked in Indochina, Indonesia, Algeria and Cuba. [HSCA V9p183] In early November 1963, Thomas Eli Davis and his wife left the U.S. for Tangier, Morocco. In December 1963 the Moroccan National Security Police, through Interpol, informed the State Department that Thomas Eli Davis was being held on the basis of an attempted sale of a firearm to a minor. When the Moroccan Police searched Thomas Eli Davis, the police found "a letter in his handwriting which referred in passing to OSWALD and to the Kennedy assassination." The letter was addressed to attorney Thomas G. Proctor. Thomas Eli Davis was killed in September 1973 while stealing copper wire from an abandoned rock crusher site in Wise County, Texas. He was accidentally electrocuted.

Ruby could have known Thomas Davis of Beaumont, Texas, however, Davis is a very common name, especially in Texas. Seth Kantor also claimed that QJ/WIN (Mankel) bailed Thomas Eli Davis out of jail in Morocco, which was unlikely. Perhaps RUBY referred to Howard Kenneth Davis? Howard K. Davis, however, worked out of Miami.

When Robert Ray McKeown testified before the HSCA he took the Fifth Amendment until he was granted immunity. Robert Ray McKeown added that he was visited by OSWALD and a mysterious pro-Castro Cuban. They wanted 300 submachine guns. Through the years the details of his story changed so frequently that Robert Ray McKeown almost earned a perjury citation from the HSCA. McKeown: "RUBY says I will give you $25,000 if you write me this letter where you will acknowledge that I am a friend of yours and have done business with you and things of that sort...He asked me all about where I had been with Castro and how we had talked, and he kept after me about how many arms are there, and were there two million worth...then he came back and we would talk about what warehouses I put the guns in, and who all helped me haul them out to his house...he came back and I told him I had the letter written...I had all of this written down but somebody burned down my house and I lost it...He said he knew the mafia, he said he had connections. He said 'You don't have to worry about money, I have good connections.' He asked me if I was familiar with Ponce Club in Miami, where all the Latins congregated.

Robert Ray McKeown was quizzed about his various associates:

Purdy: How did you hear of Sam or Joseph Campisi?

McKeown: Through Prio. He said they were good people, they were on our side. I presumed that he was working with him, I do not know.

Purdy: Did you know Joe Merola?

McKeown: Yes...he would come to me and tell me where guns would be.

Purdy: Have you had any connections which you later found out been with the CIA?

McKeown: Yes, I later found out, but I did not know...I met him at a club...I did not know him from Adam and he commenced telling me about Castro, he was over there in the mountains with Castro...he said that Castro had it in for him and that he did not want to go to Cuba.

Purdy: What contact did you have with Castro after he took power?

McKeown: Some friends of my brother were fishing and the Cubans confiscated their boat and brought them to Cuba. My brother came to me and told me these three guys were real good friends of his and they were innocent. So he asked me if I could help get them out of Cuba. This was quite a while after he was in power, maybe 1965. Four or five of the so-called mafia under Batista that ran the casinos came to me and wanted me to try and help them get back over there...they wanted me to go and try to get them to open the Americana again and the Sans Souci and all of that...this was a couple of months after he took power...one of them was Italian. They had all been forced to leave Cuba.

Purdy: Was SANTOS TRAFFICANTE one of these individuals?

McKeown: No.

Purdy: Do you know CARLOS MARCELLO?

McKeown: No.

Purdy: Do you know FRANK STURGIS?

McKeown: I seen him one time over at Prio's house. But I did not have any dealings with him whatsoever.

Purdy: Do you remember any of the names [of the mafioso who approached you]?

McKeown: It seemed to me that one of them was named Matthews, but I am not sure he was connected with the Tropicana. Maybe he was connected.

Purdy: When did you first meet Mr. Castro?

McKeown: I met him in the Shamrock Hotel in Houston. I think it was in 1957, Prio was with me. I didn't have an opportunity to speak to him alone, he was in a hurry to go out to the Murchisons.

An article dated January 1968 in Ramparts Magazine written by William Turner linked Maurice Gatlin with RUBY in a jeep deal. According to Jerry Milton Brooks, the deal was scotched when Maurice Gatlin warned RUBY and Robert Ray McKeown to call it off.

In February 1959 SANTO TRAFFICANTE Jr. was still in jail. Then Fidel Castro revoked his order closing all the casinos and freed TRAFFICANTE. This was when Fidel Castro made STURGIS Minister of Games of Chance. In late February 1959, Meyer Lansky returned to Cuba. On March 1, 1959, Cuba's casinos reopened to skimpy crowds. [Time 3.2.59; How Castro Double Crossed The Mob, Jack Anderson, Parade 4.28.63]

On March 11, 1959, RUBY met with FBI S.A. Charles W. Flynn. S.A. Flynn stated RUBY offered the FBI his services as a criminal informant. S.A. Flynn questioned RUBY about bank robberies, major thefts and the like. RUBY was unable to supply S.A. Flynn with any information on these cases. [FBI 44-24016-1138; FBI 44-24016-1180; FBI-62-109060-7394; NYT 5.13.70; William Scott Malone, The Secret Life of JACK RUBY, New Times, 1.23.78.] RUBY bought $500 worth of miniature wire recording equipment [FBI 44-1639-1358] and rented a safe deposit box before speaking with S.A. Flynn.

RUBY tape recorded his meetings with the FBI and hid the tapes in his safe deposit box in case the mob accused him of being a snitch.

The second RUBY/Flynn meeting occurred on April 28, 1959, the same day that Robert Ray McKeown was embracing Fidel Castro at an airport in Houston, Texas. Fidel Castro was going back to Cuba from Washington, D.C., when he encountered Robert Ray McKeown. McKeown: "There were some people who came to me and offered me quite a sum of money and told me that we believe that you are the only one who can really get close to Fidel Castro. And they wanted me to kill him." [HSCA V9 p702]

In late May 1959, RUBY gave a slip of paper which contained a short written message in code which consisted of letters and numbers and the word "arriving" to Elaine Mynier, Lewis J. McWillie's mistress, just minutes before she left for Cuba. When Elaine Mynier gave the message to Lewis J. McWillie he told her that RUBY was "nuts" to have entrusted her with something important. After the assassination Elaine Mynier told the FBI about the incident. [FBI DI-44-1639 FD-302 with Mynier 11.26.63 San Fran., 11.24.63 at San Fran.] In November 1963 Elaine Mynier claimed she had been raped by two San Francisco Police Department officers, a case which received considerable local publicity. Lewis J. McWillie denied using her as a courier, and said if he wanted to get in touch with RUBY he would have telephoned him.

On June 1, 1959, TRAFFICANTE was rearrested by the Castro regime on the basis of a telegram from Harry Anslinger. [HSCA V5 p294] The Cuban Cabinet ordered the deportation of TRAFFICANTE due to his having been involved in heroin trafficking. RUBY'S next meeting with S.A. Flynn occurred on June 5, 1959. On June 18, 1959, RUBY had another meeting with S.A. Flynn. The next RUBY/Flynn meeting occurred on July 2, 1959. RUBY'S fifth meeting with S.A. Flynn took place on July 21, 1959. S.A. Flynn filed a standard report. He had questioned RUBY about several bank robberies which RUBY said he had no knowledge of. S.A. Flynn rated his informant as "good."

In late July, Curtis Lynum, the SAC of the Dallas FBI Field Office , received information that something wasn't kosher about RUBY. Curtis Lynum sent RUBY'S prints to FBI Headquarters so that he could get RUBY'S rap sheet. S.A. Flynn's next meeting with RUBY took place on August 6, 1959. On August 18, 1959, TRAFFICANTE was released.

According to data obtained by the Cuban Government, Dino Cellini had a sister who worked as a typist in the White House. The sister of Dino Cellini solicited the aid of Senator George Smathers in obtaining TRAFFICANTE'S release. Senator George Smathers got the American Consulate in Havana to contact the Cubans with information that there were arrest warrants out for TRAFFICANTE and Dino Cellini in the United States. [Information supplied HSCA by Government of Cuba]

RUBY'S seventh meeting with S.A. Flynn took place on August 31, 1959. By this time S.A. Flynn had received word from his superior to dump RUBY. S.A. Flynn countered: "While RUBY has not furnished any positive information to date, there is no indication of emotional instability or unreliability. It is recommended Potential Criminal Informant be continued."

RUBY told the Warren Commission that he went to Cuba for eight days in August or September 1959, for a vacation. Lewis J. McWillie told the Commission: "In 1959 I wrote JACK and asked him to come to Havana for a week. There was no ulterior motive. I extended this invitation as one would to a brother. I sent him a round-trip ticket. He came into the Tropicana and we had a few drinks together. He was like any other tourist - he didn't have any connection with Castro or Batista supporters." [FBI CO-11516; WCE1545; WCE1546]

Immigration and Naturalization Service records indicated RUBY flew to Havana from Miami on the night of September 12, 1959, and returned to New Orleans on September 13, 1959. [Memo Hubert & Griffen to WC 3.20.64]

RUBY visited Major William Morgan and HEMMING, who were considered close to Fidel Castro, in his effort to secure TRAFFICANTE'S release. HEMMING told the HSCA: "HEMMING met RUBY in September or October 1959, at William Morgan's house in Cuba. Ruby had sold inferior jeeps to the Cuban Air Force, and Morgan had a few choice words about them. They were filmed by Clete Roberts of Channel 13 in Los Angeles."

HEMMING told this researcher: "JACK RUBY was with Morgan in the latter part of 1959. He was by Morgan's place. It was a mish-mash of people trying to get a meeting with Fidel. They were clamping down on the casinos. RUBY got to Cuba after FRANK had left and gone to Miami with Pedro Diaz Lanz. RUBY was on the periphery of the MARCELLO deals that they're trying cut with the new Cuban Government. To them it's just a new fucking banana republic government. Deals were going sour. We're talking about a three or four day period in late 1959. RUBY became the clean-up guy in the Kennedy assassination."

Marita Lorenz stated: "It is possible I saw RUBY with...Oh, God I am going to get killed, Charlie, Charlie 'The Blade' in Cuba. Charlie Tourine, Delmonica White, who is a friend of mine." [Depo Lorenz USDC Miami - 76-1252-Div-EBD]

RUBY returned to the United States via Miami, where he met with Louis J. McWillie's associate, Meyer Panitz. In January 1964 Meyer Panitz told the FBI RUBY was in Cuba in "the Summer of 1959," contradicting RUBY'S story of only one visit to Cuba in September 1959. [WCE1773, 1774; FBI LV-44-48 1.10.64 Las Vegas, DC-44-1639] A few days after RUBY returned to the U.S. he was seen by three Chicago businessmen in the Tropicana Casino in Havana. Jay Bishov, an attorney, Jack Marcus, and Sherwin Braun, told they FBI they visited Havana "for three or four days about September 1, 1959, as it was Labor Day weekend in 1959. Jay Bishov stated that the second or third night in Havana, he Sherwin Braun, and Jack Marcus, were standing near a crap table or roulette wheel at the Tropicana night club when a man approached and introduced himself by a name which Jay Bishov believed was JACK RUBY." RUBY said he was originally from Chicago, but had moved to Dallas. He invited them to visit him at one of his night clubs in Dallas. "Bishov stated RUBY appeared to know his way around the Tropicana, and may have been familiar with some of the employees." None of the men would positively identify RUBY from the FBI's photograph. [FBI 44-24016-167]

In 1974 Michael Canfield asked STURGIS if he knew JACK RUBY associate Lewis J. McWillie, when STURGIS was Minister of Games of Chance. He answered: "Yeah, that name is very familiar - I forgot what he is or who he is, but McWillie, yes. I am not sure if I knew him later in Miami." During testimony in HUNT v. ajweberman, STURGIS was asked:

Q. Do you remember a pit boss named McWillie?

A. Yes.

Q. Did you know him later in Miami?

A. I'm not sure.

Congressman Ford asked RUBY: "When you got to Havana who met you in Havana?"

RUBY: McWillie. Now here is what happened. One of the Fox brothers came to visit me in Dallas with his wife. They came to the Vegas Club with Mrs. McWillie, and we had taken some pictures, 8X10's. Evidently the Foxes were in exile at the time, because when I went to visit McWillie, when he sent me the plane tickets, they looked through my luggage and they saw a photograph of Mr. Fox and his wife. They didn't interrogate, but they went through everything and held me up for hours.

Ford: Castro employees?

RUBY: Yes, because in my ignorance I didn't realize I was bringing a picture that they know was a bitter enemy. At that time they knew that the Fox brothers weren't going to jail, or something was going to happen. Whether it was they were in exile at the time I don't know. But they came to my club, the Vegas Club, and we had taken pictures. McWillie was waiting for me and he saw me go through the Customs line for a couple of hours, and he said, "JACK, they never did this to anyone before." Evidently, they had as pretty well lined-up as to where I come in the picture of Mr. Martin Fox. I can't think of his name.

Ford: You spent eight days in Havana?

RUBY: Yes, approximately. [I stayed at] Volk's apartments. I never used the phone. I wouldn't know how to use the phone...my dinners were served in the Tropicana. One thing I forgot to tell you - you are bringing my mind back to a few things - the owners, the greatest that have been expelled from Cuba are the Fox brothers. They own the Tropicana...they are in Miami, Florida. They know everything about McWillie, I heard, and know the officials. [STURGIS?].

The Pedro and Martin Fox (Pedro: born NY October 24, 1909, died May 1973; Martin: born November 15, 1915, NY died September 1979) were front men for TRAFFICANTE and nominally owned the Tropicana. The FBI: "This place is supervised by (deleted). The Tropicana is owned by a Cuban named Martin Fox and his connections with American hoodlum elements are unknown although it is to be noted that (Deleted) has been connected with gambling at Tropicana for many years. [The Jockey Club] is supervised by Dino Cellini of the Tropicana...With reference to the possibility that gambling in Cuba is controlled by a syndicate headed by Meyer Lansky or other individuals, it is noted that (deleted)."

HSCA Chairman Stokes questioned TRAFFICANTE: "You did know Pedro and Martin Fox?" TRAFFICANTE: "Pedro Fox, yes sir, all I know is that Mr. Martin Fox, who was the owner of the Tropicana and one of the richest men in Cuba, he died in the United States in the 1960's. I think, and he died completely broke. And Pedro Fox was working as a waiter and maitre d' in all the restaurants and hotels around Miami." [HSCA V9 p67] STURGIS testified during the course of HUNT v. ajweberman that he knew the Fox Brothers.

During another part of his testimony RUBY said:"...I had to buy a $2 ticket, a pass to get through Florida."TRAFFICANTE controlled the numbers racket, which relied on small bets. It was popular among the Cuban exiles of Florida.

RUBY clearly made more than one trip to Cuba. Ruby was aquainted with the Fox brothers, frontmen for TRAFFICANTE and evidence suggested that RUBY visited TRAFFICANTE in prison.

On November 27, 1963, John Wilson Hudson (CIA 201-20397), contacted the American Embassy in London. He said he was imprisoned by Castro on July 1, 1959. While incarcerated John Wilson Hudson met SANTO TRAFFICANTE Jr., who he described as a gangster. Around this time, John Wilson Hudson said that TRAFFICANTE was visited by an American "gangster- type" named "RUBY." RUBY, who accompanied the person who brought TRAFFICANTE his meals to him, was identical to the JACK RUBY who shot OSWALD. [FBI 44-24016-29; 901, 255, 262; CIA 385-7369 206-83; NYT 4.22.59 p4, 7. l.59 pl3; Miami Herald 7.l.59 p2A]

John Wilson Hudson was born in Liverpool, England, on December 29, 1918. He left his studies at Oxford University in 1936 to fight in the Spanish Civil War. John Wilson Hudson left the International Brigade and surfaced as an Axis agent. In 1939 he moved to Buenos Aires, Argentina, then to Santiago, Chile, where he married Elaine Bronfmann. In Santiago, John Wilson Hudson set up the Universal Peace Movement, a Chilean version of the America First Committee. The British Ambassador in Santiago requested his expulsion on several occasions. In the early 1950's John Wilson Hudson traded in copper, lead and sulphur. The partner of John Wilson Hudson in this enterprise was Heriberto Springwaller Einicke. Heriberto Einicke, a German, was a Colonel in the Nicaraguan Army in the late 1930's, but was expelled from the country after he ran afoul of the United States Embassy. A CIA report dated 1952 stated:

1. (Deleted) is of the opinion that John Wilson Hudson is very probably an intelligence agent, and that he is under the direction of some service. There is no apparent reason for his great interest in the (deleted).

2. Despite the fact that most of what John Wilson Hudson says is patently rubbish and although it was reported (deleted) that he was believed to be mentally ill (deleted).

3. Any traces of John Wilson Hudson at Headquarters would be of assistance to (deleted) in pursuing this investigation.

A CIA informants report of October 6, 1952, stated: "Carlos John Wilson, an Englishman by birth, but believed to be a Spanish citizen, was previously reported among other activities, as posing as an ex-RAF pilot and veteran of World War II. These activities came to the attention of the British Embassy in Santiago, and resulted in John Wilson Hudson's being twice warned by the Chilean authorities to cease this masquerading or leave the country...He also claims that at the close of the war he worked on a special mission for the British Government in Germany, Egypt, and Turkey [and] to have fought with the Spanish Republican forces against Franco...John Wilson Hudson is described as being very intelligent, astute, and well informed on current events. He is extremely sociable, friendly, a very heavy drinker and free spender." In 1957 John Wilson Hudson reportedly worked for Batista.

An independent untested CIA source reported that during the first part of June 1959 Paul Hughes, an American soldier-of-fortune and associate of John Wilson Hudson, visited Cienfuegos, Las Villas Province, dressed in the uniform of an American Air Force captain.

ANGLETON assembled information on John Wilson Hudson: "A usually reliable source reported June 18, 1959, that Carl John Wilson, British journalist, sent a cable to the British Parliament and to the British Trade Union Federation saying that he had confirmed that the U.S. Military Attaches in the Caribbean were giving military advice to dictators. He protested in the name of humanity, saying that patriots were fighting for their sacred rights to be free citizens, and that American volunteers were helping the dictators with the approval of Washington. Source commented that Wilson, was planning on accompanying Mario Calero, Nicaraguan revolutionary who was readying an expedition against Nicaragua from Cuba.

"Another report dated June 26, 1959, from a usually reliable source stated that Paul Hughes, an American soldier-of-fortune, claimed to have at his disposal three aircraft, including one bomber, and planned to launch in an attack on Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua, during the weekend of June 27, 1959. Paul Hughes said that Carl Wilson, a British journalist, and about 65 volunteers would join in the attack. Source commented that Paul Hughes also vaguely spoke of possibly bombing Managua for the psychological effect. Hudson Wilson said that Fidel Castro had no knowledge of Hughes.

"United Press International carried the story datelined July 1, 1959, from Havana, Cuba, saying that Police had raided a private home in suburban Biltmore the day before, and seized a large quantity of arms, and arrested three Americans and a Briton. The Americans were identified as Paul Hughes, an officer in Fidel Castro's rebel army, Efren R. Pichardo of Miami, Florida and Joseph Bardor, of Los Angeles, California. The Briton listed was Carl John Wilson. Seven military men and 11 civilians were held in connection with the plot."

On July 10, 1959, Wilson-Hudson, Captain Paul Hughes and Efren Pichardo were arrested after Castro's police detained 200 armed men just before they were about to board three aircraft, including one bomber, destined for Nicaragua. Paul Hughes, Efren Pichardo and John Wilson Hudson were accused of attempting to discredit the Castro regime. A year later HEMMING and William Morgan organized a similar bogus invasion. In July 1959 John Wilson Hudson told his Cuban interrogators he was a British journalist, and was in Cuba a few days. He was an innocent bystander covering a news story. He went on a hunger-strike and had to be fed intravenously. The U.S. Army Attache in Havana, Cuba, reported July 30, 1959, that he had received the following note from Carl John Wilson: "Salvador Allende, (Communist-sponsored presidential candidate and Socialist Party member) brought a letter of definite instructions to Raul Castro (from Chile). This letter contains instructions from the Kremlin in Moscow and contains the signature of Pablo Neruda of Chile. It deals with definite instructions of anti-American agitation to commence next month in Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Cuba, Costa Rica, etc." In September 1959 Wilson-Hudson testified before the Senate Internal Security Sub-Committee regarding communist influence in the 26th of July Movement. In September 1959 the FBI questioned STURGIS about former Castro officer Efren Pichardo.

A U.S. State Department cable from Asuncion, Paraguay, dated December 16, 1959, reported that "John Wilson correspondent for North American News Service, had informed the Paraguayan Ambassador in London on December 14 that within two days a cargo of 300 machine guns and 800 rifles were to be shipped to Buenos Aires, Argentina, at the direction of Fidel Castro. Wilson reportedly showed documents which proved his statement." [CIA CSCI 3/779,048 CHW/3/(deleted):jz] Wilson-Hudson died in Santiago, Chile, in 1964. The FBI classified several documents about John Wilson Hudson "Secret-Date of Declassification Indefinite."

The HSCA attempted to verify or deny the allegations of John Wilson Hudson. The HSCA questioned the man who had been the warden at Tresconia Prison in 1959. He told the Committee that he could not recall the name John Wilson Hudson, but did remember a British journalist who had worked in Argentina. [HSCA R p173] In his own public testimony before the Committee, TRAFFICANTE denied that RUBY had visited him: "There was no reason for this man to visit me, I have never seen this man before. I have never been to Dallas, I never had no contact with him. I don't see why he was going to come and visit me." [HSCA V9 para. 710]

During the deposition of Lewis J. McWillie taken by the Committee in Las Vegas, Nevada, the question of a RUBY/TRAFFICANTE visit arose. Lewis J. McWillie equivocated: "I really don't know. It's possible he could have but I don't think, if he did he went with me and I don't recall it, but he could have. I don't know for sure." Lewis J. McWillie was asked: "You said you thought it was possible that someone had gone to the prison with you." He responded: "It's possible that it might have been JACK RUBY...I spoke to Dino and Jake Lansky (at the prison). Just said 'Hello' to TRAFFICANTE. But I talked to Jake because Dino was a friend of mine."

The Committee questioned Lewis J. McWillie:

Q. Are you aware that Mr. TRAFFICANTE was imprisoned in Cuba?

A. Yes, there was a bunch of them imprisoned.

Q. Did you visit Mr. TRAFFICANTE in prison?

A. I didn't visit him, I went there once or twice to visit a fellow, he was a dealer. I went out there once or twice to see him.

Q. Did you see anybody also in prison?

A. I saw everybody out there. TRAFFICANTE I think he was in there.

Q. Did you see TRAFFICANTE?

A. I saw him but I didn't talk to him, I didn't know him that well.

Q. Do you know of anybody who did visit Mr. TRAFFICANTE in prison?

A. No, I don't, I went out there with someone but I don't recall who it was. It may have been RUBY. I don't think so. He could have been, but I don't think so.

The HSCA concluded that a meeting between RUBY and TRAFFICANTE was "a distinct possibility."

The FBI's investigation into the allegations of John Hudson Wilson ended on November 27, 1963. The FBI: "Wilson has been critical of the FBI in the past, and has displayed psychopathic symptoms. Arrest by Castro July 1, 1959. We have prior information JACK RUBY was in Havana, Cuba, in 1959. It appears there is nothing to be gained from additional contact with Wilson. Legat being advised in attached cable to conduct no further investigation relative to Wilson. I concur. Hoover."

On April 17, 1967, Frank Ragano told the FBI that "he had known TRAFFICANTE on a personal and professional basis since childhood and he does not believe TRAFFICANTE has ever been associated with La Cosa Nostre...Ragano stated that a newspaper reporter from Long Island, New York, telephoned him to obtain confirmation of the story that JACK RUBY was to be flown from Dallas to Cuba when TRAFFICANTE was jailed by Castro since RUBY was allegedly friendly with Castro. Ragano stated that such an allegation was completely false and appeared to be in an attempt to involve TRAFFICANTE in the assassination of former President Kennedy."

RUBY'S last meeting with FBI S.A. Flynn was on October 2, 1959, and was no different from any of the others - judging from Flynn's report. On November 6, 1959, RUBY was dropped from the FBI Possible Criminal Informant rolls. After the assassination J. Edgar Hoover stated that RUBY was never an informant. [FBI 105-82555-2638] Why did RUBY meet with the FBI during the same time he was working to secure TRAFFICANTE'S release? Meyer Lansky was also in touch with the FBI around this time: "I told government authorities that Castro was a Communist and would present a problem; they thought I was just being greedy because I was losing my gambling interests." [FBI 92-102-2523, 5.6.69, Hollywood, Fla.] Ruby reported his highest net income in 1959 - $51,000. [WR p798]

When Lewis J. McWillie testified before the HSCA he said RUBY was supposed to have flown to Cuba with Tony Zoppi, a Dallas columnist who was "the official odds maker" at the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas. The purpose of the trip was to get publicity for the Tropicana. Lewis J. McWillie produced a letter to Matty Brescia from Tony Zoppi that read: "Give my regards to McWillie next time you are in touch. JACK RUBY and I were supposed to visit him in Havana but I got sidetracked." (Lewis J. McWillie said that the son of Matty Brescia "was sitting in a window and he fell out of the window and it killed him"). According to Lewis J. McWillie "RUBY introduced Matty Brescia to Gordon McLendon." In 1971 the brother-in-law of Gordon McLendon, another RUBY associate, along with D'Alton Smith, a MARCELLO associate, dropped the names of Gordon McLendon and Clint Murchison, Jr. as powerful friends of Jimmy Hoffa who would help Edward Partin if he recanted his testimony against Jimmy Hoffa. When RUBY was taken into custody on November 24, 1963, Dallas Police found the telephone number EM 1-1197 on a slip of paper. This telephone number was listed to Gay McLendon. [FBI B544-337 JJs: res p254; Criss-Cross Directory Dallas 1963Coles Pub.] When the HSCA questioned Tony Zoppi, he told them that Matty Brescia worked for Gordon McLendon: "One evening around 1952, myself, Brescia, RUBY and Juanita Slusher (Stripper "Candy Barr" Barr said she was forced in 1951 at 16 to play the lead in a grainy black-and-white erotic movie titled "Smart Aleck." She shot her second of four husbands in the stomach in January 1956 after he came home drunk and threatened her. In 1956, while dating Mickey Cohn, she was arrested for marijuana. [http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/04/arts/04barr.html]) were at one of RUBY'S clubs. Brescia introduced me to RUBY. He knew RUBY through Gordon McLendon." [HSCA V5 pl34, 172, V9 pl67, V5 p28-87]

Tony Zoppi told the HSCA that during September or October 1958 RUBY offered to write Lewis J. McWillie at the Tropicana to get the airplane tickets so Tony Zoppi, accompanied by RUBY, could fly to Cuba and review the acts at the Tropicana. Tony Zoppi agreed that RUBY went to Cuba in August 1959 on vacation, and that the trip Tony Zoppi and RUBY were to take was an entirely different trip. Tony Zoppi told the Committee that he never made the trip because a big show, starring Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. was scheduled for the same time. [HSCA V5 pl34, 72; V9 p67] Tony Zoppie supplied the Committee with an article he had written about RUBY in 1973. In this article he placed the date of his aborted trip to Cuba on December 17, 1960, just before the U.S. broke off diplomatic relations with the Castro regime. This dove-tailed with the date of the Sinatra-Martin-Davis show which took place from January 20, 1960 to February 16, 1960.

What motivated RUBY to have contemplated visiting Cuba during Christmas of 1960? By November 1959 the Cuban casinos of Meyer Lansky lost $10,000 a day because of the slack in tourist trade. The syndicate strip joints and houses of prostitution had all been closed down. With TRAFFICANTE gone, the narcotics trade dwindled. On November 22, 1959, Fidel Castro nationalized the Hotel Riviera, kicked out the mobsters from the casino, and put in his own men. [NYT 11.23.59] The year 1959 drew to a close. RUBY, Norman Rothman, Dominick Bartone et. al. had all been double-crossed. In 1960 the CIA had Robert Maheu contact Johnny Rosselli and Sam Giancana. In 1960 Johnny Rosselli was in Las Vegas, where he supervised the mafia's gambling interests. [Alleged Assassination Plots Involving Foreign Leaders - Select Committee to Study Gov. Operations with Respect to Intelligence U.S. Congress; HSCA V5, p255] According to Ed Becker, in mid-1962 Johnny Rosselli was granted access to JMWAVE headquarters where he worked with Tony Varona. A source close to Fulgencio Batista reported that Johnny Rosselli was meeting with HUNT around this time. [Ed Becker and Charles Rappleye, All American Mafioso, Doubleday, NY 1991 p225] Robert Maheu was also in touch with TRAFFICANTE. Robert Maheu wrote: "From what I know OSWALD did act alone. And JACK RUBY killed him out of anger. Just because the man worked for the mob and probably had ties to Johnny Rosselli doesn't mean he didn't feel strongly about Kennedy." [Robert Maheu, Next to Hughes, 1992, Harper Collins p133]

There were few reports available on RUBY'S activities in 1960. Lewis J. McWillie remained in Havana and in May 1960 he left the Tropicana to work at the Capri casino, a long-time Lansky property. Lewis J. McWillie told the HSCA how he got this job:

Q. Who did you know at the Capri Hotel to get the job?

A. If I remember correctly, I think it was Martinez told me to go up there...went up there and saw some fellows, Angelo, I don't know his last name, but his first name was Angelo...

Q. Could the last name have been Bruno?

A. No. I don't know Mr. Bruno. Never met him, I've seen him in Cuba, just to say 'Hello.' He knew who I was because in this business I'm a pretty good man in the gambling business.

The FBI reported Angelo Bruno had an interest in the Capri. Angelo Bruno told an FBI informant in 1961 that he was a representative of "the commission." In 1958 an informant told the FBI that the sister of Angelo Bruno was married to a son of Mike Maggio. "Meyer Lansky's presence at the Maggio Cheese Company was a strong indication that the Italian racket element was taking over gambling in Cuba. (Deleted) said that Mickey Cohen was Meyer Lansky's collector and errand boy in the states." Victor Calamaro told the FBI "Gambling originated in Cuba because Meyer Lansky supported Batista in obtaining power and return to office. Victor Calamaro was asked if Meyer Lansky controlled gambling in Cuba. He implied that Meyer Lansky had previously absolute control of gambling in Cuba, but at the present time it was amended so that Victor Calamaro implied that Angelo Bruno and other gambling figures in Cuba were dealing with someone else who was unidentified." Angelo Bruno was shot to death in Philadelphia on March 22, 1980. [Bruno FBI file 11.5.58 Phil. 92-444]

In February 1962 the FBI recorded the following conversation between Angelo Bruno and his associate, Willie Weisburg.

Weisburg: See what Kennedy done. With Kennedy, a guy should take a knife, like all them other guys, and stab and kill the (obscenity), where he is now I hope I got a week's notice. I'll kill him. Right in the White House. Somebody's got to get rid of this (obscenity). He ain't gonna leave nobody alone.

Bruno: I know he ain't. But you see, everybody in there was bad. Brownell came. He was no good...He was worse than the guy before.

Weisburg: Not like this one.

Bruno: Not like this one. This one is worse, right? If something happens to this guy (laughs).

After the Kennedy assassination, during a discussion between Angelo Bruno and his lieutenants, one participant remarked: "It's too bad his brother Bobby was not in the car, too." [HSCA V5 Pgs. 134, 172; V9 pl6]

During RUBY'S testimony he was asked: "Did you talk to McWillie down in Cuba?" RUBY: "He is the credit manager in the Tropicana...He was a key man over the Tropicana down there. That was during our good times. Was in harmony with our enemy of our present time. I made the trip down there via New Orleans, and so I stayed at the Volk's apartments, and I was with him constantly. I was bored gambling, because I don't gamble, and there is nothing unless you speak their language, which is Spanish, I believe. And that was the only environment. That was in August 1959. Any thought of being close to Havana, Cuba, I called him frequently because he was down there, and he was the last person to leave if I recall, when they had to leave, when he left the casino...The only other association with him was, there was a gentleman here that sells guns. He has a hardware store on Singleton Avenue. Have I told this to you gentlemen? It is Ray's hardware store. His name is Ray Brantley. This was - I don't recall when [McWillie] called me, but he was a little worried of the new regime coming in, and evidently he wanted some protection. He called me or sent me a letter that I should call Ray Brantley. He wanted some four little Cobra guns - big shipment. So me, I should say myself, rather, feeling no harm, I didn't realize, because he wasn't sending them to me, and I thought there was no crime, the man wanted protection, he is earning a livelihood. I called Ray Brantley and I said, 'Ray, McWillie called me.' I don't remember if he sent a letter or he called. He said he wants four little Cobra's or something like that. He said 'I know Mac. [Mack Blaney Johnson?] I have been doing business with him for a long time.' Meaning with reference to when he was living in Texas. He did a lot of hunting and things like that. That was the only relationship I had of any mention, outside of phone calls, to McWillie, or any person from Havana, Cuba. [Brantley] denies I ever called. Evidently he feels, maybe he feels it would be illegal to send guns out of the country. I don't know if you gentlemen know the law. I don't know the law...Could have been prior to the early part of 1959..."

Ray Brantley said his records reflected that RUBY purchased a Colt Cobra on January 19, 1960, and that on May 10, 1963, he mailed a .38 caliber Smith and Wesson revolver to Lewis J. McWillie in Las Vegas. RUBY was apprized of Ray Brantley's statement and remarked "...he denies that he ever got a call from me, definitely that makes it look like I am hiding something..." [FBI FD-302 with Brantley 11.24.63 Irving, Texas; WCD4 pgs.23, 25] When this interviewer spoke to Ray Brantley in 1977 he told me: "JACK RUBY is as far from Fidel Castro and the mafia as Billy Carter is to Lady Bird Johnson."

The HSCA questioned Lewis J. McWillie about the Cobras.

Q. Does it refresh your recollection to know that JACK RUBY said that you requested four Cobras in 1959?

A. No. it doesn't. The only gun I can remember is a gun he sent out here and I let it go back, didn't take it out of the...

Q. Can you think of any reason you would have wanted guns in 1959?

A. No reason I would have wanted guns in 1959. I was in Cuba. I'd get myself killed if I had guns over there.

R.D. Matthews was in Havana from July 1958 until January 1959. R.D. Matthews told the HSCA that when he moved to Cuba in 1958 he purchased the Sportsman's Club, which was located in the lobby of the Plaza Hotel, and he resided at the Hotel Deauville. In interviews with the FBI he stated he worked in the gambling casino of the Hotel Deauville. [HSCA V9 para.1054] R.D. Matthews was a co-conspirator in the mob's initial plot to hit Fidel. R.D. Matthews had returned to Cuba in February 1959 and purchased another club. A 1959 FBI report stated R.D. Matthews move to Cuba was made on behalf of TRAFFICANTE. In 1978 TRAFFICANTE told the HSCA that the mob's first plan was to hit Fidel Castro, gangland style, on a Havana street. [HSCA V9 plO54; Miami Herald 9.29.78] A 1962 FBI report confirmed this: A FBI informant overheard a conversation between R.D. Matthews and (FNU) Paxton "during which both men admitted having worked for TRAFFICANTE. The Embers Club in Havana and the Sans Souci were mentioned. The informant stated it was apparent that R.D. Matthews was in the Dallas rackets and had worked for a big time gambling house in Havana." In his HSCA deposition R.D. Matthews denied having known TRAFFICANTE and also stated he had no association with the Sans Suci casino. In November 1959 R.D. Matthews left Havana and returned to Dallas. R.D. Matthews was also connected with Sheriff Bill Decker. In 1959 the FBI questioned Sheriff Decker about his alleged mob ties. Sheriff Decker admitted that he had known R.D. Matthews all of his adult life. A FBI report dated 1960 stated that R.D. Matthews lived with a known prostitute and operated a Bail Bond and Loan Company. In 1961 R.D. Matthews worked for Clayton Fowler and lived in an apartment house owned by Clayton Fowler. Clayton Fowler became one of RUBY'S defense attorneys in 1964. On January 29, 1961, R.D. Matthews and James Robert Todd were arrested on Vagrancy charges. R.D. Matthews was termed a "notorious criminal" by the FBI and the Dallas Police arrested him. From 1961 to 1963 R.D. Matthews frequented several Dallas gaming clubs and was included among a group of people considered the higher echelon in Dallas bookmaking. [HSCA V9 para. 1054]

On January 2, 1961, Lewis J. McWillie left Cuba aboard a commercial flight. On January 3, 1961, the United States broke diplomatic relations with the Castro regime. During the flight Lewis J. McWillie noticed that there was an old man aboard who wore a Fair Play For Cuba button on his lapel. When the aircraft landed, Lewis J. McWillie walked up to him and punched the man. Lewis J. McWillie stayed in Miami for a few weeks then flew to Dallas where he conferred with RUBY. A job was waiting for Lewis J. McWillie at the Cal Neva Lounge at Lake Tahoe, Nevada. [WCE 1692; WCD 686d]

In the late 1940's the Cal Neva Lounge was owned by Bones Remmer, a gambler and friend of RUBY linked to the mob by the Kefauver Committee. In July 1960 Frank Sinatra applied to the Nevada Casino Commission for permission to buy an interest in the Cal-Neva. Frank Sinatra was widely believed to have represented the mafia in this transaction. In May 1963 Frank Sinatra vacationed with Sam Giancana in Hawaii. In July 1963 Sam Giancana visited the Cal-Neva Lounge despite the fact that he was barred from entering any Nevada Casino. [NYT 7.14.6O p42; 10.23.63, p5l, 10.8.63 p3l, 9.14.63 p2l, 10.9.63 p3l, 9.12.63 p26, 11.20.63, pl, 4.14.76, p1, Kefauver Hearings, Test. of Mr. Brown and M. Mooney pgs. 439,549, 1074] In October 1963 the Nevada Gaming Commission revoked Frank Sinatra's casino licenses. A few days later, Frank Sinatra announced that he had quit the gaming business. In 1972 Frank Sinatra sold his private jet to the Union Insurance Agency of Illinois, which was once owned by the Dorfman family. [Chicago Trib. 10.l0.77; Chicago Sun Times 6.18.72]

When United States Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy took office, the New Orleans newspapers carried stories that he planned a Federal investigation of Jefferson Parish. Angelo Bruno remarked, "CARLOS MARCELLO had got in contact with SANTO TRAFFICANTE, who contacted a representative in Chicago. This Chicago contact was alleged to have contacted Frank Sinatra, who spoke with the President's brother. Apparently he was referring to the Attorney General." [FBI NO 92-36 RLK/(deleted)]

Did Sam Giancana have Frank Sinatra contact RFK on CARLOS MARCELLO'S behalf? In December 1961 CG T-51 related that John Drew, in a discussion with Sam Giancana, "had attempted in some degree to convince Sam Giancana that Frank Sinatra had made some attempts to dissuade the Justice Department through Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy from conducting the intensified investigation being conducted on Sam Giancana and his activities. Drew said Sam Giancana was not at all satisfied with the effects..." [FBI CG 92-349]

When Lewis J. McWillie worked at the Cal-Neva Lounge in early 1961, Sam Giancana was in the midst of recruiting an assassination squad for use against Fidel Castro. [NYT 5.24.75 pl.] Lewis J. McWillie denied having spoken with Sam Giancana, or even having seen him on the premises, yet logic dictated otherwise. Lewis J. McWillie could have provided Sam Giancana with information about the situation in Cuba. When questioned by the HSCA, Lewis J. McWillie denied having known Sam Giancana:

Q. Do you know a Mr. Sam Giancana?

A. No.

Q. Have you heard of Mr. Giancana?

A. I don't know him.

Q. Have you ever met Mr. Giancana?

A. No.

Aside from his association with numerous gangsters, arms runners and career crimnals, it was apparent from RUBY'S criminal record that he was involved with prostitution in Dallas. RUBY recruited underage girls from out of state to work for him. A confidential source told S.A. Gemberling that she obtained a job for Bethel 'Babs' Kramer through JACK RUBY, as a stripper at the Carousel Club: "She stated that Bethel would be staying with the Carousel bartender and his wife. She described Bethel merely as a white female who would be 18 years of age on December 21, 1961...The source understands JACK RUBY is going to obtain identification for Bethel reflecting she is 21 years of age." In June 1961 RUBY was mentioned in the report of a Potential Criminal Informant concerning prostitution in Dallas. [FBI DL-137-976 6.5.61] The report was generated by S.A.'s Kenneth Howe and Robert Gemberling: "Potential Criminal Informant Helen Afanace Roan stated that she knows JACK RUBY and that he is 'no good.' She stated he will not permit a girl to work for him unless she is intimate with him."

At this time RUBY was actively engaged in smuggling arms to anti-Castro forces within Cuba. Robert Perrin worked with RUBY in this effort. The CIA reported: "Robert Pollock Perrin, Lt. (jg) USMC was security approved for OSS employment on March 14, 1944, but there was no indication that he ever was so employed. A note in his file dated March 25, 1944, states 'Will employ ETO (European Theater of Operations) if Navy slot available.' Office of Security Indices Results: (deleted)." [CIA 9.18.68 40335-122] Robert Perrin was alleged to have smuggled guns to Franco. He owned a boat that was docked in Miami, and was a daredevil driver in an auto thrill show titled "Jack Starr's Spills and Chills."

In 1959 Robert Perrin married Nancy Mathews who was born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire on September 9, 1936, as Barbara Jean Zeidman, and was adopted at age eight months by the Mathews family. She was described as a white female, 5' 5", slender build, brown hair, wild eyed, partly crossed, and talked with a lisp. Nancy Perrin married Charles Glenn Wilson in 1953, whom she divorced in 1955. In 1956 she attempted suicide, then committed herself to a mental hospital. In 1957 she married Louis E. Musachio, who was more often than not confined to Air Force psychiatric hospitals. She divorced him in 1959.

Nancy and Robert Perrin moved to Colorado. Nancy Perrin was arrested in Denver in 1960 for carrying a concealed weapon. She was fined $25. There, according to Nancy: "I acted as a hostess for men who were in the syndicate - you know the mafia - headed by Vito Genovese. I knew a man they called Young 'Piggy' Marchese - he was a syndicate member from New York who was hiding out in Denver - a big, fat sloppy fellow."

The FBI checked its criminal index for "Piggy" Marchese and discovered: "Las Vegas indices reflect Vincent Marchese aka "Piggy Mac" Marchese operates the Opera Lounge, St. Louis, and is reported to be a gambler, bookie, hoodlum, and associate of hoodlums, and has served a Federal prison sentence for narcotics." A cousin of "Piggy" Marchese was part of the French Connection narcotics case, and his uncle, Frank Pisciotta, was the number two mafia don in the St. Louis area. There was a "Piggy" Marchese and he could have hid out in Denver.

The FBI ignored this report and cited interviews with everyone named "Marchese" who lived in Denver. Both Michael and Rudy Marchese said they never used the nick-name "Piggy," nor had anyone ever called them that. The FBI determined that Nancy Perrin lied about having known "Piggy" Marchese.

Circa 1960, Robert Perrin and Nancy Perrin separated. Nancy Perrin said that in the later part of 1960 she worked as "lobbyist" for the liquor industry in Boston and New Hampshire. Nancy Perrin had sexual relations with members of the Legislature in return for their votes. In 1961 she was arrested in Boston for prostitution and fined $200. Sometime in 1961 she received information that her husband had gone to Dallas. Nancy Perrin said she called Dallas and spoke with Officer J.D. TIPPIT. When she came to Dallas in June 1961 she only had $4 and went directly to the Police Department. Detective Paul Rayburn of the Juvenile Division found her a place to live. The FBI questioned Detective Paul Rayburn on December 6, 1963. He admitted having had a "close personal" relationship with Nancy Perrin who he described as a "psychopathic liar." Detective Paul Rayburn knew RUBY for about ten years. Nancy Perrin moved to Dallas where she worked for RUBY.

During her employment at the Carousel Club Nancy ran into "Piggy" Marchese.""Piggy" Marchese, who was there to visit RUBY, suggested that she leave Dallas and get a job with Lou Brindisi at the Silver Slipper in Las Vegas. Nancy Perrin exhibited the business card of Louis Brindisi. Louis Brindisi was questioned by the FBI in Las Vegas, Nevada, on December 6, 1963. He advised that he knew no one in the Denver area who used the name "Piggy" Marchese. The only Marcheses he knew in Denver were Rudy and Mike Marchese. The FBI confirmed that in August 1962 several St. Louis hoodlums, who were meeting in Dallas, were arrested and photographed by the Dallas Police Department. The FBI document which contained this information was highly deleted. Was "Piggy" Marchese was among the group? Nancy Perrin testified, in a vague sort of way, that she saw a member of the Genovese family of New York in RUBY'S club. Nancy Perrin was arrested for prostitution twice during the Summer of 1961 but the charges were reduced to vagrancy. Nancy Perrin was represented by Cy Victorson, JACK RUBY'S attorney. Nancy Perrin worked at RUBY'S Carousel Club that summer until Nancy Perrin and JACK RUBY had a falling out. She then worked at another club, but became ill.

It was during this time (between August and November 1961) that Dick Cherry, a bartender at the University Club who arranged prostitution dates for Nancy Perrin, arranged for her and Robert Perrin to meet with an Army Colonel in connection with taking Cuban refugees from Cuba to Miami. When they arrived at the Colonel's house he was in uniform, and some reference was made to Enfield rifles. At another meeting JACK RUBY walked in. There was a discussion as to how to get refugees into Miami, what bay to pick them up at, and there was also a mention of military equipment and Enfield rifles, "which were going to be delivered to Castro." Nancy Perrin said when she heard the guns were going to Fidel Castro she became upset, because she was loyal to the United States, and against Communism. She was under the impression that RUBY furnished the money for this activity. Despite her qualms, Nancy Perrin and Robert Perrin attended one more meeting. She said this one happened while she worked for RUBY. This contradicted her previous statement that all the meetings occurred after her employment with RUBY was terminated.

Dave Cherry denied Nancy Perrin's charges, but admitted having known her. Dave Cherry told the FBI that Nancy Perrin was a deadbeat who was barred from the club. He described her as mentally deranged and incoherent in her speech. The University Club was owned by Benny Bickers, Lewis J. McWillie's former boss. Dick Shurian, a reporter from Los Angeles told the FBI that in 1958 RUBY was a close friend of the owner of the University Club, name unknown. [FBI Dallas 44-1639-639]

Nancy Perrin had furnished reliable information to local police departments in the past and was about as reliable as "junkie hooker snitches" came. Nancy Perrin stated that RUBY smuggled B.A.R.s. In April 1964, the Dallas Police Department checked the personnel at the garages and service stations patronized by RUBY. The Dallas Police discovered that a station attendant, Donnell Darius Whitter, who serviced RUBY'S car had been arrested on November 18, 1963, for possession of two B.A.R.s which had been taken during a burglary of the National Guard Headquarters at Terrell, Texas. Nancy Perrin referred to a man named "Youngblood." Scott Malone wrote: "Another name she mentioned was transcribed by the Warren Commission first as "Ed Brunner" and then as "Eddie Brawner" from Miami. This has lead some to suspect she was referring to Eddie Browder, who was from Miami and was in Texas at the time of the meeting." The CIA: "One Robert Perrin allegedly met with JACK RUBY, Col. L. Robert Castorr and others in Dallas in 1962 to plan a Cuban smuggling operation. Robert Perrin has been accused of being a CIA gun-runner in Spain and Cuba." [CIA 9.18.68 40335-122]

In July 1963 Nancy Perrin worked with the Oakland Police Department and investigated an abortion case which resulted in a conviction. She became a paid informant of the Oakland Police Department.

Robert Perrin died in August 28, 1963, in New Orleans, of arsenic poisoning. A suicide note was found in his apartment that made reference to a woman assumed to be his wife. The police report on his death read: "Two date, two things stand out in this incident.

(1) The victim telephoned the State Police, rather than the City Police, and a State Police employee identified the victims body...

(2) The apparent suicide note addressed to 'Slim,' who apparently is the Subject's wife, stated that she had obviously gone to Baton Rouge which is central headquarters for State Police. The 'Art' mentioned in his note is probably A.R. Wick who identified the body. This appears to have been an apparent suicide, however, we are unable to state where or when the Subject obtained possession of the arsenic, and pending further tests, we will await the findings of the Coroner's Office."

On April 11, 1964, Nancy Perrin married Francis L. Rich. Nancy Perrin began to receive anonymous threatening calls and was followed from her home in Massachusetts. When she gave the license plate number of the car she thought was following her to the police, it traced back to a construction worker named John S. Alberto.

The FBI in Dallas was ordered to make every effort to "resolve information furnished by Perrin concerning running guns to Castro in Cuba" [FBI DL 44-1639-1331] Nancy Perrin's story was discounted by the Warren Commission and the FBI even though she did not fail a lie detector test - the results were inconclusive "based on Perrin's past medical history and use of drugs." Nancy Perrin had taken 10 milligrams of methedrine before taking the test. Nancy Perrin was asked

(1) Do you know JACK RUBY?

(3) Were you employed by JACK RUBY?

(4) Have you seen JACK RUBY since 1961?

(5) Do you know why RUBY killed OSWALD? [crossed out]

(6) Do you know Tippit?

(7) Do you know Piggy Marchese? #2 Details of meeting

(1) 1st meeting (husband, girl hustler, Dick C. her)

(2) Where? What happened?

(3) 2nd meeting? When?

(4) Did RUBY attend it? How can you be sure? [all #2 was crossed out and replaced] #2

(1) In summer 1961 were you living in Dallas?

(2) Did you attend meetings concerning gun running?

(3) Was RUBY there?

(7) Did Piggy Marchese contact RUBY in Dallas?

(8) Is story you have told true?

(9) In Dallas did you hustle?

(10) Are you now hustling?

[WCD 799a, CD799b; Ltr. M.W. Stevenson to Forrest Sorrels 4.17.64; WCE 3059; WCE3061; CE 1518; FBI 5-LV-44-48 12.6.63; DN89-41 12.9.63; FBI 44-24016-573; 44-1639-161; 44-1639/44-496 St. Louis 12.4.63 4:17 p.p; Organized Crime in Interstate Commerce pages 192, 197, 679]

On November 26, 1963, the FBI in Washington and Dallas received this radiogram: "Administrative page, at San Juan Puerto Rico (deleted) San Juan, advised S.A. Royal L. Blassingame on November 26, 1963, instant: Anna Maria Del Valle, Secretary Treasurer Hotel and Restaurant Workers Union, was approached by Migel Cruz, organizer for Local 901, Teamster's Union who made a statement 'Now that we've taken care of President Kennedy we'll have no trouble taking over things.' (Deleted) also furnished above information to USDOJ..." Anna Del Valle advised the FBI that on November 22, 1963, Migel Cruz told her "They killed Kennedy and the second will be Ramos Ducos." Ramos Ducos was President of Local 610, Hotel and Restaurant Workers Union. When Ramos Ducos was questioned he told the FBI that he heard Frank Chavez mention the name of JACK RUBY as someone who was connected with the Teamster's Union in the early 1960's. "Sometime in about September 1961, Frank Chavez told Ramos Ducos that [he] had an appointment to meet Richard Kavner, International Vice President of the Teamsters Union, and JACK RUBY as well as a third Teamster official whose name he could not recall. The meeting was to be in San Juan."

Richard Kavner, a St. Louis teamster, was a close associate of Barney Baker and Paul Dorfman, while Frank Chavez, the head of Teamster Local 901, had a record for carrying a concealed weapon and attempted murder. When United States Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy indicted Frank Chavez, Frank Ragano was hired to represent Chavez who was head Puerto-Rican Teamsters. Frank Chavez became a staunch Kennedy hater. In 1964 he wrote a threatening letter to Robert F. Kennedy which contained a reference to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. When Frank Chavez traveled to Washington in March 1964, the Kennedy family was given 24 hour police protection. Frank Chavez, too violent and unpredictable for a permanent place in the Teamster hierarchy, was killed by his bodyguard in early 1965. [FBI 44-24016-207; FBI DL 44-1639 11.26.63 at San Juan P.R. re: Anna Maria Del Valle, Leopold Ramos Ducos by R.L. Blassingame; Slawson Notes p86]

In early 1962 RUBY had a conversation with Robert Lee Shorman, a musician in one of the bands that played at the Carousel Club. RUBY told Robert Lee Shorman he was originally from Chicago where he made a living by running a floating crap game and that he had to leave Chicago when things got "too hot." Robert Lee Shorman observed numerous police officers, uniformed and plain clothes, on duty and off, in the Carousel Club. Robert Lee Shorman never saw any of them pay for a drink. The only police officer Robert Lee Shorman knew by name was Will Fritz, head of Dallas, Homicide Squad. In all, Robert Lee Shorman saw 150 to 200 police officers go in and out of RUBY'S place in the month he worked for him. [WCE 1250; WCE 1505] In March 1962, Mary Hartford, the former secretary to Pat Gannaway, the Officer in Charge, Special Services Bureau, of Narcotics, Vice and Criminal Intelligence of the Dallas Police Department, worked for RUBY. [FBI 44-1639-1240] After the assassination of President John F. Kennedy Pat Gannaway provided the FBI with an incomplete report on RUBY. Pat Gannaway was interviewed by Special Agents Robert M. Barrett and Ivan D. Lee. Barrett and Lee were the Agents assigned to interview Joe Campisi and other MARCELLO linked figures in Dallas. They were assigned by FBI SAC Gordon Shanklin. [WCE 3021; FBI 44-939 12.3.63 Houston] RUBY'S personal papers contained the business card of W.E. Naylor of the Austin, Texas, narcotics squad. W.E. Naylor said he contacted RUBY three times in 1963 on official business. [FBI 44-1639-1844, 2082]

Sally Kruckeberg told the FBI that Frank Anthony Cortelli (born February 23, 1919) telephoned her on the Sunday that OSWALD was slain. He asked what she thought of that "meatball RUBY." He said it was his opinion that RUBY shot OSWALD to shut him up. Cortelli told her he had met RUBY in Miami Beach and he was a "bum."Sally Kruckeberg described Cortelli as a big spender. The files of the Miami Beach Police Department reflected Frank Anthony Cortelli registered as bartender in October 1961 at Puccini's, a mob hangout. The FBI "noted Cortelli denies knowing RUBY, and does not name any associates in this area. In view of this, Miami taking no further action concerning Cortelli." [FBI 44-1639-1302, 1344; FBI 44-1639, 1119, 746]

On April 1, 1962, RUBY'S brother Earl Ruby sent a telegram of an undisclosed nature to Havana, Cuba. The National Security Administration routinely monitored all cable traffic between Cuba and the United States and obtained a copy of the "April Fools Day" telegram. When this researcher applied for a copy of this document under the Freedom of Information Act, the National Security Administration refused to confirm or deny its existence, and cited several statutes. In 1977 this researcher filed suit in Federal District Court against the National Security Administration, challenging its determination in this matter. The National Security Administration argued that release of the document would deal a "crippling blow" to United States intelligence because it would show the enemies of America the channels being monitored in April 1962, as a result of its "pinpointed" nature. This researcher argued that the SSCIA had already declassified the fact that all cable traffic between the United States and Cuba was monitored by National Security Administration as part of OPERATION SHAMROCK, beginning in 1959. The Warren Commission, by having included a report which stated that the telegram appeared on the telephone bill of Earl Ruby, not only declassified the sender, date, etc. but also indicated the cable went via Western Union, since Western Union was the only cable company allowed to charge cables to a phone number.

District Court Judge Charles R. Brieant agreed that the American people had a right to see this telegram: "There is nothing secret or confidential now about OPERATION SHAMROCK, if we assume as we must, that the unnamed, unfriendly foreign intelligence subscribes to the publication of the U.S. Government Printing Office and can read English. Its cover has been blown by the Church Committee. The issue in this case is not whether the RUBY message itself is exempt from disclosure. Clearly, it is not. Rather, this Court must determine whether National Security Administration properly withheld the fact of existence, or non-existence of the information requested." Judge Charles R. Brieant quoted the affidavit of the National Security Administration: "Even if we assume that National Security Administration has the requested message, it would not be possible to ascertain whether such material had been derived from SHAMROCK, or another source...If this is true and National Security Administration cannot ascertain which collection source (SHAMROCK, or some other method) obtained the RUBY message, how can it be said that foreign intelligence could discover or ascertain that source? Such a result would suggest the absurd conclusion that certain foreign powers already know more about the operations of the National Security Administration than U.S.A. does. I shall direct disclosure of whether or not the message referred to in the complaint exists, and if it does, shall direct a copy be furnished to ajweberman by the National Security Administration." Rather than appealing this ruling, the National Security Administration made a motion for re-argument and in camera presentation of evidence and affidavits. After this meeting, at which my attorney was not present, Judge Charles R. Brieant reversed himself. [77-Civ-50-58-CLB-USDC/SDNY]

By early 1963 Fidel Castro was entrenched in Cuba. All the mob casinos had been closed and Cuba was dependent on Soviet aid instead of gambling revenues. In April 1963, Cuba was again on RUBY'S mind. He called Clarence Rector, who was in Cuba in 1959. Clarence Rector, who had known RUBY since 1950, told the FBI that RUBY had told him, back in 1960, that he had some gambling-concessions in Cuba. [HSCA V9 p192] In May 1963 RUBY'S long distance telephone calls increased. Suspicious calls peaked in early August 1963, then dropped off until September, when they began an incline that lasted until RUBY'S incarceration. The number of all of RUBY'S toll calls increased from an average of 25 to 35 in May through September, to 75 in October, to 96 in November. [HSCA V10 p123-Fonzi] RUBY was getting involved in something. RUBY: "Some persons are accusing me falsely of being part of the plot...that I was party to a plot to silence OSWALD...They already have me as the accused assassin of our beloved President. Now if I sound screwy telling you this, then I must be screwy." Earl Warren responded: "...there has been no witness before this Commission out of the hundreds we have questioned who has claimed to have any personal knowledge that you were a party to a conspiracy to kill our President." RUBY contradicted Earl Warren: "Yes; but you don't know this area here."

On May 7, 1963, RUBY placed a three minute call to Harold Tannenbaum (born June 12, 1926) in New Orleans. The number he dialed (523-9468) connected him to the Sho-Bar on Bourbon Street. [WCE 2303] The Sho-Bar was a strip joint whose corporate structure was set up by former State Senator Salvador Anselmo for PETER MARCELLO. Harold Tannenbaum was the manager of the Old French Opera House, a Bourbon Street strip joint. He had been arrested on January 11, 1963, and charged with allowing a lewd and obscene act on the premises of the French Opera House. He and his wife lived at the Tropical Tourist Courts Trailer Park, which was owned by the MARCELLO family. Mrs. Tannenbaum was a cashier at the Sho-Bar. On May 9, 1963, Harold Tannenbaum went to a pay phone and called RUBY at the home of Juanita Slusher, after which he called Joe Spicola a Tampa, Florida, nightclub owner. The family of Joe Spicola owned a large hardware store in Tampa. The TRAFFICANTE family was also in the hardware business in Tampa. On May 9, 1963, Harold Tannenbaum called RUBY'S home number. On May 10, 1963, Harold Tannenbaum visited Miami. While Harold Tannenbaum was in Miami RUBY called Lewis J. McWillie who, in early 1963, worked at the Thunderbird Casino, a syndicate holding. Lewis J. McWillie told the FBI: "I am certain RUBY has no underworld connections, I have never known him to be involved in prostitution or gambling. He had no connections with Castro or Batista supporters. There was no arrangement or liaison between the gambling interests and Castro. RUBY called me about a labor matter in November and to my knowledge never visited Las Vegas." On the same day he called Lewis J. McWillie (May 12, 1963), RUBY called the Dream Lounge, in Cicero, Illinois, a gambling joint controlled by Sam Giancana. On November 30, 1963, the FBI interviewed Jacob Yonover, the manager of the Dream Lounge. Jacob Yonover stated he had known RUBY and his family most of his life. He dated one of RUBY'S sisters. Jacob Yonover claimed he was not in touch with RUBY for 15 years and there had been no contact between them until about two months ago when they exchanged about three telephone calls. [FBI 89-69 11.29.63 New Orleans Reed Jensen pgs. 131-133, NO-44-2064 pgs 232, 233 Nathan O. Brown and Charles C. Murray; FBI 44-1636-1141; 44-2064-169; Coles City Directory, 1963, Tampa]

On May 14, 1963, RUBY went to New Orleans, where he met with Harold Tannenbaum. RUBY returned to Dallas on May 20, 1963. On May 25, 1963, Harold Tannenbaum called RUBY from the Old French Opera House. On June 5, 1963, he called him again. RUBY returned his call and spoke with him for 24 minutes. The next day RUBY returned to New Orleans. The Warren Commission found no identifying records to show that RUBY was in a hotel or anywhere else between the nights of June 5, 1963, and June 8, 1963. Was RUBY staying at Churchill Downs, the multi-million dollar estate where CARLOS MARCELLO lived? [WC Hearings V14 p150; HSCA V4 p198] By June 9, 1963, RUBY was back in Dallas. On June 11, 1963, he placed another call to the Sho-Bar and on June 14, 1963, June 19 1963, and June 21, 1963, RUBY called the Old French Opera House. Eugene R. De La Parra reported: "On June 22, 1963, I was in Benny Traegel's Bookie Joint when TONY MARCELLO came in to service the pinball machine, TONY was VINCE'S and CARLOS' brother. TONY says to Benny -- the word is out to get the Kennedy family." On June 24, 1963, CARLOS MARCELLO called the Tropical Tourist Courts Trailer Park and spoke with Harold Tannenbaum and Nofio Pecora. [HSCA V4 p498; V9 p69 Id; HSCA V4 pl98] In late June, Harold Tannenbaum visited RUBY in Dallas. On July 6, 1963, RUBY called the Opera House. On July 9, 1963, Harold Tannenbaum telephoned RUBY. On July 24, 1963, RUBY called Harold Tannenbaum and was told that Harold Tannenbaum was not there. RUBY dialed his personal telephone number (242-3401) and spoke with someone for 31 minutes.

On July 7, 1963, a call was placed from RUBY'S home telephone to Gloversville, New York. George Senator, a close associate of RUBY'S during the Summer of 1963, was originally from Gloversville and this led many researchers to believe that this call was placed by him. When the FBI investigated this call the Bureau found that the telephone number in Gloversville belonged to Joe "The Wop" Cataldo, who the Bureau described as "a top New York hoodlum." A few days before the FBI traced the toll call, FBI informant number "KY-4003-C-TE" advised that JACK RUBY obtained talent for his Dallas club through Joe "The Wop" Cataldo during the late 1950's. On December 11, 1963, Joe Cataldo was exhibited a photograph of RUBY by the FBI. He denied any relationship at any time with RUBY. The FBI never asked Joe Cataldo if he knew George Senator, this despite the fact that in the Fall of 1963, George Senator was RUBY'S roommate. In 1964 the Warren Commission, in it's report, stated: "It is difficult to know with complete certainty whether Senator had any foreknowledge of the shooting of OSWALD."

On February 29, 1980, Joe Cataldo, who was described as a New York City loan shark, was accused of participating in a million dollar plot to sabotage the "Black Tuna" drug smuggling trial in Miami, Florida. This alleged plot involved plans to assassinate trial Judge James Lawrence King, pay off key government witnesses, and otherwise disrupt the trial. [FBI NY-1639-2396, NY44-974-152; NY 24016-655; NY 44-1639-1556; 44-1639 4p teletype 11.28.63 Dallas to Albany]

On August 29, 1963, RUBY called Lewis J. McWillie at the Thunderbird Hotel and Casino. Two days later he called him again, just before he left for New York City. On August 4, 1963, RUBY checked into the New York Hilton Hotel. As soon as he got to his room he called the Old French Opera House in New Orleans. After RUBY got off the phone with Harold Tannenbaum, or whom ever was on the other end of the line, he called Michael Shore in Los Angeles. [WCE 1581]

Michael Shore worked for Reprise Records, which, at the time, was regarded by many journalists as a syndicate front. Frank Sinatra owned Reprise Records, and he owned it at the same time he owned the Cal-Neva Lounge. He sold Reprise to Warner Brothers around the same time he gave up his interest in the Cal-Neva Lounge. [NYT 8.8.63; FBI CA-44-895-EJK:mjg cover pgs. O, P, Q, R, U] The Los Angeles FBI Field Office had an informant at Reprise Records who reported that the daughter of a syndicate jewel thief worked there as a secretary, and that Reprise employees were calling all over the country and had placed large bets.

In 1963 the FBI interviewed Michael Shore about the conviction of his friend, Marvin R. Cole, on Obstruction of Justice charges. Michael Shore told them that Cole was one of "Doc Stacher's boys." Joseph "Doc" Stacher was described by the FBI as a hoodlum, and associate of top hoodlums, who knew most of the important criminals in the United States and Europe. Joseph "Doc" Stacher had an arrest record that dated back to 1924. He was an associate of the late Abner "Longey" Zwillman and was considered as a lieutenant of the Zwillman mob engaged in bootlegging activities in New Jersey during prohibition days. In addition to gambling interests in the East, Joseph "Doc" Stacher, in connection with Abner "Longey" Zwillman, was alleged to have penetrated gambling interests in Reno and Las Vegas, Nevada, and, after the death of Abner "Longey" Zwillman, Joseph "Doc" Stacher was reputed to have taken over control of the remnants of the Abner "Longey" Zwillman mob. Joseph "Doc" Stacher was listed as an associate of Frank Costello, Frank Erickson and Meyer Lansky. Michael Shore told the FBI that he had been responsible for starting Marvin Cole out in business and had loaned money to Marvin Cole so that Marvin Cole might buy points in the Fremont Casino in Las Vegas. [FBI Los Angeles 44-895, DL 44-1039 GAP: JM cover page C] A check of the Fremont Casino's licenses revealed that Marvin Cole owned 9% of the Fremont Casino. The largest point-holder was Ed Levinson, a well-known front man for Meyer Lansky. Marvin Cole was connected with Louis J. Lederer, the secretary-treasurer of the Tropicana Hotel in Las Vegas. When Frank Costello was shot in 1957 a paper with figures in Louis J. Lederer's handwriting regarding receipts at the Tropicana was found on Frank Costello. [FBI Los Angeles 92-113] Michael Shore was investigated by the FBI at least three times. The FBI still withheld important information about him, some of it classified "Secret."

On November 27, 1963, the FBI questioned Michael Shore about his relationship with RUBY. Michael Shore stated that he had never met RUBY, but did know his brother Earl, in Chicago, in the 1930's, when they were growing up. Michael Shore's association with Earl Ruby lasted until 1954 when Earl Ruby moved to Detroit.

Earl Ruby and Michael Shore knew each other for 24 years without Earl Ruby having introduced Michael Shore to his brother JACK? Not a likely story. Michael Shore was also connected to RUBY through Irwin Weiner, who was a close friend of both men. [WCD 86 pgs. 10-15, 487; WCE 1507, Newsweek 3.3.47] Michael Shore claimed that RUBY called him about some "labor trouble" he was having and he referred him to the President of the Associated Booking Corporation.

The FBI attempted to question Joseph "Doc" Stacher associate Max Unterberg about RUBY. [FBI 44-169-3858] He died of a heart attack in November 28, 1963.

On August 5, 1963, RUBY visited Joe Glaser, President of Associated Booking. In 1962 Joe Glaser assigned all of the "voting rights, dominion and control" of his majority stock in the concern to Sidney Korshak. [FBI NY 44-974 cover page K; FBI 44-1639 12.19.63 at Dallas, James F. Glonek: BL] Sidney Korshak was born in 1907 in Chicago's West Side, the son of Jewish immigrants. Soon after his graduation from law school Sidney Korshak defended members of the Capone mob. In the late 1930's he was associated with Jimmy Hoffa and Paul Dorfman, and in 1943, he was named in a case that involved Johnny Rosselli. In the years following World War II documents from the McClellan Committee listed him as one of "three key figures in bookmaking" in downtown Chicago during that period. The New York Times reported that by the early 1950's "Mr. Korshak often drove to weekend business meetings with Sam Giancana and Tony Accardo." [NYT 9.27-30.76 - Sy Hersh] In the late 1950's Sidney Korshak testified before a Federal Grand Jury about a contract involving Anthony Accardo. On May 15, 1967, Sidney Korshak was involved in in an alleged attempt to dissuade Ed Reid from publishing his information about CARLOS MARCELLO'S death threat against the Kennedy brothers. In a conversation with an FBI informant that took place one day after Ed Reid supplied the FBI with his manuscript, Sidney Korshak discussed Ed Becker and "Korshak inquired as to who Ed Becker was, and advised that Becker was trying to shake down some of Korshak's friends for money by claiming he is the collaborator with Reid, and that for money he could keep their names out of the book." The memorandum also stated that Sidney Korshak had further stated that Ed Becker was a "no-good shakedown artist." [HSCA V9 p69, V9p79]

On whose behalf did Korshak attempt to quash the CARLOS MARCELLO death threat story? In 1968 a Justice Department report described him as perhaps "the most significant link in the relationship between the crime syndicate political labor and management." The FBI never questioned Sidney Korshak about RUBY despite RUBY'S close association with Associated Booking in Dallas and his visit to their offices in New York City. The FBI concluded that Joe Glaser "is believed to be the sole stockholder in this corporation."

When RUBY returned to his hotel room in Manhattan he called Michael Shore again. On August 6, 1963, RUBY flew back to Dallas. A day later he called a number in Chicago and spoke with Sheri Aston for 34 minutes. On August 19, 1963, August 20, 1963, and August 22, 1963, RUBY called Lewis J. McWillie at the Thunderbird. In early September 1963 Harold Tannenbaum visited RUBY in Dallas. A meeting was held at the Cabana Motel which was located near the Trademart in Dallas.

The Cabana was built in the mid-1950's with Teamster Union Funds. RUBY had commented about the connection between Jimmy Hoffa and the Cabana Motel to his bookkeeper, and his nightclub shared several employees with the Cabana Motel. [FBI 44-24016-1196; FBI HO-44-939 11.25.63 at Corpus Christi, Texas; FBI DL 44-1639 by George Denton; FBI DL 44-1639 11.25.63 Dallas Thomas M. O'Malley; WCE 1229 p531; CE 1644; FBI-44-24016-884] RUBY was meeting with two men and a woman that day. Mrs. Howard Summers of Odessa, Texas, saw the four men, as did R.E. Lee of Seattle, Washington. Mrs. Howard Summers told the FBI: "I heard them talking - talking about a meeting that they were gonna hold. At the time I was sure the meeting had something to do with Jimmy Hoffa, who I understand owns the Cabana. We happened to be sitting at an adjoining table and happened to overhear their rather loud conversation." [FBI 44-24016-268; 62-109060-5941]

Ruby frequented the Cabana Motel since its construction and used it as a safe-house for criminal operations. All of this telephonic and travel activity on the part of JACK RUBY did not concern obtaining sleazy dime-a-dozen strippers for his greasy dive. He could have done this in a fraction of the time. The calls concerned RUBY'S part in the Kennedy assassination - the elimination of OSWALD.

Scott Malone reported that in early September 1963 RUBY flew to Miami where he had at least two meetings with Johnny Rosselli. When the HSCA final Report was published, this statement was omitted since it could not be satisfactorily verified. None-the-less researcher Scott Malone verified it with two law enforcement sources, who later recanted. Lewis J. McWillie, admitted "seeing" Johnny Rosselli: "I didn't know him. I seen him around town here like I told the FBI and then Mr. Fenton [a HSCA investigator]. There wouldn't be any way I'd know that Mr. Giancana, or Mr. Rosselli, had interests in Cuban casinos. I never heard of it, no. What attracted me to Mr. Rosselli was any time I ever saw him, he had on dark glasses." Lewis J. McWillie was questioned about the death of Johnny Rosselli by the FBI. [HSCA V5 p111]

In late September 1963 RUBY had a meeting with James Henry Dolan at the Town and Country Restaurant. As stated, James Henry Dolan was closely associated with R.D. Matthews. [HSCA V9 p423] On September 6, 1963, a call was made from the Carousel Club to the telephone number of R.D. Matthews estranged wife, Elizabeth Matthews. R.D.Matthews claimed he was not present during this conversation. Elizabeth Matthews told the FBI that she had not spoken to RUBY on that day: "A Special Services Officer from the Dallas Police Department named Dick Clark called me from the Carousel Club." Forty minutes after Elizabeth Matthews made this statement, Officer Dick Clark telephoned the FBI Field Office in Dallas and confirmed her story. The document that contained this information was culled for leads yet apparently never followed up. [FBI DL 44-1639-1120; FBI teletype 11.27.63 from SAC Las Vegas 44-48; WCE 2988, 2989] Jacob Yonover indicated RUBY had called him in October 1963. This call did not appear on RUBY'S toll records. On October 14, 1963, the Chicago FBI picked up the following during electronic surveillance of Sam Giancana and Anthony Accardo: "They discuss golf. Someone asks if Bobby Kennedy plays golf. They know that John Kennedy does. Suggest putting a bomb in his golf bag. (They all laugh)." [FBI 44-1636 12.2.63; HSCA V5 p447] On October 3, 1963, RUBY, or someone at the Carousel Club, called Elizabeth Matthews phone number and spoke for 13 minutes. On October 16, 1963, RUBY called Harold Tannenbaum at Sam Tannenbaum's residence in Miami and spoke with him for almost 15 minutes. Sam Tannenbaum was the father of Harold Tannenbaum. On October 19, 1963, RUBY called an unidentified telephone number in Beverly Hills, California, and spoke with someone for 32 minutes. The FBI investigated three other long-distance calls RUBY made that day but never investigated this one. On October 22, 1963, RUBY received a call from Harold Tannenbaum who was back in New Orleans. Harold Tannenbaum called RUBY collect from a pay telephone somewhere in New Orleans rather then dialing RUBY directly from his home phone. He would follow this procedure through November 1963. Was he afraid his telephone was tapped? On October 23, 1963, RUBY called Michael Shore at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City. On October 26, 1963, RUBY called Michael Shore at his home in California.

Two hours later RUBY called Irwin Weiner, (born February 5, 1911) who the FBI described as "an associate of numerous low and high caliber notorious Chicago hoodlums, including Jimmy Hoffa, TRAFFICANTE, Sam Giancana and the Dorfmans." Bondsman Irwin Weiner was Allen Dorfman's co-defendant in his jury tampering trial. Irwin Weiner was a long time Chicago syndicate member and boyhood friend of JACK RUBENSTEIN. [Rise & Fall of Hoffa pgs l37-138, l45, 262, 266-268,364] On November 26, 1963, a confidential informant told a Chicago FBI Agent that he had overheard a conversation between Irwin Weiner and his business partner, Felix Alderisio, a top hoodlum. Irwin Weiner told him that he knew RUBY: "On November 26, 1963, informant advised that Irwin Weiner told Alderisio that he knew JACK RUBY, but had refused to talk to the FBI about it. Alderisio stated that he did not know RUBY and instructed Weiner not to talk to the FBI as they would then question him about other matters." [NARA 124-10138-10069]

When the FBI questioned Irwin Weiner about this call he refused comment. Irwin Weiner "admitted that he knew JACK RUBENSTEIN and stated that he did not want to discuss with anyone his knowledge of JACK RUBENSTEIN. It was pointed out to Irwin Weiner that this matter concerned the killing of the President and LEE OSWALD and certainly did not involve him or his associates. Irwin Weiner stated that he realized this, but that he still did not wish to discuss JACK RUBENSTEIN." No further attempts were made to interview him.[HSCA V9 para. 1341; HSCA Rep 155-159; HSCA V4 p564; HSCA Rep pl76; HSCA V4 p498, HSCA V5 p374] In May 1964 Irwin Weiner and Felix Alderisio were indicted for extortion in Miami, Florida. In 1978 Irwin Weiner told a reporter that the call had nothing to do with RUBY'S so-called "labor problem." In his executive testimony before the HSCA Irwin Weiner stated he had lied to the reporter. Irwin Weiner suggested that he was seeking a bond necessary to obtain an injunction in his labor troubles. The HSCA could find no evidence that RUBY contemplated court relief, nor any explanation for his having to go to Chicago for such a bond. In 1978 Earl Ruby told the HSCA that Irwin Weiner, an old high school chum, had approached him one day before he was scheduled to testify before the Committee. Weiner had a "business proposition" for RUBY. According to Earl Ruby, he declined Irwin Weiner's proposition. Irwin Weiner testified that no such proposition occurred. Later that year Lewis J. McWillie testified that Earl Ruby had approached him with an unspecified proposition and that he (McWillie) immediately refused to even speak with him. When Earl Ruby was questioned about this by the HSCA he said that he talked with Lewis J. McWillie for five minutes. Earl Ruby stated: "I mentioned all the problems he had because of JACK, and that the gun JACK had sent him, which he never picked up, and that was about it. I realized he was involved with JACK and so much had been said about the gun JACK had sent him." [HSCA V5 p32, V4 p505]

On October 29, 1963, someone called the Sho-Bar in Shreveport, Louisiana, from a coin station in Abe's Colony Club. RUBY'S nightclub was located a few blocks from the Colony Club and he was known to have frequently used the pay phone there. [FBI 44-24016-1219] On October 30, 1963, RUBY called New Orleans once again. This time he called 242-5431. This telephone number was listed under the name of Nofio Pecora at the Tropical Tourist Courts Trailer Park. The HSCA noted that CARLOS MARCELLO had placed several calls to the same number RUBY dialed - (242-5431). When HSCA investigators sought to question Nofio Pecora about this he declined to respond. Later Nofio Pecora said he was the only person who had access to that number in 1963 but he denied having known RUBY. Nofio Pecora denied having relayed a message from RUBY to Harold Tannenbaum. The HSCA did, however, discover that Nofio Pecora was a "friend and colleague" of Harold Tannenbaum. Additionally, an associate of Nofio Pecora, James Henry Dolan, was an associate of RUBY, CARLOS MARCELLO and SANTOS TRAFFICANTE. [HSCA R pgs. 136, 170] One hour after RUBY and Nofio Pecora exchanged words, Harold Tannenbaum called RUBY collect and spoke with him for 21 minutes. One day after RUBY dialed the telephone number of Nofio Pecora he called Michael Shore in Beverly Hills, California.

On November 4, 1963, RUBY spoke with Harold Tannenbaum again. Harold Tannenbaum called collect. This was the last trace of communication between the two men as reflected by RUBY'S toll records. It was impossible to tell if Harold Tannenbaum ever called RUBY again since the FBI Field in New Orleans Office never requested any of the toll records of Harold Tannenbaum after July 1, 1963. [FBI 44-2064-69]

RUBY had called Harold Tannenbaum at least three times in the month preceding the assassination. These calls were placed to the Tropical Tourist Courts Trailer Park. He spoke with someone for a total of 40 minutes. [WCE 2303 p28; FBI N.O. 44-2064 11.29.63; Cong. Rec. 8.6.70 E7388] Was it Harold Tannenbaum he spoke with or was it CARLOS MARCELLO? Or did Tannenbaum speak for MARCELLO?

On November 7, 1963, RUBY called Barney Baker in Chicago. Barney Baker called him back from a pay phone and spoke with him for seven minutes. Robert Bernard Baker was born on August 16, 1911, in Brooklyn, New York. By age ten his immense size afforded him the title of neighborhood bully. An ex-convict (jailed three times in the 1930's), the 325 pound Barney Baker was a former professional boxer, longshoreman and bouncer before he joined the Teamsters. Barney Baker had the reputation of being Jimmy Hoffa's "roving ambassador of violence." In 1936 Barney Baker was shot during a Manhattan gang war - he was the strong arm man for a bunch of hoods who controlled the piers. In the late 1940's Barney Baker worked for Johnny "Cockeyed" Dunne as a mob enforcer. In the classic crime movie, Slaughter on Eighth Avenue, an honest longshoreman was murdered by "Cock-eyed Cook and two of his meatballs." In reality, Barney Baker was one of these meatballs. Barney Baker joined the Teamsters Union in the early 1950's. According to the testimony of his wife, just before an opponent of Jimmy Hoffa's was killed in Indianapolis in the mid-1950's, Barney Baker told her that he had to go to Indianapolis "to take care of a shyster lawyer for Jimmy Hoffa." When the FBI ran traces on Barney Baker it came up with numerous Bureau cases that involved Jimmy Hoffa. [FBI 44-1639-4021] When things got hot in New York City, Barney Baker went to the Colonial Inn, where he served as doorman and bouncer. At the Colonial Inn Barney Baker became associated with Joe Adonis, Meyer Lansky, Vincent "Jimmy Blue-Eyes" Alo and Vincent "Piggy" Marchesi. [Kennedy, Robert - The Enemy Within - 1960 Harper Row NY; HSCA V9 p279] The HSCA questioned Barney Baker about this job:

Q. Was there ever an individual there at this club by the name of JACK RUBENSTEIN?

A. I know a lot of them gamblers but I never knew of that name JACK RUBENSTEIN. It is not familiar.

Q. Who were the acting owners of the club while you worked there?

A. Jake Lansky, Joe Adonis. I had no relationship with any of these gentlemen after the Colonial.

In the early 1960's Barney Baker was sent to prison for labor racketeering and was released on parole in June 1963.

Following RUBY'S conversation with Barney Baker, numerous telephone calls were placed from telephones available to Barney Baker, to various offices of the Earl Scheib Company, a national automobile repainting firm. At least one of these calls was placed to the main office of Earl Scheib in Los Angles, which was investigated by the FBI in a case titled: "James Riddle Hoffa; Earl Scheib Auto Paint Shops; et al. Miscellaneous Information Concerning," and in another June 1963 case captioned "Union Bank and Trust Company of Los Angeles Conspiracy Accounting Investigation." The latter case concerned an alleged check kiting scheme. [FBI 44-1639-4706, 44-1639-4701, 4696, 4661, 4654, 4703, 4628] The West Coast office of Earl Scheib was managed by Victor Emanuel Pereira, who was originally from El Paso, Texas.

Victor Emanuel Pereira's closet associate was Eugene Hale Brading (born November 30, 1914, A.K.A. Jim Braden). He was arrested in Kansas in May 1934 and charged with burglary. Sentenced to five to ten years in prison, Eugene Hale Brading was paroled in 1936 and discharged in 1938. In February 1941 he was charged with operating a gambling house in Miami, Florida. He was fined $200. In December 1941 he was an applicant for a defense area pass. In March 1942 he was arrested for auto theft in Miami , convicted of "L of A" and placed on probation. In 1943 he was arrested for selling gas ration books, and in 1944 he was arrested in Miami Beach for failing to have registered as a convicted felon. In March 1944 he was sentenced to two years in state prison for violation of a previously suspended sentence. In October 1945 he was arrested in New York for selling gas coupons and his probation in Florida was revoked. He was sentenced to one year in prison. In 1948 he was held as a material witness in New Jersey, and in August 1951 he was charged with conspiracy to commit interstate theft, mail fraud, possession of stolen property and embezzlement in El Paso, Texas. Victor Emanuel Pereira and Eugene Hale Brading were convicted of defrauding Victor Emanuel Pereira's wife. Each was sentenced to 12 years in prison. While out on appeal bond Victor Emanuel Pereira married another widow and they moved to Dallas, along with Eugene Hale Brading. In May 1952 the Dallas Sheriff's office received complaints about Eugene Hale Brading who used the name James Lee Cole. Sheriff Bill Decker arrested Eugene Hale Brading on a fugitive warrant. When Eugene Hale Brading returned to Dallas in August 1952 Sheriff Bill Decker arrested him for vagrancy.

According to journalist Peter Noyes Victor Emanuel Pereira and his wife left with Eugene Hale Brading. They settled in Denver. Eugene Hale Brading and Victor Emanuel Pereira associated with the two leading crime figures in the area, Eugene Smaldone and Clyde Smaldone.

By 1953 they had moved to Beverly Hills. Eugene Hale Brading registered there as a convicted felon in July 1953. According to Peter Noyes they were associated with Arthur Lewis Clark, one of the leaders of the old Purple Gang from Detroit. The Purple Gang was part of the national crime syndicate in the 1930's. In April 1954 the United States Supreme Court reversed Victor Emanuel Pereira's conviction but upheld Eugene Hale Brading's. In March 1954 Eugene Hale Brading was in Maryland where he was charged with violations of the stolen properties act, mail fraud and conspiracy. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison where he remained until his release on parole in February 1959. In 1960 Eugene Hale Brading married Mildred Bollman, the wealthy widow of Bernard Bollman, the former Secretary-Treasurer of Teamster's Local 786 in McHenry County, Illinois. In 1932 Bernard Bollman was indicted for labor racketeering. In 1958 Bernard Bollman "accidentally shot himself twice in the stomach with a .45 caliber handgun."

Eugene Hale Brading and Mildred Bollman moved to Palm Springs, California, where, according to Peter Noyes, they became charter members of the La Costa Country Club built with Teamster Union Pension Funds. Other charter members of the La Costa Country Club included Frank Sinatra and John "Jake the Barber" Factor, a relic of Al Capone's days in Chicago. In the early 1970's presidential aide Murray Chotiner frequented the La Costa Country Club and in 1973 several members of the NIXON Administration met there to get their Watergate cover-up stories synchronized. In 1975 four members of the La Costa Country Club sued Penthouse magazine for having exposed their alleged ties to the national crime syndicate. Louis Nizer, the attorney who wrote a semi-official introduction to the Warren Report, represented the plaintiffs.

According to Peter Noyes, Eugene Hale Brading became involved in the "oil business and in this connection worked out of an office in Room 1701 of the Pere Marquette Building in New Orleans." G. Wray Gil had an office down the hall from Room 1701 which was frequented by MARCELLO family members and by David Ferrie. If this was in fact the case, Eugene Hale Brading was not there in late 1963. He lived at 621 South Barrington, West Los Angeles at this time.

In November 1963 Eugene Hale Brading informed his parole officer that he wanted to fly to Dallas on business. He was granted permission to leave Los Angeles for Dallas on November 18, 1963. According to the plan presented at the parole offices Eugene Hale Brading was to remain in Dallas until November 21, 1963. On November 20, 1963, Eugene Hale Brading, accompanied by Morgan H. Brown, a convicted stock swindler, checked into the Cabana Motel in Dallas. JACK RUBY and Eugene Hale Brading knew the same people:

(1) James Henry Dolan, an associate of RUBY, was arrested on July 30, 1951, on charges of having impersonated a Federal officer. At this time, Anthony Colossacco, an associate of the Smaldone gang, was suspected of recruiting the victim for James Henry Dolan in this impersonation case. Eugene Hale Brading was acquainted with the Smaldone gang.

(2) When James Henry Dolan was in Phoenix, Arizona, in 1951, he was observed in the company of Eugene Hale Brading. It was an FBI informant's opinion that Eugene Hale Brading and Victor Emanuel Pereira might have conveyed to James Henry Dolan the idea that he could operate successfully as a con man.

(3) James Robert Todd, another RUBY associate, told the HSCA that he was acquainted with Morgan H. Brown. [Dallas Morning News 11.22.75 Golz; Legacy of Doubt, Peter Noyes, Pinnacle, 1973; FBI 139-4089-2524; HSCA V9 para. 924; HSCA V9 p.1032]

Eugene Hale Brading left Dallas after being picked up by the police in Dealey Plaza on November 22, 1963. [FBI DL 89-43-281; WCE5323] Eugene Hale Brading was leaving the Texas School Book Depository seconds after the shooting when he was "accosted by a Negro elevator operator as to his presence in the building." The elevator operator turned him over to Deputy Lummie Lewis, who copied down the information on Eugene Hale Brading's driver's license, which was in the name of Jim Braden. Eugene Hale Brading had his name legally changed in September 1963.

It was not until 1969 that Peter Noyes, producer for CBS-TV in Los Angeles, discovered by checking on his driver's license number, that Braden was Eugene Hale Brading. In 1977 Eugene Hale Brading filed a $20 million lawsuit against Peter Noyes. Eugene Hale Brading wrote to FBI Director Clarence Kelly: "I have never been connected in any manner, way, shape or form with organized crime."

Eugene Hale Brading was taken to police headquarters, questioned, then released. Had Sheriff Decker known that Eugene Hale Brading was picked up he would have been detained. In 1976 Eugene Hale Brading signed a sworn statement that "at the precise time Kennedy was assassinated, I was seated in the United States Probation and Parole Offices in the Federal Building. I had viewed the motorcade from in front of Titches Department Store and then I proceeded to the Federal Building." [FBI DC 44-9915]

In 1978 Barney Baker was questioned by the HSCA about his association with Earl Scheib, Eugene Hale Brading, and "Jim Braden." He stated: "I know Mr. Scheib before I went to prison, when I was with the unions... got along with him real nice ...his employees became Teamsters, I was employed by Mr. Hoffa under Central States. I was more or less appointed Chairman of the Central States Chauffeurs Division." When asked whether he had known an associate of Earl Scheib named Jim Braden, Barney Baker replied: "No, I've never heard the name until just now, no." [HSCA V9 p293]

Was Eugene Hale Brading part of the conspiracy to kill President John F. Kennedy? If so, what was his role? Was he going to take OSWALD out in the Texas School Book Depository? Judging from Eugene Hale Brading's criminal record he had no history of having committed any violent acts. Was he there to monitor the assassination on behalf of organized crime? Why send Eugene Hale Brading to Dallas when JACK RUBY was already there? Eugene Hale Brading was associated with MARCELLO through proximity rather than FBI informant's reports. JACK RUBY was associated with MARCELLO through his telephone records. In February 1964 Eugene Hale Brading was arrested for shoplifting at a Safeway Supermarket in Los Angeles: "Suspect selected a large number of food items and put them in two paper bags that were obtained from produce section of store. He then pushed a cart up to the north end of the store that contained the two bags of groceries. Suspect, while on his tiptoes peered over the west end of the #2 counter in direction of check stands...Suspect then pushed the cart containing the two bags of groceries out the North exit door pausing to glance over his right shoulder just prior to leaving...about 20 feet from the store suspect glanced over his shoulder toward undersigned officers who were following suspect. Suspect made a arc to the left and headed toward the store as he did he began to cough...Suspect said 'I went outside because I was coughing so much I had to spit and I didn't want to spit in the store.' During the time suspect was under observation he did not cough nor did he appear to have any difficulty breathing." Eugene Hale Brading had stolen crab and lobster meat, clams, steak - $20 worth of food. Had Eugene Hale Brading played a role in the conspiracy for organized crime he would not have had to resort to shoplifting. [FBI Rap sheet Eugene Hale Brading; Arrest Report District 1075 2.9.64 F.A. Mullins and A. F. Van Court] Eugene Hale Brading happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time and had nothing to do with the assassination of John Kennedy.

Barney Baker also telephoned Dave Yaras, a Teamster-connected alleged mob hitman who lived in Miami. Barney Baker called Dave Yaras from his home telephone, which was probably tapped, because he believed the home telephone of Dave Yaras was also tapped. Dave Yaras had known RUBY for 16 years and was indicted with Lenny Patrick, a boyhood friend of RUBY, for the murder of a race-track wire service operator who tried to buck the mob. Author Seth Kantor reported that Robert F. Kennedy, in his role as counsel on the Senate Rackets Subcommittee, charged Dave Yaras with having helped set up a corrupt a Teamsters Local in Miami and with having muscled in on gambling activities in Cuba in 1959. A FBI teletype revealed that Dave Yaras had attended the "hoodlum meeting" at the Eden Roc Hotel in November 1963 and was "possibly tied in with RUBY in connection with shylocking and girls." The Warren Commission received reports that linked RUBY to a nationwide betting network of which Dave Yaras was a part. In 1966, RUBY'S close friend, Louis Kopple, (born September 28, 1896; died June 1978) was arrested for running a betting center for Dave Yaras. In the mid 1960's the son of Dave Yaras was slain in a gangland episode in Miami. The HSCA asked Barney Baker about Dave Yaras: "Mr. Yaras is a friend, liked him very much, him and his family, I didn't have much contact with him in 1963, I believe he tried to help me one time get a job with some laundry his son was head of. Once or twice I spoke with him on the phone in Florida." When asked about Lenny Patrick, Barney Baker stated: "I haven't seen Lenny Patrick. I saw him maybe once in my whole life, only visited him and I've never had any conversation pertaining to anything with Lenny Patrick. It's possible these men came from the same neighborhood as RUBY. But I never questioned or asked anybody after the incident where he came out of." [WCE 2352 p80; FBI 44-24016-302, 134] The HSCA questioned Lewis J. McWillie about Dave Yaras:

Q. Did JACK RUBY know Dave Yaras?

A. I don't know. I don't think so.

Q. Did you know Dave Yaras?

A. I knew who he was.

Q. Had you ever met him?

A. I don't think so, I knew his brother. He had a brother named Sam Yaras. I don't think I never met Dave. Is his name Dave? Is that the name? I don't think I ever met him. I met his brother. His brother had slot machines, in fact, his brother died in Dallas. JACK didn't know Sam Yaras.

Why had RUBY been in touch with frontmen for CARLOS MARCELLO and Jimmy Hoffa prior to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy? None of RUBY'S conversations with these men surfaced in any FBI surveillance transcripts of organized crime. Did Barney Baker tell RUBY he could talk to Jimmy Hoffa at the Eden Roc Hotel, if he called there the next day?

In 1950 Morris Landsburgh of Miami Beach had formed a holding company that owned the Eden Roc Hotel. Circa 1960 Edward Partin met with Jimmy Hoffa at the Eden Roc. In 1973 Morris Landsburgh's long time association with Meyer Lansky was confirmed when he pleaded guilty to conspiring with Meyer Lansky to defraud the Internal Revenue Service. A FBI document revealed that throughout November 1963 syndicate-linked Teamster officials were meeting at the Eden Roc. Jimmy Hoffa was there, as was Murray W. Miller.

On November 8, 1963, RUBY called Murray W. Miller's suite at the Eden Roc. Murray Miller better known as "Dusty" Miller, was a Vice President of the Teamsters Union and Director of the Southern Conference of Teamsters. "Dusty" Miller was the number three man in the Teamsters, only Jimmy Hoffa and Allen Dorfman preceded him, and as such was regarded as a possible successor to Jimmy Hoffa. "Dusty" Miller was associated with numerous underworld figures. [FBI-44-24016-302; Miami Herald 9.11.75 p7A Victor Riesel; FBI44-24016-976; Wall St. Journal 12.23.75 p1] In a 1978 interview with the HSCA, "Dusty" Miller admitted having conversed with RUBY. RUBY had stated something to the effect that: "Barney Baker gave me your number and told me that maybe you could help me out." When "Dusty" Miller heard the name "Baker" he said he reacted by terminating the conversation, since "Dusty" Miller did not wish to become involved with an unsavory character. [HSCA V9 p199] Later that day RUBY called Barney Baker. Barney Baker told the HSCA that this call never took place. On November 11, 1963, RUBY called Barney Baker again. A few minutes later Barney Baker called RUBY from his office telephone. [FBI 44-645 1.3.64 Chicago, Ill. John R. Bassett, DC 44-1639-L-Cover Page; WCE 2332] The HSCA questioned Barney Baker about these calls: "I'm under oath at this moment. I don't want no headaches. I'm giving it to you straight. The only time he called was the first time (November 7, 1963)...I didn't know him, never knew him. When I came to Chicago I believe he was already out of Chicago. He called me about a labor dispute." When confronted with evidence of the November 8, 1963, telephone call Barney Baker stated: "Maybe he did call me, in his desperation, and the party that he says, mutual friend, might have been even there at the time for all I know, I might have told him this guy could do it, braggadocio, you know, with the guy. Must have known me - he had my number. I didn't give it to him...tell you the truth, I can't conceive of a 14 minute conversation unless he said 'Hold the wire,'went and had a drink or something, go to the lavatory, come back. I never talked long with him ...maybe ten minutes, off the top of my head. But I never heard from him again after all that...I was not very surprised when the FBI showed up, I figured sooner or later. I don't underrate no one. I know they're going to hit them right away. But I was going through unnecessary quizzing at the time, I was innocent of the event. I didn't even know this guy. After the assassination I didn't want to know who he was. I didn't even want to look at T.V. anymore. I didn't want no part of it. I couldn't duck it...After that thing happened I did go around to asking people, did you ever know this guy RUBY on the West Side, in a restaurant, where they have Jewish food. They all congregate in there general talking. Never one person by name that I can identify...they were raised with him, they went to school with him."

Barney Baker was questioned by the HSCA about his associates, many of whom were also associates of RUBY. Barney Baker: "Sure I know Irwin Weiner, he's been in the bail business downtown. I think we had some business with him...we had a good friend, I think, in Milwaukee, Phil, was a good friend of his. I used to see them together. In fact, I see him now, very friendly. I knew 'Dusty' Miller. 'Dusty' was a hell of a nice guy. JACK RUBY mentioned my name to Miller....this fellow is, nervy enough to go anywhere angels fear to tread...Joe Glaser. He used to manage a band or something in Chicago. That's all I know about him. Paul Dorfman was a friend of Mr. Hoffa so I met him and he's a real nice man...I had no business relationships at all. I believe he had his own union, some independent Wastepaper Union."

Barney Baker was asked if he knew that RUBY was an organizer of this union: "Not with Mr. Paul Dorfman, with Mr. Paul Dorfman?" When asked about Allen Dorfman, he responded: "Allen Dorfman, the only relationship I have with him is that I'm employed by him now, I work for him."

Barney Baker was also acquainted with Dominick Bartone. Barney Baker: "I only met him because he had some meetings with Mr. Hoffa. That's all in 1959, 1960." Then the questioning turned to Edward Partin's accusation that Jimmy Hoffa planned to assassinate Robert F. Kennedy. Barney Baker:"I never heard him say kill Bob Kennedy. He'd like to knock his brains out, have a fist fight with him... I met Frank Chavez, around four days before Jimmy went away, at the International Office in Washington, D.C. I can't believe he had come to Washington, D.C., with a rifle to shoot Bobby Kennedy. Well the guy has to be insane to do something like that, for God's sake. These guys, they're doing their job. They're taking you on. Win, lose or draw. Buddy you don't resort to that, you don't kill people. That would be an awful thing."

RUBY didn't need Dusty Miller or Barney Baker's help in solving a petty labor dispute. This was overkill at its worst. RUBY contacted these men so that HOFFA would know that RUBY had been involved in something very big.

On November 12, 1963, RUBY tried to reach Frankie Goldstein by telephone. RUBY had not spoken with Frank Goldstein for many years judging from the fact he called another Frankie Goldstein before he reached the one wanted. The nature of RUBY'S conversation with Frankie Goldstein was a matter of speculation - maybe, he wanted Frankie Goldstein to relay a message to his associates in Las Vegas, or perhaps he had called his ex-employer to tell him that in a few weeks he would be a point holder in a big Las Vegas casino and might be hiring him as a pit boss. Later that day RUBY had a meeting with Paul Roland Jones. Paul Roland Jones told the FBI he happened to be in Dallas and decided to meet with his friend. [FBI 44-24016-778, 725, 724] In June 1964, Charles Woods, the President of a television station in Dotman, Alabama, visited FBI Headquarters in Birmingham. Charles Woods, a former member of the Alabama Board of Correction, had been in contact with the bondsman of Paul Roland Jones. Paul Roland Jones told the bondsman that his visit to Dallas was connected with his position in "Murder Incorporated," an"organization that murders for a price." [FBI 44-24016-1747; LHM Mobile, Alabama 6.16.64 copy destroyed 1.2.73; FBI 44-826 6.23.64 Charlotte N.C. J.M. Underhill; LHM Charlotte 6.29.64 copies destroyed 1.2.73; FBI 44- 24016-1664, 1538]

During November 1963 RUBY generally made at least three or four long distance calls each day. On November 14, 1963, he only made one, to Ralph Paul in Arlington, Texas, at 1:13 p.m. Later that afternoon RUBY was seen at a small motel in Morgan City, Louisiana. Morgan City's major industry was gambling, wide-open and controlled by CARLOS MARCELLO. Corinne Burgess contacted FBI S.A. Ernest Wall, New Orleans, on November 26, 1963, and told him that she had seen RUBY at the Newport Motel in Morgan City where she worked as a cashier at about 1:00 p.m. on November 14, 1963. [FBI report of S.A. Manning C. Clements, 11.30.63 at Dallas, pgs. 449, 649] RUBY told her that he was an old friend of the motel's owner, Peter Guarisco, and had come from Dallas to see him. When Corinne Burgess told RUBY that Peter Guarisco was not on the premises, he asked her if Vick Guarisco was there. Peter Guarisco denied having known RUBY.

On February 20, 1967, excited by the New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison's investigation, Corrine Burgess called the FBI and said that she had not told the Bureau everything she knew in 1963 because she had been threatened by Peter Guarisco. She said that RUBY was accompanied by someone who looked like OSWALD. RUBY said: "I'm a friend of CARLOS MARCELLO." [FBI 62-109060-4513; FBI 89-43-5720-Dallas; FBI DC-89-69-1412] The HSCA questioned Lewis J. McWillie about Guarisco:

Q. Did JACK RUBY know a man named Pete Guarisco?

A. Not that I know of.

Q. Did you know Pete Guarisco?

A. No, never heard of him.

Q. Do you know if RUBY knew CARLOS or VINCENT MARCELLO?

A. Is that the fellow in New Orleans? I wouldn't think so, no wouldn't think he'd know him.

Q. Did you ever know CARLOS or VINCENT MARCELLO?

A. No sir, I sure don't.

Q. Never met them?

A. Never met them in my life.

On November 16, 1963, RUBY flew to Las Vegas. In return for taking out OSWALD, RUBY was going to be made a point-holder in a Las Vegas casino. Evidence of RUBY'S trip to Las Vegas during the weekend prior to the assassination reached Las Vegas Sheriff Ralph Lamb when a confidential informant, who was rated as being "a very reliable source" told him: "RUBY was at the Tropicana Hotel the weekend before Kennedy was shot and killed...his host was Preston Fineberg, a point-holder in the Tropicana. Fineberg let him use his Rolls-Royce." [FBI 44-24016-288; FBI LV-44-48 Cover Page S,U] On the same day Sheriff Lamb received this report, the FBI was furnished with similar information by one of its Potential Criminal Informants, who was the cashier at the Tropicana Hotel: "A 'JACK RUBY' stayed at the Tropicana Hotel about November 16, 1963, and made several long-distance calls. After the President was shot I tried to locate the records of these calls and his hotel registration, I couldn't find them, which really shook-me-up, because I personally checked-out his telephone account from the front office when he checked out. She is unable to explain how the hotel records of JACK RUBY disappeared. Potential Criminal Informant has heard that bartender Ernie Muscatelle and bellmen 'Chuck' knew RUBY was at hotel. Potential Criminal Informant's reliability unknown due to limited number of contacts." [FBI-44-24016-121; LV 44-48 Cover Page V; FBI- 44-24016-1787]

The FBI checked out this report with another Potential Criminal Informant and was told: "JACK RUBY was a good friend of Preston Feinberg. RUBY came to Vegas a lot. He always visited Feinberg who he knew from the old days in Chicago. Potential Criminal Informant advised RUBY has used the names Rubin or Ruben and has brought strippers to Las Vegas and has often registered at Tropicana Hotel as Mr. and Mrs. while staying in Las Vegas with these girls. On November 17, 1963, the Saturday before the assassination, JACK played golf with Feinberg." [FBI DC 44-1639 AS:gj p257] Before the FBI received any of these informants reports, Benny Binnion told the FBI one day after RUBY shot OSWALD: "RUBY was at the Tropicana recently." Another Potential Criminal Informant, Charles Llyod Hammer, said that RUBY never visited the casino.

A.J. Ricci, Bell Captain, Tropicana Hotel, advised the FBI that JACK RUBY was rumored to have been in Las Vegas, recently, and stayed at the Tropicana. The FBI: "He could not recall having seen RUBY. He heard RUBY played golf at the Tropicana Country Club, however, he feels sure if RUBY had been in the Tropicana he would have known about it. He recalls one year ago a JACK RUBY whom he believes identical with Subject, came to Las Vegas, and had him make reservations for a flight to Chicago. He stated that while making these reservations RUBY changed the spelling of his name several times. He recalls RUBY changed the name to Rubin, Ruben and RUBENSTEIN. He does not recall under which name the reservations were made."

Preston Fineberg denied having known RUBY in Chicago, and he said he was never in Texas. He said the Rolls Royce was being repaired during the period in question. Ernest Muscatelle, the bartender at the Tropicana said he did not know RUBY.

More people said that RUBY was in Las Vegas than said he was not in Las Vegas. Of course the FBI listened to the minority of witnesses, because RUBY'S presence there would have raised a lot of questions. While RUBY was in Vegas, George Senator ran the Carousel Club with the help of Ralph Paul. [FBI LV 44-48 FD-302 with John D. Gaughan 11.25.63 at LV Nevada James Doyle; FBI LV 44-NEW p9, 10; LV 44-48; DL 44-1639 H cover page] The FBI reported: "Information received that in 1958 (deleted) Tropicana Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada stated that Rosselli was manager in fact of this hotel from the time it opened in 1957 until summer of 1958. (Deleted) friend of Rosselli and of Sam Giancanna, Chicago, Illinois, (deleted)." [FBI 92-3267-260] Another FBI report stated: "Information has previously been reported in this investigation, received from more than one source, that when the Tropicana Hotel was opened in 1957 that Rosselli conducted himself in such a manner that these sources were of the impression that he had something to do with the management of the hotel. On June 27, 1962, (Deleted) furnished information that in 1958 (deleted) the Hotel Tropicana, stated that since the hotel was opened (Deleted) all departments had been run by John Rosselli and that Rosselli told every department head what to do around the place and that this situation prevailed until recently (August 1958)."

The name "Milt Jaffee, Los Angeles" was found among RUBY'S effects. The FBI questioned Milton Jaffee, an owner of the Stardust Casino in Las Vegas who was the Subject of an Anti-Racketeering case. Jaffee denied having known RUBY.

RUBY returned to Dallas on Sunday, November 17, 1963. On Monday, November 18, 1963, The New York Times began a series of articles on mob "skimming" in Las Vegas' casinos. On Monday, November 18, 1963, RUBY went back to the Cabana Motel. RUBY was spotted by a wholesale jeweler who was having a snack at the Cabana coffee shop.

Some time before the assassination, possibly on Tuesday, November 19, 1963, evidence suggested that RUBY held a clandestine meeting with Patrolman J.D. TIPPIT. (Born September 18, 1924.) TIPPIT, a former paratrooper and father of three, joined the Dallas Police Department in July 1952. In his 11 years on the force, his name never came up for promotion. A psychiatric report of November 17, 1952, characterized TIPPIT as "wholly devoid of imaginative facilities." It indicated "his interests and achievements were limited, and that his mental functioning and thinking corresponded with the community at large. His grip on reality was below average and it was noted that errors of judgement could be expected...On September 2, 1956, TIPPIT and his partner received a call for a routine investigation at a bar where a white intoxicated male was present. When asked to leave this man attempted to shoot TIPPIT in the head; however the gun did not fire. TIPPIT and his partner drew their service revolvers and killed the individual, who was later identified as Leonard Garland." [FBI 62-109060-3194; FBI Bufile 26-221633 - Garland's ITSM charges dated 1957] TIPPIT was described by Dallas Police Chief Jesse Curry as having the reputation of being "a very fine dedicated officer." During the Warren Commission Hearings Allen Dulles allegedly remarked that TIPPIT may have been involved, in some unspecified manner, with narcotics. [?]

A highly deleted FBI document, titled "Conspiracy Theory, TIPPIT, Six Other Men" stated: "Enclosed here within are eight copies of Letter Head Memorandum containing certain comments made by Alfred Dwight Amos Featherston; enclosed for the Dallas Division are two copies of this Letter Head Memorandum. Featherston is Subject of Bureau File 105-74802, and SA file 105-1953. The pertinent information in the enclosed Letter Head Memorandum was obtained by (Deleted) SA T-1 (deleted). For the reasons set forth above, Informant requested the information he furnished which is set forth in enclosed Letter Head Memorandum, be furnished to the President's Commission, and that no other dissemination of this information be made. In view of this the San Antonio office recommends that Informant's request for a limited dissemination be honored. Therefore, the San Antonio office is not giving consideration to interviewing Featherston concerning his statements about the assassination. It is further recommended that any leads in this matter be left to the Bureau, and that the Dallas and San Antonio offices do not incorporate the information in enclosed Letter Head Memorandum in any investigative report or other document that will be disseminated. Informants. Identity of Source SA T-1 File where located (Deleted) SA T-2 is NK-T1 Confidential Source Abroad as set out in report of S.A. Matthew D. Crawford, Jr. dated July 5, 1960, at Newark captioned Featherston Cover Page B. The enclosed Letter Head Memorandum is classified CONFIDENTIAL in as much as it contains information for SA T-1, a confidential informant of continuing value, the unauthorized disclosure of which could result in identification and compromise the future effectiveness thereof."

The Letter Head Memorandum began: "On June 15, 1964, SA T-1 furnished the following information: (Paragraphs deleted) Concerning Alfred Featherston the following is to be noted...SA T-2 advised on August 7, 1959, that according to the Guatemalan semi-official newspaper, Novedades, Featherston was arrested in Guatemala City around the middle of July 1959 in connection with a plot to assassinate President Miguel Ydigoras Fuentes during the latter's visit to Panama." On December 20, 1963, "(Deleted) Special Agent with the U.S. Bureau of Narcotics, San Antonio, Texas, advised that Alfred Featherston (deleted). Featherston (deleted) that he was born (deleted) and was presently residing at the (deleted) San Antonio, and was writing newspaper articles for the San Antonio Negro weekly newspaper, Snap. Featherston informed (deleted) that he had spent a considerable amount of time in British Honduras and recently came from there to Los Angeles. Featherston advised he was trying to raise funds for the new government which will take over British Honduras when they receive their independence next year sometime..." [FBI 62-109060-3447 DEA; FBI 62-109060-3447; LHM FBI 6.16.64 San Antonio copies destroyed 1.9.73 class by 2040] On July 8, 1964, J. Edgar Hoover sent this letter to J. Lee Rankin: "A source who has furnished reliable information in the past made available the following information which he received from Featherston: (Deleted) For your information we are aware Featherston is a U.S. citizen and claims to be a newspaper man. In recent years he has been in British Honduras at various times, and was engaged in clandestine activities in that country, and is well known to British authorities. In 1959 he was allegedly involved in a plot to assassinate the President of Guatemala and during the same year he made speeches in favor of the Castro regime. At one time he was employed by the Los Angeles Police Department and information has been received indicating that he may be mentally deranged. (Deleted) Since the information attributed to Featherston is nebulous, and inasmuch as extensive investigation has failed to develop any information which would lend credence to the allegations of a conspiracy with respect to the assassination, no further action is being taken with the above unless specifically requested by you. Note: Investigation conducted regarding the assassination has failed to establish that any conspiracy was involved in the assassination particularly on the part of Officer TIPPIT or any member of the Dallas Police Department. (Deleted) This information was contained in a Letter Head Memorandum classified CONFIDENTIAL from the San Antonio Division (Deleted). In view of the possibility of Featherston's mental deraignment, the Commission is being advised no further action is being taken. Data relating to Featherston's activities in British Honduras, Guatemala and speeches made in support of the Castro regime and previous employment with the Los Angeles Police Department with indications he may have been mentally deranged have previously been disseminated to interested Governmental agencies. (105-74802-89)." [FBI 62-109060-3447] HEMMING told this researcher: "Yeah, he was a black guy that worked with HARGRAVES in Los Angeles. He knew Louis Lomax. Bobby Willis was arrested while trying to enter Guatemala in January 1959. He was trying to hit Miguel Ydigoras Fuentes for the Chicago mob. When he was stopped at the border he used the name Martin Borman. His arrest received a lot of fucking attention!"

What was Dwight Amos Featherston's theory? Was the FBI tapping the telephone of Snap and was this why this document was so highly deleted?

Travis Kirk, an attorney who had practiced law for 23 years in Dallas told the FBI that he was personally acquainted with Officer TIPPIT: "A lady once came to my office about TIPPIT - she wanted to press charges against him - he had apparently raped her during one of his investigations." Travis Kirk was also a friend of RUBY. [Travis Kirk re: TIPPIT FBI SF 44-494 FD-302, 11.29.63 Rauch; WCH V4, pgs. l77-178] Ray Brantley was another TIPPIT-RUBY link since he also knew both men. [Tel. con with Brantley]

TIPPIT worked for a local John Bircher on week-ends. TIPPIT's boss, Austin Cook, told the FBI that although he was a member of the John Birch Society, he had never discussed politics with TIPPIT and did not believe TIPPIT was interested in politics. The HSCA interviewed Austin Cook on March 9, 1978. Austin Cook was asked if he had had known RUBY. He replied that he may have met RUBY, but he could not recall. Yet Austin Cook was partners with Bert Bowman in the ownership of the Bull-Pen Restaurant which was later sold to MARCELLO front man Ralph Paul. The Bowmans had known Ralph Paul since he had moved to Dallas and at the time of the assassination Ralph Paul lived in the Bowman's home. Mrs. Bowman told the Committee that Ralph Paul had been a source of funds for Bert Bowman. Ralph Paul had brought RUBY to the Bowman's house on numerous occasions. The HSCA interviewed Mrs. Austin Cook who told them that Ralph Paul was a mutual friend of the Cooks and RUBY. [HSCA V12 p41]

On Wednesday, November 20, 1963, OSWALD and Dallas Police Officer J.D. TIPPIT both ate in the same restaurant. Evidence suggested OSWALD had been ordered to go there by his "case officer" and TIPPIT was told to appear by RUBY. RUBY wanted TIPPIT to get a good look at OSWALD so there would be no confusion on November 22, 1963. Waitress Mary Adda Dowling told the FBI she had seen both men eating at Dobbs House at 8:00 a.m. Dobbs House was located across the street from 1026 North Beckley.[WCD 1364; HSCA V12 p37] TIPPIT starred at OSWALD as he ate. Did OSWALD make a mental note of TIPPIT's face? Delores Harrison, another waitresses at the Dobbs House, remembered the two men eating there and told the FBI about it. [WCE 3001; WCD 1364; WCD205, p224] Douglas Leake, also employed at Dobbs House remembered seeing OSWALD there. [FBI 44-1636-1659]

On the morning of Thursday, November 21, 1963, at about 11:00 a.m., RUBY called Connie Trammel, a former University student who said she knew him, but had never worked for him. A half hour later Connie Trammel and RUBY drove to Lamar Hunt's office. Connie Trammel called Lamar Hunt at his unlisted home telephone number at which time the maid gave her the telephone number of a straight line into Lamar Hunt's office. [ FBI DL 44-1639 7.9.64 Dallas W.H. Griffin] On July 10, 1964, Connie Trammel told the FBI that RUBY expressed an interest in meeting Lamar Hunt and accompanied her to the elevator in office building but did not accompany her upstairs. Connie Trammel was interviewed by Lemar Hunt, allegedly about a job in a "teen-age club." Lamar Hunt died on December 13, 2006.

Why was RUBY interested in the Hunt family at this time? RUBY was aware that a conspiracy was afoot to kill President Kennedy, however, he was not made aware of the personnel who were involved in the conspiracy. Perhaps he had heard the name "HUNT" in connection with the conspiracy and thought it referred to H.L. Hunt. All RUBY had been told was that he had to have a Dallas Police officer take out LEE HARVEY OSWALD on November 22, 1963. That was all RUBY had to do. RUBY wondered who the sponsors were. He might have suspected that, since the assassination was going to take place in Dallas, ultra-conservative Dallas oil millionaire H.L. Hunt was behind it.

In the early evening of November 21, 1963, RUBY met with Sam Campisi and Ralph Paul at Joe Campisi's Egyptian Lounge. In May 1978 Joe Campisi was questioned by the HSCA:

Q. Were you acquainted or are you acquainted with either VINCENT or CARLOS MARCELLO of New Orleans?

A. I know VINCENT and I met Mr. CARLOS MARCELLO about, maybe, six years ago. After all of these years that they had associated me with him I had never met the man.

Q. When did you first meet VINCENT MARCELLO?

A. It was on a junket going out of New Orleans and we went on that junket with him and I was introduced to him at the airport, and I never did see him again for about three or four months. I went back to New Orleans and went to a party and he was at the party, and we got to talking...I didn't know him. I knew JOE, the one in the restaurant business before I knew any of them...I have known JOE MARCELLO ever since I have been in the location that I am in now by meeting him through the restaurant, went out to have dinner with him. I went out and had dinner at their restaurant, you know and for a long time when I went to New Orleans I would never go there...I was scared to go there.

Q. Because of its general reputation?

A. Right, and so I came back and I told Joe Civello about it, and we laughed. He said "Do you mean you wouldn't go out there to eat?" and I says "No sir." He says, "You live here in America and you are scared to go somewhere?" and that made a point. So I said, "Well, why should I hide from something?" So the next time I went down there I went out to dinner and that's how I met him. I used to see little SAMMY MARCELLO at football games...Then I started going there and started playing golf with VINCENT. He invited me as a member guest and then I got to know SAMMY. Then I met ANTHONY and"go ahead and call JOE" and everything, you know...and I have seen CARLOS MARCELLO, how many times in my lifetime? One, two, three, four times in my lifetime.

Q. Were these times in New Orleans or...

A. Yes.

Q. In Dallas?

A. Never been to Dallas. To my knowledge he has never been to Dallas.

Q. What was the occasion of your meeting CARLOS MARCELLO in New Orleans?

A. Well, I had told the brothers that I had never met CARLOS. They couldn't believe it. "You have never met CARLOS?" I said, "No, I have never met your brother CARLOS," so I flew in one day for a golf tournament and ANTHONY picked me up and he said "Well, let's stop at the Town and Country and you can go meet CARLOS." So we get there and there were some people in the office, and he introduced me, blah, blah, blah, and so we just left, you know. Then the next time...he goes to Grand Isle every year to that fishing place. So we thought we would drive down there and go see him, and we went down there and I cooked spaghetti sauce for them...and stayed there for maybe four or five hours, and we drove back. Then the next time I saw him was at a fishing camp that they have there. The next time I was invited to the opening of Broussard's Restaurant and I met him there. I had talked to him on the phone a couple of times. He has called me and asked me if I needed any soft shell crabs, and every year I send them 260 pounds of Italian sausage that I send to them for Christmas to give to all of the brothers and what friends I have there...I have a lot of relatives there and I send sausage to all of them.

Q. Have you had any business dealings with any of the MARCELLO brothers?

A. No sir. [HSCA V9 para. 923]

Despite Sam Campisi's claim that he did not meet MARCELLO until the 1970's, Sam Campisi was a definite link between MARCELLO and RUBY.

After dinner, RUBY returned to his nightclub where he was joined by Lawrence V. "Larry" Meyers and Jean Aase, both of Chicago. Lawrence Meyers was a salesman for the Ero Manufacturing Company. When the FBI studied the toll records of the ERO Manufacturing Company it found calls to corporations that were investigated for illegal arms shipments to Israel. [FBI NY-9444] Gateway Sporting Goods had shipped 500,000 ammunition primers to the United Lumber Company and then to Palestine. Lawrence Meyers knew RUBY for five or six years. RUBY set Lawrence Meyers up with prostitutes. [WCH V4 p627] In October 1963 Lawrence Meyers told one of RUBY'S strippers that he had business interests in Las Vegas and Minneapolis. [WCD 86 p567] Jean Aase was originally from Minneapolis where she had worked as a B-Girl and prostitute. [FBI 44-1639 -1200; Chicago News 9.29.64 p6] RUBY called a woman named "Smokey Turner" at the Gay 90's Bar in Minneapolis, Minnesota. [WCE2302, 2393] Jean Aase was described as a "dumb broad" from Chicago who was being used by Lawrence Meyers for sex during their trip to Dallas.

When New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison subpoenaed David Ferrie's toll records he discovered that on September 24, 1963, David Ferrie called WH-4-4970 in Chicago, Jean Aase's number. [Garrison, Jim, Heritage of Stone, Berkeley, 1970 pl25]

Why would Ferrie be in touch with a prostitute in Chicago. This made no sense as did a lot of the Garrison investigation.

At about 11:00 p.m., RUBY, Lawrence Meyers and Jean Aase went to the Cabana Motel for a late dinner. In the Cabana Motel's Bon Vivant Room they were joined by Edward Meyers, Lawrence Meyers brother. [WCE 2268] Ed Meyers was President of the Queens Beverage Company, headquartered at the Pepsi-Cola Bottling Plant in Brooklyn, New York, and was in Dallas to attend a Convention of the American Bottlers of Carbonated Beverages. Edward Meyers was a member of the Pepsi-Cola delegation as, coincidentally, was NIXON. Edward Meyers and his wife had just visited Mexico City and were staying at the Hotel Adolphus, which was located across the street from the Carousel Club. [WCD 86 p537; Kef. Hearings p627]

After this researcher published this information about Edward Meyers in Coup D'Etat in America, Meyers served me with a summons charging me with libel and demanding $2 million. He never took the case to court.

RUBY had a cup of coffee, and at about 11:15 p.m., he left the Bon Vivant room. At 2:30 a.m. RUBY telephoned an employee at the Carousel Club and said he was still at the Cabana Motel. At about 3:00 a.m. RUBY was seen eating at a restaurant near the Vegas Club. [WR p334]

On the morning of November 22, 1963, a full-page black bordered advertisement was published in The Dallas Morning News. This ad, which criticized President Kennedy from a John Birch Society-like perspective, was signed by Bernard Weissman (born November 1, 1937) who was Jewish.

Bernard Weissman was a friend of Larry Schmidt. While in the Army, Larry Schmidt and a group of con men decided to exploit the "gold mine" of the radical right. The group consisted of Larry Schmidt, Larry Jones and Bernard Weissman and it called itself Conservatism USA. The group planned to hold right-wing demonstrations in Munich, Germany, in conjunction with the National Indignation Committee, to gain credibility and support from men like Frank McGehee. Members of the National Indignation Committee who were still in the Army feared arrest. Larry Jones noted that McGehee was an anti-Semite and so he suggested that Weissman covert to Christianity immediately so that the con game would not fail. In April 1962, Larry Schmidt and his brother, moved to Dallas. Larry Schmidt's brother became an aide to General Walker. Larry Schmidt became the Vice Chairman of the Young Americans For Freedom, a conservative Republican youth group.

CUSA's purpose was to penetrate the leadership of popular anti-Communist organizations, such as the National Indignation Committee, in order to embezzle the organization's funds. In 1964 Albert Jenner asked Bernard Weissman: "This group, or partnership's, material objective was ultimately a self-interest in business?" Bernard Weissman answered, "No."

Larry Schmidt's associates pretended to be conservatives and some were warned: "No jazz, no jive, no bullshit, no slang...down here a Negro is a nigger. No one, and I mean no one, is ever to say a kind word about niggers. Only liberals do that. Liberals are our enemies. Never forget that. Set Bernie straight on that. On the other hand the KKK is passe. Don't praise it. Don't preach race hatred." [WCE 1036 Vol. XVIII] Schmidt managed to infiltrate the National Indignation Committee and sent Jones progress reports on National Indignation Committee stationary. Conservatism USA targeted General Walker and the John Birth Society.

Joseph Grinnan, a member of the John Birch Society, contacted Larry Schmidt and Bernard Weissman in Dallas. Bernard Weissman came to Dallas to see Larry Schmidt in November 1963. Joseph Grinnan gave Larry Schmidt and Bernard Weissman the money to place the black-bordered ad. The ad was signed by Bernard Weissman, who was advised that his name appeared on the advertisement to counter the charges of anti-Semitism which had been leveled against the John Bircher Society. Conservatism U.S.A.'s con game was working and the group was obtaining funds from the John Birch Society.

After November 22, 1963, Mark Lane told the Warren Commission that an undisclosed informant said Bernard Weissman had met with JACK RUBY on November 14, 1963.

There was no evidence the meeting between Weismann and Ruby occurred. Lane's information made it seem as if the Kennedy assassination was a Jewish plot.

Robert Morris, Joseph Grinnan's Counsel, told the FBI that Larry Schmidt wrote an article "relating his experience while working with Manolo Ray in the Cuban underground."

On November 26, 1963, Bernard Weissman left Dallas and returned to New York.

William C. Sullivan conducted a preliminary inquiry into the black bordered ad, then assigned William A. Branigan, Section Chief, Espionage Section, Domestic Intelligence Division, to the investigation. William Branigan determined: "A review of Bufiles fails to reveal any identifiable security data relating to Schmidt, Grinnan, Weissman or William Milton Burley." William Branigan sent a letter to the CIA asking for information on them. Birch O'Neal responded with a document that stated: "The records of this office contain information about one Bill Burley, a U.S. Air Force Tech Sergeant, stationed in Libya in 1958 who may have been involved in nefarious activities." Bill Burley had contact with: "(FNU) Babington, a British soldier and his German wife Irene...Heinz Koliechik...a German national, born circa 1913 to 1918. Our files reveal that your Bureau has forwarded to this office a report dated November 29, 1959, prepared by James P. Wooten (A) entitled (deleted). Page 16 of that report contained the name Bernard Weissman, Dolni Podluzi C 48 on whose order $3.00 drawn for one Robert Kobler...The date cited was October 17, 1956. The above information is provided as a result of a preliminary check of our records. The records of this office contain no additional information which at this time can be identified as pertaining to the persons who might be identical with the man who placed the newspaper ad, or to persons who might have been in contact with them." [CSCI 3/778,894]

William Milton Burley had failed to report for military induction in 1961 and was interviewed by the FBI. The FBI concluded in a telex to seven of its Field Offices: "No connection was found between those placing the advertisement and RUBY and OSWALD; the advertisement was written by Larry Schmidt and Joseph Grinnan, (both John Birch Society members); funds for the enterprise were furnished by an(unidentified) group of well-to-do Dallas businessmen; Weissman and Burley were merely tools in the enterprise. In view of the foregoing, all offices immediately discontinue this matter." [words in parentheses were taken from a Branigan/Sullivan document based on this telex; FBI DL-100-10461 10.7.64-Richard J. Burnett; DL-100-10461 4.23.64 -p301, DL-89-43-EDK/BOD-p701, 62-109060-3956, 62-109060-1483; ltr. from U.S. Security Council 3.14.78; WCD 780; CIA 97.]

A March 18, 1968, CIA document titled Lawrence Schmidt stated: "Larry Schmidt, General Walker's associate, was supposed to have worked with Gordon Novel in Dallas. (Deleted.)" [Allen v. DOD 40318 142;WR p333]

On the morning of Friday, November 22, 1963, RUBY awoke at approximately 11:00 a.m. When RUBY saw the ad he sensed a double-cross. If President Kennedy was killed on the day this advertisement was published, his murder would be associated with the Jews since "Bernard Weissman" was a typically Jewish name and a black border was symbolic of an obituary. RUBY knew that H.L. Hunt was a notorious anti-Semite, and this confirmed his suspicions that H.L. Hunt was behind the assassination of John F. Kennedy.

RUBY'S employee, Andrew Armstrong, Jr., a black man who had served five years for a marijuana offense, worked for the Hunt family just before RUBY hired him in January 1962 as a maintenance man at an apartment building. Andrew Armstrong, Jr. knew RUBY since the early 1950's when Andrew Armstrong, Jr. was a vocalist at RUBY'S club. Andrew Armstrong, Jr. testified that he became acquainted with the Campisi family in 1970 and his nephew eventually went to work at the Egyptian Lounge.[HSCA V9 para. 923]

Additionally, after RUBY was arrested for shooting OSWALD, the Dallas police found transcripts of H.L. Hunt's Lifeline Radio Broadcasts in the trunk of RUBY'S car. [WR p367] RUBY was convinced that the Dallas chapter of the John Birch Society was controlled by the Hunt family.

RUBY drove to the Dallas Morning News building, which over looked Dealey Plaza. He arrived there at about 11:30 a.m. and spoke with advertising employee Don Campbell from about noon until 12:25 p.m., when Don Campbell left his office. When Don Campbell's secretary returned from lunch she noticed that RUBY was sitting in a chair directly in front of her desk: "I am not sure which way he was looking but I have the impression that he was looking out at the scene where President Kennedy was assassinated. You see, sitting in the chair RUBY was sitting in, you can see the Texas School Book Depository, and the very window OSWALD fired from." RUBY'S first reaction to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy concerned the Bernard Weissman advertisement. RUBY opened The Dallas Morning News to the pages that contained the advertisement. "Who is this Weissman?" RUBY asked. Shortly afterward confusion reigned in The Dallas Morning News office as advertisers telephoned to cancel advertising they had placed for the weekend. RUBY opined that some of these cancellations were motivated by the Bernard Weissman advertisement. Ten minutes later RUBY called his sister, then called Andrew Armstrong, Jr. at the Carousel Club and told him: "If the President dies we will close the club." This was RUBY'S next concern - that John Kennedy had actually been killed and was not just wounded. RUBY left the Dallas Morning News building at about 1:20 p.m. and drove to Parkland Hospital where he was observed by Seth Kantor and Wilma Tice. In July 1964, Wilma Tice received a threatening phone call that advised her to "keep her mouth shut or be killed." The next day someone attempted to break into her home. [FBI 44-1639 - 582; FBI 62-109060-3680; HSCA RUBY Chronology]

An official statement was issued at about 1:25 p.m. that the President was dead. At 1:40 p.m. RUBY was at the Carousel Club and at 1:51 p.m. he called Ralph Paul and spoke with him for three minutes, while a radio at the Carousel played in the background.

At about 1:55 p.m. the first news came over the air about the death of Officer TIPPIT. Curtis La Verne Crafard, an employee of the Carousel Club, recalled the scene: "RUBY said he knew TIPPIT, and RUBY referred to him by his first name, or a nickname, neither of which I can remember now. He said he knew him quite well. He was definitely referring to J.D. TIPPIT the Dallas Police Officer who was shot on the day of the assassination." Andrew Armstrong Jr. heard RUBY say the same thing. Crafard had been arrested in Ohio in 1961. Charge: "Sleeper." He was also arrested in Ohio for taking a minor across state lines. Prosecution was declined. When Crafard came to Dallas after the Kennedy assassination he stayed at the Dallas City Mission. He listed his occupation as a carnival worker. [WCE 2430; WR p368; WCE 2275; FBI 62-109060-3680]

After he was arrested for shooting OSWALD, RUBY denied having known TIPPIT: "I know another TIPPIT - in the Special Service Bureau." Evidence to the contrary was supplied by Eva Rubenstein Grant who told reporters: "JACK knew J.D. TIPPIT - I knew him too. He used to come into both the Vegas Club and the Carousel Club many times. He was a fine man." Stella Coffman, who was employed by RUBY as a head waitress from 1948 to 1953, told the FBI: "Officer TIPPIT had patrolled the area of the Silver Spur, which JACK used to own. He made numerous visits to the club and was a close friend of JACK'S." [WCE 3, C. Ray Hall; Boston Globe 12.5.63 Dom Bonafede; FBI 44-24016-443 p3]

RUBY's plan was to have TIPPIT kill OSWALD for having resisted arrest. TIPPIT would have become a national hero, and no one would have linked him to RUBY, as long as he kept his mouth shut. But, as fate had it, OSWALD killed TIPPIT instead of visa versa. RUBY had to fulfill the contract himself, despite his mafia background. The mafia knew it was better to have had a "stand up" guy like RUBY behind bars, rather then an unpredictable OSWALD. RUBY stepped out of the shadows and executed OSWALD. This frightened America. The President is assassinated and then a night club owner kills the alleged assassin two days later? What's going on here? America's credulity was strained. This, along with OSWALD'S leftist background, caused President Lyndon B. Johnson to form the Warren Commission.

JOHN MARTINO stated that someone was waiting to kill OSWALD in the Texas Theatre, where OSWALD had previously been told to go for a clandestine meeting. This did not make sense because OSWALD'S death would not have been easily explained. If Tippit shot OSWALD in the course of arresting him, few questions would have been asked. JACK RUBY would not have been needed if OSWALD was to be killed in the Texas Theatre.

OSWALD boarded a bus at 12:40 p.m. The bus was the first one that came along, not the one that stopped in front of his rooming house, and as soon as he was clear of the Texas School Book Depository area he got off and took a taxi to the 500 block of North Beckley, five blocks south of his rooming house. OSWALD got out of the taxicab at 12:54 p.m., then walked to his rooming house at a brisk pace. [WR pgs. 6, 151, 154, 613, 619, 622, 636, 648]

OSWALD was beginning to freak out. He jumped on the first bus that came along, then uncharacteristically got in a taxi cab. OSWALD got out of the cab before it reached his door, because he wanted to make sure no one was following him and that no one had staked out his rooming house. Paranoia had set in.

After the assassination of President John F. Kennedy Earline Roberts reported that a police car pulled up in front of OSWALD'S rooming house at about 1:00 p.m. on November 22, 1963. When the FBI checked the number of the car (207) as supplied by Earline Roberts, it found the car was in another part of Dallas at that time and it did not belong to TIPPIT. She may have been mistaken about the number of the police car but it was unlikely she was mistaken about its presence. By 1:00 p.m. OSWALD was one block away from 1026 North Beckley. Had OSWALD also seen this police car? [CIA 339-136; Belin, You Are the Jury, Quadrangle, 1973]

After the police car drove off, OSWALD ran into the house with unusual haste, changed his clothes, and grabbed his Smith & Wesson .38 caliber revolver and some ammunition. When OSWALD ordered his revolver he also "wrote in order form in ink an order for one box of ammunition and one holster, which was then crossed out by him." [FBI Los Angeles 89-75-241]

Earline Roberts saw him leave about two minutes after he entered. A few seconds later, she went to the window and noted the direction in which he was heading.

Was Earline Roberts, the resident housekeeper where OSWALD lived part, of the conspiracy? Did she report OSWALD'S post assassination movements to those who were going to murder him? There was evidence that linked her to RUBY, however, she did not fit the profile of the personnel who were used in the assassination of President Kennedy.

Earline Roberts was the sister of Bertha Cheek. Bertha Cheek was a friend of JACK RUBY since 1948. Earline Roberts and Bertha Cheek were previously involved in housing Cuban exiles. Bertha Cheek's former employee, Jesse Willard Lynch, told the FBI that there were two Cuban residents in Bertha Cheek's boarding house in the Spring of 1958. One of them claimed to be a watchmaker and called Havana twice a week from a pay telephone in the boarding house. He stayed for seven weeks. The second Cuban claimed to be buying gas or oil refinery parts in Dallas. He stayed for four weeks. Jesse Willard Lynch was arrested and convicted of housebreaking in 1934. In 1939 he was arrested for a similar offense. Earline Roberts had no recollection of the Cubans. Bertha Cheek initially recalled having rented to them in 1959, then stated she had no recollection whatsoever of any Cubans. Bertha Cheek checked her records for the year in question, and there was no entry for any Cubans.

Bertha Cheek's relative, Berle Cheek, was involved in Dallas gambling activities. [WCE 5353] The HSCA asked Lewis J. McWillie if he knew Berle Cheek. Lewis J. McWillie: "Berle Cheek, yes I knew him too...He had been in gambling prior to my going to Dallas. We borrowed some money from Berle Cheek I think, while I was at Top of the Hill, I don't know, $10,000 or something." In July 1957 RUBY used the name "EARL ROBERT RUBY" when he filed an application for a license for the Vegas Club. This was similar to Earline Roberts. [FBI 302 with Gladys Johnson 3.20.64 Dallas, #DC 100-16461-Switzer; FBI 302 with Gladys Johnson 11.27.63, Dallas, #DC-43-Bardwell Odum;Gladys Johnson Test. To W.C.; WC CE3021; FBI LHM Jess Willard Lynch, Phoenix, Arizona 7.16.64 copies destroyed 1.9.73 S.A. Dan Pecton pgs. 1-4; CD entry 44 Memo From Griffen & Hubert to Rankin 3.6.64 pgs. 4-6; FBI 62-109060-3512; FBI 100-10461 4.29.64 Dallas, A.E. Carter; FBI 62-109060 - 1376, 3496.]

RUBY met with Bertha Cheek on November 18, 1963. RUBY claimed Bertha Cheek was considered investing in one of his nightclubs. [WCD 205 p453-62; WC Hubert Memo 3.19.64] The Warren Commission Report: "A possible link between OSWALD and RUBY was through Earline Roberts...Earline Roberts sister, Bertha Cheek, is known to have visited JACK RUBY at the Carousel Club during the afternoon of November 18, 1963." A Dallas interior decorator witnessed this meeting and told the FBI the conversation was harmless.

Had RUBY arranged for Earline Roberts to finger Oswald for a hit? If RUBY did this, Earline Roberts would have known RUBY was part of the conspiracy to assassinate President John F. Kennedy. Earline Roberts had no criminal record. If Earline Roberts fingered Oswald for a hit, how she could have communicated this information to TIPPIT remained a mystery. It was more likely that OSWALD had been told to show up at a meeting somewhere in Dallas and the man assigned to kill him knew where he lived and the general route he took that afternoon. HEMMING disagreed: "These are people that are used. They're dumb dummies. They don't know shit. They go to their graves without knowing. Did she drop a dime on him when he came in? You're goddamn right she did. She ran a safehouse. The cops who stopped by her place were on the fucking pad. She takes care of snitches for them. Would she connect something with OSWALD and all that? No. She don't give a fuck. She was told to report on OSWALD'S whereabouts every day. She thinks he's a snitch. Do they have something on her? Usually they do. She isn't the talkative kind. He didn't get the room at first, because a phone call had not been made. He walked in with an ad. Someone fucked up."

Between Officer Marion Baker's encounter with OSWALD in the Texas School Book Depository and the police car outside his rooming house, OSWALD realized that he was a patsy in the assassination of an American President and that the Dallas Police Department was going to take him out, and make it look like he had resisted arrest.

TIPPIT found OSWALD at 1:15 p.m., about one mile from the rooming house, and pulled over to where OSWALD was walking. TIPPIT motioned to OSWALD, beckoning him to approach his car. The Warren Commission: "According to Chief Jesse Curry, TIPPIT was free to patrol the central Oak Cliff area. TIPPIT must have heard the description of the suspect wanted for the President's shooting; it was broadcast over Channel One at 12:45 p.m., again at 12:48 p.m. and again at 12:55 p.m. The suspect was described as a 'white male, approximately 30, slender build, height 5'10", weight 165 pounds.' OSWALD did not fit this description. TIPPIT looked at him through the right front window. TIPPIT got out and walked around to the front of the car. As TIPPIT reached the left front wheel, OSWALD pulled out his revolver and shot TIPPIT in the head and stomach four times. TIPPIT died instantly. OSWALD emptied the spent shells from his revolver, then reloaded it, while he made his escape. As he passed a taxi driver parked on the corner, he muttered "poor dumb cop" to himself.

Since TIPPIT failed, RUBY had to kill OSWALD himself, as quickly as possible, despite the consequences. At about 2:05 p.m. the news came over the radio that OSWALD had been taken alive. At 2:37 p.m. RUBY called Alexander Philip Gruber in Los Angeles. [WCE 2300-2350] Alexander Gruber knew RUBY since the late 1920's when Alexander Gruber was arrested and convicted as a grand larcenist. In 1946 Alexander Gruber was arrested for procuring in Los Angeles. RUBY told the Warren Commission that Alex Gruber "was a bad kid" who reformed: "I am sure he makes a very legitimate livelihood at this time." [WCE 2204, FBI 44-895 3.9.64 and 3.16.64 Los Angeles, DC - 44-1639 Edward C. Olsen; WCD 1144; RUBY WC Test.]

When the FBI questioned Alexander Gruber he told them he was a scrap metal dealer - a position which would put him in contact with waste handlers. Seth Kantor reported that "Alexander Gruber was associated with Frank Matula, whom Jimmy Hoffa had installed as a Teamster official shortly after Matula got out of jail on perjury charges." [Seth Kantor, Who Was JACK RUBY, Everest House 1978 - pages 9,11, 34, 70, 203] Robert F. Kennedy identified Frank Matula as a leader of the Los Angeles Waste Handlers Union who Jimmy Hoffa appointed as a Trustee of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. Frank Matula was one of three men Jimmy Hoffa trusted enough to guard the Union's funds. [Kennedy, Enemy Within]

Seth Kantor maintained that Alexander Gruber also had "known connections with hoodlums who worked with racketeer Mickey Cohen." In 1953 RUBY told, Irving Alkana, one of his business partners, that he was a close friend of Mickey Cohen. There was other evidence of a Cohen-RUBY relationship. In 1956 Juanita Slusher was Mickey Cohen's girlfriend. The FBI received information that RUBY was Juanita Slusher's manager around this time. When Juanita Slusher was arrested on marijuana possession charges in 1957, Mickey Cohen hired San Francisco Attorney Melvin Belli as her defense attorney. Melvin Belli would later defend RUBY. Another FBI report stated that RUBY approached a pilot for the Texas Department of Corrections regarding assistance in obtaining nearly parole for Juanita Slusher. A Drug Enforcement Administration report dated 1958 suggested that R.D. Matthews and Juanita Slusher were involved in drug trafficking. The report stated that R.D. Matthews had served two years for cocaine possession. According to JOHN MARTINO, Mickey Cohen was involved in arms smuggling to Fidel Castro from 1957 to 1958. RUBY was involved in an identical venture at the same time. In 1961, Mickey Cohen went to prison for tax-evasion and was not released until the early 1970's. Throughout the Fall of 1963 RUBY was in constant contact with Juanita Slusher. Their last known conversation took place on November 12, 1963, when RUBY called Juanita Slusher at her home in Edna, Texas. Alexander Gruber happened to be visiting RUBY in Dallas one day before this call was made. It was believed that it was Alexander Gruber's connection with Mickey Cohen that prompted RUBY to call him at 2:37 p.m. on November 22, 1963. By this time RUBY knew that he was going to have to blast OSWALD himself because it was impossible to find anyone else to do it. RUBY also knew that there was an unwritten rule in the syndicate that if you put out a contract on someone and your boy fails, you have to fulfill the contract yourself. [Newsweek 8.9.79; Peer Nugent, Mickey Cohn Prentice Hall 1975; FBI Los Angeles- 44-895 GAP: mel cover page G; WCE 1228; Messick- Lansky; WCE 1306; FBI 44-24016-56; HSCA V9 para. 1054; Martin, I Was Castro's Prisoner, Devin Adair, 1963; WCE 2284] On July 29, 1976, Mickey Cohen died of stomach cancer.

RUBY wanted Alexander Gruber to get him an attorney who would defend him after he shot OSWALD. Chances are RUBY wanted Mickey Cohen's ex-attorney, Melvin Belli. According to recently declassified FBI documents, Sam Brody, who was associated with Melvin Belli's law firm, was associated with Mickey Cohen in a questionable capacity: "In connection with the Mickey Cohen investigation in 1958, we received information that Sam Brody was with Mickey Cohen when Cohen was arrested by the Philadelphia Police Department. Sam Brody's room was searched at that time by the police although he was not arrested..." When the FBI ran a check on Melvin Belli the FBI found: "Many references concerning reported telephonic contacts between Melvin Belli and Mickey Cohen." A further search of its indices revealed that in April 1959, Melvin Belli accompanied Mickey Cohen to the Las Vegas Sheriff's office where Mickey Cohen registered as a convicted felon. Later that year Melvin Belli defended Mickey Cohen on a charge of having assaulted the Chief of the Federal Narcotics Bureau in Los Angeles. [FBI CA 44-895 GAP: mel cover page G; San Francisco Examiner 4.28,59, 7.8.59, 8.24.59 as cited in unidentified FBI doc. in author's possession.] CIA documents revealed that Melvin Belli was in contact with Victor Velasquez, a Mexican Attorney who was Chairman of the Board of Directors of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. In 1942 Victor Velasquez was a History Professor and Fascist Leader, at the Autonomous University of Mexico City. By 1943, Victor Velasquez was directing drug smuggling for the fascists, until the defeat of the Axis in 1945. That year Victor Velasquez was investigated by American Intelligence and found to be "pro-U.S." In 1958 he had a private interview with the American Ambassador, and in 1962 a CIA Staff employee described him as "Mexico's outstanding criminal lawyer." [FBI 44-24070 727, 729; CIA 616-790, 611-787, 788, 798]

When questioned about RUBY'S telephone call to him on November 22, 1963, Alexander Gruber told the FBI that RUBY called to express his grief over the death of the President. According to Alexander Gruber, RUBY had never been involved in "anything illegal" prior to shooting OSWALD and RUBY'S telephone call had nothing to do with that shooting. Two minutes after speaking with Alexander Gruber, RUBY called Ralph Paul. [WR pgs. 337-340] Five minutes later he left the Carousel Club and drove to Eva Rubenstein Grant's home. He went back to the Carousel Club and directed Larry Crafard to prepare a "closed" sign. When the sign was completed RUBY walked to a nearby delicatessen and bought $20 worth of food. RUBY went back to Eva Grant's where he ate supper, then drove to the Police and Courts Building where OSWALD was being held. At least five witnesses recalled having seen him on the third floor of Police Headquarters between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. One of them saw RUBY attempt to enter the Homicide Office where OSWALD was being questioned. At about 9:15 p.m. RUBY drove to a local synagogue. By 11:30 p.m. RUBY was back stalking OSWALD at Police Headquarters. Now he claimed to be a "translator for the Israeli press." When OSWALD was shown to the media at a press conference in the basement of the building, RUBY was there, standing on a table, looking for an opportunity to blow OSWALD away. Later that evening RUBY corrected District Attorney Henry Wade when he mistakenly identified OSWALD as having been a member of the Free Cuba Committee, an Anti-Castro group: "Not the Free Cuba Committee; the Fair play for Cuba Committee. There is a big difference." Initially RUBY said that he had his revolver with him that night. He later denied it. [FBI DL-44-1639-5563] RUBY spent the rest of the night mingling with the media. He told everyone that he believed there was a connection between H.L. Hunt, the Bernard Weissman advertisement and the assassination of President Kennedy.

On November 22, 1963, at 11:44 p.m. RUBY placed a long-distance call to Galveston, Texas. RUBY dialed the telephone number of Thomas J. McKenna. On November 21, 1963, Thomas J. McKenna had telephoned the Adolfus Hotel in Dallas, across the street from the Carousel Club. The call was placed to Breck Wall's room. On November 22, 1963, Thomas McKenna placed no long-distance calls.

At 4:30 a.m. on November 23, 1963, RUBY awakened George Senator, then called Larry Crafard. The three men drove to an"Impeach Earl Warren"sign on the Central Expressway in Dallas. There RUBY instructed Larry Crafard to take 3 photographs of the billboard. RUBY noted on the back of an envelope a name and Post Office Box that appeared on the sign. Pursuing a possible connection between the billboard and the newspaper advertisement, RUBY drove to the post office and asked an employee for the name of the man who had rented the box indicated on the billboard. The employee said he could not provide him with such information. [WR p344] Larry Crafard realized that RUBY'S behavior was getting more and more suspicious by the minute. At 9:00 a.m. he assembled his few belongings and left Dallas forever. [WR p345] RUBY had taken a few Preludin diet pills on Friday night and was unable to sleep during the morning of Saturday, November 23, 1963. At 1:30 p.m. RUBY drove to Dealey Plaza where he continued to mingle with the media. RUBY pointed out to a reporter that Captain Will Fritz and Chief Jesse Curry were in the vicinity. RUBY knew both these men. Jesse Curry had put Will Fritz in charge of OSWALD while he was in police custody. Travis Kirk, Officer TIPPIT's attorney, remarked: "Fritz and JACK RUBY were very close friends. JACK RUBY, in spite of his reputation of being a 'hood' was allowed complete run of the Homicide Bureau."

RUBY said that next he drove home and then returned downtown to Sol's Turf Bar. The evidence indicated, however, that sometime after leaving Dealey Plaza, he went to a pay phone located at a garage next to the Carousel Club and made several telephone calls. The manager of the garage heard RUBY mention Chief Jesse Curry's name during a conversation concerning the transfer of OSWALD. [WR p346]

The fact that RUBY made telephone calls from a pay telephone rather than from the phone at his club was significant. The General Counsel of the Warren Commission, J. Lee Rankin, vetoed a staff request for the telephone records of the parking garage, the Cabana Motel and the Egyptian Lounge. [HSCA V9 p188]

At about 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 23, 1963, five news reporters saw RUBY at the Police and Courts Building. OSWALD was scheduled to be moved at 4:00 p.m. and RUBY was on his case, but Will Fritz postponed the move indefinitely. [WR pgs. 346-347] Later that afternoon RUBY was back at Sol's Turf Bar, where he showed everyone his Polaroid snapshots of the "Impeach Earl Warren" sign which he insisted was connected with the "Weissman Advertisement" in a way which was supposed to create anti-Semitic feelings in Dallas. That afternoon he spoke with his accountant and civil attorney, made several telephone calls from pay telephones, then went back to Eva Grant's. Later that evening he returned to his apartment and called Lawrence Meyers at the Cabana. Then RUBY went back to Eva Rubenstein Grant's house and called Ralph Paul. A waitress at Ralph Paul's restaurant overheard a bit of the RUBY/Paul conversation that night, and it concerned a gun. Shortly after 11:00 p.m. RUBY returned to the Carousel Club and made a series of five brief long-distance calls. First RUBY telephoned Ralph Paul at his restaurant, then at his home. At 11:36 p.m. a third call was placed to his home at 11:44 p.m. Then RUBY telephoned Galveston, Texas. This call lasted two minutes. Thereafter, RUBY immediately placed a one minute phone call to Ralph Paul's home. At 11:48 p.m. RUBY went to the Pago Club, about a ten minute drive from the Carousel Club, and made more telephone calls.

RUBY stayed up all night once again and at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday November 24, 1963, he was seen near the Police and Courts Building. RUBY returned to his apartment at 9:00 a.m. About an hour later he received a call from one of his strippers who wanted to get paid. RUBY decided to wire this woman part of the money owed her.[WR 346-347] A few minutes before 11:00 a.m. RUBY left his apartment and drove to the Western Union Office. RUBY parked his car, placed his keys and his bill-fold containing $1000 in the trunk, which he locked, then placed the trunk key in the glove compartment. He did not lock the doors of the car. With his revolver, more than $2000 in cash and no personal identification RUBY entered the Western Union office. Information on the origin of these Federal banknotes was withheld by the FBI. [FBI NY 65-17696 p5] His transaction there was completed at 11:17 a.m. RUBY proceeded to the Police and Courts Building and entered the police basement from the auto ramp. RUBY said he snuck into the basement when a policeman outside was distracted. Sheriff Roy Vaughn was often credited with having allowed RUBY into the garage where the OSWALD murder took place because of testimony from Napoleon J. Daniels, a former Dallas policeman. Daniels said he saw someone who looked like RUBY go down the ramp with Roy Vaughn's assent, two minutes before OSWALD was killed.

The HSCA determined that RUBY had been aided and abetted in gaining entrance by Sergeant Patrick Dean. In addition to being in charge of basement security, Sergeant Patrick Dean was at Parkland Memorial Hospital when RUBY was there. Sergeant Patrick Dean failed a polygraph test when questioned about these incidents. HEMMING told this researcher: "The only indicators we have that somebody used resources within the law enforcement community, the biggest one being RUBY'S access to the garage. A personal visit was made to RUBY with a phone call to him. RUBY was at the old Dallas News building, looking through the same window I'd looked through when I went through Dallas earlier that year. He heard the shots. Funny thing, I was in the Miami News building."

During RUBY'S trial for the murder of OSWALD, Sergeant Patrick Dean testified that RUBY had told him, during a jail cell interview, that he thought about killing OSWALD two days before he shot him. As it turned out, RUBY'S conviction, which carried the death penalty, was reversed on appeal partly because of Sergeant Patrick Dean's testimony. Sergeant Patrick Dean made no secret of his friendship with RUBY. He told the FBI he had known RUBY since 1960 as operator of the Carousel Club. Sergeant Patrick Dean also was a friend of Joe Civello. Civello invited Sergeant Patrick Dean to a dinner in Dallas shortly after Civello was arrested with other mafia leaders at the Appalachia, N.Y. meeting in 1957. Sergeant Patrick Dean was a police sergeant until 1973, when he retired on a disability pension after incurring injuries in an auto accident. Sergeant Patrick Dean was in a coma for 21 days and suffered permanent brain damage. The HSCA was unable to arrange a convenient date for deposing Sergeant Patrick Dean and he failed to respond to its written interrogatories. [HSCA V9 p139; Goltz, Dallas Morning News 3.25.79]

RUBY stood behind the front line of newsmen gathered to photograph OSWALD. As OSWALD emerged at 11:20 a.m. RUBY moved quickly forward and without saying a word, pulled out a snub nosed .38 and fired one fatal shot into OSWALD'S stomach. At 11:30 a.m. RUBY was wrestled to the ground, disarmed, and taken into custody. He told the police that he had murdered OSWALD "because he had a communistic look on his face." At 6:00 p.m. Eva Rubenstein Grant visited JACK.

RUBY told his sister he wanted Fred Bruner, Tom Howard and Jim Martin as his attorneys. RUBY stressed that "Bruner is my man. Fred Bruner will come down in the morning and arrange bonds and have a hearing." [FBI DL - 44 - 24016-44; FBI DL - 44-1639 11.24.63 Dallas J.M. Myers pl9] Fred Bruner was a Dallas Attorney with offices in the Mercantile Building. Bruner was well known, both socially and officially, to the Dallas Office of the FBI. One of Fred Bruner's closest friends in the FBI was Robert M. Barrett, who was constantly in touch with the criminal underworld, in his capacity as an FBI agent. [FBI 62-109060 - 5866, Martindale Hubell Law Directory 1963] Fred Bruner told the FBI that he had "known RUBY for about 15 years and RUBY has been to his office a number of times. The reasons for RUBY'S visits were usually in regards to some club or business venture that RUBY was promoting and he was just one of a number of individuals that RUBY would contact when discussing these ventures. He never represented RUBY or handled any legal work for him nor did he give him legal advice." [FBI 44-1639-1769]

As Eva Rubenstein Grant was leaving the police station she told reporters that RUBY "didn't see why Kennedy was killed when a man like Valachi was permitted to live." Joe Valachi was a mafioso who testified against the mob.Valachi had no knowledge of RUBY. His testimony concerned mob influence in Las Vegas. In jail RUBY was visited by Breck Wall, Joe Campisi and Ralph Paul. [FBI DC-1639 12.2.63 FD-302 with M.W. Newman at Dallas Jack B. Peden]

On November 26, 1963, " HO (Deleted) DASH C reported telephone conversation with Mary Ann McCall, hostess, Bachelor's Club, Dallas on November 25, 1963. Mary Ann McCall, known to informant for a number of years, is reported to be fixer and payoff contact between Dallas Police and criminal element. During phone conversation informant asked McCall if shooting of OSWALD was an accident and she reportedly stated ' No, I don't think so.' McCall was asked two or three times if it was an accident and each time she said it was not, but refused to make further statement or clarification on phone, stating to informant, 'You know how it works.' Informant personally to contact McCall while in Dallas on legitimate business on November 27, 1963, or November 28, 1963. Houston will follow and report results of contact. Informant states McCall will not cooperate with Bureau and will deny any knowledge of the incident. Houston recommends McCall not be interviewed at this time in order that informant not be compromised." [FBI 44-24016-329]

When RUBY came to trial his attorneys were Melvin Belli and Joe Tonahill. Joe Tonahill was a highly successful attorney from Jasper, Texas, primarily engaged in negligence cases. Tonahill had assisted Melvin Belli in the Juanita Slusher case, and had also played an unspecified part in an investigation concerning Mickey Cohen. In July 1961, the FBI received information that Joe Tonahill was a subscriber to a publication which was the Subject of an interstate gambling investigation.

Melvin Belli and Joe Tonahill tried to convince a Dallas Jury that RUBY had killed OSWALD because he had an attack of "psychomotor epilepsy" in the basement of Police Headquarters. RUBY was found guilty and sentenced to death. RUBY dismissed Melvin Belli and hired Percy Foreman, a widely known Houston, Texas, criminal lawyer who specialized in murder cases. The Dallas FBI office was aware of Percy Foreman in connection with his representation of Joseph Francis Civello, top mafia figure in Dallas. [FBI 44-24016-1319] On November 27, 1963, Bobby Gene Moore, a piano player in one of RUBY'S nightclubs, called the FBI and told them he had some information on his ex-boss. Bobby Gene Moore, who had an extensive criminal record, explained that at the same time he had worked for RUBY, he also worked for Joseph Civello at the LaMonte Italian Importing Company. Bobby Gene Moore suspected that Joseph Civello was involved in "racket activities" when he would not let him open certain cartons of imported Italian cheese, although that was allegedly his job. Bobby Gene Moore said RUBY was a frequent visitor to the importing company while he worked there. [WCE 1536; FBI SF 44-494 DL 44-1639 FD - 302 with Bobby Gene Moore 11.26.63 Oakland, Calif. D.F. Hallahan; FBI DL 44-1639 - 1190] When the FBI questioned Paul Roland Jones subsequent to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, he advised them to interview Joe Civello if they wanted to find out if RUBY was "mobbed-up." Paul Roland Jones had been indicted for perjury in the Southern District of New York in a case entitled: U.S. v. Peter Crosby et. al.

On June 7, 1964, RUBY was questioned by the Warren Commission. He said: "... you are weak in what you want to tell the truth about, and what you want to say which is the truth." RUBY was going to tell the truth, but he was going to do it subtly.

RUBY went on to say: "I wanted to get up and say the truth regarding the steps that led me to do what I have got involved in, but since I have a spotty background in the nightclub business, I should have been the last person to ever want to do something that I had been involved in it. In other words, I was carried away tremendously...Now everything is very vague to me as to when this transpired; after they heard the President had been shot or prior to this...Different things came up, flashed back into my mind, that it, dirtied up my background...I knew persons of notorious backgrounds years ago in Chicago. I was with the union back in Chicago and I left the union when I found out the notorious organization had moved in there. It was in 1940. Then recently I had to make so many numerous calls that I am sure you know of...all these phone calls were related, not in anyway involved with the underworld...as a matter of fact I even called a Mr. - hold it before I say it - Miller...headed the American Federation of Labor - I can't think - in the State of Texas - Miller...called Barney Ross...All these phone calls were related, not in any way involved with the underworld, because I have been away from Chicago 17 years down in Dallas...I want to set you gentlemen straight on all the telephone calls I had...Has every witness been this hesitant in trying to explain their story..."

RUBY had to act quickly when he killed OSWALD. He knew that his background as a Teamster-connected gangster would come to light as a result of toll records, but it was worth it.

RUBY told the Commission how he stalked OSWALD on the evening of November 22, and how he was going to have to kill him because he was backed against the wall by the mob who would go after his family if he double-crossed them. RUBY: "I went down to the assembly room down in the basement...I got up on a little table there where I know I wasn't blocking anyone's view, because there was an abutment sticking out, and I had my back to the abutment..."

RUBY believed that President Kennedy was killed because of a conspiracy: "I am being victimized in a plot on the world's greatest tragedy and crime...Unfortunately for me, for me giving the people the opportunity to get in power, because of the act I committed, has put a lot of people in jeopardy with their lives...I may not live tomorrow to give any further testimony. The reason why I add this to this, since you assure me that I have been speaking sense by then, I might be speaking sense by following what I have said, and the only thing I want to get out to the public, and I can't say it here, is with authenticity, with sincerity of truth of everything and why my act was committed, but it can't be said here...I tell you gentlemen my whole family is in jeopardy. My sisters, as to their lives...Naturally I am a foregone conclusion. My sisters Eva, Eileen and Mary, I lost my sisters. My brothers Sam, Earl, Hyman and myself naturally they are in jeopardy of loss of their lives. Yet they have, just because they are blood related to myself - does that sound serious enough for you Justice Warren? Would you rather I delete what I said and pretend nothing is going on." [Testimony of RUBY 6. 7.64 WCH p181; Memo: To: Henry Wade re: WCH held in the County Jail 6.7.64, with JACK RUBY testifying. pgs.l-21]

RUBY demanded and was given, a lie detector test. In Coup D'Etat In America, it was pointed out that by the time RUBY was asked the important questions, he was desensitized. The HSCA confirmed this and discovered that the FBI's polygraph operator decreased his instrument's sensitivity when RUBY was asked about an underworld conspiracy. [HSCA V9 p8]

RUBY'S death sentence was overturned and he began serving a life sentence for the murder of OSWALD. In July 1965, he was interviewed by a psychiatrist after two suicide attempts. RUBY feigned insanity in an effort to get his sentence mitigated and convince the syndicate that he posed no threat to them as a State's witness. RUBY'S delusions took an interesting form. He told the psychiatrist, Dr. Werner Teuter, on July 12, 1965 to July 15, 1965 that his mind was functioning adequately. "He promised that, after having given such proof, he would make me acquainted with a conspiracy which I was to guard with the utmost secrecy...He considers himself the victim of a conspiracy and was 'framed' to kill OSWALD so that OSWALD could never say who made him kill President Kennedy. This framework of course is very complicated and must be guarded with the utmost secrecy. It also involves high government agencies, and his attorneys, whom he considers to be members of the plot...There is considerable guilt about the fact that he sent guns to Cuba - he feels he 'helped the enemy' and incriminated himself. 'They got what they wanted on me.' For him the assassination was an act of overthrowing the government...Then he suddenly related that he cannot possibly divulge how he was framed into killing OSWALD." RUBY interspersed this information with tirades concerning anti-Semitism that did not make sense: "Do you hear crying - Jewish men and women and children are being slaughtered - in the next room - all over the United States. Auschwitz, Treblinka are operating again - my family is dead. Listen, I hear them, trains, coming to take them away."

The thing that bothered RUBY the most about his part in the conspiracy was that his actions could have engendered a wave of anti-Semitism. RUBY told the Warren Commission: "Unfortunately, Chief Earl Warren, had you been around five or six month ago, and I know your hands were tied, you couldn't do it, and immediately the President would have gotten a hold of my true story, or whatever would have been said about me, a certain organization wouldn't have completely formed now, so powerfully, to use me because I am of Jewish extraction, Jewish faith, to commit the most dastardly crime that has ever been committed. Can you understand now in visualizing what happened, what powers, what momentum has been carried on to create this feeling of mass feeling against my people, against certain people that were against them prior to their power. That goes over your head, doesn't it?"

Chief Justice Warren thought RUBY made reference to the John Birch Society, but then RUBY said that President Johnson had "relinquished certain powers to these certain people [the CIA]."

Warren: "Well I am afraid I don't know what power you believe he relinquished to [the John Birch Society]. I think that it is difficult to understand what you have to say.

RUBY: I want to say this to you. The Jewish people are being exterminated at this moment. Consequently a whole new form of government is going to take over our country, and I know I won't live to see you another time. Do I sound sort of screwy in telling you these things?..There is only one thing. If you don't take me back to Washington tonight to give me a chance to prove to the President that I am not guilty, then you will see the most tragic thing that will ever happen...All I know is something can be saved. Because right now, I want to tell you this, I am used as a scapegoat, and there is no greater weapon that you can use to create some falsehood about the Jewish faith, especially at the terrible, heinous crime such as the killing of President Kennedy. Now maybe something [democracy] can be saved. It may not be too late, whatever happens, Lyndon Johnson knew the truth from me. But if I am eliminated, there won't be anyway of knowing. Right now, when I leave your presence now, I am the only one who can bring out the truth to our President, who believes in righteousness and justice. But he has been told, I am certain, that I was part of the plot to assassinate the President."

RUBY did not "sing" to the authorities. During the time he spent behind bars he denied being part of a conspiracy. The syndicate was well-served and retribution did not have to be taken against his family. RUBY named no names. In March 1964 RUBY expressed concern that his jailers were going to kill him. [FBI 44-24016-1231] In October 1966 the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals reversed the conviction of RUBY for the killing of OSWALD in a unanimous decision. RUBY was going to get a new trial. On December 9, 1966, Judge Lewis Holland announced that the second trial of RUBY was to be held in Wichita Falls, Texas, trial date not yet set.

In December 1966 widespread cancer was discovered in RUBY'S lymph nodes. He was dead one month later. The major link between the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and organized crime had been silenced. The CIA investigated the possibility of inducing cancer in humans as a means of assassinating individuals by natural causes. The CIA documents, dated in the mid-1950's, indicated researchers looked into the use of "physiologically active chemical compounds," particularly the carcinogenic chemical beryllium, as a means of inducing cancer. The memos talked about having used cancer as well as "heart techniques" to "knock off key guys." The memorandums, which were released by the Assassination Information Bureau in Washington, D.C. did not reveal if the CIA ever actually utilized a cancer-causing substance against an unknowing victim. [ZNS New Service, John Newhall, 4.13.79]

In 1993 STURGIS circulated a book proposal in which he implied he knew how JACK RUBY was coerced into killing OSWALD, and how RUBY was murdered in the prison hospital. STURGIS claimed his information came from RUBY'S friend, Wally Weston. In 1976 Wally Wetson "after he read newspaper articles concerning information furnished by one FRANK STURGIS" told the FBI that he suddenly remembered that OSWALD was present at the Carousel Club. He also said that just before he died RUBY told him to the effect that now they are going to find out about my trips to Cuba, my trips to New Orleans, and the guns and everything. [FBI 62-109060-7569; HSCA interview with Fonzi 7.30.76] HEMMING told this researcher: "I went to RUBY'S nightclub one time. I didn't like the place because it reminded me of Bourbon Street. Wally Welch took us over there. I didn't recognize RUBY. We figure, well, Wally could hook us up with some people that could be of support. They knew each other and interchanged their names [Wally Welch / Wally Wetson] on a few transactions. RUBY would listen to anyone who could kill his sister. He hasn't got the phone number of the council."

When Fidel Castro took power, Mike McLaney was arrested for three months, then freed. Mike McLaney continued to operate under Fidel Castro and hoped to become gambling czar of Cuba. Mike McLaney paid out $102,000 to Fidel Castro's Ministry of Gambling headed by FRANK STURGIS. When the Casino Nacional was nationalized in 1960 he lost $7 million. Fidel Castro had Mike McLaney deported a few days later. In the 1960's Mike McLaney built the Royal Haitian Hotel, and operated three casinos in Haiti until the late 1980's. In the mid-1960's Mike McLaney operated in the Bahamas, where he supported Linden Pindling. In the late 1960's mobster Louis Mastriana accused Mike McLaney and Elliot Roosevelt of plotting to kill Linden Pindling. In 1973 Mike McLaney told a Senate subcommittee that he had supported Linden Pindling on the promise that Lindon Pindling would award gambling concessions to him - which Lindon Pindling failed to do. In 1971 Mike McLaney was convicted of income tax evasion. In 1975 Lewis J. McWillie worked for Mike McLaney. The HSCA questioned Lewis J. McWillie about this: "I met Mr. McLaney years ago in Miami. This was in the early 1940's, 1946, or 1947. He had a restaurant called L'Aiglon, a French restaurant...when I went to Cuba, he had the National Hotel. I used to go over and visit with him, you know, like you visit with people. And then I worked for McLaney in Haiti, too. I stayed down there nine months. I got sick down there. McLaney's brother Bill was a very good friend of mine, we're still friends. I worked for him at the Carousel here in Las Vegas. They owned the Carousel, McLaneys. I wasn't aware the McLaneys were involved in anti-Castro activities after their return to the United States. Never heard it before today. I think I read it in a book too..." [WCD 1151b; WCE 1545, 1546, WCD 1655; Testimony of Mike McLaney Before Bahamian Game Board; FBI 62-109060 - 4651; WCD 824] McLaney died on September 9, 1994; Miami Herald 9.19.94 p4B]