AGENCY : FBI RECORD NUMBER: — 124-90097-10195 RECORD SERIES: HQ AGENCY FILENUMBER:  166-637-20 Document Information ORIGINATOR: — FBI FROM: BA TO: HQ TITLE: DATE: — 07/17/1963 PAGES: 57 SUBJECTS : CHARLES TOURINE DOCUMENT TYPE : CLASSIFICATION : RESTRICTIONS : CURRENT STATUS : DATE OF LAST REVIEW : OPENING CRITERIA : COMMENTS : v9.1 HW 45964 DocId: 32331573 Page 1 ’ JFK Assassination System Identification Form Agency Information JOSEPH FRANCIS NESLINE PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT Unclassified 4 Redact 07/20/1998 INDEFINITE RPT
BA 165-53 ADMINTSTRATIVE DATA: The subject of this case is also tne subject of | WkO case entitled "JOSEPH FRANCIS NESLINE; Unknown Wire Service, AR; IGA - WS", Bureau file 92-3000, WFO file 92-81, Baltimore file 92-99. is being reported in the antiracketeering case and, in accordance ' with Bureau regulations, is not being set out in the details of thts ITAR report. | Information received from confidential informants | During the latter part of March, 1963, considerable information was received from confidential informants RH 95-C OTHER 4 and WER_1309-C, that JOSEPH FRANCIS NESLINE and JOHN RALPH ~ ' CHELL were operating a crap game in Maryland. RH 95-C advised SA H WARD E. RICHARDSON, Richmond i Division, on 721/63; that he“had learned that JOSEPH NESLINE ‘ and|CHARLIEYMHITE (CHARLESXPOURINE) had a big crap game , i going in Maryland, which i's cated in an old hunting lodge, } localted between Waldorf and La“Plata, Maryland. Many of their customers were allegedly coming from Richmond and otier Virginia ‘poirts and from the District of Columbia. NESLINE had reportedly commented that he had attempted to re-open his dice game in Washington at the Amber Club, , during the first part of the year, but had been unable to do so because he was unable to obtain the necessary Police protection. He stated that the Captain of the precinct was cooperating fully but that somebody higher up was giving them a hard time. This informant had previously received information that JOSEPH NESLINE was operating a big crap game in Lexington Park, Maryland, where a old-time bookmaker and gambler named FISHER had reportedly arranged the "fix" so he could operate. On 3/25/63, PcIL____ nad advised SA GIBBON E. MC NEELY of the Washington Field Office, that he had learned on the weekend of 3/24/63 that GABRIEL "GABB BROW was operating a dice game for JOSEPH NESLINE in Marytend, about 4O miles from the District of Columbia. 7 -C - COVER PAGE HW 45964 DocId:32331573 Page 2
By airtel 3/25/63, in the antiracketeering case ecncerning subject, WFO pointed out that the FISHER referred to by RH 95-C was probably AGLEIXRISHER,_3119 Grantsville Road, Lexington Park, Maryland, Ww was anested by Hampton, Viveinia ‘Police Of rPtsers on n 9/23/52 when that Cepartment conducted gambling arrests at a dice game at Don's, 47 Water Street, Phoebus, Hampton, Virginia. MJhis dce game reportedly had been ARS operated ty NESLINE and GEOR ROHANNA several weeks prior. to 9/23/62. ° . Previous investigation by Baltimore developed that At “LEN FISHER owned and operated the Honey Lane Restaurant, Lexington Park, Maryland and had a history of gambling activities. WFO pointed out that because of the sensitive source of the information furnished (RH 95-C) and because of the report that FISHER has arranged the "fix" so that NESLINE could operate in Maryland, no contact with local law enforcement offices or dher inquiries concerning this aspect should be made. As set out in the details of this report, the location of NESLINE and MITCHELL's dice game was determined to be in the estate of the Paramount Sand and Gravel Company, Ripley, Maryland. When this was observed by SA J. STANLEY ROTZ and GERARD R. LOWE, Baltimore Division and JOHN R. BUCKLEY and JOSEPH PATRICK PARKER, Washington Field Office on 3/25/63, the automobile used by LANGHORNE CARTER RORER, associate of NESLINE, came out of the driveway. On 3/27/63, RH 95-C advised the Richmond Division that the crap game of JOSEPH NESLINE and CHARLES WHITE being operated by BILLY MITCHELL, had encountered some difficulty the previous evening, with local law enforcement. officials, not further identified, and were forced to close down their operation. Informant did not know whether the crap game would re-open or would be moved to a different location. By letter dated 4/10/53 the Bureau instructed Baltimore ana WFO to initiate a ITAR investigation regarding NESLINE. ; On 4/30/63, RH 95-C advised that the dice game formerly run by NESLINE and a partner, in Maryland, had been closed down for a week or so and they do not expect to resume the game at the same location. Informant stated tnat he was referring -D- COVER PAGE HW 45964 DocId:32331573 Page 3 —— . fe me a ee tee emma aes ect mee earch ee cobain Eee. etna de was *eee.s =
— BA 155-53 to the dice game wiicn NESLINE had operated in a nunting lodge on U. 3. Route 301, near La Plata, Marylandeg ! As indicated in Baltimore letter to Director and other offices dated 5/9/53, Baltimore had made contact witn JULIAN I. JOHNSON, whose residence was directly across Maryland Route 225 from the lane which leads to the estate being used by NESLINE at Ripley, Maryland for his dice game. In the event i that activities at the estate had been resumed, Baltimore ' was prepared to institute stationary surveillance. WFO informants who were in direct contact with subject's operation indicated that NESLINE's dice game was started at i915*Biltmore Street, N. W., Washington, D. C. and was in operation here during May, 1953. By airtel dated 6/7/53 WFO advised the Director, Baltimore, Richmond and Miami that information had been furnished by WF 1108-C that subject and his associates plan to move their dice game from Washington, D. C. to St. Mary's County, Maryland. ALLEN FISHER, well known Lexington Park, Maryland gambler, was negotiating at proposed site. | Information received by 3A GERARD R. LOWE on 6/6/63 | from BENJAMIN H. BURROUGHS, JR., NA, Deputy Sheriff, St. Mary's County, Leonardtown, Maryland and set out in the details of this report, established that NESLINE was behind the gambling establishment being set up by FISHER at the Sportsman's Club Restaurant on Maryland Route 5,5t. Mary's County, Maryland. Further details were furnished by BURROUGHS on 6/7, 9/63 to 3A GERARD R. LOWE and SA J. STANLEY ROTZ. In the interest of economy, copies of several pages * containing this information as included in Baltimore's dissemination memo dated 6/19/53, have been used as inserts in this report to avoid retyping. Contacts with Maryland State Police mentioned therein were made by reporting agent J. STANLEY ROTZ. j On 6/7/63, WF 1108-C had advised SA JOHN R. BUCKLEY, WFO, that on 6/6/63, dice equipment had been moved from Washington, D. C. to a shack located directly in the rear of the Sportsman's Restaurant, located on Route 5, just over the County line, in St. Mary's County, Maryland. Informant -E- COVER PAGE { = a -- eves eo ees eens eee nn HW 45964 DocId:32331573 Page 4
a | Co . CO Se | described the Cice table as a permanent mahogany. Las Vegas type, approximately le feet by 5 feet, very neavy ana costing about $2500. The table nad been usec for about one week in the Amber Club's overation, ‘ijashington, D. C. in 1952 ané is constructed in sven a manner tnat it cannot be speedily disassembled. Informant advised tnaat the dice game would likel; be run by JOHN RALPH MITCHELL, CHARLES WHITE r CHARLES TOURINE) and GEORGE ROHANNA, who, during April and May, 1953, operated the dice game at 1915 Biltmore Street, siashington, D.C. The group planned to start operations as soon as the snack was fixed up probably Saturday, June 8, 1953 or Monday June 10, 1953. BA 1180-C advised SA LOWE, Baltimore Divsion, on 6/5/53 that he had heard rumors that sometime in the near future, gambling was to occur at the Sportsman's Club Restaurant, Charlotte Hall, Marylard where they were renovating a building . behind the restaurant. BA 938-C advised SA GENE S, WEIMER on 5/28/63 that he had heard that JOSEPH NESLINE had opened up a game room on the second floor of the Spring Lake Hotel, but had had more extensive operations at some isolated spot in lower Charles County, Maryland, The Charles County operation had been closed down because the subjects were told that the FBI was watching them. They have moved the operetion to Washington, D. C. where they were operating every evening with heavy play being on Saturday nights. The washington, D. C, operation was located on Biltmore Street, akout two blocks off Columbia Road. An ex-prise fighter, LEN MENTAL was employed as bodyguard and bouncer and an indi ual called Philadelpnia SMITTY was the doorman, who occasionally worked the tables. ; One "EDDIE HOLLYWOOD" was employed as a "touter'" to bring in the street trade. The informant believed that NESLINE loaned the money to BILLY MITCHELL to sét the place up and left the actual operation in the hands of MITCHELL and (FNU) WHITE. Informant advised he had heard that two or three months previeusly, NESLINE, MITCHELL, wHITE and a man known as " SPORTY" had purchased the Spring Lake Hotel and the surrounding tract of land on United States Route 301, Charles County, Maryland. Their intentions were to build a horse race track but they were not granted a Maryland license for a flat track. They still apparently have hopes of building such an operation’ when slot. -F- COVER PAGE | HW 45964 DocId:32331573 Page 5
v4 L - game unless they have been invited. . = ~ ae PA 155-53: machines are outlawed in five years, and Charles County will be eagar for revenue sources, 1 On 5/5/63 RH 95-C-TE, advised that JOSEPH NESLINE -_ OTHE and {SPORTIN MARTIN (FRANK ESNQARTIN ) were holding tne grand © . openiing of a wWew dice game during the evening of 5/7/53. This }game was to be operated in tne Sportsman's Club, Route 5 near/#aldorf, Maryland. They reportedly had obtained protection : from unidentified local law enforcement officials and contemplated | remaining atthat location for an indéfinite period of time. _ NESIINE and MARTIN had reportedly spent a lot of money remodeling and |furnishing the. place which was described as "very plush." . They were insuring the security of the game by having '‘spoters" surveil the area during non-club hours as well as at times when the game is in progress. No player can gain admittance to the I= ~ On 6/10/62, RH 95-C-TE had advised that NESLINE and his partners estimated that they could make a million dollars if they could stayNopen six months.., Informant had heard that movie star GEORG AFT and KEELY}SMITH were presert at the game on Friday GECRORRRA ST Informant “explained that the club 772 _ was equiped with a lounge, where one could buy drinks and ——_— thas before entering the game room, one must pass through ’ three Goors located between the lounge and the game room. Roulette, dice and blackjack ganies were being held in the game room., There were a number of women present and Arpege Perfume was given to the ladies as favors. Both NESLINE and "SPORTY" MARTIN worked as dealers during the evenirg of 5/7/53. By letter 6/7/53, Norfolk advised that NF 188-C-TE had advised SA JAMES S.. SPRATT on 6/5/53 that GEORGE ROHANNA, and JOSEPH NESLINE had moved their gambling operation from * ‘Washington, D. C. to a building near a restaurant in 5t. Mary's County, Maryland. Informant understood tnat a fix had been arranged with law enforcement officials in St. Mary's County, so that the gambling club could operate without police interference. - On 6/14/53, PCIL___ ds advised SA GEORGE R. FLETCHER, ALEERT B. MILLE ERARD R, LOWE that on. Sunday, 6/9/63 her oe (Cr of tne persons arrested;in the raid on $/13/53 at ‘theSportsman's Club) : : fdr. COVER PAGE | | | HW 45964 DocId:32331573 Page 6
RA 155-53 had told her that tne Sheriff of 5t. Mary? s County, ROBERT WATEDZINSKI had appeared in the Sportsman's S club 2 gambling ; establishment on tne night of 6/10/63 and informed the gamblers present, particularly ALLEN FISHER that if he received any complaint concerning gambling, he was going to raid the establisnment. Informant related that about : Belts on Sunday afternoon, June 1963 her boyfriend told her a OTHER 4 he and who was also arrested during the raid, had moved out gambling paraphernalia, a roulette wheel and table, plus a dice table from the gambling establishment at Charlotte Hall and'took it to the L & M Van Line Company ,, Nb Allied Moving Van Agents, Lexington Park, Maryland. , Je Informant stated she was at the Cedar Point Tavern \_ in Lexington Park, Maryland on6/12/53 wnen a telephone call was received by the bartender GEORG SGROVE. Following the ‘ phone call, MUSGROVE’ told informanWw that the $20,000 worth of gambling paraphernalia was still stored at Allied Van Line Agents at Lexington Park, Maryland. The pertinent detaiis of this latter information was disseminated to the Maryland State Police. On 6/8,9/53 BENJAMIN H. BURROUGHS, JR., Deputy ; Sheriff for St. Mary's County, turned over to SA LOWE and ROTZ, notations of license numbers of automobiles which had appeared at the Speeveman s Club Restaurant Parking Lot on the evénings of 6/7, 8/53. Some of the notations had been made by Mr. BURROUGHS but some had been made by a source of his, possibly in the dark, and not too legibly. Mr. BURROUGHS explained that he could not say whether the occupants of tae . automobiles had actually gone into the gambling club, located to the right and rear of tae restaurant or whether they had merely stopped at the restaurant itself for food and refreshment. The identification of persons to whom the forego. ing license numbers were registered was obtained from Department of Motor Vehicles records in Maryland, District of Columbia, and Virginia on 6/10/53. In view of tne lack of certainty that the owners or occupants were actually in the gambling | | ae | COVER PAGE HW 45964 DocId:32331573 Page 7?