AGENCY : RECORD NUMBER: RECORD SERIES : AGENCY FILE NUMBER : ~. ORIGINATOR : FROM: TO: TITLE: DATE: PAGES: SUBJECTS : DOCUMENT TYPE : CLASSIFICATION : RESTRICTIONS : CURRENT STATUS : DATE OF LAST REVIEW : COMMENTS: . v9.1 Docld: 32309292 Page 1 OPENING CRITERIA :. JFK Assassination System Identification Form Agency Information FBI 124-10298-10079 HQ 29-3 1889-159 Document Information ¢ FBI SAC, DE DIRECTOR, FBI 11/12/1963 7 [Restricted] PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT Unclassified Consulted ‘Redact 10/18/1996 APPROVAL OF DOJ REFERRED TO DOJ, INC LHM
FD-36°(R 2-13-56) F BI Date: 11/12/63 Transmit the following in (Type in plain text or code) Via e (Priority or Method of Mailing) \ TO: DIRECTOR, FBI (29-31889) py? FROM: SAC, DETROIT (29-1432) (P) L. Bo. jf cases RIDDLE HOFFA; mf wt DOMINIK EDWARD BARTONE, aka ENG 7; i ET AL , FRA; ITSP; MF; FBW; CONSPIRACY ALL INFORMATION CONTAINED . s ICLASSIF ) (00: DETROIT) a DAlElO= PAY 1 0B PONE. ( \I ,  Remyairtels 11/7 and 8/63. (HO VOM. Enclosed herewith is a letterhead memorandum containing Ol information concerning JOSEPH F, VERHELLE and others. This he information was obtained by Department Attorney WILLIAM FRENCH, Detroit, from ROBERT C, MEISSNER. . One copy each of the letterhead memorandum is being furnished Chicago and Miami inasmuch as MEISSNER resides in Chicago and information con-~ cerning DOMINIG BARTONE of the Miami Division is also contained in the memorandum. One copy of the letterhead memorandum also is being furnished to Department Attorney FRENCH at Detroit. _eernmence aA Bk Bureau (Enc. 4) 1 - Chicago (Info. 2.) (29-1999) (Enc. 1) Oe 1 - Miami (Info .J- (29-1217) (Enc. 1) 1 - Detroit 4 re te IZG ome axons VGW/pmp & ge ae wis mM 2dlob& Ke eC. 16 &7- F/ E8G. 55 Ay ei in 2 FS) Nov. 131963 | yoshi iil J , c —_ fb bfrr/A ‘ “ f. oO. . Attention: . Mr. Walter, J. Sheridan Rosin. 2500 8 ai j Laced he WL a sD Sent _ . a Agent in Charge Docld: 32309292 Page 2?
UN. sD STATES DEPARTMENT OF  STICE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION In Reply, Please' Refer to | Detroit, Michigan File No. November 12, 1963 JAMES RIDDLE HOFFA; DOMINICK EDWARD BARTONE; ET AL , FEDERAL RESERVE ACT; INTERSTATE 1 ALL INFORMATION CONTAINED TRANSPORTATION OF STOLEN Herel [a ‘60% PROPERTY; MAIL FRAUD; FRAUD BY onte (0-1 oa Iicé WIRE; CONSPIRACY a pci | Wel? The following info tion, based upon statements Loy fo “tee, reportedly made by Joseph Ederhelie at various times in Len hepa the past, was received by thé Departmént of Justice from a confidential source who has furnished reliable information in the past: = ; At present Verhelle apparently is not so personally antagonistic’ toward Dominick Edward Bartone as he had indicated he was in the past. Verhelle evidently is aware of current plans by Bartone regarding a real estate develop- . ment, in Florida, the amounts of money required, etc. In : regard to Bartone's appearance before a Federal Grand Jury at Detroit in about September, 1963, Verhelle commented that "they" had difficulty getting Bartone to agree to “take the Fifth", Verhelle stated that he, himself, also had "taken | the Fifth" before a Federal Grand Jury at Detroit recently. verhelle was relieved that the subpoena did not require him to bring personal or bank records; and he indicated that records pertinent to this matter are presently in Canada, but he could produce them in Detroit very quickly if he needed them. Verhelle expressed pride in having been able to avoid service of the Grand Jury subpoena for several weeks and mentioned that he did so with the encouragement and assistance of his wife. Verhelle finally accepted service of the subpoena only after Lawrence Burns, a Detroit Teamsters attorney who is a neighbor of Verhelle, had talked With a , - . q §e~ Qc | Docld: 32309292 Page 3
JAMES RIDDLE HOFFA; . - DOMINICK EDWARD BARTONE; | process server who was keeping close watch outside Verhelle's house one night after Verhelle had surreptitiously darted in the back door. Verhelle said that the following morning he talked to James R. Hoffa who told him they should use separate attorneys. . Verhelle claims he is very busy as a financial consultant, has full knowledge of the investments of Hoffa and Walter Reuther, and handles investments for both of them. Verhelle sees Hoffa when he is in town and talkes: to him on the telephone very frequently. Rather than call Hoffa or Reuther from his home, Verhelle now leaves the house and uses one of several public telephone booths in the vicinity. Verhelle goes to Chicago approximately every ten days or two _weeks and attends all meetings of the Teamsters Central States Investment Committee as well as unofficial but decisive meetings ' which precede the committee meetings. Verhelle claims to have an important part in deciding what loans will be made even before a preliminary check has-been made concerning an application. Verhelle appeared to be familiar with the status of equity holders and mortgages in regard to the Shoreland _ Hotel in Chicago. Verhelle indicated that ‘when in Chicago he also talks to officers of the Continental National Bank, particularly an Executive Vice President by the name of Miller who may have joined the bank staff recently through its merger with another bank. OS Verhelle indicated that both Hoffa and Reuther think highly of the present Governor of Michigan, George Romney, but feel he is too naive. Mrs. Romney is a close friend of Mrs. _ Verhelle and visits her home about every three weeks. Verhelle has been very close to the former Governor of Michigan, John B. Swainson, and thinks he has a good chance of making a political comeback, but Verhelle is concerned about Swainson now being spoiled", that is, not being so sychophantic as previously. \ Docld: 32309292 Page 4
~—A ' JAMES RIDDLE HOFFA; - DOMINICK EDWARD BARTONE; ET AL In regard to an impending trial of Hoffa before United States District Judge Richard Austin. in Chicago, verhelle indicated he had learned that Robert C. Meissner,. of Chicago, reportedly was well acquainted with political associates of Judge Austin. Verhelle expressed great interest in the fact that this acquaintanceship might be of assistance to Hoffa, and Verhelle indicated he would be in contact with Hoffa and Meissner concerning this possibility. Verhelle said he had previously been in contact with Meissner about 1961 in connection with Niagara Crushed Stone (Humber- stone), Ltd. (NCS). | yee ; ie apoacently still has business contact (faneway, with whom he had dealings in 1961 con- Janeway reportedly had something to do with buying accounts receivable of NCS. It was also believed that the Crown family of Chicago had a substantial ownership in some of Janeway's operations, such as his economic counseling service. In regard to Vendorama of Ohio, Inc., Verhelle -once stated that. he knew of a Vendorama company but it had nothing to do with NCS. a , h / In regard earborn Machinery Movers, Inc., now bankrupt, Verhelle said he had oftered to buy this corpora- ‘tion's note; which was held by Public Bank, but Verhelle's offer was not accepted afid he felt the bank would consequently suffer a loss. Joseph/Galli, former president of this corpora- tion, is reporte iC) @-Wést Coast and has a business which Verhelle is helping to-finance. Ninny a Verhelle also advised he had spent some time in the /. . Dominican Republic ~several years ago and while there he did en ARN rence < business with Manue) \Demaya ,XInl military junta) and with the “dictator Trujillo. It was believed this trip may have had some connection with Bartone or other matters. ¢ “SRR AQQSs DocId: 32309292 Page 45
vy as ewer ' JAMES RIDDLE HOFFA; DOMINICK EDWARD BARTONE; ET AL With regard to Verhelle's present relationship to Public Bank, Detroit, (PB) he indicated he unofficially has been helping PB's Board of Directors but PB recently had made some loans which Verhelle believes will be uncollectible, and he is looking forward to PB's collapse. verhelle indicated that while he was at PB the big loans always were paid off and there were almost no defaults, with the exception of small loans for $3,000.00 or less. Verhelle claimed he has bought a bank on the outskirts of Detroit where two of his sons are working and learning the banking business; and at a propitious time this bank may open a branch office in competition with PB and with the intention of picking up as many PB accounts as possible. According to Verhelle the following sequence of events led to his departure from PB: On December 26, 1961, seventeen men arrived to begin an examination of PB, Verhelle did not believe they were from the regular State or Federal examining agencies and was of the opinion they sounded more like lawyers than bank examiners or auditors. He felt it was inconsiderate to start an examination between the year-end holidays and also he would have preferred to have PB's year-end figures "in order" before the examiners arrived. This examination pre- cipitated a series of meetings of the PB Board of Directors, and Verhelle objected to the manner in which one examiner allegedly criticized a loan which had been made by PB to three Negroes. Verhelle wrote a letter to Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy to protest the "irregular" manner in which the examination was being conducted, but allegedly no reply was received. Verhelle encouraged the Chairman’of the Board of Directors not to attend one of the meetings, causing a delay and necessitating written notices for such meetings. About that time Verhelle decided to go to a hospital for a thorough physical examination and rest. Upon his return to PB he was told by one of the officers that in Verhelle's absence one of the Directors allegedly wanted to borrow $150,000.00 from PB but. the officer refused that amount and only lent him $50,000.00. -4- SSRN SS Docld: 32309292 Page 6
JAMES RIDDLE HOFFA; DOMINICK EDWARD BARTONE ; ET AL Verhelle found that three other Directors also were borrowing from PB at that time. Also about the same time a Director of FDIC allegedly wanted to borrow $80,000.00 from PB; but verhelle refused because he did not feel the loan would be easily collectible. , About two weeks after writing the Attorney General, Verhelle allegedly was told he could have a complimentary ticket to a $100-a-plate dinner for Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson in Detroit, and Verhelle was to sit near the speaker's table and a photograph would be taken of Verhelle and Vice President Johnson together in a friendly pose. Verhelle declined, purportedly because he “wouldn't: sell that cheap". He indicated that a former Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in Detroit, now on Vice President Johnson's staff, had something to do with the above arrangements and still has some liaison with Verhelle. Verhelle stated that at other Board meetings during the examination he was criticized for loans he had made and the Directors felt the loans they had made to them- selves were all right, so he “resigned”. This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI. It is the property of the FBI and is loaned to your agency; it and its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency. S&LAQISS DocId: 32309292 Page ?f