AGENCY INFORMATION AGENCY: — FBI RECORD NUMBER: — 124-90068-10009 RECORD SERIES: HQ AGENCY FILE NUMBER:  62-75147-210-78 DOCUMENT INFORMATION ORIGINATOR: FBI FROM: TO: HQ TITLE: DATE: = 12/09/1955 PAGES: SUBJECT: DOCUMENT. TYPE: ORIGINAL CLASSIFICATION: REVIEW_DATE: STATUS COMMENTS: Docld: 32328055 Page 1 9 PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT Unclassified NEW CLASSIFICATION: 06/24/1998 UPDATE_DATE: Exempt RESTRICTIONS: Consultation TRANSLATION; TRANSLATION FROM SPANISH, REFERRED TO INTERPOL
[-zemsuarrow FROM SPANISH The following is a translation of a letter:and two, newspaper clippings contained in an evelope addressed to the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation,. Washington, D. C., from the Central National Bureau of Cuba of the International Commission of Criminal Police, San Lazaro 672, Havana uba, postmarked at Havana, (date on postmark illegible). 32 ge ~ ss: a Se International Commission of Criminal Police Central. National Bureau (Cuba) San Lazaro 672 = Telephone Umell55 casi PSE [ise sete tefl ‘International connission of Criminal Police “Secretariat General 60, Boulevard GuvionaSt- Cyr, Paris (17) Cables INTERPOL, Havana: - Telephone GALVANI AT oe ‘we [in Cuba, ‘ ‘December 4, a! Our References 241 E Your Reference_ Ca | We Subjects: Information regarding JOSEPH G. LEASE CONFIDENGIAL 16S WE. . . J . Eg ne | Mtl bd ne. Mr. Je EDGAR HOOVER Class. & Ext. BY Ayre es 1-248 1 (2 Reagon - FCIM I, 1-4 W Date et Review, ade — (y@ leer Mr. Director and Friend:) — In our directive capacity in ‘the Central Nationed s- Bureau of the "INTERPOL," and in keeping with our duty to i , g ¢ maintain -our vigilance for anything which may represent a ve problem for our fatherland, we have the honor of addressing » <i these lines to you, hoping that you may furnish us withiscéertain \) yo AL _tnformation and, in the event that this letter has been #? ra pai ree beds that is, that the material herein is pertinent “"°™ Director of the F.B.I. Washington, D.C, U.S.A. Vo o another department, we hope that you will be kind enough to route this letter aecordin d confidential ad thag our. A gus peat aca request will not remain unattended oo AS a 3 F — p 24 DEC 12 1955 Docld: 32328055 Page 2?
; We are. attaching herewith a release publis ed tn the press today, as well’as a photograph (of JOSEPH G, LREASE;: captioned above, who claims to be a big business magnate th the United States, a breeder of purebreds, promoter of track enterprises, etCe, possessing large capital. This individual has come to promote the racing _ season at our hippodrome, but there:.is a series of details which.causes us to be. suspicious of his activities. u) our hippodrome in the. last twenty years has maintained an average of plays which does not go above 45 thousand pesos per face day (races are held three days a week), which amoun®& to a weekly total of 135 thousand. This individual has presented a program of prizes and salaries which would require the raising of 300 thousand pesos in plays per week in order to just barely cover the expenses of the business... Only by means of clandestine gambling, pilus a Sweepstake in April,couldt cover the costs ‘ .. of this business and-for this itt would be necessary to have placed a. large number of such tickets, Since nobody is "fighting against his money,” it-would seem strange to us that this business would not represent a great daily loss, for which reason we request from you, or from whomever tt is pertinent, the exact information regarding this individual, that is, whether he actually is a promoter, breeder, capitalist, boo (GY (I) There ts one more. détaile Last night, as you will see in a note, he was mysteriously assaulted, "allegedly in’ his hotel by unknown individuals.” As you well know a ' luxurious hotel, such as the "Hotel Nacional" of Cuba, does not permit anyone to go upstairs to private rooms without authorization from the gues& for which reason we belteve that this may-involve problems of a "gang" in operation and that this individual forms part thereof, The reason for this request 4s that the season Pegins the coming LOth of this month. TI [ie A sincerely ‘yourd) Glu) S/ Dre JORGE A. DE CASTROVERDE: Director oF the. Central National | Bureau INTERPOL 2 (u ) , Wilks f Docld: 323280535 Page 3
A | [Eitoping or from an unidentified seosanes7] OW) [erestpevr OF THE HIPPODROME IS SERIOUSLY LW JURED ) (GO(U) Mr. JOSEPH G. LEASE, ‘North Anerican, of 47 years Of age,> President of the Cuban Racing Company (Marianao Hippodrome), resident of. the "Hotel Nacional," who was found unconsctous tn Room 302, which he occupied in said hotel, was treated for serious injuries at a. elinte in Vedas ( u\ a Mr. LEASE's secretary, whose name was not given, informed the police of the HKighth Precinct that - she participated tn the case, reporting that she occupied a@ room adjacent to that of her superior, from which she heard a strange noise, and upon entering the apartment she, found Mr. LEASE injured, and thought that he might have meen GAN) _ ‘There a so exists another version, which the police is endeavoring to substantiate, that LEASE was assaulted by two ,unknown individuals who broke in unerpectedly _tnto- his room. ¥ : ‘The “injuded party could not furnish any tatenent because. of the serious condition tn which he wase cae z 2, we 44° 34 s 7 eesents appearing below .2 a photograph cut out Of an unt identified publication: ¢ ) (\y\ ur. J. G. LEASE, new President. o /the Cuban Racing Company, who has initiated a crusade for the artistic prestige and the international credtt of Cuban horse ractngs He found the hippodrome almost in ruins and the turf's family threatened by the disappearance of the track, (Read "Oriental Park") Rv) Docld: 32328055 Page 4
Vian SE ee can ng Ne tae anna Nt cette ee At EE SS RTE SR EE FT RT 7 3 ac ° — 4 rn a ne , nx pebbowtns2 te 8 @ransiabton of @ letter gad $ue newapuper elippinga eentatned tn a evelope addressed. o: the P eid Of the Pedera2 Dureau of Eavertigestony. Seg SPOR the Central #ettonal furceu of e international Countedton of Crintnal Poltees. 692; even soy pestearked ot Tauana ic sate on ! Pe Eaaag SD. leje e faternationel Connteston of erininal Police Goubred Haetonad Zureon : | Seoretartat Gonerad San Legere 822 « | Pelephone gellss 605 Boulevard Goustonesit= Gables TEER POL, faveng: Cyty arte (17) Re. phone: Oabi ad 96+60\ (devs Bitty CUBE, - becenber 4 | 2055) ; four Riforexse, co cur References” 34 F Subjects inforaasson regerstag Foss PH G. ERASE Clee AS see ic 3 peat ae F ottn our tue to. &omay. represent a onor Of addrene tag Bureau af PY é motatata £0 Te Oe. 4 Fr hae been actree tee “ene Aoreta ta pertinent to. ane ther Separtaenty we “hope. ‘$nos, ye mall be Bind enough te route thia letter accorétagly, eonfidentially, one thet our requeate will not remain unattended. ) ul o4 “fe 1h “G] ATE ey ene pe Docld: 32328055 Page 5
oe . f cue \Kniay #e are ottachiag Aerawten | a Vedeoss published tn the preége tegay, os well ae 6 shotograph af JOSEPE & LEASE, captioned above, who siding to be a big businese pegnate in the United States, a breeder af purebdredsy  proweter of track enterprises, ctés, poascasing large capitals faite énd vidual has cone to promote the roetag season. at our hippodroné, but there 16 @ series of detesie whiter cuness us te be suaptetoua of As%é activistaas , _ Gur hippodrone gn the dasé twenty yeara hes nointetaed an guerage of plays waich deca aet ge above (45 thousand peooa ser fuce day (reces are held three days @ seek), whieh oneunts te a weekly total ef 255 thousands thie individual Aae presented a progran of prizes ead galeries which would require the raieing of 300 thousend | . pesos in playe per week tn order to suet bately cover dae oe @¢Epeaees of the buetnets, Oniy by Beene ef elendestine | gambling, piue a Seeepsiake in Aprs2,couldat eaucr tke eocate ef thie buatness and for this tt woule be Receseary te here placed @ large mander of euch tieketes. Since nobecy $e "Stenting egetast Ale nmeney, ".8¢ would seem strange..to | ug that thig business would net represent « great dabdy dess, for ehick reaaon we request from pouy or from whenever '  t$ de pertinent, the exact information regarding tate - gndivtdueZ, thet te, whether he, actually ta a pronebers «breeder; capttaltct, ates OV There ts oné wore detutls Last aight, aa you _ will sée. in @ acte, se was nystertoualy @esouléed, “adlegeély_ ia ate kote? Sy unknown Sadtutdualse © AS fou well know a Fuad ow: koted, seh os the "Hetel Ractonad” of Cubag dees | net peratt eayene te go upatead Y prPivate réema withous j ; euthoriszatian fron the gueets, for whieh repecns we belfeve . thet thio aay invelve problema of «4 "gong" ta eperction and | that thie tadéviduel ferna scart thereof, The reason for this request. a ¢het Ghe season beginge tho con tag 10% of "i te months u’ W(O Ge rend tty ‘gtnee rely soura f Dre JORGE Ay bE CASLROVEROR Direetor of the Genteal #attonal Bareass ABPERPOL Anse & = Nees d Docld: 32328055 Page 6
: ~ Tis . i JA vat moo GUN yp, Clipping fron A uatdenttsted. newspoae? \C Papsrpeer oP THE ET! PPODSONE Le ‘aenreosny. mnsuReD HP, JOSEPH GC. LESS2g. Werth Anertean, of ar years Of ages - presidens of.the Cibea. Baotng Conpany (Vertance - Htppedrone), renident ef the “Hotel Hactonal," who was found uneengetoug tn 200m 302, which ae ogcunted an ened hotel, wos treated for serious ingurtes ad @ielinte te Yedadoe. ® u) ae : «re URASE tg secretary whose nome mas not . given, tnforsed the pselice of ¥. Eighth Preeinet that... _ eae perétetsated tn the case, reperting that ahe oceupted @ room adjacent to that of her guperier, from whieh she — heard & etrange noiee, aad upon entering the aparteent he found Ure LBASE ta nJEresy ane t though that ao megne. BACe feliens Ss U)- . there Aleo extete another veratom wateh the police te eudeguering to substentinte, thet LEASE eda gecaulted dy two. unknown tadtetdnala atehe broke on uneapectedty | . bnto Ate Feats u) | «ok fhe tajured party ecould a0¢ furnten any ata ‘genent because: Of the Sarteus concttion ia whieh he was. w & & 7 Caption appearing belew ic & pi otegraph ous out Of on-inidentt fied subliestion F| BPs Ts Gs tEASB y nae Prestéent of the cuban Roe tug Compeny, who hes inttiated a eruaade for the arétette preatige and the interactional oredit of Cuban horse racings He found the Aippedrese almest in ruing and the sunf'se fontly threstened by the disappearance of the track... (Read *Orteatal Par” ) CO : aa | GUNFIDXNTIAL res , . | + ™~ me K | | | |  §esegeyaeeg Docld: 323280535 Page
SPANTS ge fotlowtys + is @ translation DU) OH two newspaper clippings cernteined tn an evélope addresaed to the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Hashingtoay, D. Cx, from the Central Mationaz Burean. of. Cuba of the International Commission of Crininal Poltce, San Lazaro 872, oak ; oy postmarked at Hevane (date. on . postmark illegible). pec JASSIEIED BY, heh sy ill ‘Enternatteonal Commission — Pears Commission Of Criminal Poltece . of €riminel Police Gentrel Sationel Burean . | Secretariat Generad (Cuba) . San dazaro 672 = Telephone Gell Sh 60, Boulevard Gos tonasst- Cables INTERPOL, Havane Cyr, Parta (17) rae felephone ‘GALVANI 96=60 | Your Reference, .. \| Our References 241 BP ‘| Subjects fapornst ied: regarding JOSEPH @. nBasE | Slr. Ja EDGAR HOOPER Dtrector of the F.3.T; Washington, Boag U.S.A Pear ur. Birector and ‘Préend3) (O(¥) in our dtreetive capacity in the Centraz Hotional | Bureau of the “INTERPOL,” and in keeping with our duty to matnteta four vigilance for anything which may rep’ _ problen for our fetherlond, we have the honor of ad tng these dines to you, hoping thet you nay furnish us withhcertain infornation and, in the event that this letter Ads been. nisdirected, that 78, that the uctertal herein is pertinent ‘to another department, we kope that Len wéll be. kind enough to Poute this letter aecordingl ys “D Geka and that par vo . . reguest will not remain unattended. ‘ | C4 ’ TRANSLATED BY: PATRICK J. PHELAN? hjp December 9, L955 Docld: 32328055 Page &
We are atteching herewith a release published | in the press teday, as well as @ photograph of JOSEPH : "Gy LEASH, eeptioned above, whe’ eldins to be @ big bustiess \ magnate in the United State's, a breeder of purebredsy. “ promoter of track enterprises; eto, possessing. large “ eapttal, . Phis indtviduel has come to promote the: racing " .. season et our hippodrone, but there is a series of detqgils e aahteh causes us to, be suspte lous of his. activities. 1) u| our hippodrone: in the dast: twenty Weare has ‘paintained an average Of plays whieh does not go above 45 thousand pesos per Face day {races are held three days @ week), which amountsto a weekly totel of 195 thousand, this iadtvidual has presented a progran of prizes and salaries which would require the raising of .300. thousand . pesos in plays per week tn order to just Botely cover the expenses Of the bustaess.” Only by neans of clandestine gembling, plus a Sweepstake in Aprtl,couldé cover the costs of this business and for this t¢ would ‘be necessary to have placed a dJargé nunber of such tickets, : Since nobody | ts “fighting against his noney,” tt: would seem atrange to ue thet thts business would not represent a great daily | loss, for which reason we regues et from you, or fron whomever té ts pertinent, the exact information regarding this  — san tndividuel, - that is, whether he actually is « ; Pronoters breeders, capttalist, ette u} a Shere is one nore det ils fast nights. as you o> wand see tn '@ note, he was nystertously. asseulted, "ilegediy . tn his hotel by unknown. individuals.” As you weli know a ‘ Luzurious hotel, such as the “Hotel Wacionei” of Cuday does _ not pernit anyone to go upstairs to private Froons without authorization fron the guests for whith reason we believe * thet-thie may tnvelve problens ofa “gang” in operation and - thet this. indévidual forns part thereof, The: reason far . this request is thet ‘the season begins the coming : loth md thts mMORTH « ly) . C remain, sinoeredy ay werd OW Pa a | sf - Ds JORGE As. DE CASTROVERDE oe a, KN | oo Btreetor of the: Centeal Nattonal reg us UKs re Bureau Cee a ee, Docld: 323280535 Page 93
elipptag Pom’ G@ ; fiptaegeertes newspapers et eli PRESIDENT OF THE HIPPODROME IS SERIOUSLY rsa] Buy Hr, JOSEPH Gs LEASE. North. American, of 47 years - 4 Of age, President of the Cuban Racing Company (Har Ytanao Hippodrone), resident of the "Hotel Nactonal,” who was: found uneonsetous tn Boon 302, which he oecunited tn. said ROGeLs we g tusated for sertons ‘injuries at ahelinte in é oe Hro\ LEASE s secretary, whose name was not given, taforned the police of the Eighth Precinet thet | she parétcisated tn the Case, reporting that she sccupted @ room adjacent te that.of her supertor, from which she | she found Ure ERASE i tngiceed, and Phought that he might have fallen. u) Co | fhere atso exists enother version, which the. poltece ts endeavoring to substantiate, that’ LEASE waa’ ‘ ss RBar @ strange noise, and upon entering the apertmene sy" agsaulted by two upknown individuals who troke tn uneapee tedl y- q “inte ALS FOORs. Uy 7 | oe _ The injurdé porty could not furnish any: statene te because of the serious condition in which he mee RU) a “ : ; Ante be ere ly Caption appearing below is: ob 0. raph out Ss out of an unidentifted . publications | ob lu uy / BPs Fa So LEASE, tew President of the Cuban Racing Company, who kes initiated a crusade for the artistic prestige and the tate rac tional eredté of Cuban horse |ractings He found the hippodrome ainost in ruins and the turf "s fonily threatened-.by the dbeappecrance of the tracks (Read “Oriental Park") oH Co ‘ . 8 ag Re 7 t he s ° a . ‘ a) Doclda: 323278055 Page 10