A v9.1 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 : OPENING CRITERIA : COMMENTS : JFK Assassination System Identification Form Agency Information FBI 124-90110-10045 HQ CR 87-41245-1121 Document Information FBI MM HQ 12/14/1962 2. JOSEPH RAYMOND MEROLA BERNARD J. EZHAYA PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT Unclassified Consulted Redact 08/06/1998 APPROVAL OF DEA, DOJ LHM, REFERRED TO DEA, DOJ Date: 4/10/201
UN, sD STATES DEPARTMENT OF YP ICE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION In Reply, Please Refer to Miami, Florida FileNo. 87-8756 December 14, 1962 Re: Unknown Subjects (2); Alleged Attempt on Life of Joseph \Mer Obstruction of Justice .»—r In early 1962, Joseph Merola, FBI Number 4 989 299, testified for the United States government at a trial in United States District Court in Chicago,,.lLineis.- Sam Mannarino, FBI Number 11 584 D, was one of the defendants inthis case. Since this trial there have periodically been rumors that some harm might befall Merola as Sam Mannarino and his brother, Gabriel Mannarino, FBI Number 854 850, are regarded as vicious hoodlums who operate out of the Pittsburgh-New Kensington, Pennsylvania area. ‘Merola lives on Miami Beach, Florida, at the present time. On December 4, 1962, Sol Vizzini, Investigator for the U. S. Bureau of Narcotics, Miami, Florida, stated on November 13, 1962, he contacted a confidential informant of his who has provided both reliable and unreliable information dn the past. This informant told Vizzini he heard a rumor that there was a killer in town accompanied by an apprentice, and these two men had been sent down to do some work by two brothers from New Kensington, Pennsylvania. Vizzini's source stated the two men were staying in Room 823 at the Eden Roc Hotel, Miami Beach, Florida. Vizzini stated his informant claimed the killer was a white male, about 57 years of age, Jewish descent, 519-94", brown hair, greying at the temples. The informant described the apprentice killer as white male, age 2/, Jewish descent,’ and taller than the other man. On December 4, 1962, William Kenney, Department of Justice Attorney presently assigned to Miami, advised he had previously been in contact with Vizzini in this matter. He added a confidential informant of his about the same time had told him there was 4 Killer in the Miami ared named Charlie Weiss. Mr. Kenney related a man named Charlie Weiss was mentioned in connection with McClellan Committee hearings» COPIES DESTROYED & QNOV 28 1972 (NW#: 45876 DocId: 32334051
“Re: Unknown Subjects (2); Alleged | Attempt on Life of Joseph Merola | , \ On December 13, 1962, Mr. Kenney made available _ a photograph of Charles Socrates Weiss referred to in the McClellan Committee hearings. This individual is New _ York Police Department Number 57106 and was arrested by them on September’ 27, 1932. No additional descriptive data is available on Weiss. © . On December 7, 1962, Ronnie Lynch, Detective for the Dade County Department of Public Safety, Miami, Florida, advised he determined that on October 28, 1962, one Bernard Mitchell of Chicago checked into Room 823 at the Eden Roc Hotel on Miami Beach. On November 1, 1962, Mitchell was joined by one Samuel Stern. Stern checked out November 8, 1962, Phillip Litner joined Mitchell in Room 823 on November 8, 1962, and checked out November 10, 1962. On November 15, 1962, a woman who identified herself as Mitchell's wife joined him in Room 823 and as of November 22, 1962, was still occupy- ing that room with him, Lynch stated on November 22, 1962, he discontinued his inquiry when the descriptive data on Mitchell and his associates did not coincide with that given by Vizzini's informant. Vizzini, Lynch, and Kenney speculated that if killers had been engaged by two brothers in New Kensington, Pennsylvania, and sent to Miami Beach, the brothers might be the Mannarino brothers and the victim might be Merola. On December 4, 1962, Mr. Kenney advised he has periodic contact with Merola, he has advised Merola of the rumors, Merola does not seem to be upset or concerned, and Merola was out of town on December 4, 1962. _ PROPERTY OF FBI - This memorandum is loaned to ' you by the FBI, and neither it nor its contents is to be distributed outside the. agency to which loaned. ~ Qe = ‘NwH: 45876 Docid: 32334051