Evening star., 1949-08-31
'Cohen's 5 Aide Denies
5Iurs on His Boss,
And Gets Out Of Jail
b the Associated Press


LOS ANGELES. Aug. 81
Mickey (Snow White) Cohen's
little playmate, Harold (Happy)
Meltzer, needs no magic mirror
to tell him who is fairest Of them
all''-it's Mickey himself.
He's out of jail today. appar-
emily because his gambler boss de-
cided at the last moment to over
look police reports that Meltzer
had called Mickey "a little punk
who talks too much"
Police so quoted Metzler Sum
day--and on Monday the bonding
company which handles some of
the bail business for Cohen,
Inc" started action to cancel the
$54,500 it had provided to keep
Metzler out Of jail
Meltzer, Cohen and six others
were indicted by q. county grand
Jury several months ago on
charges arising from the beating
of a radio store owner. Their
vehement protestations Of inno-
cence resulted in their being
tagged by a local newspaper
Snow White and> the Seven
DWarfs."
Bond Is Reinstated.
When the bond-cancellation
matter came up in court yester-
day, Happy" Metzler took occa-
sion to deny publicly that he had
ever called Cohen "a little punk"
and insisted, Il amt mad at
Mickey"
Shortly thereafter the bonding
company reinstated the bail and
Metzler was free again.
However, Superior Judge Robert
H. Scott had slightly different
view of the significance OF
Meltzer's release. He refused to
overlook the fact that the rein
statement of bail conceded with
an announcement by New Jersey
officers that they would tempo
rarily drop their plans to take
Meltzer home with them for
questioning in the ice-pick slay-
ing of Charles Yanowski a year
ago near Paterson, N. j.
Judge Suggests Shielding.
"It would appear said the
Judge, that the insistence Of
keeping Mr.. Meltzer here for trial
on two less serious offenses might
be a shield to protect him from
the New Jersey murder charge y
District Attorney William
Simpson has requested Gov. Earl
Warren to deny extradltlon OF
Meltzer. His chief trial deputy,
Daniel Beecher. explained to
Judge Scott, I'VE are unaware OF
the strength of the murder case,
your honor"
Two other members Of Cohen,
Inc" appeared in court yesterday
and Mickey himself made a brief
appearance at the City Jail.
Mickey was arrested at his
home last night by police on
charges of disturbing the peace.
The charge grew out OF Cohen S
cursing of officers who arrested
Mike Howard two weeks ago. Capt.
Lynn White said. a- s-,e' o..
| The tongue-lashing angered
Chief of Police William Worton
and he said Cohen would be
watched closely as a member OF
the citys undesirable element"
Cohen Posts S100.
Booked at the city jail, Cohen
posted $100 bond in cash.
| Howard earlier in the day was
arraigned on a charge Of possess
ing gun illegally as an ex-
convict. officers who were cursed
by Cohen said they found a pistol
in Howard's apartment.
The other Cohen henchman
who appeared in court was Johnny
Stompanato. believed to be the
little gamblers personal body
guard. Stompanato was arrested
August 5 on charges of vagrancy
while driving a Cadillac and
carrying checks totaling $33,-
$3.50.
The car was registered in the
name of the wife of Neddie Her.
bert, who was fatally wounded
July 20 when gangland guns
blasted away at Cohen as he and
his party were. leaving night
club.
Stompanato yesterday won con-
tinuance Of his vagrancy trial to
| nrfnbor