Evening star., 1950-04-07
Binoggio
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Lazia in the Northside and Gar
gotta became his right-hapd man.
Police Change Theory. /
Police today changed their the
ory about the time of the slay-
ings. 1t was first believed the
two had been shot shortly after
midnight. But 1t. Harry Nesbitt
of the police homicide squad said
three persons, who had been in a
hotel overhead, told him they
heard shots in the club rooms
below shortly after 8 o'clock We'd
nesday night.
This indicated the two were
slain soon after they left the
Last Chance tavern to keep a
mysterious appointment at the
club. Both Nick Penna, Binag-
gio's bodyguard. and Homer
Cooper, a dice dealer from Coun-
Gil Bluffs, Iowa, said Binaggio
and Gargotta left the tavern
about 8 pm.
Police, with close associates Of
the victims screened, turned to
rounding up a score of persons on
gangland's fringe in the. hope
some not so close to the slain men
might be more ready to tell what
the underworld grapevine was
saying.
Heat Is On.
The heat was on the under
world. Horse racing betting
places and gambling spots
clamped the lid on last night.
The crime brought repercus-
sions in both the State and Ma
tional Capitals.
In Washington, Representative
Snort. Republican, of Missouri de-
clared Binaggio was killed be-
cause he was "in the way" in the
Missouri senatorial primary.
The House member said Binag-
glo was backing a senatorial can
didate opposed by President Tru-
man and faction of the
Pendergast political organization
Macy Urges Investigation.
Representative Macy, Repub-
lican, Of New York called for a
congressional investigation into
the "afflliation of crime and
gangsters with politics" in Kansas
City.
At Jefferson City, Gov. Forrest
Smith dismissed Mr.. Shorts
charge with a laugh. He said he
would have no comment because
that's too ridiculous"
The Governor said Kansas City
police had been instructed to use
all available facilities to solve the
killings.
The Kansas City Star said
Binaggio was murdered, because
he wanted to quit the ball game
when his team-the shadowy Ma
tional crime syndicate Teaching
from coast to coast-was losing
and 1t was Binaggio's turn at bat" /"
The Northside political chief
and Gargotta had appeared re-
Gently before Federal grand jury
investigation underworld activi-
ties.
Says Promises Were Made.
THE execution was carried out
by local men, close friends of the
fallen leader, on orders which
originated in another CITY," the
Star said.
"Binaggio, both as a political
and as a rackets boss, had made
wide-scale promises to open Mis-
souri, to gambling. He had ac-
cepted money from the National
syndicate for the use in the 1948
elections"
when the Federal grand jury
began work last September, with
Binaggio obviously among their
top targets, he was in the position
of man who had promised a lot,
had obtained money on his
promises, but had delivered only
crumbs"
Binaggio began his strong bid
for political power in 1914. He
backed the late Mayor Roger T.
Sermon of Independence for Gov
|ernor. Mr.. Sermon, a close friend
of President Truman, failed in his
gubernatorial bid.
Short Makes Charges.
In his statement issued in
Washington, Mr.. Short said he
had been informed that Tom
Hennings. a candidate for the
Missouri Democratic senatorial
nomination, has the backing of
the Binaggio faction in Kansas
City.
He declared that President Tru-
man and remnants of the politi-
cal organization built by Pender-
CAST oppose Mr.. Hennings.
MIR. Binaggio was in the way"
Mr.. Short said. so what hap
pened? He is bumped or"
Mr.. Short said President Tru-
mans candidate is Emery Allison.
a State senator from Rolla, Mo.
He added that Il never heard OF
his name until Harry Endorsed