Evening star., 1950-04-09
Binaggio 5tronebox
Opened, But Fails 10
Yield Clue 10 KILLINGS
BY the Assoeiotsd Press

KANSAS CITY. April 8. - A
brazen tavern burglary next door
to the death scene added difficulty
for police seeking the slayers of
politician Charles Binaggio and
his henchmen. Charles Gargotta.
With two policemen guarding
the First District Democratic
Club where the two were executed
in gangland fashion early Thurs
day. thieves broke into an ad-
jacent bar and stole $500. two
wrist watches and some liquor
last night.
The tavern is located at 720
Truman road, the big crosstown
thoroughfare named for the
President. The place where the
two died is 718 and TIC Truman
road.
The Kansas City Star said that
In view of the wide publicity
given the Binaggio Staying,
thieves must have been aware
the Democratic Club would be
under guard. This, the paper said.
lied to the conjecture that the
theft may have been a cover-up
for some more devious purpose, 4"
Police had no comment on this
suggestion.
Safe and Strong Box Opened.
A safe and strong box were
opened officially in the club to-
day, but investigators said these
yielded no significant clues to
the twin shootings that have had
repercussions in the State and
National Capitals.
In st. Louis, the ar-Times re-
ported Binaggio had tried to
make political peace with Presi-
dent Truman in the last few
weeks of his life. Three Kansas
City men, who the newspaper said
participated in the plan, stoutly
denied any knowledge of the
maneuver.
In it's copyrighted article, the
Star-Times said committee Of
five had been set up to bring
peace to the feuding Democratic
factions in Kansas City and put
up compromise candidate in the
Senatorial primary this year. For
this peace Binaggio was to retire.
Committee Is Named.
The paper named the commit
tee as Floyd E. Jacobs, chairman,
James M. Pendergast, Henry Nc
Kissick, Tim Moran and George A.
Clark.
Mr.. Jacobs, A lawyer here who
has not held a political Office since
1916, declared II have never
heard of the committee"
Mr.. Pendergast, a political rival
Of Binaggio's crowd and nephew
of the late Kansas City boss, Tom
Pendergast. said "it is ridiculous"
Mr.. Clark called the story "ab-
solutely ridiculous" @ 1,
Mr.. Moran said he never had
heard Of any such committee nor
had he played any part in events
as reported by the Star Times.
The newspaper said the peace
plan failed because the President
said he would stand by his avowed
Senatorial candidate, Emery W.
Allison Of Rolla. The other can
didate who was supposed to have
left the race was Thomas c. Hen
nings, jr.. of st. Louis.
Police Car Parked Nearby.
The burglarized tavern was
once part of the First District
Democratic Club. 1t was parti-
toned, leaving a door between.
Later the door was filled in
A police car was parked in front
of the club when the thieves pried
open the tavern's back door. They
failed to take $50 in cash and
81 500 In savings bonds.
Investigators had pinned some
hope on finding clues in the safe.
But it contained only a file of
names of some 900 club members,
some other records and a half
pint bottle of whisky.
After the examination the club
was turned back to Mr.. McKissick,
q political associate who teamed
up with Binaggio and Mr.. Clark
to help elect Missouri's COVER
nor, Forrest Smith, in 1948.
Police were withdrawn.
Other records opened by the
coroner failed to produce any
clues. They had been taken from
the club Thursday when the
bodies were found. At every turn
investigators appeared to have
drawn a blank.