Evening star., 1951-03-14
Crime
Continued From First PageD

Crime
Continued From First Page.)
suited in whispers. Then the at
torney announced Costello was
ready to answer.
Finally Gives Answer.
Asked again the amount in the
safe. Costello said: Il don't know
exactly if I have $4,000 or $5O.-
000."
Then" said Senator O'Conor,
'it is approximately $4,000 or
$5o,OO0?"
A. Yes"
@. Have you any other strong
boxes?
A. No.
O. Is there any other person
holding cash, securities or any
thing else of value for you?
A. No.
Earlier, Costello accused the
committee of breaking Federal
law in using transcriptions of his
telephone conversations.
Facing the Senate committee
for the second day in a row, the
reputed rackets overload said
through his attorney that the
Senators overstepped legal bounds
in presenting the recordings.
Senator O'Conor. presiding at
the session, promptly overruled
the objections.
Mr.. Haley said the wiretapped
conversations were made in 1943
with court authorization, by in
veStigators for Manhattan District
Attorney Frank S. Hogan.
Talked With Kastel.
The clash came when Mr.. HALEY
sought to introduce a lengthy
transcription of a long distance
talk Costello purportedly had with
Dandy" Phil Castel, in New Or
leans.
Costello has named Kastel as the
boss of a Southern slot machine
enterprise. the Louisiana Mint Co., |
which Costello said he set up in
1885 on invitation from the late
Huey Long.
George Wolf. attorney for Co.'S
tello. maintained that telephone
conversations cannot be divulged'
under Federal law. He argued that
New York State law may permit
use of wiretaps, but they aren't
permitted in Federal proceedings.
THE committee does not agree
with that" Senator OConor said
bruskly.
Produced Other Wiretaps.
Near the close of yesterdays ses-
SionS, the committee produced sew
eral other tapped conversations in |
which Costello was referred to as |
chief and the boss, of book
makers.
The committee announced it !
will permit a second appearance
of George Morton Levy, chief
counsel for the Roosevelt Race
way harness track, who report
edly made the boss" reference in
talk with Costello.
The conversation was said to
be part of negotiations in which
Mr.. Levy hired Costello for $60,-
900 during four years-to keep
bookies from the race track on
Long Island.
Today's hearings were in new
and larger room in the Federal
courthouse. Workmen spent all
night readying the new room,
about twice as big as the cramped
quarters of the past two days.
Room Is Crowded.
But it, too, was crowded by re-
porters, guards. clerks and Official
spectators Batteries of newsreel
and television cameras lined the
walls, and electric cords snaked
over the floor.
The TV-shy Costello kept his
hands cagily under the table.
Yesterday television cameramen
focused often on his twitchy, we'll
manicured hands. although COM
plying with his request his face
not be shown
The committee. apparently seek
ing to show Costello dictated
Kastel's slot machine operations
delved intensively into the two
mems relationship.
Did Kastel ever say anything
but okay to you?" Mr.. HALEY de-
manded. Whenever I read any,
thing (from the transcriptions)
he says okay to you"
Costello: Naturally, he said
other things
@. Do you deny Phil KaStel took
orders from you in the slot ma
chine business in New Orleans?
A. Well, he took suggestions.
Kefauver Cuts In.
Chairman Kefauver cut in to
ask Costello about activity of his
relatives.
The gambler and ex-bootlegger
said he had no cousins in the
stock-selling business, but he does
have brother named Ed.
What happened to Ed Costel-
lo?" Senator Kefauver asked.
"Oh, he's around" Costello NUT