Evening star., 1951-03-11
Hearing in New York
Monday TO Be Biggest
For Crime Probers
By the Associotsd Press

BY the Assoeiatsd Press
NEW YORK, Mar. 10.-The
biggest and probably the most
spectacular open hearing yet held
by Chairman Kefauver and his
Senate Crime Investigating Com
mittee will begin Monday in New
York.
A parade of approximately SO
witnesses including "big names
in politics and the underworld
is scheduled to appear. -
Top name among the politicians
scheduled to testify is that OF
William O'Dwyer, former Mayor
and now Ambassador to Mexico
who has promised a 'factual pic
ture" of the New York scene.
Kingpin among the underworld
figures is Gambler Frank Cos
tello, whom the committee has
described as head of a national
crime syndicate.
Seeking Crime Links.
The crime investigators want to
look into possible links between
politics and the underworld, gam
bling, narcotics. gangster inf1ltra-
ton into legislative business, wa
terfront smuggling and racketeer-
ing and the Hafla. secret BLACK
Hand" organization.
In contrast with closed pre-
liminary hearing held by the
committee earlier in New York.
the doors will be wide open next
week.
Newsmen will have front row
seats. So will photographers and
Z television cameramen.
About 2.5 million TV-owning
New Yorkers will be able to watch
the proceedings over any one Of
five stations. Networks will carry
the proceedings to other parts
of the Nation.
The hearing room is on the
28th floor of the Federal court
house among the skyscrapers of
Lower Manhattan.
O'Dwyer Final Witness.
Mr.. ODwyer. who has been
Ill in Mexico City, will come here
voluntarily to testify on March
10 as the final witness of the
New York sessions, the commit
tee has announced.
Mr.. O'Dwyer once described
Brooklyn grand jury investigation
of police graft as witch hunt"
but withdrew the statement after
the investigation uncovered evi-
dence that gamblers -were paying
protection money to police.
Brooklyn District Attorney Miles
F. Mcdonald, who spear-headed
the police graft-gambling inquiry,
also will testify.
There is a possibility that Gov.
Dewey and Mayor Vincent Impel-
liuteri will appear, along with
Democrat Ferdinand Pecora and
Republican Edward Corsi: defeated
in New York City's heated mayor
ality campaign last fall.
Believed Them Honest.
Mr.. CorSi said then he believed
Mayor Impellitteri and Mr.. Pecora
to be honest, but contended their
campaigns were backed by under
world figures.
Commenting on the possibility
of the political leaders appearing,
Senator Kefauver said recently:
In other cities, the committee
has invited various leaders, public
officials and law enforcement Of
ficials to make statement. In
many cities, they have done so.
The committee undoubtedly will
issue similar invitations here"
One of the most eagerly awaited
witnesses will be Costello. Gov.
Dewey once said Costello was the
behind -the-scenes boss of Tam
many Hall, Manhattan Democratic
organization.
Denies He Has Influence.
Costello himself declares he
doesn't have enough political in
fluence to get a parking ticket
fixed.
His attorney says Costello "wel-
comes the open hearing, for at
least the public will get chance
to hear his denials."
Frank Erickson, who headed
S12.5 million-a-year bookmaking
empire, is scheduled to testify, too.
Erickson protested through the
courts that a summons to appear
before the committee violated his
right to remain in city prison
where he is serving a two-year
book-making term. But the court
ruled otherwise, and he is sched-
uled to be one Of the first wit
nesSes.
Joe Adonis, another "big name"
In the underworld, will be called
to testify also.
Virginia Hill May Appear.
The committee has announced
that Virginia Hill, one time
friend of the late Benjamin
(Bugsy) Siegel, may be called.
Siegel was rubbed out by gang
land bullets in her California
home four years ago. She has
since married.
Gambler Willie Moretti, reput-
ed owner Of a $400,0 900 home and
three big cars and sometimes
known as the Napoleon of North
Jersey" is on the witness list.
So is Meyer (Socks) Lansky,
once described by former police
Commissioner Lewis J. Valentine
as a public enemy"
The Senate's national crime
hunt ends a 1o-month investiga-
ton March 81 when the commit
tees life expires.
Ireland to Present
II. S. With Facsimile