Evening star., 1951-04-04
New Crime Witnesses
Surrender as Tobey
Asks Reopened Probe
By Cecil HoIIond

Only one long sought witness
In the Senate CriAle Investiga-
ting Committees dramatic in
quiry into interstate gambling and
racketeering remained missing
after the surrender this morning
OF Morris (Mushy) Wexler of
Cleveland.
Senate Sergeant at Arms Joseph
Duke said Wexler gave himself
up at MIR. Dukes Office shortly
before noon. He said Wexler
posted a $4,000 cash bond for his
appearance before the Senate
Crime Committee or any other
committee of the Senate.
Wexler has been identified by
the committee as one of the
figures in Cleveland syndicate
1volved in interstate gambling
activities.
Admits He Was in Florida.
Mr.. Duke said Wexler admitted
he had been in Florida while the
committee had been looking for
him to testify.
He was the fourth figure to
surrender on Senate warrants for
their arrests in two days. Yester-
day Murray L. CThe CameD
Humphries came to Mr.. Dukes
office and turned himself in. The
night before, Charles and Rocco
Fischetti had surrendered.
These three have been described
by the committee as leading fig
ures in the old Chicago Capone
mob. AS with Wexler, each of
them posted $4,000 cash bond.
They were among II witnesses
for whom Senate warrants were
issued after the committee had
been unable to subpoena them for
questioning. Only Samuel T. Haas
of Cleveland remains to be ac-
counted for.
With the surrender of the long
sought witnesses, Senator Tobey
Republican, of New Hampshire
urged the Senate committee to re-
open public hearings for question
ing them, particularly the Fis-
chettiS.
Calls Them Kingpins.
"They are kingpins in the gam
bling world and could contribute
a lot to the committees investiga-
tion," Senator Tobey added.
Senator Tobey said the wit
nesses should not be allowed to
escape questioning just because
"they have successfully eluded the
committee for so long,"
Senator Kefauver, Democrat,
Of Tennessee, the committee
chairman, indicated, however, the
investigating group must first
complete its final report and leg
iSlative recommendations before
questioning additional witnesses
in public hearings. The commit
tee was given an extension of 30
days, until May l, for this purpose.
The committee chairman said
the FiSchettiS were very impor-
tant witnesses" and that some
provision will be made to secure
their testimony" He added this
could be done if the committee
completes its report in time.
Otherwise the two men could be
questioned by any successor group
to the investigating committee or
could be called before any regu-
lar Senate committee.
Wiley Favors Extension.
The Tennessee Senator has
opposed extension of the life of
the committee. On the other
hand Senator Tobey and another
member of the committee, Sen
ator Wiley, Republican, of Wis
consin are planning to offer a
resolution this week to extend
the committee and its dramatic
investigation until next Janu-
ary is.
The Fischetti brothers, Mr..
Duke said, had been in a small
town in Brazil. just when and
under what circumstances they
returned to this country was not
divulged.
However, they were reported to
have telephoned Mr.. Duke after
reaching this country and made
arrangements to surrender at the
Capitol. Under the terms of their
bonds they are forbidden to leave
the United States. Mr.. Duke said
they left telephone numbers
through which they could be
reached.
Humphreys was reported to
have been in Florida. AS the
Fischettis, he put up the required
bond in cash.