The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1951-11-02

Of which he owns Is per cent, was
50, 200, 900. he told us.
Virgil Peterson Of the Chicago
crime commission gave US this
thumbnail report: Joe Fusco des-
ignated several years ago as pub
lie enemy, during the prohibition
era. was principal lieutenant in
the Capone syndicate, handling the
manufacture and distribution Of
Illicit beer. He is presently suspect
ed of being the respectable front
in the liquor industry for the syndi-
cate It has been stated that
the syndicate owns or controls at
least II per cent of the retail liquor
stores in Chicago !"
Peterson also identified Rocco De
Stefano. with whom Fusco admitted
doing business, as an important
syndicate man"
Painfully, with the witness making
long speeches at almost every ques-
ton, Committee Counsel Rudolph
HALEY extracted from Fusco some
details Of how he gave away 20 to
IS cases of whiskey as Christmas
gifts to public officials and other
friends. Practically every cop in the
district came around at Christmas
time for a bottle or two, Fusco said.
He became belligerent WREN asked
who received his Christmas liquor.
IF you were in Chicago" he barked
at HALEY, maybe ] would send
you a case, too"
HALEY retorted: Maybe / would
return it to you"
II don't know" said Fusco, ar.
rogantly. II have never got any
back"
There was an ugly aftermath to
Fusco's appearance. Apparently the
mob got the idea tn at he had
talked" Ten days later a black
powder bomb went off in the door
way Of his Gold Seal warehouse.
The newspapers captioned a picture
of Fusco inspecting the damage:
He Talked to Kefauver."
Everywhere we went, the com.
mittee found political immortality,
but in Chicago the rawness was par
ticularly shocking. previously men,
toned Dan Serritella, simultaneous
~ a state senator, scratch sheet
operator, and business partner with
Greasy Thumb Guzik. We accumu-
lated evidence that proved the con-
nections of the Capone gang with
politicians Of both major parties.
The mobsters played politics strict
ly for their own interests. When we
asked ex-Caponeite Philip D'Andrea
whether Capone had been Republic
can or Democrat, D'Andrea replied:
"He was a Republican when it fitted
his clothes. guess, and Democrat
otherwise"
The pro-Capone bloc in the legis-
lature included Democrats and Re.
publicans alike. For instance, Virgil
Peterson testified that Sen. Roland
Libonati, a Democrat, has been
pictured with AL Capone and with
'Machine-Gun Jack McGurn."
Another bloc member was James
]. Adducci, Republican and for
10 years a member of the Illinois
legislature. Mr.. Adducci appeared
before US and outlined his political
philosophy and certain facets Of
his career. He has been a friend
and consort of numerous notorious
Capone gangsters, nd admitted
having b e arrested frequently
himself on numerous charges-in-
Guiding kidnaping-but never con-
victed.
For eight years, according to Ad-
ducci, he has been getting COM
mission of between $4,000 and &c.
900 or $500" by selling stationery
and envelopes to the state. He also
boosted of having control Of about
40 patronage jobs, including 10 men
on the staff of the sheriff of Cook
county, and "a couple of highway
police" Adducci cynically told US
that my conscience made me" OPP
pose the crime commission bill
Asked if he ever had studied the
bill, Adducci roughly answered:
Hell, no, didn't study It'll"
81 come from a very funny dis
trict," he also told US. II have
every element there is in the world.
l guess, in my district, ] have the
pimp, the pack-roller. the safe-blow-
er, the dope field and every other
damned thing in there. / mean.
come from the West Side Of Chica-
| go, a very poor district. AL those
elements are in there. Skid Row.
you may have heard Of Skid Row"
The chairman: ''You never have
any trouble getting elected, do
your"
Adducci: mo. / don't. Senator. /"
Next Week: Corruption Of Small
Town: A Case Study.
Condensed from the book, '.crime In
| America" by Estes Kefauver. Cpr. 1851.
Pub. by Doubleday, Inc. Dist. General
Features Corp.-.WNu.