Evening star., 1951-03-16

planning that the group works
secretly.
He left with the Senators a
large stack of documents.
AS Costello took the witness
chair for a third day. his attor-
ney, George Wolf. read a pre-
pared statement condemning the
Klieg lights in the courtroom, the
grinding of newsreel and televi-
sion cameras and "the hordes of
photographers darting about"
Because of the "intolerable con-
ditions" in the courtroom, the at
torney said, his client was unable
to testify properly, could not
properly concentrate and as
result. his answers were inco-
herent, unintelligible and at times
inconsistent and seemingly con-
Trajectory"
The reference to "contradic-
tory" was picked up by Committee
Counsel HALEY. who asked Costello
to clear up conflicting testimony
brought out Wednesday concern
ing wiretap checks of telephones.
Said He Didn't Check Phones.
Costello had said he never had
his phones checked for wiretaps.
Another witness testified Costello
hired him and paid him to check
the phones.
Senator Kefauver had said all
testimony on the wiretap evidence
would be submitted to the United
States attorney for possible per-
jury prosecution.
Reminded of the theatened
perjury charge, Costello said, II
refuse to answer. When the time
comes, I'll answer it in my own
way"
Senator Kefauver warned Cos
tello that he would be arrested if
he arbitrarily left the proceedings,
and also would be cited for con-
tempt.
fOStpOnement RefuSed.
Mr.. Wolf asked the committee
to postpone further testimony
from Costello. The committee
refused.
Costello, his voice made hoarse
by the laryngitis he has suffered
since he started testifying Tues
day, rasped, Il refuse to testify
until I am we'll"
AS Mr.. HALEY started to ques-
ton him again, Costello asked:
'Mr. HALEY, am I a defendant
in this court-am under arrest?"
'No, you are under subpoena"
Mr.. Haley replied.
Senator Kefauver cut in and
said, This is not a grand jury.
This is not a court. This is an
investigation, and you're a very
important witness"
Then Costello took his walk.
Virginia Hill Testifies.
Before Costello took the stand
he listened frowningly to testi-
mony by the former Virginia Hill,
one-time girl friend of Benjamin
"Bugsy" Siegel, the slain gang
leader.
Siegel was shot down by mob
ster bullets in her California home
in 1947. His murder has not been
solved. She now is the wife of
Hans Hauser, an Austrian skier.
Her dark eyes smoldering un-
der broad-brimmed hat, the So
year-old brunette carelessly wore
an expensive mink cape as she
snapped her answers to commit
tee questioners.
She denied knowing anything
about Siegel's enterprises, includ-
ing his gambling wire service
business.
Got Tips on Horses.
She said her income, which
varied from $4,000 to $4,000 a
year was derived mainly from
horse race bet winnings. Lots of
people gave her tips on the
horses, she said. She listed her
current assets as $4,000, includ-
ing some bonds.
She testified that she met Cos
tello and his purported crime
syndicate lieutenant, Joe Adonis,
in a hotel around 1912 or 1943."
She said she never got money
from either of them, or from
Charles Fischetti, named by the
committee as a leader in Chi
cago crime gang. AS for Fischetti,
she added, II don't even like him. %
Questioning the Alabama born
Miss Hill, Committee Counsel
Halley asked If she gave nartieS