Evening star., 1951-03-12
Crime
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for 20 or Is years and considered
him a friend.
Asked if he considered Costellos
notorious reputation mot de-
served" Mr.. Levy replied that he
often played golf with the gam
BILE. and:
Il know if he got a nine on
the golf course, he said he got a
nine. He claimed that the reputa-
ton given him by the newspapers
was the most unfair thing in the
world"
Did you always believe him?"
the counsel asked.
Many times I did, many times
I did not" Mr.. Levy said.
Asked why he had chosen Co.'S
tello instead of big-time gambler
Frank Erickson to rout book
makers from the track. Mr.. Levy
said:
Erickson would have about as
much influence as you"
Erickson, once head of a $12.5
million-a-year bookie empire, is
now serving a tWo-year prison
term for bookmaking.
Complaints Cleared.
Two days after Costello went
to work for him, Mr.. Levy said,
complaints Of bookmaking at the
track ceased. Levy said he didn't
know how Costello did the job.
Before the hearing began Chair
man Kefauver said the Senate
Committee will try to determine
if any "solid links" exist between
crime and politics in New York
City.
He noted that charges of such
links were made in the last mu-
nicipal election.
Reporters, clerks. stenographers
and lawyers jammed the tiny
hearing room in the Federal
Courthouse. Television and news
reel cameras lowered over the
long committee table.
Senator Kefauver said the COM
mittee was interested in any local
corruption, as it affects the ma
tional picture.
Waiting in the ante-room to
testify was an array of witnesses,
including petty officials, gamblers,
nondescript characters and sew
eral reputed boss underworld
leaders. More than so are due to
testify.
Hearings to Last Days.
The New York hearings, to last
a week to 10 days, will be the last
major sessions before the windup
of the crime groups life at the
end of the month.
Senator Kefauver said that byI
reserving New York City as the
final site of it's investigations, the
committee has been able to ac-
cumulate data that will aid in
pushing the investigation more
effectively here.
He said this schedule was fol-
lowed because "the city is bigger
and the tasks of our committee is
bigger here"
Among scheduled witnesses to-
day are Erickson and Joe Adonis,
another gambling kingpin.
Six more witnesses were listed
for today and gambling appeared
to be the main topic under con-
sideration.
Many Facets Indicated.
| However, Alfred Klein, COM
mittee counsel, told newsmen yes
terday that during the week more
witnesses will include underworld
figures, politicians and criminal
lawyers.
Senator Kefauver was joined
by Senators Tobey, Republi-
can, of New Hampshire, and
IO'Conor, Democrat, of Maryland
at today's sessions. The other
committee members - Senators
Hunt, Democrat, of Wyoming and
Wiley, Republican, of Wisconsin,
are expected tomorrow.
Other witnesses slated for calls
today included James Watson,
Erickson's son-in-law, and Charles
Lipsky, New York City Repub-
lican leader.
Committee Counsel Rudolph
HALEY said Mr.. Watson has "some
connection with Roosevelt Race
way"
Friend of O'Dwyer's.
:. Mr.. HALEY identified Mr.. Lipsky
as close friend of former Mayor
William ODwyer, now Ambassa-
dor to Mexico.
The committee counsel said wit
nesses later in the week would
include Costello and Virginia Hill
! friend of the murdered gangster
Isidore (Bugsy) Siegel.
+ Mayor O'Dwyer is to appear
here at a special session next
;. Monday.
Other witnesses listed for to-
: days session were Jerome G.
' Ambro, a deputy attorney general
5 of New York State and former
! Democratic State assemblymar
Z DOG, Vicinity Crestview. Mo-. mixed