Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1951-10-19


Many years ago, Bernstein had been
with the Internal Revenue Bureau.
When he obtained his law license
and left the bureau, he specialized
in tax cases. He accumulated list
of clients that read like the blue
book of the Capone syndicate.
With information obtained with
Tony Accardo's help, he was able
to effect settlement with the gov
eminent. Campagna's case was
settled for S9O,37l 40; Ricca's, for
brought the total settlement for the
two cases to approximately $4,000.
This was approximately S322,0
less than the original deficiency
claims. Anyway, the next question
was how to raise the money. Bern
stein went back to the penitentiary
to talk with his clients about it.
"They both took the position they
didn't owe the money and wouldn't
pay it."
Bernstein returned to Chicago. Al
m S t Immediately, he sai d,
strangers started walking into his
office and leaving packages of bills,
usually wrapped in paper, in
amounts varying between $4,000
and $4,000. When the first batch
of bills came in, Bernstein told us
Tin what seemed to be a master
piece of understatemenD he was
taken aback." The procession of
strange men bearing currency con-
tinued until the needed total of
$4,000 had been brought in.
@. did you ask their names?"
A. Il wouldn't think of asking
their names, because it made no diff
ference to me -"
When all was settled, Bernstein
went to Leavenworth again to see
the boys out of the penitentiary At
the Kansas City airport, Tony Gizzo,
the mobster and alleged Malta
chieftain, met them and drove them
to the penitentiary. Gizzo also ar
ranged for airplane tickets and hotel
suites, as needed for the Chicago
contingent.
We ran up against a stone wall
when we sought to learn from Ricca
and Campagna-and later from
Tony Accardo who might have
put up the $4,000 why I would
be glad to find out who did that for
me-" the white-haired, 52-year-old
Ricca innocently told us.
Today Ricca is a man of consider
able substance. He told us he owns
a home at River Forest, ILL.,, an
elaborate summer house at Long
Beach, Ind, and an 100 acre farm
in Kendall County, III. which he
said cost him approximately $780,
600. These assets - plus certain
stock holdings and the 100000 cash
Ricca said he had on hand when he
went TO the acknowledgements the
committee look with aSkance on the
story we dug up about how Ricca.
after his parole, borrowed $4,000
from one Hugo Bennett, formerly
Benvenuti, a 500 ,500-a-year auditor
for the Miami Beach Kennel club
and the National Jockey club at
Sportsman's park at Cicero. Chi
cago suburb.
The situation regarding the Chi
cago and Miami horse and dog
tracks is involved The president of
both the National Jockey club and
the Miami Beach Kennel club is
William H. Johnston who, in 1913,
arranged for a 100000 contribution
to Fuller Warren's Florida guber-
material campaign.
Johnston SPARED at great length
with Counsel Rudolph HALEY as to
whether any of his tracks had links
with the Capone gang, but Peterson
stated in his testimony: During
the heydey of Al Capone. the Ca
pone syndicate was in control Of
dog tracks in virtually every part of
the country including Florida"
Anyway, when RiCca, the Capone
syndicate gangstcr. came out of the
penitentiary and wanted $50, GOO for
the purpose, he said, of making i'm
proVements on his farm, he turned
to his old friend Bennett, the auditor
at the track where Ricca, with other
CaDonc:tes, had gambled. Bennett
obligingly let him have the 100000
in two installments of $40, 900 each.
Next week: Greasy Thumb and
some Chicago politicians.
Condensed from the boot. Crime In
America" by Estes kcfauver. Cpr: 1851:
Features COrp-WNU,