The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1951-11-16

major avenue Of inquiry. The syn
dicate, which itself sdmitted that it
crossed $26,0OO,OOO in 1913, W s
started in Miami Beach in 1914 by
five local" boys.
For long time, the S & G mo-
nopoly over Miami Beach bookmak-
ing was almost 100 per cent COM
plete. Even the then-powerful Frank
Erickson, who had paid $45, 900 for
three-month bookmaking conces-
sion at Meyer Schine's luxurious
Roney Plaza hotel, came to grief
when he attempted to b u C k it.
Schine, after. he broke off an ar
rangement with S & G and made the
contract with Erickson, was visited
by Detective Pat Perdue of the
Miami Beach police. Schine said
that Perdue told him he should not
let the contract 60 to Erickson.
The hotel man made the mistake,
he said. Of defying Perdue. In two
weeks, Perdue raided the Erickson
Roney Plaza book out Of business.
Next year. 3Schine explained, the
concessioni was leased ito some
body who was supposed to be as
ISOLATED with the SAG -
There was only one flaw in the
Says highly efficient operation.
1t became so profitable that It
aroused the cupidity of the pros
porous crimesters fr o m Chicago
who, in the approved manner Of
upper bracket hoodlumdom, win
tered on beautiful Miami Beach,
soaking up the sun on their daily
walks from hotel to horse parlor.
Then, as our Committee recon-
structed the story, the ubiquitous
and sinister partnership Of Guzik
& Accardo entered the picture. 1t is
the Committees contention that
Guzfk & Accardo acting for the
Chicago Capone Syndicate, dis
patched Harry Russell, q Chicago
gambler to SAG early IN 1S4o.
UNDERSTANDABLE devoted to their
SIC, OO0, 600 business, the SAG part
ners didn't want to be ''muscled."
They declined. The Chicago interests
were disappointed but gentlemanly
about it. Nothing crude transpired.
Their Mr.. Russell simply began
building up syndicate of his own,
and bookies at a number Of plush
hotels, dominated by the Chicago
mob. locked over to Russell
Next, Governor warren's crime
investigator, W. o. Crosby, APP
peared. Here things get little
complicated: His friend, Russell,
Crosby conceded to US, started feed
ing b m information on various
books that he might raid, and Cros-
by started raiding them. All were
places operated by SIG boolies.
Finally came the crusher: SAG
was buying its wire service from
the local distributor Of the same
Continental Press that already had
undergone the experience Of being
squeezed by Guzik and Accardo.
This service was abruptly shut OFF,
leaving SIG para1yzed.
In just about 10 days, the SIG
partners took another look at Harry
Russell and decided they had been
wrong. They decided to recapitalize
their business-though they admit
ted to US that they really did not
need any capital-and to let Russell
have one-sixth interest. The price
they asked for this one-sixth in
terest in a business that had crossed
SIG, 000.0 900 the previous year was
$40. 900.
At the same time Mr.. Russell
bought into the SIG for $40, 200, the
SIG boys" happened to buy a
boat named the Garlic. The price
of the Garlic happened to be So.
600, and the owner of the boat-lots
of condolences here Just happened
to be Tony Accardo.
Accardo, when we had him In
the witness chair later, refused re-
peatedly to answer questions about
it. Finally. however. Senator Wiley
innocently inquired, "Who baptized
that name, Garlic? Accardo, mo-
mentarily off-guard, replied. THAT
is my wife's first name and my
middle name" AS spectators roared
with merriment, the crestfallen
hoodlum rubbed his jaw with the
hand that has dove tattooed be.
tween the thumb and trigger-finger.
II fell into that one!" he blurted.
Guzik and Accardo's 1949 tax re-
turn showed loss Of $7.252 due to
SIG Service"
Anyway, the SIG squeeze hit
lemons instead Of the jackpot. The
combination of the senate commit
tees disclosures and the opposition
Of the law-abiding elements in Mi
ami Beach finally generated a heat
that even the powerful SIG syndi-
cate could not cool off. Abruptly,
''the boys without consulting their
Chicago associate. Mr.. Russell. de-
cided to 60 out, Of business.
Next Week: Tampa. WhOIesals
Murder.
Condensed from the book .cr,m. m