The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1951-10-26

mop stepped In, ana there enSueo
events as strange as a dime novel.
The attorney called in to settle
the tax case was Eugene Bernstein.
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 a settlement with the gov.
eminent. Campaigns case was
settled for $90,371.49; Ricca's, for
$36, 1850, and accumulated interest
brought the total settlement for the
two cases to approximately $3.50, 900.
This was approximately 1922, 00O
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
mos Immediately, he said,
strangers started walking into his
office and leaving packages of bills,
usually wrapped in paper, in
amounts varying between $4,000
and $40, When the first batch
of bills came in, Bernstein told us
Gin what seemed to be a master.
piece Of understatement) he was
taken aback." The procession OF
strange men bearing currency con-
tinued until the needed total Of
$500 had been brought in.
@. did you ask their names?''
A. 81 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. Al
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 wal
when we sought to learn from Ricca
and Campagna-and later from
Tony Accardo-who might have
put up the $4,000. "Why would
be glad to find out who did that for
me-" the white-haired, 52-year-olc
Ricca innocently told US.
Today Ricca is man Of consider.
able substance. He told US he owns
home at River Forest, H., ar
elaborate summer house at Long
Beach, Ind, and an HOO acre farm
in Kendall County, III. which he
said cost him approximately $780,
600. These assets-plus certain
stock holdings and the $500, 1000 cash
Ricca said he had on hand when he
went to the penitentiary-made the
committee look with askance on the
story we dug up about how Ricca
after his parole, borrowed 5000
from one Hugo Bennett, formerly
Benvenuti, a $22,500-a-year auditor
for the Miami Beach Kennel clut
and the National Jockey club al
Sportsman's park at Cicero. a Chi
cago suburb.
The situation regarding the Chi
cago and Miami horse and dos
tracks is involved. The president o.
both the National Jockey club anc
the Miami Beach Kennel club i:
William H. Johnston who, in 1913
arranged for 500, 900 contribution
to Fuller Warren's Florida guber
Material campaign.
Johnston spared at great length
with Counsel Rudolph HALEY as Il
whether any Of his tracks had link!
with the Capone gang, but Peterson
stated in his testimony: During
the heyday of Al Capone, the Ca
pone syndicate was in control o
dog tracks in virtually every part O
the country including Florida"
Anyway. when Ricca. the Capont
syndicate gangster. came out Of thu
penitentiary and wanted $50, 1000 fol
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 othel
Caponeites. had gambled. Bennett
obligingly let him have the $500
in two installments Of $4,000 each
Bennett insisted he made this un
usual loan to Ricca out Of ''pur,
friendship and nothing more.
Next week: Greasy Thumb AM
some Chicago politicians.
; Condensed from the book, Crime il
America" by Estes Kefauver. Cpr. 1881
Pub. by Doubleday, Inc. Dist. Genera
Features Corp.--WNU.