Evening star., 1951-01-27
Kefauver Ends Probe
In New Orleans, Plans
Contempt Citations
BY The Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 27.-New
Orleans vice and gambling lords
refused to answer more questions
than the hoodlums of all other
cities investigated, Senator Ke-
fauver says.
The chairman of the Senate
Crime Investigating Committee
made that dry observation at end
OF a two-day probe here.
Before ending the second 16-
hour session last night, Senator
Kefauver promised some of the
witnesses who "clammed up" on
his questioning he would seek a
contempt citation for their re-
fusals.
Will Cite Others.
BY name he called Carlos Mar
cello, vice lord at Gretna, La, and
associate of Frank Costello,
Dandy" Phil Kastel, controlling
owner of the Beverly Country Club
in which Costello and Marcello
have part ownership, and ]. j.
Fogarty, boss of New Orleans
only racing wire service, as three
he would recommend that the
committee cite for contempt.
There will be others, the Senator
said.
The United States District Court
room, where the hearing was con-
Quoted. was filled with lawyers,
witnesses and spectators as Sen
ator Kefauver made his summing
up statement.
1T should be noted here we've
had more refusals to answer ques-
tions in New Orleans than all of
the other hearings together" he
said.
Mention Arrogant Refusals.
We've had some very arrogant
refusals to give testimony from
nationally important criminals like
Carlos Marcello," Senator Kefauv-
er added. Earlier he called Mar
cello lone of the principal Grim
inals of the United States
Principal witnesses and high
lights of testimony included.
Phil Kastel-who revealed
long association with Frank Co.'S
tello and linked the New York
gambler with New Orleans gam
bling through Costello's 20 per
cent interest in the plush Beverly
Country Club, an expensive casino.
Mrs. Viola Grosch-Former wife
of the Orleans Parish county
Criminal Sheriff John Grosch, who
said he had $150,000 cash in an
attic strong box in 1910, accumu-
lated during a six-year period
while he was modestly paid city
detective. Her testimony con-
ficted with Grosch's and Senator
Kefauver said openly, Il believe
she was telling the truth"
Testifying previously. Grosch
denied having a strong box at his
house in 1910.
Testimony Refers to Courts.
James I. McCain-NeW Orleans
lawyer who testified that the Su-
preme Court of Louisiana reversed
itself in paddock suits against big
jefferson Parish casinos. He said
the Supreme Court allowed a Dis
trict Court to override its mandate.
The Rev. Dana DaWson-Jef-
ferson Parish Methodist minister
who testified gamblers offered him
a new Sunday school building to
call off paddock suits against their
casinos.
Frank Clancy-sheriff of JET
ferson Parish-known as Clan
cys Kingdom the Beverly
Club, Club Forrest and other big
gambling houses are located. re-
fused to answer questions on
grounds they might tend to in
criminate him.
Most frank witness to testify
before Senator Kefauver was
Beauregard Miller, town marshal
of Gretna, a small Jefferson Par
ish town, who said wide open
gambling "has been out there
since my daddy was in Office
Says people Want It."
Miller, a heavy-set man who
chuckled as he answered ques-
tions, said he tolerated gambling
because "the people want it. I
believe if I was to close them
gambling houses would be de-
feated."
That's fair answer" Senator
Kefauver commented, adding, 81
must say it is refreshing to get a
frank answer"
Gambling is our principal busi-
ness" Miller declared.
At the hearings close Senator
Kefauver told the audience, Il
think we have a good picture of
the effect of gambling and rackets
on law enforcement. ~ -t
Operations here are very large
and have interstate connections.
State people are connected with
and receive money from gamblers
in other parts of the country, to
wit Frank Costello of New York
City"
The committees next hearing is
In Detroit opening February 8.