Evening star., 1951-07-25
Frank Costello,
Erickson and
.Adonis Indicted
Charges of Contempt
Stem From Silence
At Crime Inquiry
BY the Associated Press

BY the Associofed Press
NEW YORK, July 25.-Frank
Costello, named by the Senate
Crime Committee as the top man
in the Nations underworld, was
indicted by a Federal grand jury
today on a charge of contempt Of
the Senate.
Gambler Joe Adonis (JoSeph
Doto) and Frank Erickson, con-
fessed bookmaker. were indicted
on the same charge.
The indictments stemmed from
their refusal to answer questions
at the widely publiciZed crime
committee hearings in New York
last March.
Costello was indicted on nine
counts, Adonis on Is, and Erick-
son on "a.
The maximum penalty on each
count is a year in prison and a
900 fine.
Warrant Will Be Issued.
United States Attorney Irving
H. Saypol said the charges against
the three men were certified to
the Senate by the committee and
by the Senate to him as prose-
cutor in the Federal district where
the alleged contempt occurred.
Mr.. Saypoi said a warrant would
be issued for Costello's arrest.
Both Adonis and Erickson all
ready are serving sentences for
violation of gambling laws, Adonis
in New Jersey and Erickson in
New York.
George Wolf. attorney for Co.'S
tello, said Costello was in New
York and that arrangements
would be made for him to sur
render.
Mr.. Saypol said he did not know
Immediately whether the arraign-
ments would take place today or
tomorrow because writs of habeas
corpus would have to be obtained
to bring Adonis and Erickson from
jail. Both are serving two-year
sentences.
Four Arrests, One Conviction.
4 Costello had a police record Of
four arrests and one conviction
la one-year sentence more than
.I35 years ago-before today's in
!, dictment.
Il Police gave this as his record:
| 1908-Assault and robbery, New
York, discharged; 1915-Carrying
concealed weapon, one year in the
Ipenitentiary. New York; 1885
! Conspiracy, as a Federal violation.
lin New York, dismissed: 1899
New Orleans, violation of the in
come tax law, found innocent.
Costello held the rapt attention
of one of history's largest tele-
vision audiences last March as
he jousted with the efforts of Ru-
dolph HALEY, then the commit
tees chief counsel, to pry infor-
nation from him.
The expensively dressed 60-year-
old gambler objected that televi.
sion would present him as a spec
tacle.
Suffered Laryngitis.
Thereafter the cameras focused
on his hands. Millions of persons
watched the hands clasp and twist
while listening to his raspy voice
from nowhere"
At one stage, Costello stalked
from the hearing, complaining
that he was suffering from laryn-
gifts.
He returned after a few days,
but refused to disclose his net
worth.
Il refuse to answer on consti-
tutional grounds" he said.
He said he kept $4,000 to
$4,000 in a strongbox in his pala-
tial apartment overlooking Man.
hattan's Central Park.
He estimated that he had an.
other 100000 or so in banks.
But he refused to give details.
Il have a few investments, he
told the committee.
Denied He was Racketeer.
He said he had some oil stocks,
His wife. he said, owned 200
shares of television stock. They
owned summer home on Long
Island. He said he had a part
interest in the Beverly Club in
New Orleans.
Costello conceded to the CON-
mittee he was gambler. In his
younger days, he said, he was a
bootlegger. But he denied heated
ly that he was a racketeer-lnuci
less the "king of the rackets.'
Costello told the committee and
the fascinated TV audience that
he once worked in a piano factory
and later turned to the manufac-
ture of Kewpie dolls.
He denied having anything to
do with the punchboard business,
except that the dolls may have
been used as prizes by the punch
board operators.
Likes Jet BrOIIers.
His present interest, he sad,
was the manufacture of Jet broil-
ers. He said he was unable to de.
scribe the broilers in detail be-
cause his frequent appearances be-
fore the committee did not give
him time to study them. But he
liked the broilers, he said, as a
boon to housewives with small
apartments.
Gov. Dewey described Costello
during last falls election cam
lpaign as the real boss" of Tam