The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1952-01-04

lice" Michael Mcdonald, a Phila-
delphia policeman, had arrested a
numbers writer named Jack Rog-
ers. While Rogers was being
booked, Mcdonald said, one Mike
Caserta, "who had been named by
Rogers as his backer," came into
the station house.
Mcdonald said that Caserta Of
fered him 5000 if he only would
modify the charge against Rogers
to disorderly conduct. Mcdonald
testified: 81 refused the offer. AS
he turned away he said. I will
frame you good When he said
that, l grabbed hold of him and
placed him under arrest"
At that point, Mcdonald con-
tinued, Police Captain Vincent FL
well appeared and wanted to know
who locked up Mike He addressed
him as Mike"
That night, Mcdonald said, he
was called in to Captain Elwell's
office and was ordered to alter
his report on Caserta. Mcdonald
claimed he refused and that Cap
tain Elwell then told him, stick
around. want to talk to you" In
about 10 minutes, Captain Elwell
walked to the door and asked,
"Who is hollering out there?" A
sergeant promptly stepped in and
dutifully announced: "a man is
complaining about being short
some money out here"
Thereupon, on Captain Elwelrs
orders, the numbers writer, Rog-
ers, was brought in and complained
he was short about $123. Mcdonald
was accused Of turning in less
money than he had taken from
Rogers at the station house when
he brought him in, and Captain FL
well Immediately suspended him.
Mcdonald gave a picture Of the
operations Of the poItico-gambler-
police triumvirate, the report con-
tinued. He named a policeman
who. he said. was known as the
collector" for Captain Elwell-
he would come into the station
house with his pockets ''bulging,"
Mcdonald testified-and a ward
boss who frequently conferred with
Captain Elwell at the station house.
Mcdonald estimated that protec-
ton money paid to police alone,
exclusive of payment to the high
er-ups," totaled at least $4,000 q
month.
The committee inquired, too, into
the underworld penetration of q
Philadelphia steel fabricating con-
Germ, which we concluded had been
accomplished through political in
fluence" A numbers racketeer
named Louis Crusco had bought his
way into the Strunk Steel Co. by
virtue, the committee inferred, ''oi
his close association with the son
Of Philadelphia's mayor" Crusco
was an old friend and neighbor Of
Richard Russell Samuel ST., son
of Mayor Samuel. The numbers
man bought his interest in the com.
pany under extraordinary circum.
stances: he carried the purchase
price, $4,000, in cash in a satchel
to stockholders meeting. Richard
Samuel Jr., l9-year-old grandson Of
the mayor, accompanied CruscC
and, according to the testimony Of
one stakeholder who was selling
out. apparently was the mouth.
piece for Mr.. CruSco."
Until Crusco came along" ou1
report to the Senate summed up
1.-THE company had never been able
to get any business from the city
Of Philadelphia but, while Cruscc
was negotiating his stock purchase
in the company, it received a con
tract from the Philadelphia Transit
Co.. a local public utility, on which
there were no competitive bids. The
president of the company testified
that this deal had been suggested
to him by the mayors grandson
who, coincidentally, was placed OF
the company's payroll as part O
the Crusco stock deal"
Next week: Nevada: A cas-,
against LOCALIZED Gambling.
Condensed from the book, Crime II
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