The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1952-01-18


The Los Angeles city police de-
partment was headed by a deter
mined officer, Chief William H.
Parker. Our committee, however,
was not impressed by the Los An
geles County sheriff's office.
Guarantee Finance Co. shrewdly
had set up its headquarters in a
particular political island known
as Sunset Strip" inside Los An
geles proper. This was county ter
ritory and, accordingly, not subject
to the tougher Los Angeles police.
One of Chief Parker's aggressive
officers, 1t. James Fiske, finally
became so incensed by the sheriff s
inactivity that he entered Sunset
Strip and came down through a
skylight into the huge telephone
room Of the bookmaking operation.
Out Of his jurisdiction, he was
unable to make any arrests, but he
did tear up all the bookies' mar
kers so they were at a loss as to
how to settle their bets for that day.
AS result, Lieutenant Fiske said, a
stern letter was received from al
Guasti, then a captain In the sher-
IFS office, demanding that city
police stay out Of county territory.
A county grand jury was prob
ing payoffs to law enforcement Off
GERS by Guarantee Finance. The
grand jury foreman and four coun-
ty officials met in secret to plan
the inquiry. The only other persons
let in on the plans were two process
servers who were to serve SUBJ
Poenas. The very next day, some
one 'leaked" the plans to Sammy
Rummel, lawyer for gangsters, and
reputedly the brains behind the
mobster, Mickey Cohen.
A series Of incredible events fol.
lowed. First, Rummel arranged a
rendezvous with Captain Guasti.
Guasti, in turn, arranged for the
"mouthDiece" to meet that night
with Captain Carl Pearson and Sgt.
Lawrence SKATER, Of the sheriffs
vice squad. At this meeting, Guas-
Ii said, Sergeant Shaffer actually
exhibited to Rummel the sheriffs
confidential files dealing with the
Guarantee case. Next morning
Rummel was found dead-killed in
his yard by close-range shotgun
blast.
Police Chief Parker, who has
made life miserable for Mickey Co
hen in recent years. told US that
he does not 60 along with the
rumor that the little ex-pug is now
q second-rater.
Mickey, gambler and bookmaker,
extortionist and all-round rae.
keteer, is still decidedly important.
His business interests invade
many spheres. including prostitu-
ton, Chief Parker said.
Cohen, q Simian-like figure, with
thinning hair and spreading paunch,
appeared before US in q suitcoat Of
exaggerated length, excessively
shoulder-padded. End a hat with q
ludicrously broad brim. Apart from
police embarrassment, Mickey's
troubles-at least five attempts to
assassinate him-have been due to
his falling out with the Sicilan-
controlled Malta element on the
West coast.
81 have never been q strong-arm
man for nobody" Mickey howled
at us, almost Historically. II have
never bulldozed anybody in my
life" His testimony contradicted
this. There was the time that one
Max Shaman entered Mickey's
Paint Shop" mickey always
seemed to have either a paint shop,
q jewelry store or a haberdashery;
some Investigators are unkind
enough to believe that he used them
as fronts for bookmaking.) Mickey
had had a fist fight with Shaman's
brother. and Shaman "came in
with his gun" Mickey pulled his
own out Of the desk, killed Shaman
first and was acquitted on his plea
Of self defense.
There was at least one other ar.
rest on suspicion Of murder, and an
assortment Of beatings which Co
hen admitted he had administered
to various characters.
Mickey painted US q lugubrious
picture of his financial condition.
All the money he had in the world
was in his pocket. he said. Check
ing his roll, Mickey sadly told us
It came to only 1886. However, in
four years, Cohen had borrowed
approximately $500 600. he said,
from various sources. Most re-
markable Of all his loans was the
$S5. 900 he said he had borrowed
from the president tno longer
there) Of Hollywood bank, without
giving q note OF paying any in
terest.
What do you do for them" / In
CURED, that makes them SO gener-
Gus with your" Cohen replied: II
can't answer that: they must Just
1s1rn.. Sv.n