Evening star., 1952-11-15
Costello Called Boss
|0f 1ammany Hall by
|Ex-Disfrict Leader
BY the Assoeio,ed Pres.

BY the Assoeiosed Pres.
NEW YORK, Nov. 15.-Reputed
underworld boss Frank Costello
emerged today. in State Crime
Commission testimony. as a man
also once known as "the Boss"
around the Manhattan Demo-
cratic organizations Tammany
Hall.
The statement was made yes
terday by a former Tammany dis
trict leader as commission wit
|nesses and previously undisclosed
records spun a web Of political
underworld intrigue stretching
from smoke filled rooms to court
house chambers.
I. Daniel Neustein, the former
Tammany leader. said he held the
post from 1941 until 1945. when
he was told: The Boss didn't
want me any more" He said
"the Boss" reference presumably
was to Costello.
Paid for Judgeships.
Mr.. Neustein also asserted it
was almost common knowledge
in those days that nominations
for the (State) Supreme Court
had to be paid for"
After the hearings by the New
York State Crime Commission
were adjourned for the week end,
it was announced last night that
United States Attorney General
James P. McGranery had asked
for a transcript of testimony by
Armand Chankalian. administra-
tive assistant to the United States
attorney here.
Mr.. McGranery's action cli-
NAKED a day of rapid-fire devel-
opments highlighted, among other
things, by Mr.. Chankalian's testi-
mony that he once interceded with
Gov. Thomas E. Dewey in an at
tempt to get a restoration Of the
voting privileges of Thomas
(Three Finger Brown Luchese.
Called Costello Successor.
Luchese, an ex-convict who
blossomed into wealthy New
York garment manufacturer, was
described earlier by a Federal mar
cotics agent as the successor to
Costello in the underworld hier-
archy. Costello now is serving an
18-month sentence in Atlanta's
Federal Penitentiary for contempt
of the United States Senate Crime
Committee.
United States Attorney Myles
j. Lane last night quoted Mr..
Met Granery as asking for the
Chankalian transcript ''for his
consideration and for such action
as he deems appropriate under
the circumstances"
Mr.. Chankalian said he spoke
with Gov. Dewey in hopes of get
ting a good-conduct certificate
for Luchese but got nowhere.
Luchese later obtained such a Ger
tificate from the State Parole
Board.
Testimony by the 52-year-old
Luchese in a closed session Of the
commission also was read. Luchese
listed among his acquaintances
New York City Mayor Vincent r.
Impellitteri, Lane, Costello. de-
ported vice lord Charles Gucky)
Luciano and a score of others,
including politicians and under
world figures.
Introduced to Murphy.
Luchese said Chankalian had
introduced him to Judges Muir
ply and Meaney." Later testi-
mony identified the two as Fed
eral Judges Thomas F. Murphy
of New York and Thomas F.
Meaney of Newark.
Commission Chairman Joseph
Proskauer intervened to say mere
mention of "a man like Judge
Murphy" or "other reputable per-
sons" was no reflection on them.
Testimony about Tammany Hall
came from several former district
leaders in the ''Wigwam," as Tam
many is known.
Mr.. Neustein first told of Co.'S
tello and then said he asked about
a judeship for himself in a con-
versation with Clarence Neal, for
mer chairman of Tammany's
Committee on Elections. Mr.. Neu-
stein quoted Mr.. Neal as telling
him:
well, there's no reason why
you can't (become a judge) if you
pay for it like the other fellow.
Your money is as good as his"
Graziano-Luchese Link.
Rocky Graziano. former middle
weight boxing champion, also was
linked with Luchese, in testimony
yesterday.
A telephone tap, supplied by
District Attorney Frank S. Hogan,
reported a conversation between
LucheSe and an unidentified caller.
It read:
Caller: what are you going to
do about Rocky"
Luchese: Hes going to fight
again."
Caller: "Zale?"
Luchese: yeah"
Caller: Better luck next time,
Tommy"
Luchese: "An right, joe"
The wire tap on October /, 1916,
came after Graziano lost the mid
dleweight title to Tony Zale on
Sentemher 27 C5raZian0 won the