Agency: FBI
Originator: FBI
From: SAC, AL
To: DIRECTOR, FBI
Document date: 11/13/1959
Document type: PAPER-TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

## Page 1

JFK Assassination System

Identification Form

Agency Information

Date:

4/24/201

AGENCY: FBI

RECORD NUMBER: 124-10214-10324

RECORD SERIES: HQ

AGENCY FILE NUMBER : 92-4225-1ST NR 179

Document Information

ORIGINATOR: FBI

FROM: SAC, AL

TO :

DIRECTOR, FBI

TITLE :

DATE:

PAGES:

SUBJECTS :

11/13/1959

9

DOCUMENT TYPE :

CLASSIFICATION:

RESTRICTIONS :

CURRENT STATUS :

DATE OF LAST REVIEW :

OPENING CRITERIA:

COMMENTS :

[Restricted]

PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

Unclassified

4

Redact

08/19/1996

INDEFINITE

INC LHM

v9.1

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## Page 2

11/13/59

PLAIN TEST

AIRTEL

AIR MAIL

TO:

FROM:

SUBJECT:

DIRECIOR, FBI

SAG, ALBANY

ALLEGATIONS OF MISCONDUCT BY

UNIDENTIFIED FBI AGENT,

AT APALACHIN, NEW YORK

DONALD C. SHOEMAKER - INFORMANT

PERSONNEL MATTER

Re my Radiogram, 11/10/59, and telephone call to

Assistant Director JOM MOI bY STEPHEN S. SMITH ASAl,

11/9/59.

Since this matter is concerned with the case

entitled, "Y.S. vs. BONANNO, ET AL, Southern District of

New York, Criminal 159-35, TOP HOODLUM PROERAM." tWO

additional copies of this Airtel and two additional copies

of the enclosed letterhead nemorandun have been forwarded

for Bureau use in connection with that matter.

Enclosed are 6 coples of a letterhead memorandu

captioned, "DONALD G.

SHOEMAKER,

39 Walnur Street,

Binghanton, New York,

" setting out allegations made

SHOMAKER that in late September or early October of 1959,

5 • Bureau (Encls.8)

1 - New YOrk (U.S. V5. NOVANO, ET AL File)

2 • Albany

(8)

87 NOV 28 1959

ENCLOSURE

(T)

ORIGINAL FILED IN

8113

GO DELI

1959 /

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## Page 3

NES. MELVIN JOHN (LUCY) BLOSSOM had said

that if she was not

left alone (in regard to testifying in U. S. VS. BONANNO,

ET AL),

she would swear

that an FBI man got fresh with her

and that when this agent and another came to her house to

serve a subpoena on her they placed the subpoena down her

front, pointing to her bosom.

SHOEMAKER alleges she said that this happened in

the past three or four months and involved investigators who

had been contacting her in the past three or four months.

For the Bureau's information, Mrs. BLOSSOM has

not been contacted by any FBI Special Agent for over a year

and no FBI Agent, of course, has served any subpoena on Mrs.

BLOSSOM.

It is pointed out that Mes. BLOSSOM'S husband,

MELVIN JORN BLOSSOM, was formerly Confidential Informant

AL 3002-C.

He was initially contacted by Albany Agents

on 4/28/58, after a prior contact by Buffalo Agents while he

was being treated at the Veterans Administration Hospital,

Bath, New York. BLOSSOM was designated a Confidential

Informant by Albany letter, 8/6,58,

and was deleted as an

Informant, for lack of production, by letter dated 3/2412%.

Mrs. BLOSSOM was seen on occasions by agents in connection

with locating her husband.

In SMOEMAKER'S statement, allegations also appear

that Mes. BLOSSOM'S father, PETER SIRANO, 39 Walnut street,

Binghamton, New York (who has in the past been comicced to

a mental institution, according to SHOEMAKER'S statement),

instructed Ms. and Mrs. BLOSSOM befose they went before the

Grand Jury (in New

York City) not to say anything about what

happened at JOSEPH BARBARA'S and they agreed not to do so.

Among other items,

sHOEMaKER further alleged that ties. the

BLOSSOMssaid, in his presence, that the BARBARAS had a secret

tunnel on the property and that something in it would be quite

a surprise to somebody.

• 2.

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Two Thermofax copies of SHOEMAKER'S original

statement are attached for the Bureau's information.

SHOEMAKER has requested that the information he furnished

be held confidential.

In respect to SHOEMAKER, it is noted (as set out

in detail in the attached letterhead memorandum) that in

1950 he was charged with soliciting in respect to his wife

and that they both received jail terms in respect thereto.

In addition,

as set out in the memorandum, information was

received that he was again soliciting for his wife.

In respect to Mrs, LUCY BLOSSOM, she was operated

on about two and a half weeks ago at the Tioga General

hospital, Waverly, New York, for breast cancer and returned

• the hospital on 11/9/59, for another operation.

On 11/13/59 Mrs. BLOSSOM's doctor advised that

Mrs: BLOSSOM would be reheased from Tloga General Hospital

on the evening of 11/13/59 and would be at her residence and

available for interview at that time.

In view of this agents from Albany are proceeding

to Apalachin, New York to interview Mrs, BLOSSOM regarding

this matter on November 14, 1959.

The Bureau will be

promptly advised of the results of this interview.

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## Page 5

UNTIED STATES DEPARTMENT OF •USTICE

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

In Reply, Pler se Refer to

File No.

Albeny, New York

Novender 13, 1959

DONALO C. SHOTMAKER

39 Walmut Screet:

Mochenion.

Nen fost

On Novenber 9, 1959, the captioned indivtaual

volunteered the folloning intomation to Special Agents

Fatzicit A. Munley and Stanley S, Cannectel of the Federal

Bureau of Investigation at Binghanton, New Yorky in the

tom of a signed statement es follows:

*November 9, 1959

Binghanton, N.X.

"E, Donald G. Shoenakex, 39 Walnu: Sezeet, Binghanten

Men Sock, hake the following voluntary statenent to Patzicit A.

Mnley and Stanley Czarnecki, tho have Identified thenselves

80 mo as Special Agents of the Federal Burom of Investigation,

U. S, Departeent of Justice, They heve made no promises on

threate to ma.

I contected che above montlonel Agents to

fumiah then the following intomation.

"I an acquatated with Pates Streno, who le the

father of Lucy Blosion.

He resides at my hone in a first

fLoor apazenent at 39 Walnut Street, I live en the second

floor,

Peter Streno has lived at my house about a year end

& have known hin since 1949 whon we both wortsed at indicote

Johnson Shoe factory.

"Sometire in late Septenber

os early October Lucy

Blossom cane to see her father about sotting money to buy clothes

to go to New Yorl City to eppear before the Grand juzy

Investigating: the Barbare fooldent. At that time sho was fo

my kitchen which de on the second floor of the house and my

wife Ella and Peter Stzane, her father, wete also there.

42 mi

ENCLOSURE

Matte

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## Page 6

Bonald C. Shoemaiser

Tucy Blosson was talking about going to New

Yorks and she said '18 they did not leave her alone she would

swers with her hand on the bible thet en IBI men got frech

with her.

"Concerning investigators who have been contacting

her

tire

poot thrce or tour months she seated that some time agc

when en 154 Agent come to her home she told him that she woule

onear that he got fresh with hor. She also stated that about

two weeke after the above incident same FBI Agent and one other

Agent came to her house at which time they served a subpoena on

her and they placed the subpoena down her front pointing to her

boson. She old that this happened in the paot 3 or 4 months.

"After the Blossons sent to New Sorts on another

occasion conceming Federal Court proceedinge they said they

thought the Rusella squealed on then. The Bussells are another

couple who worked for the Barbarse and the Blossons think

the Russells told the Distrlet Attomey that the Blossoma knew

more then they ware tolling regarding the Barbera incident.

"Shortly after the Barbara incident while I was

visiting Petes Streno at hie former residence in Endicott,

Melvin Blossom was also there and stated that all the men

who were

at the Bezbara tarbecue tools on oath after the New York State

Police said that they never would disclose what cook place

ot the Barbare estate and that 12 nyone of them would talk,

his 1i8e would be talen.

"Peter Streno Instructed Melvin and Lucy Blosson

before they went to appear before the Grand Jury, not to say

anything about uhat happened at Barbara's, Lucy Blossom and Melvin

Blosson agreed to Streno's instructions. This conversation took

place at my home. It took place just befoze the Blossome

were

to appeaz la Federal Cout in New York Cley.

so 2

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## Page 7

Re: Donald C. Shoennker

"About taro or three months

ago, Streno,

while

visiting in my apartment told me and my wife that at sone

future date Mr. tussell would appear miening.. He didn't say

who would do 1e. IS Streno inferred that Me.

Russell talked

too much to the investigators concerning

the Barbaze incident»

"Streno has repeatedly told me that Lucy Blossom #tll

never till the truth conceming what she linow about the Barbaza

inoident.

"During the past year, during che course of many

conversations betseen myself and the Blossons, they both stated

that it they ever talked about thet they lew about the Barbara"

Incident their lives would not be worth two cents,

therefere,

It possible, they will acteupt not to say enraning

before

any court proceeding:

of the pictures, Lucy Blosson seid that Mes: Russell was a dam

fool for identifying those pietures,

"Lucy Blosson told her father uhile in my presence

that the Barborate had a secret tunnel on the estate which

entrance de now covered and the Barbara'e had tope things in it.

*Melvin Blosson told me that when the investigatozo

were looking for suns in the woods on the estate after the raid,

he wad curpeised that they did not find the tunnel because,

they hed, they could have have found something in it end is

would be quite @ surprise to somebody:

"Melvin Blossom aldo told me that he lnew in advance

thae all the nen were coning to visit Joseph Barbara;

because

he had to wash all the Barbara care, cloan up the gerage and the

basbecue arca and also to pict up the food. He also told me

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## Page 8

inal

Donald, 6. Shacmakes

"Chat one of the Barberas told him in edvance that they were

going to have guosts at their home on the day of the incident.

*Melvia blosson alao said that at the time of the

raid, he observed son of the visitors cuming loto

the woods

and he seen those men throw guns into the woods.

*I have read this statemant, which consiste of

this page and three others which I have initialed.

Ic 10

true end correct:

/s/ Donald 6, Shoemaker

"witnoss

"Patrick A. Munley, Spectal Agent, FBL 11/9/59.

"Stanley S. Coarnecki, Speckal Agent, FB%, 1$/0/59.

"I also want to state that Peter Streno asked

I me for

$1600,00 on the night of October 23, 1959, and told me & would

have to have it by latober 25, 1958. He

gave no reason for this

request but told me he would get atstonints from people so that

I would lose my home and my children. I have talked to the

Distriot Attorney, Broone County, Binghanton, M.X, about that-

Since that cême Peter Streno was connitted to the

State

Hospital for observation.

I signed the complaint egsinst him

and Doctore Dixon and Sergeant comicted hin to the State

Hospital, le fe still at the State Hospital, Since Peter

Streno was coisted bie son Steve Streno, Syracuse, M.Y.

called me and my ille ansuered the phone and he said he would

Els both of us and hung up. I have not heard anything mose

tron him.

"I have read the above atatement and te 1o truo.

/o/"Donald C. Shoemaker

"M these

#patrick A. Manley, Spectal Agent, FBI, U.8. Dept. of Juatice

11/9/1

"Scanley S. Gearnecki, SA, FBI, 11/9/59."

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## Page 9

Res

Donald C. Shoemaker

No Special Agent of the Federal Durcau of Investigation

has been in contact with Mes. LUCY BLOSSOM within the past yeax

and no MBI Spectal Agent has served any subpoena on Mrs.

BLOSSOM,

In regard to SHONAKER, on Novenber 9, 1959, Assistant

Chief of Police, JOSEPY SULLIVAN, Binghamton,

, New Yoric Police

Department, advised that SHONAKER had been under investigation

by his Department's Vice Sqund for solietting for his mife and

bringing men to his apartment for purposes of prostitution.

Assistant Chief SULLIVAN caid that his police files did not

zelleot an arseot for elthes SHOmMAREs or his wife ELLA SHORMAKER.

LAWRENCE NABINCER, Petroloan, Endleott, New York

Folice Department, on lovenber 9, 1959, Bald that DONALD C.

antimat of 6s2 Dickinson Street, Town of Union, New York,

had been arrested on December 9, 1959, charged with solleiting

that SHOEMARER was

sir monthe in the Cnondoga County Jail and fined

$500.00, Facrolmen NABINGER aloo advised that ELLA SHOEMAKER,

WiSe Of DONALD SHOEMAXER had béen arrested on the same date

for soliciting (prosticution) and had been sentenced so

Bedford Hills Women'e Prison for an indefinite term.

NABINGER said that police sources had furnished

infomation that SHOEMAKER was sgain soltelcing for his wife

and currently resided at 39 Walnut Street, Binghanton, New

Yoske

On NovenDer 9, 1959, DAVID FOULE, Broome County

Sheriff's Office, Binghanton,

New York, advised he had no

ancest recose for DONALD or ELLA SHOEMAKER except the azzest

by the

Indicott Poltee Department, above nentioned.

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Bonald &.. Shoenaier

Inquiry determined that Mes. MELVIN JOHN (LUCY)

BLOSSOM; mentioned in above atetement by SHOmAKER, had

breast operation approximtely two and one half scele ago.

for cancer, and that her condition sequired that she retur

to the loga Goneral Hospital, Waverly, Now York, on Hovenber 9,

3959, for addicional treatment.

Mra, BLOSS01'o last hone address was Route 1,

Post: Mobile Homes, Trailer Camp, Apalachin, New York,

This memorondum is looned to you by the FBI

and nether

• It nor ica contents are to be

distzibuted

outaide the egency to which loaned.

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