Originator: FBI
From: SAC, CG
Document date: 01/18/1963
Document type: PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

## Page 1

JFK Assassination System

Identification Form

Agency Information'

Date:

4/24/201

AGENCY: FBI

RECORD NUMBER :

124-10202-10140

RECORD SERIES :

HQ

AGENCY FILE NUMBER : 62-9-9-1163

Document Information

ORIGINATOR :

FROM:

TO :

TITLE :

FBI

SAC, CG

DATE: 01/18/1963

PAGES:

140

SUBJECTS :

CIP, FIRES/BOMBINGS, RESTAURANTS, CG, IL

DOCUMENT TYPE: PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

CLASSIFICATION: Unclassified

RESTRICTIONS:

4; 10(a)2

CURRENT STATUS:

Redact

DATE OF LAST RE VIEW: 10/07/1998

OPENING CRITERIA: INDEFINITE

COMMENTS: INC MEMO

Released under the John F. Kennedy

Assassination Records Collection Act of

1 992 (44 USC 2107 Note). Case#:NW

56252 Date: 05.494144

v9.1

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of Illinóis, in order that Infelice might be allowed to

open gambling

Lyons,

illinois, his new restaurant, Pedicone's Restaurant,

Infelice was

a150

interested in opening

a gambling operation in Berwyn,

Illinois; in a Village

of Berwyn sponsored building.

(PCI George Vydra to SA

Ralph R. Hill, Jr.)

On December 30, 1962, a confidential source

advised that on the night that Pedicone's Restaurant

burned down, Salvatore "Salom."

Be Rose contacted Joe

Accardi at the Fifth Jack Lounge and asked Accardi to

come out to Pedicone's as soon as possible.

This contact

occurred at about 8:00 p.m. on the night of the fire.

(CG 6512-CTE)

The "Chicago's American" dated January 3, 1963,

contained an article entitled, !

"Mob's Arson Racket

Hinted

in Cafe Blazes."

The article

stated that the State

Fire Marshal's Office had begun investigating a suspected

crime syndicate arson racket in the west suburbs.

It

was learned that William J. Cowhey, State Fire Marshal,

suspects hoodlum involvement in a score of restaurant

and tavern fires since 1961 and had ordered his staff

to look for evidence connecting the blazes with fire-

insurance

payments.

Chief targets of the Fire Marshal's

investigation, according to the article, are Ernest

"Rocky" Infelice, 41, crime syndicate enforcer and ex-convict;

and John Tano, a

minor figure

with an arrest record.

Tano, 48, claims to be owner of Pedicone's Restaurant;

7729

43rd. Street, Lyons, which burned mysteriously

January 1, 1963, at night, causing an estimated $100,000

damage.

Infelice, according, to the article, has been

named by employees of various restaurants as the behind-

the-scenes boss of three restaurants that have gone up

in smoke since January, 1961, according to police.

The

restaurants are:

(2) Are ver the rene Stk, Houn burned wortr

mysterious, circumstances January 29, 1961,

causing $113,000 damage.

(2)

The Lido Motel and Guest House Restaurant,

2415 North Mannheim Road, Leyden Township,

which were partly destroyed in a $100,000

blaze December 26, 1962.

The nominal

owner,

Jack Newman,

62, died of a heart attack

during the fire.

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Tano admitted that the owners of record were his sister and

her husband.

Tano is the second restaurant operator to die

of an apparent heart attack in connection with a recent

fire.

The first was Jack Newman, 62, who died while

watching the Lido Motel-Guest

House Restaurant in Leyden

Township, partly destroyed in

a $100,000 fire December 26th.

Information was received fron a confidential

source on December 28, 1962, that the fire at the Lido

Motel on the night of December 25, 1962, was an arson

job either personally handled by Rocky Infelice and his

associates or by someone hired by them. Informant stated

that they had already made arrangements prior to the fire,

to take over the Golden Host, located on Mannheim Road,

a short distance away from the Lido Motel.

Informant further stated that Americo Di Pietto,

a close associate of Rocky Infelice and active in the

operation of the Guest House at the Lido Motel, recently

made the remark that the Guest House fire "took 40 gallons

of gasoline".

(CG 6407-C, 12/28/52, to SA LENARD A. WOLF)

During way, 1962, a confidential informant of

the Chicago Office advised

that the Guest House, located

on Mannheim Road in Franklin Park, Illinois, was extremely

"hot" as a result of publicity received following the

Scavo brothers killing.

Informant further advised that

Rocky Infelice was at that time acting as maitre-de at

Pedicones in Lyons, Illinois, and had begun his duties on

April 28, 1962.

It is to be noted that during May, 1962, Phillip

Scavo, his brother, and a female were murdered in gangland

style

in Elmwood Park,

Illinois. Information furnished by

various confidential sources of the Chicago Office reveal

that all three victims had been seen frequently at the Lido

Motel and Guest Lounge in Franklin Park, Illinois.

(CG 6512-C-TE in 5/62 to SA DENNIS W. SHANAHAN)

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Information has been confidentially received

from various sources that Di Pietto and Infelice are known

underworld characters who are associated with numerous

members of the gangster element and that both had financial

interests in the North Avenue Steak House, which was

mysteriously burned January 29, 1961, and

Pedicones

Restaurant, which burned mysteriously January 1, 1963.

The Guest House was reportedly

burglars which included James

and

"Turk" Torello.

765 -TIme Reporter, Sandy Smith, "Chicago

North Avenue Steak House

8500 North Avenue

Melrose Park, Illinois

An article appearing in "Chicago's American"

dated January 3, 1963, revealed that the State Fire

Marshal's office had begun investigating a

suspected crime

syndicate arson racket in the west suburbs. The bulk of

information reflected in this article may be found above

under the subheading

• "Guest Lounge Restaurant and Bar,

2415 North Mannheim Road, Leyden Township, Franklin Park,

Illinois". One of the chief targets of the probe was the

no chie tang

North Avenue Steak House, 8500 North Avenue, Melrose

Park, Illinois, which burned under mysterious circumstances

January 29, 1961, causing $113,000 damage. Ernest

"Rocky" Infelice, crime syndicate enforcer and ex-convict,

and John Tano, a minor figure with an arrest record,

were being sought by investigators at the time of the

article.

During 1961 Carl Schultz, Bureau of Labor-Management

Reports, United States Department of. Labor, Chicago,

Illinois, furnished information to the Chicago Office

advising that the North Avenue Steak House, operated

• hangout for

underworld.

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During February, 1962, a confidential source of

the Chicago Office advised

Ernest "Rocky" Infelice was

in trouble with

"outfit" over money owed to them and

as a result the

"outfit" burned down Infelice's steak

house located 8500 West North Avenue.

Infelice reportedly

had a large outstanding "juice" loan with Sam DeStefano,

prominent Chicago loan shark.

(CG 6560-PC, 2/7/62)

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1960, that De Stefano has a proclivity for setting fires in fits

of rage over incidents which he considers personal insults or as

a method of disiplining recalcitrant associates or customers. who

are delinquent in payments of "juice loans".

In 1960, De Stefano

threw a naptha bomb in a bedroom window of the home of Chicago

Attorney Robert Mc Donnell which caused a fire resulting in

considerable damage. De Stefano did this as a result of the fact

that Mc Donnell was delinquent in payments on a "juice loan"

which he had made of De Stefano.

De. Stefano has been suspected of many crimes of murder,

assault with a deadly weapon, and similar type crimes by the

Chicago Police Department.

man" in this area in that he lends out vast sums at exorbitant

and usurious rates of interest. He is also believed to finance

burglars and thieves in turn for a percentage of their scores.

It has been reported that De Stefano is emotionally -

unstable and most excitable.

Many occurrances which would not

disturb a normal person are

said to put De Stefano into fits of

rage during which time he is liable to committ crimes of violance

far outweighing the reason for his anger:

'(PCI Joseph Daly to

Special Agent William F. Roemer)

Captain William Duffy, Intelligence Unit, Chicago

Police Department, advised during December, 1962, that_KIng

Solomon, a former proiessional prize lighter, and his brother,

rim bolomon, have acted as "juice collectors" for Sam De Stetano.

King Solomon is very closely associated with Cowboy Mirro, Rocky

Infelice and Americo Di Pietto, Chicago west side hoodlums, who

have been associated with Pedicones Restaurant, the Guest House,

and the North Avenue Steak House. According to Captain Duffy,

the Solomon brothers are reported to be arson and bombing suspects

in the Chicago area, however, has no information concerning any

sil bombing

• fire. The Solomon brothers have a brother

known as William

who is a fire loss insurance adjustor,

and whose activities

are believed to be connected with King and

Tim Solomon.

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Silver Spur Cocktail Lounge

.. 4700 West Cermak Road

Cicero, Illinois

The "Chicago Daily News" in an article dated

January 9, 1963, reported that the Silver Spur Cocktail

Lounge, Cicero, Illinois, experienced a fire at their

establishment on December 10, 1962. The damage to this

lounge,

according

to the newspaper, was estimated to be

$50,000.00 as a result of the fire.

Information received confidentially during

March, 1960 revealed that the Silver Spur, 22nd and 47th

Avenue, Cicero, Illinois, was a known gambling place

under the control of Chicago hoodlum Rocco Fischetti.

(PCI Edward Korsiak to

SA L.A. Wolf)

An article in the "Chicago American" on August 11,

captioned "Cicero's Girlie Shows Cook Off in the

During April, 1962, the Illinois Liquor Control

Commission

advised that State Retail Liquor License NO.

R-19772, issued to William and Shirly Vasiliades, doing

business

as Silver Spur Lounge, was suspended for a period

of ten days to begin on May 6, 1962 and end on May 16, 1962

for having wagering on the premises in violation of the

Liquor Control Act.

An application for a rehearing in the

matter was denied by the Commission:

During January, 1963, Deputy Illinois State Fire

Marshal As Dineen Best advised

that a $50,000.00 fire occured

was a tavern and gambling joint owned by Shirly Vasiliades

and the Intelligence Unit of the Chicago Police Department

has information concerning her.

He advised that there was

no insurance on the tavern, however, the building was insured

for $32,500. The beneficiaries were Jimmy Castridta,

William

Indelli and James Campanale with no trust arrangement.

He sald the building was under-insured, and it was determined

that

the fire was caused by a faulty gas heater.

26

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on January 9, 1963, it was reported that flammable liquid

had been

found by firemen in the ruins of the Cordial

Lounge.

A confidential source reported on June 8, 1960,

that Dave Brown was the operator of the Cordial Lounge,

7714 West Touhy, and further advised that "numerous hood-

lums, including

some of the top syndicate figures"

reportedly frequent the Cordial Lounge.

(CG 5989-C)

On January 17, 1963, Bob May, Special Agent in

Charge, National Board of Fire Underwriters, Chicago,

Illinois, advised that an investigation conducted regarding

the fire

at the Cordial Lounge, 7714 West Touhy, Chicago,

on April 11, 1962, located a seven and a half gallon milk

carton containing

gasoline and kerosene mixture, which was

found after the fire was extinguished.

Arson suspicion

was directed at Dave Brown, operator of the Cordial

Lounge:

Investigation including polygraph examination of

insured,

failed to disclose knowledge of fire origin.

Further it was determined that the immediate neighborhood

where the Cordial was located was irate over the Cordial's

operations and an injunction was obtained against the

club's operations even after neighborhood voted "dry".

Eden Roc (Tavern)

6426 South Ashland Avenue

Chicago, Illinois

Robert May, National Board of Fire Insurance

Underwriters, Chicago, Illinois, on January 17, 1963,

advised that

the Eden

Roc Tavern, 6426 South Ashland

Avenue,

Chicago, Illinois, was operated by Gedeminas Sakevicius, 1231

South Green Street, Calumet Park,

Illinois.

The owner

of the property was Frank Gnadl, 7825 South Nagle,

Chicago, Illinois, with Christine Brooks Marbock as the

title holder. This establishment burned July 8, 1962, at

28

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Information was obtained in

JFK Law 10(a)2

(Departmental Attorney Ben Brooks, who furnished

information from transcript of Federal Grand

Jury testimony)

A form letter from the Joint Welfare Committee for

the Pointers, Cleaners, and Caulkers of Local 52, dated May 16,

1955, was signed Thomas J. Bowler, Chairman.

(Furnished by Mr. William E. Burger,

144 West 47th Street, Chicago, Illinois)

An anonymous letter dated May 16, 1958, to the.

United States Attorney, Chicago, states in part:

"I know Gallagher owns the Beverly Manor Woods

Restaurant.

The man who is supposed

to be the owner

just

front for Gallagher.

The

'front' is Thomas

Boler or 'Bowler.'

I knew Boler many years ago and he

didn't have a dime.

He was a point tucker in the

building trade.

That restaurant must be worth a quarter

of a million dollars and Boler couldn't be the owner -

Gallagher is."

On November 29, 1957, Edward J

Gallagher President

of the Pointers, Cleaners, and

Caulkers

nIon,

Local 52, was

put on two years' probation, fined $1,000 and costs,

and given

a six-month

suspended jail sentence for diverting $98,000

in union welfare funds.

Federal Judge Walter J.. La Buy who

sentenced Gallagher said an investigation showed he did not

and union members.

District

Court, Chicago, reviewed 12/2/57 by SA C.

LEONARD TREVIRANUS)

The Kefauver Hearings of 1951 developed information

that the Beverly Manor Woods Restaurant, 11532 South Western

'Avenue, was alleged to be owned by Edward J. Gallagher, former

31

62-9-9-1163

NW 68262 Docld:32289864 Page 9

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infomotion was obtained in

JFK Law 10(a)2

Petre

A Born letter Iron the

Joist Welfare Conmittee for

tho Poistero, Cleanere,

and Caulkors of Local

58, dated May 16,

1955, was Eigned Thoaas J. Bowlor, Chalraan.

An snonywous

lottor dated May 10, 1058,

te tbo

United Statea Attorey,

chicago, states an

part:

callogher

owng

Beverly lanor Hoods

Rostauzaat:

the nan who is supposod

the orner

Lo just & front fer Gallaghor.

The "froat" do Thoans

Felor er

"Bowler.

I knew Boler many yoars igo one he

didn"t have a dine.

he was a polat tacker in the

butlding trade. That restaurant muat be worth & quarter

of a million

dollars and Bolor coulda't be the owner

Gallaghor 15.*

On Novonbor 29,

01

the Pointers,

1957,

President

Cleanors, and

Das

fined 91,000 and costs, and

given

• sis nonth

in union wellero funds.

Federal

Judgo Walter 3, La Bay "ho

sentonced Callaghor said an investigation shoved he 81d

nos

bonesas fron the

divertod funds but gave shen to 1zlends

and undou nenberg.

Tho Kotsuver Hoaringa of 1051 devoloped lutomatzos

that the Neverly Manor Hoods Restaurant, 11339 Beuth lestere

Avonuo, ma allogod to be owned by Eduard J. Callaghor, forer

6799-1863

31

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Inforestton mas entairad in/

7FK Law 10(a)2

fom lotter fron the Joint Welfaro Connittoo for

the

Posaters, Cleanors,

and Caulkers of Local 38, dated May 16,

1955, gas

signed Thogas J. Booler, Chainsan.

An anonyscus lotter dated Nay 18, 1058, to the

united crates Attoroy:

Chleago, stateo in part:

***

Enou

Callaghor

tas

Beverly Manor Woode

Restaurant.

The son she 1g

suppobed

to be the ourer

30 just a Front for Gallagher.

The "front" As Thome.

Color of

* Bowler.

I kner Boler many years ago one ho

Be was a point tucker da she

building trade.

That sossaurant must ba worse & quarter

or a Bi4419n

dollars and Boler coulda®t be the onor -

Callagher te."

Novembor 89, 195%, Bavard &.

Collegher,

Proaddeat

Cloanero, and

Caulsera

uson, Locas 6a, 90e

probation, Ianed 01,000 and costs, and given

a sitinonth suspanded jail ventence for diverting

$68, 000

1n unton wolfare funds.

Toderal Sudgo Walter 5.

La Bug who

sentenced Gallagher said an investigation shonod ho did

not

bonesit from

the diverted funda

but

gave

• chos to tzonda

and union nonbers.

ThO

totauror

Ecaringn of 1951 devoloped issomation

that sno

Doverly Manoz

Voods Restaurant, 11032

South Weaten

Avoamo, see alleged to

be owed by Bluard J. Gallagher,

former

02-9-9-1163

31

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NW 68262 Docld:32289864

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In December, 1962, information was confidentially

received

as follows:

Approximately three years ago the

proprietor of Kirie's Restaurant was contacted regarding the

unionization of the restaurant employees by the Bartenders,

Local 450,

made this contact, and the restaurant owner refused to'

permit a check-off system for the union and told Lardino

not to come back. No subsequent contact was made by any

union representative. This source noted that the bombing

"was possibly" related to further union activity and the

bombing was intended as

a "warning to Kirie."

In addition,.

this source explained that James Kirie is Vice President and

a member of the Board of Directors of the Chicago Restaurant

Association, and Kirie is outspoken in his opposition to

hoodlum control or operation of restaurants and has

consistently opposed any hoodlum payoffs by the Association

or its members.

This source was of the opinion that the

bombing of Kirie's Restaurant could also be possibly related

to Kirie's activities in the Association and the probability Kirie

will be the next president of the Chicago Restaurant Association.

Further, this source noted that Kirie is the 'Democratic

Committeeman for Leyden Township, Illinois, and has been

active in local and state politics for over 25 years. .

During

the November, 1962,, election campaign Kirie actively opposed

the candidacy of Elmer Conti for State. Treasurer on the

Republican slate and was, to a great extent, responsible for

the defeat of Conti. In

opposing Conti, Kirie made a

number of enemies as a result of his actions.

(CG . 6277-C)

Chicago area. According to the article, Kirie's Restaurant,

amount of $200.00 from a black powder

2826 Thatcher, River Grove, Illinois; bomb.

was. damaged in the

Owner, James

Kirie, Leyden Township, Democratic Committeeman, blamed his

opposition to gambling and vice as the apparent motive for

the bombing.

The restaurant has non-union employees,

according to the article.

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•Best stated that his investigation has disclosed

nothing of value concerning the motive or reason as to why

this fire was set.

It is his opinion that it is definitely

an arson type fire inasmuch as the glass bottles of gasoline

were located in the building..

Best disclosed that he determined from one of

his sources in 1961 that there was a new operator of the

Manor Lounge, and as far as he could determine this

individual was a Greek American byythe name of Jim Karubus

(phonetic). Best stated that he closed this case for lack

of evidence inasmuch as nothing has been accomplished as'

to the identity of the three

-the lounge.

During August, 1962, a confidential source advised

the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation

that Rocco Pranno, also known as "Jimmy" Pranno who

reportedly controls gambling and other rackets in the Stone

Park area, owns the Manor Lounge.

According to the source,

Pranno flashed a large roll of bills (money)

which he said

he picked up from the Manor Lounge.

This source also advised

that one Don Hanke, a "flunky" for Pranno, has been going

around Stone Park

are indicatin

indicating that he is the owner of the

Manor Lounge and that the lounge is registered under his

name.

(PCI Louis Rufer to SA Roy F. Rodman

September, 1962)

During September, 1962, a confidential source

advised the Chicago Office

of the Federal Bureau of

Investigation that Rocco Pranno told the Stone Park

Police Department to close the Manor Lounge at 3:00 AM,

(it reportedly has license to remain open longer). This

source advised that Pranno appeared to be quite upset

inasmuch as he reportedly remarked that his employees

at the Manor Lounge were fighting them.

It should be

noted that Chief-öfoPolice AndrewSignorello is reportedly

a relative of Rocco Pranno's.

(PCI Louis Rufer to SA Roy F.

Rodman, September, 1962)

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## Page 14

C

During December,

1962,

a confidential source

advised that it was his opinion

that Rocco Pranno owns

the Manor Lounge.

(Potential Criminal Informant

Louis Rufer to Special Agent

Roy F. Rodman December, 1962)

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roremost Liquor store

2240 Sobley Boulevard

Dixmoor, Illinois

On. January 7, 1963, Chief Matt Roemer, Harvey,

Illinois, Police Department,

advised

that the Foremost

Liquors Store at 2240 Sibley Boulevard in Dixmoor, Illinois,

suffered severe explosion damage on that date.

Chief Roemer

stated that the damage was caused by at least ten sticks of

dynamite placed individually along

the inside east and west

walls of the building.

le said he had heard rumors that this

establishment was bombed to prevent its owner, Michael La Pota,

from testifying in a Federal Theft From Interstate Shipment

case in Chicago.

He could furnish no specific basis for the

rumor or the source of the rumor.

It is pointed out that

La Pota is the subject of a Theft From Interstate Shipment

case involving hijacked whiskey, and that he recently entered

a plea of guilty.

On the day of the explosion, La Pota was

charged with assault and battery in a State warrant for

striking a newspaper photographer, and attempting to destroy

his camera equipment, while this photographer was attempting

to take photographs at the scene of the bombing.

About one week prior to the explosion, information

was confidentially received that there was an excess amount

of wastepaper and other inflamable debris in the Foremost

Liquor Store. As a result of this debris,

the premises were

considered to be a fire hazard, and the matter was being turned

over to insurance companies for possible cancellation of insurance

policies.

(CG 6491-C

to Special Agent Thomas W. Parrish)

During January 1963, Robert May, Special Agent in

Charge, National Board of Fire Underwriters, advised that

La Pota has insurance

policies

amounting to $180,000.00 and

a

$36,000.00 business interuption policy.

He added that it is

possible that there may be additional insurance which has not

yet been located.

May further advised that he has information

that La Pota with an unnamed known arsonist drove to Florida in

the summer of 1962.

Shortly afterwards, La Pota's mother's home

in Florida was destroyed by fire.

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