Originator: FBI
From: FORSYTH, THOMAS G. III
To: DIRECTOR, FBI
Document date: 09/24/1959
Document type: PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

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JFK Assassination System

Identification Form

Agency Information

Date:

5/28/201

AGENCY:

FBI

RECORD NUMBER:

124-10216-10404

RECORD SERIES: HQ

AGENCY FILE NUMBER: 92-2918-84, 85

Document Information

ORIGINATOR: FBI

FROM:

FORSYTH, THOMAS G. III

TO: DIRECTOR, FBI

TITLE:

DATE: 09/24/1959

PAGES:

43

SUBJECTS :

SMO, FISUR, ASSOC, ARREST, PERSONAL HISTORY, BKG,

CRIMINAL ACT, B/FINT, TRA

DOCUMENT TYPE: PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

CLASSIFICATION: Unclassified

RESTRICTIONS: 4

CURRENT STATUS: Redact

DATE OF LAST REVIEW: 08/26/1998

OPENING CRITERIA: INDEFINITE, APPROVAL OF ATF

COMMENTS : INC RPT, 2 ADMIN PAGES

Released under the John F. Kennedy

assassination Records Collection Act ol

1992 (44 USC 2107 Note). Case#:NW

58262 Date: 09.22-2022

v9.1

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INFORMANTS

PG T-I iS PCI JAMES THORNTON MC CLOWRY, M.D., Springdale,

Pa.,

who furnished information to SA THOMAS G.

FORSYTH III on 12/7/59 and 12/11/59.

PG I-2 is PCI JIM KELLY, New Kensington, Pa., who furnished

information to SA FORSYTH on 9/21/59, 10/6/59,

10/29/59, 11/25/59, and 12/7/59.

PG T-3 is PCI DONNA MARCUNES, aka., New Kensington, Pa., who

furnished information to

SA RICHARD GORDON DOUCE

on 11/30/59.

PG I-4 is STANLEY KOWALSKI, New Kensington, Pa., who requested

his identity be protected and who furnished infor-

mation to SA FORSYTH on 9/18/59.

PG T-5 is PG 545-C.

ADMINISTRATIVE

The physical surveillance of LLOYD's Limited, Pittsburgh,

and on 9/21/59 was conducted by SA THOMAS & FORSYTH, III;

another similar physical surveillance at the same place,,

from 12:07 PM until 3:00 PM on 11/3/59 by SA FORSYTH was

unproductive.

Spot physical surveillances of the New Kensington residences

Of SAMUEL and GABRIEL MANNARINO were conducted on 9/28/59

by SA FORSYTH and nothing of pertinence was observed.

Information set out concerning FRANK NITSCHE, aka. Ace, has

been disseminated to Internal Revenue Service, Pittsburgh

byameans of blank memorandum.

Information from CARL IRVING NOLL concerning alleged

part

cipation of narcotics and slot machine traffic by SAM

MANNARINO has been disseminated by letters to the Federaly

Bureau of Narcotics and the U.S. Attorney, both Pittsburgh

A lead has been set out by separate communication to Little

Rock Office to ascertain whether the MANNARINOs have any

interest in gambling in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

The ATTD, New York City, informant is ARNOLD BAYBER, a

Brooklyn, New York, gun dealer.

REVIEWED BY

BALUFK TASK FORCE

ON 7/16/96 dat

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DETAILS:

A. PERSONAL HISTORY AND BACKGROUND

SAMUEL MANNARINO

1. Status of Health

It has been reported previously that a source stated that

as of September 1, 1959, SAM MANNARINO was drinking to excess,

being drunk almost every day.

On December 11, 1959, PG T-1, who has furnished reliable

information in the past, advised that SAMUEL MANNARINO iS

not drunk daily but is under the influence of narcotics

which he takes to minimize the pain he is suffering from

his spreading abdominal malignancy.

PG T-1 estimates that

this malignancy will

the Summer of 1960.

C. ASSOCIATES

1.. JOSEPH MEROLA

•It has been reported previously that JOSEPH MEROLA, Miami,

Florida, formerly of Pittsburgh, Pa., is a MANNARINO

underling.

On September 10, 1959, HANS G. MILTON, 845 Southwest Fourth

Street, Miami, Florida, advisea SA GEORGE E. DAVIS aS fOlLOWS:

explained that JOE MEROLA, Of Miami Beach, had ,a Cuban girl

friend who could arrange for the purchase of this boat.

CASADA took MILTON to the Garden of Allah Motel and Apartments,

Miami Beach, where the boat "Menace" was docked. MILTON tested

the engines

and told CASADA that they would have to be fixed,

after which CASADA told MILTON that he might use this boat

within a short time for an excursion into the Florida Keys.

CASADA then took MILTON to JOE MEROLA's apartment in the

Garden of Allah Motel. MEROLA told MILTON that he owned the

"Menace."

CASADA then told MILTON that some Cuban friends of

his and

MEROLA's were tired, needed

a change and wanted to

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the boat encountered more serious engine trouble. The Cubans

went ashore in a dinghy to obtain aid.

In the meantime,

storm came up and the boat began to leak, forcing MILTON

beach it on a sand bar. Later that night, deenace but

to

United States Customs Service, searched the

but found

no guns or other contraband.

MILTON later learned that this

trip was actually intended to have been a military expedition

to Cuba and that the Agents of the U.S. Customs Service had

taken into custody three of the individuals who had been

passengers on the

"Menace."

MILTON later attempted to contact

JOE MEROLA but could not locate him..

The following information relating to the revolutionary

activities of JOSEPH MEROLA was developed by the New York

Office as a result of contact with the Alcohol and Tobacco

Tax Division, New

York City.

On August 5, 1959, RONALD MOSS

Special Investigator, Alcohol

and Tobacco

Tax Division (ATTD), New York City, advised that

Special Investigator RUDOLPH KALES conducted an investigation

in September, 1958, concerning an attempt by JOSEPH MEROLA to

purchase firearms from an ATTD informant in the vicinity of

New York.

On September 26, 1958, the ATID informant contacted Special

Investigator KALES to

report that a representative of Cuban

revolutionary. leader JOSE ALEMAN requested the informant to

meet with a leader of the Mafia named JOSEPH MEROLA.

Several

days later, the informant met with MEROLA and two. Cubans in

an apartment in the vicinity of 138th Street and Riverside

Drive, New York City.

During the meeting, MEROLA pointed out

that he was associated with ALEMAN and that he was interested

for

Cuban revolution and that he and his associates anticipated

extensive gambling concessions in Cuba from the revolutionary

government.

On the basis of this information, the ATTD, New York City,

temporarily loaned the informant

a number of confiscated weapons

ERLA that he would have a representative stock to show to

On October 6, 1958, the informant reported to Special

Investigator KALES that MEROLA had been to Canada and Miami

then previous

week reportedly in connection with some arms deal

TOTAL

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and had requested the informant to accumulate a large pile

of American

"stuff" for him.

MEROLA also told the informant

at that time that he would have to postpone any purchase of

arms since the Miami area was

swarming

with FBI Agents looking

for stolen weapons.

On August 10, 1959, the ATTD informant was interviewed by

Special Agents of the FBI in New York City. During this

interview, the informant confirmed the foregoing information

and positively identified a photograph of JOSEPH MEROLA,

although he could not identify a photograph of Pittsburgh

national top hoodlum SAM MANNARINO.

2..

MIKE GEORGE HAZIDAKIS

On September 21, 1959, PG I-2, who has furnished reliable

information in the past, advised as follows:

Although MIKE HAZIDAKIS is back in his native Greece, he still

receives a "cut" of the proceeds from the gambling casino on

Barnes street; New Kensington, Pa., known as Triangle Billiards.

When HAZIDAKIS was in Greece the time before this, JOHN VOLOs,

proprietor of a beer distributorship at the intersection of

Third Avenue and Ninth Street, New Kensington, received

HAZIDAKIS' share of the casino's proceeds and turned it over

to him when he returned

• to the United States. The amount

was in the neighborhood of $5,000. VOZOS is not holding

HAZIDAKIS'

share this time and PG I-2 does not know who is

holding it.

It is noted that it has been reported previously that Mike

GEORGE HAZIDAKIS, a trusted cashier at the Triangle Billiards

gambling casino in New Kensington, returned to Greece in the

early part of 1959.

3. JOHN CHRISTOPHER FONTANA

It is noted that it has been

reported previously that JOHN

CHRISTOPHER FONTANA is the number one lieutenant in the

MANNARINO organization.

On October 6, 1959, PG I-2 advised that on September 30, 1959,

colored Lincoln Sedan, bearing Illinois license

c20-55545, was in New Kensington, Pa., for approximately two

Shours, commencing at 7:45 PM.

He said that the driver, about

'stall, well dressed, with dark complexion and dark wavy

hair, was in the Kenmar Hotel and was observed to converse

with JOHN FONTANA.

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Heport Porm

FD-263 (5-12-55)

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

Reporting Office

PITTSBURGH

TITLE OF CASE

Office of Origin

PITTSBURGH

SAMUEL MANNARINO, aka.;

GABRIEL MANNARINO, aKa.

Date

Investigative Period

_9/24/59

6/17-9/18/59

Report made by

THUMAS G. FORSYTH, III

CHARACTER OF CASE

ANTI-RACKETEERING

Typed By:

rl

-Sax

REFERENCE

Report of SA THUMAS G. FORSYTH, III, Pittsburgh, 6/25/59.

-P-

LEADS

PITTSBURGH

24/4-

At Pittsburgh, Pa., (Allegheny County)

Will concentrate on interviewing and developing individuals

¿jose to some phase of the operations of the MANVARINo organization.

2. Will follow and report activities of SAMUEL and GABRIEL

MANNARINO and their subordinates and associates.

Approved

Copies made:

4 - Bureau #66 4712

(2 - 9292918) 46

2 - 92-2914)

4 - Pittsburgh

(2 = 92-238)

92-

Do not write in spaces below

2918-84

fatessin-taid 15723107009

4 SEP 28 1959

GOPY FILED IN

REG. 47

EARECDRDED

Propat

viri

-12

7958

to you by the FBl, and neither it nor its contents are to be distributed outside the agency to which loaned

# U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1988 0-844750

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ADMINISTRATIVE

It is noted that it was set out in rerep that PCI JAMES

THORNTON MCCLOWRY, MD, Springaale, Pa., advised that Father

NICOLA, FUSCO, Pastor of Mt. Sto-Peters Roman Catholic

apostulate house when SAMUEL MANNARINO was being sought

for service of a subpoena.

On July 23, 1959, PCI MCCLOWRY advised SA THOMAS G. FORSYTH,

III, as

follows:

on about July 13, 1959, Father FUSCO asked PCI if he would

give SAM MANNARINO a thorough physical examination. PCI

replied that if cancer were indicated, he could do nothing

for MANNARINO, at which point Father FUSCO indicated he knew

that MANNARINO was suffering from a malignancy. PCI feels

there are only two reasons why he should be approached to

examine MANNARINO: either SAM MANNARINO is frightened and

looking desperately for other, contrary medical opinion;

or MANNARINO intends to "use"

PCI by having him subpoenaed

at a later date to testify that MANNARINO is too ill to appear

in any court proceeding. PCI wanted to know if there was any

reason the FBI would not want him to examine SAM MANNARINO,

and PCI was advised that any decision along this line was his

alone.

On September 15, 1959, PCI MCCLOWRY advised that Father

FUSCO and his chauffeur depärted on September 11, 1959, by

jet airline flight to Rome, Italy, purpose of visit unknown.

PCI stated that this trip was paid for in its entirety by

the MANNARINOS. PCI also advised that prior to Father

FUSCO's depature, Father FUSCO told PCI that it would not

be necessary for him to give a physical examination to

SAMUEL MANNARINO, inasmuch as MANNARINO has become more or

less resigned to the inevitability of his death from his

cancer.

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INFORMANTS

IDENTITY OF INFORMANT

PG T-1 is PCI JAMES THORNTON

MCCLOWRY, Springdale, Pa•to

who furnished information

SA FORSYTH on 6/30/59, 7/23/59,

and 9/3,15/590

PG T-2 Is PCI JIM KELLY,

New Kensington, Pa.

who furnished information

to SA FORSYTH on 8/6,11/59 and 9/7/59.

PG T-3 is. PCI CAMILLE NAFFAH, Murraysville,

Pa., who furnished information to

SA FORSYTH on 8/27/59.

PG T-4 is Patrolman STANLEY KOWALSKI, New

Kensington, Pa., Police Department, who

requested his identity be protected, and

who furnished information to SA FORSYTH

on 8/20/59 and 9/14/59.

PG T-5 1s PG-580-C, who furnished

information to SA NORMAN T. THOMSON

on 6/22/59.

PG I-6 is former PCI JOHN JOZEFOV,

Wilmerding, Pa., who furnished information

to SA THOMPSON on 6/23/59.

PG I-/ IS HARRY SAVAGE, ASSIStant

AlLegheny county District Attorney,

Pittsburgh, Pa, who requested his

identity be protected, and who furnished

information to SA FORSYTH on 8/10/59 and

to SAS RICHARD GORDON DOUCE and JOHN R.

ACKERLY on 7/28/59.

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IDENTITY OF INFORMANT

PG I-8 is PG-581-0, who

furnished information to SA THOMPSON

on 6/17/59.

PG T-9 is PCI CHARLES LaCAMERA, WhO

furnished information to SA JOHN S.

PORTELIA on 8/24/59°

PG I-10 is PG-545-C, who furnished

information to SA DOUCE on 6/26/59,

7/10/59, and: 9/4/59.

PG I.-I1 1S JACK MCINTYRE, Bell

Telephone Company, New Kensington,

Pa., who furnished information to

SA, FORSYTH on 9/14/59.

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