Agency: FBI
Originator: FBI
From: DOUCE, RICHARD GORDON
To: DIRECTOR, FBI
Document date: 02/14/1958
Document type: PAPER-TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

## Page 1

JFK Assassination System

Identification Form

Agency Information

Date:

5/28/201

AGENCY: FBI

RECORD NUMBER: 124-10277-10035

RECORD SERIES:

HQ

AGENCY FILE NUMBER :

92-2918-10, 11

Released under the John

F. Kennedy

43sassination Records

Collection Act of 1992

144 USC 2107 Notel.

Case# :NU 55208 Date:

D4-10-2018

Document Information

ORIGINATOR: FBI

FROM:

DOUCE, RICHARD GORDON

TO:

DIRECTOR, FBI

TITLE :

DATE: 02/14/1958

PAGES:

54

SUBJECTS :

SMO, GM, BKG, ASSOC, B/F INT, GAMBLING ACT,

EDUCATION, RES, CRIMINAL RECORD, DESCR, TRA

DOCUMENT TYPE: PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

CLASSIFICATION :

Unclassified

RESTRICTIONS: 4; 4;11(a)

CURRENT STATUS : Redact

DATE OF LAST REVIEW: 08/24/1998

OPENING CRITERIA: INDEFINITE

COMMENTS:

RPT, INDEX PAGE 44-47, INC MEMO

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Will report additional information from investigation

being conducted by the. Chicago Office to verify or disprove

subject's alleged interest in the National Filben Corp.,

and United Dryer Co.,

Chicago, Ill.

The Chicago Office

has also been requested to develop complete background

Information regarding F. W. ZOGG,

a business associate

of SAMUEL MANNARINO and

to contact CG-6132-0 to determine,

if possible, the purpose of MANNARINO's visit to Chicago

with ZOGG and contact with JOE MEROLA in 11/57 and 1/58.

Investigation requested in Pittsburgh airtels to Chicago,

1/22/58, 1/24/58

and 2/10/50.

10.

Will report results of investigation requested of the

Los Angeles Office concerning the MANNARINO brothers' alleged

attempt to setup operations in los Angeles around March, 1y50.

Investigation requested in Pittsbürgh airtel to Los Angeles,

1/31/58.

11.

Will report any information developed by the U.S. Treasury

Bureau of public Debt, Chicago, Ill, as to the

amount of U.S. Savings Bonds issued in the name of subject

or members of his immediate family. Information requested of

the Treasury Department by letter dated 1/16/58.

12.

Will, at Immigration and Naturalization Service, Pittsburgh,

attempt to develop background information regarding MIKE

HAJADAKOS, - an associate of SAMUEL MANNARINO.

13.

Will, when the background information is obtained, concerning

HAJADAKOS, give consideration to having the Greek National

to determina

Police conduct Investigation at Perala, Greece nis real estate

HAJADAKOS" financial ability and

the extentiof

holdings in the city.*/(K)

14. Will give consideration to interviewing HAJADAKOS after

having possession of sufficient background information for

the purpose of developing him as an informant.

15. Will recontact MIKE ZERVIS, admitted numbers writer, for

any information he may have regarding subject's current

activities.

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PG 92-228

LEADS (Continued)

16. Will remove stops placed with the Identification

Division and major Pittsburgh airlines, when they are no

longer serving a useful purpose.

17. Will recontact PG-564-0, and former PG-511-C, 509-0

for up-to-date information regarding subject's activities.

At New Kensington, Pa. (Westmoreland County)

1. Will check toll calls emanating from subject's residence

and business telephones.

2. Will interview the Pastor of St. Peter's Catholic

Church for the purpose of developing some background

information that will enable birth records to be checked

concerning the subject and his wife, RoSE.

3. Will, through spot physical surveillance of subject's

residence, attempt to obtain a photograph of subject for

submission to the New York Office.

4. Will reinterview

WILLIAM L. JEFFERSON, Superintendent

of schools, New Kensington, for the purpose of establishing,

if possible, the identity of a reliable family living in

subject's immediate neighborhood who might be developed

as-a source of information.

5. Will recontact WALTER J. SHARKEY,

retired New Kensington

police officer, R.D. #2, for current information regarding

subject's activities as well as PG-545-0.

At Greensburg, Pa. (Westmoreland County)

1. Will,- through the Recorder of Deeds, Westmoreland County,

attempt

to identify property purchased by subject near

Weinel's Cross Roads.

2. Will, at the Pennsylvania State Police post, determine

if possible, the reason why the detainer placed against

the subject

at U.s. enitentiary, Atlanta, Georgia, In ty</

for alleged liquor law violations, was removed on 7/3/50

shortly before his release from the penitentiary.

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PG 92-228

HURST on January 21, 1957. JORDAN stated that he became

acquainted with MEROLA around April, 1956, when MEROLA came

to his home at Key Biscayne, Florida, with a mutual friena,

JORDAN said he and MEROLA became very close friends for a

period of three or four months and associated together until

November, 1956.

JORDAN went on to say he met LYNNE DE MILLE

in the Spring of 1956, when she was brought to his home

to a party by a guest

and that he later introduced DE MILLE

to MEROLA at one of his parties.

JORDAN stated that he met SALLYE CARLETON through MEROLA and

began dating|her. He said that during the Summer of 1956 he

saw MEROLA almost daily in Miami and often in Pittsburgh, where

MEROLA went for visits. He added that through MEROLA he

met SAM MANNARINO, AL ROSS, a close associate of MEROLA, MEL

the "Sea Dream" on which he, JORDAN, MEROLA and others had

parties.

JORDAN added that while in Miami he also became acquainted with

NICK JEROME and NORMAN ROTHMAN through MEROLA.

D. CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES

1. Gambling Activities- Generally

a. Numbers

had been supplying the FBI and police with information concerning

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CONFIDENTIAt

PG. 92-228

Inis numbers operation.

T-3 said that according to MANNARINO

he had done some checking on the telephone listed for TACK's

father (EDison 5-5313), and had learned that WALTER TACK

had placed calls to the Pittsburgh, FBI Office and supplied

them with information concerning the numbers and gambling

setup in New Kensington.

IT-3 pointed out that MANNARINO asked his assistance in locating

TACK and made the remark that when they found him they would

| "split his head."

As a matter of Information, WALTER TACK is not an informant of

the Pittsburgh Office and has not been interviewed in connection

with the investigation of SAM MANNARINO or his bröther GABRIEL

MANNARINO.

b. Numbers, Dice-Card Games, Sports Betting,

and Barbout Games.

MIKE

PRIS, an admitted numbers operator in New Kensington,

Ja, on January 14, 1958, advised SA JOHN S. PORTELLA that

GABRIEL MANNARINO has been in New Kensington all of the time

he was reported to be out of the State.

ZERVIS stated that

he received this information from MIKE

HAJADAKOS WhOm ZERVIS

described as the partner in the "crap" tables operated by

GABRIEL MANNARIO.

ZERVIS went on to say that according to HAJADAKOS,

TOM

TANNAS

SAMS, GABRIEL MANNARINO and SAM MANNARIP are considered,

to be the individuals who control gambling In Westmoreland

County; that TANNAS and SAMS handle the sports betting end

of the business; and

that the MANNARINO brothers operate the

numbers, dice and card games.

ZERVIS added that TOM TANNAS Is generally referred to as their

contact man because of his many contacts throughout the

country, many as a result of his fight promotions.

ZERVIS expressed the opinion that WILLIE SAMS is probably the

shrewdest sports bet maker or bookie in the country.

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ZERVIS, a numbers writer himself, stated that he knows from.

personal knowledge that everyone who is writing numbers in

the New Kensington area are turning into the MANNARINO

brothers and have been instructed that if they are raided

and arrested they should consider themselves on their own

and that the MANNARINO brothers would not provide bond or

attorneys for them.

the adjoining

echelon of the MANNARINO organization was composed of SAM

MANNARINO; GABRIEL MANNARINO, wa., KELEY; WILLIAM SAMS; and

himself.

TANNAS further stated that this organization had

an interest in all phases of gambling,

slot machines, numbers,

card games, book making, employed slot machine repairmen,

collection

men,

numbers

pick-up men, professional card sharks

and book

makers.

ZERVIS.on

January 14, 1958, advised SA JOHN S. "PORTELLA that

recently arrested by the Internal Revenue

at pittsburgh on lottery charges and when he went to see

WILLIE SAMS for aQviCe, SAMS mereLy told him he shoula retain

a good attorney

and sugges teacherse

ZERVIS said SAMS

aid not offer him any money, and that In order to provide

himself with legal representation and bond money, he borrowed

$1,000 from MIKE- HAJADAKOS.

ZERVIS stated that in conversation with KELLY MANNARINO

about one month or two months ago, KELLY told him that he

considers MIKE HAJADAKOS as a trusted assistant because MIKE

keeps the books for the dice games, acts as cashier in the

dice games, and always maintains

completely accurate records.

ZERVIS pointed out that in conversation with HAJADAKOS he

FONTANA receives $125 a week from the

-MANNARINO operation plus

commission of the take

on the dice tables which according.

to ZERVIS can run as high

as $1,000 a week.

ZERVIS added that from conversations with HAJADAKOS he has

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CONFIDENTIAL

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learned that people who come to the dice tables in New Kensington

lose on occasion as much as $20,000 and $30,000 in

one night.

ZERVIS said

that HAJADAKOS. recently mentioned a young man

from Youngstown, Ohio, that was described as a wealthy and

avid barbout player,

who on many occasions has lost as much

as $15,000 and $20,000, while on other occasions has won the

same amount.

ZERVIS remarked that HAJADAKOS has become a wealthy man as

a result of his association with the MANNARINO brothers and

has made several trips to his hometown in Peraja, Greece, located

near

the

has been using his money to put up apartment and office buildings

In his home town and that one particular piece of property in

Peraia brings HAJADAKOS a rental of $1,150 in a month. ZERVIS

said he believed this piece of property was an office building.

ZERVIS pointed out that the poolroom, located next door to the

Laetus Club. in New Kensington with entrance. on Barnes Street,

is the location where the big dice games take place:

ZERVIS

stated that the location is rented under the name of AL ROSS,

also known as AL ZEID Or SEID, who GABRIEL MANNARINO describes

as a "cool man" whenever he is given an assignment.

ZERVIS explained that it is rumored that GABRIEL MANNARINO

is very friendly with AL ROSS because ROSS supposedly served

time for a crime that GABRIEL MANNARINO committed.

ZERVIS stated he would attempt. to determine further information

about the rumor.:

but doubted that he would be able to adding

that he personally believes the rumor has no basis and

fact..

ZERVIS continued that GABRIEL MANNARINO has a young Syrian

boy working for him named SPIRAHANN (phonetic) who runs one

of the barbout tables for GABRIEL MANNARIN® and that approx-

imately six weeks ago SPIRO won $30,000 in a barbout game and

a few. weeks later lost his entire winnings. ZERVIS described

SPIRO HANNA as a rough boy used by the MANNARINO brothers to

collect gambling debts •

ZERVIS pointed out that although many people may not be

aware

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CONFIDENTIAL

PG 92-228

of it that there is actually some ill feelings between SAMUEL

and GABRIEL

MANNARINO as a result of a venture into the juke

box business several years ago in which they lost a hugh amount

of cash.

According. to ZERVIS, the business was located in

Chicago, Illinois, and connected in some way with the wur etizer.

/Company,

and that Attorney CHARLES MARGIOTTI, now deceased,

was involved in the deal ana also lost a considerable amount

of money.

ZERVIS explained that during the time the MANNARINO brothers

were attempting to set up this business in Chicago, SAM

MANNARINO actually took charge of the enterprise and spent

a great deal of time in Chicago:

ZERVIS said that when things

began to go wrong, SAM would write to GABRIEL for additional

money and that GABRIEL was forced to borrow money, but instead

of sending SAM the full sum he borrowed, he would

send. only

half of it and retain the other half.

ZERVIS said

I that after the business venture in Chicago

failed, GABRIEL MANNARINO seemed to control

the purse strings.

and has continued to do so since that time.

ZERVIS said that GABRIEL MANNARINO has told him personally

that he was forced to push his brother, SAMUEL, in the back-

ground because he could not resist the

temptation of spending

four and five thousand dollars in one night like he did in the

days they had the slot machines going in westmoreland county.

ZERVIS remarked that he recently had a conversation with DAN

zeLode chief of Police, New Kensington, about the raids

conducted by the Internal Revenue Service in New Kensington

on January 6, 1958.

ZERVIS stated that ZELOYLE told him that

he is. sick and tired of being embarrassed- because of GABRIEL

MANNARION and added that on the day of the raids an Agent of

the Internal Revenue Service came to the Police Station to

notify him that a raiding party was in town and at that time

were raiding various clubs in the city. ZERVIS stated that

ZELOYLE indicated that this action on the part of the

Revenue Service embarrassed him Derause he had the very definite

feeling that the Internal Revenue Service did not trust him

with any advance warnings of the raids.

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ZERVIS stated that he does not believe ZELOYLE will break with

the MANNARINO brothers over this issue, but he desired to

point out there appears to be some i11

feeling beginning to

grow between them.

some day inherit GABRIEL MANNARINO's gambling interests in

New Kensington.

ZERVIS remarked that FONTANA spends almost

every day at the dice tables in New Kensington looking out

for the MANNARINOS' Interests, from approximately 1:00 PM

until closing time.

c.Alleged Gambling Operations in Los Angeles, California

JOHN T. CUSACK, District Supervisor of the Bureau of Narcotics,;

In testimony before

the New York Joint Legislative Committee

on Government Operations, on January 9, 1958, regarding the

meeting of hoodlums at Apalachin, New York, stated that during

March, 1950, the MANNARINO brothers showed up in Los Angeles,

California, where they attempted to set up operations, but

were forced to return to New Kensington,

Pa., because

presence in the city created so much action on the part of

the local police.-

d. Illegal Election Contributions.

First Sergeant JOHN P. HELFENSTEIN, Pennsylvania State Police,

Greensburg, Pa., on February 6, 1958, advised

SA WILLIAM J.

MYERS that

he recalled making an investigation with Captain

JOHN TOMEK of the Pennsylvania State Police, now deceased,

into an allegation of illegal election contributions

on the

part of members of the underworld in Westmoreland County. He

stated that to the best of his recollection the investigation

was conducted in the Fall of 1949 just

before the general

election, while JAMES DUFF was Governor of Pennsylvania.

By way of background information, HELFENSTEIN explained that

the Pennsylvania State Legislature created an additional

Judgship for Westmoreland County and that Governor DUFF had

appointed to the new office FRED B. TRESCHER,.

an attorney at

law at Greensburg;

Pa.. He stated that the office was to be

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HAt

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National Filben Corporation

United Dryer Company

Chicago, Illinois

Records of the Cook County Recorder's Office, Chicago,

Illinois, reviewed by SA RALPH R. HILL, JR., on January 24,

1958, indicate that the National Filben Corporaton was

chartered on March 20, 1947 (Document No. 14022512) with

Dryer Company chartered on August 29, 1953, (Document

chartered on August

The United

No. 15718389) listed officers as OSCAR SCHULTZ, FLORIAN

w. ZOGG, and ARTHUR F. SCHWARTZ, all of Chicago, Illinois.

The records of the Cook County Recorder's Office indicate

that both of the above corporations are no longer in

business.

Brush Manufacturing CompanY

1420 Fifth Avenue

Arnold, Pa.

T-3 on February 4, 1958, stated that on the basis of recent

conversations with SAMUEL MANNARINO it is entirely possible

that SAM may have a substantial financial interest in

the Brush Manufacturing Company of Arnold; Pa.

.T-3 stated

that SAMUEL MANNARINO has never spoken openly of his interest

in the Brush Manufacturing Company but has hinted on several

occasions in conversations that he has an interest in the

company and was very pleased with its operation. T-3

said he would attempt to develop additional information regarding

the possibility of subject's interest in this enterprise

If he could do so without arousing the subject's suspicions.

L. D. Baker Block Factory

Seventh Street Extension

New Kensington, Pa.

T-3. on February 4, 1958, stated that he recently approached

SAMUEL MANNARINO with the idea of purchasing the L. D. Baker

Block Factory that is housed in a building fully equipped

to manufacture cinder and concrete blocks.

T-3 said that he

hopes to show the property to MANNARINO in the very near

•future and is of the opinion MANNARINO will probably purchase

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UNIDENTIAL

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INFORMANTS

I-1 is ROBERT J• WILSON, Vice President, MeLlon Nationa.

3ank and Trust Company, New Kensington, ra., contacte

Dy SA ALBERT E. KLEBE.

T-2 is SU 370-6, contacted by SA BRYON C. WHEELER.

T-3 is PG-545-C, contacted by SA RICHARD GORDON DOUCE.

T-4 1s GOFFREDO -CELLINI, PCI, Afternoon Manager in the gambling

casino in the Hotel Nacional, Havana, Cuba, contacted by

Legal Attache, Havana, Cuba.

I-5 is the Legal Attache, Havana, Cuba.

T-6 is ARTIE NEWMAN, Cashier in the Hotel Nacional gambling

casino, Havana, Cuba, contacted by Legal Attache, Havana,

Cuba.

. I-7. iS JAMES CHRISTY,

Assistant Manager, Retail Credit Company,

Crown Building, New Kensington, Pa,, contacted by SA NORMAN

T. THOMPSON.

CRIMINAL INFORMANT COVERAGE

PG-545-C

PG-564-C

WALTER J. SHARKEY, retired New Kensington Police Officer.

JFK Act 6 (4) admitted New Kensington numbers writer, who is in

frequent contact with the MANNARINO brothers and in a position

to furnish valuable information concerning their activities.

Former PG-509-C and PG-511-C, have not furnished information

unavailable for interview for the past several weeks.

It'is

not known at this time

will be interviewed as soon as possible and appropriate comments

will be made as to their possible usefulness in the investigations.

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STANLEY KOWALSKY, the New Kensington, Pa., Police Officer,

•previously described as a possible source

of information, is

no longer being considered for contact as a PCI since WALTER

SHARKEY, who worked with KOWALSKY for many years, has advised

that KOWALSKY, In addition to being a chronic alcoholic, is very

indiscreet and unreliable.

JOHN FONTANA described by informants as a bodyguard for GABRIEL

MANNARINO and one of the MANNARINO brothers' most trusted

lieutenants, is; in the opinion of the Special Agents who

interviewed him, a bitter and hardened criminal, and is not

believed to be the type of person who could be developed as e

PCI.

Leads have been set out in this report to develop background

information regarding MIKE HAJADAKOS, who is deeply involved

in gambling activities with the MANNARINO brothers.

As soon

as sufficient background information is obtained so that an

intelligent interview can be conducted, serious consideration

will be given to developing him as an informant.

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COTiAL

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CONFIPENTIA

NAME

OSMAN. VERA -

PASTURA, LENA C.•

PASTURA, RAYMOND P.-

PENNSYLVANIA UTILITY COMMISSION

RED.

RENDEK, CELESTINA---

RENDEK, AUGUST-

ROCCO BUFFONE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY

ROTHMAN, NORMAN

SAM, ALBERT-

SAMS, WILLIAM.

SAMS, WILLIE--

SAN JUAN HOTEL.

SCHULTZ, OSCAR

SCHWARTZ, ARTHUR F.

"SEA DREAM" 2 C

SEA GULL HOTEL

VSEID, AL

SLATER, MERIL--

SPORTSMAN, E. E.-

STERN, ERNEST--

STERN, NORBERT--

TACK, WALTER--

TEEMER CHARLES FREDERICK.

TEEMER, CHUCK---

TRESCHER, FRED B. - -

UNITED DRYER COMPANY

VALLEY INSURANCE AGENCY-

WOESERMER, HERTAMA--

WOLF,

"JEKE"---

WURLETIZER COMPANY-

VEID, AT--

ZELOGOE, DAN-

/ZELOYLE, DAN--

VERVIS, MIKE---

ZOCHOWSKI, CHESTER-

ZOGG, F. W. "RED"

ZOGG,

FLORIAN W.

ZOGG ,.

"RED"

PAGE

--- 1,8,9,24,28,38

3

-24,26

--IA, 10, 19,20

-7,24

-11,12.23,24,34

- 11, 12,23,

2

-18

-19,20,3

7

28

28

10

37

13

-6

-30

2'

7

- 27

--10,11

-11, 12,24

- 1A, 11, 20,37

- 1A,

?0, 37-

-15.16

-If.,

28

25

3

10

-38

14

-13

-6

--14,15

---11,12.13,14

, 15

-9

---1,8,9, 24, 28,38,39

---1,8,9, 24,28, 38,39

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CONFIBENTIAI

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