Document text
60-1O I
22
FURDRESS
smal1 plant an" ad also Fwt- viewed DONNWALLACE, of St. Paul, Minresota,
theelitor of "in: Fa:mer" and a brother to the Secretary of Agriculture,
with a view he arranging the distribution of this product. In vie: of the
fact
beca
Shfu
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.:~ _J-I5..3.21%
stat
Rhea nothing about his other
gsmb
to h
in O
land
that
empl
Phil
to B
bUCH
to h
fami
reme
in t
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also
statthat there would be a large market for this product in New Yo: City,
use of the dairy farms near New York, it was decided that gqrtuev plant
Ed be built in that vicinity, and a site was selected by SA°Ih nae:
abeth, New Jersey.
SAPIRO stated that at this time he met MOE DAVIS, who, either
himself or some friends, put some money into this company; however, the
did not turn out to be successful and the company was disbanded. He
ed that he only saw MOE AVIS on two or three occasions, and that he
ntanections except that he thought he was a _ler at Cleveland, Ohio.
is knowledge, had no interest in this firm, which he said, was represent
hio by BART McINTYRE, either a State Senator or Assemblyman from Cl§ve
However, SPIHP admitted that he knew BUCHALTER. He stated
while he had his OfliCu in New York City from 1927 to 1935, he had
oyed as his secretarv one GERTRUDE BLOOM, now MRS. EAURICE ROSEMAN, of
adelphia, Pennsylvania. On one occasion, he stated she introduced him
UCHALTER, whom he had observed talking to MISS BLOOM in his office. Aft
ALTER left, MISS BLOOM advised him that he was her uncle, and admitted
im that BUCHALTER was "in the rackets" in New York City, and that the
ly did not have much to do with him. SAPIRO said that he could not
mber what year this was, but he indicated that BUCHALTER had stopped
o see MISS BLOOM several times, and his only interest in seeing her was
nquire as to how she was and how other members of the family were. He
at times attempted to have her take some money from him, but SAPIRO
ed MISS BLOOM always refused.
SAPIiO said that he has not seen BUCHALTER for years, andknows nothing of any other connections of his. He specifically requested
that
name
and
saw
any
the
as hit never be made known to MISS BLOOM that he had ever mentioned her
...._.., A";
sthisscase
when he He was
did not recognizeshown the photographs usually lisplayed in
BUCHALTER'S stand-up picture, stating thathim BUCHALTER was always immaculately dressed and that there was never
semblance of a beard or whiskers on his face; however, he stated that
profile on the photograph which bears No. 46,0L3 does resemble BUCHALTER
e recalls him.e was positive in his statement that BUCHALTER,
ed
51
6Ol22
FURDRESS
ERIPPETT was interviewed at his office and stated tL~t he
was separated iron his wife in November, 1932, at which time he lei their
home and moved to the California Club. He was shown the photographs usually
displayed in this case, and could recognize none of them, and statec that
he ::uld not imagine what connection a telephone call from an ircividnal
naned LONG in Hot Springs could have with him. However, when it was nen
ticned that ZWILLMAN was known to be a friend of JEAN HARLOW, TRIPPETT ad-
vised that he and his wife had been very good friends of hers, and that he
hao secured JEAN HARLOW'S divorce from HAROLD ROSSON. He said that JEAN
HARLOW had visited at his home very often, and particularly after he left
his home, JEAN had stayed with his wife on several occasions. It would,
therefore, appear that probably the call to TRIPPETT'S residence by LONG
was for JEAN HARLOW; and it is recalled by the writer that the file in this
case indicates that during the time LONG was in Hot Springs at the Arlington
Hotel, he sent a telegram to NLRINO BELLO, stepfather of JEAN HARLOW, saying
that he would call their home.
LEAD NO. 1§4
MOE DAVIS, Cleveland gambler, believed known to
BUCHALTER,while in Tucson, Arizona, on March 27,
1937, and April 6, 1937, called CRestview 11638,
but on both occasions, talked to WOodbury 62074.
Through appropriate contacts it was ascertained that CRest-
view No. ll638 had formerly been assigned to MRS._E. SIEGEL, wife of BEN
SIEGEL, and had been discontinued on December 15, 1936. Shortly after this
time the number Wbodbury 62074 was assigned to the SIEGEL residence. It is
thus evident that MOE DAVIS called BEN SIEGEL on the above-mentioned dates.
LEAD NO. l2§ ,
FRIEDA ZUCK's sister, RHEA, married IMANUEL
BUCHALTER, brother of the Subject. She has
previously been int ' ed but the report of -_5pec'ial »Agent dated at New York b ,7 C
City, Aprilwlb, 39, requested that she be
reinterviewed as she might have further infor-
mation.
FRIEDA ZUCK was found to be still employed at the 20th Century
Fox Studios in the 5cript Department, where she can be reached on Extension
lll8. She was interviewed on July 28, 1939, at the studio, and said that
..5_
60-122
FUHDWESS
she is presently living with friends at 1928 Santa Monica Boulevard, tele-phcae Oxford 5542, but would appreciate not being called at this address,
as she intends to move in about a month and will advise this office of her
new address. .
MISS ZUCK stated that she could furnish no more informationthan s e to Agents as previously set out in the report of SpecialAgent dated at Los Angeles, California, May 2, 1933, at Whlchtime she old a s e knew. It a ears that she did tell the truth in that PPinterview, as her statements have been corroborated through other investi-
gations in this case.
MISS ZUCK stated that after having been interviewed before,she went back to New York because of the death of her mother and was there
about six weeks, during which time, her time was fully taken up with hermother's affairs, and that she did not see BETTY BUCHALTER, who did notcome to the funeral. She stated she, of course, saw IMMANUEL BUCHALTER,
who is married to her sister, RHEA, but that no mention was made of the
Subject. She said that she had then returned to Hollywood and resumed her
employment at the studio, and has had no connection with anyone she metwhile BUCHALTER was here in Los Angeles in l934. She also said that quitefrequently she corresponds with her sister, with whom she is very close,but has not corresponded with BETTY BUCHALTER, although She admitted She is
a good friend of hers.
She said that on May 26, 1939, she went back East for theunveiling of her mother, the expenses having been paid by her father, whowanted all of the family at home. She remained there until July, returningto California on July 13, 1939, and said that she had seen BETTY BUCHALTERon two-or three occasions while in New York the last trip. She said thrt
the only mention made of the Fugitive was when MISS ZUCK told BETTY thatshe had been questioned about Subject and BETTY told,her not to worry; that
"they? could do nothing to her, and to tell them the truth. She sad thatBETTY said she would like to know something about Subject, herself, asshe has received no news of him since he disappeared. MISS ZUCK stated thatshe believed this was true as anyone who knew BETTY BUCHALTER before her
husband became a fugitive could,see,theTdifference in her at this time.She indicated that she did not know where BETTY got her money on which tolive, and said she would not ask her, assuming that she probably had moneysaved. MISS ZUCK further indicated that she did not try to pry into BETTY'Saffairs as she considered it none of her business; and that she did not wantto become involved in this case any more than she already is.
She was questioned about any relatives of BUCHALTER in thisvicinity and said that she knew of none. She was questioned as to whethershe knew GERTRUDE BLOOM, mentioned above, and stated that she did, but had
_6_CL-
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FURDRESS
not seen her for ten or twelve years, and that GERTRUDE BLOOM was a niece
of BUCHALTER S through one of BUCHALTER'S father's previous marriages. She
added that BUCHALTER'S father had been married three times, and that the
family tree was all mixed up. An effort was made to have her go into the
family tree of the BUCHALTERS, but she stated that she could not because,
after all, her relationship was simply through her sister's marriage, and
the few relatives she did know were only those she had met at her sister's
boas: and many of these she had not seen for years. She reiterated that
she would, through some source, advise this office if she received any
information concerning Subject, but that if her relatives ever found out,
she could never forgive herself.
LEAD NO. 91 J3The report of Special Agent Q Salt
Lake City, Utah, dated Octo er , 8, reflectstelephone calkzmade by PHIL7REGAN and by a MR.
FROST, probably FRaNKFOSTER, from Reno, Nevada,
to Los Angelss. 5
STer1ing 2160, Pasadena, California, which was called, is
the residence telephone number of PHIL REGAN, mentioned in this case as a
friend of SIEGEL'S and DOC HARRIS, said number now having been changed
to SYcamore 7-2160.
On July 5, 1938, MRS. REGAN called 7331, exchange not given,
to BENJAMIN LEVEN, New York Life Insurance Company, Hollywood. It was
ascertained that HOllywood 7331 is the number of the New York Life Insurance
Company.
The records of the Retail Merchants Credit Association show
that BENJAMIN LEVEN has been employed by the above firm for six or seven
years as a salesman having previously been in the Advertising Department
of a Boston, Massachusetts, Sunday newspaper, and also for the HEARST papers
in San Francisco, California; and had been a member of an advertising firm
in New York City in 1923. The file indicates that he was the leading insurance
writer_for the country in 1936; and that in 1923 in San Francisco, California,
he went through bankruptcy, listing $123,873.00 in debts and assets of $250.00.
The confidential section of this report indicates that he was formerly the
president of the Morosco Holding Company in New York City, and in 1925 was
reputed to have been under Federal indictment for using the mails to defraud
in connection with the above firm, wherein promotions resulted in a loss of
$2,500,000.00 to the stockholders.
_7_
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
FREEDOM OF INF ORNIATION/PRIVACY ACTS SECTION
COVER SHEET
SUBJECT: LOUIS "LEPKE" BUCHALTER
60-1501-4266
DIRECTOR X '
0 che-ral Qumran nf l}nuestigan éi
niteh tates Eepartment nf Zlusre
- Mashingtun, E. QI.
a I.c.#so=1so1 I
THE FUTDRESS CASE> ._ -
9292 /
92 929292 /92 /
92 , 92 .
mcos srznrinosgxtn aliases;
Louis -BUCHALTER, witriases.
' Jacob "Gurrah" Shapiro surrendered to Federal authorities on
April 14, 1938, in New York, after being a fugitive from justice for
less than a year. During that time every known associate and contact
was investigated to determine if they were in communication with him.
Relentlessly the forces of law and order were seeking to drive L12 cut
into the open. Shapiro stated the Federal Bureau of Investigation was
hunting him wherever he went and under the circumstances it was like being
in jail, thus he surrendered.
His associate of many years, Louis "Lepke" Buchalter, was going
to see how he made out, Shapiro related to Special Agents of the Federal
Bureau of Investigation, before he decided to surrender. Sixteen months
later Buchalter followed suit, bringing to a close a manhunt that en-
circled the continental United States and extended into Mexico, Costa
Rica, Cuba, England, Canada, France, Puerto Rico and Carlsbad, Germany.
Summary reports alone succintly setting forth contacts of Shapiro and
Buchalter, number over a thousand pages, to say nothing of the thousands
of reports of Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation working
in every section of the United States.
J Cver a period of years the activities of this gang have been.the
~ subject of headline after headline in the Metropolitan dailies, announcing
some new depredation. Industrial racketeers, never hesitant to enforce T _, ___.' their mandates~With~lead.pipes,~stench bombs, brickbats and bullets, ,i§fEI iir~ "
Shapiro and Buchalter headed a modern gang of desperadoes whose brutality
and vandalism equalled that of the Huns of old. Millions of dollars were
exacted as tribute by the paid enforcers of Shapiro and Buchalter. Both
had a flair for organization, combined with considerable business acumen,
rivalling that of big business and industrial executives. Their underworld
empire extended from coast to coast. Old associates still occupy pinnacles
of authority in various sections of the country, while others hiding behind
the garb of pseudo-respectability nurture their egos with their illgottengains. ' ,
I . "_v'n"" '."_ . _
-'Ixv<>_'~.'w>q '_ am " I. -4_ Ur
- > //up 1.,
cJu"*- ~'* - ~
. 92 '
39 _
, Personal History and Background of
_ Louis "Lepke" Buchalter Z
Louis Buchalter was born in New York City on February 6, 1897,
the son of Barnett Buchalter, who emigrated to America from Russia and
operated a hardware shop in the neighborhood of Essex Street, on the
lower East Side of New York City. His mother, Rose Buchalter, who is
Well over seventy years of age, is presently residing with her daughter.
As a result of her first marriage Bucha1ter's mother had four children.
Buchalter's father had previously been twice married, having four children,
also. Buchalter has two full brothers.
In his youth Buchalter attended public school #75 through the
sixth grade and then attended public school #62. While attending the
latter he assisted his father in the operation of his hardware store, until
his death in 1909. Following his father's death, the family moved to
Brooklyn, New York, where they were supported largely by Bucha1ter's half-
sister. While residing in Brooklyn, Buchalter attended public school at
54th Street and Sixth Avenue, completing his grade school course in 1910.
He was first employed after leaving school, as a salesman for
a concern engaged in selling theatrical goods, such as spangles, tights
and costumes and also handling imported Austrian chandeliers, which were
then in fashion.
Among Buchalter's brothers were a dentist and a rabbi.
Buchalter was first arrested on September 2, 1915, on a charge of
burglary. He was released by the Grand Jury, after being held eighteen days.
He was next arrested January 12, 1916, on a charge of burglary, being re- .
leased two days later. His first real brush with law enforcement occurred
on February 29, 1916, when he was arrested under the alias of Louis Kauver,
at Bridgeport, Connecticut, on a charge of theft. Buchalter in discussing
this particular charge stated he was accused, together with individuals
whose names he did not wish to disclose, of the theft of a salesman's
hand grip out of his automobile and following his conviction, he was sen-
tenced to the Connecticut Reformatory at Cheshire, Connecticut, which at
that time was anfunwalled instittionx He was received at the Connecticut
Reformatory on Nay 18, 1916, to~serveWhis indeterminate sentence and was
released on parole on July 12, 1917, although Buchalter claims he served
less than two months before he was placed on parole. He absconded on July
23, 1917 and a parole violator warrant was issued but never executed and
was later dismissed by the Board of Parole on December 9, 1931; The records
reflect that Buchalter and his companions stole two suitcases containing
samples of jewelry which were left by a salesman outside the doorway ofga
store, these samples being valued at about $500.
I O
._[,O...
At the time of his release he was furnished a job as an auto_mobile painter_and continued in this capacity for some time thereafter.
The report of the Nédical Director of the Connecticut Reforma-
tory is of interest and is as follows:
"HEREDITY:
Home:
Physical:
Mental:
School:
Vocational:
Habits:
Delinquency:
.'
Intelligence
Ability:Excellent father and mother. Father died in 1910.
wbther is refined. Well educated. l sister is aschool teacher. l brother a Rabbi with a Ph.D. degree.
l stepbrother a dentist. 2 uncles dentists. 1 uncle a
druggist. Cousin specializing in psychology at Coluna
bia at present. .
Lived with mother after father's death 3 years. Mother
went to live in Colorado and inmate went to live with
sister. Home conditions the best.
Normal
Normal
8 grades in 10 years
Steady. Stock clerk or in clothing stores owned by
family.
Good
2 previous arrests for burglary, discharged. Present
arrest stole valise in Bridgeport because he was out
of funds.
Inmate is a clean cut intelligent Hebrew, who led a normallife in spite of littkzsxpervision until August, 1916.Then worked for uncle who owns Orpheum at Savin Rock, who
reduced his wages to $8 a week. This he didn't like andwent to New York, got*in with 3 bad crowd doing petty jobs
His delinquency was probably result_of mental conflict
coupled with companions. Outlook is excellent. -
Above average
Good
_.4]_._
On April 28, 1917, Buchalter was wrrestcd in New York City on Qcharge of grind larceny, second degree, and on January 11, 1918, was sen-tenced to serve one and one-half years at Sing Sing. He subsequently wastransferred to the Auburn Prison and discharged on January 17, 1919.Buchalter refers to this arrest as "one for the possession of n package".On April 23, 1919, Buchalter was arrested for an attempted burglary inNew York but was discharged two days later. On January 22, 1920 he wasarrested on a charge of attempted burglary, third degree and was sen-tenced to two and one-half years at Sing Sing, where he was received onJune 21, 1920. He was released on parole on March 16, 1922 and dischsrgedfrom parole upon expiration of his sentence on December 19, 1922. Buchelterin discussing this offense claims he was intercepted, with Mike Weiderman,deceased, and Willie Goldman, while entering a silk house on 22nd Street,New York City, where they were perpetrating e burglary. Buchqlter con-tends thet he "came out flat", meaning he was not placed on parole, 11-though the records indicate he was paroled. On September ll, 1925,Buchalter was arrested on e charge of robbery but was discharged on
December 12, 1925.
On October 19, 1925, Buchalter was arrested with "acob Shapiro,in connection with the Fish Market stick~up. He releted on this 03015103he was in the vicinity of the bus servic: operated by Jiccb Shapiro andShapiro was laughing at his, Huchalter's,plight and the arresting officerinformed Shapiro to go along, too. This was the first time Euchaltcr andShapiro were nrrvsted together and they were later released. In this con-nection it is pointed out that Suchelter always refcrs to Shfpirc effec-
tionately as "Chirlie".
On October 25, 1927, Buchnltor claims he and Shapiro voluntarilyappeared for questioning in connection with the murder of Jacob "LittleAugie" Orgen, whom they had known for several years. They were held forinvestigation and discharged on November 4, 1927. On July 17, 1929,Buchalter and Shipiro were arrested at tho Harrester Restaurant, chargedwith burglary and malicious mischief, arising out of an alleged attack ona clothing store on Bleeker Street. This, Bucheltcr stated, was the firsttime that either he or Shapiro had been involved in any Union job. OnNovember ll, 1931, Buchalter was arrested with Shapiro and several otherindividuals on a charge of consorting with kncwn_criminils.=<At#this-time,Buchelter pointed Out, he was suffering from a peashot in his eye gndWwgs_about to move from the apirtment which he occupied at the Frnnconin Hotel,when arresting officers took him and other associates into custody. Allwere subsequently released. On July 12, 1933, Buchelter was again arrestedon a 722 charge, which is known as Consorting with Known Criminals, to-
gether with "Trigger Mike" Coppola, in an apartment in Manhattan.
0 0
Buchalter and Shapiro associated together as young boys and after
Buchalter finished school in Brooklyn he again began associating with Sha-
piro, on the lower East Side of Manhattan. On August 20, 1931, Buchalter
married Betty Wasserman, who was born in England on October 12, 1904. Her
father, Abraham Arbeiter, was born in England, while her mother, Sarah
Jacobs, was born in Russia. The family emigrated from London in 1908.
Both her parents were divorced and later each remarried. Betty attended
local grade and high school in New York and in 1920 married Jacob Bhsserman,
a World War veteran, who died as the result of an appendix o eration De-From this marriage a son,Following his marriage to Betty, uc a t
1S said "Lepke" has a very fond regard for
time of Buchalter's marriage to Betty, hbrris Wolensky alias "Dimples"
and one P. Poveromo were the witnesses. Wolensky's activities will be de-
scribed in further detail later on.
Prior to her marriage Betty Buchalter was employed as a night club
hostess, by Ben Harden, who managed the Palais Royale and other night clubs,
in New York. She was also employed as hostess at the Kentucky Club on West
47th Street, New York City, where she operated under the name Betty Wilson.
She frequents night clubs considerably, keeps late hours, plays cards and
the horses to a considerable extent. On February 19, 1933, Buchalter, under
the alias Louis Saffer, along with Abner Zwillman and Ben Eutlow, registered
at the Arlington Hotel, Hot Springs, Arkansas, where they remained until
nhrch 6, 1933. Petty Buchalter subsequently joined them. While at the ho-
tel the party lived rather extravagantly, spending approximately $1,000 a wee
A trucking concern engaged in transporting cut work from clothing
manufacturers to contractors complained that their trucks were being inter-
fered with and that they encountered difficulties when trucking for certain
manufacturers. A nephew of the owner of the concern reported the matter to
the police and the nephew was told he would receive a telephone call. Soon
the phone rang and the caller announced he was "Lepke". The nephew told him
about his uncle's difficulties, whereupon "Lepke" announced he would see who
was involved and would see that there would be no reoccurrence of the diffi-
culties; From that time on the trucker encountered no interference.
In the Spring of 1933 both Buchalter and Shapiro invested $20,000in cash in the Perfection Coat Manufacturing Co., which has-pgeviously been-
referred to and thereafter~Bucha1ter received a drawing account of $200 a
week for a year. On March 24, 1933, a machine gun battle between gangsters
and two armed automobiles occurred at Broadway and 81st Street, in New York.
The battle is said to have been carried on by rival gangs headed by WaxeyGordon on one side and Luciano and Buchalter on the other. As previously in-
dicated, a rather extensive gang warfare grew out of a misunderstanding which
occurred early in 1933 between various gangs headed by Waxey Gordon, hhx_
Greenberg, hex Hassall and others, while Luciano, Buchalter and their hench-
men wero opposing these individuals, whom they regarded as interlopers.575/
k
It .~4B C
Max Greenberg was formerly a St. Louis racketeer and Max Hassall was char-
acterized as the Beer Baron of Reading, Pennsylvania. It will also be re-
called that early in 1933 Zwillman became affiliated with Luciano, Buchalter
and Shapiro and it was said Waxey Gordon imported outoftown killers to
carry on the war.
"Dutch" Schultz, as
in the strife that existed in
Abe Iurst, a former chauffeur
car parked in the Morris Park
William "Big Fill" Oppenheim,
killed as he entered his apar talready indicated, figured quite prominently
the underworld at the time. On June 2, 1933,
of Waxsy Gordon, was found slain in a stolen
section of the Pronx. On June 4, 1933,
one of Gordon's lieutenants, was shot and
ment in Paterson, New Jersey. On June 12,
1933, Puchalter was arrested in New York City, charged with consorting with
criminals and according to police records, was associated at this time with
"Trigger Mike" Coppola. -Again Buchalter was released.
In the meantime, Verne C. Miller, Samuel Schrager and "Bugs"
Siegel were in Chicago in the Spring of 1933. Schragermaseclose friend
of Ruchalter and Miller and it is said at one time Miller and Schragcr
were interested in gambling in Montreal, Canada. As has been nlraady in-
dicated, underworld rumors have pointed to the importation of Killer to the
New York area to carry on some of the killing activities of members of the
"Pig Six Combination. On June 17, 1933, the Kansas City massacre was per-
petrated and on June 21, 1933, Verne killer d part¬d for New York from
Chicago, instructing his paramour, Vivian Mathias, to follow him to New
York and go to Eucha1ter's homc, after shc had left htr daughter in Kinne-
sota. These instructions were followed and Vivian Mathias was entertained
royally by both Fuchalter and his wife Betty. Buchalter was the individual
who would put her in touch with Miller and arranged for her to meet him at
various times. On July 30, 1933, Buchaltor joined his wife Betty and Mil-
ler's paramour at the Sherwood Hotel, Burlington, Vermont. During the
evening Miller's paramour, then known as hrs. Allen, was heard to say she
had just'travr11ed some fifteen hundred miles and later Buchalter made some
comment inquiring as to why someone did not surrendsr. During the period
that Miller's paramour was in the East he made trips to Montreal with Betty
Buchalter, where they visited numerous night clubs and did considerable
sightseeing around the city.
' In the meantime it was ascertained Samuel Schragcr was wanted as
a parole violator and investigation revealed he was originally released on '
parole from Clinton Prison,November 21, 1925. HSub§equent1y_he was returned
to Sing Sing as a parole violator and re-paroled from that institution one
October 1, 1929. He absconded from parole supervision and was declared de-
linquent,April 1, 1931. Schrager was reputed to be an important member of
Bucha1ter's machine.
Little is known of Fucha1ter's activities during the remainder of
the Summer of 1933, although it is known on August 31st, Puchalter called
Dixie Davis, the attorney;and asked him to come to his hotel that night.
On September 11, 1933, Fuchalter applied for a passport, stating he in-
tended to visit France and Czechoslovakia, for his health.
0 0
Buchalter at the time gave his address as the office of his brother,
Dr. Emanuel Buchalter. Buchalter sailed on the S/S "Mauretania" on
September 22 1
they proceeded by air from the
France.
Returning for the moment to Verne Miller, on October 23, 1933,
it was ascertained that Al Silvers alias Al Silverman, a member of the
Zwillman gang, purchased a Ford coupe in New York, which was abandoned
by Ndller in Chicago, following his getaway on November 2, 1933. Another
racketeer associated with Buchalter procured an automobile driver's li-
cense for miller. It developed that Al Silvers was one of the more
important members of the Zwillman gang and the investigation reflected
that on Nay 13, 1932, Silvers was picked up after he left a hotel and a
gun was found in his ear. He was acquitted, however, on a charge of
carrying a gun inasmuch as physical possession was not proven. Silvers
was charged in a complaint filed November 6, 1933, with °°n5Pira¢Y t°
conceal and harbor a Federal fugitive. However, on November 20, 1933,
his body was found near Somers, Connecticut, draped over a barbed wire
fence, after he had been stabbed seven times in the head, once over the
heart and had been strangled with his own necktie and a clothesline which
had been knotted about his neck. He was unclothed but covered by a
bloody blanket. Buchalter advised Special Agents of the Federal Bureau
of Investigation on November 28, 1933, that he knew Silvers as a liquor
operator; that he got along well with all the boys. Buchalter admitted
he was in the State of Connecticut on the weekend of November nineteenth,
at the home of some respectable people, where he participated in a week-
end pinochle game.
' At this point Buchalter was advised, in the presence of his at-
torney, that Verne C. Nller was a fugitive from justice and a warrant was
outstanding for his arrest, whereupon Buchalter said,"No one will have
anything to do with Miller nowf and then added,"If Aller shows up inNew York you'll know about it." On the following day, November 29, 1933,
Verne Nller's lifeless body was found in a ditch in Cambridge and Harlow
Streets, Detroit, about eleven miles from the center of the city, He
had been tied very.securely in a jackknife position with his legs drawn close £6 his body and his arms pulled securely to his sides. "His body was
wrapped in two apparently brand new blankets and an automobile robe of
cheap material. All identification marks had been removed.;bad for treatment of a kidnei W
l .
_45._
It may well be concluded that Buchalter was under obligationt0 Miller, who did many jobs for his gang in the early part of 1933, by
way of exterminating members of the Waxey Gordon gang. It may also beObserved that the vigorous investigation seeking the apprehension of
Miller and Al Silvers was getting uncomfortably close to Buchalter and
his organization._ It will be recalled that on the afternoon of Novem-ber 28th, Buchalter admitted that Samm Schrager was out of the city and he
expected him back in a few days.
Buchalter also related that sometime in 1932 Verne Miller
came to New York City with Gus Winklér and at that time it was his under-
standing that Winkler and killer had some sort of contract with a largewhiskey distillery, whereby they were to receive a certain amount of moneyon each case of liquor they could run into this country and Winkler and
Nller had attempted to line up some customers and Buchalter was instru
mental in introducing them to certain bootleggers. At that time he knewVerne Nller's real identity. He also added that he had known Sammy
Schrager all his life, having been brought up with him. he then went onto relate that early in 1933 he had gone to Los Angeles with Zwillman andBen Kutlow. Later they went to Hot Springs, Arkansas, where mike Coppolajoined the party. A few days later, before they left hot Springs, Tallerand his paramour arrived there and remained at the hotel and he took careof their bill. He also stated he saw Frank Nash and his wife in HotSprings, at the time and admitted attending a large dinner party at whichVerne Miller and Frank Nash were present. While in Hot Springs he met aman named "Dutch" but was not certain whether this was "Dutch" Akers, Chiefof Detectives at Hot Springs, who was subsequently convicted. The lasttime he saw Miller, he claimed, was in February or early in March, 1933,although it is of course known this is not true, since he saw him in the
SUIIUTICTQ
On November 6, 1933, Buchalter and Shapiro, as previously indicatewere indicted in the Protective Fur Dressers Corporation case and the FurDressers Factor Corporation case. It is believed that'Buchalter was intro-duced to.Verne Miller by Benjamin Kutlow, who resided in a penthouse onCentral Park West, New York City, and who travelled around considerably withBuchalter and Zwillman. On November 22, 1933, Buchalter and Shapiro werearraigned on their indictments and released on bond. They were surrenderedat this time by their attorney, J.'Arthur_Ad1er and again Buchalter gave theaddress of his brother, the dentist, as his residence.
On June 28, 1935, Buchalter, accompanied by his wife and son,sailed from New York. On August lst or 2nd of that year newspaper storiesappeared to the effect that Buchalter and Shapiro had left the country inorder to socape the local investigation which was then in progress in New,York County, On August 12, 1935, the case against the Protective Fur
_ 46 _
Dressers Corporation was called and Attorney J. Arthur Adler appeared on
behalf of Buchalter, advising he had gone to Europe for his wife's health.
Shapiro appeared. On September 3, 1935, Buchalter returned to New York
City, along with "Celia", who had accompanied them. It is also knownthat Nboney Levy, Joseph Stacher alias "Doc" Rosen and his paramcur,
Gloria Reynolds, accompanied Buchalter on his trip to Europe in 1935.
Later Betty Buchalter stated her husband went to Carlsbad to take the
necessary baths in connection with a course of treatments for stomach
ailments, although as already indicated, his attorney had stated thatBuchalter went to Europe for his vdfe's health. V
From October 26, 1936 until November 12, 1936, Buchalter and
Shapiro were on trial, which resulted in their conviction. On November
12th, Buchalter was incarcerated in the Federal House of Detention at
New York City, along with Shapiro. Both were released on December 3,
1936, on $10,000 bail. which was put up by Nathan Borish, by Federal
Judge lhrtin T. Hanton, who has since been convicted. It has been
strongly rumored in this connection that JLdge hnton had been approached,
although these rumors have not been definitely established.
From the time that Buchalter became a fugitive, along with
Shapiro, extensive investigation was conducted. It was believed aftera lapse of a few months, that Buchalter was definitely in hiding and was
not in open contact with his old associates. This opinion was later borne
out following Buchalter's apprehension, when it was determined that he
had maintained his fugitive status in Manhattan. Following the accidental
killing of Isadore Penn, who resided in the same building with Philip
Orslovsky, considerable pressure was brought to bear in New York City
and innumerable statements appeared in the press to the effect that
Buchalter was gradually seeking to exterminate all witnesses who could
appear against him. It can now be revealed that the Federal Bureau of
Investigation, fearing this, had affidavits taken from some of the wit-nesses, in the presence of a Federal District Judge,,and their statements
recorded by sound movies. The New York authorities, issued a $25,000
reward for Buchalter "dead or alive". TLC extensive investigation which
had been launched by Special Agents of the FBI throughout the Nation beganto bear fruit. As the old contacts of Buchalter and Shapiro were established
and the details of their relationships ascertained, the time had arrived
to take some action.. A Federal Grand Jury in New York City was summoned.
Subpoenas were served by FBI Agents on the big shot raeketeers in various
sections of the U. S., summoning them to appear before the Grand Jury. All
of these individuals were definitely known to have been associated with
Buchalter and Shapiro or to have been well acquainted with them. In theparlance of the underworld, "The heat was on." They faced the Grand Jury
with the realization that the FBI Agents knew in detail their activities
and were confronted with one of two possibilities, either telling the
truth or refusing to answer questions. One of the individuals lamented
his plight to a Special Agent, stating "If you fellows keep this up youare going to ruin the entire United States," meaning that once the operations
I
_ 47 _
of these individuals were brought out into the open they could no longer
successfully continue their nefarious activities which flourished indarkness. Up to this point they had depended upon corrupt politicaldomination and alliances in their local communities for protection, andnow they were facing a greater power than theirs, a power which the greedylocal politicians could not move or suppress. At the beginning of theGrand Jury numrous efforts were made through various channels to persuadethe FBI to lessen the pressure that was being brought to bear and when
all of this failed, negotiations for the admission of defeat and the
surrender of Buchalter were advanced.
The Federal Grand Jury which met at New York City in theS f 1939 t d d ' d t '1 th d f at on of Buchalter and ummer 0 , S U 18 ln 8 31 me O S O oper lShapiro. Th- ----- -inn.» 2. -' - f2-. I ing Company we - --. zedanurne
Company;with»harbering=Shapiro*and'ButhaTteri§ In the meantime underworldassociates who were being forced to appear before the92Grand Jury becameinsistent in making overtures to representatives of the FBI, and followinga Sunday evening broadcast by LE. Walter Winchell, at which time Mr.Winchell was authorized by the Director of the FBI, to publicly state thatBuchalter's civil rights would be respected and maintained should hesurrender, a series of nerve-racking negotiations began. Telephone calls
were received, asking carefully worded questions as to the outcome of the
proceedings against Buchalter. After several days, the Director of theFederal Bureau of Investigation issued an ultimatum that no furtherconsideration would be given Puchalter unless he surrendered by 4 P. M.,on August 24, 1939. Then came another phone call, instructing that the
intermediary, Walter Winchell, "drive up to Proct0r's Theatre in Yonkers".Before'reaching the theatre a car loaded with strangers drew alongside theautomobile driven by Walter Winchell.. One of the men got out, holding ahandkerchief over his face, and instructed Winchell to go to the drugstoreon the corner of 19th Street and 8th Avenue; to enter one of the phonebooths and about nine o'clock someone would come up to him and tell himwhere to notify the G-Ten to meet him.. Promptly at nine o'clock an indiviapproached and stated, "go back in there and tell Hoover to be at 28thStreet on 5th Avenue between lO:lO and 10:20.d
dual
.92
...[,[1,._.
In accordance with the representations which had been made, the
Director, unaccompanied, kept the rendezvous. At lO:l7 the search ended
When "Lepke", wearing dark glasses, disguised with a mustache, kept his
word. Although a little excited, he seemed anxious to talk, to talk to
Someone new, after being in the shadows for over two years, probably with
many other hunted men. He immediately threw away his glasses, stating,
"I don't need them any more" and then added, "I would like to see my
wife and kid, please". His wishes were acceded to. The man hunt which
extended from coast to coast and across the seas, had come to an end, and
With it, it is hoped, the terror that stalked through the East Side of Ran-
hattan for years.
Buchalter had closely observed proceedings which were instituted
against his associates of many years, Shapiro, who on June 17, 1938, was
sentenced to serve three additional years and pay a $15,000 fine in the
Federal District Court for the Southern District of New York, in connec-
tion with the indictment returned against him as a result of his activities
in the Fur Dressers Factor Corporation case.
The physical description of Buchalter is as follows:
2
92/
Name;
Age:
Height:
Weight:
Build:
Hair:
Eyes:
Complexion:
Teeth:
Nhstache:
Nationality:
Education:
Scars:
Personal charac
teristics:._[,9...
Louis Buchalter, aliases:
"Lepke"; Louis Buckhouse;
Louis Buckhalter; Louis Kawer;
Louis Cohen; Louis Buckalter;
Louis Kauvar; Louis Buchholtz;
Louis Lauvar; Louis Saffer; Louis
Kauver; "Lepky"; "Lefky"; "Sefky";
Murphy; "Schnozzle"; Lou Brodsky;
Judge Lewis; "Judge"; "The Judge";
"Judge Louie"; Judge Brodsky;
Louis Brodsky.
42, born February 12, 1897, in
New York City.
5: 5% _ 51 7n
160
hbdium heavy
Dark brown, possibly graying at
temples
Brown
Dark
Removable bridge of five teeth,
upper right; fixed bridge of one
tooth, lower right; fixed bridge
of one or two teeth, lower left
Wears one occasionally
American - Jewish extraction
Grammar school
Appendectomy scar
Nose large, rather straight and blunn
ears prominent; eyes alert and shifty
has habit of passing change from one
hand to another; believed to wear
yellow gold ring on small finger of
left hand, »set with large "cat's~
eye" stone, palish blue in color,
somewhat similar to a star sapphire;
believed to wear very expensive
flashy yellow gold pocket watch
set with emeralds and rubies, having
'attached yellow gold chain studded
with similar stones - usually carried
in one of lower vest pockets and ~ .
chain extends diagonally from watch
pocket to one of upper vest pockets;
said to have the habit of looking
at his watch every five minutes or so
and toying with the chain. Habitual-
ly wears snap brim felt hat directly
in center of his head so the turned
down brim will tend to offset length
of his nose. ,
60-302
!-><~ At H.'.".ttiesbur;, Ljississigpi, will tn.<.-av;-r tc locate
Lid S"'ETLII{ thI'.>u h the I C 1£cilr£>"r F ci "ht Dc 't t-'~ "0-ter*ine 1 .. __. 0 0 . -.. -1, __ -'-- , ~' - ---
whether tiny T.1G2.1bG1 of his crew is 1-'_.ent.1c:~.l w ' _ flIj1ll3lVO BUC-§".'.LTEi£ ,
0. s requester. in rcpert rrf S;1= cial gent In-"i.".n.".p".lis,
Inri:".nr~., :.'*.tc-:9. J."~.nu:*.ry l9, 1939.
YORK OFFICE
cwmletc the followinr" Ne"-.=r Yvrk City prccer lccds'.-r1'1ich have been previously set out in the report cf 1.5:.-ntp
92 , ,. .1 92 , l . . 4- ,New. Yorl City, 4. .te-.. October ll, 1938. The 1~I92-v* Yer} out-92 - ..-vm
leads, which have been prcviausly set cut in this reference re";-srt
anc. not c0:.:plcte92. as yet, will be repc;--.".tcr_ lT.'13OI in this rcp.;rt
under New York .-.;»ut-;'f-town lc-:".<';s:
l!-><- fill keep in contact with the fellc'r.in_: sugzrintendcnts
of buil".in;'s, at which places V.?.Ti'_"LlS 1-*cl.'~.tives ref fujitive PUCILILTER
rcsi-r.e: '
.! 161 Test '75th Street, ."'.pertz.:cnt 1_'-LB, which
is occupic-:. by Ir. .".n-. Lrs. Ii. J. I.L &S;J;
Su;>c1*inten..<.nt JO!-If '..ILI II.'S has been cm-
tC.Ct92;f: in the past c».;-nccrninj tn.-..se ;.crs-ins.
b! 110 Tiest 86111 Street, .'~.;;-.~.1~:=.».¢,m. 121., ~.-_.=ni¢;1is Jccupie by D11. I.-2'..!-TLEIL PUCI-'.}LTIl.,
br-other wf i'u_;itive RUC?'J.LTl'-Ia. Superintcncfent
CIUJ-LIES I.O1"~II£1.I-F has been cntzictef. in the
past conccrninj this matter.
c! 324 Elnebling Street, Brooklyn, N.Y., an office' _ :?.:*.intz>.in<,-I. by D11. LNTJEL ZEUCZ-L'ILT'IIT-. at Wliich '
place "ILLII..". SBBKO is -the super ir.ten;.cnt.
<3! 1'75 "fest 93r<. Street, where PHIL I{;1UVBlL, the
hc.1fbr0thcr of BLTC{{.-LTBTL, rcsi<.cs._ IIOBEILT
E. SCHUBEIET is the superinte-n~".ent at this
apartr.1cnt,.
_6Q_
60-302
375 West End Avenue, at which address
urn ' ox .1 I . -'4-'BLITZ BUCH$LT;h, the tire oi"ft:itivoLouis 1-3U !l~IAI,TrlI{, and b'ZC,reside. FiiITZ. JOEIi92l=5OI~, no swzperinoenlient
of this apartment buildin;, has been con-J '!
tncted in the ,>:.st relative to the 13I_?C;?J'*.LIl3E&
f-1121 i ly .
f! Beacon Hotel, 75th Street and Broad"-.-1111' ' '~"1re=" ms. amt; ;~:oss $76
L r TZZS. RO¬E Ru 3ALTEn, tne
1:. -si .er, niece and mother respectively
0:-T .¬1_=..";:itivc .?.?..Yt_1?-.-'?JJTIl-5, r<,sic.e. I-L11. H. G. YU'z92DII§,hotel mrxn-".3cr, has been contocted previously.
! -::- 2'ill c-str.b1:7.sn coniic':ent:'.. .l c
addresses occupied by r1:-latives 01" .iu_r_§itJ'.ve EY.TC?T.'J.-Tflii, so tlzat theBureau c_".n be appropriately 0.-".visec. in the cvcnt EU92}?.~.L'¬Z.-i shouldmclze his appear-znce T."C the plr.r:c.-s: or in ti;-2 event "-ny pa:-rtinontiniorm:~.tion of value is obtninocl concc.rnin_-"5 him:
! 218-220 East l.>5tI1 Street, Z.-ronx, 1'.C.,
to which ac!-Cress ma. Eirs. ."'..-",. :92rI 1».-
fl'LBEI'fEP. hrrvo recently :a10vur:.
b! '57 We-st 57th Street, IYc92'.' York City, an
office maizitzined by DP-.. E!-J-.I92TIIjL SUCZL'.LTER.
! 947 1.Iont;o;11¢.ry Street, f3rookl;_m, Aportment
L25, 92".i'1??.ch is occL;~ic92- by iSl.,".*;-._. E;-.J' §}..=l.-1-_Q.1
fv._gitive's brother. lJ
3 <1! i~l..rvw;r<l lh'u_; CQI.z,P~.IA_y" 41.231! Dro:..Q:..'-..y, Zfcv:
York Cit;-', at :1.-" nich place lSIlJO;-ii Z5UCZL.LT};1i-'1
is ez.1plo_'-,'e,cl.
"26O"West 35th Street, the oss of the
CITY C[§.1§'tL'3TlS C }IIPU§IATIOZ'T, . ..l'1ich pl-Ice
PHILIP I¬-=U92T!3I¢ is int-orc.oter-. employed.
!-:<- " Till interview the iollo*.'in_-3 relrxtivos of fugitive
BUCI'@..'.LT§~I3. :'nforr.~.".tion concernin: whoa: as well as the results of ~ .9 Q . !previous into-rv:'.ews concluctec with these rsons, is reported in "the report of Special Agent iPTe92': York City, October ll, 2! '7
1938:
_6]__.- .C'tLS at the follow-ring '
C}...,_.
60-3 O2 .'
<1!
b!
C!
<1!
!
f!
!
1!BETTY PUC}?z.LTG¢, 3'75 '-"est End Avenue»-
DR. I_=IEQ'.I~IUEL FUCHALTEZZ, llO West 86th Street,-
Apertment 121;. It is also deemed desirable
to interview EARS. EI-.2!-.192?UZ3L BUCIIi.L'I?.R.- In '
conducting this interview with DR. i3UCIL/.LTER,-
will also question him along the lines sug-
gested by the Bureau in Bureau letter dated
January 10, l939 relative to the insurance
policy upon the life of his brother, the
premiums of which'c.re being paid by him, Dr.
E.T;L'.NU1IL BUCZ~I..LTL"1T:, zinc. also in connection with
the mtter of obt~:*.i:ting r1 dc-nt".l ch'~.rt of the
teeth of his brother, fugitive LOUIS BLX3H£.L'I'ETc.
PHIL I11-'.LY92fE1-, 1'75 jest 93rd StTL92.t, the half-
bIOtll-.;I of "lL2l}1L". his ~.=;i1e s1.oulc1 also be
interviewed.
IS1ILO;;E BUCi;.~xLTE:':, full brother of "L1lPE»J.-I",who I'~;Si '.<.3 z.t 947 Z=-.Yo192_t_go:.*.-'.-ry Street, Brooklyn,
I"~..l'., 1.1r.rt=:1cnt 12F, r. nc.»is e.'1ploye;. at the
E-I1'~.1aV.};aD DRUG C03-P;'.I~!Y, 4239 }'3ro-f'.<"~.w:~.y, I"~'e*.--' York
City. "r-"i.fe shoul :".1.so be interviewerl.
JACK BlC."LLTEfZ, h."-.lf-brothc-r'of fugitive, whoresides at 359 Pow.-rs Avenue, Bronx, FRY.
I"-£18. JAG." BUC_T4_.I.-'IZ1-'. should also be interviewed-.
MRS. {J-J10!-F SOPHIE! BILTC-RICK, the h:.lfsistc-r
of Fugitive BUC}'.'.LTEI-2. It is decried advisable
also to interviev-' ZIZS. BILTCHICWS husband. in
connection with this matter.
M115. Hj.i'JIEL S..iu'.H! BLUE-I, 6Ol Jest 70th
Street, ..p:1rtment 3C, who is the h.:]isister
of fugitive BUCF.~'.LTE.1I. NAlIL.1-IIEL BLUM
should also be interviewed in this connection.
M18. L1-L1H BUC1~L'~.LTU'c LEVY,"2'/33 tiorris Avenue,
Bronx, N.Y., Lpcrtment 311, the he_lfsistcr of
fugitive. IE8. LEVY'S husband should also be
interviewed, his mme being BE!"-J."£'IN, he being
employed at the Gt-ner?.l Post Office.
_62..
v
60-302
' <1!1
EYES. ';1'AX='.'ELL Hill-§.'[E K1-.'LWI-iii! IOZLSE, Wells ton
zlpertments, 161 Jest 75th Stre=..t, who is the
h:lfsist-or oi fizgitive BUCIALTFll. 3'1 F -71' J0 ELL
EEORSE should also be interv-ieweri.
J! s=.z;:
report -
Agent
on am;
called SI
telephoneFIZJTTEL the rc"l mother of BETTY J
BUCHLLTELI, information concerning when 18
1 i v , 'e above rzcntionef. report ofIn this respect it is reported C
1V0 of the report of Special I-gent
Hex"! York City, dated Ziarch 24,
. serial ;;'-].S/-,1! that BETTY BYJCI-L.LTZ§i
..~¬ FII-JIQ3L of ll54 College ivenue,
Jerome '7-5311. It is thou-ght this
may be the step»-father of B-E7.TY BUCHZLTEIL.
It has be
rosicles a
operates
!-1% fill interview _
with he-r 1z1oth;,»r ?.'t 3C7 Sterling
she is the sister of 2&5. E§.'n1".l:l
pondecl. F.;:IEDn ZUCII 11m. been 11'on 3.$C92;I't7".in;£T thxt I115. FIE-FEEL new
t Newburgh, E'!.Y., where her husband
2. junk ynrcl.
_--- , . ,. "1 -OL.U.'n AUCI-., 92.no 1., presently residing
jwezzmze, Brooklyn, it being noted that
L ,3o'C!i..LT?_$1-1, with '..'31.om she his corrc-s
eviously intervi~.".".-'<.-;. in Cali;-"ornie
during 1934, this i:1te1~vic-v-r bein--" 1"e'-"-ort<.-<1 on pa;;es three and four ofthe report of Speci;-.1 Agent Los :-;1£_'-:C.1u5, California,
'.1.".tecl Iiay 2, 1938 N.Y. scrio. ,=,_ ' .
!-1% "ill contact III, D.92NZI-GER of the Punk, of .Yorktovm, as
to the bcnk accounts maintained
CORPOIZf1TIO1~.', of which orgo 'z:1ti
in report of Specir-.1 Agent
' Jc.nuc.ry 25, 1938 I92!.Y._ serizzl ,»by PI-.ILIP the CITY C,'.=T J.FE2S
on -" .- III; is treasurer, if/being noted _
L Nev: York City, r.:.*.tec: J3
, that ilr. D.1N7IIGI,L. wms named by. I .'.UV.LIt as reference at the ti.rie he :*.pp1iec.- for rental of his i
_ 1., apartment . Y
!-it -"ill interview SIDNEY HILLIJJ-3, he:.c_ of the 1.r.1e.lgo.m:.tec.
ClOthi1lP' Y-Jorkers Union for information concerninv BUCI£'.LTE££'S ac- _:tivities anrl his knowledge conce
fugitive. It has been reportedrning the possible location of this
from time to time that 11ILL.3L.Nwo.svery close to BUCPLCLTEL and S!~'J.PI1LO. In this connection, on pages
_.63_
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
FREEDOM OF INF ORNIATION/PRIVACY ACTS SECTION
COVER SHEET
SUBJECT: LOUIS "LEPKE" BUCHALTER
60-1501-4310
W7 1393533 -
Burton Turkus concedes, now, that Lepkeled him. He says he came to
know, as one by one he sent members 9 urder Inc. to the death house,
that they were alike in at least one respect. HEs?y"§f"'They all had killers
eyes." He noticed this in Abe Kid Twist"! Reles, the informer who ad-
mitted casually on the witness stand that he had destroyed 11 men with gun,
knife and re. He saw it in Allie Tannenbaum, the second informer, who had
admitted personal part in siit murders; in Seymour "Blue Jaw"! Magoon,
iwho took part in as many before he became a state witness against the mob.
The look was in Happy Maione's eyes, in Dasher" Abben;lando's, in
;Mendy Weiss's, in Louis Capone's, even in Sholem Bernstein's, and Bernstein
lis only a "stoolie," a self-labeled "rat," or gang sduealer.
Killer eyes, Prosecutor Turkus came to know, are something you can
dramatize for a jury, You point them out to jurors and pretty soon they see it.
It is the unmistakable mark of the beast. Mr. Turkus proceeded happily on
this theory and gloated inwardly as each new batch of Murder Inc. defendants
came up for trial. He says, I got the feeling that the theory was perfect, and
it held up in every case-until I turned, one morning in the trial room, and
looked into Lepke's eyes." The prosecutor was actually startled by what he"It jarred me," he mow
Le kewho was born Louis uchalter-has warm soft brown e 'es The1
/" wl
'with something like awe. They never hardened. " The gazelle eyes made no
sense to the prosecutor. They dispelled a theory, for Lepke was the boss
killer. As head of Murder Inc., or the Combination as its own members called
it, he had ordered the death of anywhere from 6o to 80 men. By all standards
his eyes should have been like Jack Diamond's, Vincent C_oll's, "Lucky"
Luciano's, Al Capone's. Psychiatrists who have examined Eepke since Mr.
,Turkus sent him to the Sing Sing Prison death house have merely airmed"
;that Lepke is different from all these. '
l They found no mental twist, nothing psychotic in his make-up. He seemed0 i- lalways affable under examination, his mind crystal clear. They were a littleI
l ,_ 5! ' ' puzzled, as Mr. Turkus had been, by Lepke's curious blandness, his seeming .'92' 'humility. "The man is actually clifdent," one psychiatrist noted in bewil-
derment. If there were any deviations from normal in Lepke, they were not
apparent and exhaustive interviews, tted with the cleverest oral bait, failed
to bring them to the surface. There was one possible aw, not too pro-
nounced. Lepke seemed shy and embarrassed when the probers asked about
ibis sex life. He was uneasy through this phase of examination. Incidentally,
fhe has no children except an adopted son, offspring of his wife's rst marriage.
If Sing Sing Prison's head keeper walks Lepke from his cell in the harshly
§lighted west wing death house toprepare him for the electric chair, Prose-
lcutor Turkus will have achieved what no other American prosecutor can.
. fclaim-the death penalty for top man in a murder mob. Jack "Legs"! Dia-
lmond, Arthur "Dutch Schultz"! Flegenheimer, Vannie Higgins, Vincent
Coll, "Babyface" Nelson, Frankie Uale, John Dillinger and a dozen other
-mob bosses died with their boots on. Al Capone, Waxey" Gordon and
pg Lucky Luciano went to prison, but only on comparatively piddling charges.
Lepke, though, has been brought to book as a boss murderman should be
-formurder. This seems strange, in a way. The little man 1?.-.5 lie Clc:t'S
eyes outclassed all the others in sheer criminal genius. The others were com~
parative dolts when it came to mob organization. They rose to power by
force. He combined brains with force. Yet with all these things, they frus-tratedtxhe law and he did not. » = jtI L
i
l.epke,sgetialized in union rackets ~ '
p B: la: controlled more industries and had a rmer grip on more laborolga5i§ations than any other racketeer of our time. Federal and municipal
investigators gure he manipulated, alltold, some 150 criminal iientures
" " T aneously, kept an eye biiat least 300 straw bosses, a corps of account=
~nd bookkeepers and on a staff of irresponsible triggermen, strongarms
-T trial saboteurs. He disliked reckless shootings, stabbings and othe
..... ..-,-1-..._"...<";iYT"'i-T"'¢un~.nes-1 _r -.u_--:... "92.J'Y?'.T1<PF1~92'.....__~...-, ,__P _ - ..~ 2 Y ' Y . 7-""""'"are inordinately large. Like a deer s, or a fawn's," Mr. Turkus tells you ll./1 , 1 ran.- r 5.1?/if a
|
,r
U
V.
llll Mr., Mr.
Mr.
. Mr.
I nu.
an-.if Mr. Nemoe--..-if. M156 Gnnd,7.-_ ..-.1% Y an-., 49- i 3» t .92§~- U O l *3 . If i, nu.
., _........-. ,.._.. .._ __ 1. .. . I ll yr,Tole-an
1'2. A. Tammi-
Clag ... ..- - <-~
Codey ......... .-
Glavin ....... .-
Boson
Tracy
Asers.-._..._-.
Carson ....... ..
Hendon ...__.--
M ..
Eta: - ..-..
Quinn BlIllIl.-:
i A; .......
|==E.- Mil~v_w,,-e -
.1/ag//1/7
.92°l0
,- / _ __..__ , .
______,_._..-~
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92I.!|II'$ I168 we nodung ac all hke the ebanczemuc hard and ahlfry lullet 1 eyes of mos:
cine: men. They are wnnn, brown and doczle, wen: to hold no n: of fury or hate or vloleace
lull! COIINIIIIIIIS, Louu Capome_and Mendy Wexss, went no the Sm; Sang death house morethan two years ago for murder of Joe Rosa: They hnve been wutmg there for Lepk: ever unce
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g gulqd Sill] Sill! barehczded Sn a cold Januarv day followmg bu surrender to New York lepl
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-mi» ._,__ theassignment at the last minute, but The Bug put a gun to him and
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luau 92 mu IIIISI"! KGIGS, after turning state: witness to save his own skin, killedhimsell by jumping from a window of the Half Moon Hotel in Coney Island in 1941.
LEPKE continued! V *
old. Lepke is extremely fond of the boy and carries his photographinside the back cover of his diamond-studded platinum watch. Mrs.Buchalter likes night clubs and gaiety, but her husband preferredquiet-a book or a magazine, an occasional game of golf, sometimesa bit of pinochle. He never drank to excess. He liked Miami and be-fore the war occasionally went abroad.
All through the Prohibition era, when the blustery beer baronswere whooping things up and getting their names in the publicprints, Lepke kept building his rackets apace but shrank from thelimelight. When he was brought in for the Little Augie murder hewas booked as Louis Buckhaus and newspapers referred to him bythat name for the next ve or six years. Comparatively few, even inNew York City, knew he was one of the so-called Big Five of NewYork's underworld. There was sinister magic in the name Lepkeonly among his shivering victimsand among the disloyal in hiscabinet. Lepke had gured out, soon after he put his pet theoriesinto practice, that "Where there are no witnesses, there are no indict?ments." When investigations threatened he sent possible witnessesfar out of the jurisdiction and supplied them /with funds. If theycame back they were "hit." ._. d The police were aware of I.epke's dark gawer, but since he neitherid his own killing nor took part in in hem and slugging expedi-tions but merely delegated them to thfproper departments in his2;-Igaiéizatiop, the detgctives c%uld ne92_lpin' E charge against hirné e ay in une 1933 e an rigger l e oppo a were an-estein a handsome at on the thirteenth floor of a rather snooty apart-ment house in East 68th Street. Detectives searching the place foundclosets crammed with expensive but conservative clothes, a ratherelaborate collection of golf equipment but no weapons. There were'2; guns! beczuse Lepke his alwa; beer}: careful to galpv vgithout one. e on y c arge t e poice co ma e against e u ge was va-grancy, but he had $800 in cash in his pockets and the charge wasthin. They turned him loose on court order. "Dutch go%l by Bug and Piggy T ~ ~-
¢ Earlyun his major ventures, Lepke had established close businessrelatimship with Lucky Luciano. They loaned gunmen to oneanother. When Lucky decided, for-example, that Dutch Schultz wasgetting to be a nuisance, he borrowed some of'_Lepke's guns toliquidate Dutch. Charlie ' The Bug"! Workman, Mendy Weiss and,_ a man named Piggy did the job. Piggy, ~incidentall!';went cold on
Dutch and three of his diecl_i_n _a_n F._ast_ lfark sens: tavern thenight of Oct. 13, 1935 at ro:3o p. -m. The Bug_pff@EDu'tchma'n,gbnt Mendy Weiss claimedthis hits Lepke coldly warned both to stop'1quarreling about it. They did, right away. _ _ " -
N Nothing bothered "]udge_:__Lj-,'auie until Governor Lehman ap-pointed Thomas Dewey in .1935 tduproot New York G-i¬y~r-eltceaand Auuluil-Sit This movegave uurrahjare anu Lepae '4 pen; laughac rst. That boy scout," they said. "He'll get somewhere like aduck hitched to 1 post." Mt. _D=_w=y === I-=Pk°=_G"_"=h.l1l<¢ andLucky Luciano at the top of his list. He started digging scared and
reluctant witnesses from among the hordes who were enslaved byLepke in the industrial rackets. Lepke got nervous. Gun-ahjake wasfor Dewey's assassination, but Lcpke knew wht Would hi-PPCQ ¢"°ffif it could be done. We'll have the whole world around our ears,1; h ' d 1 '1 -. That's-zno good."cI;li'iI;3;fll.egkcdO:i1i1ldyGur'i'aiiJake.were indicted in the FederalCourt in Manhattan for -violation of the ahtitrust laws in connection
with their racketeering in the rabbit fur-dressing industry and for
-' COIIYINI-ICU ON PAGE $2
- ----Z2/.39..
. ,5 _6
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LEPK E continued!
violation of the narcotics law. By this time, Lepke had scattered-
possible Dewey witnesses far and wide across the country and was
maintaining them-1'n their hideouts. Lepke, Gurrah Jake and Max
Silvertnan, their straw boss in the bakery racket, were also indicted
for extortion. Lepke and Gurrahjake ed, and from his hiding place
Lepke ordered the destruction of key witnesses. Murder Inc. had
seen a lot of men die, but not as fast as they did during this period.
Supreme_Court justice Ferdinand Pecora, who had been designated
to hear the cases, was horried.
The underworld stood by Lepke for 1.1 months. One of the Italian
gang leaders in Brooklyn hid him for a while in the Oriental Dance
Hall in Coney Island. This hideout was uncomfortable. Kid Twist
found a Brooklyn waterfront flat, run by a red-haired virago, and
Lepke boarded there a while. He grew a full mustache and wore dark
glasses. He still collected from many of his labor victims and still
drew heavy earnings from the Raleigh Manufacturing Corp., a cloth-
ing rm with oflices at 2.00 Fifth Avenue and a factory in Baltimore,
which he controlled. .
When the waterfront at grew tiresome, Lepke moved to an apart-
ment in a large house on Foster Avenue in the Flatbush district in
Brooklyn. Here he was the "paralyzed husband" of a Mrs. Walker,
who had a 19-year-old son. When anyone knocked at the door,
I..epke would let his arms go limp and would assume a paralytic pose
in his armchair by the re-escape window. Here he received Kid
Twist and his other agents, directed his multitudinous affairs, or-
dered the dispatch of men who might get to Mr. Dewey or to the
federal authorities. The victims were stabbed with ice picks, shot
and dropped into Catskill streams. One was throttled and burned in
a Brooklyn lot. I.epke's own men were terried. They watched each
other warily.
Trigger lingers sometimes slipped
Max Rubin, who had been a Lepke straw boss in the garment cen-
ter, was shot in the neck one night on Gunhill Road in the Bronx
after he had appeared before Mr. Dewey. The marksmanship was
~,bad, and Rubin survived to be the most damaging witness against
Lepke at trials later. In their zeal to full judge Louie's orders, the
Lepke gunmen accidentally murdered Irving Penn, an innocent music
publisher. They mistook him for Phil Orlovsky, a potential witness
against Lepke. This added to public indignation. The city of New
York put a $15,000 reward on Lepke's head. The federal government
previously had offered $5,000.
Finally, word came to Brooklyn from J. Edgar Hoover's ofce that
if Lepke was not turned over within 72. hours, a host of FBI men
would be turned loose on the borough and a merciless campaign
would be started against all the mobs, Lepke's as well as other-s'.
One of the big Italian gang bosses knew that this meant business.
He passed the word to Lepke and a plan for surrender was worked
out.- A little after IO o'clock the night of Aug. 2.4, 1939 Lepke got
out of an automobile on Fifth Avenue at 18th Street, still wear-
ing the dark glasses and "the mustache. l-ic was somewhat heavier
than when he had gone into hiding. Waiting for him in a sedan was
the columnist, Walter Winchell, chosen intermediary in the surren-
der. Winchell spojte to a heavyset man, wearing dark glasses like
I}pkes, sitting deep in the tonneau.
He said, Hoover, this is Lepke."
Lepke removed his own glasses, dashed them on the pavement.
"I-low do you do?" he said politely. "Glad to meet you. Let's go."
CONTINUED ON PAGE 951-1-
--_~_
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3,93 LEPKE continued! i ' ' '
On Jan. 2., 1940, Leplre was convicted in the Federal Court in Man-hattan on the an itrust law violations and was sentenced to 14 yearsin Leavenworth. z Fortnight later in General Sessions Court in NewYork City he was ~onvicted-"on. 36 extortion counts and was sen-tenced to serve from io years tolife 'in,states prison as afourth felonyoffender. The federal :autl1oritie§ claimed prior right to his personand he was transporter! -tofi-."ejaventyorth. Gurrah Jake had sur-r¢!1d¢f¢d I0 lh f¢<1'»:ral 'auth§drities in the spring of 1938 and wasserving time in the federal penitentiiry in Wisconsin. 'Meanwhile, though-, William Q'Dwyer, Brooklyn's district attor-ney, had tlken whee. ;H§:?gr-tbbed Reles, Tannenbaum, Magoon,Strauss, Maione, .92b § _Buggsy" Goldstein, Louis Capone,Vito Gurino, Meno'y}»V§q's_zt, "Duke" Maetores-all gunmetrinLepke's employ. He apptiited Turkus to break them, and Turltusdii 16$,-"Tincnhaut1;'"and Magoon told theYuTl inside story ofLeplte ' urder organization. Their testimony sent Malone andAbbandando to the electric chair for the murder of George Rudniclr,-who had" tt&_g_ed ttoolie against the Lepke Combination. Later theirtestimonyrtent Boggsy Goldstein and Strauss to the chair for themurder and burning of Puggy" Feinstein, another member of Mur-yvo had weakenedand endangered Boss Lepke.strain was too much for»Kid Twist. He had pretended he hadno I'q!;ot'$c,092'¬1' sending his fellow men-at-arms to the death house. kept up his waggery--throwing wet toilet paper wads atdetectives assigned to guard him in the Hotel Half Moon in ConeyIsland; escaping from them and calling them from a telephone in thelohb_ybut early on the morning of Nov. 11., 1941 he was found deadt 1 the ground outside the hotel. He had gone out the window. Thisnews got to Sing Sing Prison by criminal grapevine with incrediblespeed. Inmates who had known Kid Twist gloated at his death. Pros-ecutor Turkus heard that someone in the death house had remarkedbitterly, "There's one canary who found out he could sing butcouldn't fly. " A canary, in underworld parlance, is any informer who"sings," or squeals, on his mates.On Oct. zo, 194! Prosecutor Turlrus opened his ease in KingsCounty Court_in Brooklyn before judge Franklin Taylor, against~ Louis Caponc,Mmdy Weiss and Louis Buchalter, charged with rstdegree murder. Nine defense lawyers opposed him. Lepke had beenbrought from Leavenworth for the trial. He was tanned from out~door prison labor, his dark hair was thinned on top, but his face wasi ' - A eom-mun on next not
Strauss slow! had done a
rt: cg identify the body A pet-
.lrneer._ Hu killer: died H! 1945lyn lot in l939 badly charmed. {
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. --._-_.r._!r'_ :_,§__ -~ '_ A I/ P #7Geiluine wartime service records
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Alter the war, you will want a Road~
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modern design and finer appoint-
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Buy o Roadmaster liter the war.
Ill! CIIVIIIND WIIDING IOMPAIIY
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late at night. Finally the car stopped at a curb somewhere around
150th Street. 4a It was raining pitchforks, coming down in torrents," Rubin
testified."When the car stopped," Mr. Tutkus wanted to know, did you
see somebody?". "Lepke."
Lepke was huddled under a dripping awning before a darkenedstore. Rubin walked over to him, aware of something sinister in _t_he*
cold, unmoving form."Lepke wanted to know why I carne back again. He asked me howold Iwas. I said lwas 48, That was my age at that time. Lepke said,
That'saripeage."' _ A.92~ Ripe enough, apparently. A few nights later one of Lepke's gim- _ _ , trying to kill Rubin, put into his neck the slug that now causes
Rubin to walk with his head on one side. »Allie Tannenbaum, skinny, slant-eyed, almost Japanese iii facialcontour, conrmed Rubin's testimony. He had heard Lepke say ofRosen, There is one sonofabitch will never go downtown." Tan-nenbaurn -told how Mendy Weiss had boasted of the Rosen killing,had described how he murdered Rosen and how the sadistic "Pitts-burgh Phil" Strauss took unnecessary pot shots at the body. Izpke,Tannenbauxn told the jury, seemed unmoved when he heard this. Hisreaction was, "What's the difference as long as everyone is clean and
got away all right?" - .Whenjudge Taylor passed the death sentence, Lepke's soft browneyes didn't change or harden. He heard the court solemnly pro-nounce that he, Weiss and Capone were to be delivered to Sing Sing there to suer death by execution during the week ofjan. 4, 194;."He mopped at his tanned face with a soiled handkerchief but theblandness never altered. His tongue worked briey inside one cheek
and his ngers tensed, that was all. 'Capone and Weiss were delivered to the east wing death house soonafterward. Lepke was taken back to Leavenworth Penitentiary, stilla federal charge. A few weeks ago, though, Attorney General Biddleturned him over to New York State. He was driven to the prisonunder heavy guard. He was placed in the rst cell to the right as youenter the west wing. He was docile then. He has been docile eversincedocile, with the same peculiar diidenee that so startledProsecutor Turkus when he rst became aware of it. Death-housekeepers havent been able to make him out. When other condemnedmen shout and call hoarsely to one another, Leplce is silent, still theextraordinary little man with the deer eyes who doesn't like to talk.
in Albany Feb
. °' l?k°'his dispute with thtdgr pwmmm .~
' °dFd-'5" P'==5d¢I1!~Bo0,iEv'elt dommu'1-endered, to New see; The_U. S_'_°' Sm tce d|at%>ould lieexecnmdV 4HOlIlWlI lepke earn elgngéy by.xoose_ ve t-supporting labor leaders. On Jan; 21 bpkewaa '
ifllkhiklexeeuted, diettanenmstretumhimtotheu Spriority on Lepke dead; the U. S. Government on Leplre alive:.1--V'- e.._'_!,:..:
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION/PRIVACY ACTS SECTION
COVER SHEET
SUBJECT: LOUIS "LEPKE" BUCHALTER
60-1501-4327
is.o a
oe~ g
' ornomu. I-mm no. no sow-m1
MAY ma znrnonasa am. R-'.G- NO. rl
UNITED STATES GC RNMENT
Memorandum
DIRECTOR, FBI
FR°"-92* 1 SAC, PORTLAND 2-0!
SUBJECT LOUIS LEPKE!'vl§IICHALTER
MISCELLANEOUS ._To - DATE! 7/11/66
T" aQ 17T f ' FA . 0.D-92 "a-.§AUSA JACK G. COLLINS, Portland, Oregon, is trying
an IRS case in about 30 days from date. The subject is a
confidence man who has defrauded a number of people by ,
claiming to know whre LOUIS LEPKE! BUCHALTER buried a large
sum~of money on the Oregon Coast.
1 _ LOUIS LEPKE! BUCHALTER was a member of "Murder
Incorporated" in New York who was prosecuted and convicted by
D'strict Attorney THOMAS E DEWEY during the 1930s. then_ i A u .
AUSAACOLLINS suspects that his subject knows nothing about
' a azinesBUCHALTER except what he has read in crime m g .
COLLINS thinks it would be helpful if he could have considerable
background information concerning BUCHALTER to use in cross
examining his subject.
§EQUEST OF BUREAU
If it can be done without too much work, recommend
that a summary of background information concerning BUCHALTER __
be furnished to Portland for delivery toAUSA COLLINS, who ,
' ' ' nd very helpful to use. L
If-2}Bureau AM!KI-Portla nd
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/1;;____ Buy U.S. Saving: Bonds Regularly Q12 the Payroll Savings Plan ,_F,_,, I_-I ~. 1 1 is Chief Assistant USA here a , K
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Tolson ._--
DeLco<:h ___-
Mob: _._._--
Wick _--4
Cosper -_-
Callahan ___---
Conmd _--
Felt ..__:
G§§;j:::;_q?n crime_m3gazines and desired background information concerningSulhvon -> . . i |§»~ ¢?3**i v
"e JUL 2 219se
qllimi
SAC, Per d 2-0! July 21, 153$$4 92m,:~;&;;, @5290//50/a K5 1-J7 i
LOUIS LEPKEIMBUCHALIER
MISCELANEOUS. ,~
Beurlet 7/ll/66.
Subject was a prominent member of Murder Incorporated
during his lifetime and received voluminous phlicity. -
Any information in Bureau files concerning nin
which could be released has previously undhtedly appeared
in the public press and vould be available to the subject
hein prosecuted.
In an effort to
AUSA Collie, there are
eunary concening Hchnlter, a
to Hr. Collins. He should he n
ot he revealed as the source o
iet
be given
ehuld
It is noted relet did not et forth th name of
the subject of the Internal Revenue Service prosecution.
It is possible Bufiles may contain pertinent information
concerning hin which would be of assistance to Hr. Collins.
In the event Hr. Collins desires a reviev or Butiles,
concerning the subject or prosecution, advise te Bureau,
attention,nhee Check Section, giving conplete
data concerning hie.
92e Q . i
Louis Lepke! Buchalter
I
Buchalter to use in cross examining his subject.
Enclosure is a blank memorandum giving background
and brief summary of the criminal career of Buchalter, who
was a member of "Murder Incorporated" who died in the electricchair in March, 1944 ' s ' ' lly prepared
u in 1955 for forme »nd was one&> of several memorand- repar n 92 - wn criminals. It is
believed the enclosure should be furnished to AUSA Collins for
his assistance as recommended by SAC, Portland./,- CT5'.,,1r Oo~" '|i_;1"1--'5'
92
in 121
to
v
Tolson ._----
DeLouch -_-ZJuly 19, 1966
MEMORANDUM
RE: IOUIS "LEPKE" HUCHAIEE, with aliases '
I
a BACKGROUND
Louis "Lepke" Buchalter was born in New York Ci -ty
on February 6, 1597, the eon or Barnett Buchalter, who had cane to
America from Russia and operated a hardware shop on the lower
East Side or New York City. His mother was refined and well
educated, and one sister was a school teacher. Hie brothers -
included a dentist and a rabbi. In his youth, Buchalter attended Y
the public schools and assisted his father in the operation or
the hardware store until his father's death in 1909. Later,
the family moved to Brooklyn. After completing grade school
in 1910, Buchalter obtained employment as a salesman for a concern
engaged in distributing theatrical goods.
CRIMINAL CAREER I
Buchelter was first arrested on September 2, l9l5, on
a charge or burglary. Released by the grand Jury, he was next ar-
rested in January, l9l6, on a similar charge, but he was again
released. His first real brush with law enforcement case the
following month, when he was arrested at Bridgeport, Connecticut,
charged with the theft or a grip from an automobile. Following
his conviction, he was sentenced to the Connecticut Reforlsatory
at Cheshire, Connecticut, where he was received in Ilay, 1916.
For the neat dozen years Buchalter was in and out or
prison on numerous occasions, being arrested on charges including
burglary, armed robbery, grand larceny and consorting with
criminals. During this tine, be beome closely associated
with Jacob Shapiro, and the notorious careers or the two were
closely allied thereafter.
mring the early 1930's, Buchalter and Shapiro turned
to the lucrative rackets which were plaguing the entire New York
F,1;§,§__-__--___ area. In the years that followed, they built a criminal empire
¢.S,,,e-- seldom matched in the annals or racketeering. The activitiesCollohon -1-
Conrad _---
Felt __._¢--
Gale _---
Rosen _--
Sullivan ----
Tovel __---
Trouer _-
Tele Floorn --
Holmes .__----
GdBT_._--I tor their mob became the subject or headline after headline
ENm0sm§:/ /' 3&7
MAIL ROOM [3 mm u~,,::1 _
92§$§ in I.92
metropolitan dailies. with the typical weapons of their ilk,
they attacked the poultry, fur, artichoke and clothing ~
industries. Brutality, violence, intimidation and vandalism
were their stock in trade as they moved in on flourishing
businesses. Lead pipes, stench bombs, bullets and strong~-
armed bandits were the tools they used. It was son obvious
that it was far less painful to give th otlaws their "cut"
than to dery them. One New'York nan, sitting quietly at hone, ;was appoached by a stranger carrying a folded newspaper. Not '
a word was spoken as te intruder took from the newspaper a i
bottle of acid which h dashed into the face of the innocent s
victim, leaving him-seriously burned and scarred for life. The-
owner or a business in New Jersey leared th ways or the "g
rscketeers wen his plant was bombed. Buchalter's hirelings,;
armed with iron pipes wrapped in newsapers and with guns, staged
a daring attack on the headquarters or a union while a meetinga
was in progress. Another enemy or the rackets was found in a y
ditch in Detroit, tied securely in a Jackknits position. ;
Once established as a kingpin oi this vicious empire, -,,
Louis Buchalter found it convenient and undoubtedly much safer R
to retire behind the scenes. He became one or the wealthiest w;
of men; living in sumptuous luxury and directing his reign of E
terror from afar.
- 1
' Although arrested on many occasions, he seemed to be =%
immune to pnishment. Finally, however, towards the end of 1936,
authorities started to close in. In November or that year he
was convicted, with Shapiro, for violation of the Federal
antitrust laws. The following August, Buchalter and Shapiro
were indicted, with lb others, by a grand Jury or New York City
_ for conspiracy to extort money from clothing manufacturers.
with a long list or other charges about to be leveled against
him, Buchalter decided to go into hiding. as dropped out of
- sight, but while continuing th tremendous investigations necessary
to bring him to justice, authorities directed their attention to
his henchmen. Federal and local grand Juries began studying
in detail the methods and recods or the racketeers. Buchalter's
underworld associates were being forced to appear in court.
Big shot nobstes in various parts or the United States were
summoned to appear before grand Juries. In dhort, "ts heat
was on." The oodlums racing the grand Juries realised that
te whole illegitimate empire was crumbling, with Buchalter
apparently about to squirm out from under it. New York
authorities, however, had not fogotten him. They issued s
$25,000 reward for hm, dead or alive. The investigation or
the FBI to locate Buchalter was intensified, and th pressure '
from the underworld to Buchalter's appearance mounted. Finally,in August, 1939, Buchalter found that h could no longer hide, and
he was forced to give himself up to the FBI.
- 3 -
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
FREEDOM OF INF ORMATION/PRIVACY ACTS SECTION
COVER SHEET
SUBJECT: LOUIS "LEPKE" BUCHALTER
60-1501-NR DATED 11/28/56
tn ."- Q
STANDARD FORM NO. 54
Oié? Memarandum - UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
"ro = Mr, Ni¢hQ1g.: DATE: November 28, 1956
FROM ; M{=:%Jones
SUBJECT: Lou i slw/Buchal te r
There are attached excerpts concerning the above-
captioned case taken from "The FBI Story, A Report to the People, "
by Don Whitehead published by Random House, 1956. These excerpts
are from page s! 109 110 of the book. 7
The full text of the book may be found in the FBI Library.
Enclosure
Q -_-_- II"*w'c 'NOT REGORDEQ
- 5 MAR 11 I951
_~ in P Sec./7/5'3be"
->st. O I
One of these was the air-est of the notorious Louis Lepke! Buch-alter whose gang forced the baking industry alone to pay them an esti[ mated $1,000,000 for protection.As the FBI closed in on Buchalter, Walter Winchell broadcast a
radio appeal for the gang leader to surrender, with the promise that hiscivil rights would be respected by the FBI. Negotiations began imme-diately between intermediaries of Buchalter and Winchell and nally an
agreement was reached.
On the night of August 24, 1939, Director Hoover walked alone
through New York Citys streets to the corner of 28th Street and Fifth
Avenue. And there the hunted man, Buchalter, surrendered to him. TheFBI got Buchalter, and Winchell got an exclusive story. Buchalter was
turned over to state authorities and later was executed for murder.
Excerpt from pages 109, 110 of
"The FBI Sta ru, -4 Reno rt *0 the
Pepple by Don Whitehead
,/W
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
FREEDOM OF INFORNIATION/PRIVACY ACTS SECTION
COVER SHEET
SUBJECT: LOUIS "LEPKE" BUCHALTER
60-1501 SUBA SECTION 3
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519111 Campaign'
{sistant director oi the "Federal
iBm-eau of Investigation, arrivedfin Los Angeles yesterday.
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i "- wmsjnncnnntrlm '
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1 ~ ..Buchale¢.P, one-=_ or - the most
inotorious gures in ~Eastern11m-
lderworld circles, is believed oper-[ating on the West coast from -a92 hideout in Hollywood, Nathanson
sta.ted._ -1 , 1
Local lawentorgemt agencies
ihave been warned to he on thelookout for Buchalter, who drop-
ped from sight about a year ago
alter federal agents in New Yorkopened aj drive against racketeer-
ing in key industries. _ "
. Buchalters presence in Los
I .§ngeles,»;1'edel'l_' investig-ntors point out, may be concerned
with attempts to gaii1' o" loot-
hold in rirganlzing _',protective
.associa't_ion's heiie similar to
--those heioperated in New York.
_ Buchalter careerias-a minor ho] gm, gaining_ promi-
nence in the un es, ld-'u'nti'lTas
is 5 leading rscketeer he .l_§0ntrolledhis own ¢orgrinis;ation" ot~,stro1ig-._ , ... - ,<'.4-.4
1
92L Buchalter, Indicted N ; Y. Fur
Racketeer Sought in L. A 0».
.Bea-ring a warrant for the arrest of Louis Buchalter, a fugitivefrom New York, where he is being sought in connection with terror-izing activities in the garment, fur dressing, our and trucking in-dustries, athanson, as <~>' ~
arm men and gunmen, which was
believed to number from 200 to
500 men. He collected millions of
dollars in tribute from legitimate
business men through the protec-tion racket, Nathanson said.
Strike-Breaking Activities
His activities also extended in-
to strike-breaking and lab_o_r imicn
coercion, -the federal oicer de-
clared.'. ,j .~_ Z;-.1-_ "L
Buchalter is known -variously
as Louis Buckhouse, Louis Kswer,
Louis Cohen, Louis Kauvar land
Louis. Buckholtz. Other. aliases
include Louis,Laura.r, Louis Sal-
ter, Louis Ks.uver,ILou Brodsky, Judges Brodsky. » '. 1 _
Born - February 12, 1897,
Ruchalter lis about 5 feet 6
inches tall, weighs 160 pounds,
has dark ._hair, dark complexion
and brown - eyes, large blunt
nose and,pmminent ears. Hehas an 18-year-ogld_son,__Harold.
small businessmenkupon __whom__he
"eyed while» 53.393? Y°l'.31TW¢1'°_oi'- the Jewish» faith. _'Per's_ons hov-ing knowledge of his whereghouta
are requested to Q communicate
;§with the "local oice of"the Fed-
eral Bureau_oi' Investigation. __ _f
-: . ~ 5, -:.:¢
BETH OLAM
Cemetery and Mnnlolem
' t J, /oI.I.Ywoo|I ,,,:_;-.
HY "~5 f~ '55:: ~_
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usMany 0: Bucha_lter_'_s_ victims-,~__
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- ooo u. eowltill e 1* - 1 ,I. Dew Ineher-ll. Press, ' ' Morris l.nshowll&lIll'~j - "Clegg___...
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aF.00B-D39
IEIKORAHDUI I-OR THE IDEBTIFICATIOI DIVISION
RE: FUR BESSIE IBVESTIGATION;
JACOB SEAPIRO, with 0.13.1000 -
Iigitivlg LOUIS BUCEALTER,
with aliases, Fugitivo, at :13
ANTITRUSTQ
I1-nnnittnd haruith is 0 draft of an Identification
Ordor aamorning thn mgitiw Louis Biichalton Kindly vn-My
the tingorprint classification and» cheek your filo: for aw
meant artist oi thin individutl.
Ian thembovo bu ban cmplotod, kinnlly tnnnit
u attached to tho lbobtnim-1 Soctimu
_ ' Vary truly yawn,
MWM V JolmBdp.rBoovor,
' K.
*4 :-s "
»
..... Mum " 40-/50/-9.37 92g_c.Cj,__§f§ =3:-. T-'rthcn_.__,,_ _
Diroutan 5'7B ......... -.
1' .i.;;; --.9292_"»~-"tzman ____ __
§;fff11ffI?§i=91"=P~-
Z
ff.'I.'ff 2, .... 3
. I _' ' " ' ~wg§ /u
. > ' /V0!/Y1 _ 4 _, L @193,. - I {fa-M; L7 .-5-'|_ ,4
_ ,£ a' " "~ --_ H -6' ' up furry92a-_ N I __.- ' hr'-s.,__..:r7¢'&¢n; W: mzlalflgl""-~ ulna
x. ~
KM£EABDLLIA$B8i
FIGGERPRIBI CU-BS IFICATIOXI
OFFSWEI
MSORIPTIOIH
Ago, 40 yous born. Fnbnary
Btighb; s rm 15 mam
Yfnit; 160 pound!
811114;
ma-. écrkjraun
lyu, brawn
cuplotiou, dark
RIG; itl _
httonality, Ann'1an~Jn1ah
nation, GHQ! 8:21:00}
Oumptiaa, rnabturC
Louis Kant, awn Emvnr, Louis hunt, Louis
Bnokhouu, Louis Bmklultdr, Louis Balkans,
§a91.1i8 COhlZL; FJIU1 Mir; IDPEIDQ kph;
"urxy", "sway". _
ISOZEWIIIG
VIOXATIOI AKTITRUST LL38
13, 1897; H01 York, rm York!
liars In Huh, appendicitis operation soar
Poouliu-itiu, mu largo, rather ntnigbt and blunt; an prninon
qua 1.10:-t, ahirtlnp
Photograph tuba, Jun 13, 1988
92
92
-ix e £3
-2-
CRIIIELL RECORD:
Me Louie
£9, 1918;
Ghelhirl,Kuner, i-, en-eeted Briigeport, Geaaeetieut, Beliee Departure, Februarycharge rum sentence by I6, 1916, indeterminate eentenee State Retornetc
Genneetieute
Le Louie Inner, $11, reeeived State Reternetory, Gaeehire, Cenneetieut, lav 18,1916; crime theft; summon inéetenimhg releeeed on perch July 12, 19173 ebeooadcJuly 28, 1917; eerreaxt iuued never ezeouteeg diniueé by hrole Board Deeenber 9,
1931e
Me Lenin
SeptemberBuohiter, ii! 48048, ex-reef-ed Ker York, Hot furk, Police Eeperteeat,
88, 1917; eherge gut larceny, second depee; eentenee January 11, 1918,
1 and Q yeere Bing s1n;»Prieeu»
Me Louie
ll, 1818:
'1-llmlilBuehelter, #-, reeeived Sing 81:; P1-icon, Oeeiningg ee Yerk, Jenner;erine great knew, recon! depee; unease 1 end yeera; trmeterred Pet
1!, 1918, to Auburn Prieou, Her Yorke
Bueinlter, #1 36826, received Auburn Prince, In York, Fen-any 19, 1818,ea transfer trm 81:; 811:; Prieen, Oeeining, Sen York; urine grand larceny, eeeenrldegree; treaeterree Hey I1, 1918 te Greet Ileedor Prieen, Caeteck, ew York.
Al 2-mil
21, 1918,
in Lennie
22, 18.80;mehelt-er, £4474, reeeivei Greet leedow Prison, Guetoek, lee York, liq
ca transfer {rm Angurn Prieqn, See In-tg discharged Jenner; 81, 1919.
cehen, #8 46068, arrested Her Yurk, Blew York, Police roperhaat, Jemergcharge uttxpell burglary, third d.eg'ee| eenteaee June 21, 1.920, 2 and
jreere sing sin; Prison, Gaining, Her Yorke
vie bail Cebu, F; "Wired Sing Sing Prieu, Oleining, In York, June 21, 10:0;
erineettenpbedburglery, this-edegeeg mun:-u§y'm-n; releeeedenpereie
In-rel: 16, 1922; tieeherged Deeenher 18, 1928. '
Fhllntlil Buckhelter, =5-B M8, arreetee Ree Yuk, In terk, Feline Depu-meat,
Remember 11, 1981, charge extortion: dillieee -Mae ll, 1988.
Al Louie Buehelter, with elieeee, erreeted Her Yak, In York, Pena neg -time
on ten other oeeeeiene um» {kept-saber I, 1918 and Jww 12, 198$; dieehu-gee.
be Lenin Buehelter, i$'I01'!l, nu-rented United Stetee Iierehei, Southern biatriet at.
Her York, Ievnber 81, L988; eherge deletion of Antitrust hue; released lumber
11¢ 1| : on hell pending trial; eenteaee Bovenber 12, 198$, I yeere penitentiary,
l $l°;O0Qe°° If-le
1| Louie lueheiter, f--, reeeired vnitaa states Detention Keedqmrtere, new York,In York, Hevenher 13, 1986; eriae She:-men Antitrust Lu: eezrbeme, I yeere end010,000-00 tine; Deeenber 8, 1936, reieeeei an Mil pending eppeel; Herein 8, 1981',
9 e
18$
conviction revereede
An indictment eel returned by the Federal. G:-end Jury, euthern Dtetriet atHer York, at Ker Yqrk, Ree York, on Haeeeber 6, 1988, oherging Louie Huehelter eielteeee, we other: with violating the She:-an Antitrust Lee, lathet he eith me:
eealpireé to resin-min imeretate oouaeree; ta amopellee interetete eanereegattempted to monopolize interetete eemeroe, and nu! ncuepolleed inheretete oceanfie teiledteeppeer inFedere10em-tonduly, 1987endh1ebe.£1 tntheneuntor ¬#3,000eO0 eee forfeited end e were-eat ielued for Me erreete
In enfareeneut egenetee kindly trenemit an edéitioael into:-aetica or
orinind. record to the nee:-eet ortiee or the Federal Bu:-eeu at Ineeettgetica,
United sum Depertaeut at Justice.
It apprehended pleeee notily the D1:-eater, Feeeeliureeu of Inveetigetien,Iinite Stetee Depertnent of Justine, e-ehingtcn, De G", or the SPQQLQI 55¢ 5,;Ghq,-ge at the otee or the Fehrel Bureau 01' Innetigetien listen! on the beet
hereof ihleh in neereet year eitye _ V
Ieeued by:
John Hip: Homer,
Director.
W8!!
¥Rlp!'OlO1lil not-euene ueeupperted by fingerprint»
e-_ 1»
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION/PRIVACY ACTS SECTION
COVER SHEET
SUBJECT: LOUIS "LEPKE" IBUCHALTER
60-1501 SUB A SECTION 4
'1; _ 1 i Ll:ff"! fa 5' 1 _ i, ,_ _ 1: _'92_ , ...._ . - ,._'I- '_ ~- ; 1 1, '___'._ ' . IQ!-;. -' .. _' '¢2.';~:.;.~ :2./-:: :i; -- -5.: :..-2.:-_-.:§;___=_.. * " E-m *~*-e- We -- at
. _ rs, JOHN wA_nsuaAnuoi.i> PRINCE ~ -_' x Q
* A Special Federal grand jury sitting in New York City will launch a drive
Monday on all phases of crime in the United States. According to officials
nothing approaching it in magnitude has_been attempted heretofore." Acting
hecked against a file of. All evidence will be300,000 pages of crime re-1
- rts and investigations as-
bled by the FBI through- "n
~ _t_ the nation since 1937.
timately, seven other Fed-
_ral_ Grand Juries now func-
oning are to be assigned
arts in the gigantic task. _ _
-J Principal case to receive i1'n-
ediate consideration is that of
,uis Lepke! Buchzer, malign-
t garment, bakery and narcotic
-i-cketeer, who has been a §ugi-
ve from New York -City "since
i y, 1937.
'-The Mirror learned yesterday
at subpoenas are being served
- an amazing variety of witnesses~
- be questioned in connection
'th the long hunt for Lepke. Pro-
eeding under sections of the
~ indbergh law, and guided by pre-
edents established in the Dillingernd Bi-emer kidnap gani cases,everyone known to have s eltered
Lepke, or aided him in any way,
is to be brought before the jury.
have treated him for a kidney
inent he has long suffered at
- neys he has consulted and other
th him while he was a fugitive
d did not inform the authorities
Prosecutions against these will
e started under Federal statutes
Jacob Gurrah! Shapiro, once
pkes partner in the rackets and
ow said to be his implacable
neiny, -and_J. Richard Dixie!
avis, _former Dutch Schultz at
Trney, also are to be witnesses.
Gui-rah is being brought to New
.Y k C' f in the Federal enior ity ro p _t t Atl ta where 11618;ii iary a an ,
rving a term for violating the
herman Anti-Trust Laws. He is
ct d t give information h e o -=ifdn finding Lepke and revealing
xte t I hi r tion which f$hee ii o sopea s,
ve' resulted in at least five
urders and spread terro!-in-£-ani-' *":f£,>."A7£~"L¢"-'92792i==~'"~I-under special authority of U. S. Attomey General Murphy, the jury is to investi-- te the entire American underworld. e . - '
l~ Lepke First Target 1
This will include physicians said
I rsons who_ came into -coritiiict-ire-
1U._S_.iiAr.rorney Gers__L'ep|<e Records]
In Federal Court, U. S. Attor y Cabill and his staff .go over evi- dance against fugitive racketemr Louis Lepke! Buclzalter, whichwas sent from_ Washington by|iF_. B. I. L. to r.: Mathias Corre:a!_
ederal ffI F ' o icTl -PVlSi_zed, howeveti-,5 thgtihgaieeig 6- ElSbUt0Il8vq.0beiXiv ' p e7 ew York City is to begitriiatidé
czgdqigarters _for an _1ntegratedthe gig agamt °"'.""";*1 beadsion over, in which informa-tion obtained here will be dist:-b te* 931°"! F deral attorne s aiidftate ofcialsgthroughout iii-e na-ion.
Th 1, '-used fin 81:1hifi,°§i1s::ric,t°iY<%i!-i thvem 9,:"91 Probe and leads uncovg doutside tl-1" ' - - - . TePassed 011:0 Wm be
ithout disparg nmesa at 8~' - g.-E S -° s- ...!1?.l.-liU14~<li§.~.."!.¥.5siB9.l.1.l§e.¢.l.- William Young, Cdlu ll and Jerome Doyle. .-.~#r_.
be 50//pf
J'92L.92
92
4
L W
I
"Y
'2 1: "" Fc=ma'"*§:
charge{llir:Q_r!
awed i-st» sum" I
0Ȥ
_,. <1capture
iv
92
Iof a
capture
I th1nk_hd- 1
_/ 92~,
-Ifasha -has~iiso. informed the
-» -- -in'n':hrge_md
-- executive: -'0! -
ff I >be sumxhoned __betore'1he Grand., - . .~-~ ~ 4.2 ..-._.-
- ,-
; "2" é,c; -1- ";v.»*' 5:. ~> ~ 1-. -1 '=~_. ...'f&...-..-,.?__;-Q ._:392'J°..!r:..,.=¢-_ . !r.$:':f"§a~92 _
I$i?SUEA[lNGl%i__:-'.'=:~*~-~:».>"_.. . .,:':,;.. . .- ." I ."" ".._ . w
?%£iiABOUT£e§LEPKE'§~=-92'q...v-_ e»-' -:-_~--->- ~92-_>l"- -~_~ y *.~.-::=f;*. ~ " -*- '-§~.~..-¢.,r"-- .- -1 .
"¬.'.._':. --;.....'._.. ..-_. .....~..4.. _'-,.-.r..., _.._>,. *- *1p,;< Q,-g. _;__ . J1;-_ _ 1'}-.z.'92» , ..-_ L-
amnmg
stai-11,15; Wit'é's§in_ . ,~92 ._._ _,__:._ _ ML ..' _ ,~ ;§___{9ngRoundup;;..e "
' ..,»_ ~».-. . _..._, -7. ~,---1._ ....;~*-"--:» i ~~~- ¢.'.- ' -la *...../- ._.¢'§?3*§h51§?*=§1!ber¢. kins
» ..<_!91>¢ .ms1az1sx§,!><>92;be4.gp;
, »_ =5 star ,WitIl$§'~"f0l' 4he*1 peeia1
' edera1-Grand..-'-IuryAwhich»Jlon-
J < Yf.v2§1.l._'.*14=1:!1é!' i9..*§¥= L-s '¢!~=_:unde;v,:§>r1<i1ii5=r.*l.}f';T-7"
_ Kptzenbérg was "sentence'd'1o ten
_ _n_s in1_p'xison _'a ego" and -it - _been'be1ieved4hat he -was re-
- owed; as =is ?the¥¬uslom§~?tb7iome
A}:-1 »eniw£u%~ry;--¥_hT<¥§h-
- 'ned tigh'P-l|ere""in th'e I,"ed'er
of Detenon-quid b- ghishea'dot!.}ie_ ry'much to have some J tho
- n :years lopped o -nnd'hii8 given
-- e Federal Bureau of Information;
me !at_-v_o1u_m'¢s _n§ _¢_gidenc_e_,-
Dolngluines *-§_:_1nste&d. it eeveloplzilhgzhast kY 6 lg
Q '-n_n'?i£;,givZ;;inefa5%veen¢=n;
_ e fintormaon-which.1edit_b 1;; ten-
'i'1nt na:Foo1ié:' indichoenliaigainst
: ' -nepké! lBIJd1&lhet,i
stwanted gangster in -America. ;
. _ -- en, .~it' is-unde'1'slood,'=ithat -the
~--< - 'Lepl:e isstill nancially. in-=
. , fqiork clothing ooncem.- - _.]
_ - . ~= United 1Sta'teaS192ttomry'WIohn
will. demand 1¢0';kB0iI 1!!
_ ~ "hove
' "1 RP, ~'r.:1.==v¢ :-=1»-in-1 Iv
11¢!; Md ii~.4r_>;.~?hbw. ;
nmnenmsmn. ;It-dope - ', W A
1- ' L Q
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fin =1m_v- - ~ ~*£_=_f1»enk¢:=%iriiI2
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Mr
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_ I Q4t1;at.;tlieZmanagJer§ .og._;92. wl==Tb¢-=rf1>.!r»".w.>=?~et= .eh==.-1&1
_ Tevsaersay iugiect um tome oi; '
not all__they pre-_' din
_§ 'indic_ates LhatJ_1here is ms-_f
iolon Lepkeinay have been whil-
nwny_|ome_ot~his time in'a
eel chair; vrlth a pretty l§l!!5¢v_
rjnursesj-toiend him. ' - » -j
i'i:.known";lut he sullen tom.
_ kldn,ey.92llment and*4:bat'.he ;
f - gone £01-Eumpe--in itake -inX ; '. - ; ,1. ~
iv A: Ii921'l'Ofl'l0¢' Too _
=;}*It5- was, Yuha_- Kllaenberg who
6 -- e-1-3.he.=92'vih1ess»':tand~ -and put
4- Inge; on "John Torrio-4duf_in: '
' ef,I-little-lel_low':>trin1 an Apr|.L,
' e -lave detailed testimony con-;
-.; operations ~01» the "Big
- ven." nrohibitiontyndicate which I
-- uded 'Iorrio,_ and Ton-io sud-.
A -- entered g'p1ea-of guilty. He
_"~now_f:servin_g two and: hall
s...-~% .,-A
- 38"-the 'Government_prepa.red- to v
1 - into acon Monday the under-
.~ rldrocked withthe most 'ser_ious
'- plomatic problem I It has eyer
aced. The callineot the special
92 rand'Jury, with authorization or
nitéd ~Stabes Attomey _Generl1
*ankMurph_y,!sineectnnul-Z
- » atum:Unless the_underworldpro-
uceslepkeandturnshimin therej
going to be trouble all along thA v _ t -. _ '5'- ~=' .1 .-_ _.~,-...""_..-..
'¢nw-xii: volunieeloi ewiaepee.cyclopedirot crim_e."_-lean can _i
'~ -- M §1="¢"_1z1.=,_.. ;=<>r gngnw .
_ *1; §»*£..:-1;,-ekiregl _~ .;J=.,~-~;=:.,r:,- __-h
Clipping from
NEW YORK PCBT
11,- T1:-%j1_UG 3rm
i*:~-,__Y 3 , .of ittici 1: ma-nice 1: ; r.-1. <,~._.»»n
T:'z::92_vL331.-.
I;::~s u£Z92CY--.- ---..
:C h'3':'§r92»92l'C Si! 3FE'~.'V YORK
1I
4
I$30,000 ls Offered t
for Surrender oi W
iepke,Gangsier i
_ I . _ . Y v_M_ _..
Rocketeer's Aides V
Also Sought as Dewey
And~Hoove|- Press Hunt¢- »; .- - '
__By the Associetedrresa. " 14. s
NEW YORK, Aug. 8.-Somewhere
iintmomg today is a middle-aged
man with a $30,000 price on his head.
He is Louis Lepke! Buchalter, 42,
a stocky, swarthy, big-nosed gaug-
sternewest wearer of the ever-,
shifting title, public enemy No. l.
J. Edgar Hoover, G-kman chief
whose men have hunted Lepke for
two years, will pay $5,000 for him.
District Attorney Thomas E. Dewey
-thanks to action yesterday by the
City Board of Estimate-_-has raised i
New York's ante to $25 000; , ' ~-. ' ¢- -,. ' ' -K .1. v.
Mr. Hoover and Mr Dewey
A-'*eY°.. .11=.=;=P-.e¬¥¢@ the
Q9 I"Secrecy ' ,' f*i: have
name of the person wh " uts thenger" on Lepke, and qthiaivward
will be paid whether the-fugitive
racketeer, held responsible by Mr.
Dewey for the slaying oi ve former
associates since he jumped $10,000
bail. is captured dead or alive.
In the hope of obtaining a lead
to Lepkes whereabouts,.Mr. Dewey
ordered an eight-State alarm for
Isidore Zennreich, 41, a partner oi
Lepke and Jacob Gun-ah! Shaprio
in the days when they dominated
the baking and garment industry
ralcketshere. -' ., I -';.*; -
' rm omimi-crime mm.
, The search tor Lepke was just one
angle of an assault against a na-goknal "contederacy of crime under-_
en bya Federal grand Jury in;-I
paneled by United States Attorney
J01!!! T. C8-hill. 1<1'..~:~.-"IT }_~';.~ '1:
Several business executives were
named on the jury which prepared
to begin immediate consideration of
- 86 volume "Encyclopedia of an -
Crime" prepared by the Federal Bu-
reau oi Investigation. Mr.-H ver,
F. B. I. chief. is taking pe nal
command of the investigativ d of
the anti-crime" drive. '. K._»f;> ,'. -.4 ..:-:_ ,»-s '>*¢»u.,;.-.'.i92..==u' - --<»
M / ii 5 Mr.
Mr.
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l92'r rNathan
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Coffey .
E*!rm_..
Glevin .
Crow] _ .
Harbo
Lrretn .
Lawier
NI-chcls
- Roman .
Sears ..{YD}
Toleon . .
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T acy .......... --
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$30,000 Price
3 _N/EW YORK_, Aug. so- -It is now w<mh$ao,ooo
'and"1* th_e -'na'tions most dangerous 'criminal."onémzzowiiding mformation léadingto the cb§ptr_é,j'Zléaii.:
or- alive, of Louis Lepke Buchaiter, industrial racketeer, i
5-Dist. Dewey believed. such at '_ _. e .1 " .1 A jf
ortune might. tempt an inlormer who printing _1,000.000_ f_wa.nted"__;circu1ars,otherwise would be trightenedY_by_'the -to'be distributed over thc"g:0untry.. -Q3
* knowledge that at least ve former long his; been,_1d_|_ént11ied with}
éangster associates of Lepke, who might fur, -bakeiy" and other Tackets. He ts;
h|'sve'test1tied' against him,__-have beenjbeiieveq "stii1active,g'e'tting._extortion¢
asas51na.tedin recent_inoxitbs.' _ _;.f{ money from iIi_8!'0hBI1§S,LCh1:ll _h!vs_asso-j
hunt for.'Lei!>1'1.¢-_ in= which the, ciates, at-his hiding place, Twenty ot_
Federal Govemment lrtaking part, is his asocia,tes' are _un'der '_1n'd_ict1nents'
the 1111-st -ph_ase'ot_ a -nation-wide war for various crimes. are in cues-_
on -crime directedhy a; Fedezai grand tody. Some are being ,hunted.. -.
jury here. 1-, oi " " -0 * h 5' _-~ 1 -The city aiso.o!tered'$5000 rewgrd 101':
_= - M Dewey's '1-equest, the ..City the captive of the ki1iers_oiIrvin.,§'_enn,_
"B d of Iistimate yesterday '1-aised the music publisher, who izppargn " was:1]] .1-no ty on 1Iepke_£1fom'$5000 to $25,000. mistaigen-__1or apotentiai witnss ainst 1- 13'. ~B.-_I. |_'g~o1§!erlng another $5000. Liepkewho lived in _the_-/neiighh i1_o_odLf'
.
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iMr. Toiann ......... --
E. A. Tamrf./H
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Mr. C-1?.T-'3_V ..._ ..
32:. Eqtnn... . . -
i':t~ G.'.avin ........ ..
fir. C:-owl ......... --
Hutbo
..f;'. Lester ....
}'.v!r. Lawier ....... --
L"=!r. Ziéchnis ....... --
Mr. Rosen ........ --
Mr. Sears
Mr. Quinn '1':1.z'.m...
Mr. Tracy ..._.. .-.--
4
f§92TatEu92n ....------
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A ll»oanyi¢nas mfwags
"§W'a'r5oi1'.'Racketeers 7-.--. ~. . - I ._; - r .---1-H : '.»:_..s..... ; 3..
' "3 _l By Ilia Associated Press
l.
thef§tpublic'_,__v_ersus Louis Lepke!
Buchalter, fugitive industrial racket-
ee"r»1accu'sed otfconducting a stealthy
andi"d'ead1y War against his erst-
while gangster associates. '
The Federal Government ;_}:on-
'vened an extraordinary grand jury
to collect ami integrate information
-insa nationalattack on' crime_,; in
which - Lepl_;e's capture gured as
one specic objective. .
Zenmelchunted 1. _ }_.i.__
--flfhe police sent out an eight-State
alarm tor Isidore Zennreich, aecused
. Leplge associa_te,,-coincident . with
District Attorney Dewey's disclosure
that lzzy "and,tour other-shad been
indicted~with*Lepke and his former
10p.-p81hl'Bl,". Jacob Gurrah! --__Sha-
-pir.o.-Jas. bakery cketeers. '._;;;:;;-_ With delibera ;, ianiare, to;im-press upon the p iblic consciousness-NewcYork's ur nt desire for/the
capture o£uLepk the city boa;-41.01
estimate posted a $25,000 dead;_or-
alive reward, _£__or _ the saturnine sanzsten . .' - .. .. -»> .. . ~< »- -....., |_,. . u-_ ~_.,-14.;_CareIfully__ Chosen _ 11,,
_ _:.'11ie'-B9ard'iilso'.oered a $5,050 re-
iwaft-d'!'or the killers 0! Isadore Penn,
;.a;qui_et _-B_ronx '. householder. Whose
recent assassination," spurredq the
sjearcl_1'!o_r,l@pke. Penn, authorities
say, :w_§s._cut down by! fgunne;-_s {in
the nstaken notion he was a Dévyey
witn_éss;ot_sin'1i1ar appearancel;f}',_
.;§ll,ie'=_;.;nev;v Federal grand zaj;|u_ry,
vghichjhe Government will.use:.' as s-
natigglglantbcrime clearing house;
-Y'§$._?'.$¢1s@-ed with extraordinary
secrecy,__. no"; outsiders _ being¬».per-
mi _ d when -the't':our_t met. flt'siper-
sq 1 was" likewise u'nusua1;'-;_fthe
= list its membership being studded
en' - including ~a- halt-dozen highly
pa_id~_indu§t1;i_al executives1 -wi men of tarmore than av. e
»..bu ess -and professional "e'x'per1-- New York,= Aug. 7.-Federal and ~
i SQ4/. =11/e /l
O/Q11
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tl-S_$
11.. -T.. .. vl=nn.. .....
15;. 'Y7".$}~:vn ..... - -
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.cit3r_ -authorities took three-__1_0a$ ------------------- --Sjillts,» todayl_ in - the campaign _ of
7
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<1-92
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l1£W£YTOGlHRB
c LEPKE INFURMEH
Will Keep Identit_3f__ Secret
as Protection against
Retaliation ' » '
Federal and city agencies direct-
ing a nation-wide hunt tor Louis
Lepke! Buchalter pinned their
chief hope today on the $30,000 re-
ward that is now ottered tonin-
tormation leading "to his capture,dead or alive. ' '
District Attorney Thomas E.
Dewey made no secrete! the tact
and promised complete protection
to any person whose tear of under-
world retaliation may prove less
strong than the lure of the small
fortune ottered for the nation's No.1 racketeer. Y , . ._.-.<'.*f'~
My.oice and that of-Captain
Rothengast are open twenty-tourjhours- a day,f* Dewey_said.. The
,person who fgives the . informationleading to L'_epkes arrest will?-befully protected, his - identity _' will
never be revealed and inforrnationwill be received with absolute con-tldence." 92.-J 1
Captain Rothengast is in chargeor a specialtsquad or tty-ve po-
licemenand detectives assigned tothe Lepke search. ' _ . :
t Following the action ot theeBoard
ot.Estimate yesterday in increasingthe city's reward from $5,000-= to
$25,000, in addition to the $5,000 still:
oered by the Federal " Bureau of
Investigation, -the Police" Depart-zn t egan printing 1,000,000 circu-la pkes descr11Tibs~.s_r;ddetails otthe new oer.
.,.,_ _. ____.,__t _-,2"-:r"=-.---'1 - _,_. , 92
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Rew~ard,forLepké_ As -the'Federa1 Giovernment yesterday opened its greatest natioiilwl »._ zrime drive byswearinglr in the special Grand Jury that will begin taking e "ilence in New York.City today, the Board of Estimate increased to $25,000 ti ,~:ity7S reward for the ca]hture'of"Louis_ Lepke! Buchalter, the swartbliilgitiracketeer who is the kit!lgP_LI_l in the investigation. The Federay Gover _ e special Federal aflld J
has a standing offer of ii » _000 for Lepke, which brings:to $30,000 the total that vifillibe paid to anyone bringmgihim in dead or alive. The Board of Estimate alsovoted a reward of $5,000 for thearrest of the four assassins whorecently shot down Irving Penn,the.Bronx music house publishing,executive, presumably under the-mistaken imiression that he wasPhilip Orlovs y, a material witnessheld by District Attorney Deweyfor the trial of Lepke if he is evercaught. A -Dewey, on learning that the]Board of Estimate had increasediits reward for Lepkes capturefrom $5,000 _to $25,000, issuedthe following statement pledgingprotection to anyone who, hel l5 _§pic d yesterday was chosen rits traordinary task from a pa el
of o0. .No effort was made to examinewitnesses, the initial efforts of thenewly selected jury being devotedto organization. The first of thosewho have been summoned from allparts of the country to appearbefore the jury will be heard thismorning, it was said. ~_ United States Attorney Cahillwill be in general charge of thecrime drive. Wherever evidence isuncovered by the Grand Jury inNew York City of violations inother States, the information willbe forwarded to theproper au-thorities for'what the Governmentewpects will be swift follow up.
action. . -IThree assistant U. S. attorneys,Mathis Correa, Jerome Doyle andWilliam Young, will present evi-. P5 , bung L991-'9 t° earth » -hdence to the grand jury and ques-_?Twenty-five thousand dollars ,i will now be paid by the City ofNew York for information lead-ing to the capture of LepkeBuchalter. '_ My office and that of Capt.Conrad Rothengast are open 24
hours a day. i , . _E Protection Pledged *_92
fThe person who gives the in-formation leading to the arrestof Lepke will be fully protected._ His or her identity will neverbe revealed. 'l'he_ informationwill be received in absolute con- =] fidence." ' . ' - i "- ' 1_ Earlier in the day Dewey had' used an 8-State alarm to be sento, i for the arrest of Isidore Zen-,ne'r eh, described as the bagman ho made-the collecti s for~.tion witnesses. _ _, The special grand jury will in-_quire particularly into the mannerin which Lepke has avoided cap-ture since he jumped his $10,000bail bond two years ago. A reportth t an underworld organizationex tts for the protection of -_cri_ -in ls fleeing from one jurisdicti l
gtig ed. ~
the Lepke-Gurrah combinaracketeers in the garment anbakery rackets. ' _, -.~
-1,-_
--.-I
1.
,9 mother will be carefully inve K
/at
:"92./92~92
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