| Crime Inquiry Firemen’s Head Claim Ex-Mayor Got $10,000 | ||
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| This clip is not available for streaming at this time. Please contact WPA. | Tape Master: | 1557 |
| Catalog #: | 511554 | |
| Clip Number: | 511554-1 | |
| Orginal Film: | 024-440 | |
| Timecode: | 00:54:30 - 00:58:49 | |
| Location: | New York, NY | |
| Year Shot: | 1951 (Actual Year) | |
| Audio: | No | |
| Color: | No | |
| Headings: | CRIME: Bribery CRIME: Gambling CRIME: Investigation CRIME: Organized GOVERNMENT: Hearings, Misc LAW: Criminal Investigations LOCATIONS/NORTH AMERICA: USA, New York, New York | |
| Description: | Crime Inquiry Firemen’s Head Claim Ex-Mayor Got $10,000 A crime investigation takes place in New York spearheaded by a senatorial committee. Once again Frank Costello is alleged czar of gambling is the target for questioning. He refuses to admit to the amount of money he has. Senator Tobey has searching questions. S. Tobey: What have you ever done for your country as a good citizen? F. Costello: Well I don’t know what you, what you mean by that. S. Tobey: Well, when you’re looking back over the years, now. At the time you became a citizen an outstanding twenty odd years after that. You must have in your mind something you’ve done that you can speak of to your credit of an American citizen if so, what are they? F. Costello: Paid my tax. (The people in the court room crack up - laughter) Former Mayor of New York, O’Dwyer is recalled to face the questioning of Rudolf Halley the committee special counsel. During the course of his final testimony Ambassador O’Dwyer denies ever having received campaign contributions from the Uniformed Firemen’s Assoc of New York. He also denies being influenced by Fred Costello. John P. Crain of the Uniformed Firemen’s Assoc. who had this to say about a contribution dropped a bombshell into the hearing. A time and place where he claims he delivered $10,000 to the Mayor. John P. Crain: I told the Mayor at that time, that I promised him the support of the firemen and I offered him some evidence of the support on the occasion in the form of $10,000. S. Tobey: Was that in cash? John P. Crain: That was in cash. S. Tobey: Was it loose or was it in a package? John P. Crain: I had it in a, I could never describe the … envelope. I don’t know the technical word. But it was… all right that kind of envelope you have right there. The brown one. S. Tobey: (Holds up a brown paper envelope) Was it just about this size? The envelope that I’m showing? 8 X 10. John P. Crain: It’s a standard envelope S. Tobey: What did the mayor say? John P. Crain: He thanked me. That was about all. S. Tobey: How long where you there? John P. Crain: Not more than 10 minutes. The repercussions from the New York hearings have been nation wide. With contempt and perjury citations indicated by the committee. There was this summation of public sentiment by former ambassador Churl Braiden now heading the anti-crime committee in New York. Churl Braiden: Of one thing we can be sure the Costello’s, Adonis’s, and the rest of the scum and still more, the miserable corrupt law enforcement officers are among the Kremlin’s best friends and allies. Perhaps in a sense they are even more dangerous than spies convicted of steeling our atomic and military secrets. After all, my ingenuity and hard work we can compensate for and replace these things. But the loss of morality, gentlemen, will cause us to loose our self respect and the respect and confidence of other peoples. From such a catastrophe no nation has ever recovered. Our citizens are aroused and an aroused citizenry is irresistible. They will relentlessly demand honest and competent officials who will drive the criminals into prison, out of the country and into the electric chair. The New York City anti crime committee was formed to help in this work. You may be assured, it is at your service at all times and we hope to join with other crime commissions through out the country, this great national campaign and unremitting crusade. I thank you sir, MCU As Churl Braiden speaks he has a court reporter to his right and other press people and politicians behind him. | |
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