The Quiet Don: The Untold Story of Mafia Kingpin Russell Bufalino
Page 11
“I respectfully decline to answer that question on the grounds it may tend to incriminate me.”
“Could you explain to the committee how it is that these records show that you were born in Pittston, Pa., when, in fact, you were born in Italy?”
“I respectfully decline to answer that question on the grounds that the question may tend to incriminate me.”
“Is Mary Bufalino any relation to you?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds that the question may tend to incriminate me.”
“Isn’t it a fact that Mary Bufalino worked in the records office in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds that the question may tend to incriminate me.”
“Are you related to Mr. William Bufalino?”
“I respectfully decline to answer that question on the grounds that the question may tend to incriminate me.”
“Isn’t it correct that William Bufalino, who is secretary-treasurer of Local 985 of the Teamsters, is a cousin of yours?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds that the question may tend to incriminate me.”
“Isn’t it correct also that Mr. William Bufalino is an attorney?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds that the question may tend to incriminate me.”
“Did Mr. William Bufalino play any part in altering the records at the Wilkes-Barre Records Office?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds that the question may tend to incriminate me.”
“Wasn’t it the purpose of getting the records altered so that it would appear that you were born here in the United States, and, therefore, could not be deported to Italy?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds that the question may tend to incriminate me.”
“Can you tell us what companies you own or operate in the Pittston–Wilkes-Barre–Scranton area?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds that the question may tend to incriminate me.”
“Do you own and operate the Penn Drape & Curtain Co., of South Main Street, Pittston, Pa.?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds that the question may tend to incriminate me.”
“Are the Sciandras of Pittston, Pa., in business with you?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds that the question may tend to degrade or incriminate me.”
“What was your wife’s maiden name?”
“Carolina Sciandra.”
“Isn’t it a fact that Angelo Sciandra attended the meeting at Apalachin?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds that the question may tend to incriminate me.”
“Could you tell us if you have ever been arrested, Mr. Bufalino?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds that the question may tend to incriminate me.”
“Isn’t it a fact that you have been arrested some seven or eight times?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds that the question may tend to incriminate me.”
“And that you have not been convicted on any of those charges?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds that the question may tend to incriminate me.”
“We have a number of companies with whom we believe you are connected, starting with the ABS Contracting Co., of Pittston, Pa. Is it correct that you are associated with them?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds that the question may tend to incriminate me.”
“The Penn Drape & Curtain Co., in Pittston, Pa.?”
“The same answer.”
“Would you answer the question.”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds that it may tend to incriminate me.”
“And you were associated with Bonnie Stewart, Inc., of New York City, N. Y.?”
“I respectfully decline to answer that question on the grounds it may tend to incriminate me.”
“Isn’t it correct that Dominic Alaimo and James Plumeri both had financial interests in that company also?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds it may tend to incriminate me.”
“And Claudia Frocks of 224 West 35th Street, New York?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds that the question may tend to degrade or incriminate me.”
“Isn’t it correct that Angelo Sciandra also has an interest in that company?”
“I respectfully decline to answer that question on the grounds it may tend to incriminate me.”
“And isn’t it correct also that he pays you a certain amount of money each week for the work that you do for that company?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds it may tend to incriminate me.”
“You are on the payroll as an expediter. Could you tell us what an expediter does?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds that the question may tend to incriminate me.”
“Do you in fact do any work for this company, or are you on the payroll because of your connections, Mr. Bufalino?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds it may tend to incriminate me.”
“You receive from that company $105 a week gross, is that right?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds that the question may tend to incriminate me.”
“And you were put on the payroll back in 1953, were you not?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds it may tend to incriminate me.”
“Then also you are on the payroll of the Fair Frox as an expediter. You are on their payroll also?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds that the question may tend to incriminate me.”
“That is F-a-i-r F-r-o-x, and you are on their payroll as expediter at $125 a week, are you not?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds it may tend to incriminate me.”
“Could you tell us what you do to earn that money?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds it may tend to incriminate me.”
“Isn’t it a fact that part of the money you receive is to handle labor relations for those companies, and to prevent any trouble or difficulties with the union?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds that it may tend to incriminate me.”
“Aren’t you able to do that because of the contacts and associates that you have, Mr. Bufalino?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds that it may tend to incriminate me.”
“And they include such people, do they not, as Johnny Dioguardi?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds it may tend to incriminate me.”
“John Ormento?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds it may tend to incriminate me.”
“Nig Rosen?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds it may tend to incriminate me.”
“Dominick Alaimo?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds it may tend to incriminate me.”
“John Charles Montana?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds it may tend to incriminate me.”
“Vito Genovese?”
“I respectfully declin
e to answer the question on the grounds it may tend to incriminate me.”
“James A. Osticco?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds it may tend to incriminate me.”
“Frank Carbo?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds it may tend to incriminate me.”
“James Plumeri?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds it may tend to incriminate me.”
“Thomas Lucchese?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds it may tend to incriminate me.”
“We have telephone calls from you, Mr. Bufalino, to L. G. Carriers, which is James Plumeri’s company. Could you tell us what you discussed with them?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds it may tend to incriminate me.”
“What do you discuss with Charles Bufalino?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds that the question may tend to incriminate me.”
“The Tri-City Dress Co., owned by Anthony Guarnieri, can you tell us about that?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds that the question may tend to incriminate me.”
“The Vic Vera Sportswear Co., New York City, which is owned and operated by a close friend of James Plumeri?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds it may tend to incriminate me.”
“Isn’t it a fact that James Plumeri set this lady up in the Vic Vera Sportswear Co.?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds it may tend to incriminate me.”
“And Harvic Sportswear, of Scranton, Pa. Can you tell us what you called them about?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds it may tend to incriminate me.”
“That is a shop, is it not, that is owned by Thomas Lucchese?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds it may tend to incriminate me.”
“Have you also had other sources of income from gambling, Mr. Bufalino?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds it may tend to incriminate me.”
“You have taken a great interest in basketball games, have you not?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds it may tend to incriminate me.”
“And when you go to New York, you stay at the Hotel Forrest in New York City, is that correct, Mr. Bufalino?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds that the question may tend to incriminate me.”
“Why is it that you and the individuals with police records very often stay at the Hotel Forrest in New York City?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds that the question may tend to incriminate me.”
“Isn’t it correct that you arranged with Mr. Barbara to set up the meeting at Apalachin in November 1957?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds it may tend to incriminate me.”
“Isn’t it correct that you were talking by telephone with Mr. Barbara frequently just prior to the meeting at Apalachin?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds it may tend to incriminate me.”
“According to the information that we have, you made long distance telephone calls to Barbara on June 8, 11, 23, two on the 28th, July 23, July 27, September 4, September 11, September 12, October 6, October 13, and October 26, is that correct?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds that the question may tend to incriminate me.”
“And he called you on June 5, 10, 24, July 20, August 9, and October 23?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds it may tend to incriminate me.”
“And isn’t it correct that you in fact made hotel reservations for some of these individuals attending the meeting at Apalachin?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds it may tend to incriminate me.”
“Isn’t it a fact that you made a hotel reservation at the Casey Hotel in Scranton, Pennsylvania, for November 13, 1957?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds it may tend to incriminate me.”
“And you made hotel reservations for an individual by the name of J. Cerrito, of Los Gatos, California?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds it may tend to incriminate me.”
“And that another reservation for the same night was made for J. Civello of Dallas, Texas?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds it may tend to incriminate me.”
“And this individual did, in fact, attend the meeting at Apalachin, is that correct?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds it may tend to incriminate me.”
“And Scozzari, from San Gabriel, California?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds it may tend to incriminate me.”
“While he was there, Mr. Scozzari put in two telephone calls to you, isn’t that correct?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds it may tend to incriminate me.”
“And isn’t it a fact that Mr. Scozzari attended the meeting at Apalachin?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds it may tend to incriminate me.”
“And Frank DeSimone, you also made a reservation for him.”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds it may tend to incriminate me.”
“Mr. Scozzari, when he was arrested, or stopped by the police, had $10,000 on him, but listed himself as unemployed. Can you give us any explanation for that?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds it may tend to incriminate me.”
“All these hotel reservations that were made for these 5 individuals, of which we can show that 3 actually attended the meeting in Apalachin, were all charged to you personally, isn’t that correct, Mr. Bufalino?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds it may tend to incriminate me.”
“Did these other two individuals, Lanza and Scozzari, attend the meeting but were not caught?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds it may tend to incriminate me.”
“When you came to the meeting, you came, did you not, with DeSimone, Civello and Scozzari?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds it may tend to incriminate me.”
“That automobile that you drove was owned by William Medico, was it not?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds it may tend to incriminate me.”
“And he owns the Medico Electric Motor Company in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds it may tend to incriminate me.”
“Excuse me. That should be in Pittston, Pennsylvania. He owns the Medico Electric Motor Company. in Pittston, does he not?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds it may tend to incriminate me.”
“This is the same individual that Mr. Montana stated that he was driving down to see, to find out how his compressor was coming?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds it may tend to incriminate me.”
“And you in fact were driving an automobile belonging to one of his companies up to the meeting at Apalachin, were you not?”
“I respectfully declin
e to answer the question on the grounds it may tend to incriminate me.”
“At the time that the New York State troopers checked your car, you had Vito Genovese with you, did you not?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds it may tend to incriminate me.”
“Gerardo Cateno?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds it may tend to incriminate me.”
“Dominick Olivetto?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds it may tend to incriminate me.”
“And Joseph Ida?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds it may tend to incriminate me.”
“And you stayed, when you were in Binghamton in March—you made another visit to Joseph Barbara in March 1957, did you not, Mr. Bufalino?”
“I respectfully decline to answer on the grounds it may tend to incriminate me.”
“And at that time, you were with Vincenzo Osticco, isn’t that right?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds it may tend to incriminate me.”
“And also with you was Angelo Sciandra, and you stayed at the Arlington Hotel, in Binghamton, New York?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds it may tend to incriminate me.”
“And the bill was charged to the Canada Dry Beverage Company, of Endicott, New York, was it not?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds it may tend to incriminate me.”
“What were you there for? What business were you there on?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds it may tend to incriminate me.”
“Do you know how your cousin, William Bufalino, was made head of Local 985 of the Teamsters?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds it may tend to incriminate me.”
“Do you know Mr. James Hoffa?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds it may tend to incriminate me.”
“Do you know Mr. Santo Volpe, from Pennsylvania?”
“I respectfully decline to answer the question on the grounds it may tend to incriminate me.”
Kennedy paused after the long series of questions, then turned to Senator McClellan.