Discussion:
Big Time Mafia Presence in Dallas thru 1960's?
(too old to reply)
Greg Jaynes
2007-12-21 20:41:22 UTC
Permalink
After Novemeber, I just kind of got caught up or lightly
interested in discussing issues mostly superfically.
I didn't want to get roiled into any debate. I didn't want
to read another BS assassination book. I didn't want
to come to Dallas and dig out my files for the sake
of answering someone who wouldn't appreciate it or
accept it anyway.

So here I was, fat dumb and happy and casually
commented that that there never was a big time
Mafia presence in Dallas. Of course I know how
assassination buffs will look at red and insist it is
blue but I was a little surprised that Martin Shackleford
comes out of no where and lays it out that I am not a
credible source about it and has the stones to use Jim
Gatewood as a source to contradict me.

I have already impeached Gatewood as a credible source
of factual information. I could go on but I'm just not going to
do it mainly because I don't give a rats ass about debating
over him or his books or his claim to be a historian.

But now that I am in Dallas and have access to my very
large set of Dallas files and resources I will go ahead and
offer a couple of sources supporting my innocent claim that
there was no big time Mafia presence in Dallas.

I can provide more but I'm having to type this and what would be
the point? Buffs call red blue anyway. This is for anyone who
read the Marcello thread and is rational.


OFFICER SAYS SYNDICATED CRIME
DOUBTFUL IN DALLAS -
Dallas Morning News October 8, 1963
By John Gedde

Detective Capt. W.P. Gannaway gave three
reasons Monday for Dallas being a prime
plum but forbidden fruit for Cosa Nostra
type syndicated crime.

Capt. Gannaway, head of the Dallas Police
Departments Vice, narcotics and intelligence
bureaus, credited the police force, the
district attorneys office and good juries
for keeping big time crime out of the city.

Altough a suspected Cosa Nostra kingpin lives
in North Dallas, there has been no major
attempt by a syndicate to move into the
city in "10 or 12 years". At that time,
Gannaway said, Chicago hoods had their plans
foiled by Dallas officers.

Capt. Gannaway said that there is crime of
the type which normally feeds syndicates--
prostitution, drugs, gambling -- but its
manner of survival proves it is not well
organized in Dallas.

"We've made cases too manytimes," said
Gannaway. "They (Mafia) know we can do
it." Again he credited an "efficient"
district attorneys office and the juries
who convict.

"The climate of Dallas is unsuccessful for
organized crime - call it what you want to",
he said. Cosa Nostra is a new term for the
veteran detective, he added but it is
probably the same as the Mafia or Black Hand.

The Dallas man {who} was captured at that
meeting (Appalachin) is under periodic
surveilance. Capt. Gannaway said there
may be members or organized crime in
Dallas practicing their trade elsewhere,
but not in Dallas.


COSA NOSTRA ACTIVITY LIMITED IN TEXAS,
CRIME FIGHTERS SAY - Dallas Morning News
Sept 15, 1965 - Mike Quinn

Excerpts:

The Southwest in general and Texas in particular
have been given a "low priority" as far as federal
investigation and surveillance are concerned in the
crackdown on organized crime and racketeering in
the United States.

It was learned Tuesday that law enforcement officials
are interested from a national crime stand point
primarily in only two men in Texas who are believed
to have definite ties to the Costa Nostra crime
syndicate.

One of them is said to live in Dallas, the other
in Houston.

Informed sources indicated that Cosa Nostra, in it's
tie-ups across the land, basically skips Texas except
for the Dallas and Houston contacts.

The term "low priority" refers to the amount of Cosa
Nostra activity as well as the amount of counter
federal-local law enforcement activity which is
required to meet racketeering efforts.

The Texas area is not one of the more active areas as
far as national crime is concerned.

-------------------------

'ORGANIZED' CRIME IN DALLAS?
Dallas Morning News July 8, 1969
by Mike Kingston Editorial staff writer
{Kingston questions Tim Timmins, Asst.
U.S. Attorney and chief federal prosecutor
in Dallas and North Texas.

KINGSTON - There is a great deal of discussion
about "organized" crime locally and nationally.
Just what do you mean when you discuss
"organized" crime?

TIMMINS - Ordinarily when people think of
organized crime they are thinking in terms of
the criminal operations sometimes referred to
as the Mafia, Coda Nostra or
"The Organization."

KINGSTON - Does there seem to be a structured
criminal organization in Dallas and the North
Texas area, or a loose confederation of groups?

TIMMINS - There does appear to ba an organization
of criminals to the extent that there are full-time
burglers and narcotic dealers residing here who
sometimes associate in a loosley knit manner.

KINGSTON - Is the Mafia or Cosa Nostra influence
identifiable in local operations?

TIMMINS - During my eight years with the U.S.
Attorneys Office in Dallas, I have seen no
evidence pf Mafia operations or influence in the
North Texas area.

There is one man who resides in Dallas who attended
the Appalachia , N.Y., meeting in November, 1957,
which 53 underworld leaders were known to attend.

If the Mafia or Cosa Nostra (the terms are synonymous)
has influence in the North Texas area, it is submerged
and not discerned by federal investigative agencies.

...... Dallas remains substantially free of the
pervading and corrupting influence of organized crime.

----------------



Respectfully,
Greg Jaynes
Anthony Marsh
2007-12-22 04:06:08 UTC
Permalink
Post by Greg Jaynes
After Novemeber, I just kind of got caught up or lightly
interested in discussing issues mostly superfically.
I didn't want to get roiled into any debate. I didn't want
to read another BS assassination book. I didn't want
to come to Dallas and dig out my files for the sake
of answering someone who wouldn't appreciate it or
accept it anyway.
So here I was, fat dumb and happy and casually
commented that that there never was a big time
Mafia presence in Dallas. Of course I know how
assassination buffs will look at red and insist it is
blue but I was a little surprised that Martin Shackleford
comes out of no where and lays it out that I am not a
credible source about it and has the stones to use Jim
Gatewood as a source to contradict me.
Do you have the cajones to claim that the FBI is not a reliable source?
Civello and Campisi were at the Apalachin conclave of Mafiosi. They could
not be there if they were not Mafiosi in good standing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apalachin_Meeting


# Joseph "Joe" Civello - Dallas Civello Family Boss (New Orleans Family
caporegime, representative of New Orleans Boss Carlos "Little Man"
Marcello. Dallas, Texas)
# John Francis Colletti - Dallas Civello Family member (Dallas, Texas)
* Joseph "Joe" Campisi - Dallas Civello Family Underboss

2nd in command, Joe Campisi is registered at a local motel with Boss
Joe Civello, who was detained at Barbara's estate. Joe Campisi became the
Family Boss after Joe Civello retires to Florida in 1968. Civello dies in
1970.
Post by Greg Jaynes
I have already impeached Gatewood as a credible source
of factual information. I could go on but I'm just not going to
do it mainly because I don't give a rats ass about debating
over him or his books or his claim to be a historian.
But now that I am in Dallas and have access to my very
large set of Dallas files and resources I will go ahead and
offer a couple of sources supporting my innocent claim that
there was no big time Mafia presence in Dallas.
I can provide more but I'm having to type this and what would be
the point? Buffs call red blue anyway. This is for anyone who
read the Marcello thread and is rational.
OFFICER SAYS SYNDICATED CRIME
DOUBTFUL IN DALLAS -
Dallas Morning News October 8, 1963
By John Gedde
Detective Capt. W.P. Gannaway gave three
reasons Monday for Dallas being a prime
plum but forbidden fruit for Cosa Nostra
type syndicated crime.
Capt. Gannaway, head of the Dallas Police
Departments Vice, narcotics and intelligence
bureaus, credited the police force, the
district attorneys office and good juries
for keeping big time crime out of the city.
Altough a suspected Cosa Nostra kingpin lives
in North Dallas, there has been no major
attempt by a syndicate to move into the
city in "10 or 12 years". At that time,
Gannaway said, Chicago hoods had their plans
foiled by Dallas officers.
Capt. Gannaway said that there is crime of
the type which normally feeds syndicates--
prostitution, drugs, gambling -- but its
manner of survival proves it is not well
organized in Dallas.
"We've made cases too manytimes," said
Gannaway. "They (Mafia) know we can do
it." Again he credited an "efficient"
district attorneys office and the juries
who convict.
"The climate of Dallas is unsuccessful for
organized crime - call it what you want to",
he said. Cosa Nostra is a new term for the
veteran detective, he added but it is
probably the same as the Mafia or Black Hand.
The Dallas man {who} was captured at that
meeting (Appalachin) is under periodic
surveilance. Capt. Gannaway said there
may be members or organized crime in
Dallas practicing their trade elsewhere,
but not in Dallas.
COSA NOSTRA ACTIVITY LIMITED IN TEXAS,
CRIME FIGHTERS SAY - Dallas Morning News
Sept 15, 1965 - Mike Quinn
The Southwest in general and Texas in particular
have been given a "low priority" as far as federal
investigation and surveillance are concerned in the
crackdown on organized crime and racketeering in
the United States.
It was learned Tuesday that law enforcement officials
are interested from a national crime stand point
primarily in only two men in Texas who are believed
to have definite ties to the Costa Nostra crime
syndicate.
One of them is said to live in Dallas, the other
in Houston.
Informed sources indicated that Cosa Nostra, in it's
tie-ups across the land, basically skips Texas except
for the Dallas and Houston contacts.
The term "low priority" refers to the amount of Cosa
Nostra activity as well as the amount of counter
federal-local law enforcement activity which is
required to meet racketeering efforts.
The Texas area is not one of the more active areas as
far as national crime is concerned.
-------------------------
'ORGANIZED' CRIME IN DALLAS?
Dallas Morning News July 8, 1969
by Mike Kingston Editorial staff writer
{Kingston questions Tim Timmins, Asst.
U.S. Attorney and chief federal prosecutor
in Dallas and North Texas.
KINGSTON - There is a great deal of discussion
about "organized" crime locally and nationally.
Just what do you mean when you discuss
"organized" crime?
TIMMINS - Ordinarily when people think of
organized crime they are thinking in terms of
the criminal operations sometimes referred to
as the Mafia, Coda Nostra or
"The Organization."
KINGSTON - Does there seem to be a structured
criminal organization in Dallas and the North
Texas area, or a loose confederation of groups?
TIMMINS - There does appear to ba an organization
of criminals to the extent that there are full-time
burglers and narcotic dealers residing here who
sometimes associate in a loosley knit manner.
KINGSTON - Is the Mafia or Cosa Nostra influence
identifiable in local operations?
TIMMINS - During my eight years with the U.S.
Attorneys Office in Dallas, I have seen no
evidence pf Mafia operations or influence in the
North Texas area.
There is one man who resides in Dallas who attended
the Appalachia , N.Y., meeting in November, 1957,
which 53 underworld leaders were known to attend.
If the Mafia or Cosa Nostra (the terms are synonymous)
has influence in the North Texas area, it is submerged
and not discerned by federal investigative agencies.
...... Dallas remains substantially free of the
pervading and corrupting influence of organized crime.
----------------
Respectfully,
Greg Jaynes
Taking lessons from Hoover?
Greg Jaynes
2007-12-23 00:33:04 UTC
Permalink
Post by Anthony Marsh
Do you have the cajones to claim that the FBI is not a reliable source?
Civello and Campisi were at the Apalachin conclave of Mafiosi. They could
not be there if they were not Mafiosi in good standing.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apalachin_Meeting
# Joseph "Joe" Civello - Dallas Civello Family Boss (New Orleans Family
caporegime, representative of New Orleans Boss Carlos "Little Man"
Marcello. Dallas, Texas)
# John Francis Colletti - Dallas Civello Family member (Dallas, Texas)
     * Joseph "Joe" Campisi - Dallas Civello Family Underboss
     2nd in command, Joe Campisi is registered at a local motel with Boss
Joe Civello, who was detained at Barbara's estate. Joe Campisi became the
Family Boss after Joe Civello retires to Florida in 1968. Civello dies in
1970.
Tony,

The Campisis and Civello connections are not in dispute.
Whether they represent a big time presence in Dallas is.

I just posted sources supporting at least Civello's part.
You don't need to post more. It does not add any
quantitative value to their impact. But it is always nice
to have lots of details.

You and Martin would see a house built off 999 white bricks
and 1 red brick as a red bricked house. I would see it
as a white bricked house, ok with a red brick in it.

The fact of the matter is; if I were to take yours and
Martins position, I could have argued it better than
both of you have. But since I'm only interested in
real history, I'll leave with quotes from the sources
I listed; (and I have more. I just don't want type it
all)

Gannaway on Civello and Mafia in Dallas-

"The Dallas man {who} was captured at that
meeting (Appalachin) is under periodic
surveilance. Capt. Gannaway said there
may be members or organized crime in
Dallas practicing their trade elsewhere,
but not in Dallas. "


Tim Timmins, Asst.
U.S. Attorney and chief federal prosecutor
in Dallas and North Texas

"...... Dallas remains substantially free of the
pervading and corrupting influence of organized crime."

Thank you for your input. You always give me the
opportunity to look good.

Respectfully,
Greg Jaynes
Anthony Marsh
2007-12-24 01:02:34 UTC
Permalink
Post by Greg Jaynes
Post by Anthony Marsh
Do you have the cajones to claim that the FBI is not a reliable source?
Civello and Campisi were at the Apalachin conclave of Mafiosi. They could
not be there if they were not Mafiosi in good standing.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apalachin_Meeting
# Joseph "Joe" Civello - Dallas Civello Family Boss (New Orleans Family
caporegime, representative of New Orleans Boss Carlos "Little Man"
Marcello. Dallas, Texas)
# John Francis Colletti - Dallas Civello Family member (Dallas, Texas)
* Joseph "Joe" Campisi - Dallas Civello Family Underboss
2nd in command, Joe Campisi is registered at a local motel with Boss
Joe Civello, who was detained at Barbara's estate. Joe Campisi became the
Family Boss after Joe Civello retires to Florida in 1968. Civello dies in
1970.
Tony,
The Campisis and Civello connections are not in dispute.
Whether they represent a big time presence in Dallas is.
I just posted sources supporting at least Civello's part.
You don't need to post more. It does not add any
quantitative value to their impact. But it is always nice
to have lots of details.
You and Martin would see a house built off 999 white bricks
and 1 red brick as a red bricked house. I would see it
as a white bricked house, ok with a red brick in it.
Oh, I see. So like Hoover you deny that the Mafia exists. Just a handful
of unrelated criminals who just happen to be Italian.
Post by Greg Jaynes
The fact of the matter is; if I were to take yours and
Martins position, I could have argued it better than
both of you have. But since I'm only interested in
real history, I'll leave with quotes from the sources
I listed; (and I have more. I just don't want type it
all)
How do you dispute the FBI?
Post by Greg Jaynes
Gannaway on Civello and Mafia in Dallas-
"The Dallas man {who} was captured at that
meeting (Appalachin) is under periodic
surveilance. Capt. Gannaway said there
may be members or organized crime in
Dallas practicing their trade elsewhere,
but not in Dallas. "
Tim Timmins, Asst.
U.S. Attorney and chief federal prosecutor
in Dallas and North Texas
"...... Dallas remains substantially free of the
pervading and corrupting influence of organized crime."
Thank you for your input. You always give me the
opportunity to look good.
Respectfully,
Greg Jaynes
Greg Jaynes
2007-12-24 22:06:22 UTC
Permalink
Post by Anthony Marsh
Post by Greg Jaynes
Post by Anthony Marsh
Do you have the cajones to claim that the FBI is not a reliable source?
Civello and Campisi were at the Apalachin conclave of Mafiosi. They could
not be there if they were not Mafiosi in good standing.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apalachin_Meeting
# Joseph "Joe" Civello - Dallas Civello Family Boss (New Orleans Family
caporegime, representative of New Orleans Boss Carlos "Little Man"
Marcello. Dallas, Texas)
# John Francis Colletti - Dallas Civello Family member (Dallas, Texas)
     * Joseph "Joe" Campisi - Dallas Civello Family Underboss
     2nd in command, Joe Campisi is registered at a local motel with Boss
Joe Civello, who was detained at Barbara's estate. Joe Campisi became the
Family Boss after Joe Civello retires to Florida in 1968. Civello dies in
1970.
Tony,
The Campisis and Civello connections are not in dispute.
Whether they represent a big time presence in Dallas is.
I just posted sources supporting at least Civello's part.
You don't need to post more. It does not add  any
quantitative value to their impact. But it is always nice
to have lots of details.
You and Martin would see a house built off 999 white bricks
and 1 red brick as a red bricked house. I would see it
as a white bricked house, ok with a red brick in it.
Oh, I see. So like Hoover you deny that the Mafia exists. Just a handful
of unrelated criminals who just happen to be Italian.
Post by Greg Jaynes
The fact of the matter is; if I were to take yours and
Martins position, I could have argued it better than
both of you have. But since I'm only interested in
real history, I'll leave with quotes from the sources
I listed; (and I have more. I just don't want type it
all)
How do you dispute the FBI?
Hello Tony, merry Christmas.

I don't disput the FBI. I was just disputing Martin and Gatewood and you
if y'all are trying to say there was a big time Mafia presence in Dallas
thru the 1960's.

First, I was just going by my own perceptions having grown up in Dallas.
Then, I dug out some articles to support it after you guys challanged me
on it.

Perceptions are very interesting things. In this issue, I don't think we
are really disagreeing on the facts as much as we are disagreeing on what
they mean.

Once some guy emailed me asking questions about Cliff Shasteen. I was in
Port Occonner just checking my email and did not have access to my boxes
of clippings and other info I have been collecting.

I had sent some illustrations to Gary Mack in the past so I passed him off
to Gary with the comment that Cliff's barber shop was at the corner of
Story and Shady Grove Rd.s in Irving, Gary came back on me with a
contradiction, that the barber shop was not at the corner and cited it's
address claiming it was a half a block away from that intersection. The
implication being, I didn't know what I was talking about.

Just so you know, I used to work for Cliff Shasteen. I went to school with
his son. I knew them personally. It was my first job in his donut shop
making $1 per hour. The donut shop was undoubtedly at the corner of the
roads I mentioned as it had been added on after the assassination. It was
like a strip center. I used to get haircuts in his barber shop by him and
the other barbers. I felt like I was in pretty good position to to explain
it. But no. instead of just listening, I found myself in an unexpected
challenge of my information with Gary referring to the shop as Clifftons
Barber Shop which is what it was listed as legally I suppose. But
everybody just called it Cliff's barber shop and that was what it said on
his sign.

The point is; when you read something, you get a mental image of it. It is
not necessarily the reality of the situation. But when you know what you
are talking about from first hand experience, it is a different matter
altogether. Now, I'm not claimimng to have had any first hand knowledge of
the Mafia in or out of Dallas but I do know that there was never anything
in the news about the Mafia as I was growing up. It is enough for me to
say casually that it just didn't exist in Dallas as it did in New Orleans,
Chicago, New York, or the other places where it had been a real problem.
The presence of Civello not withstanding. I don't have any real knowledge
of any crime he actually committed in Dallas. Do you?

The details you or Martin have about Civello are interesting but what is
the quantitative value of it? Does it rise to the level of a big time
Mafia presence in Dallas? I say no. W.P. Gannaway said no, Tim Timmins
said no. Now, when I stashed those clips away years ago, it wasn't with
the idea that I would use them to argue about the presence of the Mafia in
Dallas. It was just interesting and the kind of things I throw in one of
my boxes in case I ever need it.

So, here it is in my opinion; Your information is probably all correct.
But it don't amount to a big time Mafia presence. Gary's info was probably
correct but he didn't really KNOW what he was talking about.

Respectfully,
Greg Jaynes
Anthony Marsh
2007-12-25 20:29:47 UTC
Permalink
Post by Greg Jaynes
Post by Anthony Marsh
Post by Greg Jaynes
Post by Anthony Marsh
Do you have the cajones to claim that the FBI is not a reliable source?
Civello and Campisi were at the Apalachin conclave of Mafiosi. They could
not be there if they were not Mafiosi in good standing.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apalachin_Meeting
# Joseph "Joe" Civello - Dallas Civello Family Boss (New Orleans Family
caporegime, representative of New Orleans Boss Carlos "Little Man"
Marcello. Dallas, Texas)
# John Francis Colletti - Dallas Civello Family member (Dallas, Texas)
* Joseph "Joe" Campisi - Dallas Civello Family Underboss
2nd in command, Joe Campisi is registered at a local motel with Boss
Joe Civello, who was detained at Barbara's estate. Joe Campisi became the
Family Boss after Joe Civello retires to Florida in 1968. Civello dies in
1970.
Tony,
The Campisis and Civello connections are not in dispute.
Whether they represent a big time presence in Dallas is.
I just posted sources supporting at least Civello's part.
You don't need to post more. It does not add any
quantitative value to their impact. But it is always nice
to have lots of details.
You and Martin would see a house built off 999 white bricks
and 1 red brick as a red bricked house. I would see it
as a white bricked house, ok with a red brick in it.
Oh, I see. So like Hoover you deny that the Mafia exists. Just a handful
of unrelated criminals who just happen to be Italian.
Post by Greg Jaynes
The fact of the matter is; if I were to take yours and
Martins position, I could have argued it better than
both of you have. But since I'm only interested in
real history, I'll leave with quotes from the sources
I listed; (and I have more. I just don't want type it
all)
How do you dispute the FBI?
Hello Tony, merry Christmas.
I don't disput the FBI. I was just disputing Martin and Gatewood and you
if y'all are trying to say there was a big time Mafia presence in Dallas
thru the 1960's.
I don't remember saying "big time." Do you remember who it was who said
"big time"? Can we gang beat him?
Post by Greg Jaynes
First, I was just going by my own perceptions having grown up in Dallas.
What is called anecdotal evidence by some. What is called denial by
others. You never want to admit that your own city is a Mafia city. My own
city has always been a Mafia city. The Winter Hill Gang.
Post by Greg Jaynes
Then, I dug out some articles to support it after you guys challanged me
on it.
Perceptions are very interesting things. In this issue, I don't think we
are really disagreeing on the facts as much as we are disagreeing on what
they mean.
Once some guy emailed me asking questions about Cliff Shasteen. I was in
Port Occonner just checking my email and did not have access to my boxes
of clippings and other info I have been collecting.
I had sent some illustrations to Gary Mack in the past so I passed him off
to Gary with the comment that Cliff's barber shop was at the corner of
Story and Shady Grove Rd.s in Irving, Gary came back on me with a
contradiction, that the barber shop was not at the corner and cited it's
address claiming it was a half a block away from that intersection. The
implication being, I didn't know what I was talking about.
Just so you know, I used to work for Cliff Shasteen. I went to school with
his son. I knew them personally. It was my first job in his donut shop
making $1 per hour. The donut shop was undoubtedly at the corner of the
roads I mentioned as it had been added on after the assassination. It was
like a strip center. I used to get haircuts in his barber shop by him and
the other barbers. I felt like I was in pretty good position to to explain
it. But no. instead of just listening, I found myself in an unexpected
challenge of my information with Gary referring to the shop as Clifftons
Barber Shop which is what it was listed as legally I suppose. But
everybody just called it Cliff's barber shop and that was what it said on
his sign.
Doesn't mean he was Mafia. I have had to deal with various Mafia types in
Boston. I once worked as a runner for an illegal charity company. So I
would have to go see the boss of literally every company in the area.
Sometimes I would have to go through the illegal Tong gambling basement to
see the Head Boss. One day I had to see the owner of a restaurant and when
I got to his office, his lieutenant asked to frisk me. I did not complain.
I knew that they were in the middle of a Mafia War and he was trying to
stay neutral. He was also a big name in horse racing. I assured him that I
was neutral, realized that he was being neutral and hoped that things
worked out ok. Rather than just take his money, I offered to help him set
up his ad to look nice. At the end he apologized for having to frisk me
and thanked me for my understanding. My father worked at North Station and
often ate lunch at a very local Italian restaurant. They made the best
lasagna. As he informed me, all the local Mafiosi had agreed that this
particular Italian restaurant would be neutral territory.
Post by Greg Jaynes
The point is; when you read something, you get a mental image of it. It is
not necessarily the reality of the situation. But when you know what you
are talking about from first hand experience, it is a different matter
altogether. Now, I'm not claimimng to have had any first hand knowledge of
the Mafia in or out of Dallas but I do know that there was never anything
in the news about the Mafia as I was growing up. It is enough for me to
If there was a cover-up of course there would be nothing in the news. How
many times does The Boston Globe run a story naming the Boston Mafia boss
and detailing his relationship with the Mayor?
Post by Greg Jaynes
say casually that it just didn't exist in Dallas as it did in New Orleans,
Chicago, New York, or the other places where it had been a real problem.
The presence of Civello not withstanding. I don't have any real knowledge
of any crime he actually committed in Dallas. Do you?
The details you or Martin have about Civello are interesting but what is
the quantitative value of it? Does it rise to the level of a big time
Mafia presence in Dallas? I say no. W.P. Gannaway said no, Tim Timmins
said no. Now, when I stashed those clips away years ago, it wasn't with
the idea that I would use them to argue about the presence of the Mafia in
Dallas. It was just interesting and the kind of things I throw in one of
my boxes in case I ever need it.
So, here it is in my opinion; Your information is probably all correct.
But it don't amount to a big time Mafia presence. Gary's info was probably
correct but he didn't really KNOW what he was talking about.
Respectfully,
Greg Jaynes
Greg Jaynes
2007-12-27 01:01:52 UTC
Permalink
Post by Anthony Marsh
I don't remember saying "big time." Do you remember who it was who said
"big time"? Can we gang beat him?
No you cannot. From the Marcello thread:

I first innocently offered:

"Mafia Kingfish was interesting for sure. However,
I do not think there has ever been any big time
Italian Mafia presence in Dallas."

That was all Martin needed to hear or read which
ever way you would say it.

The fact is; if I wanted to discuss Mafia presence
in Dallas, I could. I mean real Mafia presence.
Also note that all along that discussion, I have
limited it to Mafia thru the 1960's. Now, if you ever
want to discuss the Dixie Mafia hooking up with the
Italian Mafia, we need to progress to the 1970's.
But I don't think the posters in these threads have
actually progressed to the point of understanding it
as y'all still don't have the picture on how organized
crime in Dallas has been evolving. All I'm hearing is
a bunch of buffism nonsense. But that's ok cause I
wouldn't have expected anything else.
Post by Anthony Marsh
Post by Greg Jaynes
First, I was just going by my own perceptions having grown up in Dallas.
What is called anecdotal evidence by some. What is called denial by
others. You never want to admit that your own city is a Mafia city. My own
city has always been a Mafia city. The Winter Hill Gang.
Yes, you are right on this but I don't hang my
hat on my own anecdotes. I can back up what
I say with independent third party sources.

Still, I don't claim to be an expert on it.
I only have little pieces. I know people who
are experts who have been in contact with
them. Since I don't see them posting it on the
internet, I'll leave it to their judgement as to why.
Post by Anthony Marsh
Post by Greg Jaynes
Then, I dug out some articles to support it after you guys challanged me
on it.
Perceptions are very interesting things. In this issue, I don't think we
are really disagreeing on the facts as much as we are disagreeing on what
they mean.
Once some guy emailed me asking questions about Cliff Shasteen. I was in
Port Occonner just checking my email and did not have access to my boxes
of clippings and other info I have been collecting.
I had sent some illustrations to Gary Mack in the past so I passed him off
to Gary with the comment that Cliff's barber shop was at the corner of
Story and Shady Grove Rd.s in Irving, Gary came back on me with a
contradiction, that the barber shop was not at the corner and cited it's
address claiming it was a half a block away from that intersection. The
implication being, I didn't know what I was talking about.
Just so you know, I used to work for Cliff Shasteen. I went to school with
his son. I knew them personally. It was my first job in his donut shop
making $1 per hour. The donut shop was undoubtedly at the corner of the
roads I mentioned as it had been added on after the assassination. It was
like a strip center. I used to get haircuts in his barber shop by him and
the other barbers. I felt like I was in pretty good position to to explain
it. But no. instead of just listening, I found myself in an unexpected
challenge of my information with Gary referring to the shop as Clifftons
Barber Shop which is what it was listed as legally I suppose. But
everybody just called it Cliff's barber shop and that was what it said on
his sign.
Doesn't mean he was Mafia. I have had to deal with various Mafia types in
Boston. I once worked as a runner for an illegal charity company. So I
would have to go see the boss of literally every company in the area.
Sometimes I would have to go through the illegal Tong gambling basement to
see the Head Boss. One day I had to see the owner of a restaurant and when
I got to his office, his lieutenant asked to frisk me. I did not complain.
I knew that they were in the middle of a Mafia War and he was trying to
stay neutral. He was also a big name in horse racing. I assured him that I
was neutral, realized that he was being neutral and hoped that things
worked out ok. Rather than just take his money, I offered to help him set
up his ad to look nice. At the end he apologized for having to frisk me
and thanked me for my understanding. My father worked at North Station and
often ate lunch at a very local Italian restaurant. They made the best
lasagna. As he informed me, all the local Mafiosi had agreed that this
particular Italian restaurant would be neutral territory.
This is an interesting story. Why have you been holding out?
Ok, is there anything else I need to know about you?
Post by Anthony Marsh
Post by Greg Jaynes
The point is; when you read something, you get a mental image of it. It is
not necessarily the reality of the situation. But when you know what you
are talking about from first hand experience, it is a different matter
altogether. Now, I'm not claimimng to have had any first hand knowledge of
the Mafia in or out of Dallas but I do know that there was never anything
in the news about the Mafia as I was growing up. It is enough for me to
If there was a cover-up of course there would be nothing in the news. How
many times does The Boston Globe run a story naming the Boston Mafia boss
and detailing his relationship with the Mayor?
See. Nothing like these type connections occured in
Dallas up thru the 1960's or even since really.

Respectfully,
Greg Jaynes
Peter Fokes
2007-12-27 01:07:49 UTC
Permalink
Post by Greg Jaynes
Post by Anthony Marsh
I don't remember saying "big time." Do you remember who it was who said
"big time"? Can we gang beat him?
"Mafia Kingfish was interesting for sure.
I thought so too.

Did you read my quotes from the book in response to your post?

I'll repeat them here. First your comments and then comments from
Post by Greg Jaynes
I can provide more but I'm having to type this and what would be
the point? Buffs call red blue anyway. This is for anyone who
read the Marcello thread and is rational.
OFFICER SAYS SYNDICATED CRIME
DOUBTFUL IN DALLAS -
Dallas Morning News October 8, 1963
By John Gedde
Detective Capt. W.P. Gannaway gave three
reasons Monday for Dallas being a prime
plum but forbidden fruit for Cosa Nostra
type syndicated crime.
Mmm

Wonder where John Davis got this idea in his book Mafia Kingfish:

<quote on>

In the Dallas of 1963 the MArcellos were able to operate at their
pleasure, unimpeded by the law, for in the best family tradition, the
most important acquisition they had made in the city had been the
Dallas Police Force.

<quote off>

p. 140

Gannaway was quoted in 1963?
Post by Greg Jaynes
Capt. Gannaway, head of the Dallas Police
Departments Vice, narcotics and intelligence
bureaus, credited the police force, the
district attorneys office and good juries
for keeping big time crime out of the city.
<quote on>

Joe Civello was one of the 59 Mafia leaders arrested at the 1957 Mafia
conclave in Apalachin, So close had he been to Carlos Marcello at the
time that Carlos had made him his representative at the upstate New
York meeting. A few days after Civello returned to Dallas from
Apalachin, to an avalanche of adverse publicity in the local papers,
he was observed having dinner with a Dallas Police sergeant by the
name of Patrick T. Dean, who once admitted that the Dallas Police "had
no trouble with the Italian families." Six years later it was Sergeant
Dean who was in charge of basement security when an associate of Joe
Civello's, Jack Ruby, entered the basement of Dallas Police
headquarters and murdered Lee Harvey Oswald in front of over seventy
armed police officers.

<quote off>

p. 140
Post by Greg Jaynes
Altough a suspected Cosa Nostra kingpin lives
in North Dallas, there has been no major
attempt by a syndicate to move into the
city in "10 or 12 years". At that time,
Gannaway said, Chicago hoods had their plans
foiled by Dallas officers.
<quote on>

By the fall of 1963 [Civello and Marcello] ... had known each other
for many years. Civello was a partner in Marcello's racing wire
service and was active in leasing Marcello's slot machines to bars,
restaurants, and nightclubs in the Dallas area. FBI reports reveal
frequent telephone contact between Civello and Marcello throughout the
late fifties and early sixties and shared a friendship with another
Dallas family of Sicilian origin, active in the city's underworld, the
Campisis.

<quote off>
p. 140
Post by Greg Jaynes
Capt. Gannaway said that there is crime of
the type which normally feeds syndicates--
prostitution, drugs, gambling -- but its
manner of survival proves it is not well
organized in Dallas.
"We've made cases too manytimes," said
Gannaway. "They (Mafia) know we can do
it." Again he credited an "efficient"
district attorneys office and the juries
who convict.
<quote on>

The Dallas Police force was, for the perennial bachelor Ruby, his
chief hobby, his primary recreation. He knew by name at least 70,
perhaps 100 officers of the force and delighted in doing favours for
them..... would often hang around the headquarters for hours gassing
with his policeman buddies. He would cosign loans for officers hard up
for cash. He would provide them with free drinks and arrange free
after-hours dates for them with his sexiest strippers. So extensive
and pervasive were Ruby's contacts with the police that they became
legendary in Dallas.

<quote off>

p. 141
Post by Greg Jaynes
"The climate of Dallas is unsuccessful for
organized crime - call it what you want to",
he said. Cosa Nostra is a new term for the
veteran detective, he added but it is
probably the same as the Mafia or Black Hand.
The Dallas man {who} was captured at that
meeting (Appalachin) is under periodic
surveilance. Capt. Gannaway said there
may be members or organized crime in
Dallas practicing their trade elsewhere,
but not in Dallas.
<quote on>

Bobby Gene Moore was living in Oakland, California ... he stated that
while he was a clerk in the Civello and LaMonte Italian Importing
Company in Dallas, he came to 'suspect that [Joseph] Civello and his
partner Frank LaMonte were engaged in racket activities' because on
occasion they would pointedly not allow him to open certain cartons of
cheese imported from Italy, although that was his specific job. On the
basis of this, he came 'to believe Civello and LaMonte were importing
narcotics.' Moore further stated that Jack Ruby 'was also a frequent
visitor and associate of Civello and LaMonte.'

<quote off>

p. 142
Post by Greg Jaynes
COSA NOSTRA ACTIVITY LIMITED IN TEXAS,
CRIME FIGHTERS SAY - Dallas Morning News
Sept 15, 1965 - Mike Quinn
The Southwest in general and Texas in particular
have been given a "low priority" as far as federal
investigation and surveillance are concerned in the
crackdown on organized crime and racketeering in
the United States.
It was learned Tuesday that law enforcement officials
are interested from a national crime stand point
primarily in only two men in Texas who are believed
to have definite ties to the Costa Nostra crime
syndicate.
One of them is said to live in Dallas, the other
in Houston.
Informed sources indicated that Cosa Nostra, in it's
tie-ups across the land, basically skips Texas except
for the Dallas and Houston contacts.
The term "low priority" refers to the amount of Cosa
Nostra activity as well as the amount of counter
federal-local law enforcement activity which is
required to meet racketeering efforts.
The Texas area is not one of the more active areas as
far as national crime is concerned.
-------------------------
'ORGANIZED' CRIME IN DALLAS?
Dallas Morning News July 8, 1969
by Mike Kingston Editorial staff writer
{Kingston questions Tim Timmins, Asst.
U.S. Attorney and chief federal prosecutor
in Dallas and North Texas.
KINGSTON - There is a great deal of discussion
about "organized" crime locally and nationally.
Just what do you mean when you discuss
"organized" crime?
TIMMINS - Ordinarily when people think of
organized crime they are thinking in terms of
the criminal operations sometimes referred to
as the Mafia, Coda Nostra or
"The Organization."
KINGSTON - Does there seem to be a structured
criminal organization in Dallas and the North
Texas area, or a loose confederation of groups?
TIMMINS - There does appear to ba an organization
of criminals to the extent that there are full-time
burglers and narcotic dealers residing here who
sometimes associate in a loosley knit manner.
KINGSTON - Is the Mafia or Cosa Nostra influence
identifiable in local operations?
TIMMINS - During my eight years with the U.S.
Attorneys Office in Dallas, I have seen no
evidence pf Mafia operations or influence in the
North Texas area.
There is one man who resides in Dallas who attended
the Appalachia , N.Y., meeting in November, 1957,
which 53 underworld leaders were known to attend.
If the Mafia or Cosa Nostra (the terms are synonymous)
has influence in the North Texas area, it is submerged
and not discerned by federal investigative agencies.
...... Dallas remains substantially free of the
pervading and corrupting influence of organized crime.
----------------
Respectfully,
Greg Jaynes
Ya just cannot believe everyhting ya read in the local paper, eh?


Peter Fokes
However,
Post by Greg Jaynes
I do not think there has ever been any big time
Italian Mafia presence in Dallas."
That was all Martin needed to hear or read which
ever way you would say it.
The fact is; if I wanted to discuss Mafia presence
in Dallas, I could. I mean real Mafia presence.
Also note that all along that discussion, I have
limited it to Mafia thru the 1960's. Now, if you ever
want to discuss the Dixie Mafia hooking up with the
Italian Mafia, we need to progress to the 1970's.
But I don't think the posters in these threads have
actually progressed to the point of understanding it
as y'all still don't have the picture on how organized
crime in Dallas has been evolving. All I'm hearing is
a bunch of buffism nonsense. But that's ok cause I
wouldn't have expected anything else.
Post by Anthony Marsh
Post by Greg Jaynes
First, I was just going by my own perceptions having grown up in Dallas.
What is called anecdotal evidence by some. What is called denial by
others. You never want to admit that your own city is a Mafia city. My own
city has always been a Mafia city. The Winter Hill Gang.
Yes, you are right on this but I don't hang my
hat on my own anecdotes. I can back up what
I say with independent third party sources.
Still, I don't claim to be an expert on it.
I only have little pieces. I know people who
are experts who have been in contact with
them. Since I don't see them posting it on the
internet, I'll leave it to their judgement as to why.
Post by Anthony Marsh
Post by Greg Jaynes
Then, I dug out some articles to support it after you guys challanged me
on it.
Perceptions are very interesting things. In this issue, I don't think we
are really disagreeing on the facts as much as we are disagreeing on what
they mean.
Once some guy emailed me asking questions about Cliff Shasteen. I was in
Port Occonner just checking my email and did not have access to my boxes
of clippings and other info I have been collecting.
I had sent some illustrations to Gary Mack in the past so I passed him off
to Gary with the comment that Cliff's barber shop was at the corner of
Story and Shady Grove Rd.s in Irving, Gary came back on me with a
contradiction, that the barber shop was not at the corner and cited it's
address claiming it was a half a block away from that intersection. The
implication being, I didn't know what I was talking about.
Just so you know, I used to work for Cliff Shasteen. I went to school with
his son. I knew them personally. It was my first job in his donut shop
making $1 per hour. The donut shop was undoubtedly at the corner of the
roads I mentioned as it had been added on after the assassination. It was
like a strip center. I used to get haircuts in his barber shop by him and
the other barbers. I felt like I was in pretty good position to to explain
it. But no. instead of just listening, I found myself in an unexpected
challenge of my information with Gary referring to the shop as Clifftons
Barber Shop which is what it was listed as legally I suppose. But
everybody just called it Cliff's barber shop and that was what it said on
his sign.
Doesn't mean he was Mafia. I have had to deal with various Mafia types in
Boston. I once worked as a runner for an illegal charity company. So I
would have to go see the boss of literally every company in the area.
Sometimes I would have to go through the illegal Tong gambling basement to
see the Head Boss. One day I had to see the owner of a restaurant and when
I got to his office, his lieutenant asked to frisk me. I did not complain.
I knew that they were in the middle of a Mafia War and he was trying to
stay neutral. He was also a big name in horse racing. I assured him that I
was neutral, realized that he was being neutral and hoped that things
worked out ok. Rather than just take his money, I offered to help him set
up his ad to look nice. At the end he apologized for having to frisk me
and thanked me for my understanding. My father worked at North Station and
often ate lunch at a very local Italian restaurant. They made the best
lasagna. As he informed me, all the local Mafiosi had agreed that this
particular Italian restaurant would be neutral territory.
This is an interesting story. Why have you been holding out?
Ok, is there anything else I need to know about you?
Post by Anthony Marsh
Post by Greg Jaynes
The point is; when you read something, you get a mental image of it. It is
not necessarily the reality of the situation. But when you know what you
are talking about from first hand experience, it is a different matter
altogether. Now, I'm not claimimng to have had any first hand knowledge of
the Mafia in or out of Dallas but I do know that there was never anything
in the news about the Mafia as I was growing up. It is enough for me to
If there was a cover-up of course there would be nothing in the news. How
many times does The Boston Globe run a story naming the Boston Mafia boss
and detailing his relationship with the Mayor?
See. Nothing like these type connections occured in
Dallas up thru the 1960's or even since really.
Respectfully,
Greg Jaynes
Greg Jaynes
2007-12-27 19:07:42 UTC
Permalink
Post by Peter Fokes
Post by Greg Jaynes
"Mafia Kingfish was interesting for sure.
I thought so too.
Did you read my quotes from the book in response to your post?
I'll repeat them here. First your comments and then comments from
Hello Peter, I'll try to answer as good as I can.
As I have said, I don't claim to be an expert on the Mafia.
But I know enough about it to say it wasn't a big time
thing in Dallas thru the 1960's.
Post by Peter Fokes
Post by Greg Jaynes
I can provide more but I'm having to type this and what would be
the point? Buffs call red blue anyway. This is for anyone who
read the Marcello thread and is rational.
OFFICER SAYS SYNDICATED CRIME
DOUBTFUL IN DALLAS -
Dallas Morning News October 8, 1963
By John Gedde
Detective Capt. W.P. Gannaway gave three
reasons Monday for Dallas being a prime
plum but forbidden fruit for Cosa Nostra
type syndicated crime.
Mmm
Maybe you should wonder why Jim Garrison never got the idea
of investigating Marcello for his case.
Post by Peter Fokes
<quote on>
In the Dallas of 1963 the MArcellos were able to operate at their
pleasure, unimpeded by the law, for in the best family tradition, the
most important acquisition they had made in the city had been the
Dallas Police Force.
<quote off>
p. 140
Gannaway was quoted in 1963?
Post by Greg Jaynes
Capt. Gannaway, head of the Dallas Police
Departments Vice, narcotics and intelligence
bureaus, credited the police force, the
district attorneys office and good juries
for keeping big time crime out of the city.
There you go. Gannaway explains why the Mafia
couldn't take hold in the city. But I still think he missed
the main reason. I'll address it below.

As far as me commenting on John Davis saying the
Dallas police had been "aquired" by Marcello, you
should actually question him about it if that were
possible. He is the one who made the claim.
Did you notice in his book anywhere that he might
have cited a source for the claim?
Post by Peter Fokes
<quote on>
Joe Civello was one of the 59 Mafia leaders arrested at the 1957 Mafia
conclave in Apalachin, So close had he been to Carlos Marcello at the
time that Carlos had made him his representative at the upstate New
York meeting. A few days after Civello returned to Dallas from
Apalachin, to an avalanche of adverse publicity in the local papers,
he was observed having dinner with a Dallas Police sergeant by the
name of Patrick T. Dean, who once admitted that the Dallas Police "had
no trouble with the Italian families." Six years later it was Sergeant
Dean who was in charge of basement security when an associate of Joe
Civello's, Jack Ruby, entered the basement of Dallas Police
headquarters and murdered Lee Harvey Oswald in front of over seventy
armed police officers.
<quote off>
p. 140
Post by Greg Jaynes
Altough a suspected Cosa Nostra kingpin lives
in North Dallas, there has been no major
attempt by a syndicate to move into the
city in "10 or 12 years". At that time,
Gannaway said, Chicago hoods had their plans
foiled by Dallas officers.
Ok, so Dean said the Dallas Police had no trouble with the
Italian families. That's what I have been saying all along.
But it is interesting that he was observed having dinner
with Civello. Did Davis cite the source for that?
Gannaway said that Civello was under observation.
Post by Peter Fokes
<quote on>
By the fall of 1963 [Civello and Marcello] ... had known each other
for many years. Civello was a partner in Marcello's racing wire
service and was active in leasing Marcello's slot machines to bars,
restaurants, and nightclubs in the Dallas area.
I simply do not believe this. Slot machines in bars and nightclubs?
If you do, or if John Davis thinks so, then you or him are heartily
invited to show me the evidence of it. Now, It might be possible
that some select few private places had slot machines. But there
were no out in the open slot machines for the general public to
walk in and play.

Another thing, there defintely was gambling in Dallas.
There always was. But slot machines out in the open
didn't happen.

If someone from Marcellos outfit wanted to rent a floor
at the Adolphus and run some games, they could have
brought in some slot machines for it. But the first thing
they would have to do is go see Bill Decker. Decker
would approve or disapprove it. He would lay out the
rules that had to be followed. They would have to
keep everything in house, no violence, check out
when they left.

This is why the mob didn't take over anything in Dallas.
Decker was in charge. He wasn't unreasonable about it.
He would work with you. This was his way of keeping
it under a lid. I have this from Charlie Tessmer, Fred Bruner,
Bill Alexander, Al Maddox and other people whom I would
not name without getting their permission.
Post by Peter Fokes
FBI reports reveal
frequent telephone contact between Civello and Marcello throughout the
late fifties and early sixties and shared a friendship with another
Dallas family of Sicilian origin, active in the city's underworld, the
Campisis.
I don't dispute this as a fact. But the idea of the city's underworld
may be presenting a gothic darkness when left to the unchecked
imagination might lead to some misunderstandings. It has not
been established that there was a notable amount of activity.
Post by Peter Fokes
<quote off>
p. 140
Post by Greg Jaynes
Capt. Gannaway said that there is crime of
the type which normally feeds syndicates--
prostitution, drugs, gambling -- but its
manner of survival proves it is not well
organized in Dallas.
"We've made cases too manytimes," said
Gannaway. "They (Mafia) know we can do
it." Again he credited an "efficient"
district attorneys office and the juries
who convict.
<quote on>
The Dallas Police force was, for the perennial bachelor Ruby, his
chief hobby, his primary recreation. He knew by name at least 70,
perhaps 100 officers of the force and delighted in doing favours for
them..... would often hang around the headquarters for hours gassing
with his policeman buddies.
He would cosign loans for officers hard up
for cash.
Ruby didn't have any money himself. He lived in a dump
with a room mate. How could he sign for a bunch of
other people? But I would like to see the source for this
if you know where Davis got it.
Post by Peter Fokes
He would provide them with free drinks and arrange free
after-hours dates for them with his sexiest strippers. So extensive
and pervasive were Ruby's contacts with the police that they became
legendary in Dallas.
Don't say this to Bill Alexander. I asked him about it once and he
scoffed at the idea that Ruby had any juice at all. No doubt he
tried to pal up with the Dallas cops or "court the police dept."
as Fred Bruner put it. But he wasn't all that much different from
the 7-11 or Cabell convenience stores that give free coffee and
donuts to the cops. He just had a seedier way of doing it.
Post by Peter Fokes
<quote off>
p. 141
Post by Greg Jaynes
"The climate of Dallas is unsuccessful for
organized crime - call it what you want to",
he said. Cosa Nostra is a new term for the
veteran detective, he added but it is
probably the same as the Mafia or Black Hand.
The Dallas man {who} was captured at that
meeting (Appalachin) is under periodic
surveilance. Capt. Gannaway said there
may be members or organized crime in
Dallas practicing their trade elsewhere,
but not in Dallas.
<quote on>
Bobby Gene Moore was living in Oakland, California ... he stated that
while he was a clerk in the Civello and LaMonte Italian Importing
Company in Dallas, he came to 'suspect that [Joseph] Civello and his
partner Frank LaMonte were engaged in racket activities' because on
occasion they would pointedly not allow him to open certain cartons of
cheese imported from Italy, although that was his specific job. On the
basis of this, he came 'to believe Civello and LaMonte were importing
narcotics.' Moore further stated that Jack Ruby 'was also a frequent
visitor and associate of Civello and LaMonte.'
This is what I would suspect. But It's small time stuff.
Any impact on the narcoics market in Dallas was
probably overwhelmed by the Mexican importers.
Post by Peter Fokes
p. 142
Read this New York Times article about the mob in decline.
Note the cities listed. Do a page search for Dallas. Count
how many times it comes up vs the other cities.

http://www.thelaborers.net/lexisnexis/articles/mob_in_decline.htm

Respectfully,
Greg Jaynes
Anthony Marsh
2007-12-27 21:50:14 UTC
Permalink
Post by Greg Jaynes
Post by Peter Fokes
Post by Greg Jaynes
"Mafia Kingfish was interesting for sure.
I thought so too.
Did you read my quotes from the book in response to your post?
I'll repeat them here. First your comments and then comments from
Hello Peter, I'll try to answer as good as I can.
As I have said, I don't claim to be an expert on the Mafia.
But I know enough about it to say it wasn't a big time
thing in Dallas thru the 1960's.
And no one landed on the moon because you did not see it.
Post by Greg Jaynes
Post by Peter Fokes
Post by Greg Jaynes
I can provide more but I'm having to type this and what would be
the point? Buffs call red blue anyway. This is for anyone who
read the Marcello thread and is rational.
OFFICER SAYS SYNDICATED CRIME
DOUBTFUL IN DALLAS -
Dallas Morning News October 8, 1963
By John Gedde
Detective Capt. W.P. Gannaway gave three
reasons Monday for Dallas being a prime
plum but forbidden fruit for Cosa Nostra
type syndicated crime.
Mmm
Maybe you should wonder why Jim Garrison never got the idea
of investigating Marcello for his case.
Because Garrison thought the CIA was behind it.
Post by Greg Jaynes
Post by Peter Fokes
<quote on>
In the Dallas of 1963 the MArcellos were able to operate at their
pleasure, unimpeded by the law, for in the best family tradition, the
most important acquisition they had made in the city had been the
Dallas Police Force.
<quote off>
p. 140
Gannaway was quoted in 1963?
Post by Greg Jaynes
Capt. Gannaway, head of the Dallas Police
Departments Vice, narcotics and intelligence
bureaus, credited the police force, the
district attorneys office and good juries
for keeping big time crime out of the city.
There you go. Gannaway explains why the Mafia
couldn't take hold in the city. But I still think he missed
the main reason. I'll address it below.
As far as me commenting on John Davis saying the
Dallas police had been "aquired" by Marcello, you
should actually question him about it if that were
possible. He is the one who made the claim.
Did you notice in his book anywhere that he might
have cited a source for the claim?
Post by Peter Fokes
<quote on>
Joe Civello was one of the 59 Mafia leaders arrested at the 1957 Mafia
conclave in Apalachin, So close had he been to Carlos Marcello at the
time that Carlos had made him his representative at the upstate New
York meeting. A few days after Civello returned to Dallas from
Apalachin, to an avalanche of adverse publicity in the local papers,
he was observed having dinner with a Dallas Police sergeant by the
name of Patrick T. Dean, who once admitted that the Dallas Police "had
no trouble with the Italian families." Six years later it was Sergeant
Dean who was in charge of basement security when an associate of Joe
Civello's, Jack Ruby, entered the basement of Dallas Police
headquarters and murdered Lee Harvey Oswald in front of over seventy
armed police officers.
<quote off>
p. 140
Post by Greg Jaynes
Altough a suspected Cosa Nostra kingpin lives
in North Dallas, there has been no major
attempt by a syndicate to move into the
city in "10 or 12 years". At that time,
Gannaway said, Chicago hoods had their plans
foiled by Dallas officers.
Ok, so Dean said the Dallas Police had no trouble with the
Italian families. That's what I have been saying all along.
Of course they had no trouble with the local Mafia. They had reached an
accommodation.
Post by Greg Jaynes
But it is interesting that he was observed having dinner
with Civello. Did Davis cite the source for that?
Gannaway said that Civello was under observation.
But you see nothing wrong with dining with the Mafia, so what's your point?
Post by Greg Jaynes
Post by Peter Fokes
<quote on>
By the fall of 1963 [Civello and Marcello] ... had known each other
for many years. Civello was a partner in Marcello's racing wire
service and was active in leasing Marcello's slot machines to bars,
restaurants, and nightclubs in the Dallas area.
I simply do not believe this. Slot machines in bars and nightclubs?
If you do, or if John Davis thinks so, then you or him are heartily
invited to show me the evidence of it. Now, It might be possible
Slot machines? Oh my. That must indicate BIG TIME Mafia presence, eh?
Read some newspapers. Somerville has often had illegal video poker
machines in bars and private clubs.
Post by Greg Jaynes
that some select few private places had slot machines. But there
were no out in the open slot machines for the general public to
walk in and play.
Duh! Being hidden away does not mean it was legal. As I pointed out
before, when I went to the Tong businesses, they had hidden gambling in
the basements. Not legal.
Post by Greg Jaynes
Another thing, there defintely was gambling in Dallas.
There always was. But slot machines out in the open
didn't happen.
OK, not on the street corners. We get your point.
Post by Greg Jaynes
If someone from Marcellos outfit wanted to rent a floor
at the Adolphus and run some games, they could have
brought in some slot machines for it. But the first thing
they would have to do is go see Bill Decker. Decker
would approve or disapprove it. He would lay out the
rules that had to be followed. They would have to
keep everything in house, no violence, check out
when they left.
Yes, approve of illegal gambling.
Post by Greg Jaynes
This is why the mob didn't take over anything in Dallas.
Decker was in charge. He wasn't unreasonable about it.
He would work with you. This was his way of keeping
it under a lid. I have this from Charlie Tessmer, Fred Bruner,
Bill Alexander, Al Maddox and other people whom I would
not name without getting their permission.
Bill Alexander? The guy who made up the rumor that Oswald was an FBI
informant? Good source.
Post by Greg Jaynes
Post by Peter Fokes
FBI reports reveal
frequent telephone contact between Civello and Marcello throughout the
late fifties and early sixties and shared a friendship with another
Dallas family of Sicilian origin, active in the city's underworld, the
Campisis.
I don't dispute this as a fact. But the idea of the city's underworld
may be presenting a gothic darkness when left to the unchecked
imagination might lead to some misunderstandings. It has not
been established that there was a notable amount of activity.
If you don't look then you don't note.
Post by Greg Jaynes
Post by Peter Fokes
<quote off>
p. 140
Post by Greg Jaynes
Capt. Gannaway said that there is crime of
the type which normally feeds syndicates--
prostitution, drugs, gambling -- but its
manner of survival proves it is not well
organized in Dallas.
"We've made cases too manytimes," said
Gannaway. "They (Mafia) know we can do
it." Again he credited an "efficient"
district attorneys office and the juries
who convict.
<quote on>
The Dallas Police force was, for the perennial bachelor Ruby, his
chief hobby, his primary recreation. He knew by name at least 70,
perhaps 100 officers of the force and delighted in doing favours for
them..... would often hang around the headquarters for hours gassing
with his policeman buddies.
He would cosign loans for officers hard up
for cash.
Ruby didn't have any money himself. He lived in a dump
with a room mate. How could he sign for a bunch of
other people? But I would like to see the source for this
if you know where Davis got it.
How much money did he have on him and in his car that day?
Post by Greg Jaynes
Post by Peter Fokes
He would provide them with free drinks and arrange free
after-hours dates for them with his sexiest strippers. So extensive
and pervasive were Ruby's contacts with the police that they became
legendary in Dallas.
Don't say this to Bill Alexander. I asked him about it once and he
scoffed at the idea that Ruby had any juice at all. No doubt he
tried to pal up with the Dallas cops or "court the police dept."
as Fred Bruner put it. But he wasn't all that much different from
the 7-11 or Cabell convenience stores that give free coffee and
donuts to the cops. He just had a seedier way of doing it.
Well, didn't Ruby also bring in some sandwiches for the reporters that
weekend?
Post by Greg Jaynes
Post by Peter Fokes
<quote off>
p. 141
Post by Greg Jaynes
"The climate of Dallas is unsuccessful for
organized crime - call it what you want to",
he said. Cosa Nostra is a new term for the
veteran detective, he added but it is
probably the same as the Mafia or Black Hand.
The Dallas man {who} was captured at that
meeting (Appalachin) is under periodic
surveilance. Capt. Gannaway said there
may be members or organized crime in
Dallas practicing their trade elsewhere,
but not in Dallas.
<quote on>
Bobby Gene Moore was living in Oakland, California ... he stated that
while he was a clerk in the Civello and LaMonte Italian Importing
Company in Dallas, he came to 'suspect that [Joseph] Civello and his
partner Frank LaMonte were engaged in racket activities' because on
occasion they would pointedly not allow him to open certain cartons of
cheese imported from Italy, although that was his specific job. On the
basis of this, he came 'to believe Civello and LaMonte were importing
narcotics.' Moore further stated that Jack Ruby 'was also a frequent
visitor and associate of Civello and LaMonte.'
This is what I would suspect. But It's small time stuff.
Any impact on the narcoics market in Dallas was
probably overwhelmed by the Mexican importers.
Mexican importers handle local distribution in defiance of the local
Mafia? Is that how you think it works?
Post by Greg Jaynes
Post by Peter Fokes
p. 142
Read this New York Times article about the mob in decline.
Note the cities listed. Do a page search for Dallas. Count
how many times it comes up vs the other cities.
http://www.thelaborers.net/lexisnexis/articles/mob_in_decline.htm
Respectfully,
Greg Jaynes
Anthony Marsh
2007-12-28 02:41:08 UTC
Permalink
Post by Greg Jaynes
Post by Anthony Marsh
I don't remember saying "big time." Do you remember who it was who said
"big time"? Can we gang beat him?
"Mafia Kingfish was interesting for sure. However,
I do not think there has ever been any big time
Italian Mafia presence in Dallas."
That was all Martin needed to hear or read which
ever way you would say it.
The fact is; if I wanted to discuss Mafia presence
in Dallas, I could. I mean real Mafia presence.
Also note that all along that discussion, I have
limited it to Mafia thru the 1960's. Now, if you ever
want to discuss the Dixie Mafia hooking up with the
Italian Mafia, we need to progress to the 1970's.
But I don't think the posters in these threads have
actually progressed to the point of understanding it
as y'all still don't have the picture on how organized
crime in Dallas has been evolving. All I'm hearing is
a bunch of buffism nonsense. But that's ok cause I
wouldn't have expected anything else.
SO, the FBI are buffs?
Post by Greg Jaynes
Post by Anthony Marsh
Post by Greg Jaynes
First, I was just going by my own perceptions having grown up in Dallas.
What is called anecdotal evidence by some. What is called denial by
others. You never want to admit that your own city is a Mafia city. My own
city has always been a Mafia city. The Winter Hill Gang.
Yes, you are right on this but I don't hang my
hat on my own anecdotes. I can back up what
I say with independent third party sources.
And I backed up mine. What were they doing at Apalachin? Playing bridge
with little old ladies?
Post by Greg Jaynes
Still, I don't claim to be an expert on it.
I only have little pieces. I know people who
are experts who have been in contact with
them. Since I don't see them posting it on the
internet, I'll leave it to their judgement as to why.
Post by Anthony Marsh
Post by Greg Jaynes
Then, I dug out some articles to support it after you guys challanged me
on it.
Perceptions are very interesting things. In this issue, I don't think we
are really disagreeing on the facts as much as we are disagreeing on what
they mean.
Once some guy emailed me asking questions about Cliff Shasteen. I was in
Port Occonner just checking my email and did not have access to my boxes
of clippings and other info I have been collecting.
I had sent some illustrations to Gary Mack in the past so I passed him off
to Gary with the comment that Cliff's barber shop was at the corner of
Story and Shady Grove Rd.s in Irving, Gary came back on me with a
contradiction, that the barber shop was not at the corner and cited it's
address claiming it was a half a block away from that intersection. The
implication being, I didn't know what I was talking about.
Just so you know, I used to work for Cliff Shasteen. I went to school with
his son. I knew them personally. It was my first job in his donut shop
making $1 per hour. The donut shop was undoubtedly at the corner of the
roads I mentioned as it had been added on after the assassination. It was
like a strip center. I used to get haircuts in his barber shop by him and
the other barbers. I felt like I was in pretty good position to to explain
it. But no. instead of just listening, I found myself in an unexpected
challenge of my information with Gary referring to the shop as Clifftons
Barber Shop which is what it was listed as legally I suppose. But
everybody just called it Cliff's barber shop and that was what it said on
his sign.
Doesn't mean he was Mafia. I have had to deal with various Mafia types in
Boston. I once worked as a runner for an illegal charity company. So I
would have to go see the boss of literally every company in the area.
Sometimes I would have to go through the illegal Tong gambling basement to
see the Head Boss. One day I had to see the owner of a restaurant and when
I got to his office, his lieutenant asked to frisk me. I did not complain.
I knew that they were in the middle of a Mafia War and he was trying to
stay neutral. He was also a big name in horse racing. I assured him that I
was neutral, realized that he was being neutral and hoped that things
worked out ok. Rather than just take his money, I offered to help him set
up his ad to look nice. At the end he apologized for having to frisk me
and thanked me for my understanding. My father worked at North Station and
often ate lunch at a very local Italian restaurant. They made the best
lasagna. As he informed me, all the local Mafiosi had agreed that this
particular Italian restaurant would be neutral territory.
This is an interesting story. Why have you been holding out?
Ok, is there anything else I need to know about you?
Yes. My old landlord was a distant relative of the Genovese family.
Post by Greg Jaynes
Post by Anthony Marsh
Post by Greg Jaynes
The point is; when you read something, you get a mental image of it. It is
not necessarily the reality of the situation. But when you know what you
are talking about from first hand experience, it is a different matter
altogether. Now, I'm not claimimng to have had any first hand knowledge of
the Mafia in or out of Dallas but I do know that there was never anything
in the news about the Mafia as I was growing up. It is enough for me to
If there was a cover-up of course there would be nothing in the news. How
many times does The Boston Globe run a story naming the Boston Mafia boss
and detailing his relationship with the Mayor?
See. Nothing like these type connections occured in
Dallas up thru the 1960's or even since really.
Respectfully,
Greg Jaynes
Dave Reitzes
2007-12-23 00:30:01 UTC
Permalink
Greg,
Post by Greg Jaynes
After Novemeber, I just kind of got caught up or lightly
interested in discussing issues mostly superfically.
I didn't want to get roiled into any debate. I didn't want
to read another BS �assassination book. I didn't want
to come to Dallas and dig out my files for the sake
of answering someone who wouldn't appreciate it or
accept it anyway.
So here I was, fat dumb and happy �and casually
commented that that there never was a big time
Mafia presence in Dallas. Of course I know how
assassination buffs will look at red and insist it is
blue but I was a little surprised that Martin Shackleford
comes out of no where and lays it out that I am not a
credible source about it and has the stones to use Jim
Gatewood as a source to contradict me.
Thank you for the information. I'm glad I didn't waste my money on
Gatewood's book.

Please note, however, that Martin outspokenly endorses the credibility
of not only Judyth "Oswald's CIA-cancer-prodigy mistress" Baker, as
well as a convicted drug dealer named Michael Riconosciuto who claims
to support some of Judyth's story -- and also claims to have worked
for the CIA, met personally with Osama Bin Laden on one occasion, and
to have attended the actual autopsy of an extraterrestrial being. See:

http://groups.google.com/group/alt.assassination.jfk/msg/a60898b16fbd6bf0

In other words, you needn't lose much sleep over whether Martin
Shackelford considers you a credible source.
Post by Greg Jaynes
I have already impeached Gatewood as a credible source
of factual information. I could go on but I'm just not going to
do it mainly because I don't give a rats ass about debating
over him or his books or his claim to be a historian.
But now that I am in Dallas and have access to my very
large set of Dallas files and resources I will go ahead and
offer a couple of sources supporting my innocent claim that
there was no big time Mafia presence in Dallas.
I can provide more but I'm having to type this and what would be
the point? Buffs call red blue anyway. This is for anyone who
read the Marcello thread and is rational.
OFFICER SAYS SYNDICATED CRIME
DOUBTFUL IN DALLAS -
Dallas Morning News October 8, 1963
By John Gedde
Detective Capt. W.P. Gannaway gave three
reasons Monday for Dallas being a prime
plum but forbidden fruit for Cosa Nostra
type syndicated crime.
Capt. Gannaway, head of the Dallas Police
Departments Vice, narcotics and intelligence
bureaus, credited the police force, the
district attorneys office and good juries
for keeping big time crime out of the city.
Altough a suspected Cosa Nostra kingpin lives
in North Dallas, there has been no major
attempt by a syndicate to move into the
city in "10 or 12 years". At that time,
Gannaway said, Chicago hoods had their plans
foiled by Dallas officers.
Capt. Gannaway said that there is crime of
the type which normally feeds syndicates--
prostitution, drugs, gambling -- but its
manner of survival proves it is not well
organized in Dallas.
"We've made cases too manytimes," said
Gannaway. "They (Mafia) know we can do
it." Again he credited an "efficient"
district attorneys office and the juries
who convict.
"The climate of Dallas is unsuccessful for
organized crime - call it what you want to",
he said. Cosa Nostra is a new term for the
veteran detective, he added but it is
probably the same as the Mafia or Black Hand.
The Dallas man {who} was captured at that
meeting (Appalachin) is under periodic
surveilance. Capt. Gannaway said there
may be members or organized crime in
Dallas practicing their trade elsewhere,
but not in Dallas.
COSA NOSTRA ACTIVITY LIMITED IN TEXAS,
CRIME FIGHTERS SAY - Dallas Morning News
Sept 15, 1965 - Mike Quinn
The Southwest in general and Texas in particular
have been given a "low priority" as far as federal
investigation and surveillance are concerned in the
crackdown on organized crime and racketeering in
the United States.
It was learned Tuesday that law enforcement officials
are interested from a national crime stand point
primarily in only two men in Texas who are believed
to have definite ties to the Costa Nostra crime
syndicate.
One of them is said to live in Dallas, the other
in Houston.
Informed sources indicated that Cosa Nostra, in it's
tie-ups across the land, basically skips Texas except
for the Dallas and Houston contacts.
The term "low priority" refers to the amount of Cosa
Nostra activity as well as the amount of counter
federal-local law enforcement activity which is
required to meet racketeering efforts.
The Texas area is not one of the more active areas as
far as national crime is concerned.
-------------------------
'ORGANIZED' CRIME IN DALLAS?
Dallas Morning News July 8, 1969
by Mike Kingston Editorial staff writer
{Kingston questions Tim Timmins, Asst.
U.S. Attorney and chief federal prosecutor
in Dallas and North Texas.
KINGSTON - There is a great deal of discussion
about "organized" crime locally and nationally.
Just what do you mean when you discuss
"organized" crime?
TIMMINS - Ordinarily when people think of
organized crime they are thinking in terms of
the criminal operations sometimes referred to
as the Mafia, Coda Nostra or
"The Organization."
KINGSTON - Does there seem to be a structured
criminal organization in Dallas and the North
Texas area, or a loose confederation of groups?
TIMMINS - There does appear to ba an organization
of criminals to the extent that there are full-time
burglers and narcotic dealers residing here who
sometimes associate in a loosley knit manner.
KINGSTON - Is the Mafia or Cosa Nostra influence
identifiable in local operations?
TIMMINS - During my eight years with the U.S.
Attorneys Office in Dallas, I have seen no
evidence pf Mafia operations or influence in the
North Texas area.
There is one man who resides in Dallas who attended
the Appalachia , N.Y., meeting in November, 1957,
which 53 underworld leaders were known to attend.
If the Mafia or Cosa Nostra (the terms are synonymous)
has influence in the North Texas area, it is submerged
and not discerned by federal investigative agencies.
...... Dallas remains substantially free of the
pervading and corrupting influence of organized crime.
----------------
Respectfully,
Greg Jaynes
Dave
Greg Jaynes
2007-12-24 22:06:54 UTC
Permalink
Post by Dave Reitzes
Greg,
Post by Greg Jaynes
After Novemeber, I just kind of got caught up or lightly
interested in discussing issues mostly superfically.
I didn't want to get roiled into any debate. I didn't want
to read another BS �assassination book. I didn't want
to come to Dallas and dig out my files for the sake
of answering someone who wouldn't appreciate it or
accept it anyway.
So here I was, fat dumb and happy �and casually
commented that that there never was a big time
Mafia presence in Dallas. Of course I know how
assassination buffs will look at red and insist it is
blue but I was a little surprised that Martin Shackleford
comes out of no where and lays it out that I am not a
credible source about it and has the stones to use Jim
Gatewood as a source to contradict me.
Thank you for the information. I'm glad I didn't waste my money on
Gatewood's book.
Please note, however, that Martin outspokenly endorses the credibility
of not only Judyth "Oswald's CIA-cancer-prodigy mistress" Baker, as
well as a convicted drug dealer named Michael Riconosciuto who claims
to support some of Judyth's story -- and also claims to have worked
for the CIA, met personally with Osama Bin Laden on one occasion, and
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.assassination.jfk/msg/a60898b16fbd...
In other words, you needn't lose much sleep over whether Martin
Shackelford considers you a credible source.
Hello Dave and merry Christmas to you.

I won't loose any sleep over it but I really hate to see it.
I have always had the highest respect for Martin Shackleford.
The Judith stuff didn't matter. I never really followed it
anyway.

Respectfully,
Greg Jaynes
Anthony Marsh
2007-12-25 20:28:44 UTC
Permalink
Post by Greg Jaynes
Post by Dave Reitzes
Greg,
Post by Greg Jaynes
After Novemeber, I just kind of got caught up or lightly
interested in discussing issues mostly superfically.
I didn't want to get roiled into any debate. I didn't want
to read another BS �assassination book. I didn't want
to come to Dallas and dig out my files for the sake
of answering someone who wouldn't appreciate it or
accept it anyway.
So here I was, fat dumb and happy �and casually
commented that that there never was a big time
Mafia presence in Dallas. Of course I know how
assassination buffs will look at red and insist it is
blue but I was a little surprised that Martin Shackleford
comes out of no where and lays it out that I am not a
credible source about it and has the stones to use Jim
Gatewood as a source to contradict me.
Thank you for the information. I'm glad I didn't waste my money on
Gatewood's book.
Please note, however, that Martin outspokenly endorses the credibility
of not only Judyth "Oswald's CIA-cancer-prodigy mistress" Baker, as
well as a convicted drug dealer named Michael Riconosciuto who claims
to support some of Judyth's story -- and also claims to have worked
for the CIA, met personally with Osama Bin Laden on one occasion, and
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.assassination.jfk/msg/a60898b16fbd...
In other words, you needn't lose much sleep over whether Martin
Shackelford considers you a credible source.
Hello Dave and merry Christmas to you.
I won't loose any sleep over it but I really hate to see it.
I have always had the highest respect for Martin Shackleford.
The Judith stuff didn't matter. I never really followed it
anyway.
Why should anyone waste any time on it when there are much more important
things to research?
Peter Fokes
2007-12-23 05:02:54 UTC
Permalink
Post by Greg Jaynes
After Novemeber, I just kind of got caught up or lightly
interested in discussing issues mostly superfically.
I didn't want to get roiled into any debate. I didn't want
to read another BS assassination book. I didn't want
to come to Dallas and dig out my files for the sake
of answering someone who wouldn't appreciate it or
accept it anyway.
So here I was, fat dumb and happy and casually
commented that that there never was a big time
Mafia presence in Dallas. Of course I know how
assassination buffs will look at red and insist it is
blue but I was a little surprised that Martin Shackleford
comes out of no where and lays it out that I am not a
credible source about it and has the stones to use Jim
Gatewood as a source to contradict me.
I have already impeached Gatewood as a credible source
of factual information. I could go on but I'm just not going to
do it mainly because I don't give a rats ass about debating
over him or his books or his claim to be a historian.
But now that I am in Dallas and have access to my very
large set of Dallas files and resources I will go ahead and
offer a couple of sources supporting my innocent claim that
there was no big time Mafia presence in Dallas.
I can provide more but I'm having to type this and what would be
the point? Buffs call red blue anyway. This is for anyone who
read the Marcello thread and is rational.
OFFICER SAYS SYNDICATED CRIME
DOUBTFUL IN DALLAS -
Dallas Morning News October 8, 1963
By John Gedde
Detective Capt. W.P. Gannaway gave three
reasons Monday for Dallas being a prime
plum but forbidden fruit for Cosa Nostra
type syndicated crime.
Mmm

Wonder where John Davis got this idea in his book Mafia Kingfish:

<quote on>

In the Dallas of 1963 the MArcellos were able to operate at their
pleasure, unimpeded by the law, for in the best family tradition, the
most important acquisition they had made in the city had been the
Dallas Police Force.

<quote off>

p. 140

Gannaway was quoted in 1963?
Post by Greg Jaynes
Capt. Gannaway, head of the Dallas Police
Departments Vice, narcotics and intelligence
bureaus, credited the police force, the
district attorneys office and good juries
for keeping big time crime out of the city.
<quote on>

Joe Civello was one of the 59 Mafia leaders arrested at the 1957 Mafia
conclave in Apalachin, So close had he been to Carlos Marcello at the
time that Carlos had made him his representative at the upstate New
York meeting. A few days after Civello returned to Dallas from
Apalachin, to an avalanche of adverse publicity in the local papers,
he was observed having dinner with a Dallas Police sergeant by the
name of Patrick T. Dean, who once admitted that the Dallas Police "had
no trouble with the Italian families." Six years later it was Sergeant
Dean who was in charge of basement security when an associate of Joe
Civello's, Jack Ruby, entered the basement of Dallas Police
headquarters and murdered Lee Harvey Oswald in front of over seventy
armed police officers.

<quote off>

p. 140
Post by Greg Jaynes
Altough a suspected Cosa Nostra kingpin lives
in North Dallas, there has been no major
attempt by a syndicate to move into the
city in "10 or 12 years". At that time,
Gannaway said, Chicago hoods had their plans
foiled by Dallas officers.
<quote on>

By the fall of 1963 [Civello and Marcello] ... had known each other
for many years. Civello was a partner in Marcello's racing wire
service and was active in leasing Marcello's slot machines to bars,
restaurants, and nightclubs in the Dallas area. FBI reports reveal
frequent telephone contact between Civello and Marcello throughout the
late fifties and early sixties and shared a friendship with another
Dallas family of Sicilian origin, active in the city's underworld, the
Campisis.

<quote off>
p. 140
Post by Greg Jaynes
Capt. Gannaway said that there is crime of
the type which normally feeds syndicates--
prostitution, drugs, gambling -- but its
manner of survival proves it is not well
organized in Dallas.
"We've made cases too manytimes," said
Gannaway. "They (Mafia) know we can do
it." Again he credited an "efficient"
district attorneys office and the juries
who convict.
<quote on>

The Dallas Police force was, for the perennial bachelor Ruby, his
chief hobby, his primary recreation. He knew by name at least 70,
perhaps 100 officers of the force and delighted in doing favours for
them..... would often hang around the headquarters for hours gassing
with his policeman buddies. He would cosign loans for officers hard up
for cash. He would provide them with free drinks and arrange free
after-hours dates for them with his sexiest strippers. So extensive
and pervasive were Ruby's contacts with the police that they became
legendary in Dallas.

<quote off>

p. 141
Post by Greg Jaynes
"The climate of Dallas is unsuccessful for
organized crime - call it what you want to",
he said. Cosa Nostra is a new term for the
veteran detective, he added but it is
probably the same as the Mafia or Black Hand.
The Dallas man {who} was captured at that
meeting (Appalachin) is under periodic
surveilance. Capt. Gannaway said there
may be members or organized crime in
Dallas practicing their trade elsewhere,
but not in Dallas.
<quote on>

Bobby Gene Moore was living in Oakland, California ... he stated that
while he was a clerk in the Civello and LaMonte Italian Importing
Company in Dallas, he came to 'suspect that [Joseph] Civello and his
partner Frank LaMonte were engaged in racket activities' because on
occasion they would pointedly not allow him to open certain cartons of
cheese imported from Italy, although that was his specific job. On the
basis of this, he came 'to believe Civello and LaMonte were importing
narcotics.' Moore further stated that Jack Ruby 'was also a frequent
visitor and associate of Civello and LaMonte.'

<quote off>

p. 142
Post by Greg Jaynes
COSA NOSTRA ACTIVITY LIMITED IN TEXAS,
CRIME FIGHTERS SAY - Dallas Morning News
Sept 15, 1965 - Mike Quinn
The Southwest in general and Texas in particular
have been given a "low priority" as far as federal
investigation and surveillance are concerned in the
crackdown on organized crime and racketeering in
the United States.
It was learned Tuesday that law enforcement officials
are interested from a national crime stand point
primarily in only two men in Texas who are believed
to have definite ties to the Costa Nostra crime
syndicate.
One of them is said to live in Dallas, the other
in Houston.
Informed sources indicated that Cosa Nostra, in it's
tie-ups across the land, basically skips Texas except
for the Dallas and Houston contacts.
The term "low priority" refers to the amount of Cosa
Nostra activity as well as the amount of counter
federal-local law enforcement activity which is
required to meet racketeering efforts.
The Texas area is not one of the more active areas as
far as national crime is concerned.
-------------------------
'ORGANIZED' CRIME IN DALLAS?
Dallas Morning News July 8, 1969
by Mike Kingston Editorial staff writer
{Kingston questions Tim Timmins, Asst.
U.S. Attorney and chief federal prosecutor
in Dallas and North Texas.
KINGSTON - There is a great deal of discussion
about "organized" crime locally and nationally.
Just what do you mean when you discuss
"organized" crime?
TIMMINS - Ordinarily when people think of
organized crime they are thinking in terms of
the criminal operations sometimes referred to
as the Mafia, Coda Nostra or
"The Organization."
KINGSTON - Does there seem to be a structured
criminal organization in Dallas and the North
Texas area, or a loose confederation of groups?
TIMMINS - There does appear to ba an organization
of criminals to the extent that there are full-time
burglers and narcotic dealers residing here who
sometimes associate in a loosley knit manner.
KINGSTON - Is the Mafia or Cosa Nostra influence
identifiable in local operations?
TIMMINS - During my eight years with the U.S.
Attorneys Office in Dallas, I have seen no
evidence pf Mafia operations or influence in the
North Texas area.
There is one man who resides in Dallas who attended
the Appalachia , N.Y., meeting in November, 1957,
which 53 underworld leaders were known to attend.
If the Mafia or Cosa Nostra (the terms are synonymous)
has influence in the North Texas area, it is submerged
and not discerned by federal investigative agencies.
...... Dallas remains substantially free of the
pervading and corrupting influence of organized crime.
----------------
Respectfully,
Greg Jaynes
Ya just cannot believe everyhting ya read in the local paper, eh?


Peter Fokes
curtjester1
2007-12-28 02:40:50 UTC
Permalink
From what I have read in the past:

Marcello had an interest in a vehicle dealership in Dallas.

Regis Kennedy who was FBI in New Orleans when pressed about the inability
to get at Marcello, offered that he was a tomato salesman. He was the one
that confiscated Beverly Oliver's film of the assassination.

Jack Ruby was an FBI informant, not that he was a gung ho on law
enforcement so much, but so he could inform the FBI when there was
competetion come through he didn't like. Jack Ruby was the sole person
that heroin came through via Cuba. (Contract On America). Jack Ruby owned
three clubs in Dallas....and wanted to open up one in Turtle Creek.

Campisi, Meyers (from Chicago), and Ruby went into the office to make
phone calls on assassination eve while dining that took over a half an
hour.

People that were in the company of either the Carousel Club or Jack Ruby.
David Ferrie, Lee Oswald, Guy Bannister, George deMorenshildt, and H.L.
Hunt.

CJ
Post by Greg Jaynes
After Novemeber, I just kind of got caught up or lightly
interested in discussing issues mostly superfically.
I didn't want to get roiled into any debate. I didn't want
to read another BS  assassination book. I didn't want
to come to Dallas and dig out my files for the sake
of answering someone who wouldn't appreciate it or
accept it anyway.
So here I was, fat dumb and happy  and casually
commented that that there never was a big time
Mafia presence in Dallas. Of course I know how
assassination buffs will look at red and insist it is
blue but I was a little surprised that Martin Shackleford
comes out of no where and lays it out that I am not a
credible source about it and has the stones to use Jim
Gatewood as a source to contradict me.
I have already impeached Gatewood as a credible source
of factual information. I could go on but I'm just not going to
do it mainly because I don't give a rats ass about debating
over him or his books or his claim to be a historian.
But now that I am in Dallas and have access to my very
large set of Dallas files and resources I will go ahead and
offer a couple of sources supporting my innocent claim that
there was no big time Mafia presence in Dallas.
I can provide more but I'm having to type this and what would be
the point? Buffs call red blue anyway. This is for anyone who
read the Marcello thread and is rational.
OFFICER SAYS SYNDICATED CRIME
DOUBTFUL IN DALLAS -
Dallas Morning News October 8, 1963
By John Gedde
Detective Capt. W.P. Gannaway gave three
reasons Monday for Dallas being a prime
plum but forbidden fruit for Cosa Nostra
type syndicated crime.
Capt. Gannaway, head of the Dallas Police
Departments Vice, narcotics and intelligence
bureaus, credited the police force, the
district attorneys office and good juries
for keeping big time crime out of the city.
Altough a suspected Cosa Nostra kingpin lives
in North Dallas, there has been no major
attempt by a syndicate to move into the
city in "10 or 12 years". At that time,
Gannaway said, Chicago hoods had their plans
foiled by Dallas officers.
Capt. Gannaway said that there is crime of
the type which normally feeds syndicates--
prostitution, drugs, gambling -- but its
manner of survival proves it is not well
organized in Dallas.
"We've made cases too manytimes," said
Gannaway. "They (Mafia) know we can do
it." Again he credited an "efficient"
district attorneys office and the juries
who convict.
"The climate of Dallas is unsuccessful for
organized crime - call it what you want to",
he said. Cosa Nostra is a new term for the
veteran detective, he added but it is
probably the same as the Mafia or Black Hand.
The Dallas man {who} was captured at that
meeting (Appalachin) is under periodic
surveilance. Capt. Gannaway said there
may be members or organized crime in
Dallas practicing their trade elsewhere,
but not in Dallas.
COSA NOSTRA ACTIVITY LIMITED IN TEXAS,
CRIME FIGHTERS SAY - Dallas Morning News
Sept 15, 1965 - Mike Quinn
The Southwest in general and Texas in particular
have been given a "low priority" as far as federal
investigation and surveillance are concerned in the
crackdown on organized crime and racketeering in
the United States.
It was learned Tuesday that law enforcement officials
are interested from a national crime stand point
primarily in only two men in Texas who are believed
to have definite ties to the Costa Nostra crime
syndicate.
One of them is said to live in Dallas, the other
in Houston.
Informed sources indicated that Cosa Nostra, in it's
tie-ups across the land, basically skips Texas except
for the Dallas and Houston contacts.
The term "low priority" refers to the amount of Cosa
Nostra activity as well as the amount of counter
federal-local law enforcement activity which is
required to meet racketeering efforts.
The Texas area is not one of the more active areas as
far as national crime is concerned.
-------------------------
'ORGANIZED' CRIME IN DALLAS?
Dallas Morning News July 8, 1969
by Mike Kingston Editorial staff writer
{Kingston questions Tim Timmins, Asst.
U.S. Attorney and chief federal prosecutor
in Dallas and North Texas.
KINGSTON - There is a great deal of discussion
about "organized" crime locally and nationally.
Just what do you mean when you discuss
"organized" crime?
TIMMINS - Ordinarily when people think of
organized crime they are thinking in terms of
the criminal operations sometimes referred to
as the Mafia, Coda Nostra or
"The Organization."
KINGSTON - Does there seem to be a structured
criminal organization in Dallas and the North
Texas area, or a loose confederation of groups?
TIMMINS - There does appear to ba an organization
of criminals to the extent that there are full-time
burglers and narcotic dealers residing here who
sometimes associate in a loosley knit manner.
KINGSTON - Is the Mafia or Cosa Nostra influence
identifiable in local operations?
TIMMINS - During my eight years with the U.S.
Attorneys Office in Dallas, I have seen no
evidence pf Mafia operations or influence in the
North Texas area.
There is one man who resides in Dallas who attended
the Appalachia , N.Y., meeting in November, 1957,
which 53 underworld leaders were known to attend.
If the Mafia or Cosa Nostra (the terms are synonymous)
has influence in the North Texas area, it is submerged
and not discerned by federal investigative agencies.
...... Dallas remains substantially free of the
pervading and corrupting influence of organized crime.
----------------
Respectfully,
Greg Jaynes
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