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Post by Michael on Jun 6, 2007 19:52:31 GMT -5
Means was last seen leaving the McLean home on Monday, March 14, 1932 with the $100,000 in a box under his arm. On April 21, 1932, Means told Mrs. McLean that at 3 o'clock that morning he was on his way up from Concord, NC, by car, and he got near a bridge near Alexandria, Virginia, and he was stopped by a man who was swinging a red lantern. This man, Means claimed, gave him the secret number that had been assigned to Mrs. McLean and asked him for the $100,000. Means, so his story goes, told this man the money was supposed to be turned over to Father Hurney only but this man informed Means the plans had changed and insisted on Means turning the money over to him. Means thinking it must be so due to him having the secret number complied.
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Post by gary on Jun 7, 2007 10:06:36 GMT -5
Thanks Michael. I've read this account and know of the numbers 11 and 19. My questions specifically was where did the money go after this? Do we pass this over too easily because of the association of Whittaker and the con artists they were. Maybe it was just a scam against McLean. Many believe there could be a confederacy and not just Hauptmann and Fisch. Was there a brains in the group that discovered through Means it would be so much easier to get a payoff . Then allow Hauptmann, Fisch, and/or whoever CJ was struggle through a direct ransom through Condon. Might it be interesting to reflect how well Means knew of this Nosovitsky? Is it any significance that Mean's worked for a German ambassador in the past?
I read some money was discovered but not designated as McLean's because of the denominations found. Why was Means so satisfied with the judgement against him 15-20 years only to die in 1938? How would he ever use this money?
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Post by Michael on Jun 7, 2007 19:30:49 GMT -5
There were actually 2 different trials concerning Means and McLean. The first was for the $104,000 and the second for attempting to defraud her out of $35,000. There were different numbers representing different people. You know me, I think its important to spell all of this out. # 11 was Mrs. McLean. #19 was to designate the Kidnappers or any Member of the kidnapping group. #27 was to represent Hogan (McLean's Attorney) #999 was to represent Means. As I understand it, they didn't have to be those numbers exactly but could be a series of numbers whose total equal those numbers. Means is a perfect example concerning the Cop/Criminal co-existing in the same body. He disproves any notion that Cops "would not do this" or "would not do that." As I have said before.... Most weren't Saints and followed their own moral compass as to how far they might go. Means, ex-FBI, ex-Burns Detective Agent, ex-German Spy, was most of all a monumental liar. Even if he told the truth how could anyone ever believe him? In fact, he seemed to be toying with Gov. Hoffman writing very lengthy letters confessing in some, pointing the finger of blame in others, and I think both in another I have read. He didn't know where the money went. Then it was hidden under his steps. Then it was invested with Max Greenberg who had been murdered in April '33. Both Sue and Rick posted Rice's material involving Means prior to March 1st. I have found another source to independently back up this allegation. I don't like to shrug anything off so I am open to any suggestions someone might have concerning this angle. I will also help anyone with by researching specific questions concerning this angle (as best I can).
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Post by rmc1971 on Jun 11, 2007 15:42:33 GMT -5
I'm interested to know what ties Means to Noso? Is there documentation that they had connections in the past?
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Post by Michael on Jun 13, 2007 21:19:54 GMT -5
One source that I recall is Casimir Palmer but I believe he is speculating. I will dig through his file and post what I find soon. Here is a link which gives a little back round on him: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casimir_Pilenas
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Post by Michael on Jun 14, 2007 7:20:24 GMT -5
I've posted a document written by Palmer in the Member's Section here: lindberghkidnap.proboards56.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=source&thread=1180738742&page=1He seems to be drawing conclusions based upon what he's heard (hearsay) or his instincts as an Investigator. He seems focused on the connection of the Wall Street Bombing which of course relates to his personal theory. There's also Behn's book where on p367 & p371 he not only has Noso claiming to be associated with Means but tries to tie the payment from Means to him. Anyway, it's something to consider and one would expect they may have crossed paths or may have at least known one another. As I continue to research through my material I'll keep my eyes out for more as it relates to your question. Another of the Investigators utilized by Hoffman during his "re-investigation" was Raymond C. Schindler. www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,869182,00.html He was an already famous Detective who had headed up the Burns Detective Agency NY Office before starting his own Agency. Being a little pro-active I searched his material expecting to see that he knew Means but while the subject came up I didn't see anything mentioned that he knew him personally or worked with him, etc. So I suppose my point here is that its easy to draw conclusions concerning possible connections but a little harder to prove them. As a side-note: Schindler was one of the few Detectives actually paid by Governor Hoffman to conduct work on this case. He was a very good Detective. I have seen some uninformed people, masquerading as experts in this case, say that Hoffman's material never amounted to much. They are wrong and Schindler's investigations prove as much. People say a lot of things but do they have anything to back up or substantiate what they say? Some even haven't gone so far as to look through the material but declare it worthless nevertheless. I think we've all learned as early as the 1st Grade this shouldn't be done yet...... What I can tell you is that my first go-around through the Hoffman Collections lead me to the conclusion that Schindler's Investigations were of little value. But some 7 years later, as I became aware of who these people were, what the subject line was at the time, and why this investigation was occurring - then things started to fall into place and why they're so valuable.
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Post by Michael on Jun 16, 2007 8:33:55 GMT -5
One person who was quite familiar with Jacob Nosovitzky was Max Sherwood. He was another PI involved in assisting the Governor. Textile Strike Bulletin The United Front of the Workers Against the United Front of the Bosses Vol. 1 No. 19 Passaic, N. J., Thursday July 8, 1926
Still 100% Strong
Our Union Is More Powerful Today Than It
Has Ever Been Since Strike Started
Mill Owners Hire Spy in Frame-up of Weisbord
Clumsy Efforts of Bosses against Leader Act as Boomerang Albert Weisbord, strike leader, received notice through the capitalist press on Thursday that the bosses are at work in a new frame-up attempt against him.
A "breach of promise suit" brought by an unknown person designated as "Rosalind Lapnore" address not given, has been filed against him in the Supreme Court of the state of New York.
Not only is the complaint a fake on the face of it, but even the service of the papers have been framed up, for although Weisbord has not been served with the papers, court records state that he was served at a Second avenue address on Wednesday afternoon. An attaché of the court has reported back that the papers have been served although Weisbord was in Passaic all day on Wednesday.
"The whole story is ridiculous, said Weisbord. The case is a clear frame-up such as is always tried in every big strike. If they can't frame the leaders for instigating riots or uttering seditious statements they try something like this."
"In the early weeks of the strike I predicted to the workers that the bosses would try to frame me up on all of these charges. The workers will not be fooled on this new attack on their leader."
Jacob Nosovitski, private detective and self-styled "famous international spy," who brought the mysterious woman described as "Rosalind Lapmore" into the office of Attorney Henry Margoshes, No. 302 Broadway, on Wednesday to institute a $50,000 breach of promise suit against Weisbord was employed by officials of the Botany Worsted Mills on his statement that he could end the strike within ten days. This was three weeks ago. He is said to have been known to them under the name of "Harry Sanders."
Weisbord has announced his intention to start proceedings to clear his name in a suit which he charges is a "frame-up." Max Sherwood, President of the Eagle Detective Agency, No. 1452 Broadway, said yesterday that Nosovitski came to his agency about three weeks ago, and submitted to him several proposals to end the textile strike. These proposals, Sherwood said, "were not to my liking." He said he informed Nosovitski that he would have nothing to do with the case.
Sherwood admitted that he had employed both Nosovitski and the "spy's" wife several years ago. At that time they were known as Jacob and Estelle Nosow.
"Nosovitski had been hired by Nathan S. Shaw, a private detective specializing in industrial work," said Sherwood. Shaw had been in negotiation with the Botany Mills. He had proposed to them that he had a man who had promised to end the strike for a stipulated sum. The amount agreed, according to Shaw's version, was $20,000. I am informed that the Botany Mills advanced expenses to bring Nosow to Passaic. Nosow in reality Nosovitski, did not unfold his plan of ending the strike, but did mention that he could obtain sufficient evidence to warrant Weisbord's prosecution by the Federal authorities.
"It was following this that Nosovitski came to my office. I have a number of witnesses who were present the day that Nosovitski called on me." www.weisbord.org/
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Post by Michael on Aug 17, 2007 6:12:24 GMT -5
So many stories coming from Means that it's hard to believe anything. Yet, within each version he releases some information that has you wondering to yourself what he really knew or didn't know. This is reflected in particularly the Governors Memos where he comments that, in essence, has no choice but to ignore him because his various accounts and internationally known reputation for being the most "monumental liar" in the Country. Yet they still read everything he decided to write and so did Hoover. So many statements, letters, and testimony from trials. It's almost impossible to cross them there's so many variations which he seems to do on purpose. Anyway - I came across something interesting concerning Lindbergh's practical "joke" in which he pretended his son had been kidnapped. Means knew about this: Colonel Lindbergh had played an innocent practical joke on an occasion at his home by hiding his child and pretending that he had been kidnapped. (Means to Hartman 5/33) This is one of those tidbits of information that looks really bad having been brought out by A&M's book. Their source appeared to be Liberty Magazine from what I remember and their were challenges to it as a result. I found legitimate source for it coming from an interview with either Gow or Mrs. Whateley. But how did Means know about it? Was this event so widely known about - then? What this tells me is that Means may have, at one time or another, did a little homework on Lindbergh. But this homework could have very well been done after his involvement in order to give himself a little creditability. The troubling aspect is Rice's affidavit which throws suspicion on Means prior to the kidnapping. So how was the ladder used in Mean's version of events? Again, if interested I could try to cross all of my material to find out all of them but here is one: The ladder was used to look in the window, to be sure the child was in the room and not to bring the child out of the room on the ladder. (Means to Hartman 5/33) And so, at least in this version, we have another of the "hoaxers" [Curtis] saying the door was used to remove the child and not the ladder. For me, if you are going to assemble the ladder, climb it, then look into the window it means you've already opened the shutter. What stops you from seeing if the window is open too? Also remember in Hauptmann's version of O.J.'s " If I Did It," in his interviews with Liebowitz, he too said he would have used the door.
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Post by rmc1971 on Aug 17, 2007 6:49:51 GMT -5
I would guess he weaseled the info about Lindbergh's prank kidnapping from Mrs. MacLean. However, I'm sure it's possible he had other sources who were friends/acquaintances with the family.
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Post by rick3 on Aug 17, 2007 10:29:31 GMT -5
Michael: there is a bit more to Gaston's Tale: The Frederick Post 5-13-35
" Gaston B. Means testified in DC Supreme Court today that the Lindbergh baby was stolen by NJ rum runners.
"Continuing the story he began yesterday in testifying that in his own behalf, Means said: Max Hassel and Max Greenberg were responsible for the kidnapping. He added that he did not know the two men but that they had sold beer to the Lindbergh servants.
"Means said: Irving Fenton deceived previously by him as one of these responsible for the kidnap, had told him that CAL as a practical joke on occasions had placed his baby in a closet and told the servants that the baby was stolen"
"This JOKE, said Means gave the kidnappers the idea of how to take the baby. One of the members of the ring did go to the Lindbergh house with beer, slipped the unwatched baby from the crib, and went away with him.
Anyone have a lead on this Irving Fenton character? Rather conveniently for Means, Hassel and Greenberg were killed in the Elizabeth-Carteret Hotel on April 12, 1933 in Elizabeth, NJ.
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Post by Michael on Aug 18, 2007 8:43:32 GMT -5
I've thought the exact same thing about McLean but then one has to wonder how she found out about it. I recall the local police had been aware and since Means had been an ex-Fbi Agent as well as a Burns man then its quite possible he had several sources to this end. Your other point is also possible. I am searching for a published account of such an event, however unlikely, to make sure it was privileged information.
There's much more then a bit. Again, there is so much its quite overwhelming.
The problem is, as the Governor, Hoover, and just about anyone with ties to Means knew, if something came from Means - it could not be trusted. Anyone trusting Means turned out to look like a fool in the end. Condon acted the part but Means was the part.
Irving Fenton, according to Means, was an alias for James Feldman. Feldman was supposed to be an agent for Max Hassel. He was supposed to be a Russian Jew, dark complected, 5'7", 175lbs., 35 years old.
Again, this is coming from one version of events that Means told so if I cross it with other versions I expect to see some differences AND it simply cannot be trusted.
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Post by rick3 on Aug 18, 2007 11:05:50 GMT -5
Michael--all agreed about Means--he made up tons of stories, lies, obfuscations and imaginary people to extort 10s of 100s of $1000s if not millions....nevertheless it gets better:
The New York Times claims that James Feldman is aka Max Hassel:
TWO SLAIN IN HOTEL IN JERSEY RUM WAR; James Feldman and Joseph Greenberg Shot in Elaborate Suite in Elizabeth. SLAYERS ESCAPE UNSEEN Rooms Declared Headquarters for Liquor Ring -- One Victim Linked to AI Lillian. April 13, 1933, Thursday Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES.
ELIZABETH, N.J., April 12. -- Two men were shot dead late this afternoon in an elaborate suite occupying most of the eighth floor of the Elizabeth Carteret Hotel here. The slayers escaped unseen. The suite, according to the police, was the headquarters for the principal local bootleg ring. James Feldman (33) is the leading bootlegger of Reading Pa. and a close friend and associate of Al Lillien, who was shot dad March 23rd in the old Oscar Hammerstien Mansion at Atlantic Highlands NJ once raided by Federal agents as the headquarters of the biggest run-running ring along the coast. The police said tonight that they had established that Feldmans true name was Mendel Gassel and that he had also used the alias Max Hassel./ end
So if James Feldman is Irving Fenton then he is also Max Hassel??? (1-2-3) I found one other reference that Feldman is a Young Purple/ pg 122/ Kravitz. Why do I get the feeling that JJ Nosovitsky fits in here somewhere's?
What gets me about the Means episode is that he was caught and prosecuted and died in Leavenworth? He was an olde hand at scamming everybody and getting off--so how did he not realize that the web of the LKH would snag him for good? Thus Means ends up, rather surprisingly, in the same boat as Ellis Parker Sr.
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Post by Michael on Nov 2, 2007 4:50:37 GMT -5
From: Chess Life Magazine By Ken Muir November 1, 2007 Another player, Norman Tweed Whitaker, had a “checkered” history. An international master, Whitaker won an invitational event in Michigan ahead of Samuel Reshevsky in 1927 and was declared champion of the National Chess Federation, a predecessor of the USCF. He graduated with a law degree from Georgetown University but was soon disbarred after conviction of several crimes.
His notoriety arose from the Lindbergh kidnapping. He was involved in a scheme to swindle money from a famous heiress, Mrs. McLean, who was trying to help Col. Lindbergh procure the return of his child. While serving 18 months in Alcatraz for the fraud, he befriended Al Capone. There was apparently some controversy regarding whether he would be allowed to play in Corpus Christi, but he did in fact play and finished with a 9-4 score. He autographed Gibson’s score sheet, advising her in plain terms to “keep trying.” main.uschess.org/content/view/7952/365
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Post by Michael on Aug 6, 2008 18:06:42 GMT -5
The "other" ransom that was never found:
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Post by Michael on Aug 9, 2008 9:05:56 GMT -5
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Post by vovina on Sept 9, 2008 7:29:45 GMT -5
From John S. Hilbert's biograpghy of Norman T. Whitaker " Shady Side " (2000) pg. 240, Whitaker acted as refree of a club chess match between Dubuque and Waterloo in Manchester, Iowa on April 8, 1956. The Waterloo club was the chess club of my youth and I knew the old timers who participated in the match. John M. Osness and the two Donath brothers talked with Whitaker during the event and the" old Fox " maintained that the Lindbergh " baby " was still alive: a con or perhaps one of the reasons that Hoover was worried that Whitaker could still embarss the FBI ? Richard Spence in " Secret Agent 666 "pg.128 reveals contact between Whitaker and Aleister Crowley in 1915 when Crowley was acting on behalf of British Intelligence. The names of the German agents mentioned by Gaston Means at his murder trial, and dismissed as hoaxes at the time, turn out to be real German agents. Means and Whitaker's intial meeting is unknown, but both could have been working in conjuction with US Naval Intelligence and Crowley's Brits against Germans spies headed by Prof. Muensterburg. Spence offers the hypothesis that Muensterberg's sudden heart attack on December 16th,1916 was poisoning via a waterglass (pg.133-134). what is troubling about this tidbit is that Whitaker was playing in Western Association Championship of 1923 in August 1923 when President Harding was moved to the hotel directly across the street from the Western Association playing site. The Muensterberg poison could have been used to kill the President. And Mean's " The Strange Death Of President Harding " may have been written to focus inquiry away from the actual assassination by Whitaker and company ( ? ). All this is speculative but one wonders if Means and Whitaker were really just conmen or if they were somehow tied to foreign or domestic intelligence operations. And then how does this "spy world " intersect with the Lindbergh kidnapping facts ? Great message board - thank you for letting me join !
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Post by Michael on Sept 9, 2008 19:17:21 GMT -5
Interesting post and thanks for joining.... In my opinion Means was an opportunist. Have you read the Rice affidavit? Here's a little from Rice's (other) affidavit for Stay of Execution, page 16: Mr. J. Edgar Hoover and Gaston B. Means were staunch friends when deponent worked with them both in the Department of Justice under Attorney General Dougherty. This statement is substantiated by the testimony of Gaston B. Means before the Senate Committee appointed to investigate corruption and graft in the government service. Mr. Dougherty appointed J. Edgar Hoover Assistant Director of the Bureau of Investigation at the same time that he appointed Means a Special Agent in the Department to work under J. Edgar Hoover. Deponent has evidence to prove that Means knew about this crime before it was committed and that he had been an under-cover agent for the German government. I don't have my Means file with me at the moment but I will try to see if I have anything on the exact date(s) he met up with Whitaker when I can get to them.
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Post by rick3 on Sept 10, 2008 10:03:52 GMT -5
Welcome! Great Post! Aleister Crowley, The Beast, would also be an excellent source for the occult symbol thru the Golden Dawn and the OTO--sex and magic. See: The original source of the "modern" O.T.O.-lamen: Sâr Péladan's booklet "Babylone" dated 1893 -- version 1 , version 2 , version 3 : design by Gabriel ... www.cyberlink.ch/~koenig/sunrise/pics.htm
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Post by vovina on Sept 11, 2008 6:20:10 GMT -5
From Hoyt's biography of Means " Spectacular Rogue "pg.289-90, Means used Whitaker as a possible spy within the Communist Party U.S.A under the alias Nils Jorgenson in April 1930. In one of Gaston's trial testimonies, he mentioned a Wellingtom Henderson of the CPUSA along with " Irving Fenton " as the lead conspirators in the kidnapping ( Hoyt dismisses the Henderson connection by citing a Communist party spokesman's statement denying Henderson's existence. This is an odd dismissal by Hoyt given the CPUSA's history of falsification to aid Soviet Intelligence !). I am trying to track down all the aliases connected with Means and Whitaker and compare this to those in Richard Spence's " Secret Agent 666 ". If Means and Whitaker were just simply opportunistic conmen ( which is the best hypothesis to date ) then why did Whitaker get himself arrested to provide an alibi for the date of the kidnapping - again this is an old intelligence operative ploy if the agent knows when an event is to occur. Despite his shakedown letter, Whitaker really didn't have a clue what happened to the scam money... but he seemed to have small sources of income in his old age beyond social security and an annuity purchased after inheriting a small life savings from his sister's estate. In this he resembles Crowley who was supposedly bankrupt in his old age but lived quite well in Netherwood: Spence shows that Crowley's followers were unable to maintain the Beast's retirement lifesyle and speculates that British Intelligence was providing Aleister with a black box pension. Given Whitaker's ability to travel to Europe and Cuba in style, among other instances, and the fact the FBI under Hoover kept Whitaker under observation to see if he had part of Means' money, perhaps some intelligence agency was also providing a small black box pension to Whitaker ? And what if it is the case that the reason Means' money was never found is that Gaston told the truth when he said he gave the money to the kidnappers ?
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Post by Michael on Sept 12, 2008 18:14:25 GMT -5
The record will show that on the next day, Tuesday, Means and Whitaker arrived at Aiken at 9:35, on train No. 27, from Charleston, South Carolina, and they registered at the Commercial Hotel in Aiken, Means having Room 310. Means registered for himself and for Whitaker, but used for the name Whitaker the name "Neil Williams," Whitaker being given Room 312. The evidence will show that they were communicating rooms. (US v. Means & Whitaker, Supreme Court of DC, Vol. I, p52, Opening Statement - Rover, 5/8/33)
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Post by Michael on Sept 13, 2008 17:10:13 GMT -5
I think Wellington did exist. I have some information on him if you are interested.
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Post by vovina on Sept 15, 2008 8:40:32 GMT -5
Yes, indeed I am interested; and thank you so much for the exact document citation for the " Neil Williams " alias. ( My master's degree work entailed reading 19th century US census materials while my incomplete Phd work on English medieval guilds required reading enrollment rolls in norman french/chaucerian english - so I'm definitely a documents historian -LOL! ) Here's one you may be able to help me with: FBI agent P.E. Foxworth to E.A. Tamm memo December 9, 1938 FBI file# 62-26978-868. An incomplete citation in Carl S. Anthony's " Florence Harding " pg. 541 says McLean's $100,000 ended up in the hands of gangster Max Hassel " ...to be used in rum-running activities. ". I'd like to see the full document as the incomplete citation implies that the FBI as of 1938 believed Gaston Means gave the money to Hassel - which matches Means' tale about turning the McLean money over to the " kidnappers ". And a pattern is emerging in the Whitaker aliases. Whitaker is using composites of chess players' names. The prime example is " Mr. Fox ". Mrs. McLeans' attorney was Albert W. Fox, a famous chessplayer who played in the Cambridge Springs Tournament of 1904 ( Hibert " Shady Side " pg 121-22 ). Whitaker claimed that Mrs. McLean herself gave him the alias and her whole story about the snarling shakedown was her fabrication to recover her ransom money because the body had turned up. While one has to take Whitaker's account with more than a grain of salt, it is true that McLean was an enormous substance abuser. Having shattered her leg in an auto accident in 1905, McLean used ten grams of morphine a day, plus laudanum, plus heavy alcohol usage ( Anthony " Florence Harding " pg.138 ). A better defense attorney than Whitaker's would have grilled McLean on Whitaker's identification in order to show that either she couldn't make the ID because of her addictions or else she was very much acquainted with Whitaker to the point of giving him a nickname - and her maid's Id could be discounted as employee loyalty. Another Whitaker alias from his days spying on the CPUSA for Means was C.N. Weltz which supposedly was used to scam Ralph Easley - but this contradicts the use of the " Jorgenson " alias to scam Easley cited in " Spectacular Rogue " - which apparently is in the Hoover Parole Report On Gaston Means ( Hibert " Shady Side " pg. 128 ).
Whitaker claimed to have met Means only in 1924 before Whitaker was sent to Leavenworth on interstate car theft charges: Means wanted legal advice " on some sort of appeal he had and needed help " ( Hibert pg.117 ). One's radar goes off here because Whitaker was devoting all his energies to staying out of Leavenworth while Means by this time was on his way to the Federal Pen in Atlanta for criminal activities around the whole Harding Administration mess. So were they associates before 1924 - perhaps in domestic counter-espionage during World War 1 ? Thank you again for your help in document hunting. One wishes that both the Means and Whitaker biographers had better footnotes !
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Post by Michael on Sept 15, 2008 14:49:18 GMT -5
Unfortunately, there is a certain "element" who invent sources. These same people rip off sources, that is, they "repeat" your citations to imply they have the source document when they don't. Gotta really watch the message boards for these types of tactics. Fortunately this board doesn't engage in that type of nonsense.... Here's a little more from the trial transcripts I cited above: The number 19 was to designate the kidnapers or any member of the kidnaping band; and the evidence will show that when the defendant Whitaker entered the picture he was known as "19"; or if that was not to be used, he was to be known as "The Fox" or "Mr. Fox", because another one of Mrs. McLean's attorneys was named Fox. (Page 46) Another thing I wanted mention is to be very careful of Authors citing pieces of reports to imply or backup their respective positions. It's my opinion from reading all of these reports I have that the FBI did not necessarily believe anything he said but ran down all clues nevertheless. I really don't think they believed the Max Hassel claims but rather simply considered it in order for that angle to be investigated fully. I do not have the report you mention in my Means File, however, it could be in another file or I may have it in unfiled materials which needs to be assigned a folder. I will be sure to let you know if I ever come across it. Inquiries at the Oakland and San Francisco Police Departments, Military Intelligence Division of the 9th Corps Area, United States Army, Secret Service Division of the Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company, United State Secret Service, and several informants, failed to elicit any information concerning Wellington Henderson, or "Scottie Kennedy, who, as indicated by Mr. Nathan, were believed to be identical.
The only information obtainable was from Mr. Dan Costello, former Bureau Agent, and at present the proprietor of the Costello Bureau of Investigation, who is, in my opinion, the best informed person in this section on radical and Communistic activities, particularly through his confidential informants. After consulting his informants, Mr. Costello advised me that he had ascertained that a person known as "Scottie" Kennedy appeared in San Francisco about 1929, and stayed here for a short time, during which he made a few speeches as an Anarchist, rather then as an accredited Communist; that Kennedy represented that he had just completed a world tour, and upon his departure rode a freight train to New York, where he is believed to be a friend and disciple of a man widely known as "Zero", and who operates a restaurant known as "The Tub", located in the "Bowery." (W. A. Rorer, SAC, 5-18-33 #62-1005) The report says this was the only information of value but goes on to list 2 other "Scottie Kennedy" and 1 other "W. Henderson" as organizers for the I.W.W...... I've got most of Mean's letters so I will comb through them for you as well. He does say that Whitaker came into the situation without knowing about the $100,000 originally, as does Whitaker in his letters to Lindbergh, and Gov. Hoffman.
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Post by vovina on Sept 17, 2008 8:03:59 GMT -5
Thanks much! I will keep an eye out for " Scottie Kennedy " references in my sources on the history of the I.W.W. and the early splits in the CPUSA ( which followed, and mirrored, Stalin's first set of purges in the U.S.S.R.: the Third International required member Communist Parties to expell members sympathetic to either Trotsky or " Right Deviationists ". ). Messageboard member rick3 kindly informed me that the Thomas F. Rice letter, connecting Gaston Means ( playing Prohibition agent ) at the Imperial Hotel in NYC relative to the disclosure of the kidnapping plot a week in advance, could indicate how Whitaker may have known the general timeframe so that he could have himself safely in a Florida jail as an alibi. Since Means and Whitaker had been doing undercover work against the CPUSA ( or pretending to in order to scam Rightwing organizations ) since 1930, one suspects that the two were in frequent contact - despite later denials. Thank you again for the document hunting !
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Post by Michael on Sept 17, 2008 15:51:59 GMT -5
I will keep looking and post what I think may be important, interesting, or what you may be specifically looking for (I have a lot of material). When you handed me the original of the foregoing note, I below Hassell's 991 gave it Hassel's and my understood code endorsement which was Bud 54 and the day you handed it to me was Monday, Apr. 10, 1933 and you came to the jail to tell me appeal court had not handed down decision. (Means to Hartman Letter, 5-25-33) I notice that on several occasions Means actually attempts to protect Whitaker. Here is one of them: Not at any time did Norman T. Whitaker have any information from me in regard to the Lindbergh Kidnapping other then that I was working on the Lindbergh Case for Mrs. Evelyn Walsh McLean and I did not give him his instructions as to what I wanted him to do until Tuesday morning, March 22, 1932. He did not know that Mrs. McLean had placed in my custody $100,000..(omitted).....I did know what might develop and all I was doing was watching developments as to whether the death of the child would become known and at once entangle and involve me, Whitaker knowing nothing about the kidnapping because he was in Florida when it occurred. (Means to Hartman Letter, 5-27-33)
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Post by vovina on Sept 18, 2008 8:16:40 GMT -5
Not only was Whitaker in Florida, but as we know he got himself in the slammer so that he had a perfect alibi... and Means going out of his way to protect Whitaker looks like a case of " protesting too much " - just as an intelligence case officer might protect a prime " asset ". And the code system looks like Crowley's version of the Kabbalah numerology system first rendered into English by Mathers ( Crowley's initial mentor and later foe ) , who was the head of the Golden Dawn and married to the french philosopher Bergson's sister, in the work " The Kabbalah Unveiled ". Crowley used part of this numerological apparatus in " The Book Of Lies " and the system has all the earmarks of an intelligence code disguised as an occult operation - much like the Enochian language was used by John Dee in the service of Elizabeth I 's continential intelligence gathering service. So another project is to take apart Means' codes, compare them to Crowley's and/or other secret intelligence services codes, and see what might pop up !
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Post by Michael on Sept 19, 2008 6:20:56 GMT -5
I don't know anything about these codes excepting what's in front of me. I am always willing to listen and look forward to anything you stumble upon.... Here is the Hassell 991 "Letter" referred to above: Have hunch that decision will be handed down monday tenth and is your favor. In my safety deposit box at Elisabethport Banking Company Elisabeth N.J. I have for you yhr[sic] 313,457.35, as you know hundred thousand of this is the 119 money and fifty thousand of it is the actual money. The difference between 150,000 and 213,457.35 is your share of the profits and your money. You can send your attorney with with code number and this note with your endorsement for $213,457.35 to me at the Elisabeth Carteret Hotel Elisabeth N.J. if decision rendered monday, twnth[sic], and if not then at once if rendered and will keep you advised as usual, though at where I can be contacted. Am through Washington newspapers watching for decision. You know how and have stood the gaft.
Luck. 991.
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Post by gary on Sept 19, 2008 16:06:12 GMT -5
I thinks its appropriate and very interesting to pry deeper into the Means story. Having said that with just marginal study at best myself always considered Means involvement nothing more than taking McClean to the cleaners. In his position to be a part of the kidnapping and then try to be in the middle of an investigation is either very intelligent or very stupid.
Where did the money go is definetely a mystery especially when it appears Means didn't appear to have it truly after he gave it away. I've often wondered if he was scammed out of it. Maybe it ended up in Summit, NJ (only joking).
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Post by Michael on Sept 19, 2008 19:48:44 GMT -5
Gary, you might be interested to know that Means implicated Condon's son as having involvement.
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Post by Michael on Sept 20, 2008 10:35:20 GMT -5
Whitaker says that he remembers distinctly that Gaston Means was in New York City about February 15, 1932 because he was personally with Means this day, and that they visited a "dive" (known as Larry's) in or near Greenwich Village; that he saw Means talking privately there with the proprietor, and another man. Whitaker says he can go direct to this place, if and when desired. (But this shows that Means was in New York City close to the date of the kidnapping) And, as corroborative proof of this, Whitaker says that while enroute to Larry's "dive", and while they were standing on an elevated railway platform, Means espied the famous author, Thomas, W. Dixon (who wrote the Clansman, the Leopard Spots, and other popular literary pieces) and that Means excused himself and talked with Mr. Dixon for a brief time. (Which further corroborates the statement, earlier referred to herein, that Means held the acquaintances of numerous famous and prominent people, both good and bad). (And "rats" of the human race, who worked for the various low-grade detective agencies in and around New York City, and who would commit any kind of act for money). (That Means also knew men in the "underworld" cannot be denied, because the larger detective agencies actually must carry a few of this character on their "pay-roll" constantly for information purposes). (Supplemental Report by H.P., p3, 1-28-37)
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