Read Online Operation Underworld by Paddy Kelly - Free Book Online
Authors: Paddy Kelly
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pow-wow began.
“So, how can we help the United States Navy?” Hogan asked. “
Jim, I haven’t told the District Attorney about your proposal yet. So why don’t you give him the Reader’s Digest version, and we’ll take it from there.”
Over the next ten minutes, the chief prosecutor was made familiar with the assumed potential for saboteurs to infiltrate New York Harbor, and how the Navy proposed to deal with the problem using stoolies. O’Malley couldn’t help but notice that both times he mentioned the word ‘sources’, Gurfein and Hogan shifted positions.
When he had finished, both civilian lawyers sat in silence for a moment, and Hogan finally asked, “What exactly is it you would like us to do?”
“Well, first off, tell us if you think they’ll work with us. I mean, do you think they’re patriotic enough?” asked the Lieutenant.
“I think you’ll find that most of the hoods here, despite the fact that they’re liars, cheats, thieves and murderers, are good loyal Americans,” volunteered Gurfein.
“Mussolini not only made the trains run on time, but when he first began his rise to power, he didn’t want any competition in the country, so he kicked the Mafiosi out of Italy.”
As was usually the case, with the exception of the loyal American part, the DA’s office was about twenty years behind on the accuracy of its information.
What Hogan said concerning the Mafioso was true. His point, however, was moot. The Mafioso no longer controlled crime in New York, or in most of the rest of the country, for that matter. Although names like the Black Hand, La Cosa Nostra and Mafia would last well into the twenty-first century, the organisation now in control was the The Syndicate, run by The Commission.
The third year of the Great Depression was the only profitable year for Universal Studios between 1929 and 1936, thanks to one film, Dracula. Coincidentally, it was a profitable year for men like Buggsy Siegal and Meyer Lansky, as they began to organise crime nationwide. They were not alone. They worked under the direction of the man who would become ‘The Boss of Bosses’, Lucky Luciano. When Lucky finished implementing his national plan for organised crime, there were only three basic differences between the Unione and any other American corporation.
The Unione could account for all of their assets all of the time, it was crystal clear who was in charge and The Commission didn’t have a seat on the New York Stock Exchange. They didn’t need one, they controlled or influenced most everyone else’s to one degree or another.
“In that case, Mr Hogan,” MacFall said, “we’d like to have some names we could approach.” Hogan immediately realised he would ultimately have no choice but to co-operate. But with a little bit of the old stall game, he might be able to manipulate the ground rules.
“Well, Captain, that’s probably not the best way to go about it. Let me work on it. Give us a couple of days to go through the files, and we can get back to you.” Co-operate or not, he was not about to let his territory be trampled on by anyone, least of all some Washington bureaucrat.
“Well, now that that’s settled, welcome home, Jim!” Gurfein extended his hand towards the Lieutenant. O’Malley did not reciprocate.
“The Lieutenant won’t be running our side of the show, Mr Gurfein. I’ve selected another officer,” MacFall explained.
“Oh? Who would that be, sir?”
“Haffenden, Lieutenant Commander Haffenden. Lieutenant O’Malley will act as liaison between our two offices.”
“I’ll appoint a man to work with you as well, Captain, and get back to you with details of who it is,” Hogan pitched in.
“Good enough.” MacFall stood up, signalling that the meeting was over. “Lieutenant O’Malley will contact you at the end of the week.”
“Look forward to working with your men, Captain,” Hogan said.
After everyone shook hands, the officers left. There was a brief
“So, how can we help the United States Navy?” Hogan asked. “
Jim, I haven’t told the District Attorney about your proposal yet. So why don’t you give him the Reader’s Digest version, and we’ll take it from there.”
Over the next ten minutes, the chief prosecutor was made familiar with the assumed potential for saboteurs to infiltrate New York Harbor, and how the Navy proposed to deal with the problem using stoolies. O’Malley couldn’t help but notice that both times he mentioned the word ‘sources’, Gurfein and Hogan shifted positions.
When he had finished, both civilian lawyers sat in silence for a moment, and Hogan finally asked, “What exactly is it you would like us to do?”
“Well, first off, tell us if you think they’ll work with us. I mean, do you think they’re patriotic enough?” asked the Lieutenant.
“I think you’ll find that most of the hoods here, despite the fact that they’re liars, cheats, thieves and murderers, are good loyal Americans,” volunteered Gurfein.
“Mussolini not only made the trains run on time, but when he first began his rise to power, he didn’t want any competition in the country, so he kicked the Mafiosi out of Italy.”
As was usually the case, with the exception of the loyal American part, the DA’s office was about twenty years behind on the accuracy of its information.
What Hogan said concerning the Mafioso was true. His point, however, was moot. The Mafioso no longer controlled crime in New York, or in most of the rest of the country, for that matter. Although names like the Black Hand, La Cosa Nostra and Mafia would last well into the twenty-first century, the organisation now in control was the The Syndicate, run by The Commission.
The third year of the Great Depression was the only profitable year for Universal Studios between 1929 and 1936, thanks to one film, Dracula. Coincidentally, it was a profitable year for men like Buggsy Siegal and Meyer Lansky, as they began to organise crime nationwide. They were not alone. They worked under the direction of the man who would become ‘The Boss of Bosses’, Lucky Luciano. When Lucky finished implementing his national plan for organised crime, there were only three basic differences between the Unione and any other American corporation.
The Unione could account for all of their assets all of the time, it was crystal clear who was in charge and The Commission didn’t have a seat on the New York Stock Exchange. They didn’t need one, they controlled or influenced most everyone else’s to one degree or another.
“In that case, Mr Hogan,” MacFall said, “we’d like to have some names we could approach.” Hogan immediately realised he would ultimately have no choice but to co-operate. But with a little bit of the old stall game, he might be able to manipulate the ground rules.
“Well, Captain, that’s probably not the best way to go about it. Let me work on it. Give us a couple of days to go through the files, and we can get back to you.” Co-operate or not, he was not about to let his territory be trampled on by anyone, least of all some Washington bureaucrat.
“Well, now that that’s settled, welcome home, Jim!” Gurfein extended his hand towards the Lieutenant. O’Malley did not reciprocate.
“The Lieutenant won’t be running our side of the show, Mr Gurfein. I’ve selected another officer,” MacFall explained.
“Oh? Who would that be, sir?”
“Haffenden, Lieutenant Commander Haffenden. Lieutenant O’Malley will act as liaison between our two offices.”
“I’ll appoint a man to work with you as well, Captain, and get back to you with details of who it is,” Hogan pitched in.
“Good enough.” MacFall stood up, signalling that the meeting was over. “Lieutenant O’Malley will contact you at the end of the week.”
“Look forward to working with your men, Captain,” Hogan said.
After everyone shook hands, the officers left. There was a brief
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