A Farewell to Justice
Page 88
p. 322: Both newspapers endorse Connick: “Trying the District Attorney,” Times-Picayune, November 6, 1969, section 1, p. 1; “What Kind of DA?” States- Item, November 6, 1969. G. Wray Gill and many other lawyers supported Garrison: see Election Day advertisement for Jim Garrison, Times-Picayune, November 7, 1969, section 1, p. 21. Others supported him because he took a stand against Kohn: see Memorandum, September 17, 1969, To: Andrew J. Sciambra, From: Capt. Frederick Soule, Re: Interview with Alvin H. Cobb, NODA, NARA. The Crescent City Democratic Association supported Garrison as well: “Garrison Gets CCDA Support,” Times-Picayune, October 9, 1969, section 1, p. 21. The bar association endorsed Connick: “Connick: A Boost from the Lawyers,” Times- Picayune, October 18, 1969, section 1, p. 10.
p. 322: Garrison spent $20,000: Memorandum of Telephone Conversation, Date: November 12, 1969, Time: 10:15 A.M., To 10:35 A.M., Arlie G. Puckett interview with Pershing Gervais, Special Agent, courtesy of Lyon Garrison.
p. 322: Garrison won handily: “Orleans DA Tops Field,” Times-Picayune, November 9, 1969, section 1, p. 1. See also “Garrison Winner in First Primary,” States-Item, November 10, 1969.
p. 322: “Is this landslide Scaccia?”: Interview with Ross Scaccia, January 6, 2000.
p. 323: “distinguished work”: In re Judge Edward A. Haggerty, Jr., no. 50667. Supreme Court of Louisiana, November 23, 1970, Testimony before the Judiciary Commission.
p. 323: “not even moribund”: Memorandum: to: Director, Domestic Contact Service, Att’n: Operational Support Staff (Musulin), From: Chief, St. Louis Office, Subject: Case 49364, NO-23-70, 26 January 1970, From John L. Schubert, 104-10170-10410, 80T01357A, Title: Memo: Case 49364—Garrison Investigation, NARA.
p. 323: “The CIA killed John Kennedy”: “CIA Killed JFK, Says Garrison,” Times-Picayune, January 21, 1970, section 1, p. 8.
p. 323: “not much more evidence”: Jim Garrison to Vincent Salandria, undated.
p. 323: “just another escalating president”: Jim Garrison to Arthur Fields, June 26, 1970.
p. 323: “I hate it but I’m going to publish it”: Interview with Max Gartenberg, August 4, 2001.
p. 323: Putnam’s lawyers wanted all references to Shaw removed: Arthur Fields to Jim Garrison, July 9, 1970.
p. 323: none dare call it treason: Garrison attributes this couplet to Michael Farrington, a 16th century poet.
p. 324: “smoke”: “A Heritage of Smoke,” by Donald Jackson, Life, December 4, 1970.
p. 324: Gertz reviews a Heritage of Stone: “Bizarre Happening Called the ‘Clay Shaw Conspiracy Trial,’” by Elmer Gertz, Chicago Sun- Times, November 29, 1970. Reprinted in The Philadelphia Inquirer, December 13, 1970, as “2 Views of Grotesque Trial in the Assassination of JFK,” p. 7.
p. 324: “intrigued by the case”: “Jim Garrison: Far-Fetched,” by George Lardner Jr., Washington Post, December 18, 1970, p. C4.
p. 324: John Leonard: John Leonard’s review was titled “Who Killed John F. Kennedy?” New York Times, December 1, 1970, p. 49.
p. 324: Alec Gifford: tear sheets: WVUETV News Department, Story: Garrison/ Gifford, courtesy of Max Gartenberg.
p. 324: “The Maltese Falcon”: Jim Garrison to Max Gartenberg, April 15, 1973.
p. 324: The Star-Spangled Contract: Full-page ad for The Star Spangled Contract, New York Times, April 19, 1976, p. 18. A quarter of a page ad followed on April 30th, p. C17; Sunday Book Review full page ad: April 25, 1976. Garrison’s novel was reviewed in the Sunday Times by Larry McMurtry.
p. 324: on income tax evasion: Transcript of tape of George Wyatt with Richard Townley, May 25, 1967, NARA.
p. 325: United States Attorney’s office involved: Investigative Report, August 23, 1967, Reported by Aaron M. Kohn, MCC.
p. 325: the antiques came from Liz Garrison’s family: Interview with Liz Garrison, May 11, 1999.
p. 325: even Orestes Peña knew: To: Jim Garrison, From: Harold Weisberg, April 12, 1968, Information from Orestes Peña, NODA, NARA.
p. 325: Pershing was a plant in Garrison’s office: Interview with L. J. Delsa.
p. 325: “Garrison’s carelessness”: Memorandum of Interview in re: Jim Garrison, Date & time: Wednesday, May 1, 1968, Place: Empire Room, Fontainebleau Motor Hotel, Present: Pershing Gervais, Alexander C. Brodtmann Jr., Internal Revenue agent, and James L, McCormick, Special Agent, IRS documents, courtesy of Lyon Garrison.
p. 325: “you’ll end up paying me”: Jim Garrison at the New Orleans conference, September 1968, p. 30.
p. 325: Pershing learned that Mike Epstein was going to be indicted: Memorandum of Telephone Conversation, June 30, 1969, 3:09 P.M., To 3:21 P.M., Arlie G. Puckett Special Agent.
p. 325: “use him to get to Garrison”: Memorandum of Interview, in re: Pershing O. Gervais, Date & Time: January 22, 1969, Present: Pershing O. Gervais, William G. Gibson, Norman Lanoix, IRS documents/Garrison papers.
p. 326: “Walter Sheridan and others”: Telephone Conversation with Pershing O. Gervais, March 12, 1969, William G. Gibson. See also Memorandum of Meeting with Pershing O. Gervais, Date and time: April 18, 1969, Present: William G. Gibson and Norman Lanoix, IRS documents.
p. 326: Pershing hammers out the deal: In re: Pershing Gervais, From: Naurbon L. Perry, Supervisor, Group III, Memorandum to File, IRS documents/Garrison papers. See also Moore and Perry meet with Pershing, Affidavit of Floyd David Moore, June 1, 1972, IRS documents courtesy of Lyon Garrison.
p. 326: Gervais was the government’s sole witness: Interview with K. Eric Gisleson, June 8, 2000. It was the best case he ever had, Gisleson insists, this despite its hanging on the slender reed of Gervais whose admitted lying destroyed his credibility, as Gervais obviously desired. On Gisleson’s office wall is a commendation dated November 1973 from the Metropolitan Crime Commission for his prosecution of Jim Garrison. Kohn, at least, appreciated his effort.
p. 326: two thousand to Garrison: Memorandum for File, Arlie G. Puckett, July 18, 1969.
p. 326: “deeply distraught”: Memorandum of Telephone Conversation, Date: January 12, 1970, time: 5:30 p.m.
p. 326: “Layton Martens spun it to Walter Sheridan”: Interview with Gordon Novel, January 14, 2000.
p. 326: according to Bezou: Interview with Pierre Bezou, May 18, 1998.
p. 327: Garrison was having a drink: Gregory Burnham interview with Lamar Chauvin, December 6, 2000, courtesy of Mr. Burnham.
p. 327: a Bezou brother applies for a job at Tulane and Broad after the “incident”: Interview with Numa Bertel, May 19, 1998.
p. 327: Velman: Interview with William Alford, May 28, 1998.
p. 327: “Garrison twice fondled”: Aaron M. Kohn to Mr. William J. Krummel, November 5, 1969, MCC.
p. 327: committed suicide: Interview with Pierre Bezou; “Fall Is Blamed in Man’s Death,” Times-Picayune, August 23, 1974, section 4, p. 11.
p. 327: Jim Garrison made no comment: Interview with Numa Bertel, May 19, 1998.
p. 327: Gurvich had affidavits from the Bezou family: Interview with William Gurvich by Gary Cornwell, Mike Ewing and Robert Buras, November 7, 1978, HSCA.
p. 328: “everything you know about Jim Garrison”: Interview with Ross Scaccia, January 6, 2000.
p. 328: the Strike Force opens for business: “Crime Office to Open Here,” Times-Picayune, May 22, 1970, section 1, p. 7.
p. 328: placing pinball at the top of his list: To: Gerald J. Gallinghouse, From: Aaron M. Kohn, Subject: Recommendations for Investigative Development and Potential Prosecutions by the Organized Crime Strike Force, U.S. Department of Justice, May 15, 1970, MCC.
p. 328: “I got a young boy in the car”: Interview with Steve Bordelon.
p. 328: “I just couldn’t put up with that”: Interview with Judge James C. Gulotta, June 9, 2000.
p. 329: handing Garrison an envelope: Robert Murray to Byron LeGendre, August 23, 1971, NODA, NARA.
p. 329: Alford resigns: “DA’s Office ‘Fixes’ Charged by ExAide,” Times-Picayune, June 22, 1971, section 1, p.
1. See also “Pressured by DA Staff’s ‘Upper Echelon’—Alford,” Times-Picayune, July 7, 1971, section 1, p. 3.
p. 330: Boasberg confides in Jim McPherson: Interview with Jim McPherson, January 9, 2000.
p. 330: the Shaw perjury case draws to a close: Civ. A. no. 71- 135, Clay L. Shaw v. Jim Garrison, Individually and as District Attorney for the Parish of Orleans, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, New Orleans Division. 328f. Supp. 390; 1971, U.S. Dist. Lexis 13079. See also “Temporary Order Blocks Clay Shaw Perjury Trial,” Times- Picayune, January 20, 1971, section 1, p. 1. See also “DA, Three More Will Be Called,” Times- Picayune, January 23, 1971, section 1, p. 3. Christenberry’s decision is Civ. a. no. 71-135. U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, New Orleans Division, 328. f. supp. 390, 1971, U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13079, May 27, 1971, Opinion by Christenberry, District Judge.
p. 330: Garrison’s reaction to the dismissal of the perjury indictment: “Was ‘Hardly Surprised’ by Decision—Garrison,” Times-Picayune, May 29, 1971, section 1, p. 10.
p. 330: Press Release, May 31, 1971, NODA, NARA.
p. 331: envelope: Memorandum of Marking—U.S. Currency, Tuesday, June 29, 1971, in re: Jim Garrison, Freddie Soule, Robert Frey et al., From: Irving J. Johnson, Special Agent.
p. 331: “two teams stationed outside”: Interview with K. Eric Gisleson, June 8, 2000.
p. 331: Garrison wouldn’t tell them where the key was: Interview with Steve Bordelon, June 14, 2000.
p. 331: he was being punished: Conversation with Mike Seghers, January 6, 2000.
p. 331: “too rough on some violations”: Memorandum on telephone conversation, Date and time: July 26, 1969, 9:30 P.M., Arlie G. Puckett.
p. 331: Congress doesn’t control: NBC Nightly News, Public Affairs Staff, June 30, 1971.
p. 332: “not wisely but too well”: “Gervais Framed Me—Garrison,” Times- Picayune, July 6, 1971, section 1, p. 18.
p. 332: Bailey offers to represent Jim Garrison: F. Lee Bailey to Jim Garrison, July 16, 1971,
p. 332: “on the ropes”: CIA, Chief, Dallas Field Office, Att’n: New Orleans Resident Agent, Director, Domestic Contact Service, 6 October 1971, 14-79-55, Case 54326, NARA.
p. 332: Lou Merhige came up with the strategy: Interview with Lou Merhige, June 8, 2000; August 22, 2000.
p. 332: Having the case tried in state court: “Garrison Directs Own Indictment,” Times-Picayune, November 16, 1971, section 1, p. 1. See also all from Times- Picayune: “Motion on Venue Postpones Arraignment for Garrison,” November 23, 1971, section 1, p. 1. and “Smith Slaps Malfeasance Charge on DA Garrison,” November 25, 1971, section 1, p. 1; “Smith Declines Gaming Count,” November 27, 1971, section 1, p. 1; “DA’s Malfeasance Charge Ruled Null,” November 30, 1971, section 1, p. 1; “Review of Charge against Garrison Sought by Smith,” December 2, 1971, section 1, p. 1; “Garrison Case Dismissal Upheld by La. High Court,” December 14, 1971, section 1, p. 11. See also “Ben Smith Takes on Garrison, No One Can Call It a Mismatch,” by Ray Lincoln. States- Item, November 30, 1971, p. 1.
p. 332: Garrison indicted: “Charges against DA Bared—By DA,” Times-Picayune, December 3, 1971, section 1, p. 1.
p. 332: “Had I chosen to be crooked”: “Garrison Hits Tactics of IRS,” Times- Picayune, March 14, 1972, section 1, p. 1. See also “DA didn’t File $60,000 Income, U.S. Charges,” Times-Picayune, March 12, 1972, section 1, p. 1.
p. 332: Petersen writes to Helms: March 13, 1972, CIA 104- 10117-100069, NARA.
p. 333: Pershing recants: WWL-TV interview with Rosemary James, May 22, 1972, Transcript, NARA. “Trapped Garrison, Ex-Aide Declares,” Atlanta Journal, May 23, 1972, p. 4A. “Gervais ‘Forced to Entrap’ DA,” States-Item, May 23, 1972; WVUE-TV, June 6, 1972 with Alec Gifford and Richard Angelico.
p. 333: “I was forced to lie for them”: Pershing Gervais interviewed by Rosemary James in Vancouver, WWLTV interview with Rosemary James, May 22, 1972, Transcript, NARA.
CHAPTER 21
p. 334, Epigraph: The phrase “Potomac Two-Step”: Robert Buras summing up his experience as an investigator with HSCA.
p. 334: “Nobody there really wants the truth”: Nagell speaking of HSCA, quoted in The Man Who Knew Too Much, p. 367.
p. 334: As the trial began, Kohn was still looking for evidence against Jim Garrison. Memorandum for file, August 23, 1973, MCC.
p. 334: “I never thought I would get this money back”: Interview with Sharon Herkes, January 14, 2000.
p. 334: “it’s not by accident”: Pershing Gervais on WVUE-TV, June 6, 1972.
p. 335: Soule had warned the bar owners: “Pinball Raids Tipped Off,” States- Item, August 22, 1973, p. 1.
p. 335: the “big man” was Giarrusso: Interview with Irvin L. Magri Jr., March 3, 2002.
p. 335: the trial is about Giarrusso: “Trial Emphasis Marks Big Shift,” States- Item, September 1, 1973.
p. 335: Lagarde implicates Giarrusso: “Lagarde Reports Paying ex-Police Chief $30,000,” States-Item, August 30, 1973, p. 1; “Joseph Giarrusso Again Named As Getting Bribe,” Times-Picayune, August 31, 1973, section 1, p. 11.
p. 335: Alford did not want to testify: Interview with William Alford, May 28, 1998.
p. 336: “assistance from Captain America”: “Garrison Lawyers Out; He Begins Own Defense,” by Don Hughes and John McMillan. Times-Picayune, September 13, 1973, p. 1.
p. 336: Burton Klein: See Memorandum, May 4, 1965, Reported by Aaron M. Kohn. Date of information, May 3, 1965. Klein tells Kohn he was “personally satisfied” that the Garrison office was “more corrupt than it ever was under Richard Dowling . . . cases can be fixed now with more ease and certainty.” MCC.
p. 336: “he was too undependable”: Interview with John Volz, June 13, 2000.
p. 336: Gerstman: “Voice ‘Expert’ Rejected,” States-Item, September 18, 1973, p. 1.
p. 336: “fraudulent fabrication”: “Voice of Garrison Said Spliced into Recording,” Times-Picayune, September 19, 1973, section 1, p. 1.
p. 336: Garrison had corrupted him: “Garrison Received Daily Bribery Money— Gervais,” Times- Picayune, September 20, 1973, section 1, p. 1.
p. 336: “My God, Pershing”: “Lawyer: Gervais Tried to Auction Testimony” by Don Hughes and John McMillan. Times- Picayune, September 22, 1973, section 1, p. 1.
p. 336: Jim Garrison’s Closing Argument: United States of America versus Jim Garrison et al., September 25, 1973, Case Number 71-542. See also “Jury Acquits Garrison, Nims, Callery in Pinball Bribe Case,” by John McMillan and Don Hughes. Times-Picayune, September 28, 1973, section 1, p. 1. The jury found the tapes unconvincing: “DA Won on First Ballot; Jury ‘Didn’t Go on Tapes,’” States-Item, September 28, 1973, p. 1.
p. 336: his mother had had a heart attack: Jane Garrison Gardiner to Dear Margaret, April 17, 1974, courtesy of Lyon Garrison.
p. 336: “it might hurt your Dad”: Interview with Lyon Garrison, October 9, 2000.
p. 337: two black jurors wept: Interview with Ralph Whalen, January 8, 2000.
p. 337: “brilliant”: Interview with Judge Tom Wicker, June 5, 2000.
p. 337: “the jury would have let him go”: Interview with F. Lee Bailey, November 11, 1999.
p. 337: Strike Force packs up: “N.O., May Lose Strike Force against Crime,” States-Item, October 2, 1973.
p. 337: Numa Bertel approached loan shark “King Solomon”: Interview with Numa Bertel, August 27, 2002.
p. 337: almost no campaigning: Interviews with: Silvio Fernández, May 31, 2002; Ralph Capitelli and Lawrence Centola, January 11, 2000; Ralph Whalen, January 8, 2000; John Volz.
p. 338: “forgotten”: Interview with John Volz, May 21, 1999.
p. 338: he didn’t bother to go out and vote for himself: Interview with Steve Bordelon.
p. 338: Connick beats him: “Connick Defeats Garrison in Photo-Finish D.A. Election,” December 16, 1973, section 1, p. 1.
p. 338: a recount: “Garrison Contests
Results of Election” Times-Picayune, December 22, 1973, section 1, p. 1. See also “Garrison’s Attorneys Claim Over 7,000 Irregularities,” Times-Picayune, December 25, 1973, section 1, p. 23; “Vote Fraud Charges Up,” Times-Picayune, December 27, 1973, section 1, p. 1.
p. 338reading the newspaper: Interview with Lyon Garrison.
p. 338: “a better garbage man”: “Government Guilty, Garrison Charges,” Times-Picayune, March 18, 1974, section 1, p. 1. See also “Garrison Begins His Own Defense; U.S. Rests Case,” Times-Picayune, March 23, 1974, section 1, p. 20.
p. 338: “Chinese laundry in the middle of a thunderstorm”: “Garrison Alleges Misconduct of U.S.,” by Ed Anderson and Gordon Gsell. Times-Picayune, March 26, 1974, section 1, p. 2.
p. 338: “acquit”: “Garrison Acquitted” by Vincent Lee. Times- Picayune, March 27, 1974, section 1, p. 1.
p. 338: Garrison represents Gordon Novel: Novel says he chose Garrison for his high profile, Interview with Gordon Novel, January 16, 2000.
p. 338: there was a moratorium against dynamiting: Interview with Lawrence Centola Jr., June 14, 2000.
p. 338: CIA feared it would be introduced into the case as a smokescreen: Memorandum for the Record from Peter Houck, NO-147- 76. 15 October 1976, Subject: Gordon Michael Dwane Novel, 18-52-10. CIA called Novel “one of the spookiest persons we have ever met,” CIA 21 November 1975, MO 162-75, 104-10312-10084, DDP files, Title: Operational proposal by Gordon Novel and Associates, From: New Orleans resident office to OSG/ OSB. The Agency was clearly nervous about the alliance between Garrison and Novel: Memorandum for the Record. 21 October 1976, Subject: Discussions regarding DCD relationships with Gordon M. D. Novel, signed Jackson P. Horton, Chief, Domestic Collection Division. But the Agency would not bail out Novel: Memorandum for the Record Signed by Peter Houck. O-96-76- 28 May 1976, Subject: Gordon Novel, Reference: NO- 95-76 dated 27 May 1976. Peter Houck testified; Houck also gave an interview to the Times- Picayune: “CIA Official Says Fire Not in Novel Talk,” March 5, 1976, section 1, p. 2.