Memorandum regarding James M. Pendergast, nephew of Kansas City political boss Tom Pendergast. The document discusses his involvement in the 1948 election of Forest Smith as Missouri governor, with the understanding that Smith would allow crime boss Charles Binaggio to have greater influence over the Kansas City police board of commissioners.
National Archives at Washington, D.C.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 90
Kansas City Police Department report for Jack J. "Nagel" Maroon, beginning in 1927 and spanning through 1950. The report includes numerous charges of robbery, income tax evasion, gambling, and traffic violations.
List of gambling operations located primarily in Kansas City, including the Green Hills Club and State Line Tavern, and numerous other bookmaking and dice games.
Photographs and quotes from Tony Gizzo, Kansas City mafia figure, during his testimony before the U.S. Senate Special Committee to Investigate Organized Crime in Interstate Commerce, popularly known as the Kefauver Committee. Gizzo is quoted as saying "Senator, I wish to hell you would tell me what the Mafia is.
Kansas City Police Department mugshot of Charles Binaggio. Binaggio, organized crime boss and ally of Tom Pendergast who rose to greater power after Pendergast's imprisonment, was found shot in April, 1950 along with Charles Gargotta at the First Ward Democratic Club.
Kansas City Police Department record for Pete DiGiovanni, including charges for liquor violation and murder.
Memorandum regarding Kansas City, Kansas, Chief of Police Will Johns, stating that he will testify about raids on the State Line Club and surveys done to determine how much of the business existed on each side of the Missouri/Kansas state line.
Letter labeled "PERSONAL" from S. H. Toucey to Senator Estes Kefauver, regarding his Special Committee to Investigate Organized Crime in Interstate Commerce.
Memorandum regarding Holt Coffey, former sheriff of Platte County, Missouri. The memo states as known that Coffey "accepted pay-offs from the operators of the Green Hills Club," and splitting that money iwth R. P. C. Wilson, III, the former Platte County Attorney.
Memorandum regarding J. A. Purdome, sheriff of Jackson County, Missouri. The memo notes rumors that Purdome received payoffs from Jackson County taverns while serving as Chief Deputy in the Sheriff's office, and that those payoffs were split 50-50 with Kansas City crime boss Charles Binaggio.
Photograph of Kansas City organized crime figure Giovanni "John" Blando.