Operation Underworld by Matthew Black

Author:Matthew Black [Black, Matthew]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Citadel Press
Published: 2022-09-27T00:00:00+00:00

“Socks” Lanza was a busy man in the final days of January 1943. He was attempting some last desperate measures to keep himself out of prison. He met with Costello on Wednesday the 20th, at the Madison Hotel. Then he met Costello again at the Madison that Saturday at 5 p.m.10 They were trying to influence the judge as much as possible, but they weren’t getting anywhere.

On January 26, 1943, Willie McCabe talked to Murray Gurfein about Lanza’s case. Gurfein didn’t want to hear it and reiterated that there were no deals for criminals. McCabe then called Espy at Meyer’s Hotel at 3:45 p.m.

“I called that party up and I’m afraid it’s no good,” McCabe started, referring to Gurfein. “I told him all, and he seems to know everything. The reaction was completely different.” McCabe had brought up Lanza’s involvement in Operation Underworld to Gurfein, and Gurfein was unimpressed.

“His mind is made up?” Espy asked.

“Definitely,” answered McCabe. “I said Colonel, look back fifteen years—the same thing happened to me.” “Colonel” was Lieutenant Colonel Gurfein. “Geez, in a way I’m sorry I started the whole thing but you know how much I like Joe,” McCabe said, referring to Lanza. “Christ, I would go out and beg, borrow, or steal for him.”

“Yeah, I know, Bill,” said Espy. “How about the fellow across town?” he asked, referring to Commander Haffenden.

“Church Street?”

“Yeah.”

“I called him and he’s the same,” McCabe said. “He knows about me and I got a rebuke. Joe should’ve started that a long time ago.” “That” was referring to talking to Gurfein and the judge.

“Oh, he’s like a child,” Espy said about Lanza, taking full advantage of his first opportunity to vent about his boss. “First he believes one and then the other. The last one to get his ear is the winner. I could see through him all the time. They can say what they want but I got plenty of respect for the little fellow downtown,” he added, referring to Assistant District Attorney Sol Gelb. “He presented such overwhelming evidence in such a dignified manner that defense counsel was floundering. He was very fair and I know he gave them a break. He could have refused plea and continued right along and they would have been in a worse fix.”

“Well, they’re on the other side of the fence,” McCabe said. “I’m sorry what I done, but Benny, after tomorrow night I’m going away for two weeks. When I come back everything will be different.”

“I hope so,” said Espy.

“After tomorrow night I’m leaving,” McCabe repeated. “I’m sick and tired of fucking around.”

“Okay, Willie,” Espy affirmed.

On January 27, 1942, Lanza was taken into custody and remanded to the Tombs. He was to wait there for three days, until sentencing. But he had one last hope to get himself freed—Commander Haffenden.

Later on the 27th, at 4:15 p.m., Espy called Haffenden at his Church Street office.

“Commander Hefferman?” Espy started. Espy, like Lanza, still struggled with Haffenden’s name.

“Yes.”

“Ben Espy.”

“How are you, Ben?” Haffenden asked.

“Very well, thanks,” Espy replied.

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