The following is an outline of the FBI files/newspaper articles on the death of Ben Siegel. Many parts of the FBI files were blacked out but I tried to extract as much as possible regarding Siegel's death. I also researched two dominant newspapers at the time, Los Angeles Times and Los Angeles Herald. Many thanks to Jeff Moulton for going to the Los Angeles Central Library and copying all the Herald articles for me. All pictures were donated by Jeff Moulton unless otherwise noted. The FBI reports are indented.

Please keep in mind that I have repeated several things when they came up. I did this purposely to show how many times stories were given with mistakes in dates, or other slight discrepancies in this very complex and unsolved murder. You will see not only change in dates and times, but names change as well like the ex-Mrs. Siegel was named Estelle, Esta, and Elizabeth. These are not typos.

Donated by Jeff Cross

L.A. Herald

The following pictures were located by Martin Chaddock:

"The one-time West Coast brains of New York's Murder, Inc., was blasted to death with a .30 caliber Army carbine by mobsters who wanted his empire, homicide detectives theorized. The killer stalked through the dense shrubbery at the palatial Moorish estate of Virginia Hill, Alabama heiress, and triggered nine shot through the window at the unsuspecting underworld ruler who sat quietly reading a newspaper. Two slugs sieved through his head and two lodged in his body. He was instantly killed, slumping over the newspaper which had a tiny advertising sticker on it that read: 'Good night, sleep well.' . . . All the bullets cut through a 14-inch square in the window pane, marking the triggerman as an expert shot according to Police Captain W.W. White of Beverly HIlls. The rumble in the underworld was that Siegel came down from Vegas to put pressure on gamblers and bookmakers for an increase in his take to cover losses of the $5 million Flamingo gambling casino of which he is a co-owner. Another theory laid the murder to an outbreak of gang war between two factions seeking control of the wire service to the bookies. . . . One bullet ripped through Allen Smiley's coat sleeve, but he was unhurt."

First picture is Allen Smiley. The second is S. Ernest Roll, left, Chief Deputy District Attorney, and Sergeant J.D. Alcorn of Beverly Hills police examine Smiley's bullet-torn coat.

"Smiley told police that judging by the rapidity of the shots, the killer had filed down the rifle's mechanism so it operated like a machine gun, firing a burst of slugs with a single pressure on the trigger. Five of the spent slugs were found in the wall of the luxuriously appointed living room. One shattered a small statuette and another pierced a huge oil painting of a nude woman holding a drinking glass. . . . Siegel was seated with his back to a side window - a perfect target. Charles Hill stated that when he came into the room after the blast of gunfire, the gangland chief was slumped in his chair over his newspaper which was spattered with blood. Smiley was still crouched on the floor. A nurse, C.R. Cohran, said she was treating a patient at 827 Whittier Drive, around the corner from HIll's home when she heard shots. She stated they came in rapid fire and then she heard a car drive off fast. It sounded like small car. She thought it was parked on the opposite side of the street and headed south toward Santa Monica Boulevard. A neighbor, Lou Shane, who was visiting at the home of Dr. Lyn Whiteman, 807 N. Linden Drive, reported he heard the shots and ran out into the street in time to hear a high-powered car roar away into the darkness. Shane said the shots were fired so rapidly that it sounded like machine gun fire. . . . The slaying quickly became the topic of the moment at the Las Vegas gambling casinos. Reports from Vegas were that the Flamingo lost over $200,000 in one night recently, and that the backers of the multi-million dollar venture took a dim view of the red link column in the ledgers. Smiley, who gained notoriety when he was accused and then acquitted of being the 'knifeman' in celebrated Tommy Dorsey-Jon Hall nose-cutting episode in 1944. Swifty Morgan, a character with a large mustache and goatee, who is described by police as Siegel's 'court jester' said he accompanied the black-haired gangland figure on his plane trip from Vegas. Martin Belousoff of 808 N. Linden Drive, told detectives that for the past several months he had noticed a small sedan parked across the street from the estate. 'There was a man in it, dressed in working clothes. He would park there all day sometimes, and often stayed there until very late at night.' Later today, Smiley checked out of the Beverly Hills jail following a conference behind closed doors with his attorney Jerry Geisler. Smiley refused to comment regarding the shooting after he left the jail."

In a related article, it stated that it was Virginia Hill's mansion where the murder took place. "Known to have been a friend of the slain racketeer, Hill left the city last Saturday en route to spend the summer in Paris. According to one report, she married a wealthy southerner and had it annulled. She is often referred to as an Alabama heiress. Reports from New York declare that she once owned an interest in the now defunct Hurricane Night Club and gave her stock in the club to her lawyer as his fee for some legal work.

L.A. Times 6/21/47
Front page headlines stated that 41 year old Ben Siegel was killed late last night at 810 N. Linden Drive in Beverly Hills. Police Captain William White said Siegel had been shot six times. He was shot through a window in his home while he sat reading a newspaper.

On June 21, 1947, SAC Hood of the Los Angeles Division advised that a newspaper reporter told him that the gun which killed Siegel was a .30 caliber carbine and that nine two-inch long shells had been used, two of which hit Siegel. These shells hit him in the head and one went right through his eye and his eyelid which was found about ten feet away from Siegel. The gun was fired about 14 feet away from where Siegel was sitting and the killer rested the gun in one of the trellises by the window.

An agent speculated that the New York members of the mob instigated the killing of Siegel and this may have been precipitated by information furnished to the mob in New York by Virginia Hill as to how Siegel was supposedly double-crossing them.

In a formal memo dated June 21, 1947, it was stated that a .45 machine gun was apparently used. Nine shots were fired, five of which hit Siegel. Both of his eyes were shot out. One of the bullets burned the coat of Allen Smiley who was sitting next to Siegel and who was being held as a material witness. Hood stated that Siegel, Virginia Hill, her brother Charles Hill, her secretary Gerry Mason and Smiley had been at the beach near Santa Monica and had returned to Virginia HIll's home not long before the shooting occurred.

A neighbor heard a high powered car tear away toward Sunset Boulevard. Another neighbor reported that he had observed a strange man sitting in an automobile in front of HIll's residence on the night of the killing. A tiny sticker advertisement which had been stuck on the Los Angeles Examiner newspaper which Siegel had been reading when killed read: "Good-night, Sleep Well." This was explained in that the previous night Siegel and Smiley ate at Jack's Cafe. All the newspapers at the Cafe had these stickers place on them.

Hood also advised that Luella Parsons reported in her newspaper column that morning that George Raft flew to Paris last night. It was suggested that there was a possibility that Raft and Hill might have been on the same plane. Hood was advised that inquiries along this line would have to be very discreet.

On June 23, 1947, investigators were researching Virginia Hill, who was born in Alabama on August 25, 1917. It was stated that Hill was 29 years old at the time of Siegel's death. She had been Siegel's paramour and for the past 4 or 5 years had received considerable newspaper publicity and notoriety because of the expensive parties she had given and the large amount of money she had apparently spent very freely.

It was noted that Hill took an overdose of sleeping pills and was rushed to the Clark County General Hospital. She remained there one day and one night was released. Hill then packed her clothes and stated that she was going to Paris, France, to marry a wealthy Frenchman she met. At the time of Siegel's death, Hill was in France.

Before she went to France, she stopped over at New York. An informant stated that there was a possibility that when Hill got to New York, she was so angry with Siegel that she may have contracted Joe Adonis and other Syndicate associates and gave information to them on Siegel, whether truth or not. The informant stated that the Syndicate knew that Hill would know all the activities at the Flamingo and she was in the position to "really put him on the spot" with both factual and fabricated information.

It was learned that Hill called Siegel while in New York and was told by Siegel that she could come back to him only if she apologized. Hill refused to make this apology.

L.A. Times 6/22/47
Siegel continued to dominate the paper the following day stating that Los Angeles and Las Vegas authorities joined forces in seeking answers to Siegel's death. It stated that Siegel was shot by a sharpshooting gunman wielding an Army-type light carbine at point-blank range. Siegel was killed instantly by two bullets through the head and two through the body as he sat in the home of Virginia Hill, Alabama heiress and studio dancer. Siegel's associate and partner in the Fabulous Flamingo Club in Las Vegas, Allen Smiley, was sitting at the other end of the davenport, escaping death. After questioning every known acquaintance of Siegel, who could be located, the District Attorney's office pinned hopes of solving the murder case on investigation by two men sent by air to Las Vegas. Investigators stated there were three possible motives:

1. That Siegel's luxurious newly opened Flamingo Club was getting such heavy play from Las Vegas visitors that other clubs were suffering from lack of business;
2. That Siegel's interest in the multimillion dollar enterprise had drained his resources to the extent he was applying the thumbscrews to L.A. bookmakers, reputedly forced to subscribe to his racing information service;
3. That a patron of the Flamingo who received "dropped a couple of hundred grand" had undertaken reprisal upon Siegel.

Following the taking of a lengthy statement by District Attorney's men, Barney Ruditsky, 50, liquor dealer and former New York policeman, was absolved from connection with the murder. Chief Deputy District Attorney S. Ernest Roll, with Captain W.W. White stated Ruditsky's information promised little if any light on the murder. The investigators were going over Siegel's recent record with thoroughness in quest of other leads.

At about 10:45pm on June 20, 1947, according to Allen Smiley, a series of shots crashed out. Smiley felt the plucking of one of the bullets through the left arm of his coat as he sat at Siegel's right with his own arm resting on top of the davenport. Smiley threw himself on the floor, where he was found cowering when other occupants of the house ran into the room.

"Siegel was lying back, his hands resting in his lap, and the newspaper between his grotesquely sprawled legs. The killer rested his carbine in a latticed pergola a scant dozen feet from where Siegel and Smiley sat on the davenport less than 10 feet from the window. The first two bullets truck Siegel in the head, causing almost instant death. Two other bullets lodged in his body, Siegel, his face torn unrecognizably, slumped back, but remained seated. Other bullets had thudded into the wall, after wrecking a statuette of Pan and puncturing a painting of a nude holding a wine glass. Nine shells were found in the driveway of the house next door at 808 N. Linden, which is occupied by Martin Belousoff and his wife Anna. The couple said they were awakened by the shots but did not hear the getaway car. Lou Slane, 629 N. Elm Drive, Beverly Hills, visiting at the home of Dr. Lynn Wightman, 807 N. Linden, said he heard the shots and rushed out in time to hear a car being driven rapidly up Linden toward Sunset Boulevard. The home occupied by Hill, her brother and her secretary, Miss Jeri Mason, belongs to Juan Romero, former manager of the late Rudolph Valentino, and formerly belonged to George Jessel. Miss Hill had occupied the place for the last two months. Among those questions by police was Swifty Morgan, a goateed oldster from New York whom Siegel maintained for his entertainment value. One of Swifty's specialities was ribbing of customers at the Flamingo, a la Vince Barnett. Paul Price, press agent for the Flamingo, came here from Las Vegas upon hearing the news, but was said to know little about Siegel's background."

The article further stated that en route from New York, by train, with arrival scheduled for that day were Siegel's ex-wife Elizabeth and two daughters, Millicent, 16, and Barbara, 14. Attorney Ross stated that Siegel seemed untroubled and that they discussed only financial matters relating to the Flamingo. Hill's brother Charles, was formerly employed at the Flamingo dealing out change for slot machine players, also was unable to contribute to the investigation. Siegel had $408 in cash on his person, but no weapon. His gun was found in his room. Roll and Captain White summoned a locksmith to break into a locker in Siegel's room but did not find any large sum of money, nor any clues to the slaying.

The FBI learned that they were enroute to Los Angeles for the summer when they learned that Siegel was killed. When they arrived at Los Angeles, no one met them or contacted them. Esther called Meyer Lansky and was very bitter. She reminded Lansky that Siegel had always boasted of the large number of friends he had on the West Coast. She informed Lansky that Siegel didn't have a single friend, only enemies.

"Hill left here last Saturday for New York and Paris in company with Dr. Margaret (Mom) Chung, "mother" of the Chinese Air Force, who fostered the famous Flying Tigers in the pre-World War II. She told friends in Las Vegas recently she planned to visit Paris to buy wines and champagnes for importation to this country. She was reported to plan supplying the Flamingo with some of her importations. Miss Hill, about 30, first made headlines when she eloped with Ossie Griffin, former All-American football star, her second husband. By the time she married and divorced her third mate, Carlos Valdez, dancer, she was achieving a parallel reputation as the nation's No. 2 party-giver. In 1941, she quit giving lavish parties and announced she was going to join the American Red Cross. She was proud of having designed the penthouse for the Flamingo Club, where she was a frequent visitor, she told friends in Las Vegas shortly before her departure."

Siegel was one of the last survivors of the old New York mob which grew up in the late prohibition era and flowered in the Tammany regime which lost its power with the prosecution of Jimmy Hines by the then District Attorney Thomas E. Dewey. Others of the mob were Frankie Yale, Joe Adonis, Louis (Lepke) Buchalter, Jake (Gurrah) Shapiro and Abe (Kid) Reles. The mob specialized in fur-industry rackets, spread into the cleaning and dyeing industry and eventually into such related fields as the poultry distributing business. Siegel and his partner Meyer Lansky were reputed to be "trigger men" or "torpedoes" for the mob, which at one time was associated with Charles (Lucky) Luciano in the prostitution racket. When Frankie Yale was cut down in his prime he was given a typical mobster's funeral, with a gold plated casket and other trappers which reputedly cost his grieving associates $50,000.

Blurb from Las Vegas - " The Flamingo Club, swank gambling spa in Las Vegas, Nev., will follow a 'business-as-usual' policy despite the death of Benjamin Siegel, a stockholder, according to Louis Wiener, its attorney, yesterday. Wiener stated 'The Flamingo is owned and operated by the Nevada Project Corp. Siegel was only a stockholder in that corporation, and his death will have no effect whatever on the future operations of the hotel.'

It was also reported that a 22 year old ex-convict living in Redwood City Confessed to the murder. Edward S. Ross told conflicting stories relating that he "was suppose to get $5,000"" for the killing saying at first that he had come to San Francisco in a getaway car. Later he said he had come by plane from New York. Officers were likely to discredit this man as a suspect.

L.A. Examiner 6/23/47
The biggest gang killing in years brought 'action' by New York and Los Angeles. Underworlds in Los Angeles and Vegas were reported in panic over Siegel's death. Some of his henchmen were in hiding fearing they would be next on the list. Siegel had made many enemies in trying to win control of L.A. bookmakers by forcing them to take his wire service. The autopsy report stated that one bullet crushed the bridge of Siegel's nose and ripped into his left eye. The other entered his right cheek and came out through the back of his neck, shattering his vertebrae.

L.A. Times 6/23/47
Reports from Las Vegas stated that control of the bookmaking racket in five Western States had been taken away from one group of gamblers by heads of an asserted nationwide bookmaking syndicate and given to Siegel. Persons "in the know" in the Vegas gambling clubs were reported to have told Los Angeles officers sent there that a big conference of certain heads of the syndicate from Philadelphia, New York, and Chicago was held at the Flamingo. Siegel reported to hold controlling interest in the Flamingo was present. At the conclusion of the meeting, after long and hot wrangling, Siegel was said to have been given control of the five states including California, Oregon, and Nevada. The group on the losing end of the transaction was said to have headquarters in Chicago with possibly one member already representing them here. This local contact man was believed to have had previous altercations with Siegel in his attempt to muscle in the local and Beverly Hills bookmaking business.

The same sources revealed that Siegel had not carried a gun up until two weeks before he flew to Los Angeles (around the same time he and Hill had their altercation). His gun, an automatic, was found after the murder in the bedroom he occupied. Chief of Police C.H. Anderson arrived from New York, where he had effected the capture of Albert Greenberg as a suspect in a recent $114,000 jewel robbery, declared he had uncovered information in the eastern city which may link Siegel with a recently plotted racket in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills which could have gained the participants more than half a million dollars. Anderson stated "I do not believe that Siegel was wiped out because of anything which occurred in Las Vegas. We have learned that heavy losses have been reported in the Flamingo despite its general appearance of prosperity. In order to make good, Siegel, we believe, took a leading part in local underworld transactions and someone among his henchmen accused him of a double cross." Anderson said he hoped to receive from New York in the next day or two further information which may lead to the arrest of Siegel's killer. Significantly, Siegel gave Greenberg an alibi when he was arrested for participation in the robbery of $114,000 worth of jewelry from Mrs. Samuel Genis in her apartment at 9543 Charleville Blvd., Beverly HIlls, April 2nd. Greenberg stated "I was at the Flamingo Club from March 30 to April 5 and Bugsie can vouch that I was there on April 2,". Even though Siegel had a room in Hill's apartment, he was reported to have lived at the Flamingo. He would visit Hill every two weeks or so.

It was noted that Smiley was in protective custody and told police that he, Siegel, Mason, and Hill, had gone to Jack's Cafe on Ocean Park Pier before the shooting. Captain White had visited the cafe in an effort to learn if anyone else might have been present who could have followed the party to the Hill home. During the dinner Smiley said Siegel gave no evidence that he feared such an ending. Joe Ross, Siegel's attorney told Captain White that Siegel was good spirits and complained of no irregularities in his business when Siegel visited him.

Word was received from Las Vegas by Anderson that Siegel had a clean slate there. Officers sent to Vegas reported that operators of other gambling clubs thought well of the operator. He carried the appearance of a gentleman and disliked being called Bugsie. Other gamblers had even put themselves out to help him in his operations, the officers reported. Members of the Clark County Sheriff's office also stated that Siegel had never got himself into any difficulties.

Found with a .30 caliber Army carbine of the type believed used on Siegel, two men were arrested in an automobile at 163rd St. and Hawthorne Blvd., by Hawthorne police and turned over to Beverly Hills officers for questions. Lt. Paul R. Smith reported that there was no evidence connecting the two with the murder. They were being held for FBI agents on suspicion of illegal possession of government property. The arrested men were Ross Frank Price, 21 of 4425 Boyer St., Long Beach, and Lowell Lloyd Frank, 20, of 644 Brooks Ave., Venice.

Taking exception to reports that he had been called in for questioning, Barney Ruditsky, former New York policeman, declared he was the head of a private detective agency at 8818-1/2 Sunset Blvd., had merely volunteered his help in the investigation. He accompanied Roll and Chief Investigator Leo Stanley on several angles of the inquiry.

L.A. Examiner 6/23/47

"Information point to two known New York hoodlums as the slayers of Benjamin Siegel in a Beverly Hills home was learned exclusively by the Examiner last night. The gunmen were said to be in the employ of a New York gangster. . . . The two men, Las Vegas authorities believe, were tipped by a third 'character' who had been tailing Bugsy in the Nevada City. The night Siegel left for L.A., they said, this 'character' made a long distance telephone call. The same night Bugsy lay dead . . . One man was described as a former member of the Luciano mob and served three years in a Federal prison for impersonating an officer. He was released in last May. The other was described as "a free lance gunman," who was frequently arrested in New York on a variety of charges ranging from homicide to policy violations. He finally was sent to Federal prison for selling untaxed liquor. Police believe the motive for the slaying was that Siegel paid attention to the New York gang leader's girl. Payoff for the killing was $10,000. The two hoodlums were given the task some time ago but were sentenced to prison before they could accomplish their mission. After being release they immediately took up where they left off. Police believe the two left town, either by fast car or plane, immediately after the slaying. . . .

In a newspaper article which is undated and unnamed it stated that Flamingo owner William Wilkerson finally got out of the Flamingo and his story was that he never suspected Siegel's character until J. Edgar Hoover of the FBI telephoned him and warned him that he was in bad company.

L.A. Herald 6/23/47

The Herald had a whole new angle when they reported a revelation of a quarrel and break-up between Siegel and Hill and a No. 1 boyfriend in her life. Hill had taken up with another man identified only as "Joe" after breaking off with Siegel. The jealous suitor, angered over learning that Siegel was still carrying a gold key to her home, may have hired a pair of gunmen to kill him. While in Paris Hill stated that her relationship with Siegel was "a constant strain on her nerves." She stated: "He was a very nice guy and people liked him, but he had a terrific temper. He would jump down people's throats and shout at me in front of other people. It got so that we couldn't be together five minutes without arguing. All this got me down, and I also disapproved of that kind of life with all that gambling. When he barked at me, I packed my bags and left the hotel. I phoned goodbye to him from Chicago last week and I said I was going to Europe. That was the last I heard from him. I was never very friendly with Ben, either. I never went with his friends and he did not know who my friends were. There was no mistress business involved. If anyone or anything was his mistress, it that Las Vegas hotel. He was killing himself putting it in shape." She stated she could not imagine "who shot him or why." It was also reported that Hill reported to TWA on her trip to France that she was carrying $75,000 worth of furs as excess baggage.

The Herald reported that Siegel's personal effects included a platinum wrist watch, a gold ring with an amber stone, a $50 Mexican goldpiece made into a money clip, a set of diamond and platinum cuff links, an alligator billfold containing about $400, a gold cigar punch and six keys, two of them gold plated. Another theory the paper listed was that rival syndicate bosses were angered because control of bookmaking in five western state had allegedly been turned over to Siegel. Police disregarded suggestions that Siegel had been threatened by the mob for taking money, etc., because he had made arrangements to take to his two daughters to the Flamingo for the summer and didn't appear to take any precautions for his own safety.

In relation to the Siegel murder, police had arrested Russell Waterman, 36 with the ganglike slaying of Sol Turkin, 42, ex-convict with 30 aliases. Detectives were seeking a link with Siegel's murder after they learned that Waterman and Turkin had a violent argument over a gun transaction. They found a .38 caliber in Waterman's room but it was not used in either murder. Turkin was slain a few hours before he was to marry a Van Nuys school teacher, Sylvia Schermer. His body was found inside his apartment door with a .38 caliber bullet in the groin. A gash in his forehead suggested that he was also pistol-whipped.

In another related article, the Herald reported on an exclusive interview with Virginia Hill taken by International News Service in which she stated: "It looks so bad to have a thing like that happen there." Hill then released how she learned of the murder while attending a party near Paris: "We got to talking about calisthenics, and I told another American girl. I know a fellow who loves calisthenics and does them very well - Ben Siegel. She looked at me strangely and replied Why, he's dead. Didn't you know? That was the first that I had heard about it." When asked why Siegel had been murdered she stated "You know people like that never talk about their affairs. I was never present when he discussed those things."

In yet another related article Countess Dorothy Di Frasso was contacted in Rome. Di Frasso denied that she had ever been in love with Siegel or had advanced any part of the $5 million that went into Flamingo. When asked if she knew that Siegel had died she stated: "Bugsy? I don't any Bugsy. Do you mean Mr. Benjamin Siegel? No, I did not know it. I'm very very sorry to hear about it." She stated that Siegel was always a perfect gentleman but she hadn't seen him for about two years. "I was not more in love with him that you were. I was his friend." She said she never heard of a Virginia Hill. When asked about the Flamingo she stated "That is just too utterly ridiculous. Why, I couldn't even furnish a casino for a dog house thanks to your government." Di Frasso once owned the palatial Villa Madama in Rose but later sold it to Mussolini.

On June 24, 1947, Agent Newman reported that he had copies of transcripts of telephone conversation of Siegel & other individuals including Virginia Hill. The original recordings were retained in Newman's safe since July 20, 1946. He was informed that the case is now closed and he wanted to know if he should destroy the recordings, forward them to the Bureau or keep them in his safe.

On June 24, 1947, apparently a FBI agent had his own conclusion: On June 23, 1947, a blacked out name stated that other blacked out names was recently released from a prison in Derby, Kansas. While in jail, one of them remarked that he had a big job to do on the West Coast and it looked like it had to do with Siegel; A blacked out name stated on June 24, 1947, that Virginia Hill was a girlfriend of Joe Adonis in New York City, that she came to the West Coast to see Hollywood and Siegel was told by the syndicate to take care of her. She never spent her own money, she was spending Siegel's. She threatened to commit suicide in Las Vegas and Siegel personally took her to a doctor. It was pointed out that a Wilkerson, a partner of Siegel's at the Flamingo, had already gone to Paris, France, with Virginia Hill going thereafter. In his opinion the two reasons for the murder was 1. Mistreatment of Hill; 2. Expanding the wire service.

L.A. Times 6/24/47

Top-ranking law enforcement officers held an hour-long huddle on Siegel's murder. They indicated that Siegel was killed by someone challenging a nation-wide ring controlling narcotic smuggling, bookmaking and shipping of stolen jewelry. The Sheriff's office, police and the District Attorney split up the maze of leads. They are seeking mainly a man who helped to kill James M. Ragen, racing czar, in Chicago. Ragen, 65, was a wealthy foe of the Capone racketeers. Gangsters ambushed his car on the Chicago South Side on June 24, 1946. When their bullets didn't kill him, they poisoned him in a hospital with enough mercury to kill three men. He died on September 3, 1946. Whether Ragen's slayer is the same person who killed Siegel was not positive, but the officers were giving him top rank on their list of wanted men.

It was noted that officers knew that Siegel was promised control of bookmaking in five Western States while at a conference located in the Flamingo. Officers stated that the narcotics and "hot jewelry" traffic was divided at the same conference. Officers said that jealousy grew. It was noted that shortly after Siegel was killed, Police Chief Juan Menesen of Mexicali was slain in a fusillade of machine-gun bullets. He was a key figure in the U.S.-Mexican efforts to halt the narcotics traffic. Customs and narcotics agents stated they caught the leader of a gang of opium smugglers named Martinez, in a battle near Calexico. More than 200 shots were fired in the 45 minute battle and the Treasury Department patrol car was riddled. The Treasury men seized $34,750 worth of opium. It weighed 840 ounces and was divided in 139 cans. Law enforcement officials feared that if Siegel's killer wasn't trapped soon, there may be another murder.

It was stated that Siegel's body laid unclaimed in the County Morgue, Crypt 6. An inquest was set for 9:30am on June 25th, at which time someone must identify the body. Siegel's ex-wife and daughters arrived on the 23rd from New York. The District Attorney sent two investigators to Vegas to question the manager of the Flamingo and another gambling operator for clues. This was decided upon when two sergeants arrested Mrs. Doris Irene Powell of 1006 Francis Ave., Vegas, for speeding at 1:45pm. She said she was in a hurry to get to the Vegas where her husband is manager of the Flamingo. The officers let her go without a ticket to be with her husband. Then Los Angeles police stopped a Mrs. Moesaday who stated her husband was part owner of the El Dorado Club but that his syndicate had just sold it "because they were not getting along too well with the people at the Flamingo."

Hill was then interviewed. She stated she "last saw Ben three weeks ago at the Flamingo." She told of a quarrel with Siegel over the way he dressed for dinner. She is said to receive about $1,000 a month alimony from former marriages. Juan Romero said he rented the home to her for $500 a month and he came voluntarily from Tijuana to the District Attorney's Office for questioning. He said he met Siegel once a year ago. He had known Hill since 1938, and she introduced them. Romero, who lives at 8570 Hollywood Blvd., denied any association with gamblers or racketeers.

In her hotel suite looking out on the Rue de la Paix, Hill sat crying during the interview. She stated the quarrel was over whether Siegel should wear a sport shirt to a dinner he was attending. She stated that he was working very hard for the Flamingo and she told him he could not go to dinner with all those people in a dirty white sports shirt. "He barked back I should mind my own business. I am not taking that from anyone, so I packed my bags and left. I phoned goodbye from Chicago last week and said I was going to Europe. He said goodbye and I never heard from him afterward. I can't believe he is dead. Ben, that's what I always called him, was so nice, and he had lots of friends. I can't imagine who shot him or why." She stated that she was in Paris alone but it was noted that 21 year old Nicholas Feuillate, scion of a wealthy French business family was being very nice to her. She stated "Why, I was with his family, they are awfully nice, all weekend on their houseboat in the Seine near Fountainbleau and I slept in the same room with Nick's mother." Nervously crossing her legs, which showed bruises which she said resulted from horseback riding in the Forest, she stated "I never was very friendly with Ben either. I never went with his friends and he did not know who my friends are. There was no mistress business involved. If anyone or anything was his mistress it was that Las Vegas hotel. He was killing himself putting it in shape. I never knew Ben was involved in all that gang stuff. He never mentioned anything about it and I never asked any questions. I never saw him before he got started on the Flamingo."

Meanwhile, Smiley was released and went into seclusion. He had retained attorney Jerry Glesler.

Chief Anderson said he hoped to extradite Albert Greenberg, 43, from New York in connection with the $100,000 Beverly Hills jewelry robbery of Mrs. Sam Jenis on April 2nd. He hopes Greenberg might have some helpful hints on the murder.

While George Raft was being questioned by police, and dealing with the loss of his close friend, he was struck with an other blow when on June 24, 1947, Mrs. Grayce Raft brought a suit in the Superior Court against Raft demanding an accounting and back payments under a property settlement agreement. Mrs. Raft, long estranged from George filed her complaint on the basis of a property settlement agreement signed on June 3, 1932, which provided her with 10% of his earnings, payable weekly. She complained that since March 1, 1945, although he had earned in excess of $332,000, he has not made his payments to her in full. She also contended he had made income tax returns on the assumption that his earnings are all community property. This procedure, she stated, had made her liable for certain income tax payments although she did not receive benefit of his earnings as community property. The documents stated that although Raft paid her $19,223 since March 1, 1945, he admitted owing her further sums. She declared that last October he acknowledged owing her $6,901 and also assigned her his claim for $11,358 in tax refunds. The complaint stated that if his earnings were community property she had received very little benefit from them and in contrast he had dissipated by gifts large parts of these earnings. Mrs. Raft, formerly Grayce Mulrooney, was married to Raft in 1923, but a short time later they became estranged and the property agreement was executed after she had filed a separation suit. At the time of the filing of this complaint, she lived in New York.

L.A. Times 6/25/47
It was reported that Siegel was murdered either by rival dope smugglers or as the result of an internal row in the news service he controlled. Federal and locate investigators agreed that Siegel was reaching too far. Head of Federal narcotics unit stated "Bugsie was one of the biggest dope peddlers in the United States. He was financing international deals in various narcotics. We'd like to know more about the activities of his cohorts." But Police Chief C.B. Horrall and Chief of Detectives William J. Bradley were concentrating more on the Trans-America Wire Service. They stated that they knew a racing news service was formed to telegraph results and pay-offs. After some time, Siegel seized control of this bootleg setup and included it in his service.

Meanwhile in Vegas, a showdown took place at the Flamingo two weeks before the murder. Siegel won the right to run his news service and to control bookmaking in California, Nevada and Oregon through it. Somebody didn't like that. Witnesses were subpoenaed for Siegel's inquest. They were handed out to Allen Smiley, Charles Hill, and Jeri Mason. It was speculated that Hill would identify Siegel's body so he could be released. It was also noted that no Will could be found.

On June 25, 1947, the FBI attended the Coroner's Inquest and reported the following.

Captain W.W. White of the Beverly Hills Police Department testified that the killing happened at approximately 10:50pm on June 20, 1947, and he arrived at the residence at approximately 11:00pm. He stated that he had picked up 9 30-caliber U.S. Army carbine shells at the scene; that two shots entered Siegel's head, one entering the right eye and exiting the left eye, the other entering the right cheek and exiting the left neck, shattering the neck vertebra, and that the distance from where the victim was shot to the window of the residence was four feet.

Allen Smiley identified the body at the inquest and related the activities of Jeri Mason, Charles Hill, Siegel and himself before the shooting.

He stated that at 3:00pm he drove Siegel to Jerry Rothchild's Barber Shop, 222 S. Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills, where he left Siegel. Smiley returned to his apartment and made an appointment to see his doctor. Smiley completed the appointment which lasted 45 minutes, and returned to pick up Siegel at Joe Ross' law offices in Beverly Hills, and returned with Siegel to Linden Drive. Smiley, Siegel, Charles Hill, and Mason then proceeded to Jack's Cafe at Ocean Park, because they had heard that the cafe had just opened and all of them were curious to see what it was like. Smiley related that after having dinner, they returned to Linden Drive. The only stop made was at the Beverly Hills Drug Store. They arrived at Linden Drive at approximately 10:00 or 10:20pm and after being in the house for about 10 minutes, Siegel and Smiley sat on the Chesterfield couch talking while Siegel looked over the Examiner newspaper.

Smiley first heard a lot of noise "like firecrackers, and thought it was a gag", but when he saw blood he knew Siegel had been shot. Smiley stated "Quicker than I can say, I dove to the ground and immediately heard Chuck Hill, who was upstairs with Jeri Mason, call down 'what's the matter, Ben'? Smiley then hollered for them to call the doctor and the police and to turn off the lights. He yelled "Ben is shot; call the police; call a doctor. Someone called Barney Ruditsky, a very good friend."

Jeri Mason and Charles Hill both testified, stating they were upstairs pulling tacks out of the carpet because they were getting ready to go to Florida. Mason testified that she was Hill's secretary but was embarrassed when asked direct questions concerning from whom Hill rented and if Mason received letters recently from Hill. Mason knew very little about Hill's personal business and was "very, very, vague." It was later disclosed that Mason and Charles Hill were engaged.

A status report stated from June 20 through June 25, 1947, Siegel's body remained at the Los Angeles County Morgue unclaimed. However, after the Coroner's Inquest, Dr. Maurice Siegel, brother of the victim, claimed the body and secret funeral services were held at the Groman Mortuary, 830 West Washington Boulevard, Los Angeles. The services lasted five minutes and only six mourners, including his divorced wife and his two daughters, were present. No tourists were allowed in. A limousine containing Smiley arrived, then Siegel's ex-wife, his two daughters, Milicent 16, and Barbara 14, his sister Bessie Soloway, and his brother Maurice appeared. After the service, the family minus Maurice went out of the back door of the chapel, crossing a box cluttered alley, and ushered into waiting limousines. The hatless Maurice walked out the front door and went unrecognized by reporters. Plain clothed detectives was outside the mortuary taking notes. Siegel's body was then taken to Beth Olam Cemetery for burial in a plot bought by his brother. A private service was then conducted by Rabbi Kert with Dr. Siegel being the only person present. No other family members were buried in this cemetery. The ornate $5,000 900 pound silver-plated bronze casket remained closed through the funeral, the body having been hermetically sealed in the coffin on the night of June 25, 1947. It was noted that Siegel was laid in white silk, dressed in a blue suit, blue tie, and white shirt. It was agreed that the family members didn't want to see his face ripped up by bullets. The rights of the Jewish Church were conducted privately by Rabbi Max Kert of the Olympic Jewish Center at the request of the family to thwart plans of Siegel's friends and business associates for a lavish Chicago-style funeral. Rabbi Kert of the Olympic Jewish Center read the 23rd Psalm and a Hebrew prayer in English.

On June 25, 1947, a letter to "Mr. Hoover" was sent with no author named which stated "The enclosed diagram shows the location of the apartment used as a hideout by the Bugsy Siegel murderers. The address is 136-05 Sanford Ave., Flushing, New York. The corner apartment is on the fifth floor, with one of the windows, on Main Street, facing the West and the other four windows, on Sanford Avenue, facing the South." (no diagram was attached to this letter). The envelope was post-marked June 25 from New York and address to Mr. Edgar J. Hoover, FBI, Washington, D.C.

L.A. Times 6/26/47
The report for the inquest was made public. Siegel died of cerebral hemorrhage . . . gunshot wound of the head inflicted by person or persons unknown . . . We recommend further investigation. The inquest was held behind doors guarded by deputy sheriffs. Most tense of the witnesses was Allen Smiley. Smiley parked his car on Broadway, entered the room cautiously and kept peering at the windows. He stated "We got home some time after 10:30 Friday night. Then I sat down on the davenport to read the morning papers. Miss Mason and Charles HIll went upstairs. Suddenly there was a noise. I looked up quickly and thought it was a bunch of firecrackers. For a second I thought it might be a gag. I looked up at Siegel's face and saw blood all over it so I instinctively fell on the floor for my own protection. It came to me as a complete shock. I yelled up to Miss Mason and Hill to call the doctor and the police to put out all the lights. I yelled, Put out the lights and get out of here! Call the police! Call the doctor!" Smiley's hands twitched. He was watching the windows again. Mason and Hill recalled how Siegel arrived at 11:00am from Vegas. When asked if he lived at Hill's residence Mason replied "No, but he came there quite often. He used one of the guestrooms." The couple testified that they went upstairs to pull tacks from a rug they were taking to Florida. Downstairs the shades were up on all the windows. Siegel and Smiley were clearly visible. Captain W.W. White testified he got the first call at 10:58pm on Friday, and arrived on the heels of radio officers two minutes later. Neighbors told him they heard the blast of gunfire and an automobile racing away.

It was clearly noted that Smiley, not Hill, was the person who officially identified Siegel's body. Det. Lt. Gene Bechtel took stenotype notes of all the testimony, a rare procedure at inquests in Los Angeles. After Smiley identified the body and left, Siegel's brother, Dr. Maurice Siegel appeared at the mortuary and formally claimed Siegel's body.

After the inquest Mason and Hill were questioned further at the District Attorney's Office. Mason said she was formerly a beauty operator. She met Marie McDonald, film actress, in her beauty shop and learned they both were going to Nevada for divorces. She became McDonald's secretary but at the Flamingo Club she left to become Virginia Hill's secretary. Flamingo's attorney Lou Weiner, informed investigators that Hill was tempestuous. A cigarette girl at the Flamingo with whom she tussled was now suing both Hill and the Flamingo for damages.

Chief Investigator H. Leo Stanley, Captain Everett Davis and Charles Ebbets, Jr., returned from Nevada almost empty-handed; so did Lt. Joe Vigneau, head of the Sheriff's gangster squad. They all knew that Siegel ran into a terrific feud when he began buying into the Consolidated Wire Service to maybe joining them with his Trans-America Wire Service. Stanley said bookmakers were paying $1,100 a day for Consolidated. Some gangland heads feared Siegel would become czar of a racing-returns and bookie kingdom which would rule either western States. Other feared he would seize control of narcotics smuggling on the Mexican border. Federal inspectors said the same gang that killed Siegel also engaged in a gun fight in Calexico, and participated in the killing of Juan Meneses.

The District Attorney learned that Siegel owned only a 10% share of the Flamingo but he controlled its entire gambling casino. The club opened with $1,500,000. It then ran into the red up to $5,000,000. Siegel, seeing it was losing, stepped in with his own funds in an attempt to save his creation. His Hollywood ties proved helpful. Film stars answered Siegel's invitations dropping money on the tables. Once Siegel himself dropped $50,000 in cash while shooting dice with an Eastern gambler named Stoner. It was suspected that $50,000 was house money though as Siegel would not only use stars such as Rose Marie as shills, he would go in himself as a shill.

It was noted that George Raft purchased a reservation to fly on TWA Constellation to New York and from there to Paris where Hill is located. The film actor denied he was going to see Hill but investigators did not believe him. At the time Raft was part owner of Star Films, an independent film company, and he was travelling with Star's attorney Herbert Silverberg. Raft stated "Strictly business. We've been planning this trip for two months, to get background material for our next picture."

Charles Hill admitted to investigators that he intended to marry secretary Jeri Mason. They were going to move to Miami. They stated Virginia Hill intends to buy wine in France and establish a wine agency in Florida, where she has another home.

On June 26, 1947, the L.A. Herald & Express wrote an article about the murder. They stated that the Flamingo was built in 24 hour shifts with imported soil and materials. After she opened in January of 1947, Siegel had a problem making her pay. Around June 11, 1947, Siegel instituted new policies with the resort. He chopped room rates in half, gave away cars, radios and $750 in Bingo raising it to $1,000 on Sundays. Actress Martha Driscoll was seen in the Supper Club which consisted of glass walls covered with green fish net. and enjoyed a steak with all the trimming for $4.50. The guests at the resort stated that Siegel was killed probably because the Flamingo was losing money. They thought that gambling away $2,000 to win a $40 radio was great fun.

It went on to state that Siegel had a way with the Hollywood stars and hired Jimmy Durante, the Andrew Sisters, Lena Horne and Xavier Cugat to perform at the resort. An important star to entertain there was Marie MacDonald whose former secretary Jeri Mason, went on to become Virginia Hill's secretary and stated she knew the man well. Other entertainers seen sitting on the red stools in front of the green leather bar included Dick Powell, Gary Cooper, Franchot Tone, Sonny Tufts, and of course George Raft. The celebrities liked this particular sitting arrangements as they could peer through he curved glass terrace gardens "mammoth" pool and the four story hotel.

The June 26, 1947 Los Angeles Times took another route. In their article they stated that the murder rose out of jealously with Virginia Hill. The article stated that the District Attorney said that a Chicago racketeer was the murderer. Chief C.H. Anderson contacted Paris and asked that the local police obtain a statement from Virginia Hill. Anderson instructed the Paris police to ask Hill when she first met Siegel, what their relationship was, why and when did she give him a key to her house, and why did she all of a sudden go to Paris.

The paper reported that facts were 1. Hill was extremely close to a certain Chicago bookmaker; 2. She met Siegel and became very interested in him; 3. Eight weeks ago Siegel had insulted her while at the Flamingo; 4. The Chicago rival had a deep affection to her; 5. On May 5, 1947, Hill took an overdose of sleeping pills because she was mad at Siegel; The Chicago rival sent two hoodlums to Los Angeles a few days before the murder.

The article went on to state that Marie MacDonald had dinner with Siegel at Las Vegas three or four times but someone was always with them. She hired Jeri Mason who previously worked at a beauty parlor, but had to let her go because "I wanted to relax but Jeri was always organizing dinners and big parties." Hill hired her and she then became engaged to Hill's brother Charlie.

The Times also stated that several weeks before his death, Siegel ordered the death of certain narcotic dealers in San Francisco on suspicion that they talked to government investigators. Siegel's murder now paved the way to control illegal narcotics distribution by the Mafia. It was also stated that 99% of the narcotics selling in the U.S. came from Brooklyn headquarters and the sales of these narcotics brought in millions of dollars annually. California had an important position because most dope was smuggled into the U.S. over the border between Mexico and California. Siegel had such a hold on the West Coast drug smuggling that he made Al Capone's hold on Chicago look pathetic. Shortly after Siegel's funeral, Attorney General Fred M. Howser instructed his chief special agent to conduct various meetings throughout Nevada to study slot machines, bookmaking, wire services, prostitution and other problems the state was having. Howser went on to state that they would be looking particularly into Siegel's known connections with hard liquor, and black market activities, as Siegel was friendly with some of the senior lobbyists in Sacramento.

L.A. Herald 6/26/47

". . . While candelabra burned at the head of the scrolled; silk-lined casket, the 23rd Psalm was read, followed by final prayers. There was no eulogy and no flowers. The simple rites were in sharp contrast to the expensive funeral tributes to other big time mob rulers such as Dion O'Bannion, George "Bugs" Moran and Frankie Uale in Chicago and New York, when $75,000 funerals with a parade of 250 flower-laden automobiles were accepted gangland traditions. . . . Allen Smiley, Hollywood sporting figure who was the only eyewitness to Siegel's rubout, was the only mourner outside the family who attended the services. . . . There was no announcement of the impending rites and the services were finished before outsiders were aware that they were being held. . . It was a case of too many clues. There were too many persons interested in the sudden demise of the West Coast czar of organized gangsterism. . . . Authorities also were closely checking Virginia Hill's sudden departure for Paris two weeks before the Siegel killing. It was also learned that William R. Wilkerson, Hollywood film trade daily published and Siegel's former partner in the Flamingo, is in the French capital."

In a June 26, 1947 FBI report, it was stated that in 1947, Siegel maintained a special room for his mistress Virginia Hill at the Hotel Last Frontier. Just prior to the slaying of Siegel, Hill became enraged at Siegel because of his attentions to another woman. Hill separated from Siegel and was in Paris, France, at the time of Siegel's death. The agent reviewed Siegel's entire file and he could not find any mention that Siegel was ever involved in commercialized prostitution. Danton Walker in his column dated June 26, 1947, stated "The White Slave angle will figure in the Bugsy Siegel slaying, resulting in some red faces around Broadway. The FBI report stated there was no evidence whatsoever that Walker's column had any truth in it.

"Blacked out name stated that none of Siegel's associates in Vegas knew whether Siegel was killed by the Syndicate or by someone else. He stated that anyone with whom Siegel had business dealings with the last few months may have had a motive to kill him because Siegel had "completely lost his mind" and had become very ruthless and abusive. Blacked out name who was an acquaintance of Siegel's, but who had no connection with the Syndicate or Siegel's business activities, stated that approximately a week ago Siegel and Virginia Hill had a very serious argument at the Flamingo Hotel. Hill allegedly saw Siegel talking with a cigarette girl in the Flamingo casino in a manner that Hill did not approve of and that Hill attacked the cigarette girl and began scratching the girl and pulling her hair. Siegel forcibly pulled Hill from the cigarette girl. Hill began screaming at Siegel calling him a murderer and gangster. Blacked out name and Siegel attempted to forcibly remove Hill from the casino and she became abusive toward them calling them murderers and gangsters also. Siegel then struck Hill in the face, claiming to the blacked out name that he broke Hill's nose. He struck her again. Blacked out name said that Hill screamed that she would commit suicide. In another memo it was stated that blacked out name speculated that the New York members of the Mob instigated the killing Siegel and it was probably precipitated by information furnished to the mob in New York by Virginia Hill stating that Siegel was double-crossing them. It was emphasized that this information should not be divulged to persons outside the Bureau.

The Examiner quoted Howser as stating "We are not only concerned with who killed Siegel, but more interested in the cause of the killing. We believe it may have resulted in from an old grudge arising out of his past activities." It was noted that even though this statement was made, District Attorney investigators were showing increased interest in Virginia Hill's affairs. Passport records show that Hill and a Dr. Chung applied for visas at the same time. Hill stated they were business associates. In San Francisco, Dr. Chung stated she planned the trip but didn't go. Hill was a patient of hers. The doctor was most famous as "Mom" Chung who adopted about 1,000 American and Chinese servicemen during the war years including Halsey and Nimitz. It was learned that George Raft had cancelled his plane reservations, but William Wilkerson, former owner of the Flamingo was living in Paris. The article went on to state that passport records turned up clues about Hill was the former girlfriend of both Brooklyn gangster Joe Adonis, and Siegel.

The article stated that Hill told investigators that she was born in Lipscomb, Alabama on August 26, 1916, and her full name was Onie Virginia Hill, daughter of Mack Hill of Alabama. She was married to Leon Griffin in January, 1939, but was annulled after seven months in Birmingham. Her second husband was Carlos Valadez Gonzalez whom she married on January 15, 1940 in Mexico City, and divorced December 11, 1940. Hill stated she was going to Paris to obtain a West Coast Company for wines and liquors.

In addition, the Examiner stated it learned that in Washington Siegel had received $100,000 in Liberty Bonds from Frank Ward, Minneapolis Democratic leader. The transfer was found in the investigation of Murder, Inc., and turned over to the FBI but no action was ever taken. It also learned that Siegel was trying to seize control when Charles (Lucky) Luciano was deported to Italy. Joseph Bell, Chicago Division of Narcotics stated that Siegel "had complete overlordship of Southern California rackets."

It was noted from FBI agents that between June 21st and June 26, 1947, Siegel's death brought many reasons, including gang warfare and dope smuggling; the fact that Vegas gambling clubs were losing money because of the Flamingo's growing popularity; that Siegel's interest in the Flamingo drained his resources and he was applying pressure to the Los Angeles bookmakers who subscribed to the Trans-America Wire Service; and that a patron of the Flamingo lost heavily between and had undertaken reprisals. The report stated the agent was more interested in the fight that Hill and Siegel had at the Flamingo then any of the above reasons.

On June 27, 1947, Meyer Lansky stated to an informant that the Syndicate had nothing to do with the killing. Lansky stated that he, Frank Costello, and Joe Adonis were as surprised as anyone when they heard that Siegel had been killed. They received telephone calls from associates all over the country inquiring about the death but there were no answers. Lansky said he and other have not been able to determine the identity of possible suspects. He stated that they were not contacted by Virginia Hill while Hill was in New York. Lansky believed that Hill's brother may have killed Siegel. He stated "Those hot headed southerners may have killed Siegel because of Siegel mistreating Hill." Lansky said that Siegel's death was no serious loss to the Syndicate and that no member seriously regretted his death since Siegel had bought too much unfavorable publicity to the Syndicate as a result of his actions in refusing to give up on the construction of the Flamingo Hotel, Virginia Hill, and his wire service. However, the Syndicate is duty bound to attempt to solve the killing itself and obtain revenge because of the possibility of "losing face."

L.A. Times 6/28/47

Then it came out that jealousy over Virginia Hill was suggested as the motive. The District Attorney and Sheriff's officers suspected that a Chicago racketeer probably engineered the killing. They believe he paid two gangsters to kill Siegel. Anderson stated he cabled Paris police asking them to get an official statement from Hill. Anderson wants to know when she first met Siegel, what their relations were, why she gave him a gold key to her home, and why did she go to Paris.

This came from the following information they obtained:

1. Hill was an extremely close friend of the Chicago bookmaker;
2. She met Siegel and became interested in him;
3. Eight weeks ago Siegel insulted her. There was a violent row at the Flamingo;
4. The Chicago rival for her affections was incensed;
5. On May 5th, Hill took an overdose of sleeping pills on which Stanley commented "A suicide attempt - she was mad at Siegel!"
6. The Chicago man sent two hoodlums to kill Siegel.

It was reported under questioning before Chief Deputy S. Ernest Roll and H. Leo Stanley, that 21 year old Charles Hill admitted that his sister and Siegel were romantically inclined but the romance went awry before he was slain. Hill went on to state that when Virginia lay unconscious in a Vegas hospital after taking sleeping pills at Siegel's Flamingo, Siegel told him that he wanted to marry her. But the romance faded. They agreed that both were "too nervous" to stay together. Hill stated that his sister planned to go to Paris some time ago. At first Siegel was against the trip but advised her to go ahead. In their "split up" there was no violence. Hill said that while his sister was in Paris, Mason and he were left to pack up and travel to Miss Hill's home in Miami, Florida in Miss Hill's new automobile that she bought about a month ago for $6,400. When asked whether Siegel actually bought the car for paid Virginia's rent he stated "I don't know whether he put up any money for anything. He was there at the time we got the car but my sister gave me the money in cash to pay for it and I went and got it from a used car place." Hill did add that he knew Siegel was in the habit of giving money away to a lot of people but that he had little exact knowledge of his sister's finances. Hill stated that the reason was staying at his sister's was that Siegel came to get his clothing from a guest bedroom and that he had also planned to meet his daughters from New York and taken them on a two-month trip to Canada.

When Hill was asked if he knew his sister was well acquainted with Joe Adonis, he replied that his sister had introduced him to Adonis in New York about three years ago.

The ex-Mrs. Siegel came in for questioning appearing nervous in a conservative black dress with white trimmings, a black coat, and black knit gloves. "We were schoolday sweethearts in New York City. About 20 years ago, while he was in the garage business there, we were married." She called Siegel a "fine husband" and "thoughtful father." The only trouble was that he had so much business away from home that she decided there was no use staying married. She divorced him last August 3rd in Reno and got a substantial property settlement and alimony. She stated she never heard of Virginia Hill until she saw her name in the papers after the murder. She stated she telephoned from New York to Vegas on the day Siegel was killed and her called was completed to Siegel in Beverly Hills. They arranged for her to come out with their children so Siegel could spend time with them. It was noted that she was so nervous she left an ash tray filled with lipstick-smeared cigarette stubs.

Simpson ordered a top-notch investigator sent to the East for a thorough investigation. Police were still searching for a racketeer who was reputedly badly beaten three weeks before in a battle at the Flamingo. Underworld sources hinted that this person was in a hospital. His wounds presumably camouflaged on records as "gout." Simpson's men continued studying the files of Murder, Inc., and began a thorough search through Federal narcotic records.

Two Beverly Hills detectives flew to New York with extradition papers for Albert Greenberg, suspected of robbing Mrs. Samuel Genis on April 2nd in her apartment at 9543 Charleville Blvd., Beverly Hills.

Vegas was holding its own when 29 year old Henry Kojiro Uyechi, a Hawaiian-Japanese man was arrested at the Flamingo carrying a .25-caliber automatic pistol. He said he went to the Flamingo to claim his $55,000 that Siegel owed him from a horse race bet. When asked why he didn't act sooner, he said he was afraid Siegel would kill him. He admitted he had sent a telegram to the morgue in Las Vegas saying "Important not take body away. I'm coming to identify the body." Apparently, Uyechi thought Siegel was killed at the Flamingo. Los Angeles was notified and investigator Stanley ordered a search of Uyechi's room at the Miyako Hotel at First and San Pedro Streets in Los Angeles. It was learned he was in Los Angeles the night Siegel was slain. His U.S. Army discharge papers were found. Officers doubted he had anything to do with the murder.

Los Angeles was still conducting interviews including Marie McDonald who told Stanley and Roll that she had dinner three or four times with Siegel in Vegas but someone else always was with them. She hired Jeri Mason, beauty parlor operator, as a secretary but fired her because "I wanted to relax but Jeri always was organizing dinners and big parties." Mason later became Miss Hill's secretary. She now was engaged to Charles Hill.

George Raft cancelled his TWA reservation to Paris but Star's attorney was still going. It was also learned that Siegel went to Beverly Hills every two weeks to have his hair cut at his favorite barber.

In Chicago, Narcotic Bureau Chief Joseph Bell gave a statement stating that Siegel's murder result from a struggle between the secret Italian society of Mafia and Siegel for control of the dope ring in California. He said he believed Siegel had ordered the killing of two narcotics ring figures in San Francisco on suspicion that they talked to government investigators. Siegel's murder, Bell stated, paved the way to control of illegal narcotics distribution here by the Mafia. Bell went on to state that the Mafia had taken over 99% of the narcotic peddling in the nation and from its Brooklyn headquarters directs the sales of dope running into millions of dollars annually. California had an important position because most dope was smuggled into the United States over the border between California and Mexico. Siegel had a grip on crime in Los Angeles which made Al Capone's hold on Chicago look sick.

It was noted that people took advantage of his death right up to the boys standing on Sunset Boulevard selling maps to the stars' home. Hand made signs were stating "See Where Bugsy Siegel Met His End" and "See The House Where Siegel Was Shot".

While all this was going on, a limousine arrived at 8:50am at the Groman Chapel, 830 West Washington Boulevard, Los Angeles, with Allen Smiley entering the chapel. Next came Siegel's ex-wife Esta, their daughters Milicent 16, and Barbara 11, his brother Maurice Siegel, and Dr. Max Kert, Rabbi of Olympic Jewish Center. The only other mourner was Siegel's sister, Mrs. Bessie Soloay. The family stated "We would like to hold the funeral now." Morticians stated that Siegel was clothed in a blue suit, white shirt, blue tie, with a white handkerchief tucked in his breast pocket. He wore no jewelry. The coffin was sealed, two candelabra stood beside it. Dr. Kert chanted the 23rd Psalm. He bowed his head and spoke a slow Hebrew prayer for the dead. Two amber spotlights turned on the casket. There were no flowers, no splendor, no eulogy. The family whisked out of a rear door of the chapel, ducked through a box-cluttered alley and hurried away in a waiting limousine. The hatless Maurice walked out the front door and went unrecognized by reporters. Plains-clothes detectives made few notes. Later, Siegel's body was taken to Beth Olam Cemetery for burial in a plot of ground purchased by Maurice Siegel. Private graveside services were conducted by Rabbi Kert with Dr. Siegel the only other person in attendance.

L.A. Examiner 6/28/47

The ornate $5,000 900 pound silver-plated bronze casket remained closed through the funeral, the body having been hermetically sealed in the coffin on the night of June 25, 1947. It was noted that Siegel was laid in white silk, dressed in a blue suit, blue tie, and white shirt. It was agreed that the family members didn't want to see his face ripped up by bullets. The rights of the Jewish Church were conducted privately by Rabbi Max Kert of the Olympic Jewish Center at the request of the family to thwart plans of Siegel's friends and business associates for a lavish Chicago-style funeral. Rabbi Kert of the Olympic Jewish Center read the 23rd Psalm and a Hebrew prayer in English.

L.A. Times 6/29/47
Frankly admitting that the assassin of Siegel may never be identified, investigators continued to explore the maze of shadowy enterprises and associations Siegel in order to compile a comprehensive catalogue of organized racketeering in the Southland. Roll stated "We have the gambling angle, the love angle, the racing news syndicate angle, the narcotics angle - you can take your choice. Everyone tells us how much they loved him but it's a cinch somebody didn't."

On June 30, 1947, an investigation of Siegel's love life was reported on by the FBI. It stated that Siegel had affairs with numerous woman but all the names were blacked out except for Virginia Hill. It was reported that there was no evidence that Siegel was involved in any prostitution racket.

L.A. Times 7/1/47
On June 30th, in Rome, Charles (Lucky) Luciano, stated that he was still the "King" of all racketeers and sarcastically agreed to "take the rap" for the killing of Siegel. Luciano had arrived in Rome, en route from Sicily to Capri. He stopped at the fashionable Savoia Hotel, donned a light sports shirt and gabardine slacks and jeered at reporters throughout the 20 minute interview. "Anything you want to know, just ask me. Sure, I did it. Sure, I had Siegel rubbed out. So they say I gave it to Siegel, huh? Why not? I'm king of them all - all the rackets. I'm king of vice, king of dope, public enemy No. 1, anything you want to pin on me. I did it." Luciano refused to say how he knew Siegel had been killed as no accounts of the slaying had appeared in the Italian press.

Back in L.A. Lentz called a meeting to plan a new strategy as all roads to date led nowhere to Siegel's killer. Sheriff Biscailuz was to bring in Undersheriff A.C.Jewell, Inspector Norris Stensland and Lt. Joe Vigneau to head the gangster squad. District Attorney Simpson said he had picked an ace investigator Thomas O. Slack, to visit Eastern law-enforcement agencies. Slack hoped to set up a national bureau to keep track of the movements of known gangsters. He was taking with him all the District Attorney's information on gangsters and racketeers known to be in and around Los Angeles County.

Dr. Margaret (Mom) Chung, "mother" of the Chinese Air Force, who fostered the Flying Tigers in their fighting with the Japs, yesterday pointed out that The Times erred in saying she left for New York and Paris in company with Virginia Hill. Dr. Chung was in San Francisco and soon was flying to visit 1,500 of her "adopted sons" in the Air Forces and submarine base at Pearl Harbor. She is in no way connected with the Siegel case.

On July 1, 1947, an agent's report stated that the bullets were copper jacketed, which were no doubt shot from a U.S. Army carbine rifle. Siegel was seated 4 feet from the window which was 14 feet from the spot where the carbine was rested on a lattice between Hill's residence and the neighbor's driveway. Nine shots were evidently fired. Two bullets had entered Siegel's body through the head - one bullet came out through an eye, and a portion of an eyelid was found ten feet from him. There were five holes in the wall about as big as a silver dollar, and other bullets hit other objects in the room. The couch on which Siegel and Smiley were sitting was at right-angles to the window, with the back in line with the right side of the nearby window. Smiley was believed to have been next to the window with his left arm resting along the back of the couch. Siegel was at the far end of the couch, leaning over a little and reading a Los Angeles Examiner newspaper. Apparently, the first two bullets just singed Smiley's coat at his left arm. The killer almost had to shoot around the corner and obviously was a very good shot. A Special Agent's memo stated that George Raft was thoroughly questioned and he stated that he was a very good friend of Siegel's but furnished no important information. The former Mrs. Siegel, Esther was also questioned and she was the schoolday sweatheart of Siegel in New York, and that about 20 years ago he was in the garage business when she married him. She made no mention of Siegel's background as a "tough slugger from New York." Instead, she called Siegel "a fine husband and thoughtful father."

On July 1, 1947, it was noted that Siegel had definite plans to kill a blacked out name immediately prior to his own death and had issued orders to Jack Dragna in Los Angeles to have the plans executed. It was stated that Dragna may still carry out the plans as Siegel's orders had not been countermanded.

Shortly thereafter, an unknown agent wrote a memo stating that the Associated Press asked him for any information in connection with the United Press article in Los Angeles of the narcotic situation between Mexico and the United States. He told the Press that they had no information. The United Press then contacted him asking him to comment on a statement by the Chicago Office head of the U.S. Treasury Narcotics Unit concerning Mafia organization and Mexico drug traffic. No information was given regarding this issue.

Yet, another memo was written on this day stating that Siegel's killing was brought to their attention at 10:50pm, on June 20, 1947 when blacked out name Special Agent telephoned the author. He was told that Siegel was shot five times; that seven .45 caliber bullets were shot; one bullet grazed the coat of Allen Smiley who was present with Siegel in the living room; that Charles "Chuck" Hill, brother of Virginia Hill and Jeri Mason, believed to be Hill's secretary were upstairs at the time of the shooting. Immediately afterwards an automobile proceeded north towards Sunset Boulevard from the residence was reported by neighbors.

It further stated that the following morning Los Angeles newspapers stated the additional information: 1. Blacked out name was sleeping at the residence at the time of the killing; 2. Allen stated "I heard the glass shattering and I ducked; I don't know how many shots were fired, but when I looked at Siegel I could see he had taken most of them; 3. Blacked out name heard a high powered automobile rear away towards Sunset Boulevard. Another neighbor reported that he observed a strange men sitting in automobiles in front of Hill's residence on the night of the killing; 4. A tiny sticker ad which was stuck on the L.A. Examiner paper which Siegel was reading when killed stating "Good-night sleep well"; 5. Siegel's body was taken to the Los Angeles County Morgue and when police went through his clothes they found two gold keys, a Mexican gold piece fashioned into a money clip, a wrist watch, and an undisclosed amount of cash; 6. Recounts of Siegel's connection in the "Big Greeny Greenberg murder were set out in various papers; 7. Blacked out name was held as a material witness by the Beverly Hills Police Department.

The memo further stated that a blacked out name discredited the story that Siegel was killed because he owed money to the Mafia Syndicate, headed by Joe Adonis and Frank Costello concluding "You can't collect money from a dead man." Another blacked out name telephonically volunteered that Siegel was fighting a big force meaning the Unione Sicillione Syndicate and that he didn't deserve this because he didn't do anything wrong. A blacked out name advised that he was present at Jack's Cafe in Ocean Park, CA on June 20, 1947, and he observed Siegel "in a huddle" with one of the co-owners of Jack's Cafe. He then observed Siegel leave the Cafe with one of the free newspapers with the sticker on it which was put on all the papers by the Cafe.

The agent went on to say from from June 21 to June 26, 1947, Siegel's death received newspaper headline publicity in Los Angeles. Many proposed reasons for the killing was set out including gang warfare and dope smuggling; the fact that the Las Vegas gambling clubs were losing money because of the popularity of the Flamingo; that Siegel's interest in the Flamingo drained his resources to the extent that he was applying pressure to the Los Angeles bookkeepers who subscribed to the Trans-American Wire Service; that a patron of the Flamingo lost heavily and undertook reprisal, "etc., etc." The author states the only significant fact was that Hill had a quarrel with Siegel and she left to Paris, France.

Special Agent R.B. Hood advised the author that he had been on Siegel's murder case constantly and requested to know if the FBI was going to handle this case. He stated Siegel had flown into the Los Angeles area on the morning of June 20, 1947, and Siegel was expected to keep an appointment with his attorney in Beverly Hills, CA. Blacked out name had been in Hill's house and said seven cartridges were found outside the window. These cartridges were 30 caliber size, copper jacketed, and fired from a U.S. Army Carbine Rifle. The June 22, 1947 Los Angeles Times stated that Chief Deputy District Attorney S. Ernest Roll, who was with Captain W.W. White headed the investigation and obtained a lengthy statement from Barney Ruditsky who was absolved from having any connection. Roll stated that Ruditsky furnished little if any light on the murder.

The memo also stated that a confidential source which was being developed into a informant stated that Siegel encroached upon the activities of a blacked out name in Las Vegas and they retaliated. Siegel had a fight with a blacked out name two weeks previous to the killing and Siegel told the man that he was no longer involved in the wire service and to get out of town, possibly Los Angeles. The source said he believed the following two reasons caused Siegel's death: 1. Siegel was losing money in the Flamingo and was attempting to recoup through his friend George Raft and others by attempting to gain bookmaking trade in the motion picture colony. This move clashed with a blacked out name who had Siegel killed; 2. A meeting was held in Las Vegas between Siegel and his associates wherein it was decided that the Trans-America Wire Service was not doing so well and reorganization was arranged. At the meeting it was decided that a blacked out name in Los Angeles would tell Jack Dragna who was in the hospital at the time, that he was no longer connected with the wire service. The informant blamed Dragna, a reported member of the Mafia, to be responsible for the Siegel murder because he was ousted.

Also on July 1, 1947, Special Agent R.B. Hood stated that on June 30, 1947, he was in contact with a blacked out name who stated that he was certain the FBI in Los Angeles had more information concerning Siegel's killing and this information could certainly solve the murder. In view of this remark Hood requested any and all information held by the Los Angeles FBI.

L.A. Times 7/2/47
Chief District Attorney Investigator H. Leo Stanley stated that a friend of Siegel stated his debts just a week before his murder may have totalled a staggering $1,500,000. Two checks signed by Siegel totalling $150,000 bounced. They were signed Ben Siegel and drawn on the Flamingo Projects Corp. One for $50,000 was returned because of insufficient funds. Siegel had stopped payment on the $100,000 check. Both checks were made out to Flamingo contractor Del E. Webb. Webb was located in Vancouver, B.C., stating he was surprised at news of the checks. He said he knew nothing of the checks and asserted that he certainly would have known about them had they been given to him as head of the construction company. Webb said he expected to go to Victoria, B.C. and then continue to Portland, OR. Webb, one of three owners of the New York Yankees, was no way linked to the murder and had not been questioned by any of the Attorney General's staff.

Lentz stated that "We believe these are not the only checks on which Siegel stopped payment. We think his primary purpose in coming to Los Angeles on the day of his murder was to raise money to cover his bad checks." This would corroborate Stanley's report that Siegel had told a friend one week before his death that he had to raise $1,500,000 - or hide out somewhere. Siegel then stated "But I wouldn't know where to hide." At the time Siegel stated he had a 30 day deadline for acquiring the money and that he had borrowed up the hilt from friends, and that "no bank would lend another dime on the Flamingo" because, despite its luxuriousness, it was a comparatively small establishment. Of the two checks which were returned in San Francisco after going through the Bay City clearinghouse, the $50,000 paper is dated May 6. The larger bears the date June 16, four days before Siegel was murdered and were drawn on the Las Vegas office of the Bank of Nevada. Lentz went on to state "It is not so much who was killed but what is behind it. Gambling, narcotic snuggling, bookmaking, prostitution and other forms of crime are here."

Only possible new hint to the murder was a gold key found on the sidewalk beside the Small Claims Court on Temple St, in the Civic Center. It resembled the two keys found in Siegel's pocket and bore his initials. The finder, Herbert L. Michel, 346 N. Vermont AVe., handed it to the Sheriff's Bureau of Investigation. Stanley and his aides stated they questioned Siegel's dentist, barber and other associates, but they offered no definite clue to the killer.

On July 2, 1947, reference was made to the Salt Lake City letter to the FBI dated June 26, 1947, stating that immediately after Siegel's death, a blacked out named called Meyer Lansky but could only reach a blacked out name in New York.

Another memo was written by an agent on July 2, 1947 stating that Dragna was located in a hospital in Santa Barbara possibly the Cottage Clinic.

L.A. Times 7/4-5/47
Lentz prepared to go to San Francisco to question racing news publisher and head of the Continental Press Service in Northern California, Stanley Cohen. Lentz declined to say what information prompted his questioning other than to say "very interesting." Cohen had volunteered to go to L.A. to "find out what's going on" from Continental's Chief in Southern California, Russell Brophy. Brophy stated that the whole matter was silly as he knew nothing of the murder, he was merely a customer of Continental, buying its news to use in his daily and weekly sports publications. Brophy was the son-in-law of James M. Ragen, Chicago racing news czar who was slain by gangland bullets in 1946. Ragen first was general manager of Moe Annenberg's Nationwide News Service and later head of Continental. Brophy went on to state "No one has questioned me on the Siegel matter and I have no interest in it." Chief Deputy District Attorney S. Ernest Roll stated "We talked to Brophy a few days after the shooting and have a report on the conversation in our files."

The following rumors were given to the FBI but no proof can be found to substantiate them:

1. Siegel had been losing money heavily in Vegas at the Flamingo and was attempting to recoup through this friend George Raft and others by attempting to gain bookmaking trade in the motion picture colony.

2. A meeting was held in Vegas between Siegel and his associates wherein it was decided that the Trans-America Wire Service was not doing so well due to the other wire service's propaganda.

The FBI report stated that Hill was once Joe Adonis' girlfriend. She went to Hollywood and Siegel was told by the Syndicate to take good care of her. Two opinions were given for the murder by the FBI:

1. Mistreatment of Virginia Hill.

2. A fight between Trans-America and another wire service.

In July of 1947, a blacked out named reported that none of Siegel's associates at Las Vegas knew whether Siegel was killed by the Syndicate or by someone else. He stated that anyone with whom Siegel had business dealings with the last few months may have had a motive to kill him because Siegel had "completely lost his mind" and had become very ruthless and abusive.

An informant stated that Siegel's death came as a complete shock to all of Siegel's associates in Vegas. The informant stated that Costello, Adonis, and Meyer Lansky were shocked as well. No one would talk on the phone about the killing because they believed the FBI tapped their telephones immediately after Siegel was killed. The informant doubted it was Costello or Adonis stating "They can't collect money from a dead guy."

The informant stated that Siegel was fighting a bigger force "The Unione Sicillione Syndicate" but he hadn't done them any wrong to date (possibly meaning the wire service?)

On July 7, 1947, the informant stated that Siegel's death came as a complete shock to all of Siegel's associates in Vegas including blacked out names. They would hardly believe that Siegel was actually dead. They immediately attempted to call Meyer Lansky and associates in the East but couldn't reach anyone except blacked out name in New York City. The person in New York stated that the new of Siegel's death came as a shock to him also. Informant said that Costello, Adonis, Lansky and others in the East are "too smart" to talk on the telephone about the Siegel killing because they believe the FBI probably tapped their telephone wires immediately after Siegel was killed. Blacked out name stated that it wasn't in May that Hill took the pills, it was right after the fight at the Flamingo. Hill then packed her clothes and stated that she was going to Paris, France to marry a wealthy Frenchman who was one of the heirs of blacked out name. But she went to Los Angeles and later left for New York City. Blacked out name arranged passage to Paris. Informant stated that there was a strong possibility that when Hill got to New York, she was so angry with Siegel that she may have contacted Adonis and other Syndicate associates in New York and "spilled" information on Siegel to them. Hill knows Costello and other Syndicate leaders as a result of her association with Adonis and Siegel. He further stated that Hill would be in a better position to know intimately Siegel's plans and activities at the Flamingo and possibly she was so angry with Siegel she could "really put him on the spot" with both factual information as well as fabricated information. The information stated Hill called Siegel from New York and was told by Siegel that she could come back to him only if she apologized to the cigarette girl. Hill refused to make this apology.

On July 15, 1947, J. Edgar Hoover was sent a letter from Walter Winchell who stated he received this information "from two top detectives"

"The Police expect to tie up the Siegel killing with the Ragen killing in Chicago last year however, the cops do not expect to be able to put the finger on the actual murderer. Despite anything written about narcotics, etc., the real cause of the whole thing is bookmaking and racing interests. Here's the story . . .

There are two supposedly rival interests who have racing wire services sewed up. They are the Ragain-Annenbe crowd, the Trans-American, and Publishers, Inc. The latter is run by the 'boys' from the east, and has an office in Brooklyn and one in Chicago. Actually, the two syndicates are linked up secretly, their rivalry is a front to stop the the Gov't from any possible anti-trust, monopoly injunctions. Now all the big bookmakers throughout the country need these wire services, and are charged a nominal rate - about $75 per day. Bugsy, against the advice of the biggest 'boys' here started charging double that rate to the west coast bookies. That's where the fight started."

In a July 15, 1947 memo, an unknown agent wrote that a Washington newspaper stated that Sanford D. Adler stated he had purchased the Flamingo from Siegel for $3 million. Top priority was given in verifying this statement.

In a July 18th report blacked out name stated that they all conferred with Costello, Adonis and Lansky. He stated that the big shots were "shocked" at the news of Siegel's death, and that they believe the Syndicate had nothing to do with the killing. He said "the big shots" stated blacked out name may have killed Siegel and they would conduct their own investigation to see if this was true.

In a July 22, 1947 report, a lead was given that two short stocky swarthy Italians were supposed to have done the job and that they were brought out here by Gus Greenbaum and were known to have hung around the Adams Hotel in Phoenix, and they were driving a tan Buick with no license plates. The agents said they had made a check of the cars passing through Blythe, CA, for a short period of time immediately preceding the death of Siegel, and had located approximately 95 cars which could have fit the description.

On August 20, 1947, a reported stated that the Nevada Police Department had a "pet" theory on the killing. It was believed the person who engineering the killing was Moe Sedway. It was common knowledge that Siegel had been out to "break" Sedway, and Siegel was reported to have made statements that he would make a "shill" out of Sedway. A blacked out name stated that Sedway had acted peculiarly just before Siegel was killed, and that since the killing he has been "nervous as a cat". He stated that for several days prior to the killing, Sedway was not around town and was not at his home in Vegas.

The blacked out name advised that Sedway would have had the motive for the killing, and is smart enough to have engineered the actual killing; further, that Sedway seems to have considerable authority at the Flamingo since the reorganization.

On August 27, 1947, the FBI Laboratory received three carbine shells obtained from blacked out name of the District Attorney's Office, L.A., who received them from the Beverly Hills Police Department. These shells were found on the grounds of the scene of the killing. The shells were marked on the inside with the initial "I" and on the outside with the initials "A.H.K." The Laboratory was requested to hold the shells pending instructions from the Bureau relative to any comparisons of carbine guns found in hoodlum centers in the U.S.

On September 26, 1947 a report was made on the three caliber .30 carbine cartridge cases. It was determined that that the cases do not bear sufficient microscopic marks for determining whether or not these three specimens were fired in the same weapon or for comparison with test specimens. This is also true of the head of the cartridge cases with respect to breech face marks and ejector marks. They have a few extractor marks, however, the marks are not sufficiently distinct to identify these three specimens as having been extracted from the same weapons.

On December 13, 1947, a status report stated that the Washington Post had an article stating that Hill was recovering from an overdose of sleeping pills. She checked into the Paradise Inn under Mrs. Norma Hall of Chicago. The maid found her unconscious in her room. Considerable newspaper publicity had been given to the previous excessive use of sedatives by Hill. This last attempt appears to be the fourth time Hill had been found in an unconscious condition as a result of the excessive use of sleeping pills. The agent recalled that just prior to Siegel's murder Hill had an argument with him at the Flamingo and shortly thereafter was found in a drugged unconscious condition. The next occasion occurred immediately after Siegel's death while Hill was in France. Shortly after that attempt Hill returned to the U.S. and, while residing in her residence at Miami Beach, Florida, again was found in an unconscious and drugged condition.

On January 6, 1948, a summary was given which stated that early in June, 1947, Siegel had a violent quarrel with Hill at which time he allegedly beat her so badly that she had visible bruises several weeks later which could also be contributed to bruising left from a broken nose which is what she claimed. Immediately after the beating she took overdose of narcotics in a suicide threat and was taken unconscious to the hospital. Upon recovery she immediately arranged to go to New York and then to Europe. Siegel earlier had an affair with Countess Dorothy Di Frasso according to Newsweek Magazine Siegel accompanied her on a trip to Europe where she introduced him to the most prominent aristocracy of Italy as an "important American." Siegel then joined The Combination in a fight against Ragen in an effort to take over Ragen's wire service and in this connection he pushed a rival service called Trans-American News. In California, Siegel had allied himself with blacked out name and had used this means of extorting money from key figures in the movie industry by threatening to expose their criminal connections with blacked out name. In 1945, immediately after the war, Siegel planned the building of a $3 million hotel in Vegas where the principal interest would be a gigantic gambling casino. Other partners in this hotel were blacked out. The hotel was completed at a time of acute material shortages despite pressure for veterans' housing and restrictions of the CPA. The casino, Flamingo, opened on December 26, 1946, but attendance was disappointing and a second opening night was staged two days later. Siegel had arranged to have a number of movie stars present but despite his activity the project appeared to be a financial failure. Siegel was killed in California and it appeared the work of a professional and experienced killer who had used a light-weight semi-automatic carbine rifle. Two bullets had struck Siegel in the head. All his assets quickly disappeared immediately after the funeral. The killer had not yet been identified but California authorities are conducting an investigation based on the following theories. 1. That blacked out name had "put Siegel on the spot." 2. That Virginia Hill's brother had killed Siegel because of his treatment of his sister. 3. That the Criminal Syndicate killed Siegel because of loss of money on the Flamingo. 4. That Moe Sedway and Gus Greenbaum killed Siegel over an argument concerning Trans-American. Siegel had been responsible directly or indirectly for at least 30 murders including Harry "Big Greenie" Greenberg, Murray Marks, Harry Meyers and Bill Weisman.

On January 24, 1948, another letter was received which looked like the person who sent a diagram of the killers' hideout. This letter stated "One of the Bugsy Siegel mobsters, whose hideout at 136-05 Sanford Ave., Flushing, NY was vacated last fall, has been and may still be concealed by one of the women occupants of 42-16 Murray St., Flushing, NY.

On February 24, 1948, a request was put in asking that the San Diego check blacked out name to see if he was a former agent. An answer came in saying that Special Agent blacked out name was employed at the Flamingo Hotel. This former agent was blacked out lines after Siegel was murdered.

On March 2, 1948, Miami Division wrote to the LA Division stating that Hill had spoke with the Miami Beach Police and said that in her opinion blacked out name killed Siegel although she didn't have any definite information to this effect. Blacked out name was employed at the Flamingo prior to Siegel's death.

On May 4, 1948, John Edgar Hoover wrote a letter to a blacked out name stating: "I have received your letter of April 27, 1948, in which you request that I assign Special Agents to assist you in conducting investigation into the killing of Benjamin Siegel. The FBI is authorized to conduct investigation only in cases in which there is a violation of a Federal Statute. From the facts available to me concerning the killing of Siegel, I am unable to find therein any indication of a violation of a Federal Statute within the Bureau's jurisdiction, and, consequently, it is impossible for me to conduct any active investigation of the case. The facilities of the Bureau's Laboratory and the Identification Division are, of course, available to you for whatever service they may render in this case, and you may be assured that if the Bureau in the course of its regular operations obtain any information relating to the Siegel case, it will be promptly transmitted to you."

On August 19, 1948, Agent R.B. Hood wrote that information contained in New York teletype to the Bureau of July 16, 1948, concerning the purported confession of blacked out name was furnished to blacked out name of the Beverly Hills Police Department. The killing took place within the city limits of Beverly Hills and blacked out name had charge of the investigation of the murder. Blacked out name said he would consider writing a letter to Federal Parole Office blacked out name in New York asking him to put certain questions pertinent to the killing to test the credibility of blacked out name. It was stated that he had received information of dozens of confessions made by psychopaths to this killing. He did not indicate what the pertinent questions were, but said answers to them would definitely eliminate any suspect. No further action will be taken by Hood.

On September 21, 1948, a meeting took place with Tolson, Mohr, Carlson, Glavin, Tracy, Harbo, Fletcher, Nichols, Clegg, Ladd, and Rosen who unanimously approved the letter to the LA Division granting authority for the destruction of the logs maintained by the LA office in connection with the racketeering in LA Field Division file and the technical surveillances on Siegel since all of the pertinent information had been set forth in investigative reports.

On September 29, 1948, a status report stated that Walter Winchell received information from an unidentified informant to the effect that blacked out name caused the murder of Siegel because Siegel took movie actress blacked out name on a weekend trip to Vegas during the time Siegel was having an affair with Hill. A background check on Hill stated that former newspaper columnist blacked out name to the effect that she had cashed a large check from Former Attorney General Francis Biddle in a LA night club. During this investigation , it was ascertained that Hill left her home at the age of 16 and went to Chicago and while dancing at the World's Fair blacked out sentence Hill subsequently had many other paramours, including blacked out name and gangsters Joe Adonis, and Siegel. Adonis was reported to have considered Hill as merely a "bedroom date" but through him she reportedly came to know Frank Costello and other syndicate leaders. Hill later became Siegel's paramour and lived with him in Los Angeles. No information was developed in this investigation to indicate that Hill was ever associated with anyone named blacked out names who were leading racketeers in the Chicago area. It is recalled that approximately a week before Siegel was murdered he and Hill engaged in a serious argument at the Flamingo over Siegel's alleged attentions to a cigarette girl. After this altercation, Hill threatened to commit suicide and subsequently took an overdose of sleeping pills from which she later recovered after a short period of hospitalization. Hill left immediately for LA and then went to New York, then to France. At the time of his death, she was in Paris. The main theory is that Hill, while in New York, may have informed Adonis and/or Costello of Siegel's actions whether in truth or in lie. To date, they had no factual information that Hill took such an action. It appeared to the writer that Winchell's informant furnished garbled information and that the reference to blacked out name may have been intended to refer to Adonis. It was noted that the attachment bore the notation "This reads wild." It was the writer's recommendation that the LA Division be advised of this information and if possible, to identify the person who occupied the penthouse next to Siegel. This request was okayed by "DML". This letter stated that Siegel was not killed as a result of any gang war activity. Siegel had been sleeping with blacked out name at the time Siegel was with Hill. He was stupid and reckless enough to take her to the Flamingo for the weekend. Virginia and everyone else found out about the romance. When Siegel betrayed her and then hit her, she torpedoed him. This person promised to send information he has found on Al Capone after he finished his next movie script.

On November 2, 1948, Agent Hood stated a check of the LA files failed to reflect any person who occupied a penthouse at the Chateau Marmont Apartments, 8821 Sunset Boulevard next to that in which Siegel and Hill had resided. Blacked out name advised that there was no adjoining penthouse next to Hill's. The only apartment on the same floor as HIll's penthouse was a very small apartment which had been occupied for many years by blacked out name. This apartment is far removed from the penthouse and not within hearing distance. However, the terrace adjoining that of the penthouse was public and available to any apartment house resident or outsider who was desirous of using same. It was possible that any house guest or the person using this terrace could have overheard conversations between Siegel and Hill while on the terrace.

In a January 7, 1949 status report it was stated that an informant advised that while frequenting barrooms, etc., and contacting members of the underworld, he had been tipped off that Siegel's killer was blacked out name. The informant further advised that blacked out name was a friend of blacked out name, leader of the gambling syndicate in New Jersey, and as such, a national figure in the underworld. This office has not been able to reveal any information on the blacked out name and all information showed negative results that he was involved with Siegel either in life or in death.

On October 30, 1950, it was stated that Special Agent William Whelan was investigating another matter when he learned from blacked out name, who was a partner of Siegel in the gambling room in Reno, Nevada, that everyone knew that Siegel's killer was actually Virginia Hill's brother Charles. The weapon used was a military issued gun and it was common knowledge that Charles Hill was a Marine with World War II Pacific Theatre experience. Hill was known to be "war wacky" and he learned that Siegel gave his sister a beating and he decided to teach Siegel a lesson the only way he knew how. It was brought out that the murder weapon was never identified, and this could explain Virginia's repeated suicide attempts along with The Big Six not seeking retaliation against other Mob members.

L.V. Sun 11/1/93 (Donated by Ronald Dorian)

". . . One businessman in the early days who wanted everything in writing was Benjamin Siegel, also known as "Bugsy." Wiener was his attorney in 1945, the year Siegel built the Flamingo, and Wiener remained in that capacity until June 22, 1946, when his client was gunned down in Beverly Hills [the paper was inaccurate - it was actually June 20, 1947]. 'When he got killed, the sheriff asked me who is Las Vegas didn't like Ben,' Wiener says. 'I told him that he wouldn't find anyone in town who didn't like Ben Siegel.' Siegel had a reputation as a ruthless killer, but he treated his help well, and he often gave money to charity. Once, Siegel told Wiener to bid $500 for a silver-fox cape at a cancer-fighting benefit. Siegel wanted Wiener's wife to have the cape. 'Another guy kept bidding against me, and the cape cost me $1,000' Wiener says. 'Later, I found out it was him (Siegel). He bid against me as a joke, and then he told me to get the $1,000 out of the (Flamingo) cage.' Wiener says Siegel "wanted to be good so bad it was unbelievable'

San Francisco Chronicle 12/20/91 (Donated by Ronald Dorian)

Ruth Lusch was the first publicist Vegas had retained.

". . . Lusch had to guffaw when she watched Warren Beatty ride his '41 Cadillac roadster into the fantasy Vegas of his new movie, Bugsy, which opens today. 'He arrives at this broken down street of shacks in the desert - no hotels on the Strip - then walks into a decrepit saloon that did even have spittoons forgodsakes' she says. She remembers when Ben Siegel - 'Nobody would call him Bugsy if they loved their life' - rolled into town. 'We already had four hotels on the Strip by then. El Rancho Vegas as the first, built in '39.' [It should be noted there were just two other major resorts & the El Rancho was built in 1941, 1939]

"'we were doing very well before Mr. Bugsy Siegel joined us,' she says laughing as as she uses the forbidden name. . . . Bugsy was the only mobster who could get a casino license, she remembers, because he never had a felony conviction stick even after being indicted for murdering as associate. When he stroke into town with his Great Gatsby sportsman's demeanor and his search for respectability, he came to tell Ruth how to do her job. She was unaware that this charming, handsome man had a history that went back to the gang he and Meyer Lansky formed during Prohibition. Like a lot of men who made a fortune in illegal boozing and gambling and prostitution, he saw in the desert oasis a place to go legit in the enterprises he knew best. 'You people are spending peanuts.' The Bug said to Lusch about the $85,000. 'I'm going to put this place on the map.'

The plan was to put first-rate carpet joint with a casino, pool land exotic gardens fronting right on Highway 91. Such a place was already in the works when Siegel dubbed it the Flamingo, the nickname of his long-legged girlfriend, Virginia Hill. 'He was charming, very smooth and good looking, until he started berating us.' says Ruth. 'He wanted respectability. He was like a Rotarian. He wanted me to bring respectable people to him.'

Opening night at the Flamingo, December 25, 1946, [it was actually December 26th] Siegel had Jimmy Durante, and the Xavier Cugat band as headliners. But the plane-loads of bigwigs never arrived. The huge chartered Constellations that were supposed to bring the swells Siegel had been counting in Hollywood were stalled in a storm. It was a sign of ill tidings for Bugsy, who immediately lost fabulous amounts of money on the hotel, where he insisted everything must be 'class, first-class.'

Ruth remembers how Bugsy instructed all the bartenders and croupiers to wear tuxedos. She was busy trying to bring in conventions and finally booked a big medical society. The night they arrived Bugsy saw a gent in a tuxedo on the wrong side of the bar. Thinking it was an errant bartender he tapped him on the shoulder and then slugged him in the jaw. It was the head of the visiting medical convention who had unfortunately dressed for the evening. . . . Bugsy's fights and jealous fits with his girlfriend were legendary, finally culminating in a suicide attempt by Hill in their tower suite at the Flamingo. . . . On June 20, 1947, the day Bugsy got killed, she was engaged in one of these diplomatic missions. A film maker named Frank Donovan came to shoot a travelogue and wanted to use the driveway to the Flamingo. But his big woody wagon was too large for the path and he needed permission from the owner to remove the recently planted hedges Siegel had personally selected for his Garden of Eden. 'We had an audience with Bugsy and he listened stoically until I suggested temporarily pulling out the hedge. He started screaming 'Who's going to pay if the plants die?' Ruth managed to talk him down, but he watched like a hawk from his window as they did the shoot. . . . The next day, Donovan, the travelogue maker, sent Ruth a telegram 'Zikes! Why didn't you tell me who we were arguing with?' Ruth may have invented Las Vegas - the fun city with its Helldorado rodeo-Mardi Gras and it's anything-goes ambience - but it was the 'messy demise' of casino-owner Siegel that made the name internationally famous. 'What I resent is that he did what he said he would do' Ruth says with a sigh. 'If it had been in good taste, the people who ran Vegas would have given a town fete in relief that he was gone.'

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