Jim Garrison and Leander Perez
From: jpshinley@my-dejanews.com
Date: Mon, Nov 30, 1998 11:09 EST
Message-id: <73ug00$cmv$1@nnrp1.dejanews.com>
It seems inevitable that two legendary Louisiana political
figures, Leander Perez and Jim Garrison, should have crossed
paths at some point. During a debate with incumbent N.O. DA
Richard Dowling, long a foe of Perez, Garrison was accused of
accepting money from Leander Perez, who Dowling described as
"the boss and czar of Plaquemines and St. Bernard parishes."
Garrison admitted to accepting a "moderate" sum from the junior
Perez, also named Leander. The donation came from the Perez
family. Garrison insisted that there were no strings attached
to the donation. (New Orleans Times-Picayune (NOTP); February 20,
1962; s3, p2) To be fair to Garrison, Perez would have supported
almost anyone opposing Dowling. On the other hand, Perez did not
build his reputation as a political boss by handing out money with
"no strings attached."
-
As the campaign heated up, an incident occurred involving
the distribution of a "pornographic campaign circular" which
included "a vicious and scurrilous attack involving racial and
religious bigotry." The targets were Richard Dowling and State
Senator Adrian Duplantier, then a candidate for Mayor opposing
the incumbent, Victor Schiro. (NOTP; February 25, 1962; s1, p2)
James L. Arthus, 69, was arrested and charged with violation
of obscenity and political campaign laws. According to an
affidavit from Glenn P. Clasen, Duplantier's campaign manager,
"James L. Arthus stated that one George Singelmann, assistant
to Judge Leander H. Perez, was in charge of distributing
100,000 copies of the aforesaid obscene and libellous
document." An assistant DA requested that Singelmann meet him
at the office of the Superintendent of Police, Joseph
I. Giarusso. On the advice of his attorney, Singelmann
declined. He denied involvement in the distribution of any
obscene leaflets, but admitted distributing leaflets
documenting an alleged "Negro bloc vote." (NOTP; February 26,
1962; s1, p1)
-
The next day, Dowling's office issued a subpena for
Singelmann's appearance at the DA's office. The Balter Building
office of the Citizens' Council of Greater New Orleans was
searched for copies of the obscene leaflets. NOPD Captains
Presly J. Trosclair and Joseph H. Murray conducted the
search. Only the bloc vote leaflet was found. (NOTP; February
27, 1962; s1, p5)
-
Singelmann continued to refuse to appear for questioning and
filed a $50,000 libel against Clasen and Arthus. Singelmann
tried to suggest that Arthus was actually a Duplantier
supporter. (NOTP; February 28, 1962; s1,p9; March 1, 1962; s1,
p4). The story was quickly dropped after Schiro and Garrison
won their respective elections.
-
HSCA Volume X (pp 124-5) identifies a "James Arthus" as the
janitor and a resident of the Newman Building at 544 Camp
Street. Is this the same Arthus who was arrested? On December
13, 1966, Louis Ivon recorded an interview of Jack Martin
conducted by Pershing Gervais. On page 4, reference is made to
an individual whose name is rendered by the transcriber
variously as "Kenny Arthis", "Jimmy Hodges", and finally,
"Jimmy Arthis". Martin identified him as "the old man who put
out the monkey picture against Dowling, located at 520 [sic]
Camp Street around Lafayette Square. He does nothing. He's
retired. He just copies the Nazi newspapers and fights
segregation.[sic]" To this Gervais replied, "He sound like a nut!"
Martin went on to allege that "Lee Harvey Oswald had offices
right door [sic] to" Arthus, and that Arthus had "all of
Oswald's parapanelia [sic] up there."
-
James L. Arthus died October 19, 1967. This is well after
the beginning of the Garrison probe. The obituary states that
Arthus was a member of the Citizens' Council of Greater New
Orleans. Arthus had worked for WJMR radio. (NOTP; October 19,
1967; s1, p3)
-
After the runoff, GNOCC held a meeting. State Represenative
Wellborn Jack commented on the upcoming visit of President
Kennedy in May: "If I lived in New Orleans, I would be down
there with big placards and picket the place where Kennedy
speaks." Leander Perez attacked the desegregation of the
parochial schools. George Singelmann announced his plans for a
program called "Freedom Bus No. 1 North." Singelmann: "All we
need is $968.40 for a special bus to take Negroes who say they
are oppresed in the South to Chicago. We want to help them go
where they won't be oppressed...We are serious about this. This
is no joke." During the summer, this program was actually put
into effect. It even spread to other cities. "Introduced from
the stage by C. E. Vetter, council vice-chairman, [was] Jim
Garrison..." (NOTP; March 31, 1962; S3, p31) It is difficult to
see Garrison's appearance at this meeting as anything other
than a repayment of a political debt. As far as I know,
Garrison never spoke out against the Freedom Bus North
insanity, never mentioned in his long probe that even the
janitor in his Camp Street menagerie was affiliated with the
White Citizens' Council.
-
Citations from the New Orleans Times-Picayune
-
Feb 19, 1962 S1-P3
DA, Garrison Swap Charges
Two Repeatedly Clash Over Issues
-
Account of TV debate
"I won't have a civil practice if I am District Attorney."
"J. Edgar Hoover wrote you that I left the FBI in good standing."
-
Feb 20, 1962 S1-P1
Balloon Tested Over Metarie
-
Gorden Novel [Not relevant, I just think it's funny]
-
Feb 20, 1962 S3-P2
Dowling, Garrison Clash During Lengthy Debate
-
Same TV debate, it lasted past deadline.
-
Dowling accused Garrison of accepting a contribution from Leander Perez.
JG replied that he had accepted a moderate sum from the Perez family
via Leander "Lea" Perez,JR., with no strings attached.
[Dowling was a long time enemy of the senior Perez, who probably would
have contributed to anyone running against Dowling. I don't have specific
citations, but, when JG was an ADA in the 50's, he handled the successful
prosecution of the drunk driver who had killed the junior Perez's wife
in an automobile accident.]
-
JG presented an affidavit from a source that a Dowling assistant had
threatend bail bondsman W. Hardy Davis if Davis didn't come across
with a campaign contribution. Dowling presented an affidavit from Davis
denying this.
-
March 2, 1962 S1-P22
Dowling Wrong, Martin Replies
-
Jack S. Martin was JG's source on W. Hardy Davis. Dowling said he
had been in and out of mental institutions, which Martin denies.
-
[This is a convoluted story. Davis wrote a book, _Aiming for the
Jugular in New Orleans_, about this. After JG took office, he went after
Davis. After the assassination, Martin contacted Davis to share his
suspicions about Ferrie. Maybe I'll send more about this later.]
-
Feb 23, 1962 S1-P7
Citizens Group Honors Patriot
Washington Monument Decorated
-
American Legion. James Pfister, Festus Brown, Mrs. Delphine P. Roberts
-
Feb 24, 1962 S3-P21
Dowling Slaps at His Critics
Full Time DA Proposition is Target
-
JG on public payroll since 1952.
-
Feb 25, 1962 S1-P2
DA Acts to Halt Circular
Duplantier, Dowling Target of Obscene Drawing
-
A Mr. Singelmann is mentioned.
-
Feb 26, 1962 S1-P1
Arrest Made in Smut Case
Man Held in Probe of Political Circulars
-
James L. Arthus, 2830 Baronne, 69 yr. old
George Singelmann, assistant to Leander Perez, also wanted for
questioning.
-
Feb 27, 1962 S1-P5
Subpena Issued for Singelmann
Events in Obscenity Case are Listed
-
P. J. Trosclair searches Balter Building Office of Citizens Council
of Greater New Orleans.
-
Feb 28, 1962 S1-P9
Perez Aid Sues for $50,000
Clasen and Arthus Accused of Slander
-
March 1, 1962 S1-P4
Singelmann Rejects Call for Dowling Questioning
Refuses to Appear in Smut Distribution Case
-
March 1, 1962 S3-p19
Four N.O. Unions Endorse Dowling
-
United Packinghouse Workers, Benjamin E. Smith attorney
[didn't Sam Newman say this union was at 544 Camp]
-
March 1, 1962 S4-p1
Dowling Query Cited by MCC
Doments Cite Efforts to Obtain Information
-
March 2, 1962 S1-P6
Queries Sent DA Candidates
Crime Commission Gives List of Replies
-
March 2, 1962 S1-P22
AD: Dowling attack on JG
-
March 3, 1962 S1-P14
AD: Citizens for Duplantier and Dowling
paid for by Benjamin E. Smith, Bruce C. Waltzer, etc.
-
[so two of the SCEF defendants endorsed Dowling over JG? Smith had
been a Dowling ADA.]
-
March 3, 1962 S1-P16
AD: Attorneys for Garrison
-
[How many strictly non-political future ADAs can you pick out of this
list]
-
March 3, 1962 S3-P23
Dowling Knew of Aid, Charge
Sent Night Club Operator Thanks, Says Garrison
-
March 3, 1962 S3-p23
Letter Phony, Dowling Holds
DA Lashes Out at Garrison in Address
-
"He [JG] said by innuendo that I was a member of a communist
organization." [This may be related to SCEF]
-
March 6, 1962 S1-P4
Garrison's Top Aids Selected
Klein, Former Opponent, and Shea Named
-
"Garrison said factors helping him defeat Dowling included support from
newspapers, from unsuccessful mayoral candiadte Adrian G. Duplantier,
the Citizens Council and other organizations."
-
March 10, 1962 S1-P4
Runoff Counts Are Released
JG: 78,851
Dowling: 71,821
-
March 13, 1962 S1-P17
Bob Kennedy, Garrison Talk
-
JG in DC. Stayed with OAS Ambassador Chep Morrison.
-
March 28, 1962 S1-P1
Archdiocese Announces Plan for Open Schools
'All Pupils' May Enroll in Sept. Classes
-
March 31, 1962 S3-P31
Rep. Waggoner to Urge Elected U.S. Judiciary
N. O. Citizens Council Told Bill Planned
-
JFK's planned N. O. visit denounced
Leander Perez on integration of parochial schools
Gerorge Singelmann introduces Freedom Bus North plan.
"Introduced from the stage ... [was] Jim Garrison..."
-
April 3, 1962 S1-P5
Paternal Admonition Given
Archdiocese Confirms Letters Were Sent
-
April 17, 1962 S1-P1
Segregation Figures are Excommunicated
Church Cuts Off Perez, Ricau, Mrs Galliot
-
April 25, 1962 S2-P2
NAACP Called 'Hypocritical'
Hebert and Ellender Comment on Protest
-
Freedom Bus North
-
April 26, 1962 S1-P2
Perez Assails Church Stand
Says Catholic Hierarchy Duped on Mixing
-
April 27, 1962 S1-P28
Long Gives Reply to NAACP
Plans to Introduce Bills Are Told
-
Freedom Bus North
-
April 28, 1962 S1-P11
Trip 'North' Delayed
Three Busloads Slated to Leave Wednesday
-
May 1, 1962 S1-P5
'Rider' Again Traveling Free
Jovial Miss. Native Vows Further Visits
-
May 5, 1962 S3-P2
Probe of Rides Urged
'Freedom Bus North' is Called 'Brutal'
Boston(AP)
-
Ted Kennedy
-
Jerry Shinley