Hoffa's Hoodlums (Contd.)

The Senate investigation of Teamsters' President James Riddle Hoffa. most dangerous threat to U.S. society since Al Capone, began to look as though it might never end. Among last week's disclosures: P: During a 1953 House subcommittee hearing investigating Hoffa, Chairman Wint Smith, a Kansas Republican, was called from the room to answer the telephone, returned flustered, mysteriously called off the hearings. Last week onetime (1939-1942) Kansas Republican Governor Payne Ratner, a nervous, nose-grooming witness, partly explained what had happened. As Hoffa's attorney, he had visited Smith, used the leverage built up when Smith was state highway department counsel under Governor Ratner. P: As chairman of the Teamsters' Central Conference, Hoffa approved payment of $114,719 in salaries for four Teamster officials serving prison sentences. Furthermore, over a four-year period he approved a staggering $625,726 in legal fees for the defense of arrested Teamsters. P: A bitter 72-day Teamster strike in 1953 and 1954 against four Wichita, Kans. taxicab companies, marked by dynamitings and cab burnings, was settled finally when the Teamsters agreed to pay the cab companies $15,000 if they forced drivers to join the union.

P: In 1955 one of Hoffa's hoodlum business agents, Gus Zapas, forced Attorney David Probstein out as president of an Indianapolis cab company. Asked Committee Counsel Robert Kennedy of Betty Starrett, a former secretary in Probstein's office: "What did Zapas say to Probstein at that time?" Replied Witness Starrett: "He said to get out--and he speaks very colorfully." Question: "Did Zapas say anything about killing him?" Answer: "Yes, but he used that expression like I would say 'Hello.' " After talking to Zapas, Probstein went to St. Louis on a "business trip." He has not been seen since.

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