Office of the Historian

411.65 Palumbo, Rosolino/7

The District Attorney of New Orleans (Stanley) to the Secretary of the Governor of Louisiana (Leche)23

New Orleans, June 27, 1932.

Dear Sir: I beg to acknowledge your letter of June 17th enclosing copies of letters from Dr. Vitale G. Gallina, Acting Royal Italian Consul at New Orleans.

Replying to the inquiries contained in the letter dated May 30th, 1932, from Dr. Gallina to His Excellency, O. K. Allen, Governor of Louisiana, I beg to advise:—

An investigation was made into this case by myself, as District Attorney for the Parish of Orleans, and numerous witnesses were summoned before the Orleans Parish Grand Jury, for the Purpose of investigating into the death of the said Ross Palumbo.

The persons suspected of having caused the death of the said Ross Palumbo were Detective William Vandervort and Detective William F. Grosch, members of the Detective Department of the City of New Orleans.

In addition to these men, the State also investigated the alleged brutality committed upon the persons of Samuel Mistretta, Joseph Polizzi and Charles Labella, by certain other members of the New Orleans Police Force.

The Grand Jury, after hearing the entire case, voted “No True Bills” against the following persons for the following offenses:—

1.
State of Louisiana vs. Robert Stack and Jos. Raggio, No. 65090–Sec. “E”, Indictment for Assault and Battery of one Samuel Mistretta.
2.
State of Louisiana vs. William Vandervort and William F. Grosch, No. 65083–Sec. “E”, Indictment for Assault, Beating and wounding one Joseph Polizzi;
3.
State of Louisiana vs. William Vandervort and William F. Grosch, No. 85088–Sec. “E” Indictment for Assault, Beating and Wounding one Charles Labella;
4.
State of Louisiana vs. William Vandervort and William F. Grosch, No. 65089, Sec. “E”, Indictment for Manslaughter of one Ross Palumbo.

[Page 592]

I beg to advise that the State is barred from further action in the matter, and according to the Louisiana law, the cases are closed.

I have furnished to the office of the Italian Consul copies of statements taken by my office, and will be pleased to furnish the Italian Consul with whatever additional data may be in the possession of my office, which may be desired by the Italian Consul.

I have [etc.]

Eugene Stanley
  1. Copy transmitted to the Secretary of State by the Office of the Governor of Louisiana under covering letter of July 29, 1932; received August 5.↩