McKee"s discovery of an old s.e.x case against Sinatra prompted further inquiry, even though the seduction incident was unrelated to the original draft-dodging allegation.
DATE: FEBRUARY 15, 1944.
TO: MR. D. M. LADD.
FROM: MR. G. C. CALLAN.
SUBJECT: FRANK SINATRA-SELECTIVE SERVICE I called SAC McKee of the Newark Office and asked if he could determine the disposition of two cases for which Sinatra was arrested, one for seduction on November 26, 1938, which was reported dismissed, and the other for adultery on December 22, 1938. The Bureau has a record of the first case but there is no record of the second case.
McKee advised that he would obtain the disposition of these cases and would advise me as soon as possible.
Handwritten notation by Hoover: "We should be certain that there is nothing irregular in this case. Note Newark"s letter, which is attached. H." "We should be certain that there is nothing irregular in this case. Note Newark"s letter, which is attached. H."
The FBI withheld the complainant"s name. But books by Sinatra"s daughter Nancy (Frank Sinatra: An American Legend) (Frank Sinatra: An American Legend) and by Kitty Kelley and by Kitty Kelley (His Way: The Unauthorized Biography of Frank Sinatra) (His Way: The Unauthorized Biography of Frank Sinatra) identify her as Antoinette Della Penta. Then twenty-five, she was estranged from her husband and had dated the budding singer, four years her junior. Based largely on interviews with the woman, Kelley"s book reported that she had him arrested for seduction to avenge her humiliation when he reneged on a marriage proposal in favor of the woman who would become the first Mrs. Sinatra, Nancy Barbato. She withdrew that charge, the Kelley book said, after Sinatra promised to apologize to her; when he didn"t, she went to his house, caused a commotion, was herself arrested, and then filed the adultery charge. She later dropped that one, too identify her as Antoinette Della Penta. Then twenty-five, she was estranged from her husband and had dated the budding singer, four years her junior. Based largely on interviews with the woman, Kelley"s book reported that she had him arrested for seduction to avenge her humiliation when he reneged on a marriage proposal in favor of the woman who would become the first Mrs. Sinatra, Nancy Barbato. She withdrew that charge, the Kelley book said, after Sinatra promised to apologize to her; when he didn"t, she went to his house, caused a commotion, was herself arrested, and then filed the adultery charge. She later dropped that one, too.
McKee"s version of events was somewhat different.
February 17, 1944 Director, FBI RE: FRANK ALBERT SINATRA.
SELECTIVE SERVICE.
Dear Sir: Mr. William Guthrie, Clerk of the Second Criminal Judicial District of the County of Bergen, County Court House, Hackensack, New Jersey, furnished Special Agent[image] the following information regarding SINATRA: the following information regarding SINATRA: Under docket #15228 of that court in the STATE vs. FRANK SINATRA, SINATRA was charged, on November 26, 1938, by[image] N.J., with having committed the following offense: "On the second and ninth days of November 1938 at the Borough of Lodi ... under the promise of marriage [SINATRA] did then and there have s.e.xual intercourse with the said complainant, who was then and there a single female of good repute ... contrary to and in violation of the revised statute of 1937." The Peerless Casualty Company, 241 Main Street, Hackensack, N.J., went bond for SINATRA in the amount of $1500. This complaint was withdrawn on December 7, 1938 because it was ascertained that the complainant was in fact married. In place of that complaint and under docket #15307, the STATE vs. FRANK SINATRA, a complaint was filed on December 21, 1938 by N.J., with having committed the following offense: "On the second and ninth days of November 1938 at the Borough of Lodi ... under the promise of marriage [SINATRA] did then and there have s.e.xual intercourse with the said complainant, who was then and there a single female of good repute ... contrary to and in violation of the revised statute of 1937." The Peerless Casualty Company, 241 Main Street, Hackensack, N.J., went bond for SINATRA in the amount of $1500. This complaint was withdrawn on December 7, 1938 because it was ascertained that the complainant was in fact married. In place of that complaint and under docket #15307, the STATE vs. FRANK SINATRA, a complaint was filed on December 21, 1938 by[image] N.J., charging SINATRA with adultery in that he, "On the second and ninth days of November 1938 ... did then and there commit adultery with the said complainant, a married woman, the wife of N.J., charging SINATRA with adultery in that he, "On the second and ninth days of November 1938 ... did then and there commit adultery with the said complainant, a married woman, the wife of[image] . SINATRA went bond for himself in the amount of $500. On January 4, 1939, the case was remanded to the Grand Jury by order of Judge McINTYRE. . SINATRA went bond for himself in the amount of $500. On January 4, 1939, the case was remanded to the Grand Jury by order of Judge McINTYRE.
According to Mr. Guthrie, SINATRA"S attorney was Mr. HARRY L. TOWE of Rutherford, New Jersey, who at the present time is the Congressman (U.S. House of Representatives) from the 7th District of New Jersey.
Under docket #18450 for the Prosecutor of the Pleas of Bergen County, it appears that a no-bill was returned on January 17, 1939 by the Grand Jury in connection with the second complaint. In accord with the no-bill the complaint was dismissed in open court of Quarter Sessions of Bergen County on January 24, 1939.
Because of the limited investigation requested, no additional investigation is contemplated by this office.
Very truly yours, S. K. McKEE SAC.
Though there was no evidence to substantiate the allegation that Sinatra had paid $40,000 to avoid the draft, there were reasons to be suspicious. Spurred by Hoover"s interest, headquarters ordered a more thorough investigation of the draft-dodging allegation. It turned out that details of the singer"s emotional instability-including his supposed fear of crowds-were omitted from the official reasons for his 4-F cla.s.sification to "avoid undue unpleasantness for both the selectee and the induction service."
February 24, 1944 Director, FBI Re: FRANK ALBERT SINATRA SELECTIVE SERVICE.
Dear Sir: Reference is made to the two letters from this office, dated February 10, 1944 and February 17, 1944, and to telephone message from Mr. CHRISTOPHER CALLAN on February 21, 1944. In accordance with instructions given by Mr. CALLAN, JOSEPH R. WEINTROB, Captain, U. S. Army Medical Corps, Chief Medical Officer, Armed Forces Induction Station, 113th Infantry Armory, Suss.e.x Avenue and Jay Street, Newark 4, New Jersey, was interviewed by Special Agent[image] on February 23, 1944. The line officer in command of this induction station is Captain RAYMOND E. WALLS. Captain WEINTROB"S superior is Major FRANK GUIDOTTI, 39 Whitehall Street, New York, N.Y. on February 23, 1944. The line officer in command of this induction station is Captain RAYMOND E. WALLS. Captain WEINTROB"S superior is Major FRANK GUIDOTTI, 39 Whitehall Street, New York, N.Y.
Captain WEINTROB said that he had personally examined SINATRA"s ears and had rejected SINATRA against his, WEINTROB"S, wishes on the basis of a perforation of the left tympanum and chronic mastoiditis, left, either one of which would have sufficed for having rejected the registrant. The rejection was based on Mobilization Regulation #1-9, War Department, Washington, D.C., issued October 15, 1942 and amended thereafter. These regulations ent.i.tled "Standards of Physical Examination during Mobilization" set forth under Section 5, "Ears," paragraph #25, that the following defects make a registrant "not acceptable": "(C) Perforation membrane tympani(D) Acute or chronic mastoiditis"
Captain WEINTROB stated he had discussed this case with Major GUIDOTTI and with Colonel CHARLES E. WALSON, Chief, Medical Branch, Second Service Command, New York City, and he had, at the request of Colonel WALSON, forwarded on December 27, 1943 a true copy of the work sheet of the physical examination of SINATRA to General CHARLES C. HILLMAN, M.C., Office of the Surgeon General, War Department, Army Service Forces, 1818 H Street, N.W., Washington 25, D.C. A certified true copy of the cover letter used by Captain WEINTROB in forwarding the copy of the work sheet is enclosed with this letter. There is also enclosed a certified true copy of a letter signed by Captain WEINTROB to Colonel WALSON on December 28, 1943 and this letter is being set forth below: ARMED FORCES INDUCTION STATION.
113th Infantry Armory Suss.e.x Avenue and Jay Street Newark 4, N.Y.
28 December 1943 JW/eak Subject: Supplementary Information, Frank A. Sinatra.
To: Commanding General, Second Service Command, Army Service Forces, Governors Island, New York, 4, New York. ATTENTION: 1. Supplementing the telephonic conversation of 27 and 28 December and work sheet of the physical examination of Frank A. Sinatra, the following information is submitted: (a) Selectee stated that at birth he sustained an injury below the left ear, presumably from the blade of forceps. In his early childhood he had several mastoid operations and subsequently has had frequent and repeated attacks of "running ear" on the left side, the last having occurred within the past several months. He also stated that he often suffered from "head noises" on the left side.
(b) Examination of the external ear revealed that the lobule had been removed, and there was much post auricular scarification, including what were probably incisional scars of the previously mentioned mastoid surgery. The external auditory ca.n.a.l was narrowed and somewhat deformed and there was a considerable quant.i.ty of insp.i.s.sated wax present. The tympanum was seen to contain a perforation. X-Rays of the left mastoid area revealed a "sclerosing mastoiditis."
(c) During the psychiatric interview the patient stated that he was "neurotic, afraid to be in crowds, afraid to go in elevator, makes him feel that he would want to run when surrounded by people. He had somatic ideas and headaches and has been very nervous for four or five years. Wakens tired in the A.M., is run down and undernourished." The examining psychiatrist concluded that this selectee suffered from psychoneurosis and was not acceptable material from the psychiatric viewpoint. Inasmuch as the selectee was to be rejected on an organic basis, namely, (1) Perforation of left tympanum(2) Chronic mastoiditis, left, the diagnosis of psychoneurosis, severe was not added to the list. Notation of emotional instability was made instead. It was felt that this would avoid undue unpleasantness for both the selectee and the induction service.
For the Commanding Officer: In explanation of some of the medical terms used above, and in explanation of the material transmitted to Colonel WALSON by Captain WEINTROB, the latter gave the following information: SINATRA had stated to him that he had had at least three mastoid operations in his youth. If SINATRA mentioned the name or names of the physicians involved, Captain WEINTROB was unable to recall them. The examination, according to Captain WEINTROB, seemed to verify the statement inasmuch as there were found scars behind the ear. The perforation of the drum (tympanum) was a disease perforation so far as Captain WEINTROB could tell and not the result of an incision by human hands. Captain WEINTROB stated that mastoiditis is ordinarily caused by infection of the middle ear. In SINATRA"S case, there was chronic infection of the middle ear. Such infection ordinarily causes the formation of pus, which may seek outlet through the drum causing a perforation and thereafter pus draining or running through the perforation. The pus may stop flowing in which case the perforation of the drum will ordinarily heal over until pus again causes a perforation. However, where a perforation has healed, it is possible to see that a perforation formerly existed at that spot. The diseased middle ear can spread this infection to the brain causing an abscess, or to the mastoid area. In the latter area, a diseased condition is termed "mastoiditis," which may be acute; that is inflamed, or chronic; that is more a case of a hardening of the mastoid area with the laying down of bone deposits. In adverse weather conditions and the like chronic mastoiditis may well develop into acute mastoiditis. In SINATRA"S case, his a.s.sertion that "running ear" had recently occurred was borne out by the perforation noted in the x-ray of the mastoid area, which showed that the condition was one of chronic mastoiditis. This was borne out by the appearance on the x-ray of the scelorizing or hardening of that area; that is clotting in the remaining cells of the mastoid area not removed by operations indicating that the chronic mastoiditis had had the effect of petrifying that portion of the head. Captain WEINTROB attempted to locate the x-rays of the mastoid area, but was unable to do so immediately. He said he would continue to search for them and would lay them to one side if he were able to locate them.
The Captain also stated that no one had ever attempted to influence his opinion in this case and in fact no one had discussed the SINATRA case with him prior to the actual examination. He added that within the past few weeks he has read an article by one of the New York City columnists to the effect that it was understood FRANK SINATRA"S case was not yet closed so far as induction was concerned. Captain WEINTROB stated he was satisfied in his own mind that SINATRA should not have been inducted and was willing to stake his medical reputation on his findings. He pointed to his training at the Jefferson Medical School and post-graduate work at the University of Pennsylvania Medical School as an indication of his medical qualifications.
Captain WEINTROB stated that although SINATRA was four pounds below the minimum weight for men of his height, his induction station no longer went by the rules regarding minimum weight and for that reason no mention was made of his being below minimum weight. He also stated that many men coming into the induction station are found to have known physical defects which they did not list on the questionnaire or other draft papers. Ordinarily they fail to list such defects in their draft records for fear that people will criticize them for attempting to evade the draft in that fashion.
[image]civilian physician, at the Armed Forces Induction Station above mentioned, was likewise interviewed inasmuch as he had examined the x-rays of the mastoid area of FRANK SINATRA.[image] whose residence and office address is whose residence and office address is[image] stated that the x-rays indicated to him that SINATRA had chronic mastoiditis. He explained that the marked sclerosis or hardening of that area made that statement necessary. stated that the x-rays indicated to him that SINATRA had chronic mastoiditis. He explained that the marked sclerosis or hardening of that area made that statement necessary.[image] likewise indicated that he was certain that it was absolutely necessary to reject SINATRA in the induction. likewise indicated that he was certain that it was absolutely necessary to reject SINATRA in the induction.
Because of the limited investigation requested, no additional investigation is contemplated by this office.
Very truly yours, S. K. McKEE SAC.
After concluding that the original allegation was unfounded, the matter was closed. Nevertheless, Sinatra later would take a beating on numerous fronts in the press. Stars and Stripes, the military newspaper, called him a coward, and the conservative Hearst columnist Westbrook Pegler derided him as "bugle-deaf Frankie Boy Sinatra." Nancy Sinatra insisted years later in one of her books that after he"d been rejected as unfit, her father "tried in vain to enlist for the next several years." the military newspaper, called him a coward, and the conservative Hearst columnist Westbrook Pegler derided him as "bugle-deaf Frankie Boy Sinatra." Nancy Sinatra insisted years later in one of her books that after he"d been rejected as unfit, her father "tried in vain to enlist for the next several years."
TO: Mr. D. M. LADD DATE: 2-26-44 DATE: 2-26-44.
FROM: Mr. G. C. CALLAN
USBJECT: FRANK ALBERT SINATRA.
Selective Service
You will recall that we inquired into the Selective Service status of Frank Sinatra because of the receipt from Walter Winch.e.l.l of an anonymous letter which he received alleging that $40,000 had been paid by Sinatra to procure a 4-F cla.s.sification. Newark found that Sinatra received a 4-F cla.s.sification because of an ear ailment. It also discovered that Sinatra had been arrested twice-once for seduction and once for adultery, both arrests resulting in dismissals, and both based on same act.
The Director penned a notation on my memorandum to you dated February 15, 1944, "We should be certain that there is nothing irregular in this case," and upon your instructions, I called the Newark Office on February 21, 1944 at 4:45 p.m. and instructed ASAC [a.s.sistant Special Agent in Charge] R. W. Bachman to have the physician who examined Sinatra interviewed. The Newark Office has complied with these instructions and there is attached hereto Newark"s letter of February 24, 1944 which indicates very definitely that Sinatra was properly rejected because of a perforation of the membrana tympani and acute or chronic mastoiditis. During the course of the interview, it was ascertained from the examining physician, Dr. Joseph R. Weintrob, Captain, U.S. Army, Medical Corps, that Sinatra stated he had, in his early youth, been operated on on several occasions for mastoiditis. X-ray pictures have borne out Sinatra"s statements in this regard. Captain Weintrob said the scar tissue which was the result of the operation was readily perceptible and in this connection the operational scars very clearly appear on the left profile photograph taken on the occasion of one of Sinatra"s arrests by the Sheriff"s Office at Hackensack, New Jersey. Either the perforation of the tympani or the mastoid condition is, as Captain Weintrob points out, cause for rejection of a registrant under War Department regulations.
It therefore appears that Sinatra was properly rejected from military service and there is no indication that the statements made in the anonymous letter above referred to have any foundation. Consequently, in the absence of further instructions, no additional inquiries will be conducted in this matter.
TWO.
SINATRA, THE FBI, AND THE PRESS.
"Mr. Mortimer was appreciative."
Frank Sinatra had a tempestuous and at times complicated relationship with both the FBI and the press. Little did he know that the two inst.i.tutions were sometimes collaborating with each other against him.
They needed each other. As FBI agents delved into every aspect of the star"s life, they depended on obvious sources of information like press reports as well as confidential informants. The FBI files now make clear that some of the journalists who wrote those reports were in effect FBI informants as well, providing unsubstantiated rumors for the bureau to run down-including Walter Winch.e.l.l"s tip about the draft covered in chapter 1 chapter 1. The FBI returned the favor on occasion, helping journalists digging for dirt on the singer.
In 1946, the ultraconservative Hoover demonstrated that he was no fan of the singer when Louis B. Nichols, one of his top aides, reported disapprovingly on a stop in the star"s nationwide tour, attaching a fairly innocuous press clipping as supporting material.
TO: Mr. Tolson DATE: May 14, 1946 DATE: May 14, 1946 FROM: L. B. Nichols
As a symptom of the state of mind of many young people I wish to call to your attention the following incident that occurred in Detroit on last Wednesday.
Frank Sinatra arrived in Detroit around midnight and a group of bobby soxers were waiting for him at the airfield. He eluded them and they then congregated at the stage door of the Downtown Theater where he was scheduled to give his first performance around 10:00 a.m. on Thursday morning. The line started forming at around 2:00 a.m. The police started challenging girls who appeared to be under 16 and tried to send them home. However, I have been told, there was a long line of mere kids, many of whom carried their lunches, and they remained in line until the theater opened. Truant Officers started checking the lines early in the morning and were berated by the girls. There was widespread indignation on the part of numerous individuals that I came in contact with and a severe indictment of parents of the girls. One individual went so far as to state that Sinatra should be lynched. I am attaching hereto a page from The Detroit Times showing some of the girls.
Handwritten notation by Hoover: Sinatra is as much to blame as are the moronic bobby-soxers. H. Sinatra is as much to blame as are the moronic bobby-soxers. H.
A year later, Sinatra was taking a beating in the press for his a.s.sociation with alleged mobsters, his draft record, and his political activities, which some considered left-leaning enough to be Communist.
Things boiled over at Ciro"s restaurant in Hollywood on April 8, 1947 when he was arrested for slugging his biggest press nemesis-the Hearst columnist Lee Mortimer. The singer later said the muckraking scribe had been "needling me" for two years with blistering columns. Nancy Sinatra has written that Mortimer held a grudge against her father for rejecting a song he"d written.
Press clippings in the FBI files included speculation that a recent Mortimer piece about Sinatra"s a.s.sociation with the mobster Lucky Luciano had infuriated the singer. But one article pointedly noted that the Luciano story actually was broken by Robert Ruark, a "6-foot, 200-pound columnist." Mortimer weighed about 120 at the time.
At Giro"s that night, Sinatra claimed Mortimer had goaded him by calling him a "dago." Mortimer insisted that Sinatra"s attack was unprovoked. Sinatra later settled the case by paying Mortimer $9,000 and withdrawing the slur accusation.
Mortimer wasn"t through with Sinatra, though. A month after the Giro"s incident, the FBI"s Nichols wrote this memo to Glyde A. Tolson, Hoover"s top aide and closest friend, to prepare the director for a planned meeting with the aggrieved columnist. This memo clearly shows that the FBI was inclined to help Mortimer.
May 12, 1947
MEMORANDUM FOR MR. TOLSON.
RE: FRANK SINATRA.
In view of the Director"s conference with Lee Mortimer tomorrow it would appear that there are three specific problems that have been raised on which the Director desires information. The following is being submitted: 1. Mr. Mortimer said he had a picture of Sinatra getting off a plane in Havana with a tough-looking man whom he has been unable to identify. He believes he is a gangster from Chicago.
Observation: It is suggested that this picture be exhibited to Agents who have worked on the reactivation of the Capone gang in Chicago, as well as to Agents in the Newark Office who have been working on criminal work, in view of the known contacts that Sinatra has had with New York hoodlums. It is entirely possible that in this way the unidentified picture might be identified. If we identified the individual we could secure a picture of the person identified and furnish that to Mortimer and then in turn let him go out and verify the identification in such a way as to remove the Bureau from any responsibility of furnishing information.
2. Mortimer stated that Sinatra was backed when he first started by a gangster in New York named Willie Moretti, now known as Willie Moore.
Observation: It is well known that Willie Moretti of Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey, controls gambling in Bergen County, New Jersey, and is a close friend of Frank Costello. According to Captain Matthew J. Donohue of the Bergen County Police, Moretti had a financial interest in Sinatra. In this connection, Sinatra resides in Hasbrouck Heights.
The Los Angeles Office has reported that a boxing show was being sponsored by Sinatra together with Henry Sanicola and Larry Rummans. According to reports, they incorporated, formed a company and sold stock to raise money to build "a little Madison Square Garden Arena" in Los Angeles. At the same time it was reported that Sinatra was interested in purchasing a hotel and gambling establishment that was being built in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was a.s.sisted by an attorney named Herbert Pearlsen. Sanicola and Rummans were not further identified. It is known that Bugsy Siegel went to Los Angeles on December 18, 1946, to contact Lana Turner, Jimmy Durante and Frank Sinatra for the purpose of having them attend the opening of the Flamingo Hotel. Sinatra, however, did not attend either the opening on December 26, 1946, or December 28, 1946, which was attended by several stars including George Raft, Brian Donlevy, June Haver, Lucille Ball, Sonny Tufts and others. It is likewise known that Mickey Cohen, well-known gambler and racketeer who operates out of Los Angeles, has been in contact with Sinatra on occasions.
In August, 1946, the New York Office was advised by Frances Duffy, clerk of the Local Selective Service Board #180, New York City, that she resides at 424 Second Street, Brooklyn, New York, in a home owned by Mrs. Mary Fischetti. Miss Duffy stated that Sinatra, accompanied by Charles Fischetti, visited the home of his mother and spent the evening there in about June of 1946.
The Chicago Office advised that on August 8, 1946, a request was made of Charles Fischetti to get in touch with his brother Joe for the purpose of contacting Frank Sinatra in New York to expedite hotel reservations around November 7, 1946. It was indicated that the reservations for the hotel were desired by the Fischettis as they intended to attend the Notre Dame-Army football game. Fischetti is a Chicago hoodlum who was a subject in the Bureau"s investigation on the Re-Activation of the Capone Gang.
An informant in Chicago advised[image] Joe Fischetti met Charles Baron and furnished the information to the effect that both Joe Fischetti and Charles Baron had purchased two dozen shirts and forwarded them to Frank Sinatra in Hollywood. The shirts were boxed in two separate boxes and a card was placed in each box, one from Joe Fischetti and the other from Charles Baron. Baron apparently is a.s.sociated with a Ford agency on South Michigan Avenue in Chicago. Joe Fischetti met Charles Baron and furnished the information to the effect that both Joe Fischetti and Charles Baron had purchased two dozen shirts and forwarded them to Frank Sinatra in Hollywood. The shirts were boxed in two separate boxes and a card was placed in each box, one from Joe Fischetti and the other from Charles Baron. Baron apparently is a.s.sociated with a Ford agency on South Michigan Avenue in Chicago.
The Washington News on April 10, 1947, carried a story datelined Hollywood, April 10, which carried the following statement: "Frankie explained he took out the permit two months ago to "protect personal funds." Shortly thereafter he went to Cuba, where he met Gambler Lucky Luciano. Their alleged friendship was blistered in Mr. Mortimer"s column and was believed to be the spark for Tuesday night"s fracas."(Frankie"s "friendship" with Luciano was first revealed by Robert Ruark, 6-foot, 200-pound columnist for the News and other Scripps-Howard papers.)"
If Lee Mortimer has not already done so, he might contact Robert Ruark. Ruark personally told me that he has been investigating Sinatra and it is entirely possible that Ruark might have uncovered some information that may be of a.s.sistance. There is attached hereto Mr. Ruark"s column of February 20, 1947. Also, Mortimer might check with law enforcement contacts in Bergen County and endeavor to secure the information from Captain Donohue which he has on Moretti and Sinatra.
3. Mortimer also desires Bureau information on Sinatra"s arrest on a s.e.x offense.
Observation: The records of the clerk of the Second Criminal Judicial District of the County of Bergen, Hackensack, New Jersey, reveal the following information: Docket 15228 in the State vs. Frank Sinatra reflects that Sinatra was charged on November 26, 1938, by[image] New Jersey, as follows: "On the second and ninth days of November, 1938 ... under the promise of marriage he (Sinatra) did then and there have s.e.xual intercourse with the said complainant who was then and there a single female of good repute...." The Charles Casualty Company, 214 Maine Street, Hackensack, New Jersey, made Sinatra"s bond of $1,500. On December 7, 1938, the complaint was withdrawn when it was ascertained that the complainant was in fact married. New Jersey, as follows: "On the second and ninth days of November, 1938 ... under the promise of marriage he (Sinatra) did then and there have s.e.xual intercourse with the said complainant who was then and there a single female of good repute...." The Charles Casualty Company, 214 Maine Street, Hackensack, New Jersey, made Sinatra"s bond of $1,500. On December 7, 1938, the complaint was withdrawn when it was ascertained that the complainant was in fact married.
Docket 15307 in the case of State vs. Frank Sinatra reveals a complaint was filed on December 21, 1938, by[image][image] New Jersey, charging Sinatra with adultery in that he "... on the second and ninth days of November, 1938 ... committed adultery with the said complainant, a married woman, wife of New Jersey, charging Sinatra with adultery in that he "... on the second and ninth days of November, 1938 ... committed adultery with the said complainant, a married woman, wife of[image] Sinatra made his own bond of $500 on January 4, 1939, and the case was remanded to the jury by order of Judge McIntyre. Sinatra made his own bond of $500 on January 4, 1939, and the case was remanded to the jury by order of Judge McIntyre.
Docket 18540 for the prosecutor of the bills, Bergen County, reveals that a no-bill was returned on January 17, 1939 by the grand jury and the complaint charging adultery was dismissed in open court for quarter sessions on January 24, 1939. Sinatra was then represented by Harry L. Towe of Rutherford, New Jersey. Towe is now a member of Congress and the Director may recall meeting him at my house prior to the Shrine Dinner in Alexandria.
4. Conceivably the New York Mirror might have access to the records at Local Board #19 for Hudson County, Room 308, 26 Journal Square, Jersey City, New Jersey. In February of 1944, the chief clerk of this board was Mrs. Mae E. Jones. On the detailed notations appearing in section 4, physical examination results, (made by Captain J. Weintrob, M.C., a.s.sistant Chief Medical Officer), appears the following observation: "55-Mental: emotional instability, N.D." When interviewed later, Captain Weintrob furnished us with a copy of a communication which he had addressed to the commanding general wherein paragraph C reads as follows: "During the psychiatric interview the patient stated that he was "neurotic, afraid to be in crowds, afraid to go in elevator, makes him feel that he would want to run when surrounded by people. He had somatic ideas and headaches and has been very nervous for four or five years. Wakens tired in the A.M., is run down and undernourished." The examining psychiatrist concluded that this selectee suffered from psychoneurosis and was not acceptable material from the psychiatric viewpoint. Inasmuch as the selectee was to be rejected on an organic basis, namely,(1) Perforation of left tympanum(2) Chronic mastoiditis, left,the diagnosis of psychoneurosis, severe was not added to the list. Notation of emotional instability was made instead. It was felt that this would avoid undue unpleasantness for both the selectee and the induction service."
There is attached hereto a more detailed summary memorandum prepared in Mr. Rosen"s division on February 26.
Tolson ended up meeting with Mortimer the following day. He later briefed Hoover on the visit, all the while insisting that he had not given the columnist any "official a.s.sistance," when in fact it appeared that he had been helpful columnist any "official a.s.sistance," when in fact it appeared that he had been helpful.
TO: DIRECTOR.
DATE: May 13, 1947 DATE: May 13, 1947 FROM: CLYDE TOLSON.
I talked this afternoon to Mr. Lee Mortimer, of the New York Daily Mirror, who wanted to ask some questions concerning Frank Sinatra. I told Mr. Mortimer that, of course, he realized that we could not give him any official information or be identified in this matter in any manner, which he thoroughly understands.
He left a photograph taken of Frank Sinatra in Cuba and asked whether we could identify one individual shown in the picture. Copies of this photograph are being made and an effort will be made to determine whether any of our Agents are acquainted with the person in question.
Secondly, he was interested in the a.s.sociation between Sinatra and Willie Moretti of Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey. I told Mr. Mortimer in this connection that his best bet would be to make appropriate contacts with the Bergen County Police and possibly with a Captain Donohue.
Also, Mr. Mortimer was interested in Sinatra"s arrest on a s.e.x offense. He had practically all of the information concerning this charge and I merely indicated that he might secure information as to the ultimate disposition of the charge by contacting the prosecutor of the bills, Bergen County, New Jersey.