Kefauver Committee, Detroit: Carl Renda and the 1949 dance program (8 February 1951)

Questioned about the program of a November 1949 dance he presided over, Carl Renda told committee counsel that Tony Zerilli is related to Joe Zerilli, that he believed Jack Tocco is a son of 'Black Bill' Tocco, and that he did not know who Tony and Bill 'Giacolone' were.

Date

1951-02-08

Kind

hearing

Source

Internet Archive, scan of the printed hearings, Part 9: Michigan (Boston Public Library copy)

Retrieved

2026-10-12

Docket

Investigation of Organized Crime in Interstate Commerce, Hearings before the Special Committee, 82d Cong., Part 9: Michigan

Rights

A work of the United States Congress, printed by the Government Printing Office. Public domain in the United States. 17 U.S.C. § 105. The scan is of a GPO printing; Internet Archive marks it not in copyright.

Printed pages 161 to 171 of Part 9. Carl Renda appeared “accompanied by Samuel L. Travis, attorney”; his counsel stated that Renda had never been charged with an offense. Counsel John L. Burling questioned him about the program book of a November 12, 1949 dance of an Italian-American delegates group (exhibit 1), of which Renda was president, reading names from the dance committee and the advertisers.

The exchanges on pages 170 and 171 run: “Mr. Burling. What about Tony Zerilli? Is he any relation to Joe Zerilli? Mr. Renda. Yes. Mr. Burling. What about Jack Tocco? What relation is he to Black Bill Tocco? Mr. Renda. I believe he is a son. Mr. Burling. Of whom? Mr. Renda. Of Bill.” Asked “Who are Tony and Bill Giacolone?” Renda said, “That I don’t know,” adding that they had volunteered for the dance committee. He said Vince Meli was his brother-in-law and the son of Angelo Meli, whom he described as “a farmer.”

Burling noted “a full-page ad of Joe Zerilli” and asked, “Don’t you know he is a numbers operator?” Renda answered, “No, I don’t.” Renda then said the advertisements had been solicited by members of the club and that the funds went to charity. Counsel’s question about Zerilli is a question, not a statement of fact, and the committee made no accusation against Renda. The printed name “Giacolone” is not shown by this record to refer to the Giacalones named in later federal records.