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(Testimony of Mrs. Eva Grant)
Mrs. Grant.
Well, you see, there is a difference of friends and acquaintances. There are people, you knew, that we just knew they existed.
Mr. Hubert.
Well, I think what we want to know is the friends, of course, a lot of people you know, but those you would classify as being friends.
Mrs. Grant.
Well, he was an admirer of Barney Ross that was a good friend all through the years and Barney fought on the west coast. They were very close. Let's see--while we were on the west coast we were very friendly with Izzy Kaplan, with Frankie Goldstein--you see, these people all worked in the newspaper--they were all working fellows at that time.
Mr. Hubert.
Were they from Chicago originally?
Mrs. Grant.
No; we met them out on the west coast soliciting for newspapers. In Chicago I could name hundreds of fellows--I don't know--A1 Kamin, do you know him--is he down on the list? He owned the Marlerie Sales Co. at one time and I think that at one time now, let me tell you the story about him. He and Jack were selling premiums and they went and made a plaque. They invested every dime they could get from my family, which was $1,500--my sister Marion and Earl--and this plaque, now, I don't know if it was in that year or when it was done, but it was President Roosevelt's head and they figured for an inducement to give away, that was a giveaway item. It was worth about $1 retail, whoever wanted it, but they were selling merchandise and A1 Kamin had a place at 5 North Wabash or 5 South Wabash in Chicago. I don't know--I was not there at the time, but I do know this plaque thing existed and I know another thing that they went into. You know, there were eight children and anyone who had a buck in the family, they went into a deal where they made something about this size [indicating], and it told about Pearl Harbor. I don't know if you remember seeing that plaque. They sold quite a bit of them, but to them it was a giveaway. They sold quite a bit of merchandise to induce these purchasers, they would give them 10 or 15 of them. It was like a certificate that the people shouldn't forget Pearl Harbor. Now, that could have been--he wasn't in the war yet, where Earl and Sammy was already in. He went in, I think, the last one. I may be wrong. I have forgotten--I'll be honest about it, but they were merchandising and this man and he were in business.
Mr. Hubert.
Well, then did you move from the west coast back to Chicago prior to Pearl Harbor; you did, did you not?
Mrs. Grant.
I was on the west coast he was gone. He was in Chicago and I think he was with. Harry Epstein, I'm sure, in 1940 and in 1941 when the war broke out. Now, he has been back to California. Other members of the family came to visit my son and myself in 1940 and 1941, but he was already, I think, established with Harry Epstein. Harry would know something more about this than I do--I don't remember, but I know they were selling merchandise.
Mr. Hubert.
Do you know of any acquaintance or friends that Jack had who had been convicted of crimes?
Mrs. Grant.
Name them--I'll admit to it if I know--yes--let me say this, we knew undesirable characters that grew up in our neighborhood.
Mr. Hubert.
You remember some of their names?
Mrs. Grant.
Yes.
Mr. Hubert.
Would you state them, please?
Mrs. Grant.
I don't want it to be in the public library. These fellows are such nice fellows today, I heard. You know, if these things get out, they think we are degrading them- We were raised with a lot of people that become undesirables. They were people that lived in our neighborhood. Some went to school with us. I know of a fellow getting killed--he said his name was English--he was a bad character as far as we knew. He was 16 years old and I think they killed him on a swing somewhere in the area. We knew the family where they had three boys and I understand I'm going to tell you about this family, because I told the Secret Service, Elmer Moore. His name was Lenny Patrick. Let me explain--we knew he existed. We never associated with him in our home or in our business or anything.
Mr. Hubert.
That's what I wanted to ask you. You see, I have asked you if these people were your friends or not.
Mrs. Grant.
No; but they are people we know. We know their family--we see them, "How's your mother, how's your sister?"
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