Brian Kelly put Weeks through the warm up brilliantly bringing out from him all the information he needed of the murders of Bucky Barrett, John McIntyre and Deborah Hussey. From my view things were put in smoothly with Weeks putting Whitey right in the middle of the murders. He then brought out from Weeks that Whitey implicated himself in Paul McGonagle, Tommy King, Buddy Leonard and other murders. (Not so much with Debby Davis) No wavering on Weeks part although seemed a little hesitant on the Hussey murder – explained when he heard Stevie was bringing her to the house he felt a little bit of relief. He said he never liked the house and felt that he might be the next one who got murdered there.
Then after going through some more incidentals, Kelly stepped from the ring and Carney stepped up. Here it is I thought, the main match. Caney reviewed his relationship with Whitey getting him to say Whitey was his teacher in organized crime. As a master criminal he set out rules to follow. I’m thinking that he’s burying his own client.
We hear more and more about the lessons in crime Whitey taught. Be disciplined, stay away from bars (because Weeks had a bad temper when drunk) never talk in enclosed spaces. The Whitey Rules of Order.
Then we got to the next step. Whitey’s obsession. He had to know what was going on all the time. He learned from the street. He’d talk to someone for three hours on a park bench to find out one thing. They wanted to know who was doing what to whom for as Weeks said “you never know who might become your enemy” and if the person did you wanted to know what he was capable of doing.
Weeks stressed his sources of information was the street. Carney wanted him to talk about law enforcement. Six FBI agents Whitey said he had corrupted. One state cop. Lots of Boston cops. FBI and State cop gave info; Boston cops looked when needed. Whitey paid by what the cop did for him and whether he like the cop. Christmas was envelope time. Weeks gave Connolly gifts worth in the thousands to give to other FBI agents, gifts because Whitey said they would be embarrassed taking cash. Some like Connolly who got $5,000 one Christmas and Newton who got $1000 didn’t mind the cash.
He said Whitey told him the Lancaster tip came from Schneiderhan through the state police and from Larry Baione who told him he got it from Nezer who was the electronic guy. I don’t buy that. Whitey was covering his real source.
Then we go on to the point Carney wanted to make most of all. Whitey hated rats and never told Weeks he was ratting on anyone and got upset at Flemmi when he heard he might have leaked a name. In all the years he knew him Whitey preached to Weeks that the worst thing one could be was a rat. Weeks also said that was the culture of South Boston.
So things are falling into place. Carney’s admitting Whitey did all the racketeering stuff, drugs, gaming, leg breaking, extortion, bribing cops. He’s arguing he did this but he was no informant. He pointed out that all during this time Whitey was not arrested or even charged. He’s going with the defense that he’s been maintaining all along that Whitey had O’Sullivan’s OK to commit crimes.
Two things are up in the air. Certainly he’s not saying Whitey had the right to murder people; and, how’s he going to prove O’Sullivan’s pass if the judge won’t let it in the case. Got to go. He’s got to talk murder soon.
What a pleasure it is to read a group of people with differing views having a constructive discussion about their disagreements. This is rare for anonymous discussion boards. I just wanted to tip my hat to all of you, it is a true pleasure reading your well thought out writings. MTC blog has attracted a very civilized crowd. Is it too corny to state that it had been a pleasure to experience these discussions?
Well done to all.
Another:
I’ve been lucky to have people who want to discuss the issues and who disagree in a civil manner. I think the people who come here want to learn and exchange ideas and are not reluctant to engage. I’ve had a couple or three of the other type and I respond to them civilly and ask them to participate. That usually sends them away if they have nothing but crude insults to offer.
ut oh.
time for me to leave
Weeks’s transcript of the Halloran/Donahue shooting contains some blunders. Weeks testified he watched everything from Jimmy’s Harborside Restaurant right up until the victim’s car drifted into what he said is the front of the current “Whiskey Priest” bar. That area has changed drastically, but one thing that has not changed is the enormous Commonwealth Pier building seperating Jimmy’s Harborside from Whiskey Priest. Weeks could not have seen and heard things that occurred about 2.5 city blocks away.
Of the many times Weeks has testified about this shooting, this is the first time he threw Steve Flemmi’s name in as a possibility for the backseat shooter. He testified, Bulger told him to “meet me down the Club,” explaining the Club was the Mullens Cub at O and 3rd streets. Weeks testified Bulger went to the Mullens Club “looking for Steve Flemmi, Pat Nee, anyone that was around.” (Note that Pat Nee was the manager of the Mullens Club at the time, the Club is 100 yards from Pat’s Death House, and the gang’s guns were stored in a hide at the Death House.) Weeks testified that later that evening he was present when Whitey was describing the shooting in great detail to Steve Flemmi. Weeks said “Flemmi was upset that he wasn’t there.”
There’s so many things wrong with this version. Flemmi obviously wasn’t the shooter. Weeks repeated that Bulger “never trusted Pat Nee.” I guess this is to make it seem like Pat couldn’t be the shooter. Weeks contradicts himself, however when he testified Bulger went looking for Steve Flemmi, Pat Nee, whoever was around.” Whitey was unlikely to put someone he didn’t trust in the back seat with a gun. Weeks expects us to believe that Witey told him about the murders of the McGonagles, King, Connors, O’Toole, and Leonard, but never told Weeks who the back seat shooter was?
Matt, do you see other inconsistencies with Weeks’s various versions of this shooting? I don’t recall Weeks testifying previously about the meeting that same night at Flemmi’s mother’s house. Weeks also seemed to add in that there were lots of people at the scene runing around and screaming. That place was always desolate in those days.
P
Patty:
I’m shocked. Are you suggesting that Weeks lied! Or, as you nicely put it had some blunders. Afraid pointed out that he could not have seen what happened if his story was true. No one seems to want to go after him on that.
Agree, he added in Steven Flemmi which seems to be someting new. Don’t see where it adds or detracts much from the fantasy. He did say Bulger was looking for Flemmi and Weeks at the Mullens Club but what would Flemmi be doing down there? He consistently said Flemmi was not there and also stuck to the story of being at Flemmi’s mother being in the other room – how come Weeks is always in the other room? – when Whitey discussed Halloran’s murder – and if we want to believe Weeks that is the only time Whitey ever discussed it while he freely discussed, as you point out, other murders. This is also contrary to Weeks telling of Bulger’s discipline and that “Jimmy only told you what you needed to be told” which he said in Connolly’s trial.
The Bulger never trusted Nee makes a lot of sense when he’s always hanging around all his murders. If he didn’t then Nee would no longer be with us.
Weeks did testify about meeting that night at Flemmi’s mother’s during Connolly trial. Weeks didn’t mention the car he was in, or I did pick it up, he has put himself in two different cars prior to this time. He said this time he radioed the baloon is rising; never recall hearing that before. The overall problem with this is that at neither Connolly’s or this trial did defense counsel really go after him so his inconsistencies remain without explanation.
The Donahues must be very disappointed that their last chance to ever learn the identity of their father’s killer walked off the stand taking information with him forever.
Patty:
I think so After court yesterday I went up to other reporters who grouped outside to see if anyone heard Whitey say FU. Some commented on the fact that the Donohues left quickly without doing their after court tv appeance which was very unlike them. They may be able to find out who it is if Whitey after he’s convicted tells the. I doubt he will testify he was at the scene of the murder which is unlikely since he will have to say he had nothing to do with it.
Mr McCoy, I’m not sure what u r saying. If Cullen was a journalist from afar looking at this and came away with a different conclusion than others examining the same facts than I would agree with you.
That’s not what is happening here. Cullen is part of the Story, John Morris testified to it. Cullen has a huge investment in this. He is too close to the prosecution. He, his employer and fellow workers have written and published books detailing fictions such as the meeting between John Connolly and Whitey where the agreed to work together. That was Hollywood crap written in Dick lehrs book.
BTW McCOy, notice how the movies that were supposed to made like BlackMass and others based on these fraudulent books are now shitting the bed?
You know why> Because Hollywood is realizing they are bullshit plus they don’t need them. The trial is tearing apart the credibility of the books.
Another thing Mr. McCoy, do you recall the testimony of John Morris regarding the pressure from the Globe to re-open the 75 State Street investigation?
Seriously McCoy, Cullen and the Globe are in the tank and have financial and persona interests in how this plays out. To suggest he is an impartial observer who came to a different conclusion insults those of us who read this blog and remember some history.
You misunderstand me Mr. Boch. On so many levels. No worries. Many do. I am used to it. First, I did not suggest that he was an impartial observer, that was your characterization. In point of fact, if you followed up to read the NPR transcript, Cullen even admits to a greater or lesser degree in his NPR interview that he had personal interest. Please know, I do not wish to insult you if that is how you felt, that was certainly not my intent. My wish is only to acknowledge and encourage people to continue *or begin* to think for themselves, including Cullen et al. Whatever brings others to that point, so be it -and, in my opinion, welcome news when and how it happens. And if financial resources that have been allowed to prop up false stories, whether it be in the courts, or books or even in Hollywood, dry up and whither away in the wind becomes a by-product, then I am not so sure we are as far apart on the matter as you think.
Alex:
I think many on this board understand you and enjoy your writing, at least I do. It’s good when we have a chance to put out our views and have them challenged as as been done by Ernie to the view you expressed. Only through debate do we gain knowledge or reinforce what we know.
It was clear you were proposing that people remain open to opposing views and be able to change their minds as they see fit. We need the back and forth so that the views can be exchanged.
Ernie:
It is good we keep in mind the sinister relationship between the Boston Globe and FBI Agent Morris. Morris told the story that the Globe was feeding him informatino and then writing about the information that he had as if the FBI came up with it. Not only was the Globe pushing him to investigate 75 State Street, when he did and came up with nothing, it then accused him of being in the bag. That’s how bad the Globe wanted “its truth” to be verified. When it isn’t it turns on the person helping it. But also, Morris testified he was being pressure for a long time by the Globe to disclose that Whitey was an informant. It wasn’t as stated in Black Mass (a big fiction) that he arranged to meet with O’Neill out of the blue and decided to disclose this. That a newspaper can manufacture events and have a lapdog FBI agent going along with it should make every story that paper tells subject to great suspicion. If ever there was a doubt the Globe had an agenda and was willing to pursue it no matter how false then Morris’s testimony should lay that to rest.
As for all those books, the authors have based their stories on an informant relationship between Connolly and Bulger. That is the premise of the Devil’s Deal they all talk about that Whitey gave information and for the information he was protected The information Whitey was feeding them was such that it undermined his friends and helped his brother Billy. If you see that Whitey was not an informant, then the stories are the biggest fakes ever perpetrated by a group of city media. I spotted Whitey was being wrongly labeled as an informant in my series ib is life when I told of the file Condon opened on Whitey in ’71 which all the authors used as a basis for saying Whitey was an informant. I went along with him being one in ’75 because Connolly had listed him as such but my series on Whitey showed how I had difficulty figuring it out. How does one big gangster tell another he’s an informant and have him come along with him? It never settled right.
We’ve learned the FBI files suggesting someone is an informant are as phony as a three dollar bill. Whitey’s informant file has as much legitimacy as the marriage certificate I wrote out as a young man showing my marriage to Marilyn Monroe. (Joe Dimaggio got really jealous when he saw it and it broke his record setting hitting streak.)
After all is said and done the role of the Boston globe should be remembered as a black mark.
I’m sure the bidders for the globe are aware of what is going on in this trial and evaluateing the potential fall out on the brand/ credibility.
Is this playing into the value.
Will the new buyer blow it up and repackage? Bye bye Cullen eh al.
Only if globe role in this catches wind and fbi throws out the globe as a one off.
The actions of globies is the story.
Matt, I’ve been told that Kevin Cullen and wyshak are seen together often in the court house yukking it up like the good friends they are.
Wtf. Reminds me of martorano and pat nee walking around committing crimes while knowing they are untouchable.
Ernie:
I’m not aware of any Cullen/Wyshak interactions but I wouldn’t doubt it but don’t attribute much too it because all the reporters are doing their best to get information from both Wyshak and Carney.
The Globe does have a lot to overcome. It would need a thorough washing out to rid itself of its past biases and wilfull distortions. I’d say the new buyers would have to cut their offering price substantially.
Where did you ever hear Kevin Cullen state that his motive was to work with Morris to kill Bulger? I have heard Cullen on countless programs and the 88 spotlight series is ALWAYS mentioned…. He surely takes credit for having a hunch about J bulgers protection but Morris was been widely reported as O’Neil s source not Cullen’s. Even if Kevin did want to get Bulger killed, which would not be good for his business, he certainly is far too careful with his words to ever state that publicly. Perhaps I am wrong on this but I couldn’t imagine someone as sharp as Cullen making such a stupid comment. Carr on the other hand…..
Another:
The theory goes that the Boston Globe knew that by outing Whitey as an informant (something Morris said that he knew when he testified in the 2002 Connolly tria) it would put his life in danger. Morris wanted the Mafia to put a hit on him. He now says he wanted him closed out but in 2002 he said he hoped he would be hit. Morris was O’Neill’s and Lehr’s source, mainly O’Neill, but the Spotlight article was by a team of reporters of which all mentioned were a part. I don’t think Cullen or anyone else at the Globe wanted to have Whitey killed or printed the ’88 spotlight series with that thought in mind. It’s just one can argue that the Globe being a conduit for Morris was equally culpable and it is not kosher to be outing informants no matter what the motive in a newspaper.
MTC- agree on all points and well said.
Another:
Thanks
MTC9393 – If you are in a room with print reporters tomorrow, particularly Mr. Cullen, can you let him/them know that some of your readers are also reading them carefully and when we feel that positive feedback is warranted we step up to the plate as I did once before for another Globe reporter on your site. (oh my goodness, all this positivity – and in writing. Goodness. Probably should consider it one for the “files.”)
Accordingly, please tell Mr. Cullen, “thank you” – that his very recent interview with the NPR the other day was so noted, read and heard. While you and others may still have some issues with it for whatever reason, he does state in it, and I quote in pertinent part:
“I think just as important is explaining for our readers that this is about institutional corruption at the highest level..” Again, his words; not mine.
I note also the comments posted by “msfreeh” in another section whereby msfreeh offers links to the NYT and NYDaily. Accordingly, let it be said, that if anything positive comes of the unparalled negativity of the relationship between certain members of the FBI and the mafia that seems to be limitless and no know bounds is that the media might finally be waking up to its own need for maintaining independence and journalistic integrity. Who knows, with a real commitment to a positive outlook on all of this, maybe a revival of real journalism is at hand and reporting/journalism might become an “intellectually sexy” field to get into once again.
Lastly, and I feel it needs to be said in writing again (even though I have said it before): we should not forget that the FBI and other security agencies are made up of “people” – and like in any profession there are bound to be some bad apples – BUT – there are many in the FBI and other IC agencies who do indeed conduct themselves “professionally” in a classy manner, and with integrity. Their careers and reputations should not be painted with a broad brush and tossed out in a basket labeled as rotten simply because other bad apples were…. As such and as you stated so eloquently noting that Mr. Billy Bulger is not his brother’s keeper, perhaps some in the FBI would not want to be and are not their brother’s keepers either??? Goodness gracious. “Family Dynamics.” Go figure. Who knew the FBI Family and the Bulger Family might have a lot more in common than they first thought after all???
You r kidding, right? Cullen only wants to tell what he wants re corruption. I dont see how he deserves ptaise. Joe McCarthy was right. There were commies in the govt. But Joe was very wrong and everything else on that subject. He got it wrong and hurt a lot of people in the process. Should we have thank you Joe McCarthy day?
And Kevin Cullen admits that he with john mprris tried to kill whitey by printing he was an informant.
Alex, Matt Connolly doubt now that whitey was an informant?
Why should we thank Kevin Cullen again.
He’s working with and for the bad guys in the fbi. Imho
Mr. Boch: Thank you for your feedback. I respectfully disagree. I believe there are intelligent people who can be deceived initially, especially when they are very close to a story, but who, after enough inner knocking inside their minds and new evidence later emerging, can resolve to open up to the consideration of that new evidence and/or new information and new perspectives, as hard as it may be to do.
Some might argue that the ability to reconsider one’s position based on new information or consideration of different angles and/or evidence that emerges later through different lenses or questions is actually testimony to strength of character and courage. Should that not be encouraged for Mr. Cullen, as well as others? Should that not be encouraged for other reporters? Should that not be encouraged for all? I ask you, if we were to throw our hands up even on this blog and say, “Oh well, MTC9393 had initial views as stated in his book, therefore he would never consider alternative viewpoints; he would therefore never begin to inquire out loud about some issues in variance to his prior positions” – would this blog exist in its very verve today as it does now? Would you and I even be able to have this conversation? Mr. Boch, would you agree that sometimes, people can misplace their trust in others and upon further elucidation and illumination of information, suddenly feel compelled to begin to rightfully question things as they once thought them to be? Are you saying that Mr. Cullen is not human? Should we not give him a chance to re-evaluate matters based on new information if that is what he is beginning to do? If we do not encourage him to do that, if we are not flexible enough to give him that chance to be flexible in turn, what does that say about us as people?
The tree that is flexible and bends when necessary is the one that weathers the storms, grows to magnificent heights, and establishes roots that reach far and wide.
Alex:
I agree that we should all aspire to be open to other views and change when they convince us what we once believed was in error. I also think that Cullen has a chance to be enlightened to other views. As you know from this blog we all have our own views and we come here to express them. I must agree with your assertion since I’ve had my views altered and changed by the people like yourself and Ernie who have been kind enough to come here and spell out where they agree or disagree.
Ernie:
Alex is hoping Cullen is seeing the light. We must always give someone a chance at redemption. Maybe Alex is seeing something we can’t see.
Alex:
Kevin sits about 10′ away from me and pretends I don’t exist. I let the pretense continue. I do think however, I heard him on NPR, he lacks an understanding of what is going on because he’s too busy twittering and not doing analysis. He said there were 19 murder counts, there is only one. He said Carney wasted 90% of his time on a non issue, the informant issue which as we’ve seen plays a big role in this case..
The institution Cullen is talking about is the FBI and he’s referring to the old FBI as if it does not permeate the new FBI also. The problem is not a past problem as we are being told, it is an ongoing problem with an agency that has a culture of protecting itself and keeping the public uninformed as to anything that might cause it embarrassment. If Cullen was referring to the present day FBI and DOJ then that of course would be a welcome change from the past and would show “independence and journallistic integrity.” I hope a revival is at hand. I look around and see a lot of young people in the room who seem to me to be the future of journalism and I hope they can penetrate the deceptions that have been practiced here and recognize a media of one mind that joins together in a mob to throw trash is not helpful. I have noted that WBUR’s Boeri seems to walk to his own drummer in some things, not all, but at least with him although I don’t agree with some of his thinking, he is not a presslemming.
As for the FBI, I know some agents and I think they and many others I do not know are good and highly dedicated people with the utmost integrity. I’ve never said otherwise. I have said that it’s the FBI culture that suppresses them and if a new culture, some fresh air, developed we’d be in much better shape as a country. It is my goal to make it a better agency and that can only be done by pointing out its flaws.
Matt,
Was your site down? Couldn’t access it after weeks’ testimony, didn’t know if the doj had enough of you telling it like it is…
Jim:
I may have answered but yes, it was. A bill mix up. Now everyone is comparing me to Two Weeks because I implicated my son in the mix up. Maybe Wyshak will give me a good deal.
Are you in a room with print reporters? Do they handicap the trial as it progresses from day to day? Most of them probably do not have an attorney/prosecutor slant on the day to day, more like me in the peanut gallery.
Maybe if there was a rat or two out on the peninsula a lot of young people’s lives could have been saved from the scourge of heroin,oxyand suicide.
The low life bullies and psychos demeaned the “never break you never forsake you” virtuous notion and a lot of people fell victim to a romantic view and many have paid dearly. This was not the days of the black and tans and political oppression. These are sociopaths that can hurt innocent people like you, me, our mothers,sisters,whoever. What honor code says we have to get out of their way?
If all it was was these punks killing each other off, well, you know what most people would say: it never is.
Hopalong:
The room is full of print reporters and others. They are not into much other than listening to the testimony and getting it to whomever is their employer. I don’t hear any talk about the outcome or who is ahead or things like that.
I’m sure there were some rats around but if they have nothing to chew on – no one to take their information and pursue it – what can be done?
There are still people out there saying Whitey wasn’t into drugs, only cocaine and marijuana and he kept heroin and would have kept oxy out of Southie. I don’t buy into that. The idea of loyalty to someone who is part of a cause, even if misguided but none the less somewhat noble, is understandable. Weeks idea that the culture of Southie is you don’t rat on your friends or enemies is a gangster code designed to insulate the gangsters and their neighborhood destroying ways from being stopped.
It is interesting how many Southie guys, including Weeks, turned out to be rats. Their real code was no one should be a rat except me when I can help myself.