Statement of
TEODOSIO BAHADUE
July 15, 1969
[REF: Teodosio Bahadue vs E. W.
Purdy
Habeas Corpus in the Circuit Court in and for Dade County,
Florida. Case
number HC-3237 Petitioner's exhibit #2 filed
8/15/69]
The following statement was taken in the Dade County Public
Safety Department,
1320 N.W. 14th Street, Miami, Dade County, Florida, on July
15, 1969, beginning
at 10:30 a.m. and ending at 11:25 a.m., and was given by
TEODOSIO BAHADUE,
W/M, 40, of 5890 W. 14th Lane, Hialeah, in the presence of
DETECTIVE C. RODRIGUEZ,
DETECTIVE D. GREEN, and Steno Reporter MARY SCOZZAFAVA.
Thereupon,
TEODOSIO BAHADUE
having first been duly sworn cautioned, testified upon his
oath as follows:
Q: (BY DET. RODRIGUEZ) For the record, would you please
repeat your full
name, age, and address.
A: TEODOSIO BAHADUE, age forty (40), 5890 West 14th Lane,
Hialeah; business
address 1491East 4th Avenue, Hialeah.
Q:What is the particular name of your business, sir?
A: Zip Appliance Service Inc.
Q: Do you have a telephone number at the location?
A: Yes, 888-5752
Q: MR. BAHADUE, I call your attention specifically to the
date the 22nd of
February, 1967, and ask you if you recall any unusual
incident on that day?
A: Any unusual incident like what?
Q: Did anything happen that is out of the ordinary that you
have knowledge
of?
A: Nothing.
Q: Now, I ask you MR. BAHADUE, did you know the late MR.
ELADIO C. DEL VALLE?
A: Yes.
Q: Would you care to briefly elaborate how you happened to
know his at that
time?
A: He is a congressman; I know him from Havana.
Q: He was a congressman in Havana?
A: Yes; representative.
Q: Do you recall what period of time he was a congressman in
Cuba?
A: No.
Q: Roughly?
A: As best as you recall, approximately for how many number
of years did
you know MR. DEL VALLE?
A: Maybe ten (10), twelve (12); exactly I don't know.
Q: And were you at that time a close friend of MR. DEL
VALLE?
A: I am as a friend, but not very close friend; I don't know
what you call
a close friend.
Q: MR. BAHADUE, in your course of business, did you ever
have occasion to
transact any business with MR. DEL VALLE?
A: Yes.
Q: Would you care to elaborate what type of transaction?
A: Yes; I sold a lot of second hand merchandise to Santo
Domingo.
Q: This would be in the Dominican Republic?
A: That's right.
Q: And these sales, were they made to any particular firm in
Santo Domingo?
A: It's made to some firm and some people; I can furnish you
the date; the
paper; what boat go on; what marine; everything, sir.
Q: You have your records that would reflects this
transaction?
A: Complete.
Q: Fine
A: I will furnish that record before two years ago to other
officer; I was
here too; and I furnish the record to other officer and
Wackenhut; and I
furnish the papers to the F.B.I.
Q: In this particular transaction you are speaking of
involving appliances
and trucks?
A: Appliances and trucks.
Q: Were made mainly through MR. DEL VALLE?
A: He brings the customer to me and I sold to the customer
direct; he make
commission.
Q: MR. DEL VALLE would get a commission off the sale?
A: That's right.
Q: And roughly could you estimate the total amount of money
involved including
all your–
A: How much I lost?
Q: Including all your transactions with MR. DEL VALLE?
A: Every cent I make I lost it; I never collect any money; I
make sale for
the truck, thirty-two thousand; I never collect one dime. I
ship the other
six hundred pieces or five hundred pieces; I never collect.
Q: And on those five hundred or six hundred pieces, what was
the approximate
value?
A: Second hand–see those pieces I pick up like five, ten
dollars a piece;
fix it and ship it; that's in ‘65; ‘64.
Q: My question is the approximate value?
A: I don't know it; you can ask the F.B.I., because they
have all the original
copies.
Q: What was your impression of MR. DEL VALLE as a business
man?
A: As a business man he is looking to make money and protect
his family and
make revolution against FIDEL CASTRO; that's his business.
Q: I ask you, MR. BAHADUE, on the 22nd of February, 1967,
did you have occasion
to see MR. DEL VALLE?
A: That's the day when he died or the day what?
Q: The last day–
A: The next day or before one day; I like to know which day
because I don't–the
same day–because one day he was in my place and the next day
he is twelve
o'clock dead; I hear in the news; so which day the 22nd?
Q: I am referring to the 22nd of February, which is
reportedly the last day
that he was seen alive.
A: That is the day he was alive; he was in my place and we
have lunch; he
was taking lunch with some two other people in Kimball
(phonetic); it's on
Palm Avenue between 3rd and 4th Street.
Q: And where was your business located at that time?
A: At that time I have the two places; 301 Palm Avenue and I
have 1491 East
4th Avenue.
Q: And if you recall, approximately what time was it that
you saw MR. DEL
VALLE in your place of business?
A: The last time?
Q: Yes, sir.
A: I was with him; he bought some meat from the Blankita
[Blancita] Market
(phonetic) on 14th Street east 4th Avenue, right in the
corner; he bought
meat and a few crackers for his younger son.
Q: And approximately what time was this, sir?
A: Seven, seven-thirty; he called even from my place to his
wife and he tell
her he will be home; he going to pick up some shopping and
go home.
Q: This was in the evening?
A: Yes, and at that time, particular time I pick up my son
from the judo
place.
Q: MR. BAHADUE, on that same day that same evening, did you
have occasion
to accompany MR. DEL VALLE anywhere?
A: No.
Q: In other words, MR. DEL VALLE left your place of business
after calling
home?
A: He didn't leave my place of business; don't mistake; that
day he called
his wife; and or he spoke with his son or his wife, and he
go across the
street, bought some meat; and the cracker; and he left to
his house and I
left to pick up my son from the judo to my home.
Q: Do you recall what kind of automobile he was driving that
day?
A: Caddy.
Q: Do you recall the color of it?
A: A red color; you have the picture I believe, if you make
an investigation
you should have the picture; the F.B.I. have a copy.
Q: MR. BAHADUE, what was the name of the judo school where
your son was taking
lessons?
A: That is 29th Street Judo Karate.
Q: And 29th Street and what Avenue, if you recall?
A: Between Palm Avenue and 2nd Avenue.
Q: This would be in Hialeah?
A: That's right.
Q: Would you happen to know the name of the instructor that
was instructing
your son?
A: Is two people over; one is TONY RAUL (phonetic), and the
other I don't
know what his name; he is a milk man too; he bring my milk
to my house.
Q: Still does?
A: He work for t he Foremost.
Q: The one named RAUL?
A: Yes.
Q: And–
A: RAUL MANOCAL [poss Menocal] (phonetic); I don't know what
is the middle
name; RAUL WASH (phonetic) I like to ask you one question;
you have the record
I tell the same day they pick me up, the homicide?
Q: No, sir.
A: Why you don't call them and pick up the records so you
refresh the memory
everything I said?
Q: Because at this particular time, sir, we are conducting a
separate investigation
as it involves other people other than we mentioned in the
past.
A: Okay
Q: And MR. BAHADUE, after MR. DEL VALLE apparently left from
the La Blankita
[Blancita] Market, you did not see him again ever?
A: No, sir.
Q: And how did you learn of his death?
A: By the news.
Q: That was the following day, the 23rd of February?
A: His wife, she calls the store.
Q: She called your store?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you recall what she had to say at that time?
A: She told me who is the people that eat with him, so the
homicide man called
me or I called him and I met him that same day or next day
and I told him
everything, how short the guy is, description, I believe was
description.
Q: MR. BAHADUE, I'm going to ask you in reference to a
series of names and
ask you if you recognize them.
A: Sure.
Q: I am also going to show you some photographs.
A: Be my guest.
Q: And ask you if you know or recognize any of the parties.
A: Beautiful.
Q: First, sir, let me ask you, do you know a party by the
name of AMLETTO
BATTISTI?
A: No, sir. I hear about BATTISTI, but I don't know any
BATTISTI?
Q: Do you know what this MR. BATTISTI does?
A: In Havana he got the Sevilla Hotel (phonetic) or some
hotel he was in
Prodo (phonetic).
Q: And could you approximate this man's age, the one you are
referring to?
A: I never saw him in my life.
Q: Then you would just know the name by hearsay?
A: That's all.
Q:I now show you a photograph marked with my initials and
dated 8 July, 1969,
bearing ID #10 and ask you if you have ever seen that person
(indicating)?
A: No, sir.
(BY DET. RODRIGUEZ: Let the record reflect he was shown a
photograph of MR.
AMLETTO BATTISTI.)
Q: Do you recognize the name
IRMA COLLAZO?
A: No, sir.
Q: Also known as IRMA PALA (phonetic)?
A: (Nodding in the negative)
Q: Also known as IRMA BATTISTI?
A: No, sir.
Q: I show you a photograph marked ID #6 with my initials and
bearing the
date 8 July, 1969, and ask you if you recognize the adult
depicted in that
picture (indicating)?
A: No, sir.
(BY DET. RODRIGUEZ: Let the record reflect he was shown a
photograph of IRMA
ESTHER COLLAZO FLORES (phonetic).)
Q: Do you know a man by the name of CARLOS YANEZ ZIGENHIRT
(phonetic)?
A: No, sir.
Q: I show you a photograph marked ID #8 (indicating).
A: Yes; this fellow I know. That is–he is a nephew of
senator–what's
his name is in Santodomingo [Santo Domingo] – I don't know
what is his name;
nephew, no?
Q: Yes
A: He was in place after ELADIO and he tried to buy 150 air
conditioners
for ninety days which his credit was not approved.
(BY DET. RODRIGUEZ: Let the record reflect that he has
recognized a photograph
of CARLOS YANEZ ZIGENHIRT.)
A: That is the nephew of that senator; what you call him?
Q: Would you recognize the name of the particular senator if
I was to mention
it?
A: Yes.
Q: DR.
SANTIAGO
REY?
A: DR. SANTIAGO REY. He took me to his house here in
Northwest; one
hundred fifty air conditioners he wanted to establish a
credit ninety day
basis, and his credit didn't go through.
Q: In reference to MR. YANEZ ZIGENHIRT, you state that he
went to your place
of business?
A: With ELADIO.
Q: With ELADIO?
A: Yes.
Q:Do you recall approximately how long before MR. DEL
VALLE'S homicide?
A: I don't know. MR. DEL VALLE was his very close
friend, I believe,
with SANTIAGO REY. He was making advertising for
PRESIDENT BALAGUER
(phonetic); propaganda; he is not communist, against the
other guy, hi name
BOSH (phonetic); JUAN BOSH.
Q: MR. BAHADUE, could you approximate in weeks or months
when this occurred?
A: I hope I have the application that I could check it and
give you; I don't
know if I have it, though.
Q: Fine. Would you be willing to make this information
available to
me in the future, sir?
A: Any time; be my guest.
Q: Thank you. Have you ever heard the name
EUGENIO AMARO?
A: No.
Q: I show you a photograph marked ID #2 (indicating)
A: I don't know him.
Q: For your information, sir, this particular party, EUGENIO
AMARO, was a
former police officer with this department.
A: I don't know him.
Q: You don't recognize the name or the photograph?
A: No, sir.
(BY DET. RODRIGUEZ: Let the record reflect he was shown a
photograph of ex-deputy
EUGENIO AMARO, ID #92417.)
Q: Do you know a man named FERNANDO SANTANA?
A: No, sir.
Q: I show you a photograph marked ID #7 (indicating).
A: This–I believe–he got the grocery in 12th Avenue, and
excuse me; one minute;
between when you pass 49th Street down between 49th Street
which is 103rd
Street, and 50th Street; Spanish grocery which I buy my
stuff in; I live
in the back of this grocery.
Q: And you–
A: Personally I don't know him.
Q: You don't know this man personally?
A: I buy over there only.
Q: But the photograph depicts that person?
A: That's right.
Q: But the photograph depicts that person?
A: That's right.
Q: To your knowledge he owns the grocery store?
A: Yes, and he told it too, Santana Grocery; he bought from
some guy, he
was there–approximately two years ago he bought that
grocery.
Q: And you say that since he purchased it approximately two
years ago he
has since resold it?
A: Yes, after three months he sold it.
Q: Do you happen to know what kind of business he is engaged
in presently?
A: Grocery; I don't know.
(BY DET. RODRIGUEZ: Let the record reflect that he was shown
a photograph
of FERNANDO SANTANA.)
Q: MR. BAHADUE, do you recognize the name JUAN FRANCISCO
VICHOT?
A: No, sir. If you show me the picture, like that one.
Q: I don't have that photograph available now. MR.
BAHADUE, do you
recognize the name CESAR CAMACHO?
A: CESAR; CESAR CAMACHO; I know him here in Miami, which he
was my milk man
in Hialeah; he brings the milk to my home. In 1960 or
‘61 he work for
the Foremost too.
Q: I am referring, sir, to CESAR CAMACHO, also a former
deputy Sheriff of
this department; a detective.
A: I don't know that; that's a news for me, because I
believe he has worked
for the Foremost and he left for other job; I don't know
what job.
Yu can call him; he know me.
Q: I ask you now, sir, do you recognize the name PEDRO
PEREZ?
A: PEDRO PEREZ; no; PEDRO– if you show me the picture; I
know a guy which
he come with CARLOS with the other picture, you show
me. His name PEDRO
MARTINEZ short fellow, and the skinny guy, dark, with a
little hair here
(indicating). I don't know if PEDRO PEREZ is name, but
what he gave
me his name PEDRO MARTINEZ.
Q: I show you, sir, a photograph marked ID #1 and ask you if
you recognize
that person (indicating)?
A: No, this is not the guy.
(BY DET. RODRIGUEZ: Let–)
A: The guy I know is short fellow, PEDRO MARTINEZ.
(BY DET. RODRIGUEZ: Let the record reflect he was shown a
photograph of PEDRO
PEREZ, City of Miami BCI #90728.)
Q: I ask you, sir, do you recognize the name MANUEL AZZAM?
A: Yes. I know him personally.
Q: You know him personally?
A: He was in my place too.
Q: I show you a photograph (indicating).
A: Yes, this is he.
(BY DET. RODRIGUEZ: Let the record reflect he was shown a
photograph of MANUEL
AZZAM.)
Q. How long have you known MR. AZZAM, sir?
A: MR. ELADIO DEL VALLE bring him to my place and he bought
two big central
unit air conditioners, and he didn't pay me. He paid
DEL VALLE about
seven thousand dollars; then I couldn't deliver the
merchandise; I told him
unless I have money I couldn't deliver, so he go to DEL
VALLE and DEL VALLE
said to collect the money, and he request two checks from me
which I beat
the case in J.P. #1, which he didn't give me the money or
anything to me;
he said he gave it to ELADIO; he didn't pay me; he was
buying those for the
casino in Espanola Hotel (phonetic) in Santodomingo [Santo
Domingo].
Q: And to your knowledge, did MR. DEL VALLE ever settle t
hat debt with MR.
AZZAM?
A: I don't know. They have different business and they
both–I believe
was the lawyer-the lawyer was here in back of this
(indicating); Cuban lawyer;
do you know the name of the lawyer? It's right here; I
don't know what
is his name; Spanish lawyer.
Q: Spanish lawyer; would it be MR. EUGENIO [Gino] NEGRETTI
[correct spelling
Puerto Rican Lawyer] (phonetic)?
A: No.
Q: Would it be MR. BETTANCOURT [Betancourt] (phonetic)?
A: BETTANCOURT.[Betancourt]
Q: Now, this would be the lawyer that handled which
transaction?
A: The transaction of ELADIO and MANUEL AZZAM.
Q: Do you recall the approximate date that this occurred?
A: I don't know.
Q: The year?
A: They was all the time together; I don't know what year it
was.
Q: Do you know of any other transactions between MR. AZZAM
and MR. DEL VALLE?
A: DEL VALLE, he never tell his business to nobody.
Q: And you stated that this particular transaction of the
central air conditioning
units; what was the total amount of the transaction?
A: Seven thousand and some dollars; I don't know how much
exactly; I got
in paper.
Q: Did you ever receive your money?
A: No.
Q: But you never did deliver the product either?
A: When I lost first time I never delivered to nobody unless
I get letter
of credit against bill of owing. Otherwise, I can't do
nothing.
Even one day MR. CARLOS, he called from Santodomingo [Santo
Domingo] and
he said they got the order from the government to buy air
condition, and
I said you have to write direct to the factory; and if the
factory authorize
to ship the merchandise, we'll deliver.
Q: MR. BAHADUE,--
A: Yes.
Q: To the best of your recollection, what was the total
amount of money gross
that you recall ever losing as a result of dealing with MR.
DEL VALLE?
A. I don't know how much, really.
Q: Roughly?
A: I don't know. I can't tell you. I have to
make statement for
that and I–we try to get all the information now from
Santodomingo [Santo
Domingo] what they have done with the merchandise and
everything else.
Q: (BY DET. GREEN) Did you declare an income tax loss on
that?
A: No, we put as our losses in the income tax, because we
have a–you see,
in all the second hand I don't know if you understand that
or not; if you
realize what is appliance or what is second hand. You
buy something,
it doesn't work at all, you buy it maybe for five or ten
dollars in that
particular year. Then you take the set and you fix it;
maybe the compressor
bad, maybe a short in wire; and I got two mechanic in that
particular time
which they fix the merchandise; repaint in the same place
and ship it to
the dock, you know, and that's how I build little money in
that kind of business.
It's not easy to calculate like if it cost me one dollar an
I sell for fifty,
you have to calculate not losses in what you make the money
and what losses,
how much it cost me to bring the stuff to the store and fix
it.
Q: How did you lose your first amount of money? How
was I lost?
A: We ship six hundred pieces and the people like to declare
no prices on
it over there. We sold the piece for forty dollars; we
ship about three
hundred fifty-four different article of compressor, burner,
and sent the
guy; we didn't deliver any money, then the freight company
call me up and
said we cannot release the merchandise unless we collect
money, so I call
ELADIO and ELADIO make call over there and the people send
the money direct
to the freight company to release the merchandise over
there, and the condition
is as soon as they take the merchandise out sell it; they
send the money,
and that's the first time; but in the mean time I shipped
other eight trucks
to there which I bought very cheap; I bought them for a
thousand dollars,
or sixteen hundred, but I fix them; they paint them, put
parts on them, refrigeration
trucks; I bought them from Felder (phonetic).
Q: Did ELADIO cause you to lose this money?
A: You know; I don't know how to explain it to you in
English. The
blame is not on him. I can't blame a person who bring
you to me to
make a business. The blame; I don't know, really, who
is to blame.
Now he is dead; I can't blame nobody.
Q: In your opinion do you think ELADIO made money from them
without you knowing
it at the time?
A: Possibly; possibly. I can't give you my sincere
opinion. It's
I figure you can figure I am a good person and I am not; I
figure he is a
decent person, maybe he is not; I can't give you like
sincerity in his opinion,
because he make business with you, and he go to business
with her and different
with you and he make to me different; he is different; he is
all the time
in different since they offer to me in that time
prefabricated houses to
sell a stove, air condition, refrigerator, and water heater;
four pieces
to each house they build for the government, and I took the
people to different
factory here which I spend over eighteen hundred dollars in
the factory which
repaid when you bring a customer the government will build
so much prefabricated,
and then we have the estimate like in half and all the
Chevies they send
over there and they put them together to make a car;
assemble; and I took
him to do two factory, Westinghouse and Wellbuilt, and they
agreed to assemble
all the refrigerators for the prefabricated because was four
hundred thousand
prefabricated houses they are going to start to build for
the poor people
over there which the Federal Government have insure them and
any merchandise
go it guaranteed no matter what they got paid. That's
the business
which I work very hard and never come through.
Q: (BY DET. RODRIGUEZ) Excuse me, sir; in this particular
transaction, where
was the prefabricated houses; where were they going to be
built at?
A: They got factory in Hialeah and that people can move the
factory to Santodomingo
[Santo Domingo].
Q: In the Dominican Republic?
A: In the Dominican Republic, and prefabricated with the
American materials;
the government was.
Q: The United States Government?
A: United States Government.
Q: Was sponsoring that program?
A: They got big fight like this they took it; we have from
Alliance for Progress;
we have letter from Washington, everything; the plans,
American engineer;
and I spend a lot of money on it and it didn't come through.
Q: So it never did materialize?
A: It materialized, but then the government didn't accept
the conditions;
Alliance for Progress put to build those houses.
Q: To your knowledge, were the houses ever built at all?
A: I don't know; I never–
Q: Okay, MR. BAHADUE. Now I ask you, do you
recognize the name
MANUEL SIDAN?
A: SIDAN; no. She me the picture.
Q: (indicating)
A: No.
Q: Do you recognize the name ARMANDO PEREZ (phonetic)?
A: ARMANDO PEREZ; I know a lot of ARMANDO, but ARMANDO
PEREZ; let me see
the picture if you don't mind.
Q: I don't have one available. Do you know a man named
DANIEL VASQUEZ
(phonetic), also known as NATO?
A: No. You know how many people come to my store;
every day.
Q: Now, MR. BAHADUE, have you ever had occasion to make any
business transactions
with a man by the name of EDWIN P. LEMAY, also known as
CAPTAIN EDDIE LEMAY?
A: (Nodding in the negative)
Q: Who allegedly is a marine appraiser?
A: I never did any business with him.
Q: Have you ever been to the residence located at
427 S.W. 3rd
Street in
Miami?
A: Residence; no, sir.
Q: You don't recall that particular address in any way?
A: I live in Hialeah; four what; I never live southwest.
Q: 427 S.W. 3rd Street?
A: I've never been there.
Q: MR. BAHADUE, according to your knowledge, if any, why was
MR. DEL VALLE
murdered?
A: Who knows? That's a question of sixty-four thousand
dollars.
Q: Have you heard through conversation why?
A: I heard only one thing; he died because he cheated
revolutionary of Haiti;
he was very close friend to MOSS FERRER [
Masferrer]
(phonetic); I believe
he was convicted of revolutionary against DUVALIER
(phonetic). They
was preparing a revolution to go from Haiti to Cuba after
they take over
DUVALIER Haiti. That's what I hear. You hear so
much story you
don't believe nothing. See, I got already like this
you ask me; I got
already seven, eight times already; same question.
Q: MR. BAHADUE, since the murder of MR. DEL VALLE, has MR.
AZZAM had occasion
to be at your place of business?
A: Never. I believe he left the country. He
never show up.
I don't know if he left here or not.
Q: Do you know why the F.B.I. questioned you in reference to
this case?
A: Yes, that's because they kill ELADIO. I was in the
second day there,
third day.
Q: After the homicide?
A: Second day I was in the homicide, third day I was over
there.
Q: At the F.B.I. Office?
A: Yes, and they was in my place; they took the phone number
and the telephone
was in my desk and everything.
Q: (BY DET. GREEN) Where is their office at, sir?
A: It's right in the Biscayne and where you go up.
It's very difficult
to park there.
Q: (BY DET. RODRIGUEZ) Do you know the name of the F.B.I.
agent or agents
that questioned you?
A: I got a lot of small cards, you know, I save them all I
got, some from
F.B.I., some from homicide here; I got some; two people I
got from Wackenhut;
working for the government direct, and one Wackenhut.
Q: (BY DET. GREEN) The F.B.I. talked to you about the actual
homicide?
A: Yes, sir.
Q: And asked you questions about the homicide?
A: Yes, sir, and they took time and everything what I did
whole day; where
I have my breakfast, what time I left, what time I left,
what time I opened,
we go to the Blankita [Blancita]; even I took the inspector
to the Blankita
[Blancita] where he bought the meat and the guy was crying,
he said I gave
him the meat to eat, not to die. You know, he is a
well known good
man, and lot of money; then what he did here is a different
story.
Q: (BY DET. RODRIGUEZ) You are talking about the victim, DEL
VALLE?
A: Yes.
Q: (BY DET. GREEN) Did he create a lot of enemies here?
A: He created a lot of enemies because he work in the
revolution so much,
then they got other people in the invasion.
Q: After he died, did he leave an estate or property worth
money?
A: Before he dead two weeks I loan him four hundred dollars
to pay his mortgage
in Dade Federal; he doesn't have money; a bluff.
Q: After his death, sir, have you entered–
A: He live to show. Actually he is nothing.
Q: After his death have you entered any type of lawsuit
against his property
or possessions to repay you for the money that you lost?
A: I never ask anything; not interested in nothing.
Q: (BY DET. RODRIGUEZ) MR. BAHADUE, did MR. DEL VALLE ever
disclose to you
that he had bank accounts here in Florida?
A: Never in his life?
Q: So you don't know if he had any?
A: Never in his life?
Q: Account anywhere?
A: I don't know anyway; but I know never in his life he got
over two hundred
dollars in his pocket; never.
Q: Do you recall approximately how long has it been since
you have seen MANUEL
AZZAM?
A: Since we left the court which ELADIO was alive and
everything; two month
before ELADIO was killed.
Q: And AZZAM was suing you?
A: Suing me, yes.
Q: For the merchandise?
A: For two checks and sufficient fund for seven thousand
dollars or six thousand
nine hundred or seven thousand; then when we got to court he
come to me,
he said was a pistol in my hand, MANUEL AZZAM; he said did
you receive the
money yes or no, and it was DEL VALLE did; I did not receive
it; tell him.
He said give me two checks then I go to MR. JOHN GILBERT in
district one
and I got a MR. DANNY LINARES and I swear warrant of his
arrest. they
couldn't find them; then they find him and arrest MANUEL
AZZAM; and we go
to the court and I beat the case; then the judge condemn him
in it for the
assault. I don't know what happened there.
Q: (BY DET. GREEN) Do you remember the type of gun he had at
your head?
A: .45; and ELADIO all the time he got his gun on him.
Q: Is it correct that MANUEL–
A: He is very violent man, MANUEL. You can sit down
with him, in three
minutes and he is right away, you know, he is violent.
Q: Is it correct that he swore out a warrant for you on the
checks and had
you arrested and then you later swore out a warrant for him
because of the
gun to your head?
A: No, when he took the checks after two weeks, I swear the
warrant.
I go, say broke all the window in the store for me, then I
go swear the warrant.]
A: In the night time they break all the window.
Q: (BY DET. RODRIGUEZ) Excuse me, MR. BAHADUE, there is a
little confusion.
How or who signed the checks initially?
A: I signed the checks.
Q: You signed them?
A: I forced to sign them; if I don't sign them they would
kill me there;
right there.
Q: You signed them at the time he had the gun to your head?
A: That's right; was 8:30 at night.
Q: Do you recall the date?
A: No.
Q: The year?
A: The year ELADIO died; what year? ‘65? ‘67.
Q: And subsequent to him allegedly forcing you to give him
two $7,000.00
checks signed by you–
A: I don't know the exact amount, but I can get you the
photostatic copy
and furnish it to you; it's right in the record; I be very
happy to help
against this guy any way.
Q: And subsequent to that, you went to the Justice of the
Peace?
A: Yes, and he come back to me and he said I do this with
you, you send me
two hundred pieces and I pay you in cash. I said no, I
can't do it;
I won't sell you one piece; go buy it any place you
want. There's one
hundred places you can buy it. Then he come back to me
and said if
you don't sell me I will sue you. I said go ahead, sue
me. Then
ELADIO, he come to me and said, "Why you don't ship two
hundred?"
I was preparing the second hand to in that time to Corribi
S.A. (Phonetic);
then I didn't ship the merchandise to him. I ship it
and they pay.
Q: And you stated that subsequent to your issuance of the
checks under alleged
duress, you went to Justice of the Peace number one and
swore out a warrant
against MANUEL AZZAM?
A: Yes.
Q: For aggravated assault with the gun?
A: And attempt to kill.
Q: And intent to kill? Then subsequent to you–you say the
warrant was served
by MR. LINARES?
A: The warrant was served by a detective there, and in that
time I don't
speak frequent English, so they put me with LINARES, which
is a very honest
officer. They told me you don't have to worry, he will
protect you,
you have home, you have family.
Q: Then the case was heard do you recall by which judge?
A: BERMAN (phonetic).
Q: JUDGE BERMAN?
A: I believe the judge was BERMAN and the JUDGE BERMAN he
sent him to Dade
County.
Q: To the jail?
A: I don't know what they did with the case. Oh, he
said his lawyer
was GENO [Gino] NEGRETTI; from Congress Building; and he my
lawyer was HERMAN
COHEN (phonetic), and then he told my lawyer I will give you
a release now;
we don't go his place we don't do any business and we give
this and so I
make the release and sign it right there
Q: Non-prosecution?
A: No, not non-prosecution.
Q: Did you ever go to Criminal Court?
A: No. He give me a release. I don't know what
you call it.
My lawyer he advised me to sign it so I sign it. Said
otherwise he
will take a child from my home and kill him. I told
the judge that.
He said so that's your privilege to go to the court or to
listen to your
lawyer. I will advise you to go to the court. I
said the lawyer
said because every time the lawyer go there you have to pay
him money.
Q: (BY DET. GREEN) Why did MANUEL want to kill you for this?
A: Because MANUEL thinks I cheat him, because ELADIO said to
him he give
me the money and ELADIO he never give me any penny; they was
put together;
ELADIO; him and SANTIAGO REY; they was put in so much big
government deal.
Government deal; he got like he got the whole hotel, to be
redone; put new
equipment in it, and put rugs and make it tourist for all
the American people
which they come from the United States over there; they got
that signed by
the government there, you know, but they never show up with
no money to sell.
Q: (BY DET. RODRIGUEZ) MR. BAHADUE,--
A: YES.
Q: Do you have anything else that you could add to this
statement that might
help us in our investigation?
A: I will add any time you need my help, call me any time
you like to come
see me, you're welcome any time.
Q: Fine.
A: Any time I could be any help give me call I be here.
Q: Thank you, sir. MR. BAHADUE, is this statement that you
have given here
today true and correct to the best of your knowledge?
A: All the truth, I will swear and sign it if you want.
Q: Have you been abused, forced, or threatened by me in
order for you to
give this statement here today?
A: No, sir.
(BY DET. RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU,)
End of Page
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