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DOCUMENT  0071


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GARRISON SEEKS FUNDS
in MIAMI to FINISH
JFK  INVESTIGATION

[REF: Criminal Court of Record, Dade County, The State of Florida vs. Larry King; Case No.  71-10512]
NOTE ONE: Individuals mentioned in this transcript:

Seymour Gelber
became a Judge in Dade County and Mayor of Miami Beach.
Jim Garrison was District Attorney in New Orleans.
Richard Gerstein was State Attorney for Dade County (same as a District Atty).
David Goodhart was a Judge in Dade County.
Larry King f/n/a Lawrence Zeigler was a radio commentator in Dade County.
Louis E. Wolfson owned WOMETCO whose holdings included Channel 4 TV, a radio station, vending machines,
                                   the Miami Seaquarium, a string of movie theaters, among other things.

NOTE TWO: The exact amount was never determined.  It was agreed upon by the attorneys that $5,000 would be the amount, the minimum amount that determines a felony. The case against King was dismissed due to the statute of limitations.  It was upheld on appeal.


INVESTIGATION
re:
LARRY KING
________________________

There appeared in the Office of the State Attorney, Sixth Floor, Metropolitan Dade County Justice Building, Miami, Florida, on Wednesday, September 15, 1971, at 10:30 A.M., the following:

::SEYMOUR GELBER
Administrative Asst. State Attorney

::LOUIS E. WOLFSON
6466 North Bay Road
Miami Beach, Florida

::EDWIN POLLERT
Reporter

Whereupon the witness, having first been duly sworn by Mr. Gelber, testified as follows:
Louis E. Wolfson

By MR. GELBER
Q. What is your name, local address, and telephone number?
A.  Louis E. Wolfson, 6466 North Bay Road, Miami Beach, Florida, 866-8288.

Q.  Mr. Wolfson, you have had occasion to be involved with Larry King in a matter in which certain monies were to be transmitted to Mr. Garrison, who is the present district attorney in New Orleans, Louisiana, is that true?
A.  Yes, sir.

Q.  What I would like you to do is to recall in the best fashion you can the circumstances surrounding that transaction, and give me the date, or as close to the dates as you can when these events occurred.
A.  I met with Mr. Jim Garrison, Larry King, Richard Gerstein, David Goodhart, here in Miami Beach.  We discussed the assassination of former president Kennedy, and out of this discussion he indicated that it would take $25,000 to finish his investigation.

Q.  Do you have any recollection as to the date of that?
A.  Yes, I think it was the latter part of 1968.
I agreed to give this money for this purpose to Larry King and Richard Gerstein, who in turn assured me that it will be given to Jim Garrison, and this was done over a period of months.

Q.  Was there any reason why you have this money over a period of months rather than at one time?
A.  I had to issue checks to draw the money out of the bank and I didn't want to create too much disturbance in my office, and I didn't want, other than my personal secretary, to know just what was going on.

Q.  And in the issuance of these checks, I presume that you have records which would reflect the dates?
A.  Yes, sir.

Q.  For each of these transactions?
A.  Yes, sir.

Q.  Do you have any of that information here?
A.  No, I do not, but I could get that.  That would be available.

Q.  O.K., now, the latter part of 1968, you met with these people and you agreed to do what you indicated.  Now, when was the first time that you transmitted any funds and to whom did you transmit that and with what instructions?
A.  1968, shortly after that.  I am not positive, I am almost sure it is $5000, I either gave to Larry King–the first $5000 I gave to Larry King to give to Dick Gerstein to have transmitted to Garrison.

Q.  Now, at that time was King in your employ or was he associated with you in any endeavors?
A.  No, he was not in my employment.  He was associated, I believe–I'm not sure, we have to check the dates–later he got associated with Universal-Marion Corporation and–in some capacity dealing in his field–I think a subsidiary by the named of Royalty Enterprises, that involved Jim Bishop, Larry King, and Universal-Marion Corporation.  I'm not sure if it was around this time or before or after.  That's the only connection I have had with Larry King.

Q.  You did, or have, some official capacity with Universal-Marion?
A.  I am financial consultant and a large stockholder.

Q.  And now, this $5000 that you gave to King in 1968, can we estimate what part of 1968 that was?
A.  It had to be shortly after the meeting that took place.

Q.  That would be the last quarter?
A.  Yes, sir, the winter of 1968.

Q.  But, again, the check that you have would more accurately determine–
A. Yes, sir.

Q.  All right.  Now, do you know what happened to that $5000.
A.  I was told by Larry King that he gave it to Dick Gerstein to give Garrison.  Gerstein was supposed to meet Garrison on some other matters within a short period.

Q.  Did you determine that that $5000 was given to Garrison?
A.  No, I just assumed it was.

Q.  Did you have any conversations with Garrison to determine whether he had received it?
A.  No, up to that time I only met Garrison one time and all I was interested in was trying to get to the facts of the assassination of Kennedy.  I had no interest in meeting with Garrison after that.

Q.  Do you have any reasons to believe that this $5000 was not delivered to Garrison?
A.  No, I have no reason to know which $5000 wasn't delivered to him.  At a later date I found out part of this money was never delivered; I gave money after that, too.

Q.  Did you have any discussion with Gerstein at any time in terms of determining that King had, in fact, given Gerstein $5000?
A.  Not until a later date.

Q.  When was that?
A.  After this first $5000, I continued to give King or Gerstein–I think I gave Gerstein on one occasion part of this money–a total of $20,000 making a total of $25,000, and I completely divorced myself from any contact with Gerstein about the matter, and Garrison about the matter, until 1969, early part of 1969.  I got concerned about Larry King's activities and I had some doubts of his honesty, and I am not sure of this but I think I talked to Gerstein the early part of 1969 to find out if this money has been transmitted to Garrison, and I am almost sure that Gerstein told me the money King gave him had been given to Garrison.

Q.  That was the $5000?
A.  It could have been more; I had given the entire $25,000.

Q.  So you had this conversation with Gerstein in which he indicated he had given Garrison all the money that he had?
A.  That he had received.

Q.  All right.  Now, when did you again transmit through King or Gerstein, funds to Garrison?
A.  After the initial $5000 it could have been within thirty days–another $5000.

Q.  Still in 1968?
A.  I think most of it–all, the entire $25,000 was in 1968.

Q.  How did you give this sum which was $20,000?
A.  It was in intervals of $5000.

Q.  All right, then we are at the second $5000.
A.  Yes, sir.

Q.  And you gave that to whom?
A.  I am not sure whether to Gerstein directly or to King, and the same thing applied to the third, fourth, and fifth.

Q.  When was the third?
A.  I am almost sure that was in the last part of 1968 all of it was transmitted.

Q.  And when you transmitted these funds, do you recall whether you gave it to Gerstein or King?
A.  I would have to say most of it was given to King.  I believe that on one occasion I gave it to King and Gerstein together.  Now, I don't know what part of it, but–

Q.  What instructions did you give to King or Gerstein?
A.  "This makes x-dollars going to Garrison and I would appreciate your transmitting it to him."

Q.  Did King tell you he had transmitted any sums to Garrison?
A.  I'm not sure.  I think he indicated he had given all of it to Gerstein.

Q.  He indicated to you he hadn't given anything to Garrison?
A.  I'm not sure of it.

Q.  Now, tell me again about the conversation you had with Gerstein.
A.  My conversations at what stage of it?

Q.  Well, I understood that you had a conversation with Mr. Gerstein.
A.  In 1969, I am pretty sure–the first quarter of 1969, I am pretty sure that I mentioned to Gerstein that I had given this entire $25,000, and when I gave the last $5000 that I am finished with my commitment, and I want to make sure it reached Garrison in accordance with my commitment. I am almost sure that's the conversation I had with Gerstein in the first quarter of 1969.

Q.  Well, didn't you testify earlier here that you gave the money to Gerstein rather than to King?
A.  No, I said I gave most of it to King to give to Gerstein.  I think on one occasion I gave it to Gerstein in the presence of King.  Now, I'm not sure; King could have gotten four or five thousand and Gerstein could have gotten one; I'm not sure.

Q.  Now, you say you gave most of it to King to give to Gerstein. Was that your instructions, that King was supposed to give the money to Gerstein?
A.  No, when we had this discussion I told Garrison that I would make arrangements to give him $25,000 through Gerstein.  So King would call me and say he was going to see Gerstein, so I would give it to King; so when I saw King and Gerstein on one occasion I gave it to both of them.

Q.  So, then some of the monies you gave to King obviously didn't get to Gerstein in order for him to transmit it to Garrison.
A.  Well, I didn't know that until I was told that by Gerstein in 1970.

Q.  Now, you had a conversation with Gerstein in 1969?
A.  First quarter of 1969.

Q.  Did he indicate to you how much money he had received from King?
A.  No, he did not.  All I did was say that I had fulfilled my commitment and hope it reaches Garrison, and I think he made some remark that he hasn't gotten all of it from King, or something to that effect, but I don't remember the exact conversation.

Q.  Well, when he indicated that he hadn't received it all, what did you do?
A.  I did nothing, because I just assumed he hasn't seen King, or King hasn't seen him.

Q.  At that point you weren't suspicious of anything wrong?
A.  No.

Q.  Were you still friendly with King at that point?  What was your relationship with him?
A.  I had suspicious about King, but I felt with Gerstein position as State Attorney that King
wouldn't hesitate to go ahead and give it to him if I give him that, but I wasn't relying on King, I was relying on Gerstein to see that my commitment was fulfilled.

Q.  Were you aware how much money had been delivered to Garrison when you talked to Gerstein in 1969?
A. No, other than that I thought I had fulfilled my commitment because Gerstein told me he had reasons to see Garrison and he didn't want to make a special trip.  I don't know hot it was handled, where they met, but Gerstein was the man who was supposed to give it to Garrison.  I don't know how much of it he delivered up to that point, until later on I found out.

Q.  And at that point you had made available the $25,000 to be given to Gerstein?
A.  Yes, I had fulfilled my entire commitment.

Q.  When was the next time you talked to either Gerstein, King or Garrison?
A.  In the first quarter of 1970 I had my secretary, Mrs. Tomlin (phonetic), contact Jim Garrison.  I wanted to make sure that my obligation had been fulfilled and at that time I learned that Garrison said he had received only $9500.

Q.  You talked to Garrison or his secretary?
A.  No, Mrs. Tomlin talked to Garrison personally in New Orleans and I immediately contacted Dick Gerstein and told him about the situation.  Gerstein cam to my home shortly after the conversation.

Q.  We are still early in 1970?
A.  Yes, first quarter of 1970.  And we discussed it and he told me that King told him that he has been giving all this money to Garrison except $5000; Gerstein said that he has $5000, that he hasn't seen Garrison, that he has in his possession.  That made $10,000, so he said he will give me the $5000, which he gave me, and said this is all he had, but the other money has been given to Garrison with the exception of King– says that he is short $5000, so Garrison was supposed to have received $15,000 instead of $9500, and Garrison–so he advised–at that time Garrison said he didn't need but $15,500, so he doesn't need any more, but he had to borrow $5500 to complete it to make the $15,000–he only needed $15,000 to complete instead of $15,500.
So I told him I would send him $500, and King will give him the $5000, and King kept promising he would give him the $5000–

Q.  He promised who?
A.  My secretary.

Q.  This is Mrs. Tomlin?
A.  She was in contact with him.  I hadn't been.  In fact, I wouldn't waste my time discussing it with King.  I just didn't want to have anything to do with King.

Q.  You didn't talk with Gerstein either?
A.  No, not until later.  All the conversations took place between my secretary and Garrison, and my secretary and King.  My attorney, Mettler, had a conversation with Gerstein about the matter.

Q.  Let's go back again to clarify for me, in any event, the distribution of monies in terms of what each of the participants said occurred.
Now, will you tell me what King said that he had given to Garrison, and–
A.  This comes from Gerstein. Gerstein, when he gave me the $5000 said he talked to King and King said that $20,000–$15,000 has been given to Garrison.  The $5000 Gerstein gave me made it $20,000.  He returned $5000 to me.

Q.  He returned $5000 to you?
A.  In the first quarter of 1970 after I found out that.  Now, Gerstein said that King said he has $5000, that he will give the $5000 to Garrison.

Q.  Now, Gerstein said that King told him that he, King, still had $5000 due Garrison?
A.  That's right.  And he promised to give it to him by such and such a date.

Q.  And this would account for the $25,000?
A.  That's right.

Q.  Did King, to your knowledge, make any of these statements to Garrison?  Was he in contact with Garrison, that you know of?
A.  I don't know

Q.  Did he make any statements to Mrs. Tomlin?
A.  Yes.  In fact, she has her memos in her diary or notes from King verifying that the $5000 would be taken care of.

Q.  Does Mrs. Tomlin work in Dade County?
A.  No, she works in Duval County?

Q.  Would she be available?
A.  Yes, she would.

Q.  Now, going back to Garrison's statement, he said he received–
A.  Ten thousand; he received only ten thousand.

Q.  He said he received $10,000 rather that the $9500 you said earlier?  Who did he say gave him the $10,000?
A.  I didn't talk to him and I don't know.  I imagine Garrison will be able to say who he received the money from.

Q.  But you don't know whether King personally made any payments or transported any of your money to Garrison?
A.  No, sir, I don't know.

Q.  You don't even know whether he had any conversations with him?
A.  No.

Q.  When you talked to Garrison did he indicate–
A.  I never talked to Garrison about this other than making sure I fulfilled my commitment of $25,000. My secretary had a conversation with him the first quarter of 1970 and we learned for the first time that Garrison claimed he only received $10,000 and the cost for his investigation was only $15,500 instead of $25,000 and he had borrow $5500, and I assured him we would get after King to give him that money, and King said he gave him fifteen instead of ten, so it's a difference of $5000.
Now, King said that he had $5000 left which made it twenty.  Garrison said he only got ten.  Gerstein had five that he returned to me so therefor my secretary called Garrison that we will send him $500 and King's $5000 will give him $15,500.

Q.  Now, I want to go back to your earlier statement concerning the manner in which you gave this money.  You gave it in cash?
A.  Yes, I issued checks and drew out cash out of the bank and gave him cash.

Q.  And how were the arrangements made to give the money to King or to Gerstein?  Did you call them or did you have somebody arrange a meeting?
A.  No, either King would come over to my home or Gerstein and King.  I gave it to them at my home.  I am almost sure everything took place in my home.

Q.  Can you recall to whom you gave the money?
A.  No, I'm not sure.  I know most I gave to Larry King to be transmitted to Gerstein, but I think on one occasion I gave it to Gerstein.

Q.  That would be $5000?
A.  Yes, sir.

Q.  How many occasions were King and Gerstein together in your home?
A.  Several.

Q.  Now, from the way you have described the transactions, it would appear that King was a conduit between you and Gerstein inasmuch as Gerstein had some professional relationship with Garrison and had occasion to see him and he was to give the money to Garrison when he could see him.
A.  Yes.

Q.  So, if King and Gerstein were in your house together there wouldn't be much point in giving the money to King unless you had some reason not to give it to Gerstein.
A.  No, I would give it to Gerstein if I had the money available. I certainly would give it to Gerstein.  I would give it directly to Gerstein, but I don't know if I did it on one or two occasions.

Q.  If King had $15,000, then it must have been three occasions when Gerstein wasn't present.
A.  Oh, sure, could have been three or four.

Q.  I'm not holding you to that particular number.
A.  Yes, sure, I gave it to King alone to take down to Gerstein and Gerstein told me it's perfectly all right to give it to Larry King and King would give it to him.  If Gerstein didn't tell me to handle it this way I never would have handled it this way.

Q.  In the conversation that King had with Mrs. Tomlin–
A.  That was on many occasions.

Q.  On many occasions he talked to her?
Did they know each other?
A.  Yes.  They worked together and he made promises after promises when this $5000 was going to be paid.

Q.  He said that he gave Garrison $15,000?
A.  That Garrison received $15,000 directly or indirectly, and Garrison said only ten, so it's a difference of $5000.

Q.  Tell me of the conversation that you had with Gerstein in early 1970.
A.  Yes, the first quarter.

Q.  That's when you–
A.  –found out, after Garrison said he only received $10,000.

Q.  And that King indicated to Mrs. Tomlin that he was going to send some money to Garrison, the $5000.
A.  That he would return it to Mrs. Tomlin who would get it to Garrison, because we didn't believe King anymore.  He kept promising, so we insisted that he send it to us and we will send it over to Garrison.

Q.  And did that ever happen?
A.  No, promises after promises.  I'm sure we got the date and memorandums.

Q.  What was the next thing that happened in this situation.  Did you talk to any of these individuals, Garrison, King, Gerstein?
A.  No, I never talked to King for many months up to this point and still haven't talked to King.  The only conversation I had with Gerstein, which I related, was in the first quarter.  Then I had a couple conversations with Garrison after, but we never discussed this money situation.

Q.  Then it was through Mrs. Tomlin's conversations with Garrison that you learned that the funds hadn't been delivered and that was in the early part of 1970?
A.  Right.

Q.  Now, did you or anyone in your office ever enter into an agreement with King for the repayment of these funds, beyond his statement that he would?
A.  Yes, that's when he made promises that he would return this $5000 and never did/

Q.  Did you enter into any contract, actual arrangement, where he would make payment of these particular funds?
A.  No, not on this.

Q.  Did you ever file a civil suit for recovery of these funds against King?
A.  No.

Q.  Now, has your attorney, Mr. Mettler, been in contact with any of these individuals other than Mrs. Gerstein?
A.  And King.

Q.  He has talked to King, too?
A.  Many times.

Q.  On this matter?
A.  This matter and other matters.

Q.  He's lawyer in Washington?
A.  Yes.

Q.  Would he be available?
A.  Yes.

Q.  To give me testimony?
A.  Yes, he would.

Q.  I am reading Mr. Mettler's memo to you.  Would you care to look at the memo?
A.  Not necessarily.  Any papers that I sent to you I will stand on, everything being factual and accurate.

Q.  Now, in the event that we determine that a crime has been committed here, are you willing to be a witness for the state in the prosecution of Larry King?
A.  Yes, sir, I am.

Q.  And I assume by that statement that other people in your organization who may be witnesses will cooperate and provide whatever help is necessary.
A.  Yes, sir.

Q.  Is there any other statement you might want to make at this time regarding this investigation that I have not asked a question which would elicit that kind of statement?
A.  Of course, you've got some other transactions that has no bearing on this and you didn't bring it up–it has no bearing on this.

Q.  Well, you came here to testify in regard to this matter. There have been other transactions involved with King, one of them was handled by Mr. Rothchild an another by Mr. Miller.
A.  Yes.  So, in other words, you have all the material and I will stand on any charges you make–any charges I make will stand on material you have, so there is no need to go ahead and repeat it.  I am under oath and willing to state that I will stand on those facts.

MR. GELBER:
Thank you.  I have no further questions.

THEREUPON THE TESTIMONY WAS CONCLUDED


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