Oh the many myths we weave. Hope DNA can put a cap on them. Otherwise he'll still be sighted with JFK, Elvis, and Marilyn
Jun. 21, 2004. 12:14 PM
The man who killed Jimmy Hoffa
BILL TAYLOR
FEATURE WRITER
I knew the man who killed Jimmy Hoffa.
Thats if the deathbed confession of Teamsters union heavy-hitter and
self-described Mob hitman Frank Sheeran is to be believed. The FBI is taking it
seriously.
Twenty three years ago, when I was working for a Philadelphia newspaper, Sheeran
told me, "I dont know nothing about it. Im the only one they think was a
suspect in the Jimmy Hoffa case whos not dead ... theyre looking at me as the
key and I dont know why.
It seems he may have been lying.
Before he died - peacefully, aged 83 - in a Philadelphia nursing home last Dec.
14., Sheeran spent hundreds of hours talking on tape to Charles Brandt, a
former Delaware state deputy attorney general.
Brandts book, published by Steerforth Press, should be in Toronto stores any
day. Its called I Heard You Paint Houses: Frank 'the Irishman' Sheeran and the
Inside Story of the Mafia, the Teamsters and the last ride of Jimmy Hoffa. In
Mafia slang, to "paint a house" is to kill someone. Sheeran told Brandt those
were the first words Teamsters boss Hoffa ever spoke to him. The two became
close friends and Hoffa made Sheeran head of the Teamsters in Wilmington.,
Del.
Hoffa, last seen in a restaurant parking lot in suburban Detroit on July, 30,
1975, turned into a legend that wouldnt die. "Who killed Jimmy Hoffa?" became
one of the abiding mysteries of contemporary American history. Books were
written and TV movies made. Conspiracy theorists had a field-day. Some even
link Hoffa to the assassination of president John F. Kennedy.
Last nights Mythbusters TV show on the Discovery Channel went to Giants Stadium
in New York to check out an old tale that Hoffa is buried under the 10-yard
line.
"Why," asks one fan, "do you think so many players have tripped ... for no
apparent reason? Its because theres a bump there."
The shows presenters, using electronic equipment to probe deep beneath the
Astroturf, came up blank.
Sheeran, born and raised in Philadelphia and never a man to keep a particularly
low profile, was open about his friendship with local godfather Angelo Bruno.
It was Brunos assassination in March, 1980, that sparked a long, vicious Mob
war in the city.
I was a columnist on the Philadelphia Journal, a tabloid owned by Montreal-based
Quebecor.
Local Mafia chieftains were being "whacked" every few weeks. Bruno, shot dead
outside his home, was succeeded by Phil "Chicken Man" Testa, who in turn was
blown up by a nail-bomb under his porch.
Many of the mobsters at his viewing went in the back door of the Pennsylvania
Burial Co., which is where La Cosa Nostra took its business. Sheeran walked
blithely in through the front entrance, throwing a cheery greeting to the
crowds outside.
In 1981, he held a news conference to say that the FBI had told him there was a
$100,000 contract out on his life but were refusing to say who was gunning for
him or why. Sheeran, recently cleared of murder, arson and embezzlement
charges, called this a "vicious campaign to discredit me."
The FBI, he said, had spent $3 million over a 10-year period "to find out I
drink wine and chase women."
He also announced his imminent retirement from the Teamsters "to drink a little
vino and play with my grandchildren."
Inevitably, the subject of Hoffa came up. I asked him if hed been the
triggerman or if he at least knew the whereabouts of Hoffa, who wasnt
officially declared dead until 1982.
"Im a union leader," he said. "I dunno nothing about anybody. I cant tell em
anything unless I lie."
Of Bruno, he said, "Ive never been a business associate. We ... drink a little
wine."
Thats not what he told Brandt.
Sheeran confessed to being a career killer with the blood of dozens of victims
on his hands. His first 'hit' was ordered by Angelo Bruno, who told him, "You
gotta do what you gotta do." Many others came at Hoffas behest.
Sheeran also said he delivered hefty sums of cash to John Mitchell, president
Richard Nixons attorney general, to buy an official pardon for Hoffa.
Hoffas demise came after Nixon had commuted the jail term the Teamsters boss
was serving for "misappropriating" $1.7 million in union pension funds. Hoffa,
trying to regain power, threatened to expose Mafia links to the Teamsters.
Sheeran said he was told to choose between loyalty to Hoffa and to the Mob. It
wasnt much of a choice - kill Hoffa or be killed himself.
According to Sheeran, the two men were driven to a house in suburban Detroit.
Hoffa believed he was to meet with two high-ranking Mafiosi.
Sheeran, recalling that "my friend didnt suffer," shot him behind the right
ear. He didnt hang around and, though he believed the body was burned, he said
he didnt know where. But it didnt, he insisted, wind up at Giants Stadium.
In 2002, Sheeran took Brandt to the house where he said the murder took place.
He also repeated the story to a Fox TV reporter. Last month, a Fox News
investigation found signs of spilled blood in the house. Law enforcement
officials have removed floorboards and are currently doing DNA tests.
As Sheeran lay dying, Brandt videotaped him as he repeated that he was the
killer.
If a deathbed confession is sacred, then Hoffas ghost may finally be laid to
rest. Wherever his earthly remains may lie.
Jun. 21, 2004. 12:14 PM
The man who killed Jimmy Hoffa
BILL TAYLOR
FEATURE WRITER
I knew the man who killed Jimmy Hoffa.
Thats if the deathbed confession of Teamsters union heavy-hitter and
self-described Mob hitman Frank Sheeran is to be believed. The FBI is taking it
seriously.
Twenty three years ago, when I was working for a Philadelphia newspaper, Sheeran
told me, "I dont know nothing about it. Im the only one they think was a
suspect in the Jimmy Hoffa case whos not dead ... theyre looking at me as the
key and I dont know why.
It seems he may have been lying.
Before he died - peacefully, aged 83 - in a Philadelphia nursing home last Dec.
14., Sheeran spent hundreds of hours talking on tape to Charles Brandt, a
former Delaware state deputy attorney general.
Brandts book, published by Steerforth Press, should be in Toronto stores any
day. Its called I Heard You Paint Houses: Frank 'the Irishman' Sheeran and the
Inside Story of the Mafia, the Teamsters and the last ride of Jimmy Hoffa. In
Mafia slang, to "paint a house" is to kill someone. Sheeran told Brandt those
were the first words Teamsters boss Hoffa ever spoke to him. The two became
close friends and Hoffa made Sheeran head of the Teamsters in Wilmington.,
Del.
Hoffa, last seen in a restaurant parking lot in suburban Detroit on July, 30,
1975, turned into a legend that wouldnt die. "Who killed Jimmy Hoffa?" became
one of the abiding mysteries of contemporary American history. Books were
written and TV movies made. Conspiracy theorists had a field-day. Some even
link Hoffa to the assassination of president John F. Kennedy.
Last nights Mythbusters TV show on the Discovery Channel went to Giants Stadium
in New York to check out an old tale that Hoffa is buried under the 10-yard
line.
"Why," asks one fan, "do you think so many players have tripped ... for no
apparent reason? Its because theres a bump there."
The shows presenters, using electronic equipment to probe deep beneath the
Astroturf, came up blank.
Sheeran, born and raised in Philadelphia and never a man to keep a particularly
low profile, was open about his friendship with local godfather Angelo Bruno.
It was Brunos assassination in March, 1980, that sparked a long, vicious Mob
war in the city.
I was a columnist on the Philadelphia Journal, a tabloid owned by Montreal-based
Quebecor.
Local Mafia chieftains were being "whacked" every few weeks. Bruno, shot dead
outside his home, was succeeded by Phil "Chicken Man" Testa, who in turn was
blown up by a nail-bomb under his porch.
Many of the mobsters at his viewing went in the back door of the Pennsylvania
Burial Co., which is where La Cosa Nostra took its business. Sheeran walked
blithely in through the front entrance, throwing a cheery greeting to the
crowds outside.
In 1981, he held a news conference to say that the FBI had told him there was a
$100,000 contract out on his life but were refusing to say who was gunning for
him or why. Sheeran, recently cleared of murder, arson and embezzlement
charges, called this a "vicious campaign to discredit me."
The FBI, he said, had spent $3 million over a 10-year period "to find out I
drink wine and chase women."
He also announced his imminent retirement from the Teamsters "to drink a little
vino and play with my grandchildren."
Inevitably, the subject of Hoffa came up. I asked him if hed been the
triggerman or if he at least knew the whereabouts of Hoffa, who wasnt
officially declared dead until 1982.
"Im a union leader," he said. "I dunno nothing about anybody. I cant tell em
anything unless I lie."
Of Bruno, he said, "Ive never been a business associate. We ... drink a little
wine."
Thats not what he told Brandt.
Sheeran confessed to being a career killer with the blood of dozens of victims
on his hands. His first 'hit' was ordered by Angelo Bruno, who told him, "You
gotta do what you gotta do." Many others came at Hoffas behest.
Sheeran also said he delivered hefty sums of cash to John Mitchell, president
Richard Nixons attorney general, to buy an official pardon for Hoffa.
Hoffas demise came after Nixon had commuted the jail term the Teamsters boss
was serving for "misappropriating" $1.7 million in union pension funds. Hoffa,
trying to regain power, threatened to expose Mafia links to the Teamsters.
Sheeran said he was told to choose between loyalty to Hoffa and to the Mob. It
wasnt much of a choice - kill Hoffa or be killed himself.
According to Sheeran, the two men were driven to a house in suburban Detroit.
Hoffa believed he was to meet with two high-ranking Mafiosi.
Sheeran, recalling that "my friend didnt suffer," shot him behind the right
ear. He didnt hang around and, though he believed the body was burned, he said
he didnt know where. But it didnt, he insisted, wind up at Giants Stadium.
In 2002, Sheeran took Brandt to the house where he said the murder took place.
He also repeated the story to a Fox TV reporter. Last month, a Fox News
investigation found signs of spilled blood in the house. Law enforcement
officials have removed floorboards and are currently doing DNA tests.
As Sheeran lay dying, Brandt videotaped him as he repeated that he was the
killer.
If a deathbed confession is sacred, then Hoffas ghost may finally be laid to
rest. Wherever his earthly remains may lie.
