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THE JOHN PIZZIE / JESUS ARGGA CASE
EXAMINATION OF ONE SMALL GORE FILE CASE:
This case is weird for two reasons. First, despite having copies of the internal D.E.A. (then known as the Bureau of Narcotics), communications dealing with the case. We have not been able to find any collaborating independent sources (example: newspaper articles etc.), that this case even took place. And if there is one thing that this museum has learned IS TO NOT take the narc's at their word.
Second, the reader might wonder what these internal DEA memo's (dealing with John Pizzie) have to do with Jesus Argga? And in truth the answer seems to be nothing except that they were both in a camp where a fight broke out. Were it not for the fact that Pizzie then got into some trouble himself, we most likely would not even have heard of this case at all.
Next, note that it was really John Pizzie that was under investigation, NOT Jesus Argga, which then brings up another question; HOW did this case make it into Harry Anslinger's Gore File? The answer seems to be obvious -- James Munch was writing an article for a United Nations journal, which required lots and lots of examples of violence as a direct result of Marihuana. But there was only one PROBLEM with that, -- Despite their best efforts, the Bureau of Narcotics, simply couldn't find very many of them. Thus they started a viral search for anything and everything that they could use. And Vah-La, the Argge case came out of the woodwork. --- BUT you be the judge, and remember, the narc's lie, so there is a good chance that everything here was made up and the whole case never even was.
September 19, 1938.
Mr. Ralph H. Oyler,
District Supervisor,
Detroit, Michigan.
Dear Mr. Oyler:
On September 12 , 1938, the TIMES of Hammond, Indiana, carried an article under the heading ; article under the heading "Smokes Marijuana, Brags about 100 Crimes, Jailed" to the effect that a twenty-two year old youth named John Pizzie while under the influence of marihuana bragged about the robberies he had committed and was arrested in Hobart.
Please let me have a report.
Very truly yours,
H.J Anslinger,
Commissioner.
Treasury Department
Bureau of Narcotics
13th Floor. U.S. Courthouse
Office district Supervisor
District No. 9
States of Illinois, Wisconsin,
And Indiana
October 18th 1938.
Mr. J.J. Biggins
District Supervisor,
District Number 9,
Chicago, Illinois.
Dear Sir:
Receiving report from John Pizzie, Sergeant of Police, Calumet Park Police force at 12409 South Troop Street, Calumet, Park Ill. that he wished to see some officers of the U.S. Narcotic Department, and following your instructions Narcotic Agent A. F Johnson and Wm. E. Frey went to 13409 So. Throop Street Calumet city, Indiana, on morning of October 18th, 1938.
John Pizzie reported that on October16th, 1938 some Mexicans located at a camp at 123rd St, & South Wood St., got into a fight, Jesus Argga knife on John Navvro, result ;Jesus Argga was taken to St. Francis for treatment of broken nose and other facial fractures due to John Navvro striking Jesus Argga in the face with a gallon clay jug. The entire fight starting when Jesus Argga was full of Marihuana.
John Pizzie and Agent Johnson and Frey then visited the Mexican camp at 123 & Wood St., and found about 200 stalks of marihuana growing along the edge of the clay pit of the Illinois Brick Company about 150 feet from the Mexican cabins.
Interviewing the Mexicans, no ownership of the Marihuana could be established and it was on the property of the Illinois Brick Company. Then under the supervision of Narcotic Agents Johnson and Frey, and Sergeant of police John Pizzie, the Mexicans of the camp were instructed that all Marihuana be pulled and burned, which they did, going over carefully the surrounding territory lead by John Morotto, all Marihuana was pulled and burned before any of the officers left the vicinity.
The Mexican John Navvro is being held at the Police Station charged with assault and battery on Jesus Argga, but it is believed the party will be released as it can be proven by the other mexicans in the encampment that John Navvro acted in self defense.
Yours respectfully,
William E. Frey, Narcotics Agent.
Otto F. Johnson, Narcotic Agent.
Commissioner of Narcotics, Oct. 19, 1938.
Washington, D.C. Atten.: Enforcement Div.
Respectfully transmitted for Bureau information and files,
The location of the above indicated marihuana has been catalogued for further attention in the spring 1939.
James J. Biggins.
District Supervisor, District No. 9.
Bureau of Narcotics
Chicago, Ill.
October 18th, 1938.
The Sergeant of Police of Calumet Park Police Force, Calumet Park, Illinois, submitted the following to the Narcotic Bureau:
One John Pizzie reported that on October 16, 1938, some Mexicans located at a camp at 123rd Street & South Wood Street, got into a fight, during which Jesus Argga pulled a knife on John Navvro with result that Jesus Argga was taken to St. Francis Hospital for treatment for broken nose and other facial fractures. John Navvro struck him in the face with a gallon clay jug.
The entire fight started after Argga had consumed considerable marihuana.
Two hundred stalks of marihuana were found growing near the camp in question, and were pointed out to the officers by John Pizzie.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
BUREAU OF NARCOTICS
13TH FLOOR, U. S. COURTHOUSE
CHICAGO, ILL.
OFFICE OF DISTRICT SUPERVISOR
DISTRICT No, 9
STATES OF ILLINOIS, WISCONSIN, AND INDIANA
October 28, 1938.
Mr James J Biggins,
District Supervisor,
Chicago, Illinois.
In re John Pizzie,
FBI-No-1611173.
Dear Sir;
On October 27, 1938, I interviewed Frank H. Traeger, Chief of Police, Hobart, Indiana, in re John Pizzie, arrested September 6, 1938, at Hobart, Ind.
Although Pizzie boasted of a hundred robberies, he could not name any city or remember what he had stolen, except as to Van Wert, Ohio, and Cleveland, Ohio.
When arrested Pizzie had a suit case full of clothing and two small caliber guns, that he had stolen in Van Wert, Oh, on Sept 3, 1938.
Pizzie claimed to have committed four burglaries in Cleveland, Ohio, the Cleveland, Ohio, Police, were unable to find any records of burglaries on or near the dates he mentioned, or any record of any burglaries in the vicinity of places he described in Cleveland.
Pizzie was returned to Van Wert, Ohio, charged with breaking and entering, bound over to the Grand Jury-9-10-38, and is in the County jail Van Wert, Ohio, waiting trial.
Pizzie had no marihuana in his possession at the time of his arrest.
Chief Traeger described Pizzie as a "punk" that would confess to anything that would make him appear to be a "tough guy", and is of the opinion the only burglary he ever committed was the one in Van Wert, Ohio, he had no previous record in the FBI.
Submitted with this report is a picture of Pizzie taken at Hobart, Ind, 9-7-38 and two copies of the news item of the Hammond Times, 9-12-38.
Respectfully,
J.V. Walsh, Narcotic Agt.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
BUREAU OF NARCOTICS
13TH FLOOR, U. S. COURTHOUSE
CHICAGO, ILL.
OFFICE OF DISTRICT SUPERVISOR DISTRICT No. 9
STATES OF ILLINOIS, WISCONSIN,
AND INDIANA
October 31, 1938.
Mr. H.J. Anslinge
Commissioner of Narcotics,
Washington, D.C.
Dear Mr. Anslinger:
Reference is made to your letter of September 19, 1938, addressed to Mr. Ralph H. Oyler, District Supervisor, Detroit, Michigan, relative to an article under the heading "Smokes Marijuana, Brags about 100 Crimes, Jailed," which appeared in the September 12, 1938, issue of the TIMES, of Hammond, Indiana.
Mr. Oyler forwarded your letter to this office and it was referred to Narcotic Agent J. V. Walsh for attention. On the 28th instance, Agent Walsh furnished a report, which is self-explanatory. Copies of same, together with the photograph of John Pizzie and one of the copies of the news item of the Hammond times, referred to therein, are enclosed herewith.
Respectfully,
James J. Biggins
District Supervisor,
District No. 9.
CC-Dist. Super.Oyler, Detroit, Mich.,
w/CC Agt. Walsh's letter.
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