I worked with a guy on the City of Chicago's Dept. of San and he told me in 1995 that his uncle was close friends with Joey Lombardo from Rush Street.

That's all he said.

The question I asked him: Was how did you get your job, were you on the waiting list?

He didn't go into great detail and normally city workers never say who their clout is, but we were close friends and he had asked me the question previously.

Amazing. So I think Lombardo still had connections in many places even at an older age.

As in much of Lombardo's testimony, what he said may be at least part true ccncerning the photo and the supper at the Sicily restaurant, Lombardo may have been going to a wake that day, so he wore a suit.

Possibly of an old acquaintance from around Grand Ave.

He could have gone to wake early, stayed an hour or so, and then gone straight to the restaurant for the planned well in advance dinner.

Or if it was a luncheon, as was speculated by some early newspaper articles showing the photo, gone to the luncheon and then straight to the funeral home.

There are several in the vicinity which would be popular with the families of oldtimers from Grand Ave. (much less Outfit members), such as Montclare and Salerno/Rago on Harlem. Last word I saw the photo was supposedly taken late summer 1976.

Mr. Warmbir, got any interns who need something to do? Can you have them check the papers in late summer 1976 and see if any wakes in the area jump out as ones Lombardo would certainly have attended?

On the other, a CPD report in 1975 lists Lombardo as a subordinate, not an area boss.

If that is true, then perhaps he was upped to capo in 1976 and the dinner was in his honor, the reason he needed to wear a suit even if the others dressed casually. He was the guest of honor.

I like how they FEDS want, and can have it both ways.

IF Lumby was the powerful Capo they have been contending, then certainly he was a made man far earler than 1976.

Now, they're going to use the pic to as a canvass for their imagery of it being his BUTTON ceremony. Ridiculous.

Halprin argued that Lombardo was a street hustler and a Gopher for connected guys for most of his life.

If thats the case, why have joey come up with some cockamamie story about getting a sandwich after a wake....when he could have simply stated Mr Lombardo occasionally drove for Mr Cerone, when mr cerone was going to be drinking.

IT was a dinner nite out amongst old friends. If there were anything criminal about the meeting, would such men ever have taken a picture of it?

I've read all of Bill Roemers books on the "Chicago Outfit". I have to tell you that what he wrote and described is nothing of what the prosecution is.

According to Roemer guys weren't made in the same fashion as New York.

He also indicated that there were non italians that were given important jobs.

In the above picture it would seem to me that if Lombardo was being made they would all be in suits. Why is he the only one wearing a suit?

And if there were fingers to be cut and holy pictures to be burt, would they do it in a resturant? Roemer wasn't the only author that contradicts the facts that I've read about during this trial, and these are all retired FBI agents.

If I was a defense attorney I would be reading alot of books to prepare for this trial.

The poor guy he should of waited in the car for Mr. Cerone.