Tom Pendergast Inmate File: Letter from A. Sophian to James V. Bennett

Description: 

Letter from Dr. A. Sophian to James V. Bennett, director of the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, regarding Tom Pendergast, Inmate #55295. Sophian writes that he has been Pendergast's doctor, and writes that he has advised Pendergast to smoke "denicotinized cigarettes in moderation" to avoid aggravating his heart disease, and asks that he be permitted these special cigarettes in the penitentiary where otherwise only ordinary cigarettes are available. Pendergast, known for his powerful Kansas City political machine and ties to organized crime, was found guilty of income tax evasion in 1939 and sentenced to 15 months in the U.S. Penitentiary at Leavenworth.

Creator: 
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Date: 
May 24th 1939
Modern Location: 
1102 Grand Avenue
Kansas City, MO
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Rights Statement: 
Publication, commercial use, or reproduction of this image or the accompanying data requires prior written permission from the National Archives at College Park. Use of this image also requires that credit be given to the National Archives at College Park.
Collection Title, Call or Box Number: 
NARA ID 580698, Notorious Offenders Files, 1919-1975
Digital Object Identifier: 
NARACP-580698-0004-0045
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