The Cold Six Thousand - James Ellroy [236]
1 - Contact with PROSPECT established 8/16/67, at bar (“Acapulco”) downstairs from PROSPECT’s residence (“Har-K Apts”) in Montreal. PROSPECT was using alias “Eric Starvo Galt.” I utilized my fake appearance & Latin accent & used the alias “Raul Acias.”
2 - At Acapulco I sold PROSPECT amphetamine capsules & posed as smuggler with segregationist leanings. PROSPECT & I met at Acapulco & Neptune Tavern over next several nights & discussed politics. PROSPECT admitted 2 recent robberies in states (East St. Louis, Ill. & New Hebron, Miss.) but did not mention his 4/23/67 prison escape. PROSPECT stated that he also robbed a prostitute & pimp at a “fuck pad” in Montreal shortly after his arrival. He got $1,700 but was spending $ fast & would “soon be broke.”
3 - PROSPECT discussed his need to secure ID which would allow him to get a Canadian passport & thus travel to other countries. I told him I had connections & would help him. I lent him small amounts of money, supplied him with amphetamines & discussed politics with him. He frequently mentioned his hatred of M. L. King & desire to “kill niggers in Rhodesia.” I stalled him per the ID papers & continued to lend him $. PROSPECT became nervous & stated his desire to return to the states, go to Alabama & “Maybe go to work for Governor Wallace.” I saw that he was determined to go & improvised a plan.
4 - I told him I had some narcotics for him to drive across the border & would pay him $1,200. He agreed to do the job. I filled a briefcase with sand, locked it & gave it to him, then met him on the American side. This was a test to see if he would steal the briefcase or would prove to be as compliant as I thought he would be.
5 - He passed the test & made 2 other “narcotics runs” for me. I saw that he was determined to drive to Alabama & told him I would get him his ID, a new car & more $, because I had more “jobs” for him to do. PROSPECT stated that he wanted to spend time in Birmingham, because of its history of “nigger bombings.” I gave him $2,000 & told him to wait for a letter at Birmingham General Delivery. I also gave him a phone-drop # to call me at in New Orleans.
6 - This was the risk part of the operation, because there was a chance the PROSPECT would ditch out on me. If he didn’t, it would confirm his pliable nature & suitable nature for our job.
7 - PROSPECT called phone-drop on 8/25 & gave his address as “Economy Grill & Rooms” in Birmingham. I mailed him $600 & a small supply of biphetamine capsules, flew to Birmingham & surveilled him from discreet distances. PROSPECT visited the National States Rights Party HQ, purchased right-wing leaflets & bumper stickers & holed up in his room. I called him (allegedly long-distance) & agreed to give him $2,000 (advance against future jobs) so he could buy a new car. I wired the $ to him & surveilled his purchase of a 1966 Mustang.
8 - PROSPECT secured an Alabama driver’s license (9/6/67) under name “Eric Starvo Galt” & registered the ’66 Mustang. I met PROSPECT in Birmingham, drank & talked politics with him & told him to buy some camera equipment to sell in Mexico. PROSPECT purchased $2,000 worth of equipment, which I told him to “sit on.”
9 - PROSPECT remained in Birmingham, took a locksmith’s course & dance lessons & surreptitiously filmed women from his rooming-house window. I remained in Birmingham & took pains never to be seen with him. My plan was to situate PROSPECT in various places & give him orders that would sound ridiculous should he be captured & interrogated after our operation. PROSPECT’s need for $ & amphetamines kept him beholden to me.
10 - I wrote PROSPECT on 10/6/67 & told him to meet me in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico with the camera equipment. PROSPECT agreed to meet me after he “fenced the goods.” Again, I promised to secure him valid ID papers & added that I could get him a Canadian passport. PROSPECT met me in Nuevo Laredo with $ from the equipment he fenced, at a loss. I told him I was not mad & had more “narcotics runs” for him. PROSPECT was mad that I had not yet secured papers for