Respects for Castellano

Press, 20 December 1985, Page 6

Respects for Castellano

NZPA-Reuter New York

Hundreds of mourners paid tribute to “Big Paul” Castellano, the alleged Mafia Godfather, at a wake held for him yesterday while the police watched from a discreet distance. Castellano, aged 73, said by law enforcement agencies to be the “Boss of Bosses” among America’s crime families, was shot dead on Tuesday with his heir-apparent, Thomas Bilotti, aged 45, by three gunmen outside a Manhattan restaurant.

Many of the mourners arrived for the wake in identical long black limousines, emerging from behind the anonymity of the dark glass windows of their luxury cars to brave subzero temperatures and pay homage to their fallen leader. Also seeking anonymity in their not-so-luxurious cars were F. 8.1. agents and police officers, methodically noting down licence numbers and the identities of the sombre men, most of whom wore black overcoats and snap-brim hats. A casual observer might

have thought he ' had stumbled on to a remake of “The Godfather” movie. One man law officers were looking for among the mourners was John Gotti, aged 45, a captain in the Gambino family whom they /want to question about Castellano’s death. They were hoping he would be among the 800 mourners the F. 8.1. anticipated would pay their respects to Castellano. An F.B.L spokesman later refused to say if Gotti had been spotted at the wake, and a New York City police spokesman said, “It was a

routine surveillance operation. Nothing more.” A dozen local florists delivered Wreaths to the funeral home yesterday. Some of the floral tributes were so big it took three men to carry them. Castellano, who was being buried later in a private ceremony, had spent the last two months seated in a Manhattan courtroom on trial for running an international car-theft ring. He had also been indicted in. two other big anti-Mafia’ cases and more charges against him were expected to be filed.