◆ SpookStack

.LOP 8ECltE I Jacob D. Esterline, who was Chief, WH/4, the component of Western Hemisphere Division specifically created to run the anti-Castro project, disclaimed either responsibility or knowledgeability about the Mafia connection.* 4/ Richard D. Drain, who became Chief of Operations for WH/4 was more voluble on the subject of the assassination attempts which were re- ported by the Senate Select Committee. In an inter- view which touched, arnongother things on the planned ...~ assassination of Castro by the Mafia~types Drain com- mented: furnishing the Director the personal protection which we should be furnish- ing in these critical times, particu- larly with regard to the dangers inherent in the Cuban situation. General Cabell agreed to talk with the Director about this, and to try to obtain. his approval to increase Mr. Tighe's force to six people. 3.-/ * Esterline claimed that on one occasion as Chief, WH/4 he refused to grant Col.J. C. King, Chief, WH Division, a blank check when King refused to tell Jake the purpose for which the check was intended. Esterline reported that King nonetheless got a FAN number from the Office of Finance and that the money was used to pay the Mafia-types. It was subsequent to the Bay of Pigs operation when he found out about this i and Esterline told the author of this history that he expressed his strong opposition to the fund- ing of such activities to J. C. King. 5/ - 279 - +:OP SECR:EF