NY NY - Saugerties, WhtMale 35-45, 405UMNY, PJs under suit, Omega Sea Master watch, ring, Feb'70

[victoriarobinson642]

I was just going to submit him but checked here first. Great minds think alike.

I don't recall hearing back, so maybe you'll have better luck.

 

[Keiri]

Did you guys ever hear back?

 

[victoriarobinson642]

Did you guys ever hear back?

Nothing beyond the generic 'We'll forward this to LE' message.

 

[Keiri]

I'm starting to think directly going with NAMUS might be better. First of all, they were very responsive. Secondly, the lady I spoke to there is one of the branch coordinators and she said they coordinate directly with the ME, which usually has less resource drain. Maybe worth a submit to NAMUS?

 

[branmuffin]

I don't think it's the same Gil, he was just listed as missing from 1969. The obit reads Gil died in 2004. WOndering what he was doing for 2 years the case reads: Circumstances of DisappearanceGil Leite was reported missing by his wife on 12-15-1968. He was last seen in Hartford, CT on 12-11-1968 or 12-12-1968 (at a bar called "Barn") but it's possible he returned to Bloomfield after that. Leite has had no contact with family or any activity since the date he went missing.

I think it should be reported as a match.

The obit states that Agnes died September 30, 2004 not the spouse.

 

[branmuffin]

My impressions of this individual is that he is definitely Portuguese, recently arrived in the US. He could be from Portugal or Brazil, Canada or the Azores. I favour either Brazil or the Azores. An interesting bit of trivia is that the word 'galoshes' is an Azorean Portuguese word for shoe.

Although the watch he is wearing is an Omega Seamaster, it is probably an entry level model. On eBay and Etsy you can see some very similar to his that are going for anywhere around the $200 mark up to about $800, depending on the condition. Although it has been described as silver I believe it was probably gold plated or filled and the gold has worn off. It would be nice to know when the watch was purchased since it appears older than the 1960s.

I definitely think this is a mob hit but I can't decide whether the guy was a mobster. If he was, he'd never been arrested or had any fingerprints match records in the US or Interpol which I hope included Canada. And organized crime was pretty active around that time, especially the late 60s. Plus as a previous poster stated it wasn't just related to the Italians, Portuguese members were involved especially in New England. Is it possible he was a newbie trying to ingratiate himself into some gang activity and he upset the wrong guy?

 

[webrocket2]

The largest Portuguese community to NYC for decades has been in and around Newark, NJ. It's as if someone woke him up and he put clothes on top of his pajamas and was taken on his last ride.

The Mafia was very active in the area for decades and perhaps still is due to its proximity to the port.

 

[Keiri]

The more that I think about this, the more I think the watch was a gift. The man had sewn undies, a paste ring, and other signs of "modest means." Who wears something very expensive with otherwise meager clothing? People who got it as a gift. From someone who vacations in or lives in Portugal.

 

[PatLaurel]

The more that I think about this, the more I think the watch was a gift. The man had sewn undies, a paste ring, and other signs of "modest means." Who wears something very expensive with otherwise meager clothing? People who got it as a gift. From someone who vacations in or lives in Portugal.

I missed where it says he "had sewn undies".
What are "the other signs of modest means"?

MOO JMOO

 

[Keiri]

I missed where it says he "had sewn undies".
What are "the other signs of modest means"?

MOO JMOO

I believe it’s all in here, but I can’t access again because paywall. It listed a few things like that. His underwear had been mended with a needle and thread. Amongst other things. I think his shoes were fake leather or something, I cannot recall. A Case So Cold the Dead Man Wore Pajamas Under His Suit (Published 2016)

 

[PatLaurel]

My impressions of this individual is that he is definitely Portuguese, recently arrived in the US. He could be from Portugal or Brazil, Canada or the Azores. I favour either Brazil or the Azores. An interesting bit of trivia is that the word 'galoshes' is an Azorean Portuguese word for shoe.

SBM & BBM

It's not an Azorean Portuguese word. It's a Portuguese word derived from the french "Galoche". We actually spell it "Galochas" and we use the word in continental Portugal too!

I don't see him wearing galoshes though... or "galochas" (rubber boots). I wonder if he was wearing spats instead and LE misnamed them galoshes?

MOO JMOO

 

[PatLaurel]

I believe it’s all in here, but I can’t access again because paywall. It listed a few things like that. His underwear had been mended with a needle and thread. Amongst other things. I think his shoes were fake leather or something, I cannot recall. A Case So Cold the Dead Man Wore Pajamas Under His Suit (Published 2016)

Thanks! I went back and found the link and what you meant.
If he was in fact Portuguese, having mended underwear was not a sign of "modest means". Back in the day it probably meant he had a wife or a mother who looked after him.
As to the shoes, it would be interesting to know what was their brand. The fact that they were not real leather shoes doesn't mean they were cheap and can't be assumed as sign of "modest means". People not used to cold weather prefer rubber soles and other materials instead of leather, especially if you spend most of the time outside and walk a lot.

MOO JMOO

 

[carbuff]

SBM & BBM

It's not an Azorean Portuguese word. It's a Portuguese word derived from the french "Galoche". We actually spell it "Galochas" and we use the word in continental Portugal too!

I don't see him wearing galoshes though... or "galochas" (rubber boots). I wonder if he was wearing spats instead and LE misnamed them galoshes?

MOO JMOO

Galoshes is a perfectly good US English word. It means those rubber rain shoes or boots that pull on over your regular shoe, or sometimes just worn directly over the foot.

 

[PatLaurel]

Galoshes is a perfectly good US English word. It means those rubber rain shoes or boots that pull on over your regular shoe, or sometimes just worn directly over the foot.

Thanks @carbuff ! Was my english that broken???

I know what galoshes are. I just don't see them in the photo. Our UP seems to be wearing only shoes. My question is, could he be wearing spats instead and LE misnamed them?

MOO JMOO

 

[carbuff]

Thanks @carbuff ! Was my english that broken???

I know what galoshes are. I just don't see them in the photo. Our UP seems to be wearing only shoes. My question is, could he be wearing spats instead and LE misnamed them?

MOO JMOO

What photo are you looking at?

Namus says he was wearing "Black leather shoes (size 8.5), gray socks, black rubber overshoes (Medium) with label "Wings" made in Canada."

For that matter where did anybody say he was wearing galoshes?

 

[Keiri]

What photo are you looking at?

Namus says he was wearing "Black leather shoes (size 8.5), gray socks, black rubber overshoes (Medium) with label "Wings" made in Canada."

For that matter where did anybody say he was wearing galoshes?

I read it too. Earlier post in the thread “June 26 2019
"He was found full-clothed, wearing a three-quarter-length reversible tan and brown raincoat, a green business suit, a white dress shirt, a black silk tie with a Playboy label, size 8.5 black leather shoes and medium black rubber overshoes.” overshoes that are rubber are presumably what they mean are galoshes. The picture of the body in the snow in one of the articles, it’s kind of hard to see what his footwear was.

 

[PatLaurel]

What photo are you looking at?

Namus says he was wearing "Black leather shoes (size 8.5), gray socks, black rubber overshoes (Medium) with label "Wings" made in Canada."

For that matter where did anybody say he was wearing galoshes?

This photo: https://static01.nyt.com/images/201.../04CRIMESCENE3-jumbo.jpg?quality=90&auto=webp



The galoshes are mentioned here :A Case So Cold the Dead Man Wore Pajamas Under His Suit (Published 2016)

 

[Keiri]

If this is him, which I think it's very possible, then what in the world was he doing for 2 years?? Did he travel to Portugal or Brazil and got that watch??

If he was actually a drug courier, as one of the articles suggested, he could have been anywhere

 

[Keiri]

He’s not ruled out yet. Let us know if you hear anything!

 

[carbuff]

This photo: https://static01.nyt.com/images/201.../04CRIMESCENE3-jumbo.jpg?quality=90&auto=webp



The galoshes are mentioned here :A Case So Cold the Dead Man Wore Pajamas Under His Suit (Published 2016)

Thanks, I had missed that photo. Yeah, he's not wearing overshoes in that picture.

I can't access the NYT article. Paywall.