The Boston Globe from Boston, Massachusetts • 21

The Boston Globe City Region B3 WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2008 'I was packed and a ruefiil Flemmi testifies FT II Ij ij Details getaway plans in testimony against Connolly By Shelley Murphy GLOBE STAFF MIAMI Notorious gangsters and longtime FBI informants James "Whitey" Bulger and Stephen "The Rifleman" Flemmi were warned to flee just before their 1995 federal racketeering indictment. But while Bulger slipped away and remains one of the FBI's 10 Most Wanted -Flemmi was not so lucky. Yesterday, the 74-year-old Flemmi serving a life sentence for 10 murders testified wistfully about what might have been, and how he, like Bulger, had prepared for a life on the lam. "I had an apartment in Montreal," Flemmi said. "I was packed.

I had money, and I was leaving." He added that he had a bank account in Canada, under the alias Bealieu, and another account in the Cayman Islands in the name of Three Islands Realty. However, the aging gangster told a Florida jury, he hung around Boston too long after a Bulger deputy, Kevin Weeks, warned him around Christmas 1994 that retired FBI agent John the slaying of Tulsa businessman Roger Wheeler was being sought for questioning. Flemmi testified that Bulger told him Connolly "felt if they questioned Callahan, he wouldn't hold up" and would cooperate against them. Flemmi said he was not present during the initial alleged tip from Connolly. But he said he was with Bulger and Connolly later when they told him mat hitman John Martorano had been told about the suspected risk in-volving Callahan and would "take care of it" Martorano testified last week that he shot Callahan, whose body was found Aug.

2, 1982, in the trunk of his Cadillac at Miami International Airport. During cross-examination yesterday, Flemmi acknowledged that Connolly never told him and Bulger to kill anyone, and they never confessed to him that they had. "The only person who ever told me to kill anybody was FBI agent Paul Rico," Flemmi said. Rico died in jail in January 2004 while awaiting trial in Tulsa on charges that he helped Bulger and Flemmi kill Wheeler. Flemmi said Rico was also involved in a gangland slaying in the 1960s.

Still, Flemmi insisted that Connolly knew his tip would lead to Callahan's murder, because he ft ft 01: Testifying yesterday in Miami against John Connolly, his former FBI handler, Stephen "The Rifleman" Flemmi responded to questions from Connolly's defense lawyer, Manuel Casabielle. J. Connolly Jr. had sent word to get out of town because indictments were coming. "I procrastinated," said Flemmi, adding that a few days later, Weeks scolded him, wanting to know why he hadn't fled.

"I said, 'I'm going to leave. I'm on top of I just kind of fluffed him off." On Jan. 5, 1995, Flemmi was As Chile hails his support, Kennedy projects aura of strength working to cut off US aid to the dictatorial Pinochet regime in the 1970s and helping her country achieve democracy. "You were there for us when human rights were massively and systematically abused," she said, calling him "one of the great and true friends of Chile." "You not only understood, you acted accordingly," she added. "In you, we see the United States we love and esteem." Kennedy said Chileans had shown great courage in overcoming dictators and repressive conditions and were a "shining ex JI A J' at 1 r-'f TOMMYZ3 HILFIGER and Bulger had killed Revere bookmaker Richard Castucci in 1976 and Winter Hill gang associate Edward "Brian" Halloran in 1982, after Connolly warned that they were informants.

"When you give us information on one person and they got killed, when you give us information on a second person and they get killed, when you give us information on a third person and they got killed," said Flemmi, pausing. "I mean, he's an FBI agent. He's not stupid." Flemmi testified that Connolly plotted to blame Cuban drug dealers for Callahan's murder, filing internal FBI reports filled with fictitious information that suggested Callahan had had a falling-out with some dangerous Cuban associates. Filing false reports to protect Bulger and Flemmi was a pattern with Connolly, Flemmi said. Flemmi told jurors that Connolly penned an anonymous letter that was sent to a federal judge in March 1997 on Boston Police Department stationery in an effort to undermine Flemmi's federal prosecution.

The letter falsely accused Frank Dewan, a now-retired Boston police detective sergeant, of fabricating evidence against the two gangsters. Flemmi described Dewan as an honest cop who "was investigating us." ample" to the region and the world. Bachelet, who flew to Boston after the event to speak at Harvard University, went out of her way to visit the Kennedy home, a gesture that seemed to move the senator. After their remarks, he struck a nostalgic note. "This has been a very special place for our family and you do us a great honor, a great honor, to join us here." Susan MUligan of the Globe staff contributed to this report from Washington.

to become a lawyer 1 FOOTWEAR ESSDRAS SUAREZGLOBE STAFF Chile's President Michelle Bachelet with Senator Edward M. Kennedy, who says he was been busy after cancer treatments. 'Xsesa-Slimi at one point flashed a thumbs-up sign to photographers. The event seemed designed to help keep the ailing politician in the public eye and show that his health is not keeping him from fully performing his duties as senator. He plans to return to Washington in January, his aides said.

Kennedy's health troubles have added prominence to his public appearances, and the au 1 arrested in Boston by State Police and the Drug Enforcement Administration. "I'll never forget that date," said Flemmi, with a wry smile toward the jury. He hasn't seen the outside of a cell since, except for trips to court. It was Flemmi's second day on the stand, facing the 68-year-old dience seemed to scrutinize his movements and facial They watched carefully as Kennedy, dressed in a dark suit and blue tie, greeted Bachelet in his driveway with his wife, Vicki, and as he tentatively lowered himself into the back of a golf cart that drove them near the podium. Kennedy, who is 76, smiled broadly and laughed heartily in JOHN BOHNGLOBE STAFF This is not a process for the faint of heart, but I'm ready if you're Dianne Wilkerson On trying to retain her seat tial election is expected to be very high and a write-in campaign will require that election officials count each ballot in the Second Suffolk's 10 wards by hand.

There are 108,041 people registered to vote in the district and that number could increase before the general election. "There will be more people at those polls on Nov. 4 than at any time in our history" Wilkerson said. This is not the first time that Wilkerson has waged a sticker L'f I v.1 Connolly, his former handler, who retired from the FBI in 1990 after 22 years and is now being tried on murder and conspiracy charges in the 1982 slaying of Boston business consultant John B. Callahan.

The ex-agent is accused of warning Bulger and Flemmi that Callahan who could have implicated them in easy exchanges with Bachelet and other dignitaries. He looked well-rested and relaxed but was somewhat unsteady on his feet and at the end of the event needed slight assistance up the porch stairs. Neither Bachelet nor Kennedy mentioned his illness. In his first remarks about the deepening financial crisis, which he said "threatened the economic security of the United States and other countries," Kennedy called for "accountability and full disclosure" in the handling of the Wall Street meltdown. Kennedy also praised Congress for advancing mental health parity legislation he had sponsored, calling it "the most important healthcare legislation that has been passed in some time." The measure, which passed the Senate last night and was expected to pass in the House, requires equal coverage for mental health ailments under group health plans involving 50 or more employees.

It would affect about 113 million people, including 82 million who are in self-funded plans not covered by state mental health parity laws. In her speech, Bachelet extolled Kennedy's leadership in campaign campaign. In 2006, she beat Chang-Diaz in a write-insticker campaign for the Democratic nomination in the district. "We will begin with a recount," Wilkerson said. "We've been there before.

I don't know how it's going to turn out, but if it's not successful, I am prepared to run as a Democrat with a sticker for a write-in campaign for reelection. "I'm not an independent," she emphasized. "I'm a Democrat." Wilkerson and her supporters have voiced their disapproval for problems caused by poll changes last week. "I went to vote for Wilkerson the other day and her name wasn't there," said Martha Lyons of Dorchester. "I called the mayor and I called the City Council, and they said, We'll get back to Last night, Wilkerson's supporters were collecting complaints from residents who had trouble voting.

"You have spoken in every language in this most incredibly diverse district that you are ready too," Wilkerson said. Many of those attending also voiced their support for Wilkerson despite her past financial problems. "If you were a good cook and you cook a good meal, should I stop coming to you because you stopped paying the electricity?" said Roxbury resident and supporter George Cramer. "And Dianne cooks a good meal. "I also think moving all those polling stations hurt her, too." Great deals on over 600 brands of shoes and over 700,000 products.

Hundreds of thousands of customer reviews. FREE Shipping, FREE Returns, live Customer Service, 100 Price Guarantee. Order online at www.shoebuy.com or toll-free 1 -888-200-84 1 4. announces write-in By Peter Schworm GLOBE STAFF BARNSTABLE He moved gingerly, in small, careful steps, looking down at the lush grass beneath his feet as he slowly made his way to the podium. Then, Senator Edward M.

Kennedy stood straight as the wind whipped a flag behind him at his seaside family estate, and in a clear, strong voice introduced the president of Chile, Michelle Bachelet. Before a group of media gathered on the lawn, he praised Bachelet's leadership and accepted the highest award the Chilean government bestows to foreign citizens. "I am deeply humbled by this honor," he said at the afternoon event. It was Kennedy's first public appearance since his speech at the Democratic National Convention in August. But aides say Kennedy, who has undergone treatment for brain cancer, has resumed a busy work schedule from his home that includes daily teleconferences with fellow senators.

Yesterday, the senior Massachusetts senator and liberal icon did not formally field questions from the media, but in passing said he has been feeling well and Wilkerson By Jeannie M. Nuss GLOBE CORRESPONDENT Dianne Wilkerson, who is seeking a recount in the loss of her state Senate seat, announced yesterday that she will wage a write-in campaign against Sonia Chang-Diaz, who beat her by a small margin in the primary. "We're going to do this. It won't be easy," Wilkerson told more than 300 supporters at Prince Hall Grand Lodge in Dorchester. "This is not a process for the faint of heart, but I'm ready if you're ready." Wilkerson requested a recount in five Boston wards just before a Monday afternoon deadline.

City election officials certified recount request signatures for Wards 8, 9, and 12, turning down her request for new tabulations in Wards 10 and 11. Chang-Diaz's request for a recount in Ward 19 was also certified. The recount is scheduled for Saturday at City Hall. Chang-Diaz won by 228 votes in the Sept. 16 primary, with 50.6 percent of the vote to Wilkerson's 49.3 percent.

Socialist Workers Party candidate William Theodore Leonard will also be on the ballot for the Nov. 4 election. Chang-Diaz reacted last night to Wilkerson's election strategy. "Im running for state Senate because I think this district is ready for new leadership a belief that was clearly echoed by the voters of the Second Suffolk on September 16th," she said in a statement. "I look forward to the EDUCATION CAREER DEVELOPMENT MOST LAW SCHOOLS STEER YOU TOWARD THE LIBRARY.

WE STEER YOU SiTOWARD A CAREER. I ml iW wi I i I- i i L. ---1111111111111 rum -ii iiiiniiiiifntiMiim imrrtl completion of the recount this Saturday, when I feel confident the final results will show me to be the Democratic nominee for this seat. "In the primary election, we told voters that this year they didn't have to choose between leaders who would do good work on the issues they cared about and leaders who would always be accountable to those they represent and the voters said yes. On November 4th, I believe the voters will say yes again." Wilkerson, the state's lone black senator and a 15-year incumbent, had received high-profile endorsements, including that of Governor Deval Patrick, for the primary.

A spokesman for Patrick said earlier this week that the governor would not endorse Wilkerson in a write-in campaign and is throwing his support to Chang-Diaz, the Democratic nominee. That spokesman, Stephen Crawford, did not return calls seeking comment last night Mayor Thomas M. Menino, who supported Wilkerson during the primary campaign, has not said whether he would back her in a write-in campaign. His spokeswoman, Dorothy Joyce, said he could not immediately be reached last night. A write-in campaign will present considerable challenges for the Boston Election Department which has been under federal oversight since running out of ballots during a 2006 election.

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