Ron J
Active member
Growing up,on Riverview st.in Beverly,Ma.,we had a great view of the river.Could always look out the window,or step out on the back porch,and see Dad's lobster boat,moored in the channel.You could see Bridge st.across the cove,watch the cars going across the Hallwhitaker bridge.Small boats going up & down the river.Always some kind of action.We would always be outback of the house,swimming,boating,fishing off the bridge etc. But in the Winter,it was a different story.No boating,swimming etc.Too cold,river frozen. One of my best friends,growing up was Paul Cocuzza.My younger brother was also named Paul.We had to call, my brother, Paul J,and my friend,Paul C. Well anyway,this one winter,we were hanging around "Downtown," about a mile from the Ryal Side part of Beverly we lived in.Had a bunch of friends,guys,and girls that hung together.We were 13-15 yrs old,and stayed out of trouble,most of the time. One Friday night,a few of us were hanging around a large laundromat,to stay out of the cold.Paul Cocuzza,Lennie Civatrese,myself,who else,i don't remember.This was after supper.so it was 7 o'clock and dark. One of us,i think it was me,wanted a Coke,and stuck a quarter in the change machine,for the correct currency.When i turned the knob,a hand full of coins came out! Quarters,dimes,nickles! Wow! Stuck another quarter in,turn the knob,more came out! Man we hit the MotherLoad! We were lucky to have a dollar between us before,so this was quite a surprise. I don't remember if we emptyed the machine,or,couldn't hold our pants up! The three of us had bulging pockets! We left,and discussed what to do.We decided to walk to Independence Park,near the harbor.There, we emptyed our pockets onto the cement slab,that served as a base, for a small cannon. We decided to put our rich's into a container,and hide it for the night.If any of us brought that kind of coinage in the house,the attention would most likely get you a swift kick in the arse! Then ask questions! The game plan was the three of us,would meet early saturday morning,we would walk over the Salem/Beverly bridge to Bridge st. Salem.There we would alternate going into stores,etc. and changing the coins into Paper! We were slowly getting rid of some of the weight in our pockets. We arrived at a (now defunct/torn dwn) grocery store,with a bowling alley in the cellar. Lennie went in,while Paul C.and i waited outside.Time went by,and no Lennie? I decided to go down and see what the scoop was.When i opened the bowlng alley door,i saw Lennie,as he saw me,at the same time.He ran his hand across his throat,like he had a knife in his grip.Oh Oh! Trouble! I turned around,and headed up the stairs to tell Paul C. what Lennie had done to warn us.Warn us? We didn't do anything wrong? The machine was broke,wasn't our fault.Free Money.... As i was just about at the top of the stairs,a Salem Police officer entered,and proceeded down. Oh Brother! Now what? Paul C. and i watched,and out came Lennie with the cop.They drove off.We ran as fast as we could,pockets jingling away.Holding our pants up!! The two of us decided not to walk Bridge st back to Beverly! We would walk the r/r tracks,and across the r/r bridge to Beverly! (idiots) As we were approaching the r/r bridge,looked like a cop on the other side! Now what? We turned around,walked back on the tracks.We put the remaining coins in a can,and hid it in the granite blocks,next to the tracks,along the North River. We then started to walk Bridge st.,hid in an abandoned Bodyshop for an hour or so.Was getting late,and if i wasn't home for supper,i would be in big trouble.So the two fools walked to Beverly in plain sight! We finally was crossing the tracks,near the Beverly Depot,when Lennie C.comes running to us! He was out of jail? Huh? Lennie told us,the Salem P.D.had warned business'es to be on the look out for kids with coins.There had been house breaks,with coin collections stolen.Thats why he was detained.But the Beverly P.D. wanted to talk to us,to verify Lennies story,and they "WOULDN'T EVEN TELL OUR PARENTS!" 
Well the 3 FOOLS,walked to the P.D. Yes,just like you see on TV,they split us up,and we told our story.The Laundromat owner had verified with the Police,that the change machine was not tampered with,and it spit out the way we said it did,after he tested it.He had also told the P.D., it had been filled earlier that day.He just wanted his change back.AND of course,ALL our parents came, to retrieve the village idiots. The Great Laundromat Heist was about $35.00 if i remember correctly. Other than that episode,thats the only time i was "on the lamb!" Come to think of it,in the early 60's $35.00 was a LOT of money! I did'nt get a beating,but can't speak for Lennie or Paul C. RJ
Well the 3 FOOLS,walked to the P.D. Yes,just like you see on TV,they split us up,and we told our story.The Laundromat owner had verified with the Police,that the change machine was not tampered with,and it spit out the way we said it did,after he tested it.He had also told the P.D., it had been filled earlier that day.He just wanted his change back.AND of course,ALL our parents came, to retrieve the village idiots. The Great Laundromat Heist was about $35.00 if i remember correctly. Other than that episode,thats the only time i was "on the lamb!" Come to think of it,in the early 60's $35.00 was a LOT of money! I did'nt get a beating,but can't speak for Lennie or Paul C. RJ
