Prosecutor Norman Elkington says Jimmie Tarantino “paraded as 8 reformer” while he and Rudy| Eichenbaum operated a blackmail racket that preyed on tenderloin characters and legitimate businessmen. In a statement opening the extortion-conspiracy trial of Tarantino and Eichelbaum yesterday, Elkington claimed the two men extorted money under the threat 01 “blasting” wrong-doers in Tarantino’s, night-life magazine and on radio broadcasts. For the first time, Elkington disclosed portions of the transcript taken from 14 months of wire recordings made by police of conversations in Tarantino’s hotel room and office. Referring frequently 10 the transcript, Elkington claimed:

1-That Tarantino “blasted” Johnny Ray’s private life because the crooner refused to give two “benefit” performances- -benefits for Tarantino,

2-That a Tarantino associate, Jimmy Jaye Perrine, persuaded • prominent restaurant owner to advertise in Tarantino’s magazine. Otherwise, the warned, an embarrassing maneident in his past would be brought to public attention.

3-That Tarantino and an employe, Bennie Barrish, planned to blackmail the operator of a call. house of $1,000.

4-That Tarantino obtained $100 ad that ran for many months from the operator of a Market street tavern under threat of publicizing him as running a gay (homosexual) bar.”

5-That Eichenbaum handled the alleged extortion of $500 from Leslie Armstrong, operator of Fillmore district night spot..