‘Hotel Queen’ Got Payments, Aide Testifies

A former assistant to Leona Helmsley testified today that the ‘hotel queen’ received envelopes that appeared to be stuffed with cash.

Maryanne Eboli, who worked for Harry and Leona Helmsley until 1985, testified as the tax evasion trial entered its seventh week that one of Mrs. Helmsley’s co-defendants, Frank Turco, delivered the envelopes.

“Mr. Turco called me. He said, ‘I have to see Mrs. Helmsley. How is her mood today?’ ” Eboli said.

She said Turco showed up at the Helmsley Palace clutching a white envelope to his chest and told her in an affectionate voice, “I’m going to make the old lady happy.”

Earlier witnesses in the trial have described Turco’s turning cash over to Leona Helmsley and have said she liked to have large amounts of cash around.

Eboli testified without looking at Leona Helmsley, who sat with her head down, furiously taking notes.

Eboli testified that every evening she usually packed mail and personal belonging in Leona Helmsley’s briefcase and that on one occasion she saw “a large white envelope inside.”

Judge John Walker asked her, “What of its contents did you observed?”

“It appeared to be money,” Eboli said.