G. Wray Gill

Who was G. Wray Gill?

George Wray Gill, Sr. was an American lawyer born in Crowley, Louisiana. He graduated Loyola University School of Law in New Orleans in June 1927. He became a prominent attorney in that city as part of the firm Gill, Bernstein, Schreiber and Gill in Room 1707 of the Pere* Marquette Building at 150 Baronne Street. He resided at 996 Robert E. Lee Boulevard.

Gill was primarily a criminal lawyer who handled many high-profile cases over the years. His most controversial client was Carlos Marcello who was reputed to be the organized crime boss of Louisiana and surrounding states. He represented Marcello on many occasions between 1951 and 1972. Gill was himself the target of criminal charges several times.

In December 1961, he began representing a former pilot named David Ferrie in his attempt to be reinstated with Eastern Air Lines after his suspension, related to morals charges. Gill employed Ferrie as an investigator and handyman from March 1962-December 1963. Throughout 1963, Gill represented Ferrie before the Pilots System Board of Adjustment in Ferrie's grievances against the airline. Ferrie was briefly detained in November 1963 over charges made by Jack S. Martin, another Gill associate, that Ferrie had been involved in some way with Lee Harvey Oswald. Three years later, Ferrie became the prime suspect in New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison's investigation of the John F. Kennedy assassination, shortly before he was found dead in his apartment.