Binion opened accounts just prior to death

Monday, Aug. 2, 1999 | 11:28 a.m.

Two days before his Sept. 17 murder, Ted Binion conducted large banking transactions from his home, including opening a $1 million investment account.

Kevin Page, senior portfolio manager in the investment division of First Security Bank of Nevada, disclosed the transactions in a Sept. 28 interview with private detective Tom Dillard.

The Sun has obtained a 13-page transcript of Page's interview.

Page told Dillard that Binion did not appear to be acting like a man who was contemplating suicide.

He said he went to Binion's home the morning of Sept. 15 to collect two checks -- one for the $1 million investment account and the other for a $100,000 checking account.

Binion's girlfriend, Sandy Murphy, who would later be charged in his murder along with Montana contractor Rick Tabish, was present during part of Page's dealings with the former casino executive, Page said.

Binion, he said, also wrote him a check for $40,000 and asked that he bring him back two $20,000 bundles of $100 bills wrapped in plastic. Binion wanted the cash to give to former Las Vegas Mayor Jan Laverty Jones, who was running for governor.

Jones, who ended up losing the governor's race, told homicide detectives in March that she received $40,000 in cash from Binion during a Sept. 16 visit to his home. She said Binion, who did not appear suicidal, gave her the money in a First Security Bank bag.

Page said he deposited the $40,000 check at the bank Sept. 15 and returned to Binion's home with the cash.

At that time, he said, he asked Binion to rewrite the checks for the new accounts. He said he noticed the checks had been written to him personally, and he wanted them made out to the bank.

Binion told him in previous conversations that he had been looking for a new investment adviser since being forced to sell his interests in the Horseshoe Club earlier in the year, Page said.

Page said he had little interaction with Murphy during his Sept. 15 visits.

The first time, he said, Murphy came out covered in a blanket after having just awakened and asked Binion if he wanted some tea. She left the room after about 10 minutes.

Page said Binion talked about his excitement over land he owned in Pahrump and how the area was going to be "booming."

"He goes, 'I've got to get you guys out there to take a look at it,' " Page said. "He was just talking about how some land was real valuable."

About two months earlier, Page said, Binion told him he buried "$5 million" in silver in an underground vault on some of his Pahrump land.

Murphy and Tabish also have been charged with trying to steal the silver fortune, which his estate valued at $4 million. Two days after Binion's slaying, Tabish and two other men were arrested after they allegedly had dug up the silver.

Like Page, many of Binion's friends and family members have told investigators the onetime casino man was making numerous business plans prior to his death.

Binion's real estate agent, for example, said he was looking into buying property near Rancho Road and Vegas Drive.

Other friends said he talked about working to get back his gaming license, which had been revoked in May because of ties to organized crime figures.