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Piracci had erased some names from his ledgers. Among the names deleted: Nancy D'Alesandro. On the witness stand in Piracci's trial, Nancy admitted getting six checks totaling $11,130.78 from Piracci. But she swore that $1,500 of it was a gift to their newly wed children, Tommy III and Margie. The rest. she claimed, Piracci lent her to pay off debts incurred in her feed business and a venture with a skin softener called Velvex.
Last week, although the garage scandal continued to billow around Baltimore courtrooms, the city erupted into wild celebration. On hand to play the first Baltimore major-league baseball game in more than half a century, the new Orioles were paraded through the streets amid 32 floats and the blare of 20 bands. But Tommy D'Alesandro was not there to strew orchids. He was in Bon Secours Hospital suffering from a nervous collapse, minus 40 of his 190 Ibs., a shadow of his once proud, pudgy self.