Setsuzo Ota, alias: "The Professional," was a Japanese professional wrestler and founder of the San Gabriel Dojo (Established around 1925) who became notorious after marrying the infamous wealthy white socialite and multiple divorcee, Lucy Banning. Lucy abandoned her third husband, Robert E. Ross, in 1927 for Ota, who was touring the U.S. at the time. A year later on January 19, 1929, Lucy, 51, and Uta, 31, drove to Seattle to be married, as interracial marriage violated California law at that time. Their marriage did not last long. While vacationing in Italy Lucy caught pneumonia and passed away, shortly after her 53rd birthday. According to Ota, Lucy knew she was dying and her last words were "I'll get criticized for this too." Lucy left almost $400,000 to Ota, but because of lawyers and family disputes he walked away with only $6,000. Ota was indicted in September 1939 (along with the El Centro Police Chief and nine others) for his involvement in an alleged kidnapping of Hideichi Yamatoda, a leader in the Japanese Tokyo Club Syndicate and the reputed new king of the Japanese underworld, which was to have taken place in the early morning of December 24, 1938 (as related by Yamatoda). Ota and four others were eventually found guilty and sentenced to five years in a federal penitentiary in August of 1940. The conviction was appealed (for both Ota and his four co-defendants) before the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Nonetheless, Ota's (and the four others) conviction for conspiracy was upheld and Ota was confined to McNeil Island Penitentiary for the majority of WW2. His the "Victim," crime lord Hideichi Yamatoda, eventually took flight to Japan in April of 1941, to avoid his own prosecution for murder. Sadly, Setsumo Ota took his own life in 1963. (Bio by: Jay Lance)

Editorial Note: DOB also listed as 1894

San Pedro News Pilot

Volume 2, Number 12, March 19, 1929

OTA IS WILLED HUGE FORTUNE Lucy Banning Ota Leaves Her Estate to Japanese Husband

LOS ANGELES, March 19.—Setsuzo Ota, Japanese jiu-jitsu champion, who prior to his marriage to Mrs. Lucy Banning Ross, gave wrestling performances at Olympic auditorium, is the largest beneficiary of the $300,000 estate of the picturesque California pioneer, according to Mrs. Ota's will on file today in superior court. The will, dated August 24, 1926, bequethes $40,000 to Attorney Ward Chapman, the only other legatee. To Ota, according to the terms of the will go all the woman's jewels, the contents of her home-at 505 South Commonwealth avenue, personal effects, automobile and all cash realized from the sale of her real estate. A sister, Mary Banning Norris, is cut off entirely, the will stating that Mrs. Norris is amply provided for in her own right. A hint of hidden romance is contained in the last testament. The will is dated a year and a half before she married Ota and while she was still the wife of Robert Ross. FOURTH HUSBAND "First to my dear and much respected friend, Mr. Ward Chapman, I bequeath the sum of $40,000. Second, to Mr. Setsuzo Ota, in consideration of the great sacrifice he has made for me I bequeath all of my jewelry," and the will continues in legal phraseology to leave everything to Ota. The real estate consists of property holdings in Wilmington and in Los Angeles, Including the Banning homestead on Hill street opposite the old high school. Ota was the fourth husband of Mrs. Banning. The marriage last fall created an international sensation. She died February 20 while she and Ota were in Florence, Italy, on a belated honeymoon. The body was brought back to Los Angeles Friday and is to rest in Rosedale cemetery until May when Mrs. Norris will return to Los Angeles from Paris.