New-York tribune., 1920-03-11
Poker
Tourney Leads
To One Arrest
Louis Krohnberg, Wealthy
Manufacturer, Accused at
Inquiry of Using Marked
Cards in Big Stud Games
Warrant Charges Fraud
Series of Contests Held
Twice a Week From Last
Summer Until December

The District Attorneys John Doe in
".ournameht," in which more than
$3.50 900 is said to have been lost, re-
suited yesterday in warrant for
Louis Krohnberg, president of the
Bijou Waist Company.
Chief Justice Kernochan, of Special
Sessions, issued the warrant. Assist
ant District Attorney Thomas A. Nc
Grath conducted the hearings, follow
ing the complaint of group of
wealthy New Workers who played in
the series of games that READERS" or
marked cards, had been used.
Krohnberg, in whose home, 789 West
End Avenue. several of the games were
played, is charged with violation of
Section 99S os the Penal Code, which
relates to the obtaining of money by
fraud or false pretense in a game of
chance.
Later in the day Krohnberg ap-
peared at the District Attorneys Of
fee with Jerome A. Strauss, represent
ing Max Steuer, his counsel, and plead
ed not guilty. Bail was fixed at 81 600,
and his examination will be held in
Justice Kernochan's chambers Satur-
day morning.
i<OoChS OC6oA 4nNuAy
The John Doe inquiry grew out Of
in the games in retaining William T.
Jerome to represent them. Players in
cluded Joseph M. Schenck, motion pic
ture producer and husband of Norma
Talmadge, the actress, at whose 27O
Park Avenue house several poker games
were played; Jacob M. Slvcrman, a
dress manufacturer; Henry Silberfeld,
a jeweler; Charles Pillar. dress manu-
.acturer; Samuel Lewis, millinery man.
ufacturer, and Hyman Karp, an auc-
tioneer, all said to be wealthy.
Several OF these men were witnesses
at Justice Kernochan's John Doe hear
in~s, as were employees of the Hotel
McAlpin. where several of the games
took place.
According to Assistant District At
torney McGrath, the games started last
Hotel. Arverne, Long Island. In the
fall, the games, which were played for
high stakes, were moved to Manhattan
and continued twice week until De-
cember.
During that month the final game of
the series took place in the Schenck
home and where Krohnberg, who was
known as Last Card Louis" was ac-
cused of introducing marked cards.
tCHcuCN, IL Was Sdlu, tuIucU W hIOuIi-
berg. after the accusation and asked:
why don't you admit it, Louis"
Heavy Loser in Summer
Testimony brought out at the hear
ings developed the fact that Krohnberg
was a heavy loser during the summer
lnstalment of the poker series. After
;hc games were resumed in the fall
he was said to have developed win
M.ng streak and at one sitting won
$1,000.
Other players first began to mani
Test curiosity as to krohnbergs run
of luck when it was discovered, it is
alleged, at games at the McAlpin Hotel
that cards other than those provided
by servants made their appearance
Nrehnberg, it was testified, was fire.
quently the first to arrive and in
tcrested himself in warming" the
cards and arranging the decks.
x number of decks of cards taken
from the games by various players
and turned over to Mr.. McGrath showed
.Heur de lis designs on the backs, with
markings on the petals which might
make identification of the cards
possible.
Krohnberg was arrested on the aff-
davit of Silverman, who swore that the
head of the Bijou Waist Company won
$4,000 on a single pot in a seven
handed game at the Krohnberg home
on December Ia.
Here are excerpts from Silverman's
affidavit which tell the story of the
gone and how Krohnberg won the
prize" pot:
in the game and the chips. The game
started at about $3.50 o'clock that even
ing and broke up about 1880 next
morning. The white chips were SIS
each, blues, $25; reds, $1OO, and yell
low chips, $500 each. Mr.. Krohnberg
provided blue backed and red backed
cards of similar design. l am thor
oughly familiar with this particular
design of cards.
After four cards had been dealt
all players dropped out except the de-
fendant and Lewis. AS the cards ap-
peared, Mr.. Lewis had in front of him
an unexposed card and three exposed
cards, to wlt-an ace, jack and nine
Arohnberg had an unexposed card and
three exposed cards, nine, four and
three.
Mr.. Lewiss unexpoxed card was an
acc and Mr.. Krohnberg's three. sc
that before the drawing of the fifth
card Mr.. Lewis had pair of aces
Mr. krohnberg had pair of threes
he aces, of course, being higher than
the threes.'
Several hundred dollars was in the
pot. Silverman said, Lewis, with the
high ace. made no bet. whereupon
krohnberg. with the low hand, stepped
IN with a $1,000 wager Lewis, playing
The highest and apparently "cinched'
hand. met Krohnberg's bet. and raised
him $4,500, Silverman stated. Krohn.
berg tossed in the additional $4,000.
Lewis, with the highest hand. sub
sequent to this play, offered Krohn.
berg the chance to withdraw his las,
bet. The latter declined. Levi,
showed his; pair of aces. Krohnbe rg
with a pair of threes. said he wouic
insist on drawing his last card, unless
he were permitted to withdraw not only
his $4,000 bet but the original bet oi
$l.200. Lewis made other compromise
offers but would not capitulate te
Krohnberg's demand.
The dealer, Silverman swore, was 8
Mr.. Bartsch, who sat next to Krohn.
berg on his right so 'that when the
fifth card in this particular hane
should be dealt, Krohnberg woult
get the first card and Lewis
the following. Krohnberg. OF course
could see the back of the card that he
was to get The dealer gave Krohn
berg the top card and Lewis the sec
ond one. The top card dealt to Krohn
berg was four, giving him two pairs
II . ,~i