Evening star., 1950-06-09
.Adonis Upheld
On Silence, May
New Quiz
RecolI of oGmbler
In Stamp Deal Probe
Still Seen Possible

to answer certain questions before
the Ambrose stamp deal grand
jury here. Gambler Joe Adonis
still may be called before the
panel again.
Federal prosecutors handling the
case declined to say what use
there might be in recalling the
New York underworld bigshot in
the light of his attitude yesterday
in the jury room. But Assistant
United States Attorney John w.
Fihelly emphatically said Adonis
has not been finally excused and
that the panel will hold one more
session on the case next week.
Mr.. Fihelly yesterday initiated
what could have been contempt
proceedings against Adonis. who.
although only witness in the
case, refused to answer two oues-
tions in the jury room on grounds
the answers might have tended to
incriminate himself.
Acting Within Rights.
But when the prosecutor raised
the issue in District Court. Judge
Alexander Holtzaf ruled Adonis
was acting within his conStitu-
tional rights in his refusal to
answer.
Mr.. Fihelly, flushed and angry.
stalked before Judge Holtzoff. with
Adonis and the % grand jurors in
tow, to see If the court could force
the witness to respond. Lengthy
arguments, capped by Commute
bench conference. proved to no
avail for the Government. and
Adonis was dismissed for the day.
Before the incident ended.
though. few shafts of light had
the case against Har-
old F. Ambrose. a former postal
official forced to resign because Of
$3.50 900 in new stamp tranSac-
tions with wealthy spectators.
Tells of Ambrose Friends"
Investigating the stamp deals for
possible fraud, Mr. Fihelly said the
grand jury learned that Ambrose
operated by representing himself
to friends and acquaintances as
having postal contacts favorable to
buying perfect" commemorative
stamp issues to sell to collectors at
a so per cent profit.
To 20 of these friends" includ-
ing Joe Adonis. Ambrose said he
had special and exclusive rights"
to obtain the stamps. Mr.. Fihelly
said.
Ambrose invited investments"
OF large sums of money-"the
larger the better"-in stamp pur-
chasing ventures, the prosecutor
continued. AS a result, some
$63o,0o0 was handed him by the
spectators, with a total loss to
them of about $3.50, 900, because,
Mr.. Fihelly said. ''in very few
instances" were stamps actually
sold by Ambrose.
Relates $13O.0OO Deals.
AS for Adonis' role in the deals.
Mr.. Fihelly said the gambler got
together on four occasions with
Ambrose. ultimately Investing"
$130,000 and regaining only
$25, 900.
He met Ambrose at the Claridge
Hotel in Atlantic City. N. j.. and
handed over $4,000 In September.
1948," the prosecutor told Judge
Holtzof. On october 4, In the
Mayfiower Hotel here, one of
Adonis' men turned over $4,000
TO Ambrose. Later. there was q
$4,000 transaction and finally.
sometime in 1949. a $4,000 ex-
change in New York. What money
Adonis got back was repaid on
three different dates last Decem-
Der and January. the prosecutor
added.
Having provided the court with
his summary Of the case to date.
Mr.. Fihelly emphasized that the
only guilty individual is, Ambrose.
who admits his guilt"
No Conspiracy Shown.
There was nothing In the in
Vestigation to show conspiracy ON
the part Of Adonis or any of the
other spectators" Mr.. Fihelly
said.
There is no showing of crimi-
nallty on Adonis part" he de-
ciared. 1T is Just as If he had
walked through the streets of
washington and had been slugeed
and robbed of $105. .00O."
Because Adonis is merely a wit.
ness, Mr.. Fihelly argued, he
answer the questions.
winch dealt with the alleged
transaction in Atlantic City.
Adonis' Washington attorney.
William H. Collins, expressed
leeriness Of the Governments ex-
planation.
Sought Quick Money.
They went into these deals for
quick money" Mr.. Collins said
OF the speculations. THE Gov
ernment could take up the oues-
ton OF their completely"
Judge Holtzof agreed that, n
q charge Of defrauding the United
States developed in the case. all
OF those involved In the trans
actions could be charged.
On this note. the Judge agreed
TO bench conference, details OF
which were not disclosed. At the
close Of 1t, however, Judge Holt.
zoff announced:
The witness was within his
constitutional rights declining to
answer the questions on grounds
the answers may tend to be self
Incriminatory," the judge declared.
Throughout the arguments the
well-groomed subject Of the dis
pute sat patiently near the counsel
table. Adonis at least enjoyed a
seat. The IL women and II men
l.