Evening star., 1950-05-28
Crime Probers Report
Gamblers Aided Local.
Candidates in Florida
Continued From First Page.)

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drew Is witnesses to Miami's Fed
eral building for questioning.
The two Senators said they got
everything they went after, In
cluding clear evidence Of tie-ups
between Florida gambling opera
tions and gambling big shots who
make their headquarters in New
York and California.
Senator Kefauver said the
records seized in Florida now are
being studied there by Downey
Rice, committee assistant coun-
sci. and four other former FBI
agents working for the committee.
Senator Kefauver said he had
examined piles of books and
records covering AL kinds of
gambling operations in South
Florida. including Dade and Bro
ward County and their connec-
tions with gambling operations in
other parts of the United States. !"
Inquiry Is Not Complete.
He said the Florida investiga-
ton is not complete and he and
his colleagues will be back later
to continue the probe.
1--WE even hope to hold public
hearings on the investigation later
on" he added.
Senator Kefauver said the COM
mittee had intended to question
witnesses in New York first, but
"the fine work of District Attorney
Frank Hogan of New York in re-
vealing the activities of Frank
Erickson and his associates in
Florida pointed us to come here
first"
He was obviously referring to
Erickson's records seized in a
May 2 raid on the gamblers Park
avenue Offices. The records linked
Erickson and some of his COL
leagues with Florida enterprises.
Sheriff is Questioned.
Among the witnesses questioned
by the Senators behind closely
guarded doors was Sheriff Walter
Clark OF Broward County. That
county has repeatedly attracted
the financial interests of Erick-
son and some Of the Nations top
racketeers.
Subpoenas also were issued for
a number of certified public ac-
countants who keep the books for
some of the large-scale gambling
casinos in the area. The commit
tee took the books.
The Greater Miami Crime Com
mission already had put the finger
on some of these places and the
committee wanted to find out what
out-of-State operators were reap
ing profits from these gambling
clubs.
j. j. Brown. chief of the intel
Hgence unit of the Internal Reve-
nue. in Miami. was closeted for a
long period with the investigators
yesterday and also testified when
the secret hearings got underway
Friday.
Erickson Under New INQUIRY.
MI. Brown is said to know about
the ramif1catiors of the mobsters'
finances and how much money
they pay out for protection in the
Greater Miami area.
Meanwhile, Erickson was draw
ing attention from another Sem
ate committee.
Chairman Mcfarland of the
Senate Commerce subcommittee
which heard testimony from
erickson. yesterday asked United
States Attorney George Morris
Fay to check on the possibility
that Erickson perjured himself
before the subcommittee.
Inc same subcommittee had
earlier asked Mr.. Fay to check on
whether Frank Costello COM
mitted perjury. Costello, another
reputed underworld kingpin, also
testified before the subcommittee
while it was studying an anti
gambling bill.
Mcfarland to Push Bill,
The bill, reported favorably by
the full Commerce Committee
Friday, forbids the interstate
transmission before race of such
gambling information as betting
odds, jockey changes and horses
scratched.
Senator Mcfarland said he
would fight any delays in getting