Evening star., 1950-05-26
.AdonisCaIIed
.InquiYHere
Gambler Will Follow
Erickson in Probe
Of Ambrose Affair

a. aAACA ~ 0Alu jury ulNCStlSHs
tions were finding out how gamol-
ers make their money and also
how some of them lost q chunk
Of their racket" profits in gA-
rich-quick stamp deals.
A Federal grand jury here
Is summoning known
gambling figures in its investiga-
ton Of Harold F. Ambrose's $780,
900 stamp investment" trans
actions.
Joe Adonis. New York racketeer,
is due to testify next week. Frank
Erickson. self confessed multi
million-dollar bookmaker. testified
yesterday.
Juries May Compare Notes.
Erickson is simultaneously un-
der investigation by a grand Jury
in New York. which has found
Adonis' name among his seized
records.
Since an important element of
false pretenSeS case, like the
other under investigation here, is
proof Of the ownership OF the
money. there was a strong possi-
bility that the New York and
Washington grand juries may find
themselves. exchanging notes.
Whether Frank Costello. a third
bigtime operator of the gambling
world, will join the grand jury
parade here depends on testimony
of forthcoming witnesses, Justice
Department officials indicated.
Adonis Accepts Subpoena.
Authorities disclosed that Adonis
has accepted service of a sub
poena calling him before the
panel at an undisclosed date next
week.
Erickson, the object of close
scrutiny by the Senate Crime
Investigation Committee, spent
nearly As minutes in the juryroom
yesterday. He was accompanied
from New York by Attorney Sol
Gelb. q prosecutors assistant
there when Gov. Dewey was dis
trict attorney.
The pair arrived yesterday
morning. requesting that Erickson
be permitted to testify at a secret
session as soon as possible. so
that he might leave town at an
early hour.
Assistant United States Attor-
ney John w. Fihelly ushered the
gambler in as first witness. At
about IL am. he was excused
awaiting possible recall at a flu
ture date. Erickson and his law
yer then promptly left for New
York, a prosecution assistant said
he understood.
Earlier Denials Recalled.
The Sunmoning of gambling
kingpins In the investigation Of
Ambrose, who resigned under
pressure last January II as q
special assistant to the Postmaster
General. came despite earlier de.
mails by postal officials that gam
blers were involved in the scheme.
Last February, one Post Office
authority declared such reports
were irresponsible" These hinted
that Joe Adonis lost more than
100000 by investing for himself
or friends in Ambrose's plan to
buy large amounts of special issue
stamps for later resale at so per
cent profit.
Erickson apparently came into
the picture on the strength Of the
possibility that he may have been
counted as one OF Adonis'
friends" in the first circulated
reports in the Ambrose case.
With the May 2 seizure Of rec
ords in Erickson's New York Of
fee. the Senate committees in
vestigation into Nation crime
has concentrated on seeking a tie
in among Erickson, Costello,
Adonis and other gambling rack
eteers.
Kefauver Consults Hogan.
Chairman Kefauver of the COM
mittee has consulted with New
York District Attorney Frank Ho-
gan. The committees chief coun-
sci. Rudolph HALEY, made a flying
visit to New York earlier this week.
A grand jury there already Is
investigating Erickson's activities.
The gambler admitted to another
Senate committee that his $l2.5
million-a-year bookmaking empire
covers the Nation.
He was among at least four wit
nesses testifying before the grand
Jury In Washington yesterday.
Henrik Mannerfrid. New York
exporter. who repeatedly lost $780,
600 in his investments" with Am
brose. testified for about 80 min
ltes.
Albert Glickfield. operator Of
the Gold Key Club. 606 E street
NV. after hours bottle club,
faced the jury for about As min
utes. Glickfield also repeatedly
lost substantial sums in his deal
ings with. the former postal
official
Another witness, who described
himself as "a friend of Ambrose,
was Harry Stringer, an. ex-news-
paperman living in the 5100 block
OF Fulton street NV. He said
he had not bought any stamps
under the scheme.
Officials have indicated that
Ambrose faces possible prosecu-
ton for false pretenses and/or
using the mails to defraud.
Attorney Fihelly. who Is being
assisted by Ellis Arenson and
James O'Brien Of the Justice De-
partment. declined to say when
the investigation would be COM
pleted.
Earlier this month a Toledo
(Ohio) businessman filed a S75-
900 suit againsC Ambrose In Fed
|eral Court at Alexandria. @. H.
H.