Evening star., 1951-02-20
kefauyer Probe
Calls Manager
OF Bowie Track
Statement Due to
Wind Up Four Days
Of Testimony Here

Of Testimony Here
Attempts by professional gam
blers to beat down the odds at
Bowie race track with last-min-
ute comeback" wagers were to
be investigated today by Senators
Of the Kefauver committee.
The committee was to wind up
four days of testimony here with
a statement from Edward O'Hara,
general manager of the track.
Other hearings are scheduled for
Friday and Saturday at st. Louis
before the inquiry shifts to the
West Coast.
Mr.. O'Hara was asked to ap-
pear after Richard Remer testi-
fed Saturday that he used track
telephones and sometimes placed
a cash account of from $4,000 to
$4,000 with the cashier while EN-.
ployed by a Cincinnati operator
This operator. it was explained,
is one of several in the country
who take "lay-off" bets from
bookies, and hire agents to place
big comeback" bets at the tracks,
both to drive down the odds on
long shots and to balance the op-
orators books when they carry
too much money on one horse.
The committee late yesterday
heard version under oath of the
often-rumored kidnapping of the
late Jimmy LaFontaine. veteran
operator Of a Prince Georges
County gambling house. It came
from Harry Stromberg. also known
as Mig Rosen, former Philadelphia
numbers operator and now a
Miami gambler.
Stromberg, a native of Russia,
said he was in the numbers racket
in Philadelphia from 1885 to 1912,
before backing a game in Hack
N. j., from 1943 to 1947.
He moved to Florida later and,
under questioning, admitted to as
sociating with so many under
world characters that Senator
Tobey, Republican. of New Hamp-
shire declared:
According to the record, no
witness before this committee has
had a more low-down group of
associates-a gang of gangsters!
What do you have to say to that?"
mo comment" the witness re-
piled.
Asked by Downey Rice Of the
committee staff If he had known
LaFontaine. Stromberg replied:
Very well"
Did you ever hear he was kid
naped by a Philadelphia mob?"
the witness was asked. as
Stromberg said he never heard
who did the kidnapping, although
he discussed it with Jimmy in New
York, where the gambler had gone
to attend prize fight. This was
at or 18 years ago." the witness
said, and some six months after
the kidnapping.
Says He Paid $4,000.
What did LaFontaine say had
happened to him?" Stromberg
was asked.
HE said he gave 'em $4,000" :"
Where did they take him?"
They took him when he was
coming out of a movie in Wash
ington."
'"They just scooped him up?"
Mr.. Rice asked.
Eyes"
where did they take him?"
Jimmy didn't say"
"Who else was present when
LaFontaine told you about it?"
Nobody else"
How was the ransom paid? i?
Did he have the money on him or
send word for it to be delivered?"
II wouldn't know"
How long did they hold him?"
Probably about a day." was
the reply.
Man of Few Words.
Mr.. Rice/pointed out this must
have occurred when the public
was up in arms about kidnapping
as a result of the murder of the
Lindbergh baby. He asked if
Jimmy had said he reported the
kidnapping to any law-enforcement
officer.
Jimmy was a man of very few
words" the witness replied, shak-
ing his head.
Stromberg was led through a
long recital of how he did favors
for George Richardson, assistant
superintendent of Philadelphia
police, while the witness was in
the numbers racket there.
He said he took the official
then an inspector in charge OF
detectives, to dinner in restaurants
and night clubs, to prize fights
and bought him expensive shirts
and neckties. He also sent him a
$3.50 clock as a Christmas present
he said.
The witness. however, admitted
he was arrested by Philadelphia
police, apparently acting under
the inspectors orders.
Senator Tobey exclaimed:
"He sounds like an ungrateful
wretch. Maybe you should have
bought him an automobile instead
of clock"
Official Invited to Appear.
Senator Kefauver said he was
having the testimony airmailed to
the assistant superintendent,
along with an invitation to appear
before the committee If he de-
sires to answer Stromberg.
Another Philadelphia numbers
operator, who later went to Flor
ida to bet on the horses, testified