Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-28
Wanted Easy Money,
Says Man Held for
Threats 10 Jockeys
BY the Associated Press

MIAMI, tIa., FeD. GA Dald-
ing ex-convict from Baltimore
was jailed today in a fantastic
plot involving threats on the
lives Of two famous jockeys
shortly before they were to ride
in the $100.000-added Flamingo
Stakes at Hialeah Park.
Robert Hugh Lonsford, 46, q
mild-mannered unemployed con-
struction worker. was seized by
the FBI and charged with at
tempting to extort $4,000 from
Jockeys Conn McCreary and Ted
Atkinson.
McCreary said letters sent to
him contained threats "to shoot
Ted and myself when we least
expected it.
I'm one letter." Conn added,
"he threatened to chop of my
hands so I'd never be able to
ride again."
Atkinson said this fellow APP
parently operated on the theory
that all races are fixed. He said
we knew which horses were going
to win. He also said he knew
we were betting against our own
mounts and that he wanted in
on the good things"
Held In $4,000 Bond.
Lonsford. blinking nervously
was arraigned before United
States Commissioner Roger Ed
ward Davis who ordered him
held for trial in $4,000 bond.
you have indicated you will
plead guilty." Davis said during
the arraighment held in his law
Office because Federal courts are
closed on Saturdays.
That's right" Lonsford said
"1t doesn't matter about the
bond. I can't make it. anyhow. y
Newsmen asked him the rea-
son for his actions.
Il couldn't get work and tried
to make some easy money
Lonsford explained II thought
I could make it this way. But il
was all a hoax. I didn't intend
to shoot anybody. j don't even
have a gun"
Edward j. Powers. special
agent in charge of the FBI Of
fee at Miami. said the arrest
ended a three-week search fol
a man who threatened the two
jockeys with torture and death
If they lid not comply with his
demands.
Picked Up at Phone Booth.
Lonsford was picked up by FBl
agents about midnight as he left
a telephone booth at Hollywood
Fla. IS miles north of Miami
after telephoning McCreary'.
home with instructions on de.
livery Of the $4,000 in cash, Pow.
erS said.
The two jockeys and two FBl
agents dressed as women witt
a dummy package to represent
the money were ready to go Il
the designated place to meet
Lonsford. The man had demand.
ed that the jockeys wives &C.
company them, and the FBI mer
arrayed themselves in skirts anc
wigs.
I'VE traced the phone call ano
grabbed the man as he left the
booth" Powers said THE JOCK
eys and the FBI agents accom-
panying them were not. needed
for the arrest. But they were
ready"
McCreary rode Goyamo. who
finished fourth. and Atkinson
Maharajah. who was third, ir
today's Flamingo. but the race
itself did not particularly figure
in the plot. the FBI said.
Ordered Hand Signals.
This is the way the scheme
was to have been worked, &C.
cording to the jockeys them
selves and in part by the FBI:
Lonsford wanted to know :r
advance the winners of races
and demanded the Jockeys sigma
him as they mounted their horses
in the paddock and paradeo
around the ring on the way tt
the post.
The little finger on the left
hand was to represent post posi-.
ton No. l and the little finger
OF the right hand No. 6. A
bandage on any particular finger
would indicate horses from No.
to No. 10.
If the signals couldn't be used
the jockeys were to take off theil
caps and rub their heads. They
made the head-rubbing signal.
several times in the past week,
while track police and FBI mer
searched through the crowd. but
never used the bandaged- finger
signal.
Lonsford actually was present
the FBI said, but escaped detec.
ton at the race track. He tolc
the jockeys that he was one Of
a gang of three. and said the
others were pretty mad" ovel
losses and would kill them if they
didn't do as they were told. Ii
reality. Lonsford acted alone
the FBI said.