6 Men Are Nabbed as Number Writers

By Camden NJ History
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6 Men Are Nabbed as Number Writers - Camden Morning Post, December 12, 1930
Camden Morning Post, December 12, 1930
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6 MEN ARE NABBED AS NUMBER WRITERS Arrests Lead to Belief Shore Racketeers Are Working Here Arrest of six alleged number writers here yesterday has spread the belief that Atlantic City racketeers have established "branch offices" on downtown street corners. Four of the accused all of whom were caught by members of the traffic squad, will be given hearings this morning. The other two were sentenced to 60 days each in the Camden county jail, when unable to pay fines of $50 imposed by Police Judge Garfield Pancoast yesterday. All of the men were arrested while soliciting "business." 'Pick Up' Man Nabbed One of the six men arrested is believed to be the "pickup man" for the syndicate. He was in an automobile bearing Atlantic county tags and his pockets were filled with number slips and cash, according to the police. Henry Davis, 36, of 208 Walnut street, and Alonzo Singleton, 20, of 256 Chestnut street, were arrested by Sergeant Jeff Kay and Motorcycle Policeman Thomas Kauffman at Second and Kaighn avenue. One man was standing on the northwest corner and the other on the southwest corner, soliciting business, the police testified. Davis and Singleton pleaded guilty and went to jail for 60 days. LeRoy Keeler, 20, of 1617 Arctic avenue, Atlantic City, and David Watson, 29, of Second and Mt. Vernon streets, Camden, were arrested at Broadway and Mickle street by Motorcycle Policeman Charles Smith and William Moll. They were held for hearings this morning. Wesley Edgehill, 35, of 1623½ Arctic avenue, Atlantic City, alleged by the police to be the "pickup man" for the Atlantic City barons, was arrested by Smith and Moll at West and Mickle streets. Edgehill was driving an automobile bearing Atlantic county tags. He had "hundreds of numbers slips and plenty of cash" in his pockets when arrested, according to the police. He also will be given a hearing this morning. Wilbert William, 20, of 1010 Walnut street, was the sixth man arrested. He was caught selling numbers at Mt. Ephraim and Kaighn avenues, according to Kauffman and Kay. He will face Judge Pancoast today. No Drive Ordered Questioned regarding whether the traffic squad was making a drive against numbers game operators in Camden, Police Capt. Charles T. Humes, inspector of traffic, said no orders had been issued for a drive on operators. The motorcycle policemen were only acting in line of regular duty, he said. Major Charles V. H. Dickinson, deputy director of public safety, stated yesterday that the arrests were not part of a concerted drive against the number "barons." He said: "There is no particular drive under way. The first I knew of the matter was when I read of the arrests in the Courier-Post. I questioned one of the men and he stated that he saw the writers selling slips and picked them up. There have been no orders issued except that I will not tolerate any form of gambling and want the city kept clean of it."

Arrests Lead to Belief Shore Racketeers Are Working Here

Arrest of six alleged number writers here yesterday has spread the belief that Atlantic City racketeers have established "branch offices" on downtown street corners. Four of the accused all of whom were caught by members of the traffic squad, will be given hearings this morning. The other two were sentenced to 60 days each in the Camden county jail, when unable to pay fines of $50 imposed by Police Judge Garfield Pancoast yesterday.

All of the men were arrested while soliciting "business."

'Pick Up' Man Nabbed

One of the six men arrested is believed to be the "pickup man" for the syndicate. He was in an automobile bearing Atlantic county tags and his pockets were filled with number slips and cash, according to the police.

Henry Davis, 36, of 208 Walnut street, and Alonzo Singleton, 20, of 256 Chestnut street, were arrested by Sergeant Jeff Kay and Motorcycle Policeman Thomas Kauffman at Second and Kaighn avenue. One man was standing on the northwest corner and the other on the southwest corner, soliciting business, the police testified. Davis and Singleton pleaded guilty and went to jail for 60 days.

LeRoy Keeler, 20, of 1617 Arctic avenue, Atlantic City, and David Watson, 29, of Second and Mt. Vernon streets, Camden, were arrested at Broadway and Mickle street by Motorcycle Policeman Charles Smith and William Moll. They were held for hearings this morning.

Wesley Edgehill, 35, of 1623½ Arctic avenue, Atlantic City, alleged by the police to be the "pickup man" for the Atlantic City barons, was arrested by Smith and Moll at West and Mickle streets. Edgehill was driving an automobile bearing Atlantic county tags. He had "hundreds of numbers slips and plenty of cash" in his pockets when arrested, according to the police. He also will be given a hearing this morning.

Wilbert William, 20, of 1010 Walnut street, was the sixth man arrested. He was caught selling numbers at Mt. Ephraim and Kaighn avenues, according to Kauffman and Kay. He will face Judge Pancoast today.

No Drive Ordered

Questioned regarding whether the traffic squad was making a drive against numbers game operators in Camden, Police Capt. Charles T. Humes, inspector of traffic, said no orders had been issued for a drive on operators. The motorcycle policemen were only acting in line of regular duty, he said.

Major Charles V. H. Dickinson, deputy director of public safety, stated yesterday that the arrests were not part of a concerted drive against the number "barons." He said:

"There is no particular drive under way. The first I knew of the matter was when I read of the arrests in the Courier-Post. I questioned one of the men and he stated that he saw the writers selling slips and picked them up. There have been no orders issued except that I will not tolerate any form of gambling and want the city kept clean of it."

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