Florist Shop Raid Traps Numbers Men

Camden Courier-Post - June 14, 1933

Police Believe Hunt for Racket Headquarters Ended; 4 Are Arrested

A three-month search for “numbers” headquarters in Camden was believed ended today when detectives raided a florist shop at 1409 Mt. Ephraim avenue, seized seven adding machines, thousands of dollars worth of sales slips and arrested four men.

Joseph Klosterman, 34, of 1413 Mt. Ephraim Avenue, whom the police believe operated the “bank,” was included in a quartet arrested by a squad under command of Sergeant of Detectives Louis Shaw.

Responding to an anonymous tip that the numbers men were gathered in a rear room of the store, Shaw, together with Detectives Clarence Arthur, George Zeitz and John Kaighn, surrounded the place.

The others arrested in the raid gave their names as Charles Selanski, 23, of 1286 Sheridan Street; Leon Babrowski, 22, of 1209 Lansdowne Avenue, and Frank Gromacki, 27, of 1411 Mt. Ephraim Avenue. Several “pickup men,” who have been arrested while carrying money and numbers slips, according to Shaw, were linked with the ring. The principals, however, had managed to escape detection.

The flower shop, Shaw said, is operated by Joseph Haleski, and was used as a “blind” for the lottery racket. Klosterman was released last night in $1000 bail for a hearing today on a charge of operating a numbers lottery. The others were all released in $100 cash security as material witnesses.