More about Dumpy Clegg
Jeffersonville [not Jefferson]is located in southern Indiana just across the river from Louisville Ky. One of its claims to fame, other than having a lot of illegal gambling in the 30s and 40s, is the fact that nobody had a proper first name. Dumpy’s brother was called Scooter and then there was Snake, Spot, Peanut, and so on.
Dumpy, among other things, ran the upstairs card room over Horn’s pool room. It, like all the cigar shops and pool rooms, had horse betting [East side of Spring Street between Maple and Chestnut]
Overt casino style Gambling ceased in Jeffersonville following the big raid of 1948. That raid was carried out by the State police since the local police were on the “Take” and would have alerted everyone to pack up the equipment and take a vacation and come back next week.
Your Mother’s friend may be a little confused about the time frame. It is well documented by most of the old timers that casino style gambling ended in 1948. There were still a few “back room” card games and some small time horse betting.
The Kefauver commission’s investigations and hearings occurred after 1950 and really did not focus on Jeffersonville Indiana since it had been closed for a few years.
Dumpy was what has been referred to as a “Tweener” meaning that his status was somewhere between the owners of the big operations and that of the common street hustlers. He made a lot of money and as far as I can find out…he never had a real job [other than booking]. Well, he did obtain a union card to work at the munitions powder plant during the war, but they say that was only so he could book horses during lunch.
Von, try and follow up with this gentleman. You might start by asking him about these three gentlemen. Moon Mullins. Paul Jacobs, and Tom Edwards. All three were well known characters on Court Avenue in the wide open town of Jeffersonville Indiana.
I know of no chips that have been attributed to Dumpy Clegg.
Thanks for your research….keep up the good work.
Paul in Jeffersonville