Once again the record cards do not give you all the information you and I thirst for.

Amarillo, San Antonio, Dallas.

Seven X’s over Texas.

3 chips that ties to Lamkim – Barnett – Little – Binion – Preston – Wrotan - Davis – Miller – Scarborough – Noble – Worsham - Texas Rangers – FBI - Liquor Control Officers, literally a Who’s Who in Texas gambling operations and the men that chased them.

Enough of that:

The first Texas X.

Could have been used at 1 or more of:
Rex Bar, Mint Bar or Texas Cafe.
Mark Lamkin
2812 E 30th St
Amarillo 1955.

I spoke to Mr Lamkin a few years ago. He did not deny who he was. I told him the address on the card. He said he was aware of the address. He did deny ever buying the chips, and hung up on me. Wasn’t much more I could do.

Fast forward to present day:

Mark Leonard Lamkin, born 1928 Denton, TX. Wasn't able to determine what was at the address where the chips were sent to in 1955 (by 1965 it was the location of Amarillo Iron & Metal--not too far from the Amarillo Stockyards).

Lamkin was certainly involved in the local gambling scene in the 50's and 60's. He was operating a bar in 1951 when he was placed under investigation for allegedly bribing a liquor control officer to tip him off before raids. Seem to have been several Lamkin's operating bars and cafes in Amarillo in the 40's-60's, Rex Bar, Mint Bar, & Texas Cafe.

In the early 60's, Lamkin and Thomas "Amarillo Slim" Preston were said to be bookies and to have either hung-around or managed pool halls or recreation parlors owned or operated by Robert "Little Cal" Davis.

My note, not to worry. If I run into Slim, he will tell me everything I need to know. Slim loves to tell stories. He is very good at over telling, you just have to sort it out.

Three more Texas X’s

Shadowland
O. Barnett
222 1/2 Travis St
San Antonio TX
9-6-35
XXX record card is
400 chocolate (+ other colors)

I need the Barnett XXX chip. If you have it, cough it up. Buy or trade?

When Barnett ordered the chips he was one of the operators of a very popular night club in San Antonio called "Shadowland." Shadowland was raided several times for gambling and Barnett was one of the operators fined (Texas Rangers involved in some of the raids). However, the address the chips were sent to was not the address of Shadowland and I haven't been able to determine what was at 222 1/2 Travis.

Three more Texas X’s with a connection to The “Dallas Mafia” wars.
Chip wise everything Dallas comes back full circle to Benny Binion.

Recreation Club
SF Little
309 Browder St
Dallas
Chips delivered in 1939-40

When Little ordered the chips he was operating a Recreation club on the second floor of 309 Browder (he was also a bookie). Never have figured out what significance, if any, the XXX has in relation to what Little was doing there.

A few years after the XXX order, Little is working with James Worsham at the Maurice Hotel, so it's possible the chips migrated with him.

Here's a pic of Little from 1940:

Note the working with James Worsham at the Maurice Hotel in the research.
The Maurice Hotel was Benny Binion’s domain. I have posted part of this story in other “Illegal Of The Day” posts and more of the story prior to these posts. This opens up SF Little to be part of The Dallas Mafia story.

The Dallas Mafia wars:

Dallas was the “Wild Wild West” in the 1940’s.

Some of the casinos-Southland Hotel, Campbell Hotel, Blue Bonnet Hotel, and Maurice Hotel.

The main players Benny Binion and Herbert “The Cat” Noble.

A few of the bit players James Worsham, Ivy Miller, RF Scarborough, and Eddie Wrotan, all ordered chips for the operations.

Benny made a number of attempts on “The Cat’s” life before he finally got him.

Here's a pic of Noble after one of the attempts on his life:

Looks like the shooter was part of “The Gang That Couldn’t Shoot Straight.”

Eddie Wrotan death threat letter to Benny Binion in 1946: In FBI evidence bag.