One more KY chip I was hoping to get a Club name for. IMO, the “Cloverleaf” order was too big for a home poker game. More than likely a game where they cut the pot. That made it illegal in KY. We did get a possible Club name but IMO it is not enough for me to attribute it.

Poker games in KY were legal if you did not cut or “Rake” the pot. If you cut the pot it was illegal under KY state law. The feds had no jurisdiction unless you were selling moonshine to the players.

A few $ to local cops usually gave you an unofficial “Gaming License.” AHA! Re-enter the Feds. Paying off State/city/county officials is a federal offense.

I have mentioned my poker partners for 20 years, Brownie Noel and Howard “Two Thumbs” Donnelly in a couple other “Illegal Of The Day” posts. In the mid 1970’s they opened a poker game in Covington, KY. I was involved with another deal (oil wells and a good story for another day) and was not involved with the poker game. I played in it, when I could. It was across the street from the fire house on 6th street or was it 7th street (memory fades, one of you KY boys can help on the right street ) in downtown Covington.

Howard and Brownie were lifelong acquaintances with the Chief of Detectives in Covington. For money, he was to keep the Covington police away from the poker game. It was a successful operation with 2 games most nights.

The FBI headquarters was roughly 3 blocks away in the post office on Scott Street. They had been investigating the Chief of D’s for several years for corruption. It wasn’t long before they had the poker game wired and caught the Chief of D’s taking $ on tape.

It was a big deal in the newspapers. I was subpoenaed to testify. I had no knowledge about the bribes and because of my past relationship with Brownie and Howard, I would take the fifth. They dropped the subpoena. My wife was subpoenaed and could testify to playing in the game. No big deal as the world knew there was a poker game in the building. When she exited the court room reporters swarmed her asking questions and taking pictures. The next day a picture on the front page declared she was a Connie Stevens look alike. Geez, talk about being hard to live with for weeks. You young guys can google Connie Stevens.

Brownie and Howard wound up doing a year and a day in a Federal prison in Lexington, KY. The newspapers declared they were the first poker players in KY history to do Federal time for operating a poker game. Not exactly the facts. They did time for bribing a cop!

Enough of that:

Clover leaf:

HL Burger
1524 South 4th St
Louisville, KY
1941

Herbert L. Burger, a Kentucky native, died at Louisville in 1962, age 65.1524 South 4th St. was the address of the Selma Apartments, where Burger resided when the chips were ordered.

In the mid-late 1930’s Burger was the proprietor of a barber shop and then later a restaurant. He does not seem to have had either of these places when the chips were ordered.

Burger had a brother named John. Around the time the chips were ordered a John Burger opened a restaurant in Louisville called “Burger’s Place.” I don’t know if Herbert had anything to do with the place or if the place had gambling, but thought I’d mention it as a possibility (later the place was named “Burger’s Shady Rest”).

IMO there is a “good chance” the chips were used at “Burger’s Place.” I said “good chance.”

Just not good enough for me to call it!