Do you have a source to link Edward O’Hare to Capone regarding anything other than the dogtrack(s)?
Also when it comes to Hot Springs, AR:
What source do you have linking him to ownership in the Belvedere Club or Oaklawn Park? There were atleast 6 more casinos, why no stake in them?
He had a room rented year round on the fourth floor (412 or 442) at the Arlington Hotel in Hot Springs.
Not saying I dont believe you I would just like to see the sources. Gambling in Hot Springs was only allowed because it was home grown, not brought in by out of town gangster elements.
The only famous gangster I've ever found to have interests in Hot Springs casinos is Owney Madden, who lived there for decades and is buried there. Over the years he had up to 25% interest in almost all of the casinos, at various times. He also fought for control of the wire service with the local politians.
The informations mostly came from Virgil Petersons testimony at the Kefauver hearings in 1950.He states that the syndicates czar of dog racing in Chicago and Florida during the Capone period was Edward J. O'Hare. He used to be connected with William Johnston and John Patton(the boy mayor of Burnham)at the Sportsman Park and they were the owners of many race tracks.Patton, O'Hare and Jack Guzik were also involved in the operation at the Laramie Kennel Club and the Hawthorne Kennel Club.Also in 1929, an indictment was returned in criminal court,charging O'Hare, and others with conspiracy in offering perjured testimony as to betting at dog tracks in Illinois.
I dont have any info on O'Hares involvment in the Oaklawn park,but i have infos that Ralph Capone had his shares in it.
The Belvedere club was a night club which was often visited by Al himself.Many belive that Al and Joe Kennedy used the club to manufacture and sell illegal booze.This info comes from Robert Raines book on Hot Springs underworld.
Do you have a source to link Edward O’Hare to Capone regarding anything other than the dogtrack(s)? Did he ever represent Capone in any way as a lawyer? He was more of a front man, was he not? Just my opinion. There is no doubt that O'Hare was involved in numerous dogtracks.
Love to see what you have about Bottles having an interest in Oaklawn park, the same family(Cella) has owned it since the 1910s. I could see them having stakes in horses or something along those lines but Capone was known for just blowing his money on gambling and gifts.
The Belvedere still stands, it has a decent golf course on it. If you go into FBI files from the era they go against a lot of Raines claims. Ive never read his books but the museum is a little far fetched. I mean do you really believe that Luciano, Lansky, and Costello sent Madden down to Hot Springs in 1935 to start a gambling racket? There had been organized gambling in the region for decades by then. Leo and the politians were the bosses, thats why the gangsters loved hanging out down there.
If Al was going to own a stake in any of the clubs I would think it to be the Ohio Club(which was named Al Capone's at one time) or the Southern Club(which there is a clear veiw of from his room at the Arlingtion).
Once again Im not trying to argue with you, I would just rather see some type of source or proof other than word of mouth.
