Gambling Houses
Beginning in the late 1800s, Covington and Newport, KY, were known for their gambling and prostitution houses and organized crime. Newport was referred to as "sin city."
Newport Kentucky was the bawdiest spot in American. Its reputation as a sin city had its roots in the 1880s, when small time gambling and prostitution houses sprang up to satisfy the desires of the US Army soldiers at the Newport Barracks. Even after the army finished relocating to nearby Ft Thomas, the soldiers came back to Newport by streetcar to visit their favorite saloons and disorderly houses. Once those saloons were equipped with telephones, bookmaking on horse races became a profitable cottage industry.
One of the African American gambling houses in the area was the Alibi Club, owned by Melvin Clark in 1952. The club was acquired by Screw Andrews (Frank Andriello) when Clark was kicked out of Newport after shooting and killing Andrews' casino manager. Clark returned to Newport in 1954 and opened the Coconut Grove. He was killed 18 July 1955, in Newport by Screw Andrews. Melvin was born in Columbus Ohio in 1914 to William D Clark and Mattie Watson.
Other casinos and clubs owned by Melvin Clark that catered to African Americans were the Congo, the Copa, Golden Lounge, the Rocket Club, York Streets, and the Varga. The Sportsman was owned by Melvin's partner Steve Payne.
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Kentucky Post, Saturday, 16 October 1948, page 1
Campbell Murphy, Negro, was indicted on a gambling charge in connection with the alleged operation of a blackjack game at a Negro night club on Central avenue, Newport.
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Kentucky Post, Thursday, 18 March 1954, page 1
In a surprise raid late Wednesday, three constables from Campbell county's rural area and county police swooped down upon the Negro night club, the Sportsman's Club, 330 Central avenue, Newport, and seized gaming equipment including six slot machines. Walter Owens, 38, Negro, said to be the manager of the club was arrested on two charges of gaming.
He faced County Trial Commissioner Thomas F Schnoor Thursday, Constables George Hawkins, Phil Knock and Harry Moreland assisted County Chief James Winters and Patrolmen Amster, Roberts and Al Seifried, armed with a search warrant issued by Ft Thomas Magistrate Arthur K Rawlings, staged the raid.