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Stepp Brothers Under ThreatBy Gambling FraternityThe following story concerning two widely-known brothers appeared in a recent issue of the Dayton Daily News, datelined lrom Covington in KentuckyUnderw'orld sources here say a “contract” is out calling the execution of Dayton underworld figure William E. (Bill) Stepp.Also named in the contract reportedly assigned by racket figures of the Northern Kentucky-Cincin-nati area is Stepp's younger brother. Emie.The two brothers are blamed by the victims for leading a $100,000 holdup of a big time card game in Covington last Tuesday night, knowledgeable sources say.Four masked men carrying shotguns made off with an estimated $00,000 in cash and $40,000 in jewelry The gamblers — eight men and one woman — surrender- ed le money and jewels after being lorced to strip oft their cloth-j ing to hinder pursuit.Seven of the men in the reported holdup have police records for gambling and bookinaking.The robbery was not reported to police.However, Covington Police Chief Ralph Bosse said Monday, “There’s no doubt in my mmd that it happened ”CHIEF BOSSE confirmed the identities of known gamblers reported in the game and said he favors a hearing or a grand jury in vestigation of the holdup Sources report that participants in another big gambling game here were ordered to strip at gunpointand were robbed of $20,000 about two months ago.Two Newport men, partners in business and gambling enterprises, reportedly planned the robber).IT IS NOT certain that the Stepps are aware of the execution threat. However, they have not been seen here or in Dayton for the past several days.A barmaid at a suburban Dayton motel who stated that Bill Stepp “usually drops in every day for coffee”' said Saturday she had not seen him for approximately two weeks.Stepp's wife, Lucy, said .Saturday her husband and his brothei are still in the area.HOWEVER, a Dayton area law-enforcement officer said Sunday he has heard reports that the brothers are m Florida.The Stepps and their associates were -tabbed “the notorious Stepp gang” in 1966 by then-Atty Gen. (now U. S. Senator) William B Saxbe.The Ohio attorney general said the gang had been responsible for a series of crimes, including extor tion, burglary and larceny bytrick.1!a•irs;01However, convictions have been few against Stepp.Witnesses refused to follow up initial complaints with testimony in a striking number of cases and probation and suspended sentences were granted on several con vie tions. The only extended jail time served by Bill Stepp was a six-month stint for assault and batter) \ in Sandusky 14 years ago and six months for aggravated assault (re : duced from rape) in the Cincinnati; workhouse recently.The Covmgton-Newport area re-j mains the center for gambling and vice in Southern Ohio and Northern . Kentucky, though wide open wager ing ended with a reform drive in i 1961.The Stepp brothers reportedly have been frequenting Newport and Covington for the past five monthsAlthough his only listed employment has been that of a home im provements salesman, Bill Stepp's trademark is a white Cadillac However, it is not registered in his name Nor is the house with attached swimming pool he has occu-j pied with his wife and young son ' in recent years Stepp also spends lavishly on such items as alligator shoes, ex pensive drag-racing cars and high-priced lawyers Although continuing to live in Dayton, the Stepps have had few dealings with police in the past two \ears Bill Stepp was acquitted Nov 13, 1969, on robber) and assault charges stemming from a two-year-old incident at the Forum Club in Dayton The Stepps and most of their associates hail from the hardscrabble hill region of Adams, Pike and Scioto Counties Bill and Ernie grew up near the neat farm village of Peebles. Their father, the late Elias Stepp, Sr. who died in 1967. was a self styled lay preacher given to quotingscripture The father told a reportericisPlt;waicirefrer$6rimofP1ShiHiIIIMJiEdIlt;Fi Ho Hu In t.113folinoff-OlFllmctCclmA01\’idoMFlt;tr.CiesdeofmmA NUMBER of Stepp associates lave been convicted and sentenced o long prison terms. But not Bill r Ernie Stepp.Thirty-three-year-old Bill Stepp las been arrested more than 30 .imes since 1955 Assault and-bat-ery charges in which victims were :rutally beaten have been commonm-\li'FI33TCFITtTITFTf
Newspaper Details
Hillsboro Press Gazette
Hillsboro, Ohio, US
Fri, Dec 26, 1969
Page 11
Full Page
Clipped by
Daisy H.
WV, USA 09 Dec 2017
Other Publications Near Hillsboro, Ohio
Hillsboro Press Gazette
Hillsboro News Herald
The Highland Weekly News
Hillsboro Times Gazette
