1921 SAN QUENTIN STATE PRISON MAFIA MUGSHOT OF SAN DIEGO MOBSTER HOWARD ABBEY


Extortion lands 32-year-old in Folsom, and eventually in cemetery

Man with dark wavy hair and the numbers 17768.
Howard J. Abbey in 1932.
Front and side portraits of man with numbers 35380.
In 1921, Abbey was received at San Quentin.

The first name appearing on the list for the Folsom State Prison cemetery is Howard Abbey, 17768, also known as Eddie Hayes and Edward Ferguson. Born around 1899, he was in and out of prison, including a 10-year stint at San Quentin from 1921 to 1931 under the number 35380.

Abbey, an aspiring San Diego mobster, was involved in underworld dealings in Southern California. When he threatened James Crofton, president of the Agua Caliente Jockey Club, he wasn’t expecting so much resistance. Abbey demanded $7,500 from Crofton and his club, or they would face the consequences. Croton reported it to police and Abbey was arrested. Two days before his trial, Crofton received a letter threatening violence if he didn’t drop the charges.

“We will take care of you no matter how many guards you’ve got,” the letter warned. “We will soon be in power in San Diego and we have plenty of money so you had better act wisely.”

According to Crofton, Abbey said he was backed by muscle out of Chicago.

Chicago backing doesn’t help

Abbey was tried, convicted and then sent to Folsom. He was received April 6, 1932, on an indeterminate sentence of at least five years. While serving his time in Folsom, he was also questioned by San Diego police regarding the murder of a bootlegger.

On April 14, San Diego County Sheriff Ed Cooper revealed a letter had been sent to Wirt Bowman, president of the Agua Caliente corporation. The business had many holdings, including a hotel in addition to the jockey club. The letter demanded $50,000. It also noted that since Crofton didn’t drop the charges, he was marked for death. If the money wasn’t paid, the same would happen to Bowman and his family.

According to those serving time with Abbey, he was becoming worried “about his health.” What those worries were exactly, no one knows.

On March 30, 1934, Abbey reportedly climbed over the railing of the fifth tier and jumped 40 feet to the concrete floor below. He died 90 minutes later from a skull fracture, according to Warden Court Smith. Abbey never regained consciousness and did not leave a suicide note. He was buried in the Folsom Prison cemetery.


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