Rothstein: The Life, Times, and Murder of the Criminal Genius Who Fixed the 1919 World Series

by David Pietrusza

  278 Clayton: Mosedale, p. 160.

  279 "real beginning ..." ... "...been the case.": Rothstein, pp. 236-38; Pasley, pp. 130-31.

  279 "Why do ... other way.": Eisenberg and Dan, p. 104.

  279 "The gambling ... like Rothstein.": ibid. pp. 105-06.

  280 Fowler (Beau James), 207-08, 222-23; Mosedale, pp. 160-61. Moore meant what he said. The Telegraph printed almost nothing about A. R.'s eventual shooting and death.

  281 "others ... quiet generosity.": NY Daily Mirror, 10 November 1928, p. 4.

  281 NY Daily Mirror, 18 November 1928, p. 5.

  282 "the gem of ..." ... "of beauties.": NY Daily News, 10 November 1928, p. 4; NY Times, 11 November 1928, p. 27.

  282 "I ... was ... separated shortly.": Albany Times-Union, 10 November 1928, p. 2. Betty Compson (1897-1974), not to be confused with Jimmy Walker's mistress Betty Compton, enjoyed a lengthy-if now largely forgotten-career, working with directors Josef von Sternberg, James Cruze, Tod Browning, and Erich von Stroheim. In 1928 she received an Academy Award nomination for her supporting role in The Barker. James Montgomery Flagg (1872-1960), one of America's foremost illustrators, created wartime patriotic posters (e.g., "I Want You") that have earned him a particular immortality.

  282 Reiser divorce: NY Sun, 10 November 1928, p. 1; NY Times, 11 November 1928, p. 27; NY Eve. Post, 10 November 1928, pp. 1, 2; NY World, 10 November 1928, p. 2. Ironically, Irving Weisglass, a witness to Reiser's "adultery," gave his occupation as "bedding salesman."

  283 "I was very . . .. . ... . . French Riviera.": Albany Times-Union, 10 November 1928, p. 2; Gosch and Hammer, p. 41. A. R. kept Inez at the Fairfield Hotel on West 72nd Street and, after breaking up with Carolyn, lived with her. The Fairfield was yet another example of how increasingly murky Rothstein's financial transactions had become. The Fairfield had been built in 1925 with cash supplied by bootlegger Bernard Bornstein. But Bornstein got cold feet, withheld additional funds, and demanded his original money back. He got it, but in the process, the hotel went bankrupt. In January 1927, A. R. bought it for $1.4 million, but another bidder was prepared to offer $25,000 more. A. R. bribed the other bidder's agent, an Eleanor M. Ransom, promising to make good her commission of $14,850 and to grant her "certain club concessions" at the Fairfield. He reneged on his promises. Amazingly, Ransom, who had betrayed her client in the process, sued Rothstein for damages. (NY Times, 14 May 1927, p. 8; NY Times, 12 June 1927, Sect. II, p. 4)

  Several notables in our story had Fairfield connections. Rothstein business partner Samuel Brown lived there. So did mobster Ciro "The Artichoke King" Terranova. Bridget Farry had worked at the Fairfield. Geneva Hines hosted parties there.

  Chapter 19: 'Will I Pull Through?"

  284 "You take ... for me.": NY World, 5 November 1928, p. 2; NY Times, 6 November 1928, p. 2; NY Times, 3 December 1929, p. 26.

  284 "Something was ... fired.": NY Times, 6 November 1928, p. 2; NY Eve. Post, 5 November 1928, p. 8.

  284-285 Murder weapon: NY World, 5 November 1928, p. 2; NY Times, 5 November 1928, p. 1; NY Times, 6 November 1928, p. 2; NY Daily Mirror, 5 November 1928, p. 2; NY Times, 4 December 1929, p. 24. The Colt catalog described the weapon: "Colt detective special-the most powerful arm that can be carried conveniently in a coat side pocket."

  285 "I am ... something.": Katcher, p. 5.

  285 Jailer: NY Times, 6 November 1928, p. 2; NY Sun, 5 November 1928, p. 1.

  285 Long walk: Crouse, p. 142; Rothstein, pp. 249-50.

  285-86Lindenbaum: NY World, 5 November 1928, p. 2; NY World, 6 November 1928, p. 16; NY Post, 5 November 1928, p. 8; NY Times, 5 November 1928, p. 1. Rothstein attorney Isaiah Leebove also volunteered to donate blood.

  285-86 "The patient is ..." ... "... that, Paddy.": NY World, 5 November 1928, p. 2; NY Sun, 5 November 1928, p. 29; NY Daily News, 6 November 1928, p. 4; Katcher, pp. 6-7.

  286 "Call Academy. . . the will.": NY Times, 3 December 1929, p. 26. Cantor maintained his practice two floors above Rothstein's 45-47 West 57th Street offices.

  286 Cantor retrieves will: NY Sun, 9 November 1928, pp. 1-2.

  286-87"Mrs. Rothstein ............. right away.": NY World, 5 November 1928, p. 2; Rothstein, pp. 245-46; NY Times, 5 November 1928, p. 1. In her autobiography, Mrs. Rothstein misleadingly refers to the call alerting her to her husband's death as coming from his "chauffeur." In fact, it came not from Eugene Reiman but from bodyguard Fats Walsh.

  287 "I didn't ... my room.": Rothstein, pp. 245-47; NY Times, 5 November 1928, p. 14.

  287 Father Considine: Fowler (Beau James), p. 225. Howey served as the model for the unscrupulous editor "Walter Burns" in Ben Hecht and Charlie MacArthur's classic 1928 play The Front Page.

  287 "Arnold has ... his parents.": NY American, 6 November 1928.

  288 Terms of will: NY Herald-Tribune, 10 November 1928, p. 3. Brown's attorney said of him: "Samuel Brown ... was Rothstein's most trusted associate. He knows more about the dead man's affairs than anybody else, even Mr. Cantor." (NY Sun, 16 November 1928, p. 20)

  289 "sign anything ..." ... "... sense to it.": NY Sun, 3 December 1928, p. 20; NY Sun, 7 December 1928, p. 1; NY Sun, 15 December 1928, p. 2; NY Sun, 17 December 1928, p. 1; NY Sun, 18 December 1928, p. 21; NY Sun, 21 December 1928, p. 3; Katcher, pp. 332-33; Clarke, p. 302. Cantor not only provided for Rothstein's will in the Big Bankroll's final hours, he took possession of Rothstein's last bankroll, the $6,500-$1,025 in cash-in his pocket when he was shot.

  290 "I knew ..." ... "... go home.": Rothstein, pp. 245-47; NY Times, 5 November 1928, p. 14.

  290 "Arnold Rothstein ... Ninth Precinct.": ibid. p. 1.

  290-91 "Age, 42 ... on sight.": Katcher, p. 3.

  291 Room description: ibid. pp. 3-4; Valentine, p. 110; NY Times, 30 August 1940, p. 38.

  291 "the manners of ..." ... "... of saint.": Alexander (Jazz Age Jews), pp. 58-59.

  292 "Rothstein ... his life.": NY American, 6 November 1928.

  292-93Death certificate: Death Certificate #27576, Files of the Archives of the City of New York. Some have alleged A. R.'s last words were, "Me mudder did it." This seems unlikely.

  294 Funeral: NY Sun, 7 November 1928, p. 15; NY World, 9 November 1928, p. 18; NY Herald-Tribune, 8 November 1928. Rabbi Leo Jung (1892-1987), the author of over three-dozen books, was among the leaders of the Orthodox movement and has been called "one of the most prominent rabbis of the twentieth century."

  Chapter 20: Coverup: "A Decenter, Kinder Man I Never Knew"

  294 Murder weapon: Police were able to trace the weapon's early history. On June 1, 1928 a Joseph Novotny of St. Paul, Minnesota purchased the gun at auction. On June 15 he sold it to an unknown man. At some point it found its way into-and out of-NYPD detective bureau hands. For the record, its barrel number was #359,946.

  294-95 "Rothstein ... smuggling ring.": NY World, 17 November 1928, p. 2; NY Times, 18 November 1928, p. 24; NY Sun, 19 November 1928, p. 14; NY Sun, 24 November 1928, p. 6; Katcher, p. 335. One arresting officer was Gene Tunney's brother, Detective Tom Tunney. Isaiah Leebove represented Luciano and Uffner, State Senator Elmer F. Quinn represented Walsh.

  Decades later, Luciano denied any knowledge of what really happened. "All I knew about it," he told an interviewer in the early 1960s, "was that he welshed on a bet. That was the rumor. Of course, the cops called me in and they grilled me, but I never knew who done it."

  Luciano added, "I did lots of favors for Rothstein, too. I used to back him in poker games. We both made money. But he could spend it so fast just livin' that it even made my head spin, and I was a pretty good spender myself. All he hadda do was ask me for the dough he owed; I'd've sent it right over." (Gosch and Hammer, p. 41)

  295 Charges dismissed: NY Sun, 23 November 1928, p. 22.

  295 "It's Raymond's . . . to believe.": NY Times, 18 November 1928, p. 24; Albany Times-Union, 12 November 1928, pp. 1, 2; Albany Times-Union, 17 November 1928, pp. 1, 10; Albany Times-Union, 13 November 1928, pp. 1, 2; NY Daily Mirror, 29 November
1928, p. 4; Kobler (Capone), pp. 243-44. Dog racing remained illegal nationwide until 1931, when Florida became the first state to legalize the sport. Mobsters operated most of the first legal tracks. Fixing dog races was considerably more common-and easier-than fixing horse racing.

  295 Detroit, Corbo, Diamond: NY Sun, 23 November 1928, p. 22; NY Sun, 26 November 1928, p. 2.

  295-96Overcoat: Whelan Report, p. 7; NY World, 11 November 1928, p. 2; Albany Times-Union, 19 November 1928, p. 2; NY Sun, 1 December 1928, p. 2. The Whelan Report indicated police found "a key to Room 349 in the pocket of said coat." They also discovered several handkerchiefs initialed "G. McM" in the room and "a shirt size 16."

  297 "The only ... been secured." Whelan Report, p. 8.

  297 New friends: NY Sun, 19 November 1928, p. 14; NY Sun, 20 November 1928, p. 23; NY Sun, 21 November 1928, p. 6; NY Sun, 27 November 1928, p. 2; NY Sun, 29 November 1928, p. 29; NY Eve. Post, 20 November 1928, pp. 1, 7; NY Times, 20 November 1928, pp. 1, 24; NY Daily Mirror, 29 November 1928, pp. 3-4.

  297 "Saturday night ... quite silly.": NY Daily Mirror, 29 November 1928, pp. 3-4.

  297 "Every one ... look different." : NY Times, 20 November 1928, pp. 1, 24; NY Sun, 20 November 1928, pp. 1, 23; NY Eve Post, 20 November 1928, pp. 1, 7.

  298 Room 349 unguarded, McManus apartment: Whelan Report, p. 11. By not searching McManus' apartment, police not only missed valuable clues (espe- ciall badly needed photos of the fugitive), they potentially avoided finding the fugitive there.

  298 Will terms: NY Daily Mirror, 14 November 1928, p. 28; NY Daily News, 11 November 1928, pp. 2, 3; NY Daily News, 17 November 1928, p. 3; NY Daily News, 18 November 1928, p. 3.

  299 Search for assets: NY Daily News, 17 November 1928, pp. 3, 5; NY Daily News, 18 November 1928, p. 3.

  299 21 separate proxies: NY World, 28 November 1928, p. 2.

  299 Debts: ibid. p. 1; NY Sun, 10 November 1928, p. 3.

  299-00 "The irony ... his heirs.": NY World, 10 November 1928, p. 2.

  300 Politicians: NY Post, 23 November 1928, p. 8; NY Sun, 27 November 1928, p. 2; NY Sun, 7 December 1928, p. 1; NY Daily Mirror, 29 November 1929, p. 4; NY Red Book, 1929 edition, pp. 42, 43; Betts, p. 88.

  300 McManus, Hines: Valentine, p. 106. McManus wasn't the only gambler utilizing Tammany clubhouses. Johnny Baker operated out of Chief Clerk of the City Court Harry C. Perry's club at Fourth and Bowery; Baldy Froelich and Gus Mayo held forth at Sheriff Thomas M. Farley's 369 East 62nd Street clubhouse.

  300 "A man ... he wanted.": Connable and Silberfarb, p. 289.

  301 "Of the ... clubhouse.": NY Amsterdam News, 4 June 1938, p. 14.

  301 "Vote every star": Thomson and Raymond, p. 127.

  301 Hines' mobster ties: ibid2-33.

  302 Marinelli: ibid. pp. 59, 127-58; NY Times, 26 March 1957, pp. 1, 38; Katcher, pp. 257-59, 264; Weiss, pp. 62-33; Werner, pp. 558-63. Rothstein had significant business dealings with both Hines and Marinelli, issuing numerous liability and property damage policies for Marinelli's trucking business, plus a $40,000 life insurance policy on Marinelli.

  303 "Get in.": Katcher, p. 329. From Gang Rule in New York: "Years later Jimmy Hines confided to J. Richard ["Dixie"] Davis, [Dutch] Schultz's mouthpiece, that he had done everything in his power to save McManus. He undoubtedly had." (Thomson and Raymond, p. 72)

  303 "He said ... Arnold Rothstein.": NY Sun, 6 December 1928, p. 2; Thomson and Raymond, p. 71. Shalleck possessed an interesting legal lineage. His career began in Bill Fallon's office. Maurice Cantor's began in Shalleck's. (NY Eve. Post, 28 November 1928, p. 6; Thomson and Raymond, p. 138)

  304 "arrest a man.": Whelan Report, pp. 14-5; NY Times, 4 December 1929, p. 24; NY Sun, 29 December 1928, p. 1; Lardner and Reppetto, p. 213. Cordes also went to school with Essenheim.

  304 "Hello, George." . . . ... hair cut and shave.": NY Sun, 3 December 1928, p. 1.

  304-05 "With his . . for him.": ibid. 4 December 1928, p. 20.

  305 "A decenter, kinder ..." ... "... him anywhere.": Katcher, pp. 4-5.

  305 "I'm afraid ... to a `squealer.' ": NY Daily Mirror, 29 November 1928, p. 3.

  305-06 "Circumstantial evidence ... sound one.": NY Sun, 1 December 1928, p. 1.

  306 "And McManus, ... nothing happened.": NY Daily Mirror, 1 December 1928, p. 3.

  306 Indictments, Farry: Taking the almost unprecedented step of releasing a firstdegree murder suspect on bail was Supreme Court Justice Aaron J. Levy, a key player in the Rosenthal murder case. William McLaughlin, a former police inspector who had once supervised McManus' father, supplied McManus' bail. (Thomson and Raymond, p. 71; NY Eve. Post, 5 December 1929, p. 21) All other material witnesses had been released months before Farry-Red Martin Bowe, Sidney Stajer, and Nate Raymond, for example, on $10,000 bail.

  307 Keating- Macrery: Thomson and Raymond, pp. 197-98.

  307 "Mr. Unger ..." ... "... is important.": NY Graphic, 22 November 1928, p. 4.

  307 Burkan: NY Times, 7 June 1936, Sect. II, p. 9. In 1920 Burkan represented John Slavin against John McGraw in the Lambs Club assault case.

  308 Trial schedule: NY Herald-Tribune, 6 December 1929, pp. 1, 6.

  308 Election returns: Walsh, p. 204; Fowler (Beau James), pp. 256-57.

  308 Murray: NY Times, 15 October 1967, p. 85. Thomson and Raymond, p. 233. Murray briefly represented Little Augie Orgen in the July 1926 murder of garment worker Samuel Landman.

  308 Failure to connect the dots: NY Sun, 25 November 1929, p. 24.

  308 Murder weapon: NY Sun, 20 November 1929, p. 1.; NY Sun, 21 November 1929, p. 2.

  309 "show that ... Arnold Rothstein." NY Eve. Post, 21 November 1929, p. 2.

  309 "Murray: "Was the ..." ... "... a smile.": ibid. pp. 1, 2; NY Sun, 22 November 1929, p. 2; Stowers, pp. 24-25, 31-32. While in police custody, Thompson hinted that he'd been in Room 349, but sensed trouble and left just minutes before Rothstein arrived. He never testified to this effect.

  309 Marguerite Hubbell: NY Sun, 22 November 1929, pp. 1-2; NY Times, 29 November 1929, p. 1.

  310 Marian Putnam: NY Sun, 22 November 1929, pp. 1, 2; NY Sun, 30 November 1929, p. 3; NY Eve. Post, 30 November 1929, p. 2; NY Eve. Post, 1 December 1929, p. 2; NY Times, 30 November 1929, pp. 1, 14. George McManus's brother Charles was among those investigating Mrs. Putnam. As the trial began, he was in Asheville on the case.

  310 Orringer: NY Eve. Post, 4 December 1929, p. 8; NY Sun, 3 December 1929, p. 2; Stowers, pp. 28-31.

  310 Walters: NY Eve. Post, 4 December 1929, p. 8.

  311 Jackson, Bender: NY Sun, 3 December 1929, p. 2; Whalen Report, p. 13.

  311 Scher: Crouse, p. 147.

  311 Meehan, Farry: NY Times, 5 December 1929, pp. 1, 22.

  312 $10 bribe, tripping: NY Times, 5 December 1929, pp. 1, 22; NY Journal, 5 December 1929; NY Journal, undated clipping; Albany (NY) Times-Union, 4 December 1929, pp. 1, 4 NY Sun, 4 December 1929, pp. 1, 2 NY Eve. Post, 4 December 1929, pp. 1, 8. About the only unpleasantness for McManus during the trial transpired as he attended the NYU-Carnegie Tech game on Thanksgiving Day at Yankee Stadium: robbers entered his apartment, stealing $20,000 worth of jewels and clothing. Big George called the police. (NY Eve. Post, 30 November 1929, p. 2; Stowers, p. 32)

  312 "But take ... Rothstein.": NY Eve. Post, 4 December 1929, p. 8; NY Sun, 23 November 1929, p. 2.

  312 Police witnesses: NY Times, 5 December 1929, pp. 1, 22.

  313 If the ... People rest.": NY Times, 6 December 1929, p. 14.

  313-14 "In a case ... overcome.": NY Times, ibid.

  314 "Not guilty." ... "... tell mama." NY Herald-Tribune, 6 December 1929, pp. 1, 6.

  314-15 "I was ... merry Christmas.": NY Times, 6 December 1929, pp. 1, 14; NY Herald-Tribune, 6 December 1929, pp. 1, 6; NY Sun, 6 December 1929, pp. 1, 29: NY Eve. Post, 5 December 1929, pp. 1, 21.

  315 Kolsky: NY Eve. Post, 22 November 1929, p. 1.

  Chapter 21: "Tell Me Who Is Using My Money For Dope"

  316-17"I know ... to move." Rothstein, pp. 20,
172.

  317 Drug users: Albany Times-Union, 10 November 1928, p. 2; Jonnes, p. 29; Katcher, p. 220; Chafetz, p. 404; Johnston, pp. 70, 169, 205-206, Klein, pp. 81, 135. Not until 1909 would there be a concerted effort to close the city's opium joints.

  317 Narcotics prohibition: In 1918 a congressional committee estimated the number of narcotics users in the nation at one million. America's most famous drug addict of the 1920s was silent-film star Wallace Reid who, like many World War veterans, developed his morphine addiction after being treated with it as a painkiller. Actress Louise Brooks alleged that Lionel Barrymore was also addicted to the drug. Comedienne Mabel Normand was heavily into cocaine.

  318 Vantine's: Katcher, pp. 294, 309; Goldman, p. 111. The scale of Diamond's drug dealings with A. R. may be discerned from a comment made after Rothstein's death by narcotics peddler Ike Berman. Frustrated by the indecision of an undercover agent, Berman blurted out: "Do you know who I used to do business with? Arnold Rothstein, Jack [Legs] Diamond and Oscar and Sam Weiner ... we used to bring back a million dollars' worth of junk from Merck's factory in Berlin."

  319-2OKing, Schoellkopf: NY Times, 16 March 1923, p. 3; NY Times, March 26, 1923, pp. 1,2; NY Times, March 28, 1923, pp. 1, 3; NY Times, March 29, 1923, pp. 1, 3; NY Times, 27 April 1923, p. 36; NY Times, 20 July 1923, p. 18; NY Times, 10 January 1924, p. 5; NY Times, 27 January 1924, pp. 1, 15; NY Times, 15 March 1924, p. 17; NY Times, 9 December 1928, p. 1; NY Times, 22 March 1930, pp. 1, 10; NY Journal, 3 December 1928, page unknown; Sann, p. 95; Thomson and Raymond, pp. 44, 56; Levine, pp. 64-65; Rothstein, p. 158; Katcher, p. 306; Carey, pp. 209-22; Ferrell, p. 128; Russell, p. 572. Less than a year later, in February 1924, twenty-five-year-old Louise Lawson, another Rothstein-connected showgirl, was suffocated in her West 77th Street apartment. A. R. had insured the diamond and platinum jewelry stolen during her murder. The policy lapsed just before her death.

  320 Webber, Vachuda: NY Times, 13 July 1926, p. 18; NY Times, 28 January 1927, p. 21; NY Times, 24 February 1927, p. 14; NY Times, 16 December 1928, Sect. I, p. 6; Jonnes, pp. 78-80, 102. Defending Webber and Vachuda was George Z. Medalie, A.R's attorney in the Edward M. Fuller bankruptcy. Medalie also defended Legs Diamond on drug charges after A. R. set Legs up in 1927.