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

by David Pietrusza

  72 "outward order and decency.": Thomas, passim. Gaynor won the mayoralty with just 43 percent of the vote. Lackluster Republican Otto Bannard received 30 percent. William Randolph Hearst, the Independence League candidate, received 27 per cent.

  73 Cropsey: Cropsey's appointment probably came about because Gaynor mistook him for someone else. He replaced William E Baker. Baker is remembered as owner of the bedraggled Philadelphia Phillies and namesake of its equally bedraggled ballpark, Baker Bowl.

  72 Strong-arm squads: The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire occurred on Waldo's watch as Fire Commissioner.

  72 Rose, Selig: In November 1910 Rose served as President of Second Avenue's premier gambling club while Herman Rosenthal served as treasurer. When police raided the place, the club succeeded in going to court to have the occupation lifted. According to the New York Telegraph, Rose stated, "the club was used for the promotion of social intercourse. Among its many members, he stated, were prominent citizens. It was further shown that liberal contributions were made to many charitable institutions and that the club did much to ameliorate conditions in its immediate neighborhood." (NY Telegraph, 3 November 1910, p. 5)

  73 "a Harlem negro gambling resort.": NY World, 16 July 1912, p. 3; NY Times, 21 July 1912, p. 2. The word "resort" then possessed a different, less grand, meaning. Bridgey Webber's poolroom above 42nd Street's United Cigar Store was also commonly referred to as a "resort."

  73 "The first ... you to do.": NY World, 15 July 1912, pp. 1-2; NY World, 17 July 1912, p. 3; NY World, 10 October 1912, p. 6; NY Times, 19 July 1912, p. 2; Klein, p. 9; Root (One Night in July), p. 28.

  74 "Get that . . . out of town.": Rothstein and Tom Foley were well used to working with each other. When Rothstein issued his first bail bond in 19 10for confidence man "Plunk" Drucker-it was at Foley's behest.

  74 "The Big ... here." ... "I'm staying right here.": Katcher, pp. 80-81.

  75 "You're not ... ... ... go to hell," ibid, pp. 83-84.

  75 "In that ... District Attorney." Rothstein, p. 54.

  76 Rosenthal at the Metropole: Fried, pp. 23-24; Root (One Night in July), p. 15; Crane, pp. 127-28. Carolyn Rothstein reported that A. R. believed that if George Considine had been present at his establishment, Rosenthal's shooting would have never occurred. "George would have stopped it," Arnold said of his longtime friend.

  76 "Can you ... Herman?": NY World, 16 July 1912, pp. 1-2. It's often incorrectly alleged that the Rosenthal case was the first use of an automobile in a murder. "Spanish Louis" (John C. Lewis), a brutish Rosenthal henchman, met his death on East 11th Street on April 29, 1910. His murderers used a Pierce Arrow to escape.

  76 Police at the Metropole: Any number of unlikely characters were on the scene. Least likely was owlish young New York Times reporter (and future drama critic) Alexander Woollcott, model for the insufferable "Sheridan Whiteside" in Moss Hart's play, The Man Who Came to Dinner. "I shall always remember the picture of that soft, fat body wilting on the sidewalk with a beer-stained tablecloth serving as its pall . . .," Woollcott would write, "Just behind me an oldtimer whispered ... `From where I stand,' he said, `I can see eight murderers.' "(Woollcott, p. 212)

  77 "I got the license ............. I thought-": Klein, p. 14; Logan, p. 33; Root (One Night in July), pp. 21-22.

  77 "I accuse ... conviction can result.": Root (One Night in July), pp. 65-66; Crane, pp. 129-130.

  78 "Shapiro told me ... getaway.": NY Times, 19 July 1912, p. 2.

  79 "Do you believe ... told you already.": Ibid.

  79 "a very well ... Rosenthal left off.": NY Times, 19 July 1912, p. 2; Root (One Night in July), p. 87.

  79 "investigating a ... investigation.": NY Times, 23 July 1912, p. 2. Tammany also gave Whitman its nomination in 1913 as he sought reelection as district attorney.

  80 Shortly after the Triangle Shirtwaist trial, Steuer bought a former German protestant church on the Lower East Side that Bald Jack Rose had turned into a boxing club, the "Houston Athletic Club." Steuer converted it into the National Theatre. Ironically (in view of Steuer's defense work in the Triangle Shirtwaist case), in February 1913, his projectionist literally yelled "fire" in a crowded theater-and two persons died. In 1915 Steuer escaped disbarment for coaching a witness in a palimony suit against theatrical producer Abe Erlanger. (littp://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0151/goldfein.php; Mitgang, pp. 198-99; Fowler (Beau James), pp. 278-79; Walsh, p. 244.

  81 "yield[ing] to the ... represent them.": NY Times, 17 July 1912, p. 1; Root (One Night in July), p. 109; Logan, p. 123; Klein, pp. 34-36.

  81 Schepps: NY World, 1 August 1912, pp. 1, 2; NY World, 13 Aug 1912, pp. 1, 2; NY World, 14 August 1912, pp. 1, 2; NY World, 15 August 1912, pp. 1, 2; NY World, 19 August 1912, pp. 1, 2; Schepps reached Hot Springs, Arkansas before being arrested. Police issued this picturesque description of the fugitive: "Sam Schepps. American Hebrew, occupation enlarger of photos, real estate or other agent or salesman, gambler, aged 35 years, height 5 feet 7 inches, weight 145 to 150 pounds, slender build, light complexion, skin a little rough, light hair, blue eyes, large nose, wears nose glasses [a pince-nez], one eye a little crossed, gold filling in teeth, smooth shaven, intelligent, smooth talker, dresses neatly, wears considerable jewelry, constant frequenter of theatres, associate of sporting men, vaudeville actors, etc., accustomed to good living, spends much time in Turkish baths, incessant cigarette smoker." (NY Times, 25 July 1912, p. 2)

  81 "You have ... he belonged.": NY Times, 27 July 1912, p. 2. At one point Gaynor wrote Waldo: "But, my dear Mr. Commissioner, remember that the Mayor has every confidence in you and sustains you."

  82 "I cannot help ... man must be": NY Times, 2 August 1912, p. 2; Thomas, pp. 416-19, 424-27; Root (One Night in July), p. 72. The Rosenthal murder case, and the prominence it gave to Lower East Side gamblers, thugs, and pimps prompted deep soul-searching within New York's Jewish community. The city's short-lived Kehillah instituted a "Bureau of Social Morals" to uplift behavior. The Kehillah's detective bureau compiled a detailed record of Jewish criminality. Of Segal's Cafe, a Second Avenue hangout for such criminals as Jack Zelig, a bureau investigator wrote that "regardless of the law ... [someone should] plant a 14-inch gun and shoot the damn basement and its hoard of carrion into perdition." Today, the Bureau's records reside at Jerusalem's Hebrew University (Fried, pp. 1-7, 76-81).

  82 Sulzer: NY Times, 19 September 1913, p. 1-2; Weiss, pp. 59-63; Connable and Silberfarb, pp. 253, 255; Allen (The Tiger), pp. 210, 221. The ambitious Sulzer had attempted to secure the 1900 Democratic vice-presidential nomination, but his boomlet collapsed when Tammany's Richard Croker jibed, "[William Jennings] Bryan and Sulzer! How long before everybody would be saying `Brandy and Selzer?' " (Easton, p. 186)

  83 Sullivan death, funeral: NY Times, 17 July 1913, p. 7; NY Times, 14 September 1913, pp. 1-2; NY Times, 15 September 1913, p. 9; NY Times, 16 September 1913, p. 5; NY Times, 18 September 1913, p. 6; Harlow, pp. 520-22; Werner, pp. 509-10; Logan, p. 233; Klein, p. 340.

  83 Gaynor: Thomas, pp. 489-95; Connable and Silberfarb, p. 255.

  84 Zelig death: Root (One Night in July), pp. 132-33; Logan, pp. 170-02; Crane, pp. 131-12. Some contend that Zelig's demise may not have been connected to the Rosenthal case, instead linking it to two enemies within his own gang, Jack Sirocco and Chick Tricker. In December 1911 they dispatched Julie Morrell to kill Zelig, but instead Zelig lured Morrell to a Second Avenue dance hall. The lights went out, and a single bullet entered Morrell's heart.

  84 "Well, it ... gone [framed]": Klein, p. 63; Root (One Night in July), p. 163.

  84 "All that's ... to fear.": NY World, 12 October 1912, pp. 1-3; Klein, p. 64; Logan, p. 130; Root (One Night in July), p. 106.

  85 "Hello ... congratulate you.": NY World, 12 October 1912, p. 2; Klein, p. 130; Root (One Night in July), pp. 107, 171, 203, 219; Crane, p. 136.

  85 "It was ... future squealers.": NY World, 12 October 1912, p. 2; Klein, p. 131; Logan, p. 130; Root (One Night in July), p. 107.

 
; 85 "I don't ... or anything": NY World, 12 October 1912, p. 2; Klein, p. 120; Root (One Night in July), pp. 161-62.

  85 Becker guilty: NY World, 12 October 1912, p. 3; NY World, 14 October 1912, pp. 1, 2; Root (One Night in July), pp. 118-19; Fried, pp. 81. Goff had served as counsel to the 1894 Lexow investigation of city corruption.

  86 ".... the defendant .... law and discretion.": 210 N.Y.P. 289.

  86 "There was a ... to him.": Klein, p. 149; Root (One Night in July), p. 291.

  86 Executions: Klein, pp. 290-13; Root (One Night in July), pp. 270,279-80,284.

  86-87 New defense team: Logan, pp. 252-53, 256-58; Root (One Night in July), pp. 271; Mitgang, pp. 103-04. In 1890 Cockran defended William Kemmler, a Buffalo vegetable dealer charged with murdering his common-law wife. Kemmler would become the first man executed in an electric chair, and electricity interests feared his death would give their new product a bad name. George Westinghouse thus hired Cockran to save Kemmler from having 2,000 volts pumped through his body. Cockran failed, and Kemmler was duly executed-using a Westinghouse generator (http://www.crimelibrary.com/ notorious_murders/not_guilty/chair/5.html?sect= 14 ).

  87 "all them ... in New York.": Klein, pp. 293-314; Logan, p. 266; Root (One Night in July), pp. 289-91.

  87-88 Whitman elected: Whitman defeated incumbent Governor Martin Glynn and the disgraced William Sulzer (running on the Prohibition and American Party tickets). In that same election, Samuel Seabury won a seat on the Court of Appeals. The year before he bolted the Democratic Party, running-and losing-for the same office as a Progressive. In 1914, after presiding at the Becker trial, he ran-and won-with Tammany backing.

  88 "My private telephone ... I could.": Klein, pp. 128, 379; Logan, pp. 301-06; Root (One Night in July), pp. 297-99, 303. The July 29, 1915 New York Times reported: "Mr. Whitman had evidence of the Circle Theatre conference at the time of the second trial, but could not bring it out because Becker failed to take the stand. This conference was held on the Sunday night before Rosenthal was murdered. It was on this occasion Becker urged `Big Tim' Sullivan not to raise a sum of money to send the gambler out of the city. This was known to the District Attorney's office all along, together with the motive for Becker's admonition. Becker at that time had arranged for Rosenthal's murder the following night." Becker's account actually confirms Rosenthal's account, explaining why Herman was so incensed at Becker's shakedowns. Becker wasn't just extorting Beansy. With Big Tim being Beansy's partner; Becker was also shaking down "The Big Feller" himself. No wonder Sullivan's henchmen were so eager to sacrifice Becker.

  90 Helen Becker: NY World, 2 August 1912, pp. 1, 2; NY World, 13 August 1912, pp. 1-3. The one decent thing about Charles Becker was his love for his third wife, Helen Lynch Becker. It may have been that love, and his desire to prevent her from seeing the real Lieutenant Becker, that prevented him from ever coming clean about himself and thus cutting a lifesaving deal. For her husband's funeral Helen Becker prepared a brass plate to lay upon his casket. It read: "CHARLES A. BECKER, MURDERED JULY 30, 1915, BY GOVERNOR WHITMAN." Police made her remove it.

  91 "about to be ..." ... "... how to die." Clarke, p. 31; Logan, pp. 320-4; Root (One Night in July), pp. 309-11.

  91 "Well, that's it.": Clarke, p. 31; Root (One Night in July), pp. 312-13; Logan, p. 340.

  Chapter 7: "Let's Go Look for Some Action"

  92-93 Long Beach gambling house: http://www.lihistory.com/spectown/hist003n.htm; http://www.paragonragtime.com/castle.html. Reynolds became mayor of Long Beach in 1922. Found guilty of financial improprieties while in office, his conviction was overturned on appeal.

  92 Vernon (1887-1918) and Irene (1893-1969) Castle were the premier preWorld War I dance team. Vernon, a British national, enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps in 1916. He flew 150 combat missions safely, but died in an aerial exhibition in Texas in February 1918.

  93 "People like ... let them.": Rothstein, pp. 55, 135; Betts, p. 231; Katcher, pp. 109-10.

  93-94 "Mr. Rothstein is ..." ... "... owe me anything.": Rothstein, p. 135.

  94 Partridge Club clientele: NY Times, 27 February 1918, p. 22; Rothstein, pp. 46-47; Katcher, p. 108; Thomson and Raymond, p. 74. Lew Fields (1867-1941) and Joe Webber (1867-1942) comprised Webber and Fields, America's most popular "Dutch" (German or "Deutsch") vaudeville dialect act at the turn of the century. After they split up in 1904, Fields became one of Broadway's most prominent musical-comedy producers.

  95 "one of the ... sporting game": NY Journal-American, 19 April 1946. Actually, the Partridge Club began in 1903, but only then as a rather, modest, informal affair.

  95 "My dear Arnold ... THAT SORT OF THING.": Thomson and Raymond, p. 75.

  96 "We counted on ...and our inexperience.": NY World, 20 December 1912.

  96 chemin de fer: Rothstein, p. 47.

  96 Lowden: Katcher, pp. 108-09.

  96 "that Nat Evans . . . and be fleeced.": NY American, 22 February 1918. Evans and Tobin were also Rothstein's partners in Saratoga's The Brook gambling house (See Chapter 9).

  96-97 Bauchle a front: NY Times, 21 February 1918, p. 9; NY Times, Feb 27, 1918, p. 22; NY Times, 7 March 1918, p. 9.

  97-98 "Dear Arnold ... and never will.": NY Herald, 1 April 1922; NY World, 2 April 1922; NY American, 25 June 1922; NY Times, 9 January 1923, p. 25; Thomson and Raymond, pp. 76-79.

  98 "I don't ... your money.": NY Times, 28 April 1939, p. 16; Thomson and Raymond, pp. 59-60; Katcher, pp. 224, 304; Clarke, pp. 79-80; Fowler (The Great Mouthpiece), passim.

  99 "Arnold lent ... six percent.": Rothstein, pp. 31, 150. The Selwyn Theatre's career as a legitimate house was short-lived. By the 1930s it converted to burlesque and motion pictures. In 2000, however, renamed as the American Airlines Theater, it again functioned as a legitimate Broadway house.

  99 "He [Rothstein] had ... loved it.": Katcher, pp. 274-45. In July 1928 Murphy answered the bell at his Chicago home. Nobody was there. Before closing the door, he was riddled with machine gun bullets from a passing car. Some said it was revenge for the 1920 slaying of rival labor racketeer Maurice "Mossie" Enright.

  99 Break the lease: NY World, 9 November 1928, p. 18. White's productions ran exclusively at the New Apollo from 1923 through 1928. In 1931 the New Apollo featured Charming Pollock's The House Beautiful. Dorothy Parker's New Yorker review ran as follows: "The House Beautiful is The Play Lousy."

  100 "I'm not in ..." ... "... to be protected.": NY World, 9 November 1928, p. 18; Rothstein, pp. 150-01; Katcher, pp. 303-74; Waller, Fats Waller pp. 72-73. The Fulton Theater became the Helen Hayes Theater. It is not the current Helen Hayes Theater, which is the former Little Theater. The Fulton/Helen Hayes was demolished in 1982.

  100 Ray Miller: NY Sun, 12 November 1928, p. 3; NY Times, 6 December 1935, p. 5. In December 1935 Supreme Court Judge Lauer ruled that Rothstein's estate remained liable for the $76,000, even though the original agreement was purely oral. "There was testimony," said Lauer, "that Rothstein, who was a notorious gambler, had a code of honor, according to his standards, to which he meticulously adhered. The indemnity company [the New York Indemnity Company], it appears, knew of this quality in the deceased, had tested him and found his word or oral pledge dependable. This would tend to afford a reason for the acceptance by the indemnity company of an oral arrangement in a transaction of this magnitude rather than an insistence upon a written agreement, which might otherwise be regarded as a usual course of procedure."

  101 "Why don't ..." ... "... You can't lose.": NY World, November 9 1928, p. 18; Rothstein, p. 151; Waller (Fats Waller), p. 72; Bordman, p. 437. Shuf- flin' Along featured Eubie Blake, Noble Sissle, Fats Waller, and Florence Mills in its Broadway incarnation and Josephine Baker and Paul Robeson in touring companies. Rothstein's death in November 1928 left Keep Shufflin's road cast stranded in Chicago.

  101-2 "The cops like me." ... "... don't, we do!": Thomson and Raymond, p. 67; Rothstein, p. 151. Gottlieb, pp. 79-80; Katcher, p. 209; Walker, p. 86. The Backstage was Billy Rose's first
nightclub, opened with royalties earned from writing "Barney Google with his goo goo googly eyes" with Con Conrad. Duffy later managed heavyweight Primo Carnera. Joe Frisco (1889-1958), a popular comedian and dancer of the time, specialized in a stuttering act. Helen Morgan (1900-1941) won fame as a speakeasy chanteuse, but also had a career in film and on Broadway. In Showboat in 1927 she introduced the songs "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man" and "Bill."

  102 "Good ... boy," ... "... pay the principal.": NY World, 10 November 1928, p. 2.

  103 "Often on ... profit": Rothstein, pp. 73-74.

  Chapter 8: "Take Any Price"

  104 Havre de Grace: NY Times, 22 September 1912, Sect. 3, p. 2; NY Times, 23 September 1912, p. 3; NY Times, 25 September 1912, p. 9; Betts, p. 231; Rothstein, pp. 230-01; Katcher, p. 122; Conversation with David R. Craig, 18 November 2002. Laurel (1911), Havre de Grace (1912), and Bowie (1914) opened within four years of each other. Maryland authorities, led by Attorney General Edgar Allan Poe, attempted to close Havre de Grace shortly after it opened, but it remained in business. The track remained profitable until Eddie Burke's death in the late 1940s. It closed in 1950.

  105 Arnold handed over his remaining 75 shares to Carolyn, providing her with a handsome yield. She retained them until their divorce proceedings began. After Arnold's murder, she got them back, and their sale eventually netted her $33,000.

  106 "[Omar Khayyam's jockey Everett] ... front to stay": NY Times, 19 October 1917, p. 10; Katcher, pp. 119-122; http://www.secondrunning.com/ Hourless%20and%2OMike%2OHall.htm.

  107 Hourless: New York Sun reporter Edward C. Hill penned the original print account of A. R.'s Hourless coup. It included the patently false contention that Hildreth and Rothstein had not previously known each other-a detail probably meant to draw attention from their manipulation of events.

  108 "For all ... standing deserved.": Eliot, p. 14. The name Belmont was part of the family's social climbing. Belmont Sr. was originally "August Schoenberg." "Schoenberg" and "Belmont" both meant "beautiful mountain." But a French surname possessed greater cache and was less visibly Jewish.