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

by David Pietrusza

  321 Diamond, Mellin: NY Times, 16 October 1927, p. 1; NY Times, 4 December 1929, p. 31; Levine, p. 64; Lavine, p. 98.

  321 "the mystery ... Europe": Levine, pp. 87-88; Ferber, pp. 206-13; Morris (The Man Who Fell from the Sky), pp. 114-20.

  321-22 "probably the. . ." ... "You'll get yours.": NY Times, May, 19, 1928, p. 13; NY Times, 5 July 1928, p. 1; Ferber, pp. 205-208; Pasley, pp. 129-130. While in Philadelphia, Loewenstein narrowly missed death when an airplane propeller came so near his head, that it struck his derby hat.

  322 Disappearance: NY Times, 5 July 1928, p. 1; NY Times, 7 July 1928, p. 1; NY Times, 13 July 1928, p. 5; Morris (The Man Who Fell from the Sky), pp. 7-9. Six other persons were aboard Loewenstein's plane: the pilot and copilot, his valet, his financial secretary, and two female stenographers.

  322-23 "Two mechanics ... cruising speed.": NY Times, 7 July 1928, p. 1

  323 "More and ... that source.": Katcher, p. 296.

  323 Kerrigan, Kelly, Connolly: NY Sun, 11 December 1928, page unknown.

  324 Prisament raid: NY Times, 16 November 1928, p. 9; NY World, 16 November 1928, p. 1; Katcher, p. 295. A. R. had a long history of funding drug dealers. Besides providing bail for Webber, Vachuda, Legs Diamond, and Stajer, he provided loans to such drug dealers as Albert Spitzer, Oscar Kirshon, Abe Stein, Louis Jaffe, and Irving "Little Itch" Halper. (Thomson and Raymond, pp. 64-65)

  324 "Mr. Kerrigan ..." ... "... New York.": NY Sun, 11 December 1928, page unknown.

  325 "It appears ... his own.": Arnold Rothstein FBI File, C. D. McKean to J. Edgar Hoover, 26 November 1928.

  325-26 "The question ... his death.": ibid.

  326 "The information ..." ... "... smuggling syndicate.": NY American, 2 December 1928.

  326 Twentieth Century Limited: Said investigators of what they seized from Unger: "They were cute, those fellows. Take the trunks we seized at Grand Central . . . They were filled with what appeared to be perfectly innocent looking little Christmas parcels. Some were done up in red tissue paper. Some were done up in green. They were wrapped in pretty, decorative, ribbons and cords."

  326-27 Unger, Lowe, Meyers: NY Times, 9 December 1928, p. 2. Reputedly a close Rothstein associate, Lowe had previously served a year-and-a-day on federal drug charges. While awaiting trial, Unger obtained $10,000 bail from Rothstein.

  327 "This.... the country.": ibid. In March 1929 Tuttle would reveal: "a casual study of some of the [Rothstein] account books indicated that receipts of from six to seven thousand dollars were received daily by the syndicate leaders in their headquarters in this city." Of course, he also had this to say: "An examination of these papers plus developments of Rothstein's connections with the drug conspiracy will tend to show a motive for [his] murder."

  327 "Wait a ... folks about.": NY Sun, 8 December 1928, pp. 1, 2; NY Sun, 10 December 1928, pp. 1, 3; NYSun, 12 December 1928, p. 3; NYSun,14 December 1928, p. 1; NY Sun, 15 December 1928, pp. 1, 2; NY Sun, 18 December 1928, p. 1; NY Sun, 19 December 1928, pp. 1, 2; NY Sun, 20 December p. 1,2; NY Sun, 21 December pp. 1,3; NY Times, 9 December 1928, p. 1.

  328 "as if ... abdomen.": NY Times, 28 December 1928, p. 11.

  328 Nutt, Mattingly, Cunningham: Musto, p. 207-208; Levine, p. 87; tonnes, p. 84. In 1921 A. R. reported gross income of $31,544.48 and a net of $7,257.29 and paid $35.25 in federal income taxes. The Treasury Department indicted him, charging that his gross income amounted to at least $70,227.88, with a net income of $45,490.29, resulting in a tax payment of $4,795.32. Nothing came of the indictment.

  Eventually the IRS made slightly more reasonable calculations regarding the taxes A. R. owed: $166,076 in 1919, $44,532 in 1920, and $15,478 in 1921. In July 1936 the IRS finally abandoned any idea of collecting from A. R.'s estate, saying it could not identify sufficient assets to satisfy their claims.

  329 "may have ... affected thereby.": NY Times, 17 April 1938, Sect. II, p. 6; tonnes, p. 29.

  Chapter 22: Aftermath: "A Wonderful Box"

  330 "The recovery ... light . . .": NY Times, 29 September 1929, Sect. 10, p. 1.

  331 "If there is ..." ... "... high standing.": NY Times, 29 September 1929, p. 2; NY Times, 30 September 1929, pp. 1-2, 24.

  331 "Not even ... are missing.": NY Times, 28 September 1929, pp. 1-2. One item left in Rothstein's papers was a September 1922 letter from judge of the Court of General Sessions candidate Edward Shannon Brogan who solicited a substantial loan from A. R. and promised "be assured that I will never forget favors, and this is a real one." Brogan lost to Republican Morris Koenig, brother of Manhattan County GOP Chairman Samuel Koenig. That may explain why that correspondence survived Tammany's vetting.

  332 Vitale guests: We have crossed Delagi's path twice before. Starting as an errand boy to Tammany boss Tom Foley, Delagi failed the bar exam five times before finally succeeding. In 1912 Delagi served as one of two courtappointed attorneys in the murder trial of Lieutenant Charles Becker's publicist Charles Plitt. In May 1920 he arranged for the return of Fanny Brice's stolen blue Cadillac Laundelet, after Nicky Arnstein surrendered to authorities.

  333 Pasley, pp. 144-45; Walsh, pp. 205-07; Allen (The Tiger), pp. 232-33; Smith (Thomas E. Dewey and His Times), p. 109; Kohler (Capone), pp. 229-31; Thomson and Raymond, pp. 101-04, 116, 118, 200-15, 319; Kohler (Ardent Spirits), pp. 263-64. Capone also played a large part in Yale's murder. Many accused him-and not Terranova-of ordering it. Capone's black Nash had its own history. It had been purchased for him by Parker Henderson, Jr., son of the former mayor of Miami. The machine gun found with it was traced to Fred Burke, a suspect in the 1929 St. Valentine's Day massacre.

  334-35 Assistant D.A.: "What . . . dismissed.": Thomson and Raymond, pp. 209-10.

  335 "We do ... his banks.": NY Times, 14 March 1930, pp. 1-2.

  335-36"guilty of . . . incompetency.": Fowler (Beau James), p. 270; Allen (The Tiger), p. 233; Katcher, p. 347; Thomson and Raymond, pp. 208-10; Cohen (The New York Graphic), p. 144; Katcher, p. 307.

  336 Simpson, Brodsky, McQuade, Ewald: Allen (The Tiger), pp. 242, 244-46; Connable and Silberfarb, pp. 279, 281-82; Fowler (Beau James), pp. 270-74, 279, 287; Walsh, pp. 219-20; Mitgang, pp. 168, 189, 222-26; Kohn, pp. 75-76; NY Times, 7 April 1955, p. 27; Cohen (The New York Graphic), pp. 155, 157. The mystery of Crater's disappearance, or of the motive or motives for it, was never solved. Despite later intimations of corruption, he was an attorney of some substance. He had served as law clerk to Judge Robert E Wagner, Sr., and, some said, harbored ambitions to eventually reach the U.S. Supreme Court.

  336 Vivian Gordon: Connable and Silberfarb, pp. 279-84; Allen (The Tiger), pp. 242-44; Fowler (Beau James), pp. 74, 287; Walsh pp. 247-48; Mitgang, pp. 204-05.

  337 FDR career: Weiss, pp. 48-49, 65; Mitgang, pp. 218-9; Connable and Silberfarb, pp. 249-50. Prior to 1913 and the Seventeenth Amendment, United States senators were still largely elected by state legislatures.

  337 "the investigation . . . New York.": Connable and Silberfarb, pp. 203, 218-20. Crain, a former judge, had presided over the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire trial. His instruction to the jury-that the company's owners had to have knowledge that the exits were locked-was instrumental in their acquittal.

  337 "Well, ... hurt any.": As Tammany chieftain, Olvany, an Al Smith ally, had once been quoted: "The Irish are natural leaders. The strain of Limerick keeps them at the top. They have the ability to handle men. Even the Jewish districts have Irish leaders. The Jews want to be ruled by them." Oddly enough, they didn't. (Mitgang, pp. 162-63).

  337 James McQuade: Mitgang, pp. 222-25, 241-42; Connable and Silberfarb, pp. 281, 283-84; Smith (The Tiger), pp. 245-46; Walsh, pp. 261-63, 282-84, 286-87. McCormick went to prison for income-tax evasion.

  337-38 Q: "You deposited ... wonderful box." Walsh, pp. 271-73; Connable and Silberfarb, pp. 282-83; Allen (The Tiger), pp. 246-47; Mitgang, pp. 216-18.

  339 "as a matter ... his salary.": Mitgang, pp. 217-18; Allen (The Tiger), p. 247, Connable and Silberfarb, pp. 283-84. Previously, FDR hadn't been q
uite so particular regarding the balancing of Sheriff Farley's public income and his cash reserves. He had received $20,000 in donations for his gubernatorial campaign from the modestly recompensed Farley.

  340 Equitable Coach, Block: NY Times, 26 May 1932, p. 1; Connable and Silberfarb, pp. 284-85; Fowler (Beau James), pp. 303-2; Walsh, pp. 300-15; Nasaw, p. 254; Mayer (The 1937 Newark Bears), pp. 9-11; O'Neal, pp. 315-16; Pietrusza (Lights On!), p. 77. Block was an old pal of Tammany nemesis William Randolph Hearst. Some claimed he had been dating the young Marion Davies when Hearst first met her in December 1915. In 1928 Block purchased the International League's Newark Bears. That season he hired Walter Johnson to manage the team. The Bears finished seventh. The following season, Block replaced The Big Train with Tris Speaker, another Hall of Famer. They finished sixth. On August 6, 1930 Block was among the first owners to install lights. On November 12, 1931 he sold the team to New York Yankees owner, Colonel Jacob Ruppert for an estimated $350,000. Representing Block in the transaction, was high-priced, Tammany-connected attorney Max D. Steuer, Bridgie Webber's counsel in the Rosenthal-Becker case. Steuer was integral to Tammany's defense in the Walker case.

  340-41 "Politics is . . . exalted." Fowler (Beau James), pp. 312-13. The 5'6 1/2" Huggins had managed the Yankees to their first six pennants. In September 1929 He died suddenly of erysipelas, a bacterial skin infection.

  341 Dr. William H. Walker: Walsh, pp. 315-16. Dr. Walker had another legal source of public-service income, earning $50 per night at boxing matches.

  341-42 "Jim, you're ..." ... "... as yours.": Fiorello LaGuardia is remembered as one of New York's best vote-getters. But he wasn't. In his four runs for the office, LaGuardia garnered 3.7 million votes; his opponents received over 4.3 million votes.

  Chapter 23: Case Closed: "I Did It, You Know"

  344 McLaughlin, Warren, Whalen: NY World, 13 November 1928, pp. 1, 12; NY World, 15 November 1928, pp. 1, 23; NY Eve. Post, 12 December 1928, pp. 1, 2, 10; NY Eve. Post, 17 December 1928, pp. 1, 7; NY Eve. Post, 20 December 1928, pp. 1, 16; NY Eve. Post, 21 December 1928, pp. 1, 12; NY Eve. Post, 26 December 1928, pp. 1, 12; NY Eve. Post, 28 December 1928, pp. 1, 19; NY Sun, 19 December 1928, pp. 1, 2; NY Sun, 20 December 1928, pp. 1, 2; NY Sun, 26 December 1928, p. 1; NY Times, 14 November 1928, pp. 1, 8; NY Times, 16 November 1928, pp. 1, 9; Valentine, pp. 102-14; Limpus, p. 127-35; Walsh, pp. 170-06.

  346 McManus, wife fight: NY Journal-American, 17 August 1942.

  346 Park Central: NY Times, 6 November 1928, p. 2; NY Sun, 8 November 1928, p. 2; NY Times, 8 November 1928, p. 31; NY Sunday News, 11 November 1928, pink edition, p. 4; NY Times, 30 November 1929, p. 14.

  346 Biller, Frank McManus: NY Times, 4 December 1928, p. 24. Raymond and his wife registered at Room 763. At McManus' trial Raymond testified he was in his room "all day [on November 4], and up to exactly 12:30 A.M. that night. My wife was ill, and at that hour we went out and took a ride through Central Park. Then we put in two or three hours at the Frivolity Club." Frank McManus checked out of the Park-Central the day following the shooting. (NY Sun, 17 November 1928, p. 5)

  346 "Richard Roe": The World described Rothstein's habits regarding security: It was the marvel of the gossipers on Broadway ... that Rothstein, dealing as he did with men who all their lives took chances in accumulating money unearned by legitimate business or labor, had gone unscathed as long as he had, notwithstanding the small but efficient bodyguard he always had about him. It was no elaborate nine-man "point" guard such as is reputed to protect Al Capone of Chicago ... But no casual acquaintance of Rothstein ever stepped up to him on the street, at the theatre, at the entrance of his home or in a restaurant but what an unobtrusive man would slip between him and Rothstein in a way to effectually block any treacherous attack." (NY World, 5 November 1928, p. 2).

  347 Thomas J. McManus: NY Times 6 November 1928, p. 2. A single sentence in a single article in the New York Times was the only hint in the press that Tom McManus's presence drew A. R. to Room 349: "They [police] pointed out that Rothstein, wary in the ways of his own, would not have ventured to a room upon the call of any one he did not trust. It developed that Thomas McManus at one time had been a detective assigned to headquarters." No one in the media or in law enforcement followed this thread further.

  347 "The man ... shot him.": NY Eve. Post, 7 November 1928, p. 8; NY Daily News, 10 November 1928, p. 4. Slightly different versions of this quote can be found in the 7 November 1928 editions of New York Times and the New York Sun. The main points are the same.

  347 Shooting: Note the wording of this nationally circulated December 1928 NYPD bulletin (NY Times, 4 December 1928): "We hold an indictment warrant charging Hyman Biller with the shooting [emphasis added] at the Park Central Hotel, ... of Arnold Rothstein." Not an accessory to the shooting, but with the shooting.

  348 Flosso: http://members.aol.com/AlFlosso/bio.html; The Abbott and Costello Book, p. 15. Abbott shilled not only for Flosso, but also for a wide variety of Coney Island attractions, primarily the House of Mirrors.

  348 "I did ... Rothstein.": http://members.aol.com/AlFlosso/murder.html. "My father kept that in strict confidence," Jack Flosso told author Gary R. Brown, "It was only many years later, after McManus died, that my father told me about it. We were stopped at a traffic light, and he just looked at me and told me that McManus had confessed to him."

  348-49 "I'm getting ..." ... "... money. Now.": Stowers, pp. 19-20; Conversation between Carlton Stowers and the author, 27 July 2002.

  349-50"Some way ... frame.": The New Republic, 30 January 1929, pp. 293-94. 350 Polly Adler: NY World, 5 November 1928, p. 2; Adler, pp. 80-84; Altman, pp. 279-80.

  350 Bo Weinberg: Katcher, p. 329.

  350 McManuses in NYPD: NY Eve. Post, 2 December 1928, Sect. 3, p. 1; NY Daily News, 6 November 1928, p. 4; NY Sun, 29 August 1940; NY HeraldTribune, 30 August 1940; Lardner and Reppetto, p. 83; NY Times, 2 March 1913, p. 12. Henry H. Klein-"His father was a police lieutenant, a friend of `Big Tim' Sullivan, a power in Tammany Hall." Stephen McManus joined the force in 1907. In 1913 he was seriously wounded as he protected a Mrs. Margaret Higgins from her estranged husband.

  351 McManus family: In March 1929 George McManus's $50,000 bail was furnished by former Police Inspector William McLaughlin, who had supervised his father, Charles McManus. (NY Eve. Post, 5 December 1929, p. 21)

  The McManuses also had family political connections, being reportedly related to Thomas J. "The" McManus, Tammany boss of the West Forties between Eighth Avenue and the Hudson River and a onetime assemblyman and state senator. "The" McManus's official assembly biography included these nuggets: "Mr. McManus is one of ten brothers, all single and all of whom are voters.... Mr. McManus also introduced a bill prohibiting the opening of letters written by inmates of insane asylums.... McManus has proved himself to be a very charitable man in his district, according to his means. He has been a friend and counselor to the poor in their distress." In 1908, McManus, an ally of Big Tim Sullivan, defeated longtime rival George Washington Plunkitt, for Plunkitt's state senate seat. When, in 1925, `The" McManus died, mourners filled 300 autos to follow his casket to the grave.

  351 "What do . . . of it?": People of the State of New York against George McManus, Hyman Biller, John Doe & Richard Roe, 16 January 1930, p. 3; NY Sun, 17 November 1928, p. 5; The January 10, 1929 New York Times gave a slightly different account of Mr. Aulbach's activities the night of the murder. It said Biller sat at Lindy's with "Detective Auerbach" for two hours that night. The Times reported there was no "Auerbach" on the force but did find a man with a similar name-presumably Aulbach-who denied everything. Tom McManus was a longtime Park Central resident, first moving there in February 1919. He relocated to the Bronx only just before the shooting.

  352 "We know ... was `Richards.' ": NY Times, 8 November 1928, p. 31.

  352 Room 252: NY Times, 3 December 1929, p. 26; Whelan Report, passim.

  352 "came to ... they left,": NY Times, 3 December 1929, p. 26; People of the S
tate of New York against George McManus, Hyman Biller, John Doe & Richard Roe, 16 January 1930, p. 3; Whelan Report, pp. 9-10. During the McManus trial, an objection from defense counsel Murray prevented Detective Flood from testifying as to what Divers said when he answered the phone (presumably this would have revealed who called).

  352 "Tom McManus ... George.": NY Times, 4 December 1929, p. 24.

  353 Whelan report: NY Eve. Post, 10 November 1928, p. 1; NY Sunday News, 11 November 1928, pink edition, p. 4; NY Sun, 19 December 1928, p. 1; NY Sun, 8 August 1931. According to the New York Sun, Stephen McManus told Inspector Coughlin "he had seen his brother [George] just a short time prior to the shooting." (NY Sun, 10 November 1928, p. 1)

  353 "I don't . . . Rothstein case.": NY World, 29 November 1928, p. 2; NY Times, 5 December 1929, p. 22.

  354 "It would ... a short time.": NY Eve. Post, 2 December 1928, Sect. 3, p. 1.

  354 "appear to... a motive.": The New Republic, 30 January 1929, pp. 293-94.

  355 "I later obtained ... know differently.": Scarne, p. 132.

  355 In August 1942 New York journal-American reporter Gerald Frank put a different spin on events-although it would still mean that A. R. had died for just $51,000. Frank wrote that, yes, the game was fixed, but that it was fixed by Arnold Rothstein to trim George McManus. As Frank told it, a few days after the game, one of the game's participants asked McManus: "How about the other night when Rothstein took you over?"

  "What do you mean," McManus, his blood pressure rising, wanted to know.

  Hump learned that A. R. had arranged the game specifically to cheat him, that in Frank's words "every loss that night was a phony loss-save McManus' $51,000." (NY Journal-American, 17 August 1942).

  Titanic Thompson, however, told author Oscar Fraley that the game was fixed against Rothstein.

  Chapter 24: Epilogue

  357 Arnstein: Grossman, p. 62; Goldman, pp. 214-15.