by David Bishop
So, what became of Tony Cornero after the U.S. Congress and the president of the United States finally shut down his last gambling ship, the S.S. Lux?
Tony returned to Las Vegas, to what some say was always his biggest dream. He saw Vegas as a gambling mecca for the metropolis that was developing in Southern California. He began sharing his dream and raising money to open what he first called Tony Cornero’s Starlight which later he changed to The Stardust Hotel and Casino.
His vision was to set a new world standard for resort living. Tony described what his new place would be with this phrase: “Astronomical luxury at down-to-earth prices.” He wanted visitors in large numbers not just the high rollers and celebrities. He would charge $5 for a hotel room and give the guest $5 in chips to use in the Stardust casino. He had catered to the masses on his gambling ships and he saw big success in doing the same thing in Vegas. He also planned to install slot machines in an open style lobby to draw in people walking by. [This later became common practice throughout Vegas and casinos everywhere.]
Tony planned to pursue convention business. All his rooms would be air conditioned and the hotel would have shops and recreational pursuits to augment gambling. His grand plan was for 500 hotel rooms. In a broad sense, his vision was what Las Vegas became.
By 1955, Tony had spent more than $3 million of his own money and the Stardust was 70% completed. But the money was coming down faster than the building was going up.
Eventually, he went back to Moe Dalitz, the power at the Desert Inn in Vegas. The Stardust was scheduled to open on July 13, 1955, and Tony didn’t have the cash to pay the staff, buy booze, or other supplies. Tony was now into the mob for over $6 million and they didn’t believe the Stardust would ever be able to fill 500 hotel rooms.
Cornero met with Dalitz for many hours without securing additional loans.
The mob knew Tony was up against it and they wanted his casino.
During a break in the meeting, Tony went out to shoot craps and quickly fell into the hole for $10,000.
A waitress brought Tony a bill for twenty-five dollars for food and drink.
Tony went ballistic. He was a guest of Moe Dalitz, not some piker.
Tony hollered, ranted, and raved. He had never been treated with such disrespect.
A moment later, after finishing his drink, Tony clutched his chest and fell forward onto the rail of the crap table, the dice still in his hand. It was 11:17 a.m.
The glass from which Tony had drunk his seven-seven highball disappeared, apparently washed and return to the bar.
Neither the Vegas police nor the Clark County coroner was called. No autopsy was performed despite the common practice of doing so whenever a death was suspicious in any way. The deaths of mobsters and casino operators were routinely treated as suspicious.
Eight hours later, the Desert Inn organist was playing Tony’s favorite song, The Wabash Cannon Ball, at his funeral at Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, California.
Creditors and stockholders squabbled in Federal Bankruptcy Court which finally approved the sale of the Stardust Hotel & Casino out of bankruptcy.
In 1958, three years after Tony Cornero cashed in his last chips, his wonderment, The Stardust Hotel & Casino opened for business. The owner of record, out of the bankruptcy court, was Rella Factor, wife of Jack “Jake The Barber” Factor, the son of a rabbi, and half brother of Max Factor. Jake The Barber was an organized crime figure from Chicago who, as a known stock swindler and ex-con, would not have qualified for the gambling license.
In 1960, Jack Factor donated a large sum to the campaign fund for John F. Kennedy.
In 1962, Jack Factor (“Jake the Barber”) received a full presidential pardon.
Yes, Tony Cornero had marched to his own drummer, and when his music stopped playing, not many had reason to remember his tune.
Perhaps a quote from Buron Fitts, L.A. District Attorney who prosecuted Tony Cornero several times, losing and winning, and all the while staying after him would illustrate the uniqueness of “Tony the Hat” Cornero better than anything I could write.
“[Tony Conero] was a smart cookie, that little bastard.” D.A. Fitts grudgingly admits that Tony never ran a crooked table, never got tied in with a syndicate, and never went back on his word. Honesty, constancy and independence, alas, do not always assure a man of success under our free enterprise system.
Thank you for reading Find My Little Sister, a Matt Kile Mystery. Please share any comments you have by email to [email protected]
At the back of this book are the early chapters of Who Murdered Garson Talmadge, the Matt Kile Mystery which began this popular mystery series.
Matt Kile Mystery Series
In Order of Release
1 st: Who Murdered Garson Talmadge.
Who Murdered Garson Talmadge introduced the reading world to Matt Kile. Matt is an ex-cop and ex-con, and current smart aleck who primarily makes his living writing mysteries. One of Matt’s neighbors, Garson Talmadge, sold weapons to Saddam Hussein, then came to America and married Clarice, a woman half his age. When Clarice is arrested for murdering her husband, Matt takes the job of investigator for her defense attorney and finds he has suspects stretching from the U.S. into Europe and possibly the Middle East.
Not long after getting involved in the case Matt learns that Garson Talmadge’s weapons deals meant the FBI had an interest as well as the French Prefecture of Police. While Matt is simply trying to establish that Clarice is innocent, the FBI is trying to learn how Hussein got some of his weaponry. And powerful members of the French government and armaments industry want to keep Matt from following the trail far enough to expose them.
Told in the first person, Matt shares his thoughts and wise remarks as he weaves his way through a mass of plot twists and turns to its conclusion, and learns Who Murdered Garson Talmadge.
2nd: The Original Alibi.
Eleven years ago General Whittaker, long retired, former member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, bought an alibi for his grandson who had been arrested for the murder of his fiancée, Ileana Corrigan, and the general’s unborn great grandson. The charges were soon dropped and the grandson released. General Whittaker is now dying and he can no longer restrain his doubts. The question that has haunted him all these years must be answered. Did his money save his innocent grandson or cheat justice?
The general hires Matt Kile to thaw this cold case. The solution of the crime is complicated by the passage of years and an excess of suspects, including the general’s grandson, the general’s promiscuous adult daughter, and even the general himself. All had means, motive, and opportunity. The Original Alibi is a big story told on a small stage, intimately portrayed primarily among the members of the Whittaker family, those who serve them, and the secrets and strategies that fester inside an outwardly functional and famous family.
3rd : Money & Murder.
P.Q. Winston Rutledge is the richest man in Copper City, Arizona, and he believes someone will soon try to kill him. The story quickly deteriorates into murder and the ambitions of relatives in pursuit of his fortune. PQ’s family is a collection of oddballs with a common bloodline. Fascinating people you’d love to have at your next dinner party, but each comes with a set of secrets and entanglements. PQ is survived by a widow, the same age as his daughter, and two sons, one of whom—well, you’ll have to read the story.
4th : Find My Little Sister.
In 1938, Frances Hopkins ran away from home to chase the glitz of movie stars and the titillation of rubbing shoulders with gangsters. Her older sister, Calandra, hires Matt Kile to help locate Frances and bring her home safely. Matt and Callie soon find themselves embroiled in a torrid romance wrapped in the magic of the Golden Age of Hollywood. Colorful fictional characters from the pen of David Bishop are sprinkled among the famous and infamous of that era. Lovers of the movie, L.A. Confidential, the T.V. series, Boardwalk Empire, and the wide-ranging era of prohibition, illegal gambling, and Tommy guns will
love this Matt Kile Mystery—and love story.
What Readers Are Saying: David Bishop’s Matt Kile Mystery Series
Below are a few comments by readers of each of the Matt Kile Mysteries
Who Murdered Garson Talmadge:
“I read Bishops second book on Matt Kile and thought it was one of the best I’ve read this year. Now however, after reading this one, I can’t think of words good enough to describe it. Except, ‘it’s fantastic!!!’ ”
“My first Matt Kile mystery. Loved it. Surprise ending. Can’t wait to read more of David’s books. If you like mysteries you will love this book!”
“David Bishop and Matt Kile have become new favorites. It’s a good story with interesting characters. It’s fun to read a mystery where the hero doesn’t take himself too seriously, but at the same time lives by a code that is important to him.”
“This is the first book of David Bishop’s that I read. It got me absolutely hooked. I love his writing about mysterious murders. Hard to put my Kindle down because I always want to find out what comes next. Needless to say I’ve started reading many other books of his that were just as good!!”
“We enjoyed the new author (new to us) and bought them all, read them in order and wish there were more.”
The Original Alibi:
“I have now read two full novels and one Novella written by Mr. Bishop and I find his writing to be both engaging and intriguing. Well developed characters, fast moving, and a mystery to the end.”
“I have been reading P.I. books, ever since I was in high school, and I’m now 72. I was also a P.I. for 35 years, and can’t write worth a darn. However, I’ve read authors like Rex Stout, Robert Parker, and other great writers, and I have to say, David Bishop rates in the top five with me. I usually read a few chapters, then do something else, then read some more. I read this book in two sittings. It kept me glued to the chair.”
“Great mystery! I loved Matt and the other characters fit the story perfectly. This is my first Matt Kile mystery and I can’t wait to read more as well as other David Bishop books! Great job!”
“Keep writing you’re on target. The story kept me guessing. Will be adding Bishop to my reading wish list. Recommend this book for your reading pleasure.”
Money & Murder, a Matt Kile Short Story:
“I enjoyed reading this short story starring Matt Kile. I normally do not read short stories because I feel that sometimes there is not enough time to develop a plot. Money & Murder has changed my view about short stories. You will not be disappointed in this story. All the elements are there to make it a complete story. Hope there are more books to come because Matt Kile is a great character to read.”
“Another great David Bishop story. This one is a short story, but not too short– it works well. David has interesting characters and writes with a devilish sense of humor. I’m in the process of reading all his novels and recommend his writings.”
“I can only reiterate what others have said regarding short stories; they are generally dissatisfying. Reading a short story is like sampling whiskey; if it’s bad then you’ve wasted your time, if it’s good it just leaves you frustrated and wanting more. But on a rare occasion you find a Tullamore Dew; an Irish whiskey so fine that, even though you will want more, a small taste will bring your soul that much closer to heaven! Well, after reading the rest of David Bishop’s work, I finally broke down and downloaded this story. And I’m glad I did! Bishop has created his own literary Tullamore Dew.”
Sláinte mhaith, David!
“I really enjoyed this story. It was interesting, funny, and the characters were all wonderfully described individuals with each of them having their own quirks. I love a story when I cannot figure out the ‘who dunnit’. This was a perfect introductory to make me want to read more by this author.”
Who Murdered Garson Talmadge, a Matt Kile Mystery
Beginning below you will find an excerpt from Who Murdered Garson Talmadge, a Matt Kile Mystery. This was the first Matt Kile story, the one which started this fascinating series of which Find My Little Sister is the fourth.
David Bishop, author
Prologue
Who Murdered Garson Talmadge,
A Matt Kile Mystery
It’s funny the way a kiss stays with you. How it lingers. How you can feel it long after it ends. I understand what amputees mean when they speak of phantom limbs. It’s there, but it isn’t. You know it isn’t. But you feel it’s still with you. While I was in prison, my wife divorced me; I thought she was with me, but she wasn’t. She said I destroyed our marriage in a moment of rage in a search for some kind of perverted justice. I didn’t think it was perverted, but I didn’t blame her for the divorce.
But enough sad stuff. Yesterday I left the smells and perversions of men, and, wearing the same clothes I had worn the last day of my trial, reentered the world of three-dimensional women and meals you choose for yourself; things I used to take for granted, but don’t any longer. My old suit fit looser and had a musty smell, but nothing could be bad on a con’s first day of freedom. I tilted my head back and inhaled. Free air smelled different, felt different tossing my hair and puffing my shirt.
I had no excuses. I had been guilty. I knew that. The jury knew that. The city knew that. The whole damn country knew. I had shot the guy in front of the TV cameras, emptied my gun into him. He had raped and killed a woman, then killed her three children for having walked in during his deed. The homicide team of Kile and Fidgery had found the evidence that linked the man I killed to the crime. Sergeant Matthew Kile, that was me, still is me, only now there’s no Sergeant in front of my name, and my then partner, Detective Terrence Fidgery. We arrested the scum, and he readily confessed.
The judge ruled our search illegal and all that followed bad fruit, which included the thug’s confession. Cute words for giving a rapist-killer a get-out-of-jail-free card. In chambers the judge had wrung his hands while saying, “I have to let him walk.” Judges talk about their rules of evidence as though they had replaced the rules about right and wrong. Justice isn’t about guilt and innocence, not anymore. Over time, criminal trials had become a game for wins and losses between district attorneys and the mouthpieces for the accused. Heavy wins get defense attorneys bigger fees. For district attorneys, wins mean advancement into higher office and maybe even a political career. They should take the robes away from the judges and make them wear striped shirts like referees in other sports.
On the courthouse steps, the news hounds had surrounded the rapist-killer like he was a movie star. Fame or infamy can make you a celebrity, and America treats celebrity like virtue.
I still see the woman’s husband, the father of the dead children, stepping out from the crowd, standing there looking at the man who had murdered his family, palpable fury filling his eyes. His body pulsing from the strain of controlled rage that was fraying around the edges, ready to explode. The justice system had failed him, and because we all rely on it, failed us all. Because I had been the arresting officer, I had also failed him.
The thug spit on the father and punched him, knocking him down onto the dirty-white marble stairs; he rolled all the way to the bottom, stopping on the sidewalk. The police arrested the man we all knew to be a murderer, charging him with assault and battery.
The thug laughed. “I’ll plead to assault,” he boasted. “Is this a great country or what?”
At that moment, without a conscious decision to do so, I drew my service revolver and fired until my gun emptied. The lowlife went down. The sentence he deserved, delivered.
The district attorney tried me for murder-two. The same judge who had let the thug walk gave me seven years. Three months after my incarceration, the surviving husband and father, a wealthy business owner, funded a public opinion poll that showed more than eighty percent of the people felt the judge was wrong, with an excess of two-thirds thinking I did right. All I knew was the world was better off without that piece of shit, and people who would hav
e been damaged in the future had this guy lived, would now be safe. That was enough; it had to be.
A big reward offered by the husband/father eventually found a witness who had bought a woman’s Rolex from the man I killed. The Rolex had belonged to the murdered woman. Eventually, the father convinced the governor to grant me what is technically known in California as a Certificate of Rehabilitation and Pardon. My time served, four years.
While in prison I had started writing mysteries, something I had always wanted to do, I finally had the time to do. During my second year inside, I secured a literary agent and a publisher. I guessed, they figured that stories written by a former homicide cop and convicted murderer would sell.
My literary agent had wanted to meet me at the gate, but I said no. After walking far enough to put the prison out of sight, I paid a cabbie part of the modest advance on my first novel to drive me to Long Beach, California. I told the hack not to talk to me during the drive. He probably thought that a bit odd, but that was his concern, not mine. If I had wanted to gab, I would have let my literary agent meet me. This trip was about looking out a window without bars, about being able to close my eyes without first checking to see who was nearby. In short, I wanted to quietly absorb the subtleties of freedom regained.
Chapter 1
Six Years Later: