Rothstein (61 page)

251 “What the … bad bet.”: NY Times, 13 December 1924, p. 32; Fowler (The Great Mouthpiece), p. 337. Stoneham also pumped funds from the National Entertainment Corporation, the New York Giants’ official corporate name, into the failing firm. It was later revealed that Stoneham was a partner in another spectacular bucketshop failure, that of E. P. Dire and Company, which cost investors $4 million. Reports indicated that A. R. was Stoneham’s partner in that operation. (Pietrusza, judge and jury, p. 260)

251 Fuller, McGee, Stoneham indicted: NY Times, 18 November 1924, p. 26; NY Times, 13 December 1924, p. 32; Hays, p. 112; Katcher, p. 196. Fuller and McGee even conferred with their attorneys, Arthur Garfield Hays and Bill Fallon, while hiding out at Rothstein’s.

251 $336,768 in checks: NY Times, 2 June 1926, p. 37; NY Times, 3 June 1926, p. 9; NY Times, 22 June 1926, p. 25; NY Times, 24 May 1927, p. 20. In 1921 Fuller and McGee lost another $15,000 on baseball gambling to Rothstein. This sum was not paid by check.

251 License plate scams: Fowler (The Great Mouthpiece), pp. 335-36; Ferber, p. 142; Katcher, p. 202.

252-53 “In a … his files.”: Thomson and Raymond, p. 53.

253 “Did Fuller or …” … “… a thing.”: Boston Herald, 9 October 1923, p. 7; Clarke, pp. 114-21.

259 “the most … was illegal.”: NY Times, 22 June 1926, p. 25; NY Times, 6 March 1946, p. 27.

259 ibid. 1 June 1927, p. 29.

259 Maroni: Ferber, pp. 167-70.

260 Rendigs: NY Times, 29 July 1924, pp. 1, 5; NY Times, 30 July 1924, p. 15; NY Times, 31 July 1924, pp. 1, 5; NY Times, 1 August 1924, p. 1. Of the eighty-one bucketshops Ferber brought to ground, 30 percent ended up defended by Fallon, including the notorious firm of Dillon & Co. operated by “Dandy Phil” Kastel, another Rothstein associate. A. R. had arranged for Kastel to secure a seat on the Consolidated Exchange. Later, Dillon & Co. “loaned” Rothstein $407,000. He never repaid the loan.

260 $2,500 bribe: NY Times, 30 July 1924, p. 15; Rosenblum, p. 130; Fowler (The Great Mouthpiece), p. 340. One check for $1,000 was drawn on the account of Fallon’s wife; when Fallon passed it on to Pani, they were at the Woodmansten Inn in the company of Peggy Hopkins Joyce, then the Countess Costa Morner thanks to her two-month fourth marriage to a Swedish nobleman.

260 Missing papers: Ferber, pp. 153-7.

261-62 “I wonder …” … “… the squealers.”: Fowler (The Great Mouthpiece), p. 352.

262 “where are …” … “… that’s that.”: ibid. pp. 354-55.

264 “Eidlitz said … be destroyed.”: NY HeraldTribune, 2 August 1924, pp. 1, 2; NY HeraldTribune, 6 August 1924, pp. 1, 5; NY HeraldTribune, 7 August 1924, pp. 1, 3; NY HeraldTribune, 8 August 1924, pp. 1, 4; NY Sun, 5 August 1924, pp. 1, 2; NY Sun, 6 August 1924, pp. 1, 2; NY Sun, 7 August 1924, pp. 1, 2; NY Sun, 8 August 1924, pp. 1, 2; NY Times, 23 July 1924, p. 17; NY Times, 2 August 1924, p. 17; NY Times, 2 August 1924, pp. 1, 6; NY Times, 8 August 1924, pp. 1, 4. Nasaw, p. 339. Incredibly, in the August 6, 1924 of the Times, an ad for Marion Davies’ latest motion picture, Janice Meredith, read: “THEY CAME-THEY SAW-THEY MARVELED and TO-DAY THE WHOLE TOWN’S TALKING of MARION DAVIES.”

264 “Fallon: Was the …” … “… do that.”: NY Sun, 4 August 1924, pp. 1, 2; NY Times, 5 August 1924, pp. 1, 18.

265 “All that …” … “… another juror!”: NY HeraldTribune, 9 August 1924, pp. 1, 2; NY Sun, 9 August 1924, pp. 1, 2; NY Times, 9 August 1924, pp. 1, 2; NY World-Telegram & Sun, 22 September 1951, Sect. 2, p. 13; Fowler (The Great Mouthpiece), pp. 360-84; Ferber, pp. 214-31; Nasaw, pp. 337-38.

266 Dolan, Landis: NY Times, 22 October 1924, p. 24; NY Times, 23 October 1924, p. 24; NY Times, 29 October 1924, p. 25; Pietrusza (Judge and jury), pp. 262-83; Ginsburg, pp. 184-95; Allen (The National League Story), p. 222. Dolan had cajoled young Giants outfielder Jimmy O’Connell into approaching Phillies shortstop Heinie Sand to throw late-season games against the pennant-contending Giants. Implicated in the affair (but not proven guilty) were three Hall of Famers: second baseman Frankie Frisch, outfielder Ross Youngs, and first baseman George Kelly. Despite Fallon’s effort, Landis banned Dolan from baseball for life.

266 Acid attack: Clarke, p. 212; Fowler (The Great Mouthpiece), pp. 392-33; Salwen, p. 4. Fallon wasn’t alone in using the Belleclaire for romantic purposes. According to Ruth Gordon, the West 77th Street hostelry was a popular spot for Riverside Drive gentlemen to stash “actress” girlfriends.

267 Fallon’s death: NY Times, 30 April 1927, p. 19; Fowler (The Great Mouthpiece), pp. 399-400. The Oxford was located at 205 West 88th Street.

267 Fallon’s funeral: NY Times, 3 May 1927, p. 27; Fowler (The Great Mouthpiece), pp. 401-2.

267 “God forgive … I cannot…” NY Times, 7 November 1938, p. 19; Ferber, p. 229; Fowler (Skyline), pp. 174.

Chapter 18: “I Will Be Alone”

269 “It has … his employer.”: Rothstein, p. 44.

269 “Much has … stood alone.”: Ferber, p. 195.

269 “Invariably Arnold … that matter.”: Rothstein, pp. 44-45; Lacey, p. 49. Or as the Jewish Daily Forward put it: A. R. was a shtadlan, the Yiddish word for “fixer.”

270 “You cannot,” ” … your place.”: Rothstein, p. 249; Katcher, pp. 219-20.

271 “Buy me … the place.”: NY Times, 18 September 1958, p. 31; Katcher, pp. 308-09. In April 1931 a disgruntled former Longchamps employee wrote J. Edgar Hoover: “There was undoubtedly a very strong link which A. R. held to the Longchamps organization because A. R. [‘s] personal checks for Cash were practically daily honored in the various restaurant branches after the close of business-I have personally accepted and paid out hundreds of these checks.”

271 “rotten bastard”: Conversation with Dr. Eugene Schoenfeld (Arthur Vigdor’s nephew), April 24, 2003; Dr. Eugene Schoenfeld to the author, May 16, 2003.

271 “only time … his life.”: NY Daily News, 6 November 1928, p. 4; NY Times, September 13, 1907, p. 7; NY Times, September 16, 1907, p. 9; NY Times, 21 November 1917, p. 13; Rothstein, p. 248. Randolph Guggenheimer (1848-1907), a Tammany Hall sachem, played a major role in the development of New York City’s educational system, won election to the presidency of the Common Council, and served as acting mayor in the absence of Mayor Robert A. Van Wyck. Samuel Utermyer (1858-1940) moved from major corporate attorney to Progressive era reformer, serving as counsel in 1912 to the Money Trust Inquiry of the Committee on Banking and Currency of the House of Representatives (the Pujo Committee). Utermyer later served as counsel to the suit against Henry Ford’s antiSemitic newspaper, The Dearborn Independent.

271 Louis Marshall (1856-1929) served as president of Temple Emanu-El in New York, chairman of the board of directors of the Jewish Theological Seminary and head of the American Jewish Committee. In 1913 Marshall defended accused (and later lynched) murderer Leo Frank in Georgia. In 1920 he defended five Socialists expelled from the New York State Assembly.

272 “You know … usual junk.”: Clarke, p. 89.

272 Smith, Ward: NY Sun, 24 November 1928, p. 6. NY Sun, 28 November p. 2; Details of the Rothstein-Smith affair and the $100,000 were discovered in A. R.‘s files after his death. The Rothstein-Gertie Ward affair was long over by the time of A. R.‘s death, but police still interrogated her, being particularly interested in his narcotics activities. She denied knowing Rothstein.

Rothstein may not have slept with every woman he kept company with. True, he may been seen with such beauties as Lillian Lorraine or Peggy Hopkins Joyce, transacted business with them, and even-on occasion-presented them with expensive baubles. But he probably did not have sexual relations with them.

272 Winthrop: Bobbie Winthrop’s show business career is very difficult to trace at this late date. A Barbara Winthrop is known to have appeared in at least two films, The Crucible (1914) and Silent Strings (1918).

272 “BROADWAY BEAUTY” … “… enjoy being seen.”: Rothstein, p. 59.

273 “I never … women more.”: ibid. p. 59.

274 Red Ritter: Rothstein, pp. 145-49; Katcher, pp. 215-7. Red certainly had his appeal. Slightly later, vaudeville and Broadway monologist Julius Tannen (1880-1965) also wished to adopt the boy, even though he already had two sons. Authorities would not allow the Jewish Tannens to adopt the gentile youngster.

274-75 “Arnold! I’ve been …” … “… these years.”: Clarke, pp. 32-33.

275 “I’m a woman…” … “… all right.”: Katcher, pp. 316-17; Rothstein, pp. 241-42. In 1920 Johns Hopkins University fired Watson from its faculty after he was named in the divorce proceedings of a student (later his second wife). By the time A. R. asked Carolyn to consult Watson, Watson was no longer a working psychologist, but rather a vice president at the J. Walter Thompson advertising agency.

276 “I couldn’t … Mr. Rothstein”: Rothstein, pp. 247-48.

276 “Sweet … ” … “… should go.”: ibid. pp. 65-6 8, 247-48; Katcher, pp. 102-04.

276 “When I … taking dope.”: Betts, p. 233.

277 “He is too … the master mind.”: NY Sun, 7 December 1928, p. 1; NY World, 10 November 1928, p. 18; Katcher, pp. 307-08; Rothstein, pp. 225-29. Although A. R. played a fair amount of golf with Inez Norton, the sport never much interested him. “Golf is too slow for me,” he complained, “Besides, there’s no way to gamble on it.” When the Woodmere course held its grand opening, he forced himself to play three holes, then went home.

278 1928 losses: Clarke, p. 103-04; Katcher, p. 318.

278 roulette wheels: NY World, 8 November 1928, p. 19.

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.