The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-04
R0THSTEIN HAD
VISION OF BEING
CANFIELD NO. 2
Everything Was Arranged
When the Grand Jury
Got Busy.
HAD SPENT $4,000
The Brook a Palace With
Furnishings From Hotel
KnickerbOcker.
HE DECIDED TO RETIRE
Slight Danger Of His Ever
Being Troubled by an
Indictment.
HE DECIDED TO RETIRE
~ a staff Correspondent Of THE HERALD.

~ Staff Correspondent of THE HERALD
SARATOGA SPRINGS, Oct. 3. - Arnold
Rothstein, who recently announced his
retirement from gambling for the sake
of his social standing, aspired to be a
second Garfield at Saratoga, but started
too late. He had just got things where
he wanted them, as the phrase is. when
the long threatened clean up, which no
body expected ever would matertalize,
actually was started. The uncharitable
might profess to see some relation be-
tween Rothstein's decision TO quit the
business and the fact he was not n
lowed to operate here this summer, also
tho fact that his friends on Long Island
have been suppressed by the law
Before the racing month of August
opened he spent $4,000 in enlargng,
refitting and garnishing his clubhouse.
The Brook. which Is on a knoll near
Church street about mile and a half
from the centre of Saratoga. He bought
lot of dining room fixtures and paint
ings from the Hotel Knickerbocler.
which was closing, and also imported a
head walter and four assistants, with
the idea of permitting the jolly clubmen
to dine in the style to which they were
accustomed.
But uphappily the moment Of his
greatest ambition conceded with the
sitting of the Extraordinary Grand
Jury, which came into being in June
and has since indicted the District At
torney and thirty-one alleged gamblers.
The Brook opened Its doors to the elect
OF the racing crowd. but merely as
restaurant
Rothstein, who up to the time of his
retirement few days ago. hardly re-
stricted his interest in life to the mere
art OF eating. spent part of August
here, attending the races. although
barred from the club house, apparently
hoping against hope that the investi-
cation would end as have others in
Saratoga and that there would be fur
Their use for the four single and one
double roulette wheels and the faro
tables around which the gamestefs
frolicked in the summer of 1919.
But the jury kept on grinding out in
dictments, and in the face of Gov.
Smiths threat to police Saratoga with
State troopers IL gambling was not
stopped the various political factions
which have been accusing one ano Their
these many years of living off the
gamblers were forced into an attitude
gambling in Saratoga this summer, and
II now looks as If even the smaller fry
will be put out of countenance next
season.
Before Rothstein made known his
abdication, following the use of his name
In vague reference to the baseball
scandal, 1t was commonly believed
in Saratoga that he would not attempt
to operate the Brook next year.
$4,000 Campaign Gift.
The story that he staked one OF the
political factions to n campaign fund
Of $4,000 last fall has been in every
body's mouth here for some time. SO
far as can be discovered the Extraordi-
nary Grand Jury has not had him under
subpoena. 1t has, however, called sew
eral witnesses who had been bandying
the story about. If they know any
fact they have a rare faculty for
forgetting IL. They have sworn that
they merely heard the story on the
street." or repeated II because IL was
common rumor." Some of them have
given the names OF those from whom
they got it. These being subpnnaed
have given only hearsay testimony.
District Attorney Charles B. Andrus
told reported for THE HERALD to-day
that he, like many other persons. had
heard the yarn and had investigated
it without obtaining verifcation. He
stoutly added that IL he did get any
evidence he would prosecute.
The extraordinary rand Jury will
meet again on October 10, but there Is
nothing to indicate that Rothstein or
any of the big gamblers is in danger of
Indictment. The traditional code is
being respected. Men who were sup
posed to have been among his patrons
have sworn before the extraordinary
Grand Jury that thoy were not. or that
IL they did play at The Brook 1t was as
members of n private club In which
friendly games were INDUCED in and
the 'house" took nothing. The Brook
is not In Rothsteins name. The repairs
and improvements made this summer
were not ordered in his name. There
apparently Is nothing of record to
identify him with the place. II he ever
contributed TO campaign fund It Is ex-
coedingly doubtful IL any check bore his
signature. Such things are not done III
that way.
Rothstein came to Saratoga in 1917
with Henry Tobin, who was visible at |
The Brook through the summer of 1919
and since has spent considerable time In
Nassau county. They had a small place
on the shore of Saratoga Lake. In 1918
John Shaughnessy. recently indicted as
a gambler In Nassau county, Joined
them. and they entertained on a larger
scale. Rothstein put $4,000 into a
clubhouse which he built on the Ben
Ruey estate on the west shOre OF the
lake. calling II Arrowhead Inn. But
before the rscing season. the "clean up
month" of August, opened. District At
torney Andrus announced that there |
could be no gambling"
The Brook Opened.
The next two summers Shaughnessy |
lad Arrowhead Inn and the clubhouse |
In 1918 Tho Brook, on Church street, |
was opened, with Rothstein as host. II |
had been the summer home Of Mr. and |
Mrs George A. Saportas, and was called |
Bonnybrook Farm. After divorcing her ]
husband In 1915 Mrs. Saportas con-
tinued to live there with her children. |
IL was one of the choicest estates In |
Saratoga county with fifty acres OF !
woods and meadow and rolling hills, a |
large shingred house OF Colonial design |
and stables. much used when Mr.. |
saportas hal string of steeplechasers.