The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-11-18
Upper World Linked With
Under World in Gotham
Death Mystery.
R0THSTEIN WAS POWER
Broadway Gaming King
Held Entree Into Circles
of Big Business.
Story OF Trial on Page One.
BY GENE COIN,
NEA Service Writer

|
NEA Service Writer
NEW YORK, Nov. ia big
card-and-dice man named George
McManuS finally went on trial to-
day after year of delays.
But with this itinerant gambler
Is being tried a considerable section
of polite society.
McManus, according to indict-
ment and district attorney, is re-
sponSible for the death of Arnold
Rothstein, king of Manhattan's
gamblers, racketeers and political
flxers.
Polite society, according to all in
dications, is responsible for that
part of the life of Arnold Rothstein
which made him a power behind
many thrones.
Two Worlds Linked
Just back of the scenes in the
courtroom where dapperly dressed,
Broadwayesque McManus sits NAV
be found a strangely patterned
shadow where underworld and up-
perworld meet in fantastic compan-
| ionShip.
The money of the underworld
finds its way into respectable pock-
cts OF the upperworld; the money
OF the upperworld finds itself ex-
changed for the favors of the un-
derWorld. The underworld learns
to wear the mask of the upperworld
and to join in its casual and init
mate affairs.
Judges toss certain cases mysteri-
ously out of court; witnesses 90
dumb upon the stand; high officials
become involved in political manip-
ulations, and sporting events find
themselves fixed In favor of heavy
bettorS; important citizens are used
indirectly for building prestige.
Probe Is Feared
And because polite society allowed
Arnold Rothstein to live as he did.
1t now must accept the manner of
his death. Nor must it pry too
deeply into the manner In which
this death came about, lest it trip
over one of it's fellows or meet some
eminently reputable society figure.
Be all this as 1t may, Rtohstein
was shot and killed one year ago
while a big card game was in prog
resS in one Of the swankiest hotels.
Rothstein and his crowd had access
to all that Is swanky.
Each morning when he left
mansion on Riverside drive. or an
other mansion he occupied on Fifth
avenue, or another mansion he
bought in the seventies, Arnold
Rothstein-who financed huge mar
cotic operations. who accepted toll
from Speakeasies and shady night
clubs, who assured protection
and got it-would leave in his Rolls
Royce and drop in on many of New
York's most respectable Offices.
Eventually he would arrive at his
own concern, which dealt legiti-
mately in mortgages, loans and real
estate.
Expose Drug Ring
BY night he would operate three
or four of Broadway's leading dice
games and, when it served his pur-
pose, he would be seen at the Aston
or the Waldorf with eminently
prominent political figures.
Yet, hardly was his corpse cold
in the grave, when one Of the Iarg-
est narcotic hauls in history was
made possible through papers found
by federal agents In his effects.
Papers which might have led to
many other disclosures conveniently
disappeared.
Rothstein had as his gambling
clientele only the wealthiest and
most influential people.
When any of his gaming resorts
opened, whether In Broadway or
way points, most Of his players
came by invitation. He wanted only
the biggest spenders with the biggest
bank-rollS.
Officials Indebted to Him
Before that he was a spectacular
race "plunger," until he was ruled
off the tracks. Because Of political
contributions and certain power
he could cause officials to become
indebted to him.
Because of the new gang partic-
ipation in labor troubles, his name
became linked with the fixing" OF
certain radical outbreaks.
So ran his course. 1t was and still
is said about his old hangouts that
Rothstein grew too conscious and
cocky about his power. He had be-
gun to welsh" on his own debts,
while squeezing all his debtors.
He did not greatly fear death by
violence, because he figured there
we're too many people interested in
keeping him alive.
The presumed motive for the
murder blamed upon McManus Is
given as a quarrel over an unpaid
gambling debt.
But the wise-guys of Broadway
smile at the suggestion and shrug
their shoulders. They mention a
relative Of big Tammany figure:
they mention two district political
leaders, and the agent of Chicago
drug ring. They do not consider
the conviction Of McManus possible.