Gambling: A Dirty Business?

It was not until 1912 that another fresh major scandal broke out in New York.

This was when the police alliance with gamblers was generally believed to be extensive during the years.

Rhinelander Waldo was police commissioner. Schmittberger was chief inspector of the department. Lieutenant Charles F. Becker was the officer in charge of the commissioner's vice squad - traditionally regarded as the most remunerative spot in the department for a dishonest cop.

The commissioner had ordered Becker to make an effort to suppress the gambling houses that were in evidence throughout the city.

On April 17, the Becker squad conducted a raid on an establishment on 45th Street owned by Herman Rosenthal, much to the annoyance of the gambler.

What disturbed Rosenthal particularly was the fact that Becker had been levying tribute for years and even held a chattel mortgage on the raided premises.

Rosenthal called on the police commissioner and on Mayor William J. Gaynor and offered to produce proof that Becker was involved in the protection of organized gambling.

When he was rebuffed, he sought out Charles S. Whitman, the district attorney of New York County.

Even before he saw the district attorney, Rosenthal was negotiating with the New York World to publish an affidavit in which he exposed Becker's role in organized gambling. Finally, on Saturday, July 13, the New York World announced that it would print Rosenthal's affidavit in its Sunday edition, which it did.

Whitman then issued subpoenas to Rosenthal and other prominent gamblers to testify before the Grand Jury.

On Tuesday morning at 2 a.m., as Rosenthal emerged from the Hotel Metropole in Time Square, Gyp, the Blood, a burglar, Lefty Louis, a pickpocket, Dago Frank, another burglar, and Whitey Lewis, a thief, put four slugs into his body and escaped in a cab that was waiting for them.

Suspicion immediately focused on Lieutenant Becker. The district attorney pursued the investigation relentlessly and brought about the indictment of Lieutenant Becker and the four actual killers for murder in the first degree.

There ensued two trials that were undoubtedly more publicized than any others in new York's history. Public opinion was sharply divided. Whitman presented evidence on the first trial before John. D. Goff, who was now a judge of the Court of General Sessions.

The jury found the lieutenant guilty of murder in the first degree, and the wide acclaim that resulted from the successful prosecution spiraled Whitman to the governor's chair.

The conviction was, however, reversed by the Court of Appeals.

A second trial was conducted before Supreme Court Justice Samuel Seabury and again resulted in a conviction of murder in the first degree. Becker was sentenced to death and died in the electric chair.