One of New York’s most notorious gamblers was shot to death during a poker game.
Police found Arnold Rothstein bleeding profusely at the service entrance of the Park Central Hotel in Manhattan, and followed his trail of blood back to a suite where a group of men were playing cards.
Rothstein became a legendary figure because of his unparalleled winning streak in bets and card games. It is believed that he usually won by “fixing” the events. The most famous instance was in 1919 when an employee of his paid players of the Chicago White Sox to throw the World Series.
Rothstein later began purchasing nightclubs, racehorses and brothels. His fortune grew to $50 million. But his luck finally ran out during a wild losing streak. At a poker game with George “Hump” McManus, Rothstein lost $320,000 and then refused to pay. Two months later, McManus invited Rothstein to play what would be his final poker game.
Asked who had shot him before dying, Rothstein reportedly put his finger to his lips, keeping the gangsters’ code of silence.
