‘How to Commit a Murder” or “…flies in here at night and gets under the bed…”

“A Handful of Stars”; Ina Ray Hutton and her Orch.; Stuart Foster; Lawrence; Shapiro; Publication date: September 19, 1940

The New York Times, September 19, 1940

MURDER RING TRIAL
HEARS NO DEFENSE

Goldstein’s Counsel Pleads
With Jury to Spare Client
He Terms ‘a Poor Bum’

STRAUSS STARES VACANTLY

Two Psychiatrists Testify He
Could Not Tell Date — Opinion
on Sanity Forbidden

The New York Times, September 19, 1940

“Gotta Have Your Love”; Ina Ray Hutton and her Orch.; Woode; Jackson; Loman; Publication date: September 19, 1940

NEW YORK: MURDER, Inc.
A Picture Story of An Industry.
By John Kobler.

District Attorney O’Dwyer (left foreground) listens dead-pan, while from the witness stand Abe Reles demonstrates how he and his two old friends, Srauss and Goldstein (seated center), strangled Irving (Puggy) Feinstein. Goldstein’s lawyer, paunchy Leo Healy is trying to enter an objection. The quizzical gentleman in front of him is Mr. O’Dwyer’s young assistant, Burton B. Turkus. Sketched in Court by William Sharp.
PM, September 19, 1940

Madness in Great Ones Must Not Unwatcht Go

When they jailed Harry Strauss, Brooklyn’s leading Angel of Destruction, on a murder rap, he let his beard grow long and matted, babbled idiocies, generally behaved like a loon. But three stated alienists said he was faking.

Yesterday, in Kings County, his lawyer tried to show that the alienists just don’t know their psychic onions. The alienists said he saw Abe Reles under his bed. Reles wasn’t.
PM, September 19, 1940

How to Commit a Murder — By Abe Reles

Of the story of Murder, Inc., as pictured in the preceding pages, Abe Reles told much as a witness in the current case against Strauss and Goldstein. Samples:

“I killed 11 men… Joey Silvers…and Plug Schuman… and Jack Paley. And, wait a minute, I can’t recall his name… Oh yes, a fellow by the name of Ferasco.”

“The boss said he wanted a clean job… Big Harry jumped on Puggy from behind and mugged (strangled) him like this.”

“I gave Big Harry one end if the rope and we put it under Puggy’s head while Buggsy held the other end.”

Sketched in Court by William Sharp.
PM, September 19, 1940

“The World Without You”; Will Hudson And His Orchestra; Kay Kenny; Will Hudson; Maria Kramer; Publication date: September 19, 1940