“Reles just went out the window!”

“Coffee and Cakes”; Sam Donahue and his Orchestra; Robert Sour; Una Mae Carlisle; Frances Claire; Bluebird (B-11377-A), Publication date: November 12, 1941

PM, November 12, 1941

Abe Reles Leaps to His Death

Abe (Kid Twist) Reles, ex-leader of Brooklyn’s Murder, Inc. who turned informer, killed himself today by jumping from a window at Coney Island’s Half Moon Hotel…

“ST. JAMES INFIRMARY BLUES-Part 1”; Artie Shaw and his Orchestra; “Hop Lips” Page; Joe Primrose; RCA Victor (27895 A); November 12, 1941

Brooklyn Eagle, November 12, 1941

RELES DIES IN HOTEL PLUNGE AS ESCAPE ATTEMPT FAILS

Wire Breaks as He Slides to Freedom — Fear Held Cause

“ST. JAMES INFIRMARY BLUES-Part 2”; Artie Shaw and his Orchestra; “Hop Lips” Page; Joe Primrose; RCA Victor (27895-B); November 12, 1941

Long Isand Daily Press, November 12, 1941

Abe Reles Dies in Plunge From Window of Hotel

His ‘Singing’ Helped Smash ‘Murder, Inc.’

Abe (Kid Twist) Reles 37-year old Brooklyn killer turned “informer,” whose testimony already sent two men to their deaths in the electric chair, was killed today when he fell six floors in trying to escape from “protective custody” in the Half Moon Hotel at Coney Island…

“To a Broadway Rose”; Artie Shaw and his Orchestra; Ray Conniff; Victor (27838-A); November 12, 1941

New York Post, November 12, 1941

RELES IS KILLED WHILE ESCAPING

By Malcolm Logan

Abe Reles, the swarthy little murderer who sent two of his fellow members of Murder, Inc. to the electric chair, was killed between 6:45 and 7:10 a.m. today as he was trying to escape from a room on the sixth floor of the Half Moon Hotel in Coney Island…

“Deuces Wild”; Artie Shaw and his Orchestra; Margie Gibson; Victor (27838-B); November 12, 1941

80 years ago today: “Reles just went out the window!”… (Spoiler alert: It was a little premature to conclude that Reles leapt, jumped, was attempting to escape, or “killed himself.”)… What is true is that early on November 12, 1941 Reles went out a window and died on the Half Moon Hotel in Coney Island shortly before having to testify against Lepke…