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Tag Archives: Murder Inc.

“THE END OF THE ROAD FOR KID TWIST”

November 14, 2021
1941


“At the End of the Road”; Tom Waring and Waring’s Pennsylvanians; Ballard Macdonald; James F. Hanley; Victor (19602-A); 1925


“The End Of The Road”; Sir Harry Lauder; William Dillon; RCA Victor (9024-B); 1926



“Waiting At The End Of The Road”; Harold Lang; Irving Berlin; Pathe Actuelle (32484)



The New York Times, November 14, 1941

GUARDS DEMOTED IN RELES ESCAPE

Five to Get Departmental Trials on Laxity Charge – Mayor Orders Inquiry

…speculation mounted as to Reles’s motive in attempting to escape that admittedly afforded him a haven from an underworld enraged… it was known that Reles feared only one underworld figure, Albert Anastasia… He always did the weird, fantastic thing…
He could sing but couldn’t fly”…


“Waiting At The End Of The Road”; Kate Smith; The Harmonians; Berlin; Harmony (999-H); August 27, 1925


Long Island Daily Press, November 14, 1941, (Unidentified photographer)

FUNERAL. Mrs. Rose Reles, left, widow of the gangster, Abe Reles, who fell to his death from the window of a sixth floor room at the Half Moon Hotel in Coney Island, is helped to a car after attending the burial services yesterday in the Mount Carmel Cemetery, Glendale. She screamed incessantly during the rather sketchy ceremony.


“Waiting At The End Of The Road”; The Kay Starr Style; Irving Berlin; Harold Mooney; Capitol (15910)


New York Post, November 14, 1941, (Unidentified photographer)

THE END OF THE ROAD FOR KID TWIST

GRAVEDIGGERS finish covering all that is mortal of “Abe Reles… Died Nov. 12th 1941… Age 36 years, 6 months, 2 days…”


“End of the Road”; Jerry Lee Lewis With His Pumping Piano; Jerry Lewis; Sun (259); December 1, 1956

“Look into those eyes…”

November 13, 2021
1941


“Somebody Nobody Loves”; Benny Goodman and his Orch.; Peggy Lee; S. Miller; Okeh (6562); Publication date: November 13, 1941


Lepke and His Pals Feared Reles’s Testimony…

And here’s the grinning Lepke himself – Louis Buchalter, born 44 years ago in the city’s slums. He’s under a federal narcotic sentence that would keep him in jail 14 years… Lepke is blamed for 14 murders or more; Reles was to have testified against him. The particular murder for which Lepke is on trial is that of Joseph Rosen, candy-store owner. Rosen had been a trucking boss in the garment center. O’Dwyer says Lepke ordered the job much as you would order the cook to kill a chicken for dinner.

… Until Death Mysteriously Removed One

And this is where it ended, outside the Half Moon Hotel in Coney Island, where Reles has been awaiting his chance to testify against Lepke. We don’t really know what happened. Some reports say Reles was trying to escape – with only a couple of sheets to let him down down the sixth floor widow (circle) to a roof overlooking the ocean. Reporters were told that a window on the floor below was partly open, and that the sill and his shoes bore marks indicating he tried to get in. Some authorities said he had been ill, that he might have committed suicide.



PM, November 13, 1941 (Unidentified photographers)


“How Long Has This Been Going On!;” Benny Goodman and his Orch.; Peggy Lee; I. Gershwin; G. Gershwin; Okeh (6544); November 13, 1941







The New York Times, November 13, 1941 (Unidentified photographer)


“Somebody Else is Taking My Place”; Benny Goodman and his Orchestra; Peggy Lee; D. Howard; Ellsworth; Morgan; Columbia (38198); November 13, 1941


Binghamton, November 13, 1941 (Unidentified photographer)


The New York Times, November 13, 1941 (Unidentified photographer)


“Why Don’t You Do Right”; Benny Goodman and his Orchestra; Peggy Lee; McCoy; Columbia (38198); November 13, 1941

(“…We don’t really know what happened…” PM, November 13, 1941.)

“Reles just went out the window!”

November 12, 2021
1941


“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…

“I told the truth about unions and the mob.”

November 11, 2021
1941


“I’M READING YOUR LETTER AGAIN, DEAR”; BOB ATCHER and BONNIE BLUE EYES; Jenkins’ Okeh (06495); November 11, 1941




The New York Times, November 11, 1941

LEPKE ‘FINGER MAN’
HUNTS JOB IN VAIN

Paul Berger Accuses Unions
of Barring Him From Work
for ‘Telling the Truth’


“LET’S START LIFE ALL OVER”; BOB ATCHER and BONNIE BLUE EYES; L. White; Okeh (06495); November 11, 1941




PM, November 11, 1941

Skeletons Dance At Lepke Trial


“Walking the Floor Over You”; Bob Atcher; Ernest Tubb; Columbia (37432); November 11, 1941


Washington Experts Feel War With Japan Is Definitely Possible Before Christmas


“SWEETHEARTS OR STRANGERS”; BOB ATCHER and BONNIE BLUE EYES; J. Davis; Columbia (37432); November 11, 1941

23 Years Have Passed, It’s Armistice Day Again


“Modern Design;” Johnny Messner And His Orchestra; Johnny Messner; Sammy Kaye; Ron Perry; Stanley Broadhurst; Decca (4086 B); November 11, 1941


PM, November 11, 1941

745 Moved to New Prison And Not One Was Lost


“Gotta Find My Baby”; Doctor Clayton; Joe Clayton; Bluebird (B-8901-B); November 11, 1941

“Finger Man”

November 8, 2021
1941


“FINGER BUSTER”; Jelly Roll Morton; Jazz Man (Number 12)


“Finger Tips”; Red Prysock; Mercury (70733); 1955


“Ring Around My Finger”; Tiny Topsy and The Charms; Roth; Bass; Federal (12309); 1957


“The Mark ‘Round My Finger”; Hawkshaw Hawkins; Alice Simms; Ira Rosloff; RCA Victor (20-5444); 1953


“YOU’VE GOT ME WRAPPED AROUND YOUR FINGER”; TEXAS JIM LEWIS And His Lone Star Cowboys; Ginger Snow; Lew Porter; Spade Cooley; Decca (46073 B); December 10, 1945


“THE FINGER OF SUSPICION POINTS AT YOU”; Bonnie Lou; Mann; Lewis; Parlophone (R 3989); 1955

“Shlam”

October 31, 2021
1941


“Nightmare Boogie”; Pearl Traylor; Modern Music (No. 112-A); Publication date: September 1945


“Monster Party”; Bill Doggett; Henry Glover; King (5176); Publication date: December 1958


The New York Times, October 31, 1941


“Nightmare Boogie”; Hadda Brooks and her Sextette; Hadda Brooks; Modern Music (No. 112-A); Publication date: September 1945

“Mister, I went there each time to avoid murder…”

October 30, 2021
1941


“Just Kiddin’ Around”; Artie Shaw & his Orchestra; Ray Conniff; Victor (27806-B); Publication date: October 30, 1941


“Take Your Shoes Off, Baby (And Start Runnin’ Through My Mind)”; Artie Shaw & his Orchestra; Gene Austin; “Hot Lips” Page; Victor (27719-B); Publication date: October 30, 1941


“Nightmare”; Art Shaw and his New Music; Shaw; Vocalion (4306); Publication date: September 17, 1937


The New York Times, October 30, 1941


“Nightmare Blues”; Mari Jones; Johnny Moore’s 3 Blazers; Modern Hollywood (900); Publication date: 1953

“…was slain by members of the notorious Brooklyn murder syndicate because he knew too much…”

October 23, 2021
1941


“That Ain’t Right”; King Cole Trio; King Cole; Cole; Decca (8630 A); October 23, 1941


“Mama Long and Tall”; Erskine Butterfield And His Blue Boys; Erskine Butterfield; Joe Davis; Decca (8596 A); October 23, 1941


The New York Times, October 23, 1941; “…stared wided-eyed through the window of a Manhattan hotel…”


“If Money Grew on Trees”; Erskine Butterfield And His Blue Boys; Erskine Butterfield; Leon Rene; Decca (8596 B); October 23, 1941

“…underworld killers flee the scene of a crime…”

October 22, 2021
1941


“That Ain’t Right”; King Cole Trio; Nat King Cole; King Cole; Decca (25109 A); October 22, 1941


“Uncle Sammy Here I Am”; Clarence Williams’ Blue Five; Eva Taylor; Clarence Willaims; Miller; Williams; Johnson; Bluebird (B-11368-A); October 22, 1941


The New York Times, October 22, 1941


“Thriller Blues”; Clarence Williams’ Blue Five; Eva Taylor; Williams; Barlow; Harper; Bluebird (B-11368-B); October 22, 1941

“Irving (‘Puggy’) Feinstein is…”

October 2, 2021
1940


“Life Is but a Dream”; THE HARPTONES; WILLIE WINIFIELD; Cita; Paradise (P-101-A); 1955



Life, September 30, 1940 (Weegee, [Weegee and Puggy], September 1939, “N.Y. Daily News – Acme, Int.”)

Irving (“Puggy”) Feinstein is the charred corpse under the carpet in the picture above…
Life, September 30, 1940


“Life Is a Beautiful Thing”; Evelyn Knight; Perry Botkin And The Rhythmaires; Jay Livingston; Ray Evans; Decca (27874); 1951


“Life Can Be Beautiful”; Harry James and his Orchestra; Marion Morgan; Adamson; McHugh; Columbia (37156); 1946


“Life Is a Wonderful Thing”; Sophie Tucker; Maurada; Montgomery; Shapiro; Mercury (5901); 1952


“Life Is Fine”; JIMMIE LUNCEFORD And His Orchestra; James Young; Decca (4289 A); December 22, 1941


The New York Times, September 17, 1940


“Life Is So Peculiar”; LOUIS ARMSTRONG and LOUIS JORDAN And His Tympany Five; James Van Heusen; Johnny Burke; Decca (27212); 1950


Life, September 30, 1940

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“Laughing At Life”; BILLIE HOLIDAY; N. & C. Kenny; C. & B. Todd; Okeh (5719); 1940