The New York Times, October 23, 1941; “…stared wided-eyed through the window of a Manhattan hotel…”
The New York Times, October 22, 1941
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
The New York Times, September 17, 1940
Life, September 30, 1940
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Poughkeepsie Eagle, September 20, 1940
GANGSTERS CONVICTED
New York. Sept. 19 – (AP) – Harry (Pittsburgh Phil) Strauss and Martin (Buggsy) Goldstein were convicted tonight by a Kings County jury for the contract killing of Irving (Puggy) Feinstein last September – the second dual conviction since the breakup of Brooklyn’s notorious “Murder, Inc.”
The jury deliberated one hour and 20 minutes and returned a verdict of murder in the first degree against both defendants. The death sentence is mandatory.
Poughkeepsie Eagle, September 20, 1940, Unidentified photographers
Daily Worker, September 20, 1940
Strauss, Goldstein
Murder, Inc.
Killers to DieHarry (Pittsburgh Phil) Strauss and Martin (Buggsy) Goldstein , Murder, Inc. killers, were sentenced in Kings County Court yesterday to die in the electric chair at Sing Sing Prison some time in the week of Nov. 4.
Strauss, 33, and Goldstein, 34, were convicted last Thursday on first degree murder charges in connection with the strangling of Irving (Puggy) Feinstein, a minor Brooklyn gangster, in September 1939.
Daily Worker, September 20, 1940
Weegee (1899-1968), [Martin (Buggsy) Goldstein], 1937, Screenshot
Peekskill Evening Star, September 30, 1940, (Unidentified photographer)
The Last Laugh on a One-Way Road
One laughing heartily, the other maintaing silence, Martin (Buggsy) Goldstein (left) and Harry (Pittsburgh Phil) Strauss enter the one-way gates at Sing Sing prison, Ossining, N.Y. The two graduate members of Murder, Inc., were sentenced to death for the murder of Irving (Puggy) Feinstein.
Peekskill Evening Star, September 30, 1940
Buffalo Currier Express, September 27, 1940
2 TRIGGER MEN
OF MURDER, INC.,
TO DIE IN CHAIRGoldstein screams as he hears
judge pronounce sentence;
Strauss remains glum
New York, Sept. 26 (AP) – Martin (Buggsy) Goldstein – who once struck terror in his victims’ hearts as executioner for Brooklyn’s bloody murder-for-profit syndicate – screamed today as a judge decreed his death in the electric chair.
“The same to you and members of your family,” he yelled hysterically.
As the 33-year-old Goldstein yammered, beside him sat his fellow-gangster, silent and glum-eyed – Harry (Pittsburgh Phil) Strauss, described by the state as a “cruel killer.”
To Die in November
Both were sentenced to die the week of November 4th by Brooklyn County Judge John J. Fitzgerald, for the “contract” slaying of Irving (Puggy) Feinstein on Labor Day in 1939. They were convicted six days ago.
As the clerk asked if he wished to speak before his sentence was pronounced, Goldstein leaped to his feet and cried:
“I want to thank the court for the charge that is sending us to our death and I only wish that the same happens to you and members of your family.
“If you can’t go to your death in a nice way, you might as well go in a bad way. I was found guilty on perjured evidence and if I die, I want to die like a man. Now go ahead.”
Third and Fourth Convicted
Solemnly, the judge decreed the sentence, and as he reached the words, “where during the week of November 4th you shall be – ” Goldstein screamed, “put to death in the electric chair.”
Then, with his voice rising to a screech, he shouted, “Hurray for me. I’ll be better off than a lot of you.”
The convictions were the third and fourth obtained by District Attorney William O’Dwyer, since he began smashing the ring which holds responsible for 83 underworld slayings…
Buffalo Currier Express, September 27, 1940
TWO IN MURDER RING
SENTENCED TO DIEGoldstein Launches a Tirade
at Judge, but Strauss
Stares VacantlyCALLS ACCUSERS ‘RATS’
Leaders of Gang, Liked to 83
Slayings, Hear Week of
Nov. 4 Set for DoomThe New York Times, September 27, 1940
Harry (Pittsburgh Phil) Strauss and Martin (Buggsy) Goldstein, leaders of the Brooklyn murder syndicate that has been accused of committing eighty-three underworld slayings, were sentenced yesterday by Kings County Judge John J. Fitzgerald to die in the electric chair in Sing Sing Prison during the week of Nov. 4…
…”The first thing I want to do is to thank the court for the lovely charge that is sending us to death. I can only hope that same thing for you and your family…
The New York Times, September 27, 1940
Snarls Out His Phrases
…”That’s it. Let it go at that. If you can’t go to your death in a nice way, you might as well go in a bad way. I’m willing ti die like a man. I was found guilty on a perjured evidence. I’ll die like a man. Go ahead”….
“In the electric chair. I know all about it. In the electric chair. Hooray for me! I’ll be better off than the lot of you.”…
“Make it tomorrow. It’s all right by me. I’d be better satisfied.
The New York Times, September 27, 1940
Maledictions on Judge
…The two men were convicted on Sept. 19 by a blue-ribbon jury of strangling and attempting to cremate Irving (Puggy) Feinstein, a smalltime bookmaker, whose death was “contracted for” by Albert Anastasia, fugitive leader of the Brooklyn waterfront rackets.
The New York Times, September 27, 1940
PM, September 24, 1940
Death House Reunion
It will be like old home week in the death house at Sing Sing pretty soon. Frank (The Dasher) Abbandando and Harry (Happy) Maione, Murder, Inc. slayers already there, will be joined by <artin (Buggsy) Goldstein and Harry (Pittsburgh Phil) Strauss, who on Thursday will hear themselves sentenced to die in the electric chair for the murder of Puggy Feinstein.
PM, September 24, 1940
The New York Times, September 20, 1940
MURDER INCORPORATED
The jury has decided that the two gangsters on trial for murder in Brooklyn were working members of Murder Incorporated. The implications of this trial are shocking. In a certain stratum of the community in which we live it was possible for a few dollars to hire assassins who would guarantee the murder of any specified individual…
The chief informant against the two gangsters who were convicted – “Kid Twist,” as Abe Reles prefers to call himself – glories in his record. Questioned on the number of victims he has “rubbed out,” he counts them on his fingers and figures up to eleven. He has difficulty in remembering the names or mob-names of so-many, but finally calls the roll triumphantly. He had no animosity against any of them, the death of each was accepted “on contract.” The only doubt excited by his graphic recital is whether such a man should be allowed to save his life on any terms.
The New York Times, September 20, 1940
The New York Times, September 20, 1940
TWO IN MURDER RING
QUICKLY CONVICTEDStrauss and Goldstein to Die
in the Chair – Judge Praises
O’Dwyer Drive on CrimeThe New York Times, September 20, 1940
PM, September 20, 1940, p.8
Goldstein and Strauss Found Guilty… Will Die for Murder, Inc. Butchery
…It was over. People pressed their congratulations on District Attorney O’Dwyer and young Turkus. Among them was a slihght, pale girl in black. She squeezed Turkus’s hand. “Thanks. Thanks for what you’ve done.”
She was Puggy Feinstein’s sister.
PM, September 20, 1940, p.8
WEEGEEWEEGEEWEEGEE 