Editing Murder, Inc. (section)

=== Harry Strauss and Martin Goldstein ===

[[Harry Strauss]] and [[Martin Goldstein]] were put on trial for the September 4, 1939, strangulation murder of bookmaker [[Irving Feinstein]], whose body was set on fire and left in a vacant lot after Feinstein had been strangled.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1940/04/04/archives/cars-killers-used-are-found-junked-oscar-the-poet-sends-police-to.html Cars Killers Used Are Found Junked; Oscar the Poet Sends Police to Yard Where They Uncover Parts of 30 'Hot' Autos; His Bail Set at $50,000 But He Is Jailed for His Safety – Maione Offers to 'Sing,' but O'Dwyer Won't Listen], ''The New York Times'', April 4, 1940, p. 19.{{subscription required}} {{Cite news |url=http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F30B1EF83C55177A93C6A9178FD85F448485F9 |title=CARS KILLERS USED ARE FOUND JUNKED; Oscar the Poet Sends Police to Yard Where They Uncover Parts of 30 'Hot' Autos HIS BAIL SET AT $50,000 but He is Jailed for His Safety --Maione Offers to 'Sing,' but O'Dwyer Won't Listen |access-date=May 27, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106174822/http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F30B1EF83C55177A93C6A9178FD85F448485F9 |archive-date=November 6, 2012 |url-status=bot: unknown |newspaper=The New York Times |date=1940-04-04 }}</ref> The trial started in September 1940 with Strauss feigning insanity.<ref>[https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0817FF345D10728DDDAB0994DE405B8088F1D3 Strauss's Sanity to Be Tested], ''The New York Times'', June 12, 1940 p. 20.{{subscription required}} {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106174903/http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0817FF345D10728DDDAB0994DE405B8088F1D3 |date=November 6, 2012 }}</ref><ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1940/08/02/archives/prisoner-fights-to-retain-beard-strauss-gang-gunman-holds-to-be.html Prisoner Fights to Retain Beard; Strauss, Gang Gunman, Holds to Be Shaved Would Violate Constitutional Rights; Court Reserves Decision; Ponders on Procedure if the Ex-Convict Were a Nudist or Needed a Bath], ''The New York Times'', August 2, 1940 p. 25.{{subscription required}} {{Cite news |url=http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F40A17FE3D5C10728DDDAB0894D0405B8088F1D3 |title=PRISONER FIGHTS TO RETAIN BEARD; Strauss, Gang Gunman, Holds to be Shaved Would Violate Constitutional Rights COURT RESERVES DECISION Ponders on Procedure if the Ex-Convict Were a Nudist or Needed a Bath |access-date=September 19, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106174909/http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F40A17FE3D5C10728DDDAB0894D0405B8088F1D3 |archive-date=November 6, 2012 |url-status=bot: unknown |newspaper=The New York Times |date=1940-08-02 }}</ref><ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1940/08/03/archives/pittsburgh-phil-fails-to-get-writ-court-dismisses-habeas-corpus.html Pittsburgh Phil Fails to Get Writ; Court Dismisses Habeas Corpus Plea of Murder Ring Suspect Involving Psychiatrist; Case of Beard Pending; Prisoner Awaits Ruling on Prosecutor's Request That He Be Ordered to Shave], ''The New York Times'', August 3, 1940 p. 12.{{subscription required}} {{Cite news |url=http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F20D17FB3554107A93C1A91783D85F448485F9 |title=PITTSBURGH PHIL FAILS TO GET WRIT; Court Dismisses Habeas Corpus Plea of Murder Ring Suspect Involving Psychiatrist CASE OF BEARD PENDING Prisoner Awaits Ruling on Prosecutor's Request That He be Ordered to Shave |access-date=September 19, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106174917/http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F20D17FB3554107A93C1A91783D85F448485F9 |archive-date=November 6, 2012 |url-status=bot: unknown |newspaper=The New York Times |date=1940-08-03 }}</ref><ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1940/09/05/archives/court-rules-thug-must-shave-beard-refuses-to-allow-strauss-to-wear.html Court Rules Thug must Shave Beard; Refuses to Allow Strauss to Wear His Disguise at Murder Ring Trial] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106174926/http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F10816FE3B5A11728DDDAC0894D1405B8088F1D3 |date=2012-11-06 }}, ''The New York Times'', September 5, 1940 p. 25.{{subscription required}}</ref><ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1940/09/10/archives/murder-ring-trial-opens-in-brooklyn-3-jurors-chosen-and-locked-up.html Murder Ring Trial Opens in Brooklyn; 3 Jurors Chosen and Locked Up for Night – Strauss Stares, Mutters Continually] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106174934/http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F30813FA3D5C10728DDDA90994D1405B8088F1D3 |date=2012-11-06 }}, ''The New York Times'', September 10, 1940 p. 25.{{subscription required}}</ref> Abe Reles, the chief prosecution witness, testified that Feinstein was murdered on orders of [[Albert Anastasia]], since he supposedly "crossed" [[Vincent Mangano]].<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1940/09/17/archives/reles-confesses-5-more-killings-increases-number-to-eleven-as-he.html Reles Confesses 5 More Killings; Increases Number to Eleven as He Appears at the Trial of Strauss and Goldstein Turns on 2 Old Friends; Tells of Getting Orders From 'Boss,' Waterfront Leader, to 'Take' Feinstein] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106174941/http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F70D1EF9345810738DDDAE0994D1405B8088F1D3 |date=2012-11-06 }}, ''The New York Times'', September 17, 1940 p. 23.{{subscription required}}</ref> Reles testified that he, Goldstein and Strauss murdered Feinstein in his house. Reles's mother-in-law also testified that Reles and Strauss had asked her for an ice pick and clothesline earlier in the day and, while at the house, heard loud music masking a commotion in the living room. She also testified hearing Strauss say that he had been bitten. Goldstein's former bodyguard/driver [[Seymour Magoon]] corroborated the story, as he testified that on the night of the murder, Goldstein told him that he along with Reles and Strauss had murdered Puggy Feinstein and that shortly after the crime was committed, Goldstein and "Duke" Maffetore burned the body.<ref>[https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB071EFA3E54157A93CAA81782D85F448485F9 Gangster in Court Pleads for Life; Goldstein Interrupts Murder Trial With Dramatic Appeal to His Ex-Bodyguard; Cries 'You're Burning Me!' Magoon, State Witness, Turns Away and Corroborates Reles Story of Slaying] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106175452/http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB071EFA3E54157A93CAA81782D85F448485F9 |date=2012-11-06 }}, ''The New York Times'', September 18, 1940, p. 21.{{subscription required}}</ref> Goldstein's attorney decided not to put up a defense. Strauss's attorney claimed his client was insane. Strauss was briefly allowed on the witness stand but refused to take his oath and was "babbling incoherently" as he was led back to the defense table. Strauss then began chewing on a leather strap of a briefcase.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1940/09/19/archives/murder-ring-trial-hears-no-defense-goldsteins-counsel-pleads-with.html 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] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106175502/http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F4091FF93454107A93CBA81782D85F448485F9 |date=2012-11-06 }}, ''The New York Times'', September 19, 1940 p. 22.{{subscription required}}</ref> On September 19, 1940, Strauss and Goldstein were convicted of first-degree murder and a week later sentenced to death in the electric chair.<ref>[https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0812FC3B5A11728DDDA90A94D1405B8088F1D3 Two in Murder Ring Quickly Convicted; Strauss and Goldstein to Die in the Chair – Judge Praises O'Dwyer Drive on Crime] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106175508/http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0812FC3B5A11728DDDA90A94D1405B8088F1D3 |date=2012-11-06 }}, ''The New York Times'', September 20, 1940 p. 1.{{subscription required}}</ref><ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1940/09/27/archives/two-in-murder-ring-sentenced-to-die-goldstein-launches-a-tirade-at.html Two in Murder Ring Sentenced to Die; Goldstein Launches a Tirade at Judge, but Strauss Stares Vacantly; Calls Accusers 'Rats'; Leaders of Gang, Linked to 83 Slayings, Hear Week of Nov. 4 Set for Doom] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106175516/http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F00812FF3D5D177A93C5AB1782D85F448485F9 |date=2012-11-06 }}, ''The New York Times'', September 27, 1940 p. 22.{{subscription required}}</ref> On April 24, 1941, Strauss and Goldstein's convictions were affirmed by New York's Court of Appeals on a 4–3 decision.<ref>[https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB0B11FA3559167B93C7AB178FD85F458485F9 Two in Murder Ring Fail in Their Appeal; Conviction of Strauss and Goldstein Upheld at Albany], ''The New York Times'', April 25, 1941 p. 22.{{subscription required}} {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106175524/http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB0B11FA3559167B93C7AB178FD85F458485F9 |date=November 6, 2012 }}</ref> Strauss and Goldstein were executed in the electric chair on June 12, 1941.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1941/06/13/archives/2-in-murder-ring-are-put-to-death-pittsburgh-phil-strauss-and.html 2 in Murder Ring Are Put to Death; Pittsburgh Phil Strauss and Buggsy Goldstein Go to Chair for Brooklyn Slaying; 83 Killings Laid to Gang; Strauss Was Termed the 'Most Vicious' of Mob], ''The New York Times'', June 13, 1942 p. 15.{{subscription required}} {{Cite news |url=http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F50713FD3F5B147B93C1A8178DD85F458485F9 |title=2 IN MURDER RING ARE PUT TO DEATH; Pittsburgh Phil Strauss and Buggsy Goldstein Go to Chair for Brooklyn Slaying 83 KILLINGS LAID TO GANG Strauss Was Termed the 'Most Vicious' of Mob -- Workman Goes to Jersey Prison |access-date=May 22, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106175531/http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F50713FD3F5B147B93C1A8178DD85F458485F9 |archive-date=November 6, 2012 |url-status=bot: unknown |newspaper=The New York Times |date=1941-06-13 }}</ref>