Looking Back: August 24, 2012
100 Years Ago
1912 According to New York City District Attorney Charles Whitman, detectives have located Louis “Lefty Louie” Rosenberg, who is one of the suspects wanted for the murder of casino owner Herman “Beansie” Rosenthal. The DA told reporters that he anticipates that “Lefty” will be in police custody by the next week. Reporters have conjectured that Rosenberg will appear of his own volition, while others claim that detectives are tracking him. In the meantime, Whitman said that the first trials related to this case will be that of Charles Becker. He was the New York City Police captain who was indicted after Rosenthal went public with allegations that he extorted money from casino and brothel owners.
75 Years Ago
1937 A Jewish mother, Anna Eisenberg of Union Street in Brooklyn, had her own son subpoenaed to a federal courthouse on the charge that he falsified information on his passport application in hopes that he would be able to return to Spain to continue fighting for the Republican Army. Her son, 20-year-old Abraham Eisenberg, returned to the United States after being wounded on the Spanish front. After recovering, he is itching to get back to fight the fascists. But because anyone under 21 must have his or her parents’ permission to obtain a passport, he forged an application under the name “Julius Lieberman,” a federal crime. When his mother wasn’t able to talk him out of returning to Spain, she called in the feds. Abraham Eisenberg is currently in jail, awaiting trial.
50 Years Ago
1962 Two Jewish accountants, Mirsky and Shtifzin, were sentenced to death in the Soviet Union. Mirsky worked for Soyuzpetshat, the organization that distributes Soviet periodicals, and Shtifzin worked for Izamuzgizh, a Ukrainian publisher of music and art books. Both were accused of sending large royalty payments to a number of nonexistent authors whom, according to the Soviet court, the two men invented. As a result, the highest Ukrainian court sentenced them to death. Soviet observers say that the number of Jews arrested and tried on charges of speculation has been increasing. Moreover, the Soviet press emphasizes Jewish crimes, and, it has been noted, Jewish felons receive tougher sentences than gentiles
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