1 00:00:02,042 --> 00:00:03,667 [dramatic music] 2 00:00:03,792 --> 00:00:06,125 Tonight, a missing person's case 3 00:00:06,208 --> 00:00:08,792 that nearly derailed a presidential campaign. 4 00:00:08,875 --> 00:00:11,000 Imagine the repercussions. 5 00:00:11,083 --> 00:00:13,417 It might bring down the Democrats 6 00:00:13,542 --> 00:00:15,042 and FDR with them. 7 00:00:15,208 --> 00:00:17,042 It dominates mainstream media 8 00:00:17,208 --> 00:00:19,000 for over five decades. 9 00:00:19,125 --> 00:00:20,833 The keys to the lab are pulling 10 00:00:20,958 --> 00:00:23,167 a Judge Crater on us. 11 00:00:23,292 --> 00:00:25,500 Probably the equivalent of a Jimmy Hoffa 12 00:00:25,583 --> 00:00:27,083 or even Amelia Earhart. 13 00:00:27,208 --> 00:00:28,833 Now we examine the top theories 14 00:00:28,917 --> 00:00:30,500 behind the so-called 15 00:00:30,625 --> 00:00:32,833 Missingest Man in America. 16 00:00:32,958 --> 00:00:34,792 Crater knows where all the bodies are buried, 17 00:00:34,875 --> 00:00:37,167 and sometimes you just know too much. 18 00:00:37,250 --> 00:00:39,375 He's never tried to shake down a heartless thug 19 00:00:39,500 --> 00:00:42,167 like Legs Diamond. He's in over his head. 20 00:00:42,292 --> 00:00:45,000 And Tammany Hall bigwigs silence him 21 00:00:45,125 --> 00:00:46,500 so he cannot testify. 22 00:00:46,625 --> 00:00:48,125 Will a deathbed confession 23 00:00:48,250 --> 00:00:50,292 finally solve the mystery? 24 00:00:50,375 --> 00:00:52,417 When I opened the box, it was in a sealed envelope, 25 00:00:52,542 --> 00:00:55,208 it said "In Reference to Judge Crater's disappearance." 26 00:00:55,375 --> 00:00:58,833 What really happened to New York City's notorious 27 00:00:58,958 --> 00:01:01,000 Judge Joseph Crater? 28 00:01:01,083 --> 00:01:03,292 [theme music] 29 00:01:22,583 --> 00:01:24,417 At 9:15 p.m., 30 00:01:24,542 --> 00:01:26,875 41-year-old State Supreme Court Justice 31 00:01:27,042 --> 00:01:28,667 Joseph Force Crater 32 00:01:28,792 --> 00:01:31,917 steps out of a chophouse on West 45th Street. 33 00:01:32,042 --> 00:01:34,083 He's been dining with a couple of friends 34 00:01:34,208 --> 00:01:35,833 and says that he's running late to a Broadway show. 35 00:01:35,958 --> 00:01:37,292 So, he leaves the restaurant, 36 00:01:37,375 --> 00:01:39,417 hops into a cab, heads west. 37 00:01:39,542 --> 00:01:41,792 From that moment, he's never seen 38 00:01:41,917 --> 00:01:43,500 or heard from again. 39 00:01:43,667 --> 00:01:45,833 Now, people go missing all the time, 40 00:01:45,917 --> 00:01:47,542 but when it's Judge Crater, 41 00:01:47,667 --> 00:01:49,417 it's a big deal. 42 00:01:49,542 --> 00:01:51,833 Because, at this point, Joe Crater has just hit 43 00:01:51,917 --> 00:01:54,083 the political primetime, as it were. 44 00:01:54,208 --> 00:01:55,667 He's a big up-and-comer who was recently 45 00:01:55,833 --> 00:01:58,333 appointed to the New York State Supreme Court 46 00:01:58,417 --> 00:02:00,333 by then-Governor of New York State, 47 00:02:00,458 --> 00:02:02,167 Franklin Delano Roosevelt. 48 00:02:02,292 --> 00:02:04,292 That appointment is only for the rest 49 00:02:04,375 --> 00:02:06,583 of a vacated term, and by the time 50 00:02:06,708 --> 00:02:08,625 of his disappearance, Crater is actually 51 00:02:08,708 --> 00:02:10,542 gearing up for an election of his own. 52 00:02:10,667 --> 00:02:12,208 If he wins re-election in November, 53 00:02:12,375 --> 00:02:14,167 the sky's the limit. 54 00:02:14,333 --> 00:02:16,500 It's an election that's crucial for Judge Crater 55 00:02:16,625 --> 00:02:18,292 and for FDR. 56 00:02:18,417 --> 00:02:21,000 And this is great, because the opportunity 57 00:02:21,083 --> 00:02:23,292 to ride the coattails of FDR 58 00:02:23,375 --> 00:02:25,292 meant that you would have unlimited potential. 59 00:02:25,375 --> 00:02:28,042 A lot of people believe that, once FDR is president, 60 00:02:28,208 --> 00:02:29,542 Crater will be a nominee 61 00:02:29,667 --> 00:02:31,333 to the United States Supreme Court. 62 00:02:31,458 --> 00:02:33,208 And he's kind of a man-about-town in New York. 63 00:02:33,375 --> 00:02:35,500 He knows all the cops, he knows all the politicians. 64 00:02:35,583 --> 00:02:38,167 He knows the Broadway producers, the dancers. 65 00:02:38,292 --> 00:02:40,250 He is a widely-known celebrity in the city, 66 00:02:40,375 --> 00:02:43,292 and at the time, if you're a New York celebrity, 67 00:02:43,417 --> 00:02:45,167 you're a nationwide celebrity. 68 00:02:45,292 --> 00:02:47,250 The disappearance of Crater is huge. 69 00:02:47,375 --> 00:02:49,708 It's probably the equivalent of a Jimmy Hoffa 70 00:02:49,833 --> 00:02:51,500 or even Amelia Earhart. 71 00:02:51,625 --> 00:02:54,167 Now, Crater's wife Stella is going through his rolodex 72 00:02:54,333 --> 00:02:56,333 and calling up every political bigwig 73 00:02:56,458 --> 00:02:57,958 that she can get her hands on 74 00:02:58,042 --> 00:02:59,583 to find out if any of them know 75 00:02:59,708 --> 00:03:01,417 what happened to him. It's even possible 76 00:03:01,542 --> 00:03:04,083 that FDR might've gotten a call. 77 00:03:04,208 --> 00:03:08,292 But Stella's pleas aren't taken seriously at first. 78 00:03:08,375 --> 00:03:10,292 Crater is kind of a ladies' man, 79 00:03:10,375 --> 00:03:12,667 and it's not uncommon for him to sometimes be gone 80 00:03:12,792 --> 00:03:15,000 for several days at a time with other women. 81 00:03:15,167 --> 00:03:17,417 He's nicknamed "Good Time Joe." 82 00:03:17,542 --> 00:03:20,250 He's gone off on benders and disappeared for a while 83 00:03:20,375 --> 00:03:23,750 in the past, where they've had to cover for him before. 84 00:03:23,875 --> 00:03:27,167 It was an open secret that he had a few women on the side, 85 00:03:27,292 --> 00:03:29,500 so one of the first things that people think... 86 00:03:29,625 --> 00:03:31,625 seems to be the most obvious one. 87 00:03:31,708 --> 00:03:33,292 Maybe... 88 00:03:33,375 --> 00:03:35,125 he just took off with one of his mistresses. 89 00:03:35,208 --> 00:03:38,000 [soft music] 90 00:03:38,083 --> 00:03:39,708 Leading up to the disappearance, 91 00:03:39,833 --> 00:03:41,083 on August 2nd, 92 00:03:41,208 --> 00:03:42,333 Crater and his wife Stella 93 00:03:42,500 --> 00:03:44,167 go to their vacation home in Maine 94 00:03:44,333 --> 00:03:46,000 to stay there till the 25th 95 00:03:46,083 --> 00:03:47,208 until court comes back in session. 96 00:03:47,333 --> 00:03:49,500 But a day later, on August 3rd, 97 00:03:49,625 --> 00:03:52,250 Crater receives a phone call and then tells his wife Stella 98 00:03:52,375 --> 00:03:53,958 that he has to head back to, 99 00:03:54,083 --> 00:03:56,208 quote, straighten some fellows out. 100 00:03:56,375 --> 00:03:58,417 Now, she assumes it's just some business 101 00:03:58,542 --> 00:04:00,542 or a legal issue, but he promises 102 00:04:00,708 --> 00:04:03,167 to be back by her birthday on August 9th. 103 00:04:03,292 --> 00:04:05,375 Stella's birthday comes and goes on the 9th, 104 00:04:05,500 --> 00:04:07,250 and Crater is a no-show, he's nowhere to be found, 105 00:04:07,375 --> 00:04:08,917 and she's a little worried because she's not used 106 00:04:09,042 --> 00:04:11,250 to her husband breaking personal promises to her. 107 00:04:11,375 --> 00:04:14,167 And Stella's calling around to all these powerful men 108 00:04:14,333 --> 00:04:15,958 to try to figure out what happened to her husband, 109 00:04:16,042 --> 00:04:17,917 and powerful men will do 110 00:04:18,042 --> 00:04:20,417 what powerful men normally do. 111 00:04:20,542 --> 00:04:22,500 They're gonna cover up for their friend. 112 00:04:22,625 --> 00:04:24,458 Now, his friends tell her, don't worry about him, 113 00:04:24,583 --> 00:04:26,458 I'm sure he's fine, he's probably just super-busy 114 00:04:26,542 --> 00:04:28,083 with work or some other commitments. 115 00:04:28,208 --> 00:04:30,208 They honestly don't really know where he is, 116 00:04:30,333 --> 00:04:32,500 but they're just assuming that he's off 117 00:04:32,583 --> 00:04:34,333 with one of his girlfriends, and they would gladly 118 00:04:34,417 --> 00:04:36,167 cover for him, because they would assume that 119 00:04:36,292 --> 00:04:37,750 he would do the same for them 120 00:04:37,875 --> 00:04:39,292 when they're cheating on their wives. 121 00:04:39,375 --> 00:04:40,958 The upcoming election 122 00:04:41,083 --> 00:04:42,667 is also a factor. 123 00:04:42,792 --> 00:04:44,833 Now, Crater's friends are all involved in politics, 124 00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:46,750 in one way or another, so they're either working 125 00:04:46,875 --> 00:04:49,333 on their own campaigns, or they're hoping 126 00:04:49,458 --> 00:04:51,458 that Crater wins his election in three months' time 127 00:04:51,583 --> 00:04:53,667 so that they can just ride his coattails. 128 00:04:53,833 --> 00:04:55,667 Crater's a key part of the ticket 129 00:04:55,792 --> 00:04:58,333 that the Democrats hope will get FDR re-elected 130 00:04:58,500 --> 00:05:00,750 as governor, as long as there are no scandals. 131 00:05:00,875 --> 00:05:02,542 And it's apparent if he wins there, 132 00:05:02,708 --> 00:05:04,458 he will be a shoo-in for the nomination 133 00:05:04,583 --> 00:05:06,375 for the presidency of the United States. 134 00:05:06,500 --> 00:05:09,458 In 1932, any Democrat's going to beat Herbert Hoover. 135 00:05:09,542 --> 00:05:12,333 But this Crater business could sink the whole thing. 136 00:05:12,458 --> 00:05:14,542 So, better to keep it quiet. 137 00:05:14,667 --> 00:05:17,167 They hope Joe will turn up soon enough. 138 00:05:17,292 --> 00:05:19,167 But Stella's not convinced 139 00:05:19,250 --> 00:05:22,042 and starts investigating on her own. 140 00:05:22,208 --> 00:05:24,667 Mrs. Crater sends her chauffeur, 141 00:05:24,750 --> 00:05:26,458 Fred Kahler, back to New York 142 00:05:26,542 --> 00:05:28,125 to look for the judge. 143 00:05:28,208 --> 00:05:30,500 What he finds is unopened mail, 144 00:05:30,583 --> 00:05:32,708 and he can't get into the apartment. 145 00:05:32,833 --> 00:05:35,333 Furthermore, he tries to talk to a bunch 146 00:05:35,458 --> 00:05:37,375 of Crater's colleagues, but they discourage him 147 00:05:37,542 --> 00:05:39,208 from looking too hard, 148 00:05:39,375 --> 00:05:41,250 and this information drives Stella crazy. 149 00:05:41,375 --> 00:05:44,417 Why does no one want to find where her husband is? 150 00:05:44,542 --> 00:05:46,167 What is going on? 151 00:05:46,292 --> 00:05:48,375 When Judge Crater doesn't show up for work 152 00:05:48,500 --> 00:05:52,292 on August 25th, an astonishing 19 days 153 00:05:52,375 --> 00:05:54,375 after he was last seen in public, 154 00:05:54,500 --> 00:05:57,500 it's clear something is wrong. 155 00:05:57,625 --> 00:05:59,250 At this point, even Joe's buddies 156 00:05:59,375 --> 00:06:00,458 have to accept that he's missing. 157 00:06:00,583 --> 00:06:02,125 It's been 19 days. 158 00:06:02,208 --> 00:06:03,500 Crater was obsessed with the law. 159 00:06:03,667 --> 00:06:05,375 He loved it, so if he didn't show up 160 00:06:05,542 --> 00:06:06,958 on August the 25th, there's got to be 161 00:06:07,083 --> 00:06:08,583 a very good reason. 162 00:06:08,708 --> 00:06:10,125 So now a real investigation begins. 163 00:06:10,250 --> 00:06:11,833 But, because we're dealing with a lot 164 00:06:11,958 --> 00:06:14,292 of high profile politicians, the NYPD wants 165 00:06:14,417 --> 00:06:16,125 to keep this investigation a bit more 166 00:06:16,208 --> 00:06:18,542 on the hush-hush side. So they quietly 167 00:06:18,667 --> 00:06:20,417 start interviewing witnesses. 168 00:06:20,542 --> 00:06:22,750 The police speak to William Klein, 169 00:06:22,875 --> 00:06:25,208 who dined with Crater the night he went missing. 170 00:06:25,333 --> 00:06:26,917 William Klein is an attorney 171 00:06:27,042 --> 00:06:28,333 for the Shubert family, 172 00:06:28,417 --> 00:06:30,208 the most powerful theater empire 173 00:06:30,333 --> 00:06:32,708 in the entire country at the time, 174 00:06:32,833 --> 00:06:35,250 and Klein connects important people, like Crater, 175 00:06:35,375 --> 00:06:37,833 to Shubert's slate of showgirls 176 00:06:37,958 --> 00:06:40,542 in exchange for professional favors. 177 00:06:40,667 --> 00:06:42,542 They actually ask Klein if he thinks that 178 00:06:42,667 --> 00:06:44,750 Crater may have disappeared with one of his girlfriends. 179 00:06:44,875 --> 00:06:47,333 And Klein says, "Actually, yeah." 180 00:06:47,458 --> 00:06:49,500 According to Klein, Crater is taken 181 00:06:49,667 --> 00:06:51,875 with one dancer in particular... 182 00:06:54,125 --> 00:06:55,958 He'd been out with Elaine as many times as he could 183 00:06:56,083 --> 00:06:58,292 in those few weeks before his disappearance. 184 00:06:58,375 --> 00:06:59,875 She's described as an attractive blonde 185 00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:01,917 with a Southern accent, and he bought her 186 00:07:02,042 --> 00:07:03,583 lots of gifts and jewelry. 187 00:07:03,708 --> 00:07:05,583 William Klein has watched Joe Crater go out 188 00:07:05,708 --> 00:07:08,333 with several showgirls, but Elaine is 189 00:07:08,417 --> 00:07:10,542 clearly special to him. 190 00:07:10,667 --> 00:07:12,375 She's got a power over him, 191 00:07:12,500 --> 00:07:14,792 and it may be that she may have seduced him 192 00:07:14,875 --> 00:07:17,625 into leaving his entire life behind for her. 193 00:07:17,708 --> 00:07:20,667 Detectives try to track down Elaine Dawn. 194 00:07:20,792 --> 00:07:22,958 But when they arrive at her apartment, 195 00:07:23,042 --> 00:07:24,792 she's nowhere to be found. 196 00:07:24,875 --> 00:07:27,292 So, now Crater's gone, and his main squeeze is gone. 197 00:07:27,375 --> 00:07:28,833 Something is really wrong here. 198 00:07:29,000 --> 00:07:31,458 In the meantime, the Crater family hires 199 00:07:31,542 --> 00:07:34,167 a private investigator, and he speaks 200 00:07:34,292 --> 00:07:37,125 to Crater's assistant, Joseph Mara. 201 00:07:37,208 --> 00:07:40,333 Mara was at work with Crater the day before he disappeared. 202 00:07:40,417 --> 00:07:44,208 And Mara stated that it was a very strange and unusual day. 203 00:07:44,333 --> 00:07:46,042 Crater is in his chamber all morning, 204 00:07:46,208 --> 00:07:48,625 rifling through files, putting documents in boxes, 205 00:07:48,750 --> 00:07:50,583 and even destroying some documents. 206 00:07:50,708 --> 00:07:53,208 He has Mara cash two personal checks for him 207 00:07:53,333 --> 00:07:55,375 totaling over $5,000, 208 00:07:55,500 --> 00:07:57,667 which is about $90,000 in today's money, 209 00:07:57,792 --> 00:08:00,875 which Crater just casually puts in his coat pocket. 210 00:08:01,042 --> 00:08:03,458 Then he and Mara haul about eight boxes 211 00:08:03,542 --> 00:08:05,708 and briefcases and put them into a taxi cab 212 00:08:05,833 --> 00:08:08,500 to take them to Crater's New York City apartment. 213 00:08:08,667 --> 00:08:10,500 According to Mara, it's really clear that 214 00:08:10,583 --> 00:08:12,292 his boss is preparing something big. 215 00:08:12,375 --> 00:08:13,708 So Mara's looking at Crater like, 216 00:08:13,875 --> 00:08:15,333 what's going on with this guy? 217 00:08:15,458 --> 00:08:16,917 Something is clearly wrong here. 218 00:08:17,042 --> 00:08:20,000 Within a few days, an anonymous source leaks 219 00:08:20,125 --> 00:08:21,792 Crater's story to the press, 220 00:08:21,917 --> 00:08:23,625 and the philandering judge becomes 221 00:08:23,708 --> 00:08:26,250 front page news nationwide. 222 00:08:26,375 --> 00:08:27,833 You know how a scandalous story, 223 00:08:27,958 --> 00:08:31,083 like the O.J. Simpson trial or Jeffrey Epstein 224 00:08:31,208 --> 00:08:32,750 gets so big that it touches 225 00:08:32,875 --> 00:08:34,750 almost every aspect of pop culture? 226 00:08:34,875 --> 00:08:37,875 This is the same thing that happens with Judge Crater. 227 00:08:38,000 --> 00:08:41,125 Even in 1930, the top comedians at the time 228 00:08:41,250 --> 00:08:43,542 are dropping jokes about Crater in their acts. 229 00:08:43,667 --> 00:08:45,167 Radio hosts are making fun of him. 230 00:08:45,292 --> 00:08:46,583 Groucho Marx famously quipped, 231 00:08:46,708 --> 00:08:48,083 "Judge Crater, call your office." 232 00:08:48,208 --> 00:08:49,500 - Oh, hi, Mel. - Sally. 233 00:08:49,667 --> 00:08:51,167 Well, Judge Crater returns. 234 00:08:51,292 --> 00:08:53,125 [audience laughter] 235 00:08:53,250 --> 00:08:55,750 The phrase "pulling a Crater" became synonymous 236 00:08:55,875 --> 00:08:58,208 with anyone who runs off and disappears. 237 00:08:58,333 --> 00:09:01,292 This is a nightmare for anyone that's in Crater's orbit, 238 00:09:01,417 --> 00:09:03,542 but the media is loving this. 239 00:09:03,708 --> 00:09:05,458 Okay, you've got a sex-obsessed judge, 240 00:09:05,542 --> 00:09:07,417 you've got the city's top showgirls, 241 00:09:07,542 --> 00:09:09,417 you've got some of the top politicians 242 00:09:09,542 --> 00:09:11,250 all entangled in this. 243 00:09:11,375 --> 00:09:13,250 Imagine the repercussions 244 00:09:13,375 --> 00:09:16,167 if this thing scandalizes FDR. 245 00:09:16,292 --> 00:09:17,833 So it's up to the police 246 00:09:18,000 --> 00:09:20,667 to kind of quell this media firestorm. 247 00:09:20,750 --> 00:09:22,500 On September 4th, 248 00:09:22,625 --> 00:09:24,708 Police Commissioner Edward Mulrooney 249 00:09:24,833 --> 00:09:26,792 holds a press conference. 250 00:09:26,917 --> 00:09:28,833 Commissioner Mulrooney comes out and says, look, 251 00:09:28,917 --> 00:09:30,667 clearly the guy planned this, okay? 252 00:09:30,750 --> 00:09:33,167 Look, he's taken files, right? He's cashed checks. 253 00:09:33,292 --> 00:09:36,292 He decided to voluntarily leave on his own, okay? 254 00:09:36,417 --> 00:09:38,167 This is not a police matter, 255 00:09:38,333 --> 00:09:39,500 because there's no crime here 256 00:09:39,625 --> 00:09:41,167 other than dereliction of duty. 257 00:09:41,250 --> 00:09:43,958 It's clear that he just ran off with a showgirl. 258 00:09:44,042 --> 00:09:47,125 There's nothing to be terribly seriously investigated. 259 00:09:47,250 --> 00:09:50,500 Everyone can move along. Nothing to see here. 260 00:09:50,667 --> 00:09:54,000 But before long, Mulrooney's theory falls apart. 261 00:09:54,083 --> 00:09:55,875 It turns out Judge Crater doesn't run off 262 00:09:56,042 --> 00:09:57,542 with Elaine Dawn at all, she's actually found 263 00:09:57,667 --> 00:09:59,750 at a local hospital. She has an illness 264 00:09:59,875 --> 00:10:01,375 described as rheumatism brought on 265 00:10:01,500 --> 00:10:03,083 by an acute case of gonorrhea. 266 00:10:03,208 --> 00:10:05,000 Now, she does confirm that she and Crater 267 00:10:05,167 --> 00:10:06,542 had seen each other, 268 00:10:06,667 --> 00:10:08,250 but she insists that it was only casual. 269 00:10:08,375 --> 00:10:11,333 The last time she had seen him was on August 4th, 270 00:10:11,417 --> 00:10:13,375 two days before his disappearance, 271 00:10:13,500 --> 00:10:15,250 at a place called Club Abbey. 272 00:10:15,375 --> 00:10:18,125 So, now investigators are almost back at square one 273 00:10:18,208 --> 00:10:20,667 in their hunt to determine where Judge Crater is 274 00:10:20,750 --> 00:10:22,458 and who he might've run off with, 275 00:10:22,583 --> 00:10:24,875 but I say "almost" because 276 00:10:25,000 --> 00:10:27,708 they're not quite done with Elaine Dawn just yet. 277 00:10:31,542 --> 00:10:33,417 In August, 1930, 278 00:10:33,542 --> 00:10:35,708 famed politician Joseph Crater 279 00:10:35,833 --> 00:10:37,750 enters a New York City taxi cab 280 00:10:37,875 --> 00:10:40,583 and vanishes into thin air. 281 00:10:40,708 --> 00:10:42,833 Police initially suspect he's run away 282 00:10:42,958 --> 00:10:44,333 with his new mistress, 283 00:10:44,500 --> 00:10:47,042 Broadway dancer Elaine Dawn. 284 00:10:47,167 --> 00:10:49,333 "Good Time Joe" has run off with women before, 285 00:10:49,458 --> 00:10:51,458 but that's not the case this time. 286 00:10:51,542 --> 00:10:53,208 Now, Elaine is still in New York, 287 00:10:53,375 --> 00:10:54,500 hospitalized with an illness. 288 00:10:54,583 --> 00:10:56,333 But police suspect that 289 00:10:56,417 --> 00:10:57,750 she still might know more 290 00:10:57,875 --> 00:10:59,417 than she's actually letting on. 291 00:10:59,542 --> 00:11:00,875 At the time Crater disappears, 292 00:11:01,000 --> 00:11:02,583 some of the showgirls in New York-- 293 00:11:02,708 --> 00:11:04,208 and Elaine may be one-- are at the whim 294 00:11:04,333 --> 00:11:06,125 of the men in their lives. They're passed around 295 00:11:06,250 --> 00:11:07,875 among the city's political and business elite. 296 00:11:08,000 --> 00:11:10,958 Apart from Judge Crater, Elaine Dawn has 297 00:11:11,083 --> 00:11:13,167 what she describes as a boyfriend-- 298 00:11:13,292 --> 00:11:14,625 some would say pimp. 299 00:11:14,708 --> 00:11:16,250 While Elaine's in the hospital, 300 00:11:16,375 --> 00:11:18,000 this guy's threatening producers of the show, 301 00:11:18,083 --> 00:11:19,833 claiming lack of income while she's sick. 302 00:11:19,958 --> 00:11:21,667 The police entertain the idea 303 00:11:21,792 --> 00:11:23,125 that he and Elaine 304 00:11:23,250 --> 00:11:24,917 are extortionists. 305 00:11:25,042 --> 00:11:28,167 Detectives dig deeper into Elaine and her boyfriend. 306 00:11:28,292 --> 00:11:30,542 They ask around to the nightclubs they frequent. 307 00:11:30,667 --> 00:11:32,625 They ask around to the Broadway circle 308 00:11:32,750 --> 00:11:34,333 that Elaine is a part of. 309 00:11:34,458 --> 00:11:36,583 And everybody says that Elaine and her boyfriend 310 00:11:36,708 --> 00:11:38,000 are completely harmless. 311 00:11:38,125 --> 00:11:40,125 She may have dated Crater a few times, 312 00:11:40,250 --> 00:11:42,000 but it's highly unlikely that she's involved 313 00:11:42,125 --> 00:11:44,000 in any sort of rackets or schemes. 314 00:11:44,125 --> 00:11:47,125 But the work by police isn't entirely wasted. 315 00:11:47,208 --> 00:11:49,000 While they're digging around in these nightclubs, 316 00:11:49,083 --> 00:11:51,000 they actually hear about another person of interest. 317 00:11:51,083 --> 00:11:53,917 The barflies tell police that there's another dancer 318 00:11:54,042 --> 00:11:56,000 in Crater's life. And around that same time, 319 00:11:56,125 --> 00:11:57,792 they receive an anonymous letter 320 00:11:57,875 --> 00:12:00,417 directing them to the home of June Brice. 321 00:12:00,542 --> 00:12:02,625 The letter states that Brice is 322 00:12:02,750 --> 00:12:04,667 an intimate friend of Judge Crater's. 323 00:12:04,792 --> 00:12:07,500 She may also have been one of the last people 324 00:12:07,625 --> 00:12:09,667 to see him alive. 325 00:12:09,792 --> 00:12:12,708 Several folks claim that June has plans with Crater 326 00:12:12,875 --> 00:12:14,625 after his dinner at the chophouse. 327 00:12:14,750 --> 00:12:16,125 According to them, despite making up a story 328 00:12:16,208 --> 00:12:18,083 about heading to a Broadway show, 329 00:12:18,208 --> 00:12:19,667 Crater is actually heading to June's midtown apartment 330 00:12:19,833 --> 00:12:21,250 the night he disappears. 331 00:12:21,375 --> 00:12:23,958 Based on information from Crater's assistant, 332 00:12:24,083 --> 00:12:27,833 detectives think this visit may be more than personal. 333 00:12:28,000 --> 00:12:30,458 Remember, Joseph Mara says that Crater was cashing checks 334 00:12:30,542 --> 00:12:32,458 that's equivalent to about $90,000 335 00:12:32,583 --> 00:12:33,708 on the day of his disappearance. 336 00:12:33,875 --> 00:12:35,667 Mara also tells detectives that, 337 00:12:35,750 --> 00:12:37,958 when he and Crater finish packing up the boxes, 338 00:12:38,042 --> 00:12:40,917 he has Mara take the boxes down to a taxi, 339 00:12:41,042 --> 00:12:43,167 while Crater is waiting at the top of a stairwell, 340 00:12:43,333 --> 00:12:45,708 hiding behind some columns. When Mara signals 341 00:12:45,875 --> 00:12:48,625 that the taxi is ready, Crater runs down the stairs, 342 00:12:48,708 --> 00:12:50,958 glances around fearfully to see if anybody is watching him, 343 00:12:51,042 --> 00:12:52,917 and then immediately jumps into the cab. 344 00:12:53,042 --> 00:12:54,583 Crater is known as kind of a happy guy. 345 00:12:54,708 --> 00:12:57,042 He's charming, he's witty, he's upbeat. 346 00:12:57,208 --> 00:12:59,042 But on this day, he's very sullen, 347 00:12:59,208 --> 00:13:01,292 he's very quiet, he's very pensive. 348 00:13:01,375 --> 00:13:03,667 This is not really the behavior of a man 349 00:13:03,792 --> 00:13:06,125 who's ready to escape into his dream life. 350 00:13:06,250 --> 00:13:09,583 Detectives know that Crater is preparing for something 351 00:13:09,708 --> 00:13:10,833 on the day that he disappears. 352 00:13:10,958 --> 00:13:12,667 But, if the money 353 00:13:12,750 --> 00:13:14,167 isn't for him and for his lover 354 00:13:14,292 --> 00:13:17,625 to enjoy on vacation, what is it for? 355 00:13:17,708 --> 00:13:19,542 Maybe Crater isn't running away 356 00:13:19,667 --> 00:13:22,917 with a woman... but from one. 357 00:13:23,042 --> 00:13:24,792 He definitely has a lot to lose. 358 00:13:24,875 --> 00:13:26,750 And he definitely has his fair share of scandals 359 00:13:26,875 --> 00:13:29,042 that somebody could blackmail him about. 360 00:13:31,167 --> 00:13:34,000 Police suspect that June Brice may be involved 361 00:13:34,083 --> 00:13:37,167 in an extortion plot against Judge Crater. 362 00:13:37,250 --> 00:13:39,708 But they're unable to locate her. 363 00:13:39,833 --> 00:13:41,750 Brice is nowhere to be found, 364 00:13:41,875 --> 00:13:43,208 which is suspicious in and of itself. 365 00:13:43,333 --> 00:13:45,833 But an investigator does find a woman 366 00:13:46,000 --> 00:13:48,833 who was June's roommate in August of 1930 367 00:13:48,958 --> 00:13:51,750 and corroborates the story that Crater did indeed 368 00:13:51,875 --> 00:13:53,292 go to June's apartment that night. 369 00:13:53,375 --> 00:13:55,125 The roommate says that June's been carrying 370 00:13:55,208 --> 00:13:57,000 a dreadful secret about Crater, and her life's 371 00:13:57,125 --> 00:13:58,833 actually been threatened over it. 372 00:13:58,917 --> 00:14:00,208 According to the roommate, like many of these 373 00:14:00,375 --> 00:14:02,958 showgirls, Brice has a boyfriend who is 374 00:14:03,083 --> 00:14:04,833 kind of a scary guy, 375 00:14:04,958 --> 00:14:06,500 and he also visits the apartment 376 00:14:06,667 --> 00:14:08,167 the night that Crater is there. 377 00:14:08,333 --> 00:14:10,167 She states that June's boyfriend threatened Crater 378 00:14:10,292 --> 00:14:11,833 with exposure of their relationship 379 00:14:11,958 --> 00:14:14,000 unless he paid them $5,000. 380 00:14:14,125 --> 00:14:16,667 On August 6th, Crater arrived with the money, 381 00:14:16,833 --> 00:14:19,875 but the boyfriend ups it to $50,000. 382 00:14:20,000 --> 00:14:21,833 Crater balks; and the boyfriend 383 00:14:21,958 --> 00:14:24,208 works him over, before ultimately killing him. 384 00:14:24,375 --> 00:14:26,667 Now here's the thing, the roommate didn't 385 00:14:26,750 --> 00:14:28,208 actually see this happen. 386 00:14:28,333 --> 00:14:30,000 She heard some of it before leaving 387 00:14:30,167 --> 00:14:32,833 the apartment that night and was later told by June 388 00:14:32,958 --> 00:14:36,083 the rest of the story. So, it's hearsay for now. 389 00:14:36,208 --> 00:14:40,375 Brice's mother also provides some secondhand details. 390 00:14:40,500 --> 00:14:42,917 In a newspaper article, June's mother stated that 391 00:14:43,042 --> 00:14:44,917 Crater and June were acquainted, 392 00:14:45,042 --> 00:14:47,500 and that Crater assisted June 393 00:14:47,625 --> 00:14:50,000 in getting parts in Broadway plays. 394 00:14:50,125 --> 00:14:52,583 June also told her mother that a man she was, 395 00:14:52,708 --> 00:14:54,542 quote, "supposed to marry" 396 00:14:54,667 --> 00:14:56,458 was killed in an accident. 397 00:14:56,542 --> 00:15:00,500 Could this have been Crater? And, if so, where is the body? 398 00:15:00,625 --> 00:15:02,708 Thanks to this fresh evidence, 399 00:15:02,833 --> 00:15:05,333 June Brice is called by the Manhattan District Attorney 400 00:15:05,458 --> 00:15:08,208 to testify at a grand jury hearing 401 00:15:08,333 --> 00:15:10,250 in late 1930. 402 00:15:10,375 --> 00:15:12,167 From the fall of 1930, the D.A. keeps 403 00:15:12,292 --> 00:15:14,167 an open grand jury on the Crater disappearance. 404 00:15:14,292 --> 00:15:16,250 Any and all witnesses are subpoenaed to testify 405 00:15:16,375 --> 00:15:18,833 as they attempt to build a case for what happened. 406 00:15:18,958 --> 00:15:20,417 Various people associated with Crater 407 00:15:20,542 --> 00:15:22,125 have already appeared, but at the time 408 00:15:22,250 --> 00:15:24,000 authorities still have no idea what happened. 409 00:15:24,083 --> 00:15:25,875 So June Brice is their first chance 410 00:15:26,042 --> 00:15:27,625 to potentially crack the case. 411 00:15:27,708 --> 00:15:30,083 They feel strongly about this robbery-homicide angle 412 00:15:30,208 --> 00:15:31,625 and are eager to prove it. 413 00:15:31,750 --> 00:15:33,958 But... June's gone. 414 00:15:35,083 --> 00:15:37,417 She has fled her apartment with an unknown man. 415 00:15:37,542 --> 00:15:40,167 June bounces from hotel to hotel for weeks, 416 00:15:40,292 --> 00:15:41,917 constantly changing her name. 417 00:15:42,042 --> 00:15:44,042 By the end of September, she's admitted 418 00:15:44,167 --> 00:15:46,833 to a neurological hospital with a nervous breakdown. 419 00:15:47,000 --> 00:15:48,833 But to be clear, nobody knows this at the time. 420 00:15:49,000 --> 00:15:50,917 So, to the authorities, she's just missing. 421 00:15:51,042 --> 00:15:53,125 It takes the Crater family's private investigator 422 00:15:53,250 --> 00:15:56,458 several years to finally find her in the mental hospital. 423 00:15:56,542 --> 00:16:00,375 By this time, Brice is in no condition to testify. 424 00:16:00,542 --> 00:16:02,833 The P.I. states that she's barely coherent 425 00:16:03,000 --> 00:16:05,042 and really can't provide any details. 426 00:16:05,167 --> 00:16:07,208 When asked about Crater, she responds, 427 00:16:07,375 --> 00:16:10,958 "We must not remember the things that make us mad." 428 00:16:11,042 --> 00:16:14,000 The problem is that June herself lacks 429 00:16:14,167 --> 00:16:16,458 the mental capacity to verify any of this information 430 00:16:16,542 --> 00:16:19,833 or fill in the blanks. Investigators have hearsay, 431 00:16:20,000 --> 00:16:22,667 they have speculation, but that's it. 432 00:16:22,833 --> 00:16:24,500 Based on her mental illness, 433 00:16:24,625 --> 00:16:28,042 police decline to investigate June Brice any further. 434 00:16:28,167 --> 00:16:30,250 June Brice's testimony probably never 435 00:16:30,375 --> 00:16:31,958 would have held up in court. 436 00:16:32,083 --> 00:16:33,583 But the extortion theory is 437 00:16:33,708 --> 00:16:36,250 the one that seems to be the most accepted today. 438 00:16:36,375 --> 00:16:38,125 It certainly fits with his demeanor 439 00:16:38,250 --> 00:16:40,333 and his actions on August 6th. 440 00:16:40,417 --> 00:16:42,667 He knows he's in trouble, he's preparing for it, 441 00:16:42,750 --> 00:16:44,792 but he's unable to escape it. 442 00:16:44,875 --> 00:16:46,833 The problem with this theory is that the famous Judge Crater 443 00:16:47,000 --> 00:16:48,500 has a ton of people in his orbit. 444 00:16:48,625 --> 00:16:50,333 If he's gonna get killed, is it really gonna be 445 00:16:50,500 --> 00:16:52,917 the June Brice or Elaine Dawn types that mastermind it? 446 00:16:53,042 --> 00:16:55,000 When you start to uncover the other folks 447 00:16:55,083 --> 00:16:58,458 he's hanging out with, you soon realize several of them 448 00:16:58,542 --> 00:17:00,667 are much more likely to commit a murder. 449 00:17:00,792 --> 00:17:02,375 And one already has. 450 00:17:06,583 --> 00:17:09,042 In early 1930, Judge Joseph Crater is 451 00:17:09,167 --> 00:17:12,542 well-respected nationwide as a New Deal progressive 452 00:17:12,667 --> 00:17:16,125 with strong ties to Franklin Delano Roosevelt. 453 00:17:16,208 --> 00:17:19,542 But after his disappearance on August 6th, 454 00:17:19,667 --> 00:17:23,042 a seedy dark side of his life is revealed. 455 00:17:23,167 --> 00:17:26,083 Crater cheats on his wife with multiple showgirls, 456 00:17:26,208 --> 00:17:28,167 and he has an active social life 457 00:17:28,333 --> 00:17:30,167 in New York's speakeasy nightclubs. 458 00:17:30,292 --> 00:17:32,333 Keep in mind, this is during the height of Prohibition. 459 00:17:32,500 --> 00:17:35,042 But the city's elite have no problem 460 00:17:35,167 --> 00:17:36,958 finding alcohol to imbibe 461 00:17:37,083 --> 00:17:39,083 in many of the city's illegal bars. 462 00:17:39,208 --> 00:17:42,125 And Crater's favorite is a place called Club Abbey. 463 00:17:42,208 --> 00:17:44,375 Club Abbey is a Jazz Age burlesque club 464 00:17:44,542 --> 00:17:46,083 that's new on the New York scene. 465 00:17:46,208 --> 00:17:47,667 Abbey features a drag-queen emcee 466 00:17:47,792 --> 00:17:50,083 named Jean Malin, comedians like Jimmy Durante, 467 00:17:50,208 --> 00:17:51,667 and in between, there's plenty of dancing 468 00:17:51,792 --> 00:17:53,417 by Broadway showgirls. 469 00:17:53,542 --> 00:17:55,167 It's a brand-new place on 54th Street, 470 00:17:55,292 --> 00:17:57,167 and it's where everybody wants to be. 471 00:17:57,250 --> 00:18:00,083 Club Abbey gets its alcohol from one of New York's 472 00:18:00,208 --> 00:18:02,833 most notorious Prohibition-era gangsters, 473 00:18:02,958 --> 00:18:05,333 Jack "Legs" Diamond. 474 00:18:05,417 --> 00:18:07,375 Legs Diamond starts his life as a gangster 475 00:18:07,500 --> 00:18:09,708 when he becomes a bodyguard for Arnold Rothstein. 476 00:18:09,833 --> 00:18:12,333 Now in case you don't know, Rothstein is most famous 477 00:18:12,458 --> 00:18:14,833 for fixing the 1919 World Series. 478 00:18:14,958 --> 00:18:18,292 And when he is killed in 1928, Legs Diamond takes over 479 00:18:18,417 --> 00:18:20,958 most of his bootlegging operations in Manhattan. 480 00:18:21,042 --> 00:18:23,667 His nickname "Legs" has two meanings. 481 00:18:23,792 --> 00:18:24,917 One is that he's a good dancer. 482 00:18:25,042 --> 00:18:26,500 It's also a play on words 483 00:18:26,583 --> 00:18:28,125 on the amount of times he's been able to outrun 484 00:18:28,208 --> 00:18:29,750 the police or his enemies. 485 00:18:29,875 --> 00:18:31,917 He's already survived two attempts on his life. 486 00:18:32,042 --> 00:18:34,375 And in 1929, he shoots and kills 487 00:18:34,542 --> 00:18:36,625 two men in his club, but isn't charged. 488 00:18:36,708 --> 00:18:38,958 Legs operates out of a few speakeasies, 489 00:18:39,083 --> 00:18:40,667 but by the summer of 1930, 490 00:18:40,750 --> 00:18:42,833 he's spending almost every night at Club Abbey. 491 00:18:42,917 --> 00:18:45,833 And he's running a pretty nasty scheme on the side there. 492 00:18:45,958 --> 00:18:48,125 A scheme that may have ensnared 493 00:18:48,250 --> 00:18:50,708 Judge Crater and gotten him killed. 494 00:18:52,208 --> 00:18:54,208 At Club Abbey, Legs Diamond has 495 00:18:54,333 --> 00:18:56,667 a cohort named Vivian Gordon. 496 00:18:56,792 --> 00:18:58,500 And she used to be a showgirl, 497 00:18:58,583 --> 00:19:01,292 and now she's turned into a professional prostitute. 498 00:19:01,417 --> 00:19:03,417 Vivian Gordon is a swindler, 499 00:19:03,542 --> 00:19:07,000 who gets even more aggressive after two years in prison. 500 00:19:07,083 --> 00:19:09,167 She's known to be hellbent on revenge 501 00:19:09,333 --> 00:19:11,750 against cops and judges, the men who she feels 502 00:19:11,875 --> 00:19:13,417 took everything from her. 503 00:19:13,542 --> 00:19:16,125 And at Club Abbey, with the help of Legs Diamond, 504 00:19:16,250 --> 00:19:18,042 she can get that revenge. 505 00:19:18,167 --> 00:19:20,167 Vivian and Legs set up a routine where she meets 506 00:19:20,333 --> 00:19:21,542 clients at the Abbey and then brings them back 507 00:19:21,708 --> 00:19:23,333 to her house, where Legs is waiting. 508 00:19:23,458 --> 00:19:24,958 Together, they shake their victims down for 509 00:19:25,083 --> 00:19:26,458 everything they can get. They run this scheme 510 00:19:26,583 --> 00:19:28,208 all the time, and Judge Joe Crater 511 00:19:28,333 --> 00:19:29,667 is right in their wheelhouse. 512 00:19:29,792 --> 00:19:32,167 Crater's fellow Supreme Court Justice, 513 00:19:32,250 --> 00:19:35,625 Louis Valente, looks further into this. 514 00:19:35,750 --> 00:19:37,583 Judge Valente hires investigators 515 00:19:37,708 --> 00:19:40,000 to track Crater's movements on August the 6th. 516 00:19:40,125 --> 00:19:41,833 His investigators find evidence that 517 00:19:41,958 --> 00:19:43,583 Crater was at Club Abbey that night. 518 00:19:43,708 --> 00:19:45,625 Valente believes that this is critical evidence, 519 00:19:45,750 --> 00:19:47,375 and he takes it to the press to run with it. 520 00:19:47,500 --> 00:19:49,417 According to this theory, Judge Crater 521 00:19:49,542 --> 00:19:51,792 first meets Vivian Gordon at the Abbey 522 00:19:51,917 --> 00:19:53,500 on the night of August 4th. 523 00:19:53,667 --> 00:19:55,583 They head back to her place for a night of pleasure, 524 00:19:55,708 --> 00:19:57,667 and afterwards, Legs Diamond shows up 525 00:19:57,792 --> 00:20:00,625 to squeeze Crater for some extra cash. 526 00:20:00,750 --> 00:20:02,583 But it's not just cash that he's after. 527 00:20:02,708 --> 00:20:04,292 Crater's famous, and everybody knows 528 00:20:04,375 --> 00:20:06,333 who he is, including Legs Diamond. 529 00:20:06,417 --> 00:20:07,625 There's a case coming up on the docket 530 00:20:07,708 --> 00:20:09,500 that Legs needs to have dismissed 531 00:20:09,583 --> 00:20:10,875 in order to protect his business interests. 532 00:20:11,042 --> 00:20:12,250 So he threatens Crater's career 533 00:20:12,375 --> 00:20:13,917 if he doesn't cooperate. 534 00:20:14,042 --> 00:20:15,417 Crater promises to look into the case. 535 00:20:15,542 --> 00:20:17,250 So the next day, on August 5th, 536 00:20:17,375 --> 00:20:18,917 Crater has lunch with another judge 537 00:20:19,042 --> 00:20:20,333 from the Supreme Court. 538 00:20:20,500 --> 00:20:22,375 He's trying to feel out the odds 539 00:20:22,500 --> 00:20:24,125 of getting rid of the case without attracting attention, 540 00:20:24,208 --> 00:20:26,500 but the odds are not good. 541 00:20:26,625 --> 00:20:28,833 Crater realizes that he can't deliver 542 00:20:28,958 --> 00:20:30,833 what Diamond is asking for. 543 00:20:30,958 --> 00:20:32,667 Now he has to figure out how he's gonna break the news 544 00:20:32,792 --> 00:20:34,708 to him, and it's not a very easy task. 545 00:20:34,833 --> 00:20:36,625 At this point, Legs Diamond has killed 546 00:20:36,750 --> 00:20:38,542 at least two people that we know of. 547 00:20:38,667 --> 00:20:40,583 According to Crater's assistant, 548 00:20:40,708 --> 00:20:44,375 the judge collected more than money on August 6th. 549 00:20:44,500 --> 00:20:47,417 He also took several case files home from his office. 550 00:20:47,542 --> 00:20:50,125 These files may pertain to Diamond's case. 551 00:20:50,250 --> 00:20:51,958 And he knows he can't get the case tossed 552 00:20:52,083 --> 00:20:53,333 because of all the poking around 553 00:20:53,417 --> 00:20:54,958 being done by investigators. 554 00:20:55,083 --> 00:20:56,500 So, he brings these papers home 555 00:20:56,625 --> 00:20:58,833 as a sort of insurance policy. 556 00:20:58,958 --> 00:21:00,458 He knows he might need it. 557 00:21:00,542 --> 00:21:01,917 That night, Crater returns to Club Abbey, 558 00:21:02,042 --> 00:21:03,500 and he tells Legs and Vivian that 559 00:21:03,625 --> 00:21:05,292 there's no way he can get this case dismissed. 560 00:21:05,417 --> 00:21:07,000 There's just too much of a spotlight on it. 561 00:21:07,125 --> 00:21:08,500 But as a consolation prize, 562 00:21:08,583 --> 00:21:10,667 here's $5,000 to smooth things over. 563 00:21:10,792 --> 00:21:13,583 Legs won't take no for an answer, okay? 564 00:21:13,708 --> 00:21:15,833 He demands Crater to try again, 565 00:21:15,917 --> 00:21:18,750 but Crater himself is a bigshot with a big ego, 566 00:21:18,875 --> 00:21:20,750 and he fights back. 567 00:21:20,875 --> 00:21:23,167 Crater tells Diamond he has all these files 568 00:21:23,292 --> 00:21:25,750 that ties Diamond to criminal behavior. 569 00:21:25,875 --> 00:21:28,125 He has these documents at a secure location, 570 00:21:28,250 --> 00:21:29,792 and if he doesn't take this payoff, 571 00:21:29,875 --> 00:21:32,000 he's going to make these documents public. 572 00:21:32,167 --> 00:21:33,500 Judge Crater's worked in politics 573 00:21:33,625 --> 00:21:35,500 for many years at this point. 574 00:21:35,667 --> 00:21:38,083 But he's only ever really worked with other politicians 575 00:21:38,208 --> 00:21:40,000 or small-time crooks. 576 00:21:40,125 --> 00:21:41,333 He's never tried to shake down 577 00:21:41,458 --> 00:21:43,042 a heartless thug like Legs Diamond. 578 00:21:43,167 --> 00:21:44,833 He's in over his head. 579 00:21:44,917 --> 00:21:47,042 The New York press runs with this theory, 580 00:21:47,208 --> 00:21:50,042 suggesting that both Legs and Vivian murder the judge 581 00:21:50,208 --> 00:21:53,292 and make sure that the body is never found. 582 00:21:53,375 --> 00:21:56,708 Despite the tabloids' enthusiasm, it's a good story, 583 00:21:56,833 --> 00:21:58,917 but there's not a lot of proof to it. 584 00:21:59,042 --> 00:22:01,625 That is, until February of 1931, 585 00:22:01,708 --> 00:22:04,083 when Vivian Gordon is found dead 586 00:22:04,208 --> 00:22:05,958 in a Bronx park. 587 00:22:06,042 --> 00:22:09,000 Vivian's murdered the day after she offers to testify 588 00:22:09,125 --> 00:22:11,500 against the corrupt officials that have ruined her life. 589 00:22:11,667 --> 00:22:13,625 She's willing to risk her life to bring them down. 590 00:22:13,708 --> 00:22:15,708 When she's found dead, an anti-corruption sentiment 591 00:22:15,875 --> 00:22:18,375 rises to a boiling point in New York City. 592 00:22:18,500 --> 00:22:21,750 Her murder is the biggest story since Crater disappeared. 593 00:22:21,875 --> 00:22:24,333 Governor Roosevelt requests the records himself 594 00:22:24,500 --> 00:22:27,167 and demands a thorough police investigation. 595 00:22:27,292 --> 00:22:29,042 When police search Gordon's apartment, 596 00:22:29,167 --> 00:22:32,500 they find a treasure trove of diaries and documents 597 00:22:32,583 --> 00:22:36,000 connecting her to the city's most powerful figures. 598 00:22:36,125 --> 00:22:39,333 Vivian kept lists of her blackmail schemes with Diamond. 599 00:22:39,500 --> 00:22:42,500 And there on paper, clear as day, 600 00:22:42,583 --> 00:22:46,750 Judge Crater is written down as one of her clients. 601 00:22:46,875 --> 00:22:49,500 The diaries don't say anything about his death, 602 00:22:49,625 --> 00:22:51,125 but the press doesn't care. 603 00:22:51,250 --> 00:22:52,833 The press is eager to make connections 604 00:22:52,958 --> 00:22:55,000 between the two most famous news stories of the time. 605 00:22:55,125 --> 00:22:57,375 When Crater's name is found in Vivian's diary, 606 00:22:57,500 --> 00:22:59,917 the press explodes with all kinds of speculation. 607 00:23:00,042 --> 00:23:02,833 The press also loves a good mafia story. 608 00:23:02,958 --> 00:23:05,167 I mean, who doesn't, right? And there are so many legends 609 00:23:05,250 --> 00:23:06,792 surrounding Legs Diamond, 610 00:23:06,875 --> 00:23:08,875 it's very hard to tell fact from fiction. 611 00:23:09,000 --> 00:23:10,667 But it turns out, there was no evidence 612 00:23:10,792 --> 00:23:12,500 that he is involved in any cases 613 00:23:12,667 --> 00:23:14,333 to be heard by the Supreme Court. 614 00:23:14,500 --> 00:23:16,250 In fact, when he disappears, 615 00:23:16,375 --> 00:23:18,042 Crater only has one trivial case 616 00:23:18,208 --> 00:23:19,542 pending on his docket. 617 00:23:19,708 --> 00:23:21,750 Crater's name is in Vivian's diary. 618 00:23:21,875 --> 00:23:23,708 She may very well have blackmailed him. 619 00:23:23,833 --> 00:23:25,333 She was extorting a lot of people. 620 00:23:25,458 --> 00:23:27,500 But just because she's extorting somebody 621 00:23:27,583 --> 00:23:29,042 doesn't mean she murdered them. 622 00:23:32,917 --> 00:23:36,000 When Judge Joseph Crater disappears in August, 1930, 623 00:23:36,125 --> 00:23:39,208 New York Governor Franklin Delano Roosevelt is 624 00:23:39,375 --> 00:23:41,625 in the thick of campaigning for re-election. 625 00:23:41,708 --> 00:23:44,958 As November approaches, a rival politician 626 00:23:45,042 --> 00:23:46,542 makes a shocking accusation. 627 00:23:46,708 --> 00:23:49,167 If true, it sheds a whole new light 628 00:23:49,333 --> 00:23:52,542 on what happened to the missing judge. 629 00:23:52,667 --> 00:23:55,000 During Judge Crater's time in New York politics, 630 00:23:55,167 --> 00:23:57,458 the Democrats work closely with an organization 631 00:23:57,583 --> 00:24:00,208 that's known as Tammany Hall. 632 00:24:00,375 --> 00:24:02,750 Tammany Hall dominates both New York City 633 00:24:02,875 --> 00:24:05,625 and state politics for more than a century. 634 00:24:05,750 --> 00:24:07,667 Its name becomes synonymous with corruption 635 00:24:07,792 --> 00:24:11,042 under infamous leaders like Boss Tweed. 636 00:24:11,208 --> 00:24:13,875 They do plenty of good things for the people of New York, 637 00:24:14,000 --> 00:24:16,667 but, ultimately, they are a corrupt organization. 638 00:24:16,792 --> 00:24:19,375 But if you're a Democrat, working with Tammany 639 00:24:19,500 --> 00:24:21,250 is how you win elections. 640 00:24:21,375 --> 00:24:24,792 By the late 1920s, Tammany has woven its way 641 00:24:24,917 --> 00:24:27,750 into every level of New York politics. 642 00:24:27,875 --> 00:24:31,875 And in 1929, Judge Crater becomes president 643 00:24:32,042 --> 00:24:35,292 of a key Tammany branch, the Cuyuga Club. 644 00:24:35,375 --> 00:24:38,708 A lot of New York voters are tired of the blatant corruption, 645 00:24:38,833 --> 00:24:41,417 so the 1930 elections are a pivotal point. 646 00:24:41,542 --> 00:24:44,500 For once, the Republicans have a good shot of winning 647 00:24:44,625 --> 00:24:46,667 a number of top seats from the Democrats, 648 00:24:46,750 --> 00:24:48,500 especially the one for governor. 649 00:24:48,625 --> 00:24:50,750 FDR's main rival is 650 00:24:50,875 --> 00:24:53,833 Republican prosecutor Charles Tuttle. 651 00:24:53,958 --> 00:24:57,875 Tuttle is on a crusade to expose judicial corruption. 652 00:24:58,917 --> 00:25:00,333 Prior to Crater's disappearance, 653 00:25:00,500 --> 00:25:02,417 his whole office of attorneys 654 00:25:02,542 --> 00:25:04,833 and investigators are looking into evidence 655 00:25:04,958 --> 00:25:07,667 of judicial corruption rumored to be running rampant 656 00:25:07,792 --> 00:25:10,125 among Tammany Hall's main players. 657 00:25:10,250 --> 00:25:11,792 And if Tuttle can make the case, 658 00:25:11,917 --> 00:25:13,917 it might bring down the Democrats 659 00:25:14,042 --> 00:25:15,667 and FDR with them. 660 00:25:15,792 --> 00:25:18,750 Judge Crater is potentially a key witness. 661 00:25:18,875 --> 00:25:21,542 When Tuttle looks into the Cayuga Club, 662 00:25:21,667 --> 00:25:23,792 he learns something interesting. 663 00:25:23,875 --> 00:25:25,500 Tuttle finds evidence that 664 00:25:25,625 --> 00:25:27,292 the Cayuga Club is actually 665 00:25:27,375 --> 00:25:29,208 selling government jobs. 666 00:25:29,333 --> 00:25:30,833 If you're connected to Tammany Hall, 667 00:25:30,917 --> 00:25:32,583 they can help you get appointed 668 00:25:32,708 --> 00:25:34,833 or elected to a political position. 669 00:25:34,958 --> 00:25:38,250 In return, you pay them one year's salary. 670 00:25:38,375 --> 00:25:40,708 Tuttle has proof of one of these payments: 671 00:25:40,833 --> 00:25:43,250 a $10,000 bribe that was paid 672 00:25:43,375 --> 00:25:45,458 to Tammany Hall boss Martin Healy 673 00:25:45,542 --> 00:25:47,333 by attorney George Ewald 674 00:25:47,458 --> 00:25:49,875 for his position as a city magistrate. 675 00:25:50,000 --> 00:25:52,667 Tuttle's evidence certainly implicates Judge Crater, too. 676 00:25:52,792 --> 00:25:54,458 As President of the Cayuga Club, 677 00:25:54,583 --> 00:25:56,375 Crater has to be aware of what's going on. 678 00:25:56,542 --> 00:25:58,000 I mean, he even serves as 679 00:25:58,125 --> 00:25:59,833 master of ceremonies at George Ewald's 680 00:25:59,917 --> 00:26:01,833 celebration dinner when he becomes magistrate. 681 00:26:02,000 --> 00:26:04,542 The corruption might go even further. 682 00:26:04,667 --> 00:26:06,833 There is also circumstantial evidence 683 00:26:06,958 --> 00:26:09,583 that Judge Crater may have purchased his own position. 684 00:26:09,708 --> 00:26:12,333 When Crater is appointed to the New York Supreme Court, 685 00:26:12,458 --> 00:26:15,292 it is one of the highest-paid positions in the state. 686 00:26:15,417 --> 00:26:17,833 He is paid a salary of $22,000. 687 00:26:17,917 --> 00:26:21,208 It's the same as the governor's and a lot less work. 688 00:26:21,333 --> 00:26:24,292 It's the most coveted seat in New York politics, 689 00:26:24,417 --> 00:26:25,792 and it speaks to the ability 690 00:26:25,875 --> 00:26:27,583 of Joe Crater to manipulate 691 00:26:27,708 --> 00:26:29,625 and maneuver himself into that position. 692 00:26:29,708 --> 00:26:32,542 Tuttle wants to know how he got this job. 693 00:26:32,667 --> 00:26:34,917 One month after his appointment, 694 00:26:35,042 --> 00:26:36,625 in May of 1930, 695 00:26:36,708 --> 00:26:39,167 Crater withdraws $22,000 696 00:26:39,333 --> 00:26:41,333 from various bank accounts. 697 00:26:41,458 --> 00:26:44,500 Which is exactly one year's salary. 698 00:26:44,583 --> 00:26:46,375 Tuttle has no direct proof 699 00:26:46,500 --> 00:26:48,458 that this money went to pay Tammany Hall, 700 00:26:48,542 --> 00:26:50,208 but while he's out publicly campaigning 701 00:26:50,333 --> 00:26:51,583 against the Democrats, 702 00:26:51,708 --> 00:26:53,792 he strongly suggests that it did. 703 00:26:53,875 --> 00:26:57,833 And this scandal could have even gotten Judge Crater killed. 704 00:26:57,958 --> 00:26:59,667 Tuttle's belief is that Crater is at the heart 705 00:26:59,792 --> 00:27:01,958 of the Tammany Hall kickback scheme. 706 00:27:02,083 --> 00:27:05,083 And when Tuttle's investigation closes in on Crater, 707 00:27:05,208 --> 00:27:07,542 and they're going to call Crater as a witness, 708 00:27:07,667 --> 00:27:09,333 Tammany Hall bigwigs 709 00:27:09,500 --> 00:27:11,667 silence him so he cannot testify. 710 00:27:12,792 --> 00:27:14,458 How high does this go? 711 00:27:14,542 --> 00:27:17,000 Is FDR aware? Is FDR involved? 712 00:27:17,125 --> 00:27:19,625 Obviously, this could go very bad for the Democrats 713 00:27:19,708 --> 00:27:21,417 if some massive 714 00:27:21,542 --> 00:27:23,875 "Trial of the Century" is opened. 715 00:27:24,000 --> 00:27:25,458 Although Crater's disappearance 716 00:27:25,542 --> 00:27:27,875 is a thorny issue for Tammany Hall, 717 00:27:28,000 --> 00:27:29,667 it's far better that he goes this way 718 00:27:29,792 --> 00:27:31,667 than testifies against them. 719 00:27:31,750 --> 00:27:34,542 Tuttle can't prove this theory. 720 00:27:34,708 --> 00:27:37,375 But Crater's own wife offers some support. 721 00:27:37,500 --> 00:27:41,083 There's a big mystery about who calls Crater on August 3rd, 722 00:27:41,208 --> 00:27:44,250 which causes him to travel back to New York City. 723 00:27:44,375 --> 00:27:48,375 At the time, his wife Stella does not reveal anything useful. 724 00:27:48,542 --> 00:27:51,167 But, in 1937, Stella tells a magazine 725 00:27:51,250 --> 00:27:54,625 his purpose of the visit was to advise Tammany boss 726 00:27:54,750 --> 00:27:57,667 Martin Healy about the Tuttle investigation. 727 00:27:57,833 --> 00:28:00,417 Stella is sure that the Tammany case is 728 00:28:00,542 --> 00:28:03,417 behind her husband's disappearance. 729 00:28:03,542 --> 00:28:05,458 She's not the only one. 730 00:28:05,583 --> 00:28:09,125 In 1954, an acquaintance of Crater's, 731 00:28:09,250 --> 00:28:12,750 Henry Krauss, makes an extraordinary claim. 732 00:28:12,875 --> 00:28:14,958 Krauss calls an old detective friend of his 733 00:28:15,042 --> 00:28:16,833 and says that he has something he wants 734 00:28:17,000 --> 00:28:18,708 to get off his chest before he dies. 735 00:28:18,875 --> 00:28:21,250 He thinks he knows what happened to Judge Crater. 736 00:28:22,417 --> 00:28:26,000 Back in the '30s, Krauss has a vacation home, 737 00:28:26,125 --> 00:28:28,083 which he frequently let Crater use for parties. 738 00:28:28,208 --> 00:28:31,833 Many of those parties were co-hosted by Martin Healy. 739 00:28:31,958 --> 00:28:34,000 Krauss claimed that, in early 1930, 740 00:28:34,167 --> 00:28:37,125 the two men buried $90,000 in the backyard. 741 00:28:37,208 --> 00:28:39,625 But in mid-August, after Crater's disappearance, 742 00:28:39,708 --> 00:28:41,667 Krauss visits his vacation home 743 00:28:41,833 --> 00:28:45,000 to find the place in shambles. 744 00:28:45,083 --> 00:28:46,583 There are broken glasses strewn about, 745 00:28:46,708 --> 00:28:48,292 there are liquor bottles everywhere, 746 00:28:48,375 --> 00:28:50,625 and when he walks into the kitchen, he says, quote, 747 00:28:50,750 --> 00:28:53,083 "There's nothing there but blood." 748 00:28:53,208 --> 00:28:57,333 And the box in the backyard has been dug up and taken. 749 00:28:57,417 --> 00:29:02,208 A week later, Martin Healy sets up a meeting with Krauss. 750 00:29:02,375 --> 00:29:05,333 Healy warns him that there might be some trouble coming. 751 00:29:05,458 --> 00:29:09,833 He tells Krauss that he needs to deny knowing Crater, 752 00:29:09,917 --> 00:29:12,833 and that he should deny that they were ever at his house. 753 00:29:12,917 --> 00:29:14,958 Krauss goes along with his demands. 754 00:29:15,042 --> 00:29:17,042 And when the detective starts peppering him with questions, 755 00:29:17,208 --> 00:29:19,875 Krauss just keeps repeating that Crater is dead 756 00:29:20,000 --> 00:29:21,833 and he thinks that he is buried at the house. 757 00:29:22,000 --> 00:29:25,125 The police were able to verify part of Krauss's story. 758 00:29:25,208 --> 00:29:27,542 Their investigation showed that Crater had written 759 00:29:27,667 --> 00:29:29,333 at least two checks to Krauss. 760 00:29:29,417 --> 00:29:32,750 And Krauss did indeed have a Westchester home. 761 00:29:32,875 --> 00:29:35,167 Krauss's 1954 revelations 762 00:29:35,292 --> 00:29:37,917 revive public interest in the case. 763 00:29:38,042 --> 00:29:40,333 Life Magazine funds an excavation 764 00:29:40,500 --> 00:29:42,208 of the home's backyard. 765 00:29:42,333 --> 00:29:45,500 Unfortunately, they don't find Crater's remains. 766 00:29:45,583 --> 00:29:48,417 And that's about as far as the authorities can take things. 767 00:29:48,542 --> 00:29:50,500 Some evidence may still bear out 768 00:29:50,625 --> 00:29:51,833 that this theory is correct, 769 00:29:51,958 --> 00:29:53,583 but until that evidence surfaces, 770 00:29:53,708 --> 00:29:54,833 it's impossible to prove. 771 00:30:00,875 --> 00:30:02,875 When Stella Crater loses her husband Judge Joseph Crater, 772 00:30:03,042 --> 00:30:05,542 on August 6th, 1930, 773 00:30:05,667 --> 00:30:09,125 she frantically calls his colleagues looking for him. 774 00:30:10,500 --> 00:30:12,625 But what she neglects to do 775 00:30:12,708 --> 00:30:14,917 raises some eyebrows. 776 00:30:15,958 --> 00:30:17,875 Stella Crater doesn't officially report 777 00:30:18,000 --> 00:30:19,667 her husband missing to the police 778 00:30:19,750 --> 00:30:21,208 for four weeks. 779 00:30:21,333 --> 00:30:22,792 And you could maybe chalk that up 780 00:30:22,875 --> 00:30:24,458 to everyone hoping that 781 00:30:24,542 --> 00:30:26,542 he's just out having an affair. 782 00:30:26,708 --> 00:30:29,375 But four weeks is a pretty long time. 783 00:30:29,542 --> 00:30:32,000 And after she does finally file the report 784 00:30:32,125 --> 00:30:33,667 and police start investigating, 785 00:30:33,833 --> 00:30:35,875 she doesn't seem too keen in helping them. 786 00:30:36,000 --> 00:30:39,458 And this, combined with some other suspicious behavior, 787 00:30:39,583 --> 00:30:41,667 has many theorists wondering, 788 00:30:41,792 --> 00:30:44,083 what if Stella is involved 789 00:30:44,208 --> 00:30:46,042 in her husband's disappearance? 790 00:30:47,125 --> 00:30:49,125 This is basic police work 101. 791 00:30:49,208 --> 00:30:51,958 When someone goes missing, you look at the spouse. 792 00:30:52,042 --> 00:30:55,250 Stella is doing nothing to help avoid any kind of suspicion. 793 00:30:55,375 --> 00:30:56,792 For the early part of the investigation, 794 00:30:56,875 --> 00:30:58,375 Stella remains up in Maine. 795 00:30:58,500 --> 00:31:00,542 But the D.A. vows to bring her down to testify 796 00:31:00,667 --> 00:31:01,833 in front of the grand jury. 797 00:31:01,958 --> 00:31:03,625 Mrs. Crater refuses, 798 00:31:03,708 --> 00:31:05,833 quite steadfastly, to cooperate 799 00:31:05,917 --> 00:31:08,000 with the investigation at all. 800 00:31:08,083 --> 00:31:10,833 The D.A. sends her a list of questions instead. 801 00:31:10,917 --> 00:31:13,375 The way she answers the questions are vague, 802 00:31:13,500 --> 00:31:16,417 ambiguous, and maybe in some ways a lie. 803 00:31:16,542 --> 00:31:18,708 For instance, she stated that she didn't know her husband 804 00:31:18,875 --> 00:31:20,792 was missing until August 25th. 805 00:31:20,875 --> 00:31:22,167 But there's evidence showing that, 806 00:31:22,292 --> 00:31:24,292 for weeks prior, that she was calling 807 00:31:24,375 --> 00:31:28,083 many people, wanting to learn of his whereabouts. 808 00:31:28,208 --> 00:31:30,042 At first, Stella's not a suspect. 809 00:31:30,208 --> 00:31:32,125 They just think she might have more information. 810 00:31:32,208 --> 00:31:34,500 But after she lies to the D.A., all bets are off. 811 00:31:34,625 --> 00:31:36,917 That puts her right in the investigators' crosshairs. 812 00:31:37,042 --> 00:31:39,083 Police already have one motive in mind, 813 00:31:39,208 --> 00:31:41,167 and that's Crater's many affairs. 814 00:31:41,333 --> 00:31:43,750 Most people assume that Stella must have 815 00:31:43,875 --> 00:31:45,667 had some idea that Crater wasn't faithful. 816 00:31:45,792 --> 00:31:47,917 But neighbors report a screaming match 817 00:31:48,042 --> 00:31:50,333 between the couple a few days before he disappears. 818 00:31:50,500 --> 00:31:53,000 Maybe there was finally some last straw 819 00:31:53,167 --> 00:31:54,667 that Stella couldn't handle. 820 00:31:54,750 --> 00:31:56,875 Suspicious, police continue 821 00:31:57,042 --> 00:31:58,958 to track Stella's whereabouts. 822 00:31:59,042 --> 00:32:00,417 Stella stays in Maine for months, 823 00:32:00,542 --> 00:32:02,125 specifically to avoid having to testify 824 00:32:02,208 --> 00:32:04,042 in front of the grand jury. After hearing 825 00:32:04,208 --> 00:32:05,833 from nearly a hundred witnesses, 826 00:32:05,958 --> 00:32:07,667 the grand jury releases a 1,000-page report 827 00:32:07,792 --> 00:32:09,917 that essentially says they have no idea what happened. 828 00:32:10,042 --> 00:32:12,833 A week after the grand jury is dismissed, 829 00:32:12,958 --> 00:32:16,208 on January 18th, 1931, 830 00:32:16,333 --> 00:32:19,750 Stella finally returns to the city 831 00:32:19,875 --> 00:32:21,833 and announces that she's made 832 00:32:21,958 --> 00:32:23,208 an incredible discovery. 833 00:32:23,375 --> 00:32:25,292 Stella states that she opened a drawer 834 00:32:25,375 --> 00:32:27,875 in her bedroom and found four manila envelopes 835 00:32:28,042 --> 00:32:30,625 left for her by her husband. 836 00:32:30,708 --> 00:32:33,667 There's $6,690 in cash. 837 00:32:33,792 --> 00:32:37,000 There's Crater's will, leaving everything to Stella, 838 00:32:37,083 --> 00:32:39,250 and four life insurance policies. 839 00:32:39,375 --> 00:32:42,833 There's a handwritten list of people who owe Crater money 840 00:32:42,958 --> 00:32:44,375 and how to collect that money. 841 00:32:44,542 --> 00:32:45,667 And one of the debts is 842 00:32:45,750 --> 00:32:47,458 $2.3 million. 843 00:32:47,542 --> 00:32:50,000 The envelopes also contain 844 00:32:50,125 --> 00:32:53,375 a supposed letter from Crater to his wife. 845 00:32:53,500 --> 00:32:56,708 The handwriting is hasty, it's messy, you know? 846 00:32:56,833 --> 00:32:59,625 Like he's moving quickly and he's under a lot of stress. 847 00:32:59,708 --> 00:33:02,292 He writes a few times that all of this is confidential, 848 00:33:02,417 --> 00:33:05,417 and she's not to tell anyone about these envelopes. 849 00:33:05,542 --> 00:33:07,458 It's signed, "Love, Joe." 850 00:33:07,542 --> 00:33:10,208 Then, right below that, is a little note. 851 00:33:10,333 --> 00:33:12,458 Now, the words aren't completely clear, 852 00:33:12,583 --> 00:33:16,500 they either say "am very weary" or "am very sorry." 853 00:33:16,625 --> 00:33:18,292 But either way, 854 00:33:18,375 --> 00:33:20,625 it seems Crater is saying goodbye 855 00:33:20,708 --> 00:33:23,125 and is apologizing for what he's about to do. 856 00:33:23,208 --> 00:33:26,125 This all paints a very convenient picture for Stella. 857 00:33:26,208 --> 00:33:28,125 It looks like Crater is trying to take care of his wife, 858 00:33:28,208 --> 00:33:30,292 before either disappearing or maybe committing suicide. 859 00:33:30,375 --> 00:33:33,667 Stella's discovery is met with skepticism. 860 00:33:33,833 --> 00:33:35,375 There have been, at this point, 861 00:33:35,500 --> 00:33:37,792 no fewer than four different searches 862 00:33:37,875 --> 00:33:40,000 of the apartment by police officers, 863 00:33:40,083 --> 00:33:42,583 and no one had found any of these things. 864 00:33:42,708 --> 00:33:44,625 There's no way the police missed those envelopes. 865 00:33:44,750 --> 00:33:47,292 But Stella wants them to believe that they did. 866 00:33:47,375 --> 00:33:50,375 She makes excuses why the police may have missed it. 867 00:33:50,500 --> 00:33:52,375 She stated that the drawer was sticky, 868 00:33:52,500 --> 00:33:55,208 or maybe the key was stuck in the lock. 869 00:33:55,375 --> 00:33:58,625 Meanwhile, a detective recites from memory all the contents 870 00:33:58,708 --> 00:34:00,083 that was in that dresser. 871 00:34:00,208 --> 00:34:01,875 He gets every single item right, 872 00:34:02,000 --> 00:34:04,000 except for those envelopes. 873 00:34:04,083 --> 00:34:06,500 In 1931, police look into the phone records 874 00:34:06,583 --> 00:34:08,500 from Crater's New York apartment. 875 00:34:08,625 --> 00:34:11,333 And after his disappearance, there shouldn't be any. 876 00:34:11,458 --> 00:34:13,750 I mean, Stella's been up in Maine the whole time, right? 877 00:34:13,875 --> 00:34:17,000 Wrong. She made a one-day trip 878 00:34:17,083 --> 00:34:19,833 on August 25th-- she didn't notify the police. 879 00:34:19,958 --> 00:34:21,958 Could this have been when she was 880 00:34:22,042 --> 00:34:24,500 planting special evidence? 881 00:34:24,667 --> 00:34:27,833 There are two very classic motives for murder: 882 00:34:28,000 --> 00:34:30,250 love... money. 883 00:34:30,375 --> 00:34:32,083 And it seems that Stella had both 884 00:34:32,208 --> 00:34:34,167 going on for her at the same time. 885 00:34:34,250 --> 00:34:36,000 But if she killed her husband, 886 00:34:36,125 --> 00:34:37,875 or more than likely had someone else do it 887 00:34:38,042 --> 00:34:39,333 for a share of the money, 888 00:34:39,500 --> 00:34:41,375 it seems that she got away with it. 889 00:34:41,500 --> 00:34:43,333 Police have a lot of suspicion, but their evidence 890 00:34:43,500 --> 00:34:45,500 is circumstantial. It's pretty tenuous. 891 00:34:45,625 --> 00:34:48,042 For years, Stella refuses to speak 892 00:34:48,167 --> 00:34:50,250 to reporters or detectives. 893 00:34:50,375 --> 00:34:53,208 She lays low until 1939, 894 00:34:53,333 --> 00:34:55,167 when she sues to have her husband 895 00:34:55,292 --> 00:34:56,875 declared legally dead, 896 00:34:57,000 --> 00:34:59,292 in order to collect his life insurance. 897 00:34:59,375 --> 00:35:01,333 Stella hires a private investigator 898 00:35:01,417 --> 00:35:03,542 to prove that Crater has been murdered. 899 00:35:03,667 --> 00:35:07,292 She tries to collect on a double indemnity policy 900 00:35:07,417 --> 00:35:10,208 that would be payable if he'd been murdered. 901 00:35:10,333 --> 00:35:12,125 She's half successful and half not. 902 00:35:12,208 --> 00:35:14,125 She is appointed executor, 903 00:35:14,208 --> 00:35:16,042 he is declared dead... 904 00:35:16,167 --> 00:35:18,333 the double indemnity claim is denied. 905 00:35:18,458 --> 00:35:20,167 She settles with the insurance company, and she gets 906 00:35:20,292 --> 00:35:22,167 about two-thirds of the value of the policy. 907 00:35:22,292 --> 00:35:24,958 She also finally consents to an interview with the press. 908 00:35:25,042 --> 00:35:27,500 She makes it clear that she believes 909 00:35:27,583 --> 00:35:29,833 Crater was murdered by Tammany Hall 910 00:35:29,958 --> 00:35:31,292 because of his involvement 911 00:35:31,375 --> 00:35:33,750 in the George Ewald kickback scheme. 912 00:35:33,875 --> 00:35:37,917 I mean, what did you expect... a confession? 913 00:35:38,042 --> 00:35:40,417 In 1979, 914 00:35:40,542 --> 00:35:43,792 after nearly five decades of active pursuit, 915 00:35:43,875 --> 00:35:45,708 the NYPD finally closes 916 00:35:45,875 --> 00:35:48,500 the infamous Judge Crater case. 917 00:35:48,625 --> 00:35:50,292 The case still warrants the occasional 918 00:35:50,417 --> 00:35:51,875 late-night joke on television 919 00:35:52,000 --> 00:35:54,000 or a 60th or 70th anniversary 920 00:35:54,125 --> 00:35:55,708 retrospective in the papers. 921 00:35:55,875 --> 00:35:57,792 But largely, this most famous 922 00:35:57,875 --> 00:36:00,917 of missing persons cases falls out of the public eye. 923 00:36:01,042 --> 00:36:04,833 That is, until 2005... 924 00:36:04,917 --> 00:36:06,875 when it comes roaring back. 925 00:36:11,375 --> 00:36:13,708 In April, 2005, 926 00:36:13,833 --> 00:36:15,375 a Queens, New York woman 927 00:36:15,500 --> 00:36:18,458 named Barbara O'Brien discovers a letter 928 00:36:18,542 --> 00:36:22,208 among the possessions of her recently deceased grandmother. 929 00:36:22,375 --> 00:36:24,833 a letter which may close the case 930 00:36:24,917 --> 00:36:27,625 on a 75-year-old mystery. 931 00:36:27,708 --> 00:36:29,958 My grandmother unfortunately passed away, 932 00:36:30,083 --> 00:36:32,167 and I was the executor of her will. 933 00:36:32,292 --> 00:36:35,083 And I went into her papers to get her will out, 934 00:36:35,208 --> 00:36:37,833 and I came across a metal box. 935 00:36:37,958 --> 00:36:39,792 And I opened the box, and that's when I found 936 00:36:39,917 --> 00:36:41,417 a letter in a sealed envelope, 937 00:36:41,542 --> 00:36:43,125 And on the front of the envelope, it said, 938 00:36:43,250 --> 00:36:45,000 "In reference of Judge Crater's disappearance." 939 00:36:45,083 --> 00:36:47,333 In the letter, she said that her husband, 940 00:36:47,417 --> 00:36:49,208 which was my grandfather, Robert Good, 941 00:36:49,375 --> 00:36:51,333 told her about the missing judge. 942 00:36:51,500 --> 00:36:53,750 According to the letter, Judge Crater was 943 00:36:53,875 --> 00:36:56,292 murdered by a police officer. 944 00:36:57,375 --> 00:36:58,875 Robert had a lot of connections. 945 00:36:59,000 --> 00:37:00,333 He knew cops, he knew crooks. 946 00:37:00,458 --> 00:37:02,000 A lot of them hung out in his backyard 947 00:37:02,125 --> 00:37:03,792 and went drinking with him. He was neighbors 948 00:37:03,917 --> 00:37:06,000 with the Burns Brothers. These guys all have 949 00:37:06,125 --> 00:37:07,708 kind of a little relationship. 950 00:37:07,875 --> 00:37:10,792 Growing up, I do remember the Burns living behind us. 951 00:37:10,917 --> 00:37:12,542 Frank was a taxicab driver, 952 00:37:12,708 --> 00:37:15,458 and his brother Charles Burns was a police officer. 953 00:37:15,542 --> 00:37:17,333 And they used to come over a lot. 954 00:37:17,458 --> 00:37:19,250 One night, Frank comes over, he tells my grandfather 955 00:37:19,375 --> 00:37:22,000 what happened on August 6th, 1930. 956 00:37:22,125 --> 00:37:24,167 He told my grandfather that he picks up 957 00:37:24,292 --> 00:37:26,167 the judge at the steakhouse, and he drives him 958 00:37:26,292 --> 00:37:28,208 to Coney Island, when he met up with his brother. 959 00:37:28,375 --> 00:37:30,375 The judge gets out of the car, 960 00:37:30,500 --> 00:37:32,625 and they wound up killing him and burying him 961 00:37:32,708 --> 00:37:35,083 underneath the boardwalk pilings at West 8th Street. 962 00:37:35,208 --> 00:37:37,833 I mean, wow. 963 00:37:38,000 --> 00:37:40,042 Right? It's been a lifetime 964 00:37:40,167 --> 00:37:41,667 of no answers in this case. 965 00:37:41,750 --> 00:37:43,417 And now, here's a direct confession 966 00:37:43,542 --> 00:37:45,000 to Crater's murder-- it even mentions 967 00:37:45,083 --> 00:37:46,417 the location of a body. 968 00:37:46,542 --> 00:37:48,333 Unfortunately, when the letter is 969 00:37:48,500 --> 00:37:51,708 revealed to detectives in 2005, 970 00:37:51,833 --> 00:37:53,208 the potential burial sits 971 00:37:53,333 --> 00:37:55,750 directly under the New York Aquarium. 972 00:37:55,875 --> 00:37:58,333 Apparently, when they build the aquarium in 1956, 973 00:37:58,417 --> 00:38:00,458 there are reports of some bodies being found 974 00:38:00,583 --> 00:38:03,292 during construction. It is New York after all. 975 00:38:03,375 --> 00:38:06,333 But those bodies are reburied in unmarked graves, 976 00:38:06,417 --> 00:38:08,250 and we don't know where they are. 977 00:38:08,375 --> 00:38:10,292 Could Crater be one of them? 978 00:38:10,417 --> 00:38:11,917 If we can't find the body, 979 00:38:12,042 --> 00:38:14,000 let's try to corroborate the story. 980 00:38:14,125 --> 00:38:16,000 Do the Burns brothers really exist, 981 00:38:16,125 --> 00:38:17,958 and are they connected to Crater? 982 00:38:18,042 --> 00:38:21,917 It turns out that Charles Burns is a real New York City cop, 983 00:38:22,042 --> 00:38:23,917 and on August 6th of 1930, 984 00:38:24,042 --> 00:38:26,917 he is assigned to the Coney Island precinct. 985 00:38:27,042 --> 00:38:30,000 There is also a record of a 32-year-old Frank Burns 986 00:38:30,167 --> 00:38:32,000 who drives a cab at that time. 987 00:38:32,167 --> 00:38:34,000 At least the characters check out. 988 00:38:34,125 --> 00:38:37,167 But why would these two guys want to kill Crater? 989 00:38:37,292 --> 00:38:40,542 Barbara O'Brien believes she knows the answer. 990 00:38:40,667 --> 00:38:43,292 I think that it was mob-related 991 00:38:43,375 --> 00:38:45,292 and went all the way back to Legs Diamond. 992 00:38:45,375 --> 00:38:47,500 Because she had mentioned in her letter, 993 00:38:47,625 --> 00:38:50,917 Legs Diamond put the hit out on Judge Crater. 994 00:38:51,042 --> 00:38:54,417 She believes that Legs Diamond tried to bribe Crater 995 00:38:54,542 --> 00:38:57,667 to have a case tossed, but Diamond was unsuccessful. 996 00:38:57,750 --> 00:39:00,917 After that, Legs knows that, if Crater lives, 997 00:39:01,042 --> 00:39:02,625 he may be sent to prison, 998 00:39:02,708 --> 00:39:06,167 so he hires Charles Burns to take care of Crater. 999 00:39:06,333 --> 00:39:07,583 There's a lot of speculation that 1000 00:39:07,708 --> 00:39:09,500 Charles Burns was on the mob's payroll. 1001 00:39:09,625 --> 00:39:11,333 In addition to this case, he's conspicuously 1002 00:39:11,458 --> 00:39:12,875 on the scene of another mob hit. 1003 00:39:13,042 --> 00:39:15,667 On November 12, 1941, 1004 00:39:15,792 --> 00:39:17,417 a mafia hitman turned-informant 1005 00:39:17,542 --> 00:39:19,333 named Abe Reles is under police protection 1006 00:39:19,458 --> 00:39:22,000 at the Half Moon Hotel in Coney Island. 1007 00:39:22,083 --> 00:39:24,208 That day, he's supposed to testify 1008 00:39:24,333 --> 00:39:26,250 at a high-profile trial against the mob. 1009 00:39:26,375 --> 00:39:28,375 He does not testify because, 1010 00:39:28,500 --> 00:39:30,458 even though he was in police protective custody, 1011 00:39:30,542 --> 00:39:32,917 he flies out of a window and dies. 1012 00:39:34,292 --> 00:39:36,542 According to reports that come out in 2005, 1013 00:39:36,667 --> 00:39:38,792 one of Reles's police bodyguards 1014 00:39:38,875 --> 00:39:40,375 is Charles Burns. 1015 00:39:40,542 --> 00:39:42,458 Charles Burns was actually the one 1016 00:39:42,542 --> 00:39:44,667 guarding his room the night that 1017 00:39:44,792 --> 00:39:47,542 he supposedly jumped to his death. 1018 00:39:47,667 --> 00:39:51,333 Well, other theories think that he was pushed to his death. 1019 00:39:51,417 --> 00:39:53,042 Back then, there was a lot of corruption. 1020 00:39:53,167 --> 00:39:55,292 Whether it was with the police, with the mob. 1021 00:39:55,417 --> 00:39:56,917 There was just a lot of corruption 1022 00:39:57,042 --> 00:39:58,333 going on back then. 1023 00:39:58,458 --> 00:40:00,375 This might also explain the... 1024 00:40:00,542 --> 00:40:02,167 kind of lackluster investigation 1025 00:40:02,250 --> 00:40:03,750 into Crater's disappearance overall, 1026 00:40:03,875 --> 00:40:05,667 because the police may have known 1027 00:40:05,792 --> 00:40:07,583 that their own men were involved. 1028 00:40:07,708 --> 00:40:10,875 There was a ton of collusion between cops and the mob 1029 00:40:11,042 --> 00:40:12,917 in New York in 1930, so... 1030 00:40:13,042 --> 00:40:14,750 it's not outside the realm of possibility. 1031 00:40:14,875 --> 00:40:16,750 One thing that one needs to remember 1032 00:40:16,875 --> 00:40:20,500 in this entire investigation is that the police are 1033 00:40:20,625 --> 00:40:22,208 more part of the problem than they are 1034 00:40:22,333 --> 00:40:23,708 part of the solution. 1035 00:40:23,875 --> 00:40:26,500 So, taking the police investigation 1036 00:40:26,625 --> 00:40:28,917 as having been conducted in good faith, 1037 00:40:29,042 --> 00:40:31,417 I think, misreads the historical record. 1038 00:40:31,542 --> 00:40:33,375 Everyone thinks they have a theory 1039 00:40:33,500 --> 00:40:35,000 on what happened to him, everybody thinks 1040 00:40:35,167 --> 00:40:36,667 they have the real story. 1041 00:40:36,792 --> 00:40:40,333 With her grandmother's letter serving as new evidence, 1042 00:40:40,458 --> 00:40:43,667 Barbara hopes to finally resolve the Crater case. 1043 00:40:43,833 --> 00:40:45,875 I'm hoping that they reopen this case. 1044 00:40:46,000 --> 00:40:49,333 My grandmother passed away, and she left that envelope. 1045 00:40:49,458 --> 00:40:51,125 Of course, that was her way of telling me 1046 00:40:51,208 --> 00:40:53,208 she wanted something done with it, she didn't want 1047 00:40:53,375 --> 00:40:54,708 to take it to her grave with her. 1048 00:40:54,875 --> 00:40:56,667 So, I would just like to try and... 1049 00:40:56,792 --> 00:40:58,667 follow through with it, and that's what I've been doing. 1050 00:40:58,833 --> 00:41:00,833 And I'm hoping to continue doing it 1051 00:41:01,000 --> 00:41:02,292 until, at least, 1052 00:41:02,375 --> 00:41:04,542 we have a little bit more answers. 1053 00:41:05,833 --> 00:41:07,917 Barbara O'Brien plans to keep digging 1054 00:41:08,042 --> 00:41:11,167 into Judge Joseph Crater's disappearance. 1055 00:41:11,292 --> 00:41:12,667 But without a body or any other 1056 00:41:12,792 --> 00:41:14,917 physical evidence of a crime, 1057 00:41:15,042 --> 00:41:17,042 the case remains unsolved. 1058 00:41:17,208 --> 00:41:19,000 I'm Laurence Fishburne. 1059 00:41:19,125 --> 00:41:20,542 Thank you for watching 1060 00:41:20,667 --> 00:41:23,458 "History's Greatest Mysteries."