Joe Bruno on the Mob – Book Reviews – The Wrong Man: Who Ordered the Murder of Gambler Herman Rosenthal and Why
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars EXCELLENT BOOK FOR A TRUE GRUE COLLECTOR, June 10, 2012
By
RJ Parker “Bestselling & Award-Winning Author” (Toronto) – See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)
This review is from: The Wrong Man: Who Ordered the Murder of Gambler Herman Rosenthal and Why (Kindle Edition)
THE WRONG MAN: WHO ORDERED THE MURDER OF GAMBLER HERMAN ROSENTHAL AND WHY by Joe Bruno is fraught with details of a true crime committed 100 years ago this year in New York City. I’ve read several of Bruno’s books and they are all well-written and well-researched. The author in my opinion, is a New York Historian.
Bruno unravels the true story of a highly decorated crocked cop who was sentenced to death for a crime he didn’t commit, while the real killers walked away. The story is very interesting and is written like a murder, mystery, thriller.
Another good true crime book to add to your collection. Highly recommended.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellant Book; Well Written, June 1, 2012
By
Jean M. Kilgallen (Sarasota, Florida USA) – See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
This review is from: The Wrong Man: Who Ordered the Murder of Gambler Herman Rosenthal and Why (Kindle Edition)
This book, about the murder of small-time gambler Herman Rosenthal and the subsequent conviction and execution of New York City Police Lieutenant Charles Becker, reads like a fiction thriller despite the fact everything in the book actually occurred. The main trust of the book is that an ambitious New York City District Attorney (Charles Whitman – later Governor of New York) with political aspirations, and with the help of ambitious journalists and judges, can twist the facts in a murder case in such a way as to convince a jury that an innocent man is guilty; especially if the actual killers are the most prominent witnesses against the accused. And particularly if the accused has a spotty background to begin with.
This happened in 1912. I wonder, if with all the advances in technology, and especially in the media, this injustice could happen in 2012.
My guess is that it could.
If you read the newspapers and watch TV, there are plenty of ambitious prosecutors with political aspiration out there looking to make an upwardly mobile move. I wouldn’t put it past them to twist the facts in order to get a conviction that will trust them into the public spotlight.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Very Well Written!! Highly Recommended!, June 1, 2012
By
Tony Palumbo – See all my reviews
This review is from: The Wrong Man: Who Ordered the Murder of Gambler Herman Rosenthal and Why (Kindle Edition)
This is a riveting read about a crooked cop who was framed by a group of gamblers for ordering the murder of an especially unlikable man, who was ready to rat on the crooked cop. Lieutenant Charles Becker, who was taking graft with both hands, was shockingly found guilty (twice!) of the murder of small-time gambler Herman Rosenthal, and subsequently wound up being executed in Sing Sing’s electric chair. The real killers, led by a creep named “Bald Jack” Rose walked away scot free.
OK, this happened 100 years ago, when there was no television and no radio, and the newspapers, especially in New York City, had tremendous pull; especially if they had already found Becker guilty in their own minds, and more importantly, in their own editorials.
Some people might say Becker was such a crooked cop, too bad he got screwed. But if this could happened to a highly decorated police lieutenant, imagine how many poor souls have been railroaded into prison (and maybe even executed) by prosecutors who could care less if the defendant is innocent or guilty, and care only about advancing their careers.
It’s a scary thought.
