Customer Reviews

Vanishing Point: The Disappearance of Judge Crater, and the New York He Left Behind

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4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Author Richard Tofel never claims to have all of the answers. But the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of New York Supreme Court Justice Joseph Crater in August 1930 certainly makes for fascinating reading. It is a curious tale, particularly given the strange reaction of not only his friends and associates, but also of his wife Stella. Yet there is much more to this book than merely the unsolved disappearance of a single individual.

"Vanishing Point: The Disapperance of Judge Crater and the New York He Left Behind" is yet another book chronicling the cast of charactors and the inner workings of New York's legendary political machine known as Tammany Hall. And as I have found in many of these books it can become a bit difficult to follow given the large number of officials involved and the sordid and crooked relationships they participated in. When a vacancy occured on the New York Supreme Court in the Spring of 1930 Joseph Crater, a man no one expected to get the nod, was tapped by then Governor Franklin Roosevelt for the seat. Why was he selected? Who recommnded him? And is it possible that Joseph Crater literally bought his way on to the New York Supreme Court? Why did he suddenly disappear without a trace in the summer of 1930 and just what became of him? Did he leave the country? Was he murdered? Who might have been involved? So many questions.

Based on a substantial body of available evidence "Vanishing Point" considers a number of intriguing possibilities. And although this case was never solved, Tofel does make a very convincing argument that the disappearance of Judge Crater set into motion a series of events that would ultimately spell the end of machine politics in New York City. Exactly what happened to Judge Crater will probably never be known. Nevertheless I found this book to be time well spent and a pretty good read. Highly recommended.

Judge Joseph Crater is arguably the most famous missing person in American history. Since he disappeared from a Manhattan restaurant on the night of August 6, 1930 his name has become synonomous with the missing. In this book by 'Wall Street Journal' assistant publisher Richard Tofel the Crater mystery and the New York of that era are brought vividly to life. A handsome ladies' man, clothes horse, successful attorney, recently appointed NY supreme court judge, happily married man, and wealthy theater enthusiast, he was also undoubtedly corrupt. Bribes, graft, and payoffs were commonplace in the Tammany Hall political machine of his time as detailed at length in these pages. Although he was a well-known political figure, his real claim to fame came as a result of his complete and utter disappearance. A case which to this day, some 74 years later, remains unsolved. Because of his shady dealings, womanizing and other nefarious political connections, the theories advanced over the years would require another much larger book all on their own. Did he run away with a showgirl he'd been seen with? Was he murdered by mobsters? Did he join a monastery? These are only a few of the possible answers and part of the fun and intrigue is that the reader is left to guess for themselves.

Fans of true crime and New York City politics alike will be attracted to VANISHING POINT, an excellent survey of one of the most puzzling missing persons cases to hit New York City in 1930. Judge Joseph Crater's vanishing has never been resolved: he disappeared amid political scandal and even business journalist author Richard Tofel's extensive research has not uncovered any new clues - but it does build an unusual argument as to what might have happened, and is packed with supportive if not conclusive evidence.

We all know of the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa. But he was not the first. In 1930 Judge Joseph Crater cashed some checks for about $5,000 and went to dinner with some friends. Parting with the friends on the curb outside the restaurant he was never seen again. For fifty years the New York City Police Department tried to find him. Certainly dead by now (he's be 115 years old) there are no really good leads, no deathbed confessions, no real idea of what happened.

This appears to be the first book written on Judge Crater. It is extremely well researched, exceedingly detailed and gives a better feeling for the times than most others. As for what really happened ....

OK but very thin on information. Could have been a one chapter book. Basically no one knows what ever became of Judge Crater. The author does a good job explaining the facts that we do know, and some of the possible outcomes, but there just isn't enough "there" there.

Judge Crater left a New York restaurant on the evening of August 6, 1930 and was never seen again. A female friend who was there with him disappeared several weeks later. He'd been a judge for just three months. The problem with the book is the author is not interested in this mystery; he really wants to write about Tammany Hall and that's what he devotes almost the entire book to, apparently citing Crater only to lure in readers. I felt ripped off.

This was an intriguing story about a colorful character from one of the most interesting periods in our history.Forty pages from the end the New York Daily News ran an article possibly solving the mystery.That made the read all the more riveting.A must read (esp.when accom. by the updates to the story ) for all 20th century U.S. history buffs.

to my grandmother, a native New Yorker who knew Judge Crater's wife, Stella. She devoured it and can't stop talking about it.

Joseph Force Crater was a New York City judge who vanished on the night of August 6, 1932. What happened to him after that remained a secret and mystery.

To sum it up, if you like your mysteries to fit a very narrow mold; pass this one up. The rest of you; I think you can handle it.