GAMBLER’S LAST GAME

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 554, 5 January 1929, Page 11

GAMBLER’S LAST GAME

SHOT AFTER PLAYING POKER One of the strangest card games ever played has ended in the death of one of the "world's greatest gamblers. Mr. Arnold Rothstein, a wealthy man, who had probably in his time made and lost millions of pounds by pure gambling, is dead. He was shot as he left a New York hotel following a session at poker. To the last moment he declined to reveal the name of his assailant and murderer. Rothstein, it is believed, was shot because he refused to pay a sum of £60,000 he lost in, a two-days’ game at stud poker played in a room in New York in September. The game was one such as is played only by the biggest gamblers. Six men of this type sat down to play for £2O chips, but, as is nearly always the case, the stakes soon rose, until as much as £2OO and £4OO was being laid on the turn of a single card. Practised poker players as they all were, not a word was spoken beyond the sharp monosyllables of the game. Sandwiches, drinks and cigars passed round, the night slowly passed, and still the game went on. Early in the game, it is believed, Rothstein, who neither smoked nor drank, suspected cheating, but still he played on, watching his companions keenly. Day came, and still they played. Day passed into night again and still another day, and Rothstein was still losing. At last he rose. “I’m through,” he said. “How much” The chips were counted. Rothstein owed £60,000. He walked quietly to the door. “Some of you play cards with more skill than honesty,” lie said. “Oh, you’ll pay all light. Don’t worry about that,” one of the winners retorted. But Rothstein did not pay, and now his life has been the penalty. He was picked up in a New York street suffering from bullet wounds, but he declined categorically to explain what had happened. He was taken to hospital, where he was visited by Detective Patrick Floyd, who did his utmost to induce him to name his assailant. Mr. Rothstein, who has known the detective for years, managed, in spite of his agonising pain, to conjure up a weak smile. Placing his finger on his lips, he murmured: “You know me better than that, Paddy.” In less than an hour after Rothstein had been taken to hospital his wife and several of his friends arrived with offers of blood transfusion if required, but be died the following day. Rothstein’s gambling activities were not confined to card games. He would bet huge sums on anything, and has been known to lay odds on the odd or even registration number of the next motor-car to pass by. Ten years ago be won £175,000 on a single day’s racing, and it is believed that he was a millionaire. He always carried thousands of pounds in cash in his pocket.