When we think about a person of political ability disappearing , we might consider the " hiking the Appalachian Trail " excuse ( i.e. , having an affair ) before reckon a realism where the person rightfully is square - up missing . But in 1930 , Americans were transfixed by the story of New York Supreme Court Judge Joseph Force Crater , who walked out of Billy Haas ' Chophouse and fly without a vestige .
But as hosts Holly Frey and Tracy V. Wilson explain inan episodeof Stuff You miss in History Class , that ’s just where the story begins — a story that includes corrupt Tammany Hall politics , dalliances with feathered showgirls and so many supposed sighting of the judge that you ’d think he was traveling with Elvis .
Crater ’s disappearance has all the hallmarks ( or should we say clues ) of a classical crime novel . In August 1930 , Crater was in the eye of an idyllic summer vacation in Maine with his wife , whom he met when he was hired to represent her during a divorcement . He had just been appointed a justness of the New York Supreme Court by then - Governor Franklin Roosevelt , and there were a few rumors swirling that his appointment was greased with some serious cash go by between hands . But when he dead tell apart his married woman he needed to manoeuvre back to New York for business and would refund soon , she did n’t retrieve anything of it . Suddenly leaving for employment was n’t that unusual for a busy new judge .
But perhaps Crater ’s wife , Stella , would ’ve been less understanding had she known what the judge was up to back in the city . He went to his office and destroyed some document , and shuttled others to his apartment . And just like any good crime story , money was involved — Crater disengage thousands of dollars that solar day from his accounts . ( Cue suspicious euphony and nervous glances . )
cover up all his " someone with something to conceal " foot , he then last to dinner party with a friend of his … plus a chorus girl identify ( you ca n’t make this up)Sally Ritz . It turned out that the judge had a affair for the dancing char , which only add to the mystery story of his disappearance .
As Tracy and Holly turn up their trench pelage collars to look into the case in thisthis episodeof the podcast , they receive that there are many theory about where Crater ended up the night he was last seen , Aug. 6 . From brothels to sink under the New York Aquarium , everyone has a hunch on Crater ’s whereabouts . And you ’ll want to stay tuned into the episode for a twist ending , when a striking annotation upended the hunting for Crater in 2005 .
