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Art Cashin On The Anniversary Of The Unsolved Murder Of A Banker With "Too Many Enemies"

Tyler Durden's picture




 

For those who enjoy going through offbeat anniversaries, today's pick by Art Cashin is sure to raise a few eyebrows.

On this day in 1955, the police were called to the five story, Fifth Avenue, mansion of Serge Rubenstein. There they found the corpse of the controversial 46 year-old "Financier." He had been strangled with a curtain cord.

 

Rubenstein embodied in one man everything that would later be called "the sins of the eighties." He was greedy. He was flashy. He was a raider. His operations were shrouded in mystery and covered by dummy companies. And he used the press to exaggerate his wealth, so that he could bump up his credit with gullible bankers. He had been the guest of presidents and potentates. And through it all most folks thought he was a real slime ball.

 

In covering his murder, Time magazine felt he had so many enemies that, with only a little tongue in cheek, Time congratulated the New York City police on having "....narrowed the list of suspects down to 10,000." It never got narrower.

 

To note the date, stop by a dimly lit bar and sip a Black Russian. Try not to make any friends and don't pay cash. But stay away from the curtains.
Stocks didn’t get strangled Monday. Instead, they were run over by a speeding salt spreader, as states, cities and organizations hunkered down for a classic blizzard. Mother Nature, trickster that she is, moved the storm further offshore than models had projected. That led to snowfall less than one-third of the worst estimates.

 

Nonetheless, as I write this in the pre-dawn hours in lower Manhattan, Wall Street is a ghost-town. No traffic. No papers. No coffee and almost no people. New York lives through its subways. It may be hours to get them back up and running.

Snor'easter aside, here is some more from the archives on the curious death of Rubinstein...

 

... which is still unsolved:

Serge Rubinstein: The butler didn't do it

 

The New York police did not lack for clues or suspects when they found the body of millionaire Serge Rubinstein in the third-floor bedroom of his Fifth Avenue mansion the morning of Jan. 27, 1955. The pajama-clad body was sprawled near a photograph of Rubinstein as Napoleon, a favorite costume-party role. His hands and feet were tied with venetian-blind cord and his mouth sealed with a wide band of adhesive tape. He had been strangled. In the room were a dozen fingerprints that weren't Rubinstein's, a woman's white dress glove and a handbag. Rubinstein, a womanizing stock manipulator, knew so many people—many of them enemies—that he kept six thick notebooks containing their names. His police dossier indicated that he was a cad only a mother could love, and the police weren't entirely sure about her. (She lived on the floors above him.) Rubinstein even had a butler, who found the body.

 

Serge Manuel Rubinstein was the son of a financial adviser to czarist Russia's maniacal monk Rasputin. At the age of 10 he fled the Bolshevik revolution carrying a fortune in jewels in his knickers. Cambridge-educated, he became the managing director of a small French bank at 24, and a year later launched a Franco-Asian stock-rigging scheme that netted him millions and eventual expulsion from France for imperiling the franc. In 1938, at age 30, he came to the U.S., and to avoid the draft he got married and fathered two children. Nonetheless, he was sent to prison for two years for draft evasion. Once out, he divorced his wife, shamelessly manipulated both stocks and beautiful women and, with the aid of a battery of expensive lawyers, fended off U.S. efforts to deport him.

 

The very abundance of suspects was the cops' undoing. In the 21 years since the murder, they have interviewed thousands of persons—one of the most extensive investigations in the New York homicide squad's history. The department still has not closed the book on Rubinstein. "His background left a lot of openings," says retired detective Raymond Seiler, who worked full-time on the case for three years. "Every turn you took, there was other speculation." Detectives never could match up the fingerprints with suspects, who included a Canadian financier, a Japanese banker, Rubinstein's sex partners and a Queens chauffeur who had once planned to kidnap him. The glove and bag belonged to a woman who dated him well before his death. Mother Rubinstein was ruled out—"She even held a seance to find out who killed him," Seiler recalls. The butler proved to be one of the few admirers Rubinstein had in the world.

 

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Tue, 01/27/2015 - 15:20 | 5712102 Romney Wordsworth
Romney Wordsworth's picture

Banker named 'Rubenstein'? UNPOSSIBLE!

Tue, 01/27/2015 - 15:23 | 5712121 Latina Lover
Latina Lover's picture

I'd rather read about unsolved murders of todays bankers, the more stories the better, LOL

Tue, 01/27/2015 - 15:29 | 5712162 pods
pods's picture

See how far you can get in life if you don't have morals?

 

Tue, 01/27/2015 - 15:41 | 5712241 TruthInSunshine
TruthInSunshine's picture

Serge Rubenstein, a nice Irish Catholic, Polish American or Italian American kid.

Tue, 01/27/2015 - 15:43 | 5712257 pods
pods's picture

It said he was Russian.  ;)

I think I got confirmed with a Serge Rubenstein.  Maybe a grandkid?  Don't remember him being Serge Rubenstein III though.

pods

Tue, 01/27/2015 - 15:50 | 5712302 Larry Dallas
Larry Dallas's picture

NYC Jews FTMFW.

Tue, 01/27/2015 - 16:11 | 5712438 Romney Wordsworth
Romney Wordsworth's picture

@TIS [Manhattan Snowmageddon thread]

 

sepopeseehc ~ too funny dude! :-)

Tue, 01/27/2015 - 17:15 | 5712793 RaceToTheBottom
RaceToTheBottom's picture

I was noticing a slightly different tack.

We already know that you can get very far in life without morals.  WS is a perfect example of that.

I was merely going to point out to any applicable persons how easy it is to get away with murder of WS Financiers, should that fact be useful to any murderers with some spare time out there.....

 

Have at it folks!

 

Tue, 01/27/2015 - 16:10 | 5712433 mrdenis
mrdenis's picture

I guess they didn't have nail guns back then ...........

Tue, 01/27/2015 - 15:34 | 5712126 Headbanger
Headbanger's picture

And there's still no such thing as the Mafia...

Capisce!?

Those curtain cords can be very dangerous if you try untangling them too fast...

Tue, 01/27/2015 - 16:53 | 5712684 Ward cleaver
Ward cleaver's picture

Inducted in tribe hall of fame on first ballot

Tue, 01/27/2015 - 19:06 | 5713331 MeelionDollerBogus
MeelionDollerBogus's picture

Downright incomprethinkable!

Tue, 01/27/2015 - 15:21 | 5712109 Soul Glow
Soul Glow's picture

Suicided.

Tue, 01/27/2015 - 15:27 | 5712140 youngman
youngman's picture

any connection to Rasputin is a red flag I say...he was tough to kill I have heard

Tue, 01/27/2015 - 15:27 | 5712147 fuu
fuu's picture

I'm betting Art Cashin did it.

Tue, 01/27/2015 - 15:28 | 5712171 Soul Glow
Soul Glow's picture

I like the new avatar :)

Tue, 01/27/2015 - 15:35 | 5712206 Romney Wordsworth
Romney Wordsworth's picture

I'm surprised to hear that Art Cashin remembers what happened 'TODAY' (let alone 1955)

Tue, 01/27/2015 - 15:53 | 5712317 saveUSsavers
saveUSsavers's picture

Please please CashOUT !

Tue, 01/27/2015 - 16:12 | 5712440 mrdenis
mrdenis's picture

I saw what you did there .......

Tue, 01/27/2015 - 15:56 | 5712334 fuu
fuu's picture

Had to do something to celebrate NIRP.

Tue, 01/27/2015 - 16:01 | 5712377 Romney Wordsworth
Romney Wordsworth's picture

I'm thinking more like Rubensteins BFJF's weren't big fans of Deuteronomy 15:1-11

 

Tue, 01/27/2015 - 16:33 | 5712576 fuu
fuu's picture

Lot of good it does the goy. That verse sounds like a Fed statement.

Tue, 01/27/2015 - 16:40 | 5712599 Romney Wordsworth
Romney Wordsworth's picture

& so it shall all come to pass [in a world ruled by GOALSEEKING ~ & whereby 3,000 yo goalseeking prognostications take precedence].

 

Now let's get off this subject & see what Krugman has to say!!!

Tue, 01/27/2015 - 19:06 | 5713326 MeelionDollerBogus
MeelionDollerBogus's picture

Always gotta be so negative! LOL

Tue, 01/27/2015 - 15:27 | 5712157 youngman
youngman's picture

They have always said women...boooze...and cigarettes will kill you....I have never heard of Vemetian Blind cords though

Tue, 01/27/2015 - 15:54 | 5712322 quasimodo
quasimodo's picture

Could be something as innocent as kinky sex WITH a Venetian blind cord gone awry, with women, booze and smokes thrown in. A very lethal and erotic combo, no?

 

Tue, 01/27/2015 - 15:34 | 5712194 Colonel Klink
Colonel Klink's picture

Sounds similar to another Rubenstein, except this time he was the murderer.

Jack Ruby - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Ruby

Tue, 01/27/2015 - 15:40 | 5712235 Romney Wordsworth
Romney Wordsworth's picture

Why would anyone consider changing their surname? Instead ~ Wouldn't they prefer to put their proud heritage on display?

Tue, 01/27/2015 - 15:41 | 5712240 Headbanger
Headbanger's picture

Herr Oberst,  What are the chances one Rubenstein killed the other?

Mind boggling.

Tue, 01/27/2015 - 15:45 | 5712275 Colonel Klink
Colonel Klink's picture

Unlikely, it's murder if one jew kills another.  Though according to the Talmud it's not a sin to kill a goy, just as if they had put down an animal.  Why do you think Bernie Madoff pled guilty to seek the protection of a cell versus being "suicided".

Tue, 01/27/2015 - 17:56 | 5712982 Colonel Klink
Colonel Klink's picture

Um, for my doubting douchebag downvoters?

From the Talmud:

Sanhedrin 58b

If a goy killed a goy or a Jew he is responsible, but if a Jew killed a goy he is not responsible.

Sanhedrin 59a
 
To communicate anything to a Goy about our religious relations would be equal to the killing of all Jews, for if the Goyim knew what we teach about them, they would kill us openly.
 
Libbre David 37
 
A Jew should and must make a false oath when the Goyim asks if our books contain anything against them.
Tue, 01/27/2015 - 15:40 | 5712242 Colonel Klink
Colonel Klink's picture

And conveniently Jacob Rubenstein was able to silence Lee Harvey Oswald before he could divulge his side of the story.  As if maybe he was a patsy who wasn't supposed to tell his side.

Tue, 01/27/2015 - 15:34 | 5712195 Dr. Engali
Dr. Engali's picture

Lot's of talk about Russians latlely...... Damn pinko commies! Nuke their asses! Isn't that what we are supposed to think?

Tue, 01/27/2015 - 15:48 | 5712287 TheReplacement
TheReplacement's picture

Last I heard, Putin was being compared to Hitler and not Stalin.

Tue, 01/27/2015 - 16:06 | 5712403 Romney Wordsworth
Romney Wordsworth's picture

Last I heard, Hitler was dead... But there seems to be a certain group dedicated to keeping his memory ALIVE...

 

You know ~ Just like in the same way it's useful to keep the name Osama Bin Laden alive...

 

So many feeble minds to indoctrinate... So little time!

Tue, 01/27/2015 - 15:37 | 5712212 wmbz
wmbz's picture

Sounds like your typical run of the mill bankster...Thousands of duplicates running around out there.

Tue, 01/27/2015 - 15:41 | 5712252 Gringo Viejo
Gringo Viejo's picture

In 1955, Murder Incorporated was in full swing.

You could have anyone offed at a very reasonable price.

Tue, 01/27/2015 - 16:47 | 5712637 Salsipuedes
Salsipuedes's picture

So how much would it be for say, a Kyle Bass, in today's dollars?

Just askin' mind you.

Tue, 01/27/2015 - 18:57 | 5713302 MeelionDollerBogus
MeelionDollerBogus's picture

Almost certain he's got a standing order of NO NAILGUN DELIVERIES if anyone tries that route.

Tue, 01/27/2015 - 15:44 | 5712270 Raoul_Luke
Raoul_Luke's picture

What?  They didn't have nail guns in 1955?

Tue, 01/27/2015 - 15:59 | 5712366 fuu
fuu's picture

They were introduced in 1950 as "Nailing Machines": http://books.google.com/books?id=K9kDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA96#v=onepage&q&f=fals...

Tue, 01/27/2015 - 15:49 | 5712288 Senor Science
Senor Science's picture

They should have put Nero Wolfe on it.

Tue, 01/27/2015 - 15:53 | 5712304 FlacoGee
FlacoGee's picture

Reminds me of another tribe member whos murder is still unsolved.

 

Menachem Stark

Tue, 01/27/2015 - 16:18 | 5712475 Romney Wordsworth
Romney Wordsworth's picture

Well ~ They could blame it on Hitler, but 6,000,001 doesn't have as nice a ring to it.

Tue, 01/27/2015 - 16:13 | 5712387 X_Weatherman
X_Weatherman's picture

You mean they had bankster criminals worthy of an untimely end even back then? 

I thought it was a recent phenomena that developed when banksters got together with politicians to fu_k citizens.

A banker-fraudster without a politician as a collaborator, that's unusual these days.

Tue, 01/27/2015 - 16:16 | 5712461 Zymurguy
Zymurguy's picture

The newspaper must have had something in for him too... love the gratuitous bash "draft dodger" they put in there... too funny.

Tue, 01/27/2015 - 16:29 | 5712550 Freddie
Freddie's picture

Karma is real.

Tue, 01/27/2015 - 16:21 | 5712503 Youri Carma
Youri Carma's picture

At Least 50 Bankers Dead Now! - January 2015 http://forum.prisonplanet.com/index.php?topic=255098.msg1498753#msg1498753
- Industrial Bank Employee Said to Fall to His Death in Hong Kong
- “Cheerful” Dutch Financier Becomes 4th ABN Amro Banker Suicide
- Chinese Chairman of Credit Suisse Venture Is Missing
- Tragedy as body of top AIG exec who disappeared from his Marriott Hotel room is discovered in nearby desert
- 70-Year-Old Hedge Fund Founder Shot Dead By His Son

Tue, 01/27/2015 - 16:24 | 5712522 Freddie
Freddie's picture

He had been strangled with a curtain cord.

Oh man - if only Corzine.......

Tue, 01/27/2015 - 17:31 | 5712890 sidiji
sidiji's picture

a dead draft dodging Jew from 60 years ago...how is this relevant?

Tue, 01/27/2015 - 18:05 | 5713031 insanelysane
insanelysane's picture

I am completely confused because he isn't a natural born citizen, was allowed in under the Russian quota (whatever that was) with a passport from Portugal and had to fight deportation.  So was the old deal for "illegals" join the military or be deported?  The new deal for illegals is join the military and become a citizen but don't sweat it because no one is deported.

Tue, 01/27/2015 - 22:41 | 5714205 ThroxxOfVron
ThroxxOfVron's picture

"a dead draft dodging Jew from 60 years ago...how is this relevant? "

 

1. Example of a murder of a very wealthy 'financier' that went unsolved.  Most murders go unsolved.  Keep that in mind...

2. "retired detective Raymond Seiler, who worked full-time on the case for three years."  

The cops will cash checks for as many years, while actually doing nothing to protect honest living people from criminals and mayhem, as we let them.  

Many police are just career bueaucrats pretending to 'work the cases' of long buried scumbags who probably deserved the end that came to them while Fraud Street funnels the wealth of the nation into their private accounts, and .GOV criminals laud these worthless bureaucrats and themselves as dedicated public servants and heroes deserving of ever more percs and immunity from the rules commony applied to the rest of the citizenry.

Tue, 01/27/2015 - 18:17 | 5713093 DirkDiggler11
DirkDiggler11's picture

It was Colonel Mustard in the bedroom with a rope ...

Wed, 01/28/2015 - 11:21 | 5715724 whatthecurtains
whatthecurtains's picture

This would have been labeled a suicide by today's police dept.

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