Murder: True Crime Stories
Episode: MYSTERY: The Vanishing Judge
Host: Carter Roy
Date: March 27, 2026
Episode Overview
In this gripping episode of Murder: True Crime Stories, host Carter Roy delves into the near-century-old disappearance of New York State Supreme Court Justice Joseph Force Crater. Known both for his high-profile connections and alleged underworld ties, Crater's 1930 vanishing became one of America's most infamous unsolved cases. Through a detailed recounting of events, Carter examines the judge's background, the multiple theories surrounding his disappearance, and the enduring impact of the unsolved case—balancing suspense with historical context and personal anecdotes.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Introduction to the Case & Joseph Force Crater (06:02–09:30)
- Background:
- Joseph Crater, an ambitious and sociable figure, quickly rose through New York's legal system.
- Had deep connections with political powerhouse Tammany Hall and prominent officials, including Franklin D. Roosevelt.
- Known for his charm and social life—nicknamed "Good Time Joe"—often seen at Broadway shows and high-end clubs.
- Ties to Corruption:
- Tammany Hall, though influential, was notoriously corrupt and closely linked to organized crime in NYC politics. Joseph was deeply entangled in these networks.
- Carter notes: "Joseph wasn't just a high ranking judge, he allegedly had ties to mobsters and criminals. And he might have been one too." (03:30)
2. The Disappearance: Timeline & Suspicious Behavior (16:35–20:00)
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August 6, 1930: Crater is last seen alive. On this day:
- Appears agitated—clearly not his usual self.
- Makes large cash withdrawals ($5,150, today's equivalent of ~$100,000).
- Visits Broadway ticket agency and asks for show tickets, despite having seen the show already.
- Dines with lawyer William Klein and showgirl Sally Lou Ritz at Billy Haw's Chop House, then gets into a cab and vanishes.
- "He was all dressed up despite the heat ... he agreed, but didn't seem very excited about it ... he didn't speak much." (17:50)
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Stella's Experience:
- Crater’s wife, Stella, waits for him at their summer retreat in Maine. Receives no contact, only a gift for her birthday.
- Eventually, she attempts to track Joseph’s whereabouts, but his colleagues are equally in the dark.
- "On her birthday, she received a gift that Joseph had ordered for her, a red canoe. But she didn't get what she really wanted. Her husband." (12:40)
3. The Immediate Aftermath & Bungled Investigation (20:00–25:00)
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Delayed Police Notice:
- No one reports Crater missing for nearly a month, due to hopes he would return and a desire to avoid scandal.
- By the time NYPD starts investigating, the trail is ice cold.
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Theories Quickly Arise:
- The press runs wild—rumors swirl about mistresses and possible elopement.
- Public interest soars: "'To pull a Crater' became common slang for disappearing..." (28:30)
- A grand jury investigation yields nothing conclusive.
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Potential for Foul Play:
- Grand jury inquest calls 95 witnesses; testimony confirms political corruption as a possible motive.
- Stella, notably, does not testify—possibly due to a simultaneous Tammany Hall probe.
4. Theories and Suspects Explored (25:00–33:30)
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Corruption & Dangerous Company:
- Crater was subpoenaed in a corruption investigation into Tammany Hall weeks before his disappearance.
- Political climate: Tammany facing scrutiny; Roosevelt distancing himself for presidential ambitions.
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Showgirl & Gangster Theory:
- Sally Lou Ritz, present the night Crater vanished, also disappears briefly—but later turns up living quietly in Ohio.
- Similar fate befalls Vivian Gordon, a political informant, found dead before testifying about corruption.
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Mob Retaliation:
- Suggestion that Tammany Hall or the mob may have silenced Crater to avoid testimony damaging to powerful figures.
5. Subsequent Investigations & New Leads (33:10–41:00)
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Polly Adler’s Claim (1950s):
- A brothel madam’s (second-hand) account claims Crater died of a heart attack during a visit, and that mobsters disposed of his body in the Hudson River.
- Carter’s skepticism: "...came from second and third hand sources, not Polly herself. And the fact that Polly's publisher decided not to include the anecdote casts doubt on its reliability." (34:10)
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Henry Krause Confession (1954):
- A retired butcher contends Crater was killed at a Westchester house after a dispute over buried cash.
- Details fall apart: no physical evidence, and Krause himself is a questionable character.
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The 2005 Letter & The Coney Island Theory:
- Discovery of a deathbed confession from Stella Ferrucci Good.
- Names (her husband, cab driver Frank Burns, and police officer Charles Burns) are given as Crater’s killers, claiming body was buried under the Coney Island boardwalk—now the site of the New York Aquarium.
- Remains possibly unearthed during Aquarium construction have never been definitively identified.
6. Enduring Mystery and Legacy (41:00–end)
- No Resolution, Endless Speculation:
- Absence of conclusive evidence fuels conspiracy and folklore.
- Carter sums up:
"The disappearance of Joseph Force Crater is one of the most unique in American history. For a man whose primary goal was to achieve true political influence, it's ironic that he created a lasting legacy for American himself in his own absence." (43:24) - Annual ritual: Stella Crater, until her death, would toast Joseph each year at a Greenwich Village bar.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- "People's lives are like a story. There's a beginning, a middle, and an end. But you don't always know which part you're on. Sometimes the final chapter arrives far too soon. And we don't always get to know the real ending." — Carter Roy (03:00)
- "On August 6th ... Joseph asked Mara to go to the bank and cash a pair of checks for him. They were worth a total of $5,150, which is about $100,000 in today's money. When Mara returned with the cash, the judge stuffed it into his suit pockets without comment." (17:00)
- "As word spread about the disappearance, the NYPD began their manhunt. And it wasn't off to a promising start. It had been almost a month since Joseph was last seen. If the trail wasn't already cold, it was at least lukewarm." (20:50)
- "If Joseph chose the first option, it's possible he paid with his life." — Carter Roy, on testifying against corrupt colleagues (31:00)
- "To me, that seems like the most likely option. Remember, Joseph socialized with gangsters. If he'd crossed the wrong person, he could have paid the ultimate price." (43:00)
- "Good luck, Joe, wherever you are." — Stella Crater’s ritual toast (42:30)
Timestamps for Important Segments
| Timestamp | Segment/Topic | |-------------|----------------------------------------------| | 06:02 | Joseph Crater: Ambition & Tammany Hall ties | | 12:40 | Stella’s experience after Joseph disappears | | 16:35 | The day Joseph disappears—recounted in detail| | 20:50 | The NYPD's investigation and lost time | | 28:30 | The press & the phrase “to pull a Crater” | | 31:00 | Political context & stakes for Tammany Hall | | 33:10 | Investigation stalls, new theories emerge | | 34:10 | Polly Adler & the heart attack rumor | | 36:00 | Henry Krause story and Bronxville clue | | 39:30 | Stella Ferrucci Good’s deathbed confession | | 41:00 | Modern theories, legacy, and case closure | | 42:30 | Stella’s ritual toast and emotional close |
Conclusions & Takeaways
- Crater’s 1930 disappearance merged New York’s underworld, political elite, and media circus, producing an enduring American mystery.
- Theories abound regarding his fate: mob hit, cover-up, runaway scheme, or accidental death.
- Despite a parade of leads, witnesses, deathbed confessions, and forensic efforts, Joseph Force Crater remains as much a symbol of the perils of corruption as a cautionary tale about the cost of ambition.
- The case’s enduring fascination lies in how, for almost a century, none of the doors opened have revealed the truth, only more questions.