Episode 5- The "Missingest Missing Man in America" NYS Supreme Court Justice Joseph Force Crater

🔎 Episode Summary:

In this captivating deep dive, Amanda unravels one of New York’s most infamous unsolved mysteries — the 1930 disappearance of Judge Joseph Force Crater. What began as a routine day in Manhattan turned into one of the most baffling vanishing acts in U.S. history, sending shockwaves through political circles, law enforcement, and the media for decades.

From suspicious political dealings, potential mob ties, and secret vaults to bizarre sightings as far away as Nova Scotia and California, Amanda walks us through the tangled web of conspiracies and cover-ups surrounding Crater's case. And yes — we talk about Stella: his enigmatic wife whose actions raised as many questions as the disappearance itself.

🕵️‍♀️ In This Episode:

With Amanda’s trademark storytelling style, this episode takes listeners on a twisty ride through:

• Crater's early life and rapid rise in New York law and politics

• The shadowy influence of Tammany Hall

• Rumors of bribery, backdoor deals, and shady real estate flips

• The investigation led by Chief Justice Samuel Seabury

• The events leading up to Crater's vanishing and theories on what really happened

• A surprise detour into the origins of Santa Claus in American tradition (you won't believe the New York connection!)

• The mystery surrounding Crater’s dinner with a showgirl, his disappearing documents, and more

• The connection between Crater’s disappearance and George F. Ewald, a former city magistrate accused of paying $10,000 for his position.

• Investigators search the Craters’ summer home in Belgrade Lakes, Maine, and run into odd resistance from Stella Crater.

• Reports of Crater fleeing to Nova Scotia, allegedly telling a clerk he’d bought a home “far away from telegraph and telephone.”

• The 1930 grand jury investigation yields scandalous testimony but few answers — and Stella’s refusal to testifyraises suspicions.

• A web of theories involving:

  • Showgirl June Brice and a possible blackmail scheme

  • Mobster connections to Frank Costello, Legs Diamond, and Arnold Rothstein

  • Crater’s ties to Vivian Gordon, a murdered NYC prostitute

  • Fleeing to avoid prosecution or dying in a brothel

• The 1931 discovery of hidden life insurance policies and a goodbye letter signed “Am very weary, love, Joe.”

• A 2005 bombshell letter discovered by Stella Ferrucci-Good claims Crater was murdered and buried under the site of the current New York Aquarium.

• Cultural impact and Crater’s continued presence in pop culture — from Golden Girls and Star Trek to Stephen King and CSI: NY.

• Amanda reflects on the romantic and tragic elements of the case and why it continues to haunt the American imagination.

🕵️‍♂️ Case Highlights:

• Who: Justice Joseph Force Crater – dubbed “The Missingest Missing Man in America”

• When: Last seen on August 6, 1930

• Where: New York City, after dinner at Billy Haas’s Chophouse

• Mysteries:

  • Disappeared without a trace

  • Missing court documents

  • A dinner companion showgirl who also went missing briefly

  • Multiple conflicting accounts of his final moments

  • Involvement in questionable real estate transactions

🐇 Bonus Rabbit Hole:

• 🎅 Learn how John Pintard, one of the founders of Tammany Hall, helped bring Santa Claus to American holiday culture.

💬 Notable Quotes:

“Good luck, Joe, wherever you are.” – Stella Crater, every April 6th, at a Greenwich Village bar until her death

“That’s why I don’t understand... why isn’t she letting them into the vaults? They’re trying to find your husband!” – Amanda

📚 Sources & Further Reading:

Full list of articles, reports, and archives used in this episode available in the blog post [linked here].

🎧 About the Podcast:

New York’s Dark Side explores the lesser-known and darker corners of New York’s history — from mysterious disappearances and unsolved murders to political intrigue and urban legends. Hosted by Amanda, a curious mind drawn to the shadows of the city that never sleeps.

⭐ If you enjoyed this episode:

• Leave a review or rating — it helps more curious minds find us!

• Share with a friend who loves history, mystery, and New York lore.

• Stay curious… and don’t go pulling a Crater.

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/joseph-force-crater-becomes-the-missingest-man-in-new-york

https://pabook.libraries.psu.edu/literary-cultural-heritage-map-pa/bios/Crater__Joseph

https://abcnews.go.com/WNT/LegalCenter/story?id=1050195&page=1

https://untappedcities.com/2021/08/06/joseph-force-crater/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tammany_Hall

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Pintard

https://www.mcall.com/1989/01/15/the-mystery-of-judge-crater-in-1930-the-easton-born-jurist-stepped-into-a-cab-and-into-history/

https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna8087942

https://historycollection.com/18-incidents-of-people-vanishing-into-thin-air-throughout-history/12/

https://hvmag.com/life-style/history/legs-diamond-history/