Sam Schepps

Samuel Schepps (? – 12 January 1936), also known as Schapps,[1] was a New York City mobster with the Monk Eastman Gang. Schepps ran gambling houses for Jack Zelig as part of his work with the gang.

Biography

On July 16, 1912, Herman Rosenthal was murdered in front of the Hotel Metropole in New York City. Schepps was identified by coconspirators as the "paymaster" of the plot to kill Rosenthal.[2] Within the week, Schepps had disappeared and was believed to have left New York.[1] He was tracked down and, on August 10, 1912, was arrested in Hot Springs, Arkansas.[3] Sick and broke when he was caught, Schepps was reportedly happy to return to New York to testify against his accomplices.[4] The fact that Schepps was hiding in Hot Springs was revealed to police by Harry Vallon, an accomplice in Rosenthal's murder.[5] Vallon, along with Schepps and other mob informants Bridgey Webber and Jack Rose, testified at the Becker-Rosenthal trial.[6] His testimony resulted in the conviction of Charles Becker and the four gunmen involved in the murder.[7]

Schepps and his brother Nathan later ran an antique and jewelry store, the Maison Cluny, at 437 Madison Avenue.[8] In October, 1921, the famed soprano Lydia Lipkowska charged Schepps with usury over his refusal to return two diamonds worth $80,000 that she had pawned to him. Lipkowska said that she had borrowed $12,000 and had left the diamonds with Schepps as security and that he sought $5000 in interest before he would return the jewels.[9]

On October 3, 1933, he and Nathan were arrested and charged with forgery in connection with falsified checks worth over $10,000, which they had deposited in their business's bank account.[8]

Sam Schepps died on January 12, 1936, in the Fifth Avenue Hospital.[10]

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References
  1. "Gang Gunmen, Tipped to Flee, Now in Chicago". New York Times: 1. 21 July 1912.
  2. "Assassins Faced him in Garden Restaurant as he Was Dining with his Wife". New York Times: 1. 1 August 1912.
  3. "Schepps Caught; Jack Sullivan Ready to Tell". New York Times: 1. 11 August 1912.
  4. "Schepps Ill When Caught: Out of Funds in Hot Springs, he Welcomes Chance to Return". New York Times: 2. 11 August 1912.
  5. "Vallon's Tip Led to Schepps". New York Times: 2. 12 August 1912.
  6. "Becker Informers Now Ready To Flit. Schepps West for Vaudeville, Webber to Europe, Rose and Vallon Won't Tell". New York Times. November 21, 1912. Retrieved 2010-12-10. Becker's Lawyer Serves Notice of Appeal. Sam Schepps, "Bridgey" Webber, Jack Rose, and Harry Vallon, whose stories convicted Charles Becker and the four ...
  7. "Sam Schepps released". Boston Evening Transcript. November 21, 1912. Retrieved 2010-12-10. Sam Schepps, one of the four informers, whose testimony resulted in the conviction of Charles Becker and the four gunmen for the murder ...
  8. "Sam Schepps Held in $10,775 Forgery". New York Times: 11. 4 October 1933.
  9. "Lipkowska Accuses Broker of Usury". New York Times: 18. 23 October 1921.
  10. Berger, Meyer (11 November 1951). "The Becker Case – View of the 'System'". New York Times: SM8.
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