Charles "King" Solomon (1884 – January 24, 1933) was a Russian-born mob boss who controlled Boston's bootlegging, narcotics, and illegal gambling during the Prohibition era.
One of the earliest organized crime figures in New England's history, Solomon immigrated from the Russian Empire as a boy settling with his family in Boston's West End. The son of a local theater owner, Solomon and his three brothers came from a middle-class Jewish background and, during his teenage years, he worked as a counterman in his uncle's restaurant. However, by his early 20s, he had become involved in prostitution, fencing and bail bonding prior to Prohibition.
By the early 1920s, he controlled the majority of illegal gambling and narcotics, such as cocaine and morphine, before expanding into bootlegging during Prohibition, owning many of the cities' most prominent speakeasies, including the Cocoanut Grove nightclub. He enjoyed extensive contacts throughout the underworld, including the Bronfmans in Canada as well as associates in New York and Chicago.
Solomon was tried on narcotics charges in 1922. Represented by editor and general councillor of the Boston American Grenville MacFarlane, which had then been crusading against drug abuse, he was later acquitted of those charges. He would, however, serve thirteen months of a five-year prison sentence at Atlanta Federal Penitentiary for intimidating a witness into perjury at his narcotics trial. During his imprisonment, a request for his transfer to a prison closer to Boston was made by Boston Congressmen George H. Tinkham and James A. Gallivan.
Attending the Atlantic City Conference in 1929, Solomon was one of the several leaders in the "Big Seven" who helped negotiate territorial disputes and establish policies which would influence the later National Crime Syndicate in 1932. Solomon continued to control illegal gambling in New England until his death on January 24, 1933, when he was murdered in the men's room of Boston's Cotton Club by rival gunmen John Burke and James Coyne. His territories were eventually divided up among his lieutenants Joseph Linsey, Hyman Abrams and brothers Max and Louis Fox.
Solomon and three others had been indicted in Brooklyn in early January 1933 on charges of operating a liquor smuggling ring. Two months after Solomon was killed, another of the indicted men, Alexander Lillien, was murdered at his house in New Jersey.[1][2]
Popular Culture
Charles Solomon is briefly mentioned in the HBO tv series Boardwalk Empire by Joe Kennedy, who refers to him as “King Solomon”.
A fictionalized version of Charles Solomon is mentioned in the BBC series Peaky Blinders in the second episode of the final season. However, he is known as “Charles Solomons”, and is an uncle of the character Alfie Solomons; portrayed by Tom Hardy.
Further reading
Fried, Albert. The Rise and Fall of the Jewish Gangster in America. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1980. ISBN0-231-09683-6
Goodman, Jonathan (1996). The Passing of Starr Faithfull. [Kent, Ohio]: Kent State University Press. pp. 278–281 et seq on Solomon. ISBN0-87338-541-1.
Messick, Hank. Lansky. London: Robert Hale & Company, 1973. ISBN0-7091-3966-7
Pietrusza, David. Rothstein: The Life, Times, and Murder of the Criminal Genius Who Fixed the 1919 World Series. New York: Carroll & Graf Publishers, 2003. ISBN0-7867-1250-3
Reppetto, Thomas A. American Mafia: A History of Its Rise to Power. New York: Henry Holt & Co., 2004. ISBN0-8050-7798-7
References
^Indicted As Leaders Of Huge Liquor Ring; Four Men Accused in Brooklyn Said to Have Operated Fleet From Canada and Europe, The New York Times, January 5, 1933, p. 44.(subscription required)
^"Rum Fleet Plot Seen In Murder; Alleged Liquor Runner Shot To Death in Mansion On Sandy Hook". Reading Eagle. Associated Press. March 24, 1933. p. 13.
English, T.J. Paddy Whacked: The Untold Story of the Irish American Gangster. New York: HarperCollins, 2005. ISBN0-06-059002-5
Fox, Stephen. Blood and Power: Organized Crime in Twentieth-Century America. New York: William Morrow and Company, 1989. ISBN0-688-04350-X
Sifakis, Carl. The Mafia Encyclopedia. New York: Da Capo Press, 2005. ISBN0-8160-5694-3
"Cabaret Gunmen Kill 'King' Solomon; Boston Racketeer Is Shot by Four in Roxbury After Ignoring a Warning". The New York Times. January 25, 1933. p. 36.(subscription required)
January 05, 2023
charles, solomon, racketeer, charles, king, solomon, 1884, january, 1933, russian, born, boss, controlled, boston, bootlegging, narcotics, illegal, gambling, during, prohibition, contents, biography, popular, culture, further, reading, references, external, li. Charles King Solomon 1884 January 24 1933 was a Russian born mob boss who controlled Boston s bootlegging narcotics and illegal gambling during the Prohibition era Contents 1 Biography 2 Popular Culture 3 Further reading 4 References 5 External linksBiography EditOne of the earliest organized crime figures in New England s history Solomon immigrated from the Russian Empire as a boy settling with his family in Boston s West End The son of a local theater owner Solomon and his three brothers came from a middle class Jewish background and during his teenage years he worked as a counterman in his uncle s restaurant However by his early 20s he had become involved in prostitution fencing and bail bonding prior to Prohibition By the early 1920s he controlled the majority of illegal gambling and narcotics such as cocaine and morphine before expanding into bootlegging during Prohibition owning many of the cities most prominent speakeasies including the Cocoanut Grove nightclub He enjoyed extensive contacts throughout the underworld including the Bronfmans in Canada as well as associates in New York and Chicago Solomon was tried on narcotics charges in 1922 Represented by editor and general councillor of the Boston American Grenville MacFarlane which had then been crusading against drug abuse he was later acquitted of those charges He would however serve thirteen months of a five year prison sentence at Atlanta Federal Penitentiary for intimidating a witness into perjury at his narcotics trial During his imprisonment a request for his transfer to a prison closer to Boston was made by Boston Congressmen George H Tinkham and James A Gallivan Attending the Atlantic City Conference in 1929 Solomon was one of the several leaders in the Big Seven who helped negotiate territorial disputes and establish policies which would influence the later National Crime Syndicate in 1932 Solomon continued to control illegal gambling in New England until his death on January 24 1933 when he was murdered in the men s room of Boston s Cotton Club by rival gunmen John Burke and James Coyne His territories were eventually divided up among his lieutenants Joseph Linsey Hyman Abrams and brothers Max and Louis Fox Solomon and three others had been indicted in Brooklyn in early January 1933 on charges of operating a liquor smuggling ring Two months after Solomon was killed another of the indicted men Alexander Lillien was murdered at his house in New Jersey 1 2 Popular Culture EditCharles Solomon is briefly mentioned in the HBO tv series Boardwalk Empire by Joe Kennedy who refers to him as King Solomon A fictionalized version of Charles Solomon is mentioned in the BBC series Peaky Blinders in the second episode of the final season However he is known as Charles Solomons and is an uncle of the character Alfie Solomons portrayed by Tom Hardy Further reading EditFried Albert The Rise and Fall of the Jewish Gangster in America New York Holt Rinehart and Winston 1980 ISBN 0 231 09683 6 Goodman Jonathan 1996 The Passing of Starr Faithfull Kent Ohio Kent State University Press pp 278 281 et seq on Solomon ISBN 0 87338 541 1 Messick Hank Lansky London Robert Hale amp Company 1973 ISBN 0 7091 3966 7 Pietrusza David Rothstein The Life Times and Murder of the Criminal Genius Who Fixed the 1919 World Series New York Carroll amp Graf Publishers 2003 ISBN 0 7867 1250 3 Reppetto Thomas A American Mafia A History of Its Rise to Power New York Henry Holt amp Co 2004 ISBN 0 8050 7798 7References Edit Indicted As Leaders Of Huge Liquor Ring Four Men Accused in Brooklyn Said to Have Operated Fleet From Canada and Europe The New York Times January 5 1933 p 44 subscription required Rum Fleet Plot Seen In Murder Alleged Liquor Runner Shot To Death in Mansion On Sandy Hook Reading Eagle Associated Press March 24 1933 p 13 English T J Paddy Whacked The Untold Story of the Irish American Gangster New York HarperCollins 2005 ISBN 0 06 059002 5 Fox Stephen Blood and Power Organized Crime in Twentieth Century America New York William Morrow and Company 1989 ISBN 0 688 04350 X Sifakis Carl The Mafia Encyclopedia New York Da Capo Press 2005 ISBN 0 8160 5694 3External links EditBawdy Boston Time Cabaret Gunmen Kill King Solomon Boston Racketeer Is Shot by Four in Roxbury After Ignoring a Warning The New York Times January 25 1933 p 36 subscription required Universal HUB Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Charles Solomon racketeer amp oldid 1126474710, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
