Frank Erickson

This article is about the gambler and bookmaker. For the composer, see Frank William Erickson.
Frank Erickson
Born 1896
New York
Died March 2, 1968(1968-03-02)

Frank Erickson (1896 – March 2, 1968) was born in New York to parents of Swedish and Irish descent. After the death of his father, he grew up in an orphanage.

Frank Erickson was Arnold Rothstein's right-hand man and New York's largest bookmaker during the 1930s and 40's. Eventually, Erickson became very well known among bookmakers nationwide for handling "lay-off" bets. With Chicago's Moses Annenberg, Erickson developed a country wide wire service, making possible for the first time nationwide synchronized betting. Erickson never saw any of these profits because soon after, bookmaking became illegal and the government took over. In Robert Lacey's book on Meyer Lanksy, Erickson was named "the largest book maker on the East Coast, if not in all America." Additionally, it is a little-known fact that many of Erickson's profits went to charity. Along with many other ventures, he was a major contributor to the construction of a children's hospital in NYC. His image was bashed by the media because of supposed connections with the mob. These allegations were never proven. See Wiki article on Frank Costello: "In fact, Costello and Frank Erickson, the overseer of Costello's bookmaking operations, are credited with starting the layoff and odds systems used by bookies and gamblers all across North America."

He died on March 2, 1968 from cardiac arrest while undergoing surgery on a bleeding ulcer.

Brushes with the Law

Between the years of 1919 to 1926 Erickson was arrested five times for gambling only to have the charges dismissed each time. He was arrested again in 1939 for vagrancy and was so insulted by the charge, he arrived to court in an armoured car, escorted by Brink's guards. He showed the presiding body securities worth $125,000 to prove he wasn't a vagrant. That case, too, was dismissed. Erickson served 10 months on Riker's Island after eventually being convicted by District Attorney Frank Hogan.[1]

References

  1. ↑ Katz, L. (1973). "Uncle Frank." Drake Publishers, New York, NY. ISBN 0-87749-549-1

Eisenberg, D., Dan, U., and Landau, E. (1979). "Meyer Lansky: Mogul of the Mob." New York: Paddington Press. ISBN 0-448-22206-X, ISBN 0-7092-0151-6

Katz, L. (1973). "Uncle Frank." New York, NY: Drake Publishers. ISBN 0-87749-549-1

Kefauver Committee Interim Report #1 Aug. 18, 1950 http://www.onewal.com/kef/kef1.html

Lacey, R. (1991). Little Man: Meyer Lansky and the Gangster Life. Canada: Little, Brown and Company. ISBN 0-316-51168-4


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