Dutch Schultz

Originally Aired: October 26, 1953

Suspense #523, "Dutch Schultz," brings the violent world of 1930s organized crime to life as Broderick Crawford portrays the notorious gangster Dutch Schultz. When Ginch, one of Schultz's men, learns that the major New York crime bosses—Harry, Lepke, Lucky, Albert, and others—are meeting without the Dutchman's knowledge, tensions immediately flare. Schultz crashes the syndicate meeting, where the bosses are discussing what to do about an incorruptible new man in the District Attorney's office who's investigating their numbers rackets. While the other crime lords want to handle the situation with what Harry calls "a modicum of intelligence," the hot-headed Schultz has his own brutal ideas about dealing with problems.

Back in Newark, Schultz runs his numbers operation with the help of mathematical genius Abadabba Berman, who has rigged the system so players rarely win. Feeling disrespected by the New York syndicate and convinced of his own superiority, the volatile gangster grows increasingly dangerous. As Schultz's paranoia and violent impulses escalate, his loyal men Ginch and Abadabba find themselves caught between their unpredictable boss and the powerful forces gathering against him.