Casper Holstein | |
|---|---|
 Casper Holstein, in Opportunity magazine | |
| Born | (1877-12-06)December 6, 1877 |
| Died | April 5, 1944(1944-04-05) (aged 66) New York, NY, USA |
Casper Alexander Holstein (December 6, 1877 – April 5, 1944) was a prominent New Yorkmobster involved in theHarlem "numbers rackets" during the 1920s. He was also aphilanthropist and smallbanker. His giving funded literary prizes during theHarlem Renaissance. Born in theVirgin Islands, he continued to support and aid his community from New York through lobbying for civil rights and providing direct economic aid.
Caspar Alexander Holstein was born on December 6, 1875 inChristiansted when the islands were underDanish rule.[1][2] He attended schools in the Danish school system onSaint Croix.[1] In 1888, Holstein moved toNew York City with his mother.
DuringWorld War I, he was able to revisit his birthplace while stationed in what had become theUnited States Virgin Islands.[3] He served in theUnited States Navy for more than four years.[1] He learnedembalming inChicago, but didn't complete his courses.[4]
By the end of the 1920s, Holstein had become a dominant figure among Harlem's numerous policy operators.[5] Although both he and rival,Stephanie St. Clair, claimed to haveinvented the way that "numbers games" chose the winning number, both claims have long been in dispute.[6]
Holstein was a major donor towards charitable purposes such as building dormitories at black colleges, as well as financing many of the neighborhood's artists, writers, and poets during theHarlem Renaissance.
He bought themortgage on the New York hall of theUniversal Negro Improvement Association.[7] He was a supporter ofMarcus Garvey.[8] He also helped establish aBaptist school inLiberia and supported an orphanage inGary, Indiana.[9]
He supported the literary arts. He was a financial contributor to the literary banquets hosted byOpportunity: A Journal of Negro Life.[2] He also wrote forOpportunity, especially on topics relating to the Virgin Islands.[10]
Holstein felt connected to theVirgin Islands and provided economic aid to the islands, spending more than $250,000 in Saint Croix.[11] Holstein was againstmartial rule in theVirgin Islands, going to theFederal government of the United States to lobby against "naval rule" of the islands.[12] Holstein provided hurricane relief for his nativeVirgin Islands in 1924 and 1928 providing large sums of money and building materials.[11][13][14]
On September 21, 1928, Holstein waskidnapped and held for aransom of $50,000.[15] He was released three days later, insisting that no ransom was paid.
After the kidnapping his fortune began to decline.[13] By 1931, Holstein was considered "broke" as gambling began to prove less lucrative and white gangsters pushed Black competition away.[16][17]
Holstein died in New York on April 5, 1944 in the home of Alverstone Smothergill, a beneficiary of his philanthropic work.
Casper Holstein appears by name portrayed by actor Rony Clanton as the largest operator in the New York City numbers game in the 1984 movie,The Cotton Club.[18]Valentin Narcisse, played byJeffrey Wright, onseason 4 and5 of theHBO period crime-dramaBoardwalk Empire was inspired by Holstein.[19]
| Preceded by | Policy racket inNew York City c. 1923–1932 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
