Charles Frederick Lindauer

Lindauer (circa 1870)

Charles Frederick Lindauer (1836-1921) was a member of an organized crime gang during the Gangs of New York period. (b. April 1836; Pennsylvania, USA - d. March 3, 1921, 3:00 pm; 209 Locust Avenue, Rye, Westchester County, New York, USA) In 1871 he was convicted for passing counterfeit money and confined to the Essex County Jail, and was released from prison after being pardoned by Ulysses S. Grant on April 1, 1873. In 1881 he inserted himself into the management of the Theatre Comique in Jersey City, New Jersey. It was a legitimate theater and was converted to a burlesque format with a "leg show" where alcohol was served without a liquor license. The newspaper in 1881 described his role as: "a partner or something". He operated a house of prostitution in West Hoboken, New Jersey in 1881. He was also a cigar dealer and tobacconist in Manhattan and Hoboken, New Jersey, at Lindauer and Company which he used as a cover for his illegal lottery operation. He was described in 1894 as a "small fry" in organized crime in New York City. He ran the numbers game in a small territory in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. He described himself in advertisements as a lottery broker.

Quotes about Lindauer

• Sophia and Oscar had three boys and later on one girl. The boys were Charles, Louis and John and the girl, Eloise, was named by her brother, Charles.
  • Eloise Ensko II (1925-1993) (1965). "Charles Frederick Lindauer". Eloise Ensko II (1925-1993) memoir. 
• Of a retiring disposition, Mr. Lindauer had never taken active part or interest in public affairs of any kind. He and his family had occupied the old Halsted place at the corner of Maple and Locust avenues during the entire period of their residence in the village. Mr. Lindauer having been the head of a flourishing business in New York for a number of years after coming here. Deceased is survived by his widow and five children: Mrs. Anna Lowe, Arthur, LeBaron and Harry Lindauer, all of Rye, and Mrs. Eloise Freudenberg of Jersey City Heights, New Jersey.
  • "Charles F. Lindauer". Charles Frederick Lindauer (1836-1921) obituary. March 3, 1921. 
• ... there is Jake Shipsey; he is another big man; Cornelius P. Parker, and Billy Meyers, and Ed. Hogan, and Charlie Lindauer, Dick Gammon … Lindauer has a new place; he is a small fry backer.
  • J. Lawrence Carney (1895). "J. Lawrence Carney testimony to the Lexow Committee". Lexow Committee. 
  • J. Lawrence Carney describing Lindauer's territory in Manhattan for the numbers game
• A few days since Charles Lindauer, who was committed to the Essex county jail, New Jersey, for two years, for passing counterfeit money, was taken to the Fishing Banks on an excursion trip, one of the wardens of the institution being his escort. The Newark (N.J.) Advertiser says that it is not usual to treat prisoners to pleasure excursions, but in this instance an assistant warden thought it would "do the convict good," and therefore ventured to make the experiment. Essex, N.J., is a nice place to go to jail.
  • "Fishing Banks On An Excursion Trip". 1872. 
• The defense then called to the stand Jacob Lindauer, who testified: "At the time of my arrest at 141 Mott street; I worked for my brother Fred, at West Hoboken." "What sort of a place was it?" asked Mr. McGrath. "Well, some call it a hotel, and some call it a house of prostitution. I call it a house of prostitution."
  • "The Four Burglars. A Searching Cross-Examination To Break Down a Defense of Alibi". Jersey Journal. June 3, 1881. 
  • Admission by John Jacob Lindauer (1840-1888) that the crime family operates a house of prostitution in West Hoboken, New Jersey.