Lived in Brooklyn, NY with family in 1910 census.

She and her siblings all had red hair.

Mrs. Vera Rubin of 124 W. 47th St., sister-in-law of labor racketeer Max Rubin who testified against Louis (Lepke) Buchalter at his trial in February, 1940, was killed while standing at the bar of a bar and grill owned by brothers of Joey Rao, notorious Harlem gangster on parole. She was shot three times near the heart. Her companion, Anna (Trixie) DeLong, escaped injury when she was hurled to the floor by a man seated next to her. While the police officially say the shooting was a foiled attempt to hold up the bar, it was admitted unofficially that gang vengeance probably was the true explanation.

According to police, Detective Elmer Mason was seated with friends in a booth when five thugs walked into the place and announced, This is a holdup.” At the bar were Vera Rubin, Trixie DeLong, several customers, and two plainclothes patrolmen. A moment later pistols were blazing. Mason had his gun shot from his hand, one of the thugs was hit, and Vera Rubin was dead. The bandits fled and escaped when they jumped into a getaway car two blocks away. The revolver, believed to be the one used to kill Vera Rubin, was turned over to police after a citizen found it on a Bronx street.

Witnesses said Joey Rao was at the bar, but the police and his two brothers denied he was there. Police refused to discuss whether Vera Rubin or Trixie DeLong, said to be friends of Joey Rao, or even the gangster himself, had been the intended target of the gunmen. Rao, who was an inmate of the Welfare Island Penitentiary and ruled it with an iron hand some years ago, selling favors to less powerful convicts, was the target of Vincent (Mad Dog) Coll a few years past. Rao was a right hand man of gangster Dutch.

Another motive could be a revenge killing against Max Rubin, Vera’s brother-in-law, who had testified against Jacob (Lepke) Buchalter, the racketeer chief who was put to death for a Brooklyn murder. Max had been shot in the head by Buchalter’s gang, but survived and to testify against him.

In 1946, Benedetto Romeo, 29 years old, a convict known as “Big Six” was found guilty of first-degree murder of Vera Rubin. The jury recommended mercy, and Judge George L. Donnellan sentenced him to life in prison instead of the death penalty. Two of Romeo’s confederates, John Gramando and Samuel Cafisco, who were also indicted along with one other man, testified for the state in the trial. The judge remarked that one of murderers who testified wept on the witness stand relating the injury of his wounded companion, but gave not the slightest indication of regret for the slaying of Mrs. Rubin, an innocent victim. Romeo was serving a term in prison when he was implicated in the death of Vera Rubin. An appeal for Romeo’s release was denied in 1969.71

Billy West said Vera West dated Jewish men, Gladys dated Italian men.

1940 Census: Lived at 124 W. 47th St., NY at the St. Francis Hotel, run by Benny Rubin. No occupation listed. She states that she had only been married once, age at first marriage was 21, and that she never had children.

Death Certificate info: Vera W. Ruben, age 42, died Sep 6 1941, Cert # 18203, Manhattan, Soundex R150

“I could not find the headstone for Charles or Ella  - it is my recollection that they are buried in the Short plot.   Vera, Gladys and Charles are buried in the same plot with the same headstone.” -Billy West, 2014

Shirley gave Lucille’s diamond watch and white gold earrings to Jacki Peake.

Living in Newark, Essex Co., NJ in 1920 Census. Says she and Eileen were born in Massechusetts.