Long before Ol’ Blue Eyes was who he would become, 23-year-old Frank Sinatra was an up and coming singer in New Jersey and just landed his first professional gig. On a fateful night in 1938, Frank would have a run-in with the law that would follow him throughout his career and his infamous mugshot would become the art piece of choice for man caves throughout America (as well as Tony Soprano’s office).
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The Charges: Seduction and Adultery
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In 1938, Sinatra landed his first professional singing job at the Rustic Cabin in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. The other band members were quoted as saying young Frank was the main attraction for the ladies. As the story goes, Frank was frequently invited back to the parking lot by women in the audience. However, on this particular night, he was unaware that he had company. A police officer tapped on Frank’s car window, sending the married woman into a frenzy screaming rape and other things. Frank was arrested and his infamous mugshot soon became public domain.
According to the police report, “On the second and ninth days of November 1938 at the Borough of Lodi” and “under the promise of marriage” Sinatra “did then and there have sexual intercourse with the said complainant, who was then and there a single female of good repute.” The charge stated his actions were “contrary and in violation of the revised statute of 1937.”
The very next day, the woman in question dropped the charges, no doubt in fear that her husband would find out about her promiscuous ways and perhaps because she felt guilty for landing poor Frank in jail. The case was dismissed and Sinatra only spent 16 hours in jail, but the mugshot never went away.
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the art piece of choice for man caves throughout America (as well as Tony Soprano’s office).
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