New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-14
Wahle Declares He'll Prove Ro-
SenthaI Was Slain by ValIOn,
Weber and a Third Man,
Supposedly One "Itzky."
WOMEN OF SOCIETY LISTEN
Mrs. o. H. P. Belmont and Miss
Milholland Attend Trial-Gun-
men Lured by Rose and
Made Scapegoats,
Asserts Counsel.

The state rested and the defence
opened its case yesterday at the trial
of the four gunner for the murder of
Herman Rosenthal. In outlining the
defence, Charles G. F. Wahle declared
his witnesses would prove that the
four defendants had no hand in the
murder of Rosenthal. Three of them
were at the scene OF the crime, he said
but the defence would contend the
shooting was done by Harry Nallon,
"Bridgie" Weber and strange man,
supposedly one "Itzky," name which
had cropped out several times in re-
lation TO the Rosenthal case, although
the owner Of it still remained
mystery.
Bald jack Roses fear Of the ven
geance of big Jack" Zelig and the
members OF his East Side gang, whlch
included the four defendants, who sus-
pected Rose of having framed up the
case
cealed weapons, was the motive back
OF the killing, Mr.. Wahle said. All
the meetings and conferences among
Rose. Vallon, Weber and Schepps' on
the one side. and the four gangsters OH
the other. emanated from an effort
on Roses part TO assuage the suS-
nicion Of Zelig's men against him.
counsel declared.
The night Of the murder NhltA'
Lewis Lefty" Louie. "Dago' Frank
and "Gyp" the Blood. the four defeha-
ants. had been summoned by Rose 10
..Rridgie" Weber's poker room at f-u
street and Sixth avenue for final tl.N
in regard TO the Zelig matter, the h'-
fence said it would show. Rose toi !
them at that time that he had arrange1
for them TO meet Detectives Steinert
and White. then members OF Lleli-
tenant Becker's strong arm squad
who had arrested Zelg, and that ihey
would tell them that he, Rose, as well
as Becker, had nothing to do wlh
the arrest, and that their orders TO AT
rest Zelig had come directly from
Headquarters.
Then Rose. Weber. and the rest wen,
out and left the gunmen in Webers
place TO enjoy themselves. Ihe
strange man" soon returned and told
the four defendants that Rose wanted
70 see them at the Metropole, accord
ing TO Mr.. Wahle's outline.
No Car Waiting, He Says.
"There was no gray murder car wall
ing for them when they went down 'n
the street" their counsel said. Frank
CiroGci told the rest to go over ana
see Rose, but that he wanted TO go mp
to his fat in Seventh avenue, and ne
took the elevated line home. The other
three defendants walked through 40
street to Broadway and started arouni
into 43d street with the strange man.
They saw Rose, Vallon, Weber ana
Schepps standing on the south side of
AID street, opposite the Metropole. The
strange man told them to walt until he
went over and told Rose they wee
there.
"These three boys started to walk
down toward Rose and his friends,
when Weber, Vallon and the strange
man suddenly crossed the street and
opened fire on Rosenthal as he came
out of the Metropole. The DEFENDANTS
thinking there was another shooting
like the one they had been in in China
town a short time before, scurned to
the subway and to their homes.
"That. gentlemen OF the jury" Mr..
uahle continued, "is the story OF
the killing of Herman Rosenthal,
and we will prove it out Of the
r,o,ths of the people who were with
Herman Rosenthal when he was killed
and by disinterested witnesses and by
people who will prove that this was
scheme TO get these boys there and put
tho crime upon them. We will prove
that the motive behind the whole ahalr
was the fear of Jack Zelig.'
II was after o'clock when Mr..
WahIe began his opening address TO the
iurv and few spectators were in the
courtroom. He occupied about an
hour. The four gunmen were In
happy frame of mind when their coun-
sci concluded They were anxious to
get on the witness stand and tell their
stories, they all said. Their counsel
said afterward that they would be the
first four witnesses called by the de-
fence to-day. Whitley Lewis would
Inc called first and the others in the fol-
lowing order: "Dago' Frank, Lefty
Louie and "Gyp" the Blood. Mr.. Wahle
said.
Crowds Near Riot.
Ftior TO the opening of the defence
the courtroom had been crowded with
spectators all day. The announcement
that Bald Jack Rose would repeat