The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-07-25
WAS AFRAID OF REVENGE.
Witness Doubled on His Statements in
Rosenthal Case.

New York, July 25.-Fear of revenge
at the hands of East Side gansters
ever present in the minds of unwilling
witnesses in the Rosenthal murder inves-
tigation, yesterday temporarily blocked
the efforts of District Attorney Whit
man to draw closer the lines about the
men who assassinated the gambler eight
days ago. Apparently awed by the pres
ence of gangsters in the eoroner's court.
John Reidler, barber known as John
the Barber" retracted at the coroner 3
examination a statement which he is al
legged to have given few minutes earl
ier to Mr.. Whitman that he had seen
Bridge" Webber, now under arrest, run
ming from the murder scene. After Refs
Ter had denied his earlier statement, he
was arrested on a charge of perjury.
The coroner's hearing yesterday after
noon was in the nature of an examina-
tion of Bridge" Webber and Sam Paul,
both of whom are charged with compiled
ty in the murder of Rosenthal. The
prosecution charges that it was in Web
bers gambling house, near the scene of
the murder at 43d street and Broadway,
that the murder gang congregated to go
to the place of the killing. IL was to
connect Webber more closely with the
case that John the Barber" was placed
on the stand.
Having failed in his attempts to get
desired statements from the witness,
District Attorney Whitman secured an
adjournment of Webber's and Sam Paul's
examination for as hours in order that
more witnesses might be secured to bring
out his connection with the case. 1t is
believed that Mr.. Whitman is laying his
lines to force from Webber statement
which will implicate those "higher up" in
the case.
The prosecution of the afternoon were
sensational. Reisler was the first witness
called against Webber. having Just come
from a conference in the district attor-
ney's office. He declared he had seen
Webber in Broadway near the scene OF
the murder after Rosenthal was slain.
'Was he runnng?" asked Mr.. Whit.
man.
The witness shifted uneasily in his
chair and let his eyes drift toward where
Webber, Paul and other were sitting.
II was excited and don't remember"
said Reisler.
Didn't you tell me, in my Office in the
presence of Mr.. Moss, that you were
afraid to tell of the case? You knew the
gang you were against and were afraid
you would be killed? ?" asked Mr.. Whit.
man.
NO." replied the witness in a fright
ened manner, NO"
Mr. Whitman then placed Assistant
District Attorney Moss on the stand. Mr.
Moss said that just before the hearing
Reisler hnr. told him and Mr.. Whitman
that he came from the subway atsTines
square about two o'clock and in front
of the Cadillac saw Webber running
like hi" He then heard of the muir
der. Mr.. Moss said that Reisler did not
want to talk about the case for fear of
being injured by friends of the murder
ers.
Reisler was again placed on the stand
and declared that Mr. Moss story was
not true He said he had just come down
Broadway when he heard of the shoot
ing When pressed with questions as TO
whether he had seen Webber at all be
hesitated, made several false starts, and
then said he thought he had seen him.
Didn't you say that any man who
testified against Webber would be kill
edy' asked the district attorney.
The witness denied this and the ques-
tioning was brought to a close. As
Reisler was about to leave the enclosure
in front of the bench. he was arrested
at tho order of Mr.. Whitman on charge
of perjury and locked up.