The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1912-08-08
On the Great White Way.


filed with people.
On the Great White Way.
The Metropole is situated on Forty
third street just a step from Broadway
and in the very heart Of the city. This
is the famous Times square section at
the upper end Of the Great White
Way. Within a block are the Hotel
Astor, the Knickerbocker and other ho-
tells, lobster palaces-and famous thea
tiers. Even at 2 o'clock in the morning
this section Is us light as day and the
streets are Sill alive with automobiles
and people. There were said to be
fifty persons within sight Of the shoot
ing When 1t occurred, and several hun
dred gathered a few moments later.
Seven policemen have posts within
block. The shooting was done by four
men, who ran to q gray automobile
standing across the street and by it
were Whisked away. A plain clothes
man eating few tables from Rosen-
thai heard the shooting, ran out and,
jumping into taXicab, tried to catch
the fleeing motor, but soon lost the
trail. None Of the police got the cor
rect number of the gray car, but one
private citizen did get it, and he was
arrested for his pains.
The events preceding and following
the arrest were equally significant.
Rosenthal had been in consultation
with Charles S. Whitman, district at
torney Of New York county, and had
given information both to him and to
the press concerning police protection
for gamblers. The day following his
murder he was to have furnished Mr..
Whitman the names Of many Of those
paying for such protection. Rosenthal
asserted that Lieutenant Charles Beck
err, head Of the "Strong arm SQUAD"
to whom had been intrusted the raid
ing of gambling establishments, had
advanced him money, had been his
partner in the gambling business and
had received a certain percentage Of
the profits.
Despite the fact that he had paid for
police protection, Rosenthal COMPLAIN
ed that his place had been raidcd by
Becker and that policeman had been
posted in his house for months, al
though the usual procedure was to
withdraw the "cop" in about twenty
four hours after raid. This determine
ed the gambler to fight or, in the Ian
guage Of the fraternity. to "squeal."
Whitman on the Job.
Following the murder of Rosenthal,
the police seemed strangely inactive
In making arrests. When q citizen, as
already stated, reported tho correct
number Of the gray car the owner
and driver were apprehended. From
them were learned the ndmes Of those
who did the shooting, yet, with one
exception, these men remained at
large for weeks. Jack Rose, who had
hired the car; "Bridgcy" Weber,
gambler In whose house the gang had
met prior to the murder, and Frank
WALTON, or Valinsly, go-bctween,
voluntarily gave themselves up. pa
go Frank" one Of those alleged to
have done the shooting, was found in
q fiat stupefed by opium. Jacob A.
Reich, who Is known as Jack Sullivan,
the liking Of the newsboys," was iden-
tilted as one Of those at the scene Of
the crime and was arrested.
Rose confessed, duplicating Licuten-
ant Becker as the actual instigator Of
the assassination, and Becker was ar
rested while still in his police uni
form. Roses confession was corrobo-
rated by Weber and Vallon Thus
matters stood more than two weeks
after the shooting.
Many Of the arrests were made by
District Attorney Whitman and his