The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-07-21
Old time Organization Form-s
ed for Apprehending Rosen-
thai Murderers
LIBBY AND SHAPIRO
ARE READY TO TALK
Federal Government May Be
Drawn Into Investigation
of Assassination of
Rosenthal

NEW YORK, July 20.-An old-timO ia
vigilance committee, such an organt-
cation as made Itself a terror for evil
doors In the West in the early forttes,
has been organized in this city to hunt
down the slayer or slayers of Gambler
Herman Rosenthal, who was assasst-
mated in front of the Metropole hotel
five days ago. District Attorney Whit
man and the Burns detective agency
Will do the actual work, but the vigil
lance committee. formed of leading
members of the Citizens union, VIII
pay the expenses OF the detectives
from their own pockets, and Will al0
in every manner the running down
of the nurderers and the placing OF
the responsibility where it belongs.
The coming of citizens into the In
followed the failure OF the
police to arrest any of the leading hg-
ures, some of whom have been known
since the night Of the killing. Aroused
by this action on the part of the citi- Y
zens, Second Deputy Police Commis-
sioner Dougherty this afternoon an
nounced that the mystery Of the kill
ing OF Rosenthal will be cleared up.
and that the solution will exonerato
the police department.
1t became known today that AZ
least some Of the men involved In the
murder and probably those who did
the actual killing have fled from tho
city. District Attorney Whitman.
who spent today In conference with
Branch, will present the following
facts to the grand jury as a synopsis
OF the evidence In hand:
What Burns Will Report.
Herman Rosenthal was murdered
by a gang of East Side thugs on the
night before he was to have substan-
aated charges OF grating against Po-
lice Lieutenant Becker,
These thugs were secured Tor tnat
purpose by Jack Rose. the gambler.
who had intimate relations with Beck
err, and who had been put under pres
sure by Becker TO see that Rosenthals
mouth was closed.
Rose was a leading spirit In get
ting Rosenthal, but he had arranged
his plans so he would not be pres
ent at the actual crime.
A remarkable coincidence said 70
have been uncovered by the district
atta~7ey's investigators iy that Lieu
tenant Becker and Jack Rose were in
close proximity to each other. az we'll
as to the scene Of the murder, shortly
before 1t was committed.
Deputy Police Commissioner
Dougherty says he knows all the men
who have been mentioned so far a.
those who may have figured In tn0
Mot against RosenthaL Here are some
of those named besides the prisoners
In the Tornbs. and the now all-im=-
nortant figure of big Jack Zelig.
'.schaaps," or Sleeps" and a gamb-
Ter known as '1tsky." who got into
the car with Rose when 1t met him
in front of Sharkey's place; Whitley
Lewis, Lefty Loewy and Glib. the
Blood" whose right name IL said 20
be Horowitz Report has 1t that some
OF these have left town. All have
been affiliated in one way or anotnefs
with the Sam Paul association.
Peculiar Condition Unearthed.
A peculiar condition OF affairs IN.
the courts of this city became ap-
parent today. when 1t was learned
that more than $4,000 worth OF COM
fiscated gambling apparatus had BEEN
returned to gamblers during the past
wear All this property, consisting Or
roulette wheels, faro layouts. Tamin&
tables, chip racks and cards, had been
seized in thirty-one raids made by
the police. Immediately on the re-
! lease of the accused owners OF Ill
| this paraphernalia. they secured wits
| which enabled them to recover tneE
| property Rosenthal was among the
*
machinery in this fasnIon
1t is also recalled that, In 1905
General T. A. Bingham, then poles
commissioner, said;
There are two places within hal3
a mile of where we are now Whero
| murderers can be hired. where any
crime, from the lowest to the greate9es
can be bought for money. | know ~
and many Of you men know II, ana
know the places. no doubt. ! cant
| touch them under present conditions,
| but / say this to all New York ana
Will prove II II I have the opportunttys
| That's one reason why / want s0uno
| secret service money.
Accuses Police.
| Accusing the police Of deliberately
! allowing the men who shot gambler
| Rosenthal to death Ave nights ago t.
| escape; declaring that the unifOrM
| officers refused his testimony and ~
nored other passers-by who saw eh0
shootiny, an eyewitness OF the kiiMn9
| In front of the Hotel Metropole tclA
| his story to the International NeyKo
Service today, and will tell It on Mos
day to District Attorney WhitHtan. W
This man who had spoken OF whq4
he saw to friends has been threatena&
with the loss Of his position which H.
| responsible one. and even Win
bodily injury II he told what he kneWs
He said: IN
when the murderers fed fr01&
Rosenthals fallen body. the last mol1
Of four was not more than sixty fM4
from a uniformed policeman. yet IT,
ofYicer made no attempt TO ovestM
the slayers who fed to their auto Il w.
last man OF the murder party N
calling to the others to wait Tor Ml
and the policeman. who could
caught this man, or who could M1[4
shot all four. merely shouted feI@
taxicab instead Of attempting To
on the assassins. s1 TI IA
when / offered my story to a4M
ficer and gave my opinion ~ -
4 tions Of the police. WAS told 0l
d,S not uAAA "a coma n IT,