The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-08-07
On the Great White Way.

The Metropole is situated on Forty
third street just 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
ters. Even at 2 o'clock in the morning
this section is as light as day and the
streets are still alive with automobiles
and people. There We're said to be
ing when it occurred, and several hun
dred gathered a few moments later.
Seven policemen have posts within a
block. The shooting was done by four
men, who ran to a gray automobile
standing across the street and by it
were whisked away. A plain clothes
man eating a few tables from Rosen-
thai heard the shooting, ran out and,
jumping into a 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
er, 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 certain percentage OF
the profits.
Despite the fact that he had paid for
police protection, Bosenthal complain
ed that his place had been raided 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 determln-
ed the gambler 10 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 citizen, as
already stated, reported the correct
number OF the gray car the owner
and driver were apprehended. From
them were learned the names OF those
who did the shooting, yet with one
exception, these men remained at
large for weeks. Jack Rose, who had
hired the car; "Bridgey" Webber, a
gambler in whose house the gang had
met prior to the murder, and Frank
Vallon, or Valinsky, a go-between,
voluntarily gave themselves up. "Da-
go Frank" one of those alleged to
have done the shooting. was found in
a fat stupefied 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 Lieuten-
ant Becker as the actual instigator OF
the assassination, and Becker was ar
rested while sttll in his police uni
form. Roses confession was corrObo-
rated by Webber and Vallon Thus
matters stood more than two weeks
after the shooting.
Many Of the arrests were made by
District Attorney Whitman and his