The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-11-13
SHAPIRO TEST|F|ES
AGAINST THE four
GUNNEN ON TRIAL
Identifies Them as Passen-
gers of Murder Car"
Confession Result of
Zelig's Death

New York November 12.-William
shapiro. co-defendant of the four gun
men indicted as the actual slayefs of
the gambler, Herman Rosenthal, today
turned states evidence.
Testifying at the gunmen's trial for
murder, Shapiro identified the quar-
tette, Lefty Louie" "Gyp the Blood"
Whitley" Lewis and 'Dago Frank
cirohci. as his passengers In the "mur-
der car" which he drove to the Hotel
Metropole, where Rosenthal met his
lfata He raw them get put Of the
machine, he swore, heard the shots
fred. and declared that when they came
back to the machine they had revolvers
in their hands
"Gyp the Blood Shapiro said, had
placed revolver to his head and or
dered him to hurry and drive away"
He had heard "Dago Frank" say, he
testified, that Police Lieutenant Becker,
since convicted of instigatlng the mur-
der, had fixed the cops"
Result of Zelig's Death
shapiros appearance as state wit
ness was one of the results. according
to District Attorney Whitman, of the
death of big jack zelg, leader of the
gang OF East Side thugs TO whicn
the gunner belonged. Shapiro testified
on the stand today that he had here
tofore refused to Identify the gunmen
through fear of being killed.
shapiro told me, explained Mr
Whitman after court adjourned, that
gunman that Big Jack zelg would
have him cracked When zelig was
Killed Shapiro got his nerve back and
decided to tell the truth"
Mr. whitman added that the indict-
ment against Shapiro would in all prob
ability be dismissed
The witness told his story In low
morotone. looking straight ahead and
avoiding the angry glares of the four
gunmen who sat bent far forward in
their seats all the time he was testify
Ing.
shapiro told OF receiving telephone
message the night of the murder and of
driving his car to Sharkey's saloon, where
he met Jack Rose, Sam Sehepps and
Harry Vallon. They got into his car,
he said, and he drove TO 'Dago Frank s
place with them and there Frank got in.
Thence he said. he drove the party to
"Bridgie" Webber's poker rooms, where
mis- passengers got out. lie drew his
car up across the street and waited
twenty minutes
Drove to Metropole
"Then Jack Rose came down and told
me" Shapiro continued, ito drive around
to Third street. Gyp, Whitley, Lefty
and 'Dago' Frank got in and drove tol
the Metropole
The witness stopped his recital toI
identity the Gunmen as his passengers.
"While on the way to the Metropole,"
he resumed, Il heard Dago' Frank say:
'rsyerythipg is all right; no cops there;
Becker said So. | stopped my car near
tho Metropole and they all got out. they
had tevolvers and / heard four shots.
Then they jumped back into the car and
'Gvp the Blood put a gun 10 my head
and said: Hurry up, you boob, drive
away"
shapiro declared ne started up and
drove to Madison avenue and thence TO
1e5th street, where his passengers got1
out
rhe witness denied on cross examination
that sam Schepps or Harry Nallon were
In tho car when he drove away from the
scene. He admitted he had not told the
truth when he had, before Deputy Police
Commissioners Dougherty refused to iden-
tify two of the gunner as his passengers,
but declared fear had sealed his lips.
Afraid He would Be Killed
Il vase afraid ! would be killed. he
said
Then asked Mr.. Wahle, did you
identify these men today also because
YOU were afraid Of being killed In order
10 escape a trial for murder in the first
degree"
no" replied Shapiro
..Did you get any promise Of Immunity
for teftifying7' interposed Mr. Whitman
mo, sin"
.sAni the same statement ynu made to-
day you made In full the day after YOU
were arrested to your COUNSEL"
"Yes. sir. | testified today for the sake
of my mother, who begged me to tell the
truth replied the witness in a low voice.
Court was thee adjourned until tomor-
row, when Jack Rose Is scheduled 10 take
the stand as the first witness.