The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-07-18


penings on the night of the murder.
New York, July 1S.-While the po-
lice last night continued to declare
their confidence that there would be
speedy solution of the problem of
who shot and killed Herman Rosen-
thai the gambler, early Tuesday, and
what motives were behind the MUIR
der, the net apparent result of the
days activities on their part was the
apprehension of Bridge" Weber
an influential East side sporting man
and his release on small bail after
he had been questioned.
Weber admitted that he was the
man who had heard suspicious CON
versation the day preceding the crime
between members of poker party
ON steamer excursion up Long
Island sound, during which threats
were made to get" Rosenthal if he
persisted in continuing his revela-
lions of alleged partnership between
the police and the gambling fraterni
ty. After hearing Webber's story
the police started out on what they
declared to be a new trail.
The question of whether police an
imosity over Rosenthals- revelations
or gamblers vindictiveness from the
same cause inspired the murder plot
was apparently as far as ever from
being answered last night. After
Police Commissioner Waldo had for
warded to District Attorney Whit
man written request that the latter
begin "a complete investigation" OF
charges of partnership between gamb
lers and the police, and that mem
bers of the force were guilty of in
stigating the murder of Rosenthal,
the district attorney issued a state
ment declaring that he had never
charged that the police were respon-
sible for Rosenthals death. At the
same time he reiterated his criti-
cisms OF the failure of the policemen
who were near at hand when the
crime was committed to obtain evil
dence that would have been invalu-
able in running down the perpetra-
tors of the crime.
Il wish to say that ! have never
charged that the police are respon-
sible for Herman Rosenthals death.
said Mr.. Whitman in his statement.
Il have no such proof and my own
personal opinions are unimportant to-
the public. But | desire TO say this:
Four men shot Rosenthal TO death,
firing five or six shots on him. This
was done in conspicuous public
place which was as light as it is at
MONDAY. Five or six policemen were
within less than a stones throw of
the scene of crime. The murderers
entered a motor car and escaped
with little more than a pretense of
pursuit. The officers admit that they
lost sight of the automobile before
they started in the taxicab.
These facts present a shocking
situation. Those members of the po-
lice force who were present at the
time of the crime, having failed so
signally to obtain evidence, the task
of bringing to justice the perpetra-
tors of the crime and those who insti-
grated their action is very difficult.
Rosenthals death makes the grand
jury investigation of his charges,
asked for by the police commissioner
very difficult matter. and. have
never promised or indicated that
such an investigation would develop
proof of corruption in the department
| shall, however, continue the inves-
tigation and present to the grand
jury all information obtainable."
A sensational story of the late af-
ternoon was that a woman whose
name was not revealed had gone be-
fore the grand jury and testified that
the gray automobile used by the muir
ders of Rosenthal in going to the
Hotel Metropole and fleeing from the
scene after the shooting had been
seen standing from 6 to 10 O'Clock
that night in front of the home OF
| Police Lieutenant Charles Becker
who had been accused by ROsentha
OF being in partnership with him in
the gambling business. Il was said
however. that Becker frequently useC
a car similar to the one employed by
the party OF murderers. Other stats
ments discrediting the story wer'
made
Il am in possession OF informs
ton" said Deputy Police Commits
sioner DOugherty last night, that IN
automobile used by the murderer
left the Washington square garage
where IL was kept. at IL o'clock o
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