Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-07-20
|MURDERTRACEO
CLOSER To THE
POLICE SYSTEM
Occupant Of Car From
Which Shot Was Fired at
Rosenthal, Says Officers
Were in On It.

New York, July 19.- The murder
plot that brought Herman Rosenthal
to his death that the gambler might
tell no tales, Is today being brought
closer to the police system"
William Shapiro, part owner OF the
murder car is giving the pubic
prosecutor information that strength
ems the belief that the slayer OF Rosen.
thai did not spring from the enmity OF
gamblers. Shapiro admits that when
his motor car was engaged he was told
that policemen had knowledge OF Wnat
was going to happen and that nobody
was In any danger.
BALD Jack" Rose, gambler and
friend of Police Lieutenant Becker,
and who surrendered himself 10 the
police, has given the name OF q
gambler and fighter who was IN the
car the night that Rosenthal was snot
down in front of the hotel Metropole.
His name is Schapps and detectives
are securing the city for him.
What Rose told Deputy Police Com"
missioner Dougherty makes the police
official quite anxious to know more
about "Bridgie Webber, pool room
keeper and friend Of Rosenthal. Rose
said when he left the car up town he
dropped in on Webber but later 1t ap-
pears that Webber turned up at the
Hotel Metropole just before Rosen-
thai was shot and there shook hands
with the gambler Webber also was
seen at the hotel after the shooting.
Shapiro Wont Talk to Police.
Shapiro is willing to tell more of the
circumstances that led up to the shoot
ing of Resent but he wont tell them
to the police. Shapiro, through his
counsel admits that he Is In bad
situation and hopes that he will be
dealt with leinently IL he tells all he
knows of. the murder and tina killing.
He is willing to take his chances with
the district attorney, but he wont talk
to the police.
For the first time the name OF big
Jack" Seelig, the east side gang lead
er and gambler, who recently was shot
by "Chick" Trigg's gangster, IS
brought into the case today Detectives
hear that Seeling, who is known as the
right hand man Of Sam Paul, another
east side gang leader. was seen talk
ing to Rose the night of the murder.
According to the story, Rose was try
ing to get Seelig to do something for
him and Seelig was promised as a re-
ward immunity from the charge of
carving concealed weapon, now
pending against him. Seelig's lawyer
says he is not in town and has not
been since July 10.
Five investigations.
Developments are expected today
from three hours conference District
Attorney Whitman had early today at
his home with a mysterious man said
to be we'll known gambler and friend
of Rosenthal. Mr.. Whitman said after
the meeting:
Il shall have nothing to say now con-
corning the man who called on me.
Perhaps later I'll have matters 80 ar
ranged that shall be In position to
give the details of what l have
learned
Mr.. Whitman, however, intimated
that he had discovered important evil
dence and that today he will issue
subpoenas on the strength of the mans
statements. Whitman's visitor is said
to be a we'll known gambler.
Private citizens have promised funds
for a private investigation by private
detectives to clear up the mystery in
which the police are involved. With
the advent of private detectives five
distinct Investigations will be under
way in connection with the Rosenthal
murder. The police and district at
torney are conducting inquiries along
separate lines, the grand jury is work
ing on still another line, the mayor
is having a quiet investigation In his
own way, and the private detectives
will make the fifth.