The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-07-20
WHITMAN SHOWS
HIS DISTRUST
OF POLICE
Acts Independently in Rosenthal
Murder Case
EVIDENCE OF COLLISION
Circumstances Which Seem to lndi-
cate a Concerted Scheme to
Conceal the Crime

New 1Oih, July Eu-I IlNdlS uCbNN-
tives were brought into the Rosen-
thai murder case at New York yes
terday by District Attorney Whitman.
They were engaged by a committee
OF citizens, who shared the prosecu-
tors evident dissatisfaction with the
lack of results achieved by the
police department in tracing the Stay
ers of the gambler who was shot af-
ter making charges of police partner
ship with the gambling fraternity At
tention was called to what were de-
clared to be lamentable omissions by
the police in guarding against the es-
cape of RosenthaPs slayers Monday
night and lack of properly directed
activity since.
II is declared that the story that
Rosentha was to be killed was IN
wide circulation among the East SIDE
resorts Monday evening, but that II
any report OF it reached headquarters
no measures were taken TO protect
the gambler. 1t was also commented
on that six policemen near by ala not
fire a shot or blow whistle to stop
the murder party after the shooting,
that the number OF the murder car
was reported four different ways
all erroneous-by as many policemen,
while a citizen got it right; that IL
was left to the district attorney TO un
cover most of the important evidence
thus far available to trace the muir
derers, that men known to have Talk
ed over the prospective assassination
of Rosenthal the day before II &C
Cured, while on an outing, have eth
er not been arrested, or taken ana
let 20 on small bail, or in the case
of one. held only because the district
attorney insisted upon 1t.
The independent course OF the dis
trict attorney was indicated yester'
day, when he summoned from the
Tombs Louis Libby and William Sha-
piro. owners of the automobile used
by the murder party, and heard them
make what may be important dlsclos-
ures. Neither Mr.. Whitman nor AS
semblyman Aaron Levy, counsel Tor
the two men, would discuss what Lib
by and Shapiro had revealed. Mr.
Levy said he and Mr.. Whitman had
agreed to give out no further infor-
nation. Not long before, however
the lawyer had had two-hour con
ference with his clients and made a
brief statement regarding it,
"Tey have told me things that /
did not know before" he said. III
Mr.. Whitman desires to hear my eli
ents, he will learn Of disclosures
which will make the public gasp
when they are published
DO the disclosures lead up TO the
police department." was asked.
THAT is very dangerous point,
said the attorney, land | cannot dis
cuss it,"
At the questioning of the prisoners
by the district attorney, which soon
followed, no members OF the police
department we're present With the
party, however, were two of the pri-
vate detectives who had been called
into the case. This independent ac-
ton of the prosecutor was taken de
spite statement by Deputy Police
Commissioner Dougherty, who said
yesterday afternoon he wanted 1t I'M
derstood that he was working in CO
operation with Mr.. Whitman. There
was absolutely no friction between
the police department and the dis
trict attorneys office, Mr.. Dougherty
declared.
The private detectives hurried
away after the conference, and Mr..
Whitman declared he was going out
of town on an important mission.
The case is progressing very salts
factorily," was all he would say. |
From the police side of the invesu- |
CATION there were few important de-
velopments on the surface yesterday. |
Nothing had been seen of Big Jack |
Zelig. the notorious gun man, whom
the police were said to be anxious to
question.
They had heard that Jack Rose,
the gambler. and the man who hired
the murder car" had asked IA
vor OF him on the night OF the crime.
Zelig is known as the right hand man
of Sam Paul. an East-side gang lead
er. The reward declared to have
been offered him was freedom from
the charge of carrying a concealed
weapon. which is now pending
against him. Sam Paul, however
was at police headquarters during
the afternoon. When he went away
he declined to make any statement
In quarters usually well informed
regarding underworld affairs II was
said yesterday that the price paid for
the killing OF Rosenthal had been
learned by the police. The figure
named was $1,000 The identity OF
at least two Of the FIVE men who
were in the murder party is known
in these quarters. IL was added, and
they are said to have been seen on
East side streets several times since
Onday night.
Police Lieut. Charles Becker, the
man accused by ROsenthal in his
first revelations Of the alleged part
nedship between gamblers and police.
had the greater part Of the "strong
| arm squad which he has Commanded
taken away from him yesterday, Com
| missioner Waldo gave the order
/ which transferred eight OF these de
Electives 70 another Lieutenant -Four
L detectives were left in Becker's Of
Zee to clean up some pending clerical
/ work. id vas said.