The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-11-15
Accuse BRIDGE" Webber,
Harry VaIlon and Stran-
ger of Shooting
LURED TO SCENE BY
BALD JACK" ROSE
Wanted to Furnish Proof of lnno-
cence of Framing Up" Zelig.
Rosenberg Denies Receiving
Money from Rose

New York. November 14-In the pic
turesque language of the Bowery three
of the gunmen on trial as the actual
murderers of the gambler, Herman Ros-.
enthal gave on the witness stand today
the version Of the Staying which they
hope viii win them aequittal.
The three were "Gyp the Blood" de-
liberate in speech. swarthy; Whitley"
Lewis, blonde haired and dramatic in
manner, and Lefty Louie" even darker
than "Gyp," sulen and stolid. All were
nattily dressed.
In stories which fitted together per-
fectly and in some parts proved almost
literal repetition, the three gunmen ac-
cused Brridgie' Webber, Harry vallon
and a mysterious strange man" of hr-
ing the shots that killed the gambler;
themselves, they pictured as innocent by
ISLANDERS lured there by Bald Jack" Rose
''Dago Frank the fourth gunman. they
all testified. was not on the scene at all
Frank will be given a chance 20 tell
his story tomorrow.
Rose Feared Zelig
Bald jack Rose, graft collector for
Lieut.. Charles Becker. since convicted of
procuring the murder, the gunmen de-
scrihed today as a man who feared the
vengeance of the leader of the gang,
big Jack zelig. recently shot to dea.h.
Rose was anxious 10 prove to them that
he had nothing TO do with having zeig
framed up on the charge of carrying
concealed weapons, by two of Becxers
men, they declared. That was Roses
sole purpose in seeking them out, they
said. and not a word did Rose speak to
them about having Herman Rosenthal
"croaked."
1t was to furnish them proof of his
own innocence in the zelig matter that
Rose got them to visit Webber's poker
rooms on the night OF the murder, and
II was III response to a message from
Rose, delivered by the mysterious strapr
ger, that 1iiey left the poker rooms and
went to the Hotel MetropoIe, where Isos-
enthal met his fate. whether Rose lured
them there to throw suspicion upon them.
they did not know, but tho message was
that some cops would be there, who
would prove that Jack Rose had nothing
to do with framing Jack zelig
who the mysterious stranger was they
did not know.
All agreed that he was about five feet
nine inches IN height, weighed 100 or 40
pounds, had black mustache and wore
slouch hat" II was the stranger who
led them on foot. not In gray autoino-
bile. to the Metropole. they said. There.
on the street. they saw Jack Rose, Sam
schepps, "Bridgie" webber and Harry
vallon. The gray automobile. which has
been called the murder car" was there.
too. The "strange man" joined Webber
and Vallon and as Whitley" Lewis de-
scribed the shooting. call of a sudden
there was flash. The stranger shot
FIRST Then we saw more fiashes-Herry
vallon and Bridgie webher were shoot
Ing, and we beat It for the subway"
Knew No Details of Shooting
They did not even know that 1t was
Nosenthal who had been shot until thee
next day, they said All three denied
every discriminating statement made by
Jack Rose involving them in the mur
DER Lefty" Louie swore that Rose
had never paid him $1,000 TO divide with
other gunner TO enable them to get out
OF lOWfls as ikOSt Hdi ltSlilltu,
Under the leading of his attorney.
Harowitz, the first witness, told OF
being In the poker room Of Webber
With Cirohcei Senepps and stranger.
Witness asserted he left the room after
buclSlng the tiger With the unknown
person. Cirodeci said he was going
home according to the testimony of
Harowitz. lie said the other man
walked to F'orty-third street and Board
and entered the Hotel Cadillac.
II stood near the cadillac and the
stranger walked across Broad street.
witness asserted. "He ran across the
ether three men who were standing OPP
rosite the Metropole. Then all five
walked over toward the Metropole,
Webber and Harry Vallon first. Then
srddenly we heard a shot. We saw Har-
Try Vallon and Bridgie' Webber and the
stranger firing.
How many men were firing2' was
sked Of witness.
Three: the stranger and two 9th
ers"
Witness said he then ran for the
subway He said a train was Just en-
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