Las Vegas optic., 1912-07-16
WAS IT IN RETALIATION
THE DEAD GAMBLER, a FEW DAYS
AGO, ACCUSED OFFICERS OF
GRATING
SHOT FROM AN AUTOMOBILE
WITNESSES SAY MEN IN CAR
WERE POLICEMEN; .tNvEsTI-
CATION BEGINS

New York, July 49, Herman Rosen-
thai, proprietor Of a gambling house
here. whose sensational charges that
the police were guilty Of grating and
OPPRESSION were to be investigated to-
day by the grand jury, was shot and
killed in front of the Hotel Metropole
this morning by four men who escap-
ed in large gray touring car. Rosen-
thai was murdered only few hours
before he was to appear in the home
Of District Attorney Whitman and
give further statements in an effort
to substantiate the police grating
charges.
Within three hours after the murder
detectives visited garage on Wash
ington Square, known to the police
as the headquarters of the taxicab
robbers who recently robbed bank
messengers of $25,OOO and captured a
man describing himself as Louis Lib
by, whom they made prisoner on
the charge of homicide. The police
also recovered an automobile cap that
they say was one that figured in the
murder. Deputy Commfssioher Daugh-
erty asserted that eye witnesses to
the murder Of Rosenthal identified
Libby as one of the quintette who
drove in front of the hotel, and, call
ing the gambler from the dining room
to the sidewalk, shot him down with
fusfllade of bullets, and then fled
in the motor car.
Rosenthal was shot five times in
the head. Mrs. Sadie Rosenthal, widow
Of the gambler, in statement to Dis
trict Attorney Whitman, put the as
sassination of her husband squarely
up to the police. She warned her
husband that if he kept his appoint
ment he would come to violent end.
She said she had premonition a
tragedy would follow such confer
ence and she named police officer
as one of the men who was present.
At least two witnesses agreed that
one OF more Of the men in the auto
mobile were policemen. Rosenthal
sprang suddenly into public notice
only last Friday when he hurled a
bomb into police circles by filing affi-
davits charging that the police we're
in league with the gamblers and that
every gambling house was being as
sessed a fixed sum for police protec-
tion.
Rosenthal had been for some time,
he explained. the proprietor Of a
gambling establishment in West For
ty-ffth street which was closed April
Is, after a raid by Police Lieutenant
Becker, head of the so-called strong
arm squad. This raid, Rosenthal de-
cuared, followed a misunderstanding
between himself and Becker. The
latter, Rosenthal alleged, was his
partner in the profits of the establish
ment. Police Commissioners Waldo
and District Attorney Whitman, both
whom were out Of town. cut short
their vacations to start the inquiry
going The murder Of Rosenthal be
fore daybreak today brought the situa-
tion to sensational climax.
The gambler left his home late last
night, telling his wife that he had
an appointment to meet Police Leute-
nant Becker at the Hotel Metropole
Shortly before o'clock slate-color-
ored automobile drew up in front of
the hostelry. One of its six passen-
gers got out and walked into the ho-
tel, beckoning to Rosenthal Rosen-
thai, without hesitation, walked out.
He had reached point not more than
dozen feet from the door when a
volley rang out from the slate-colored
car Four of them found their target
and Rosenthal fell dead instantly with