The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-18
LITTLE PROGRESS IN
 NEW YORK MYSTERY
Police Confident of Solution
 of Gamblers Death
SUSPECT IS RELEASED
Whitman Denies He Charged That Police Were Responsible for the Shooting-Sensational
 Story Denied

A'tOAy
 New York, July 17-While the police tonight continued to declare their con. hdence that there would be a speedy solution of the problem of who shot and killed Herman Rosenthal the gam bier, early yesterday, and what were the motives behind the murder, the net apparent result of the days activities on their part was the apprehension of "Bfidgiee Webber. an influential East Side sporting man, and his release on small bail after he had been questioned
 Webber admitted he @as the man who heard suspicious conversation the day preceding the crime between members of a poker party on steamer excursion up Long Island sound dur ing which threats were made to get Rosenthal if he persisted in continuing his revelations of alleged partnership between the police and the gambling fraternity. After hearing Webber's story the police started out on what they declared to be new trail.
 Far From Solution
 The question of whether police ami mostly over Rosenthals revelations or gamblers vindietiveness from the same cause inspired the mrder plot appar- ently was as far as ever from being answered tonight After Police Com missioner Waldo had forwarded to Dis trtct Attorney Whitman d written re quest that the latter begin "a complete investigation" of charges of partner ship between gamblers and tne police. and that members of the force were guilty of instigatlng the murder Of Rosenthal, the district attorney issued d statement declaring that he had never charged that the police were responsi- ble for Rosenthars death. At the same time he reiterated his criticisms of the failure of policemen near at hand when the crime. was committed to obtain evil dence that would have been invaluable in running down the perpetrators of the crime.
 T wish to say that I have never charged that the police are responsible for Hermann Rosenthafs death,' said Mir Whitman in his statement. But l desire to say this: Four men shot Rosentha to death, firing five or six shots at him This was done in a conspicuous public place which was as light as 1t is at noon day, Five or six policemen were within less than stones throw of the scene of the crime. The murderers entered d motor car and escaped with little more than d pretense of pursuit. The officers admit that they lost sight of the automo- bile before they started in the taxieab.
 Shocking Situation
 These facts present a shocking situa- ton. Those members of the police force who were present at the time of the crime having failed so signally to obtain evil dence that the task of bringing 10 justice the perpetrators of the crime and those n. tf ficult one"
 A sensational story of the late after noon was that a woman whose name Was not revealed had gone before the grand jury and testified that the gray automo- bile used by the murderers of Rosen- thal in going to the Hotel Metropoe and fleeing from the scene after the shooting had been seen standing from to 10 o clock that night in front of the home Of Poice Lieutenant Charles Becker who had been accused by Rosenthal of being in partnership with him in the gambling bus mess. It was said, however, that Becker frequently used a car similar to the one employed by the party of murderers. other statements discrediting the story were made.
 Grand Jury Works
 The investigation of the murder was taken up today by the grand jury. Among the witnesses called were Albert K. Les insky and Robert Hubbard, attorneys for Police Lieutenant Becker, whom ROsen- thai had charged with peing his partner in the maintenance of his gambling house The lawyers were questioned, 1t was re- ported. about the matter of the $l50l loan which the dead gambler is said to have asserted was made to him by Becker and for which. according 10 Rosenthal Becker had received d mortgage on the gambling house property.
 Hubbard said after leaving the jury room that the loan was made by one Jack Rose" and that John J, Donohue acted as dummy for Rose in the transac- ton Hubbard, who said he was alsc counsel for Rose, declared that he dio not hear the name of Lieutenant Becsel rentioned in the transaction until Rosen- thai published his charges
 Another Story
 AssemblYman A. J. Levy. counsel fol Louis Libby and William Shapiro, the owners of the automobile used in the shooting. told tonight q startling story he said the prisoners had related to him regarding the part they played in the affair. They declared. according to ev~ that Jack" Rose, a former partner of Rosenthal. who afterwards quarreed with him, was the man who hired the Libby car tue HlSlt bi tue SilNpilUi.
 "Shapiro told me" said Mr. Eevy. that he had the gray car at the Cafe BOule- yard stand when shortly before midnight Monday Jack" Rose called up "Whitie, " the starter. and left orders 10 send tle Libby car to Third avenue and Fourteenth street Shapiro said he went 10 that point and picked up Rose and one or two other men who were with him and before they had gone far three or four more men got Into the car. Shapiro knew Rose and recognized another of his passengers as man who is known as "Itzky'' and that was all of them he knew.
 When Shapiro rebelled after they had told him what they intended to do one of the men in the car hit him over the head with the butt of revolver and told him to beat 1t uptown to Forty-third street. He doesn't know whether Rose was in the car or not when they reached there.
 He stayed in the car while the shoot ing was done, he says and then he wa forced to take his fares under full spec to Fifty-eighth street and Third ave nue, where they left the car.
 Shapiro went then 10 Libby's house
 .aise ur Libbv and made him come with him to the garage with the car. Libby says that shapiro appeared badly fright ened at the time and told him all about the shooung.'
 mingham is Highland avenne. a beau .t.at..