The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-09
CLERGY PLEAD WITH CLYNN.
Governor, Though Deeply Moved,
Will Not save the Gunmen,

ALBANY, April S.--Gov. Glynn tonight,
after listening to the appeals OF several
prominent clergymen for the four gun
men who must die in the chair at Sing
Sing Monday. refused to change his de-
cision. When the clergymen had ended
their pleas the Governor said.
Il am sorry. but l can't go back OF my
decision, which was based upon the opin-
ions OF the Judges of the Court of APP
peals and the record i'll the case.
have done my duty as l see II before
God. Nothing In my life ever rackeo
me AS the case Of these four boys For
tive night and five days l have pored
over the record of this case, and
would have given UP all that l own II
could have conscientiously spoken the
word that would have saved them from
the chair
Gov. Giynn was visibly moved when
Rabbi Jacob Goldstein. the Jewish chap
lain at Sing Sing. pleaded for the lives
OF the four gunner. MIR. Goldstein said
In part:
Governor. before God declare IL Is
my belief that these boys are innocent.
Must i, knowing that they are innocent,
lead each of them in turn from the cell
to the death chair. leaving the dcaa
body Of one to bring the live body Of
another? Must l give Gods sanction u
deed | know is unJustited and which
the second Becker trial will certainly
prove to have been unjustihed?'
Gov. Glynn tried to say something
but his voice failed him. and MIR. Gold
stein. who has been the spiritual ad-
wiser OF the gunner, continued:
Pleads for Ciroaci.
governor, l appeal to you TO save
Frank Cirohci, the only Christian of the
four, from the chair. l know morally
that the three other boys did not do
the actual shooting. but of the absolute
innocence OF Cirofci am positive.
standing before me and calling God
to witness the truth Of what they said
the three other boys declared that Giro
tici was not at the Metropoe Hotel when
Rosenthal was killed. that he had no
part in the plan to spirit away Rosen-
thai, that he was elsewhere when the
crime was done. Governor, can't you
save him from going to his death?''
"All ] have TO act on" replied the
Governor, lis the record Of the courts
and the opinions OF the Judges. which
hold the four guilty alike of the murder
Of Rosenthal."
The clergymen who appealed TO the
Governor were the Rev. Or. H. PereIra
Mendes. president OF the Union OF He
brew Orthodox Congregations OF Amer
lea: the Rev DIR. Moses Hyamson. the
Rev. Or. Bernard BRAKEMAN and the
Rev. Or, Jacob Goldstein, chaplain Of
Sing Sing. Albert Lucas, secretary OF
the Union OF Hebrew Orthodox Congre-
cations. and H. Lionel Kringle Of counsel
for the gunner were present
Tho Rev. DR.. Mendes appealed to the
Governor to grant respite pending the
Becker trial.
Governor. these boys are in the
shadow OF the grave, You alone can
save them II they can give valuable
evidence at the trial OF Becker why
shock the public conscience by taking
their lives before they have had the
benefit OF the new evidence that will
naturally develop at his second trial.
Nothing that you can do can bring them
back II they are found to have been In
nocent and for this reason. Governor. why
not delay their execution for a month or
two months?"
No New Evidence in 10 Months.
Gov. Glynn here pointed out that
sixteen months had elapsed since the date
OF their conviction and that In that time
nothing had been done to unearth new
evidence upon which he could base any
action tending 10 go behind the decisions
and opinions OF the courts.
The Rev. DIR. Drachman told the
Governor that the day set for the execu-
ton was the commencement Of the Jewish
feast OF the Passover, n period of rejoice
ing. He pleaded for the postponement OF
the execution until after this festival.
Gov Glynn declared that II there was
any reason for his changing his mind he
would not be ashamed to do It.
But as I studied the record" he con-
tinued. II learned that four men identified
these men and swore they were at the
scene with weapons In their hands. What
can do with such evidence before me?"
The clergymen. each In turn, attempted
10 prove to the Governor that the identi-
6cation of the boys was improper, and
that only yesterday Il was learned that
there were two witnesses who were on the
verge of confessing as to who com
:nitted the actual murder II this Is SO.
the Governor made It plain, there was
another course by which the boys could
be saved--apnlIcattOn for a now trial.