Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-05-20
COURT BARS STORY
TOLD BY DAGO FRANK
Ante-Mortem Confession Will Not Be
Admitted at the Becker
Trial.

NEW YORK. May 20.-The confes-
sion that "Dago Frank Cirofici made
an hour before he went to the electric
chair at Sing Sing. will not help
Charles Becker in his fight to prove
his innocence of the murder of Herman
Rosenthal, for which Cirofici and his
three companions have paid the pen
atty. The supreme court, before which
Becker is on trial for the second time.
refused today to admit the confession.
"Dago Frank" before he died swore
he had never heard the name of Becker
mentioned until Rosenthal had been
killed. The defense had planned to
place upon the stand the sister of the
dead sunman- the priest who accom-
panied him to the chair. the warden
and the principal keeper at Sing sing.
to testify to the authenticity OF TINS
confession. but Justice Seaburys rul-
ing defeated their Intentions Becker
face fell when he heard the ruling.
The court held that evidence pertain
ing to the confession was not admlSsl-
BILE because it was an incident that
occurred after the murder
Isidore Fishman who said he mad
known Webber. Jack Rose. WALTON and
Rosenthal for from ten to twenty-five
years was called for the defense yeste--
day afternoon.
Testify Weber Was Remorseful.
Weber told ME in the Tombs he was
remorseful' said Fishman. The day
after Rose appeared before the grand
jury Webber told me Rose had put all
the blame on Becker's shoulders. Fish
man said he was walking with Weber
through the City Hall Park last summer
when they met Jack Sullivan's brother
ho Ri 10 SafI Wohher told Charlie
he would make an affidavit setting forth
Becker's innocence and was sorry he had
helped "frame-up" Becker.
Morris Beecher. an attorney. testified
that Weber had told him several times
chat he was sorry he had taken part in
che alleged framing up of Becker and
that he would willingly sacrifice ten
years of his life if he could right the
wrong that had been done.
Roslyn D. Whytock ship news re-
porter, testified about an interview he
secured from Weber upon the latter's
return from Cuba. following the first trial
of Becker. In the interview Weber was
represented as saying that there never
was any intention that Rosenthal should
be killed, but that two of the gunner,
who had been instructed to scare the
gambler. had got drunk and made fools
of themselves"
Richard II. Rooney. another reporter,
who also interviewed Weber. gave sim
liar testimony and added that Weber
said: II had to get on the bandW1gon to
save my life.
Said Becker Was Innocent.
Charles Reich. known as Charlie Sui
l!van,'' brother of Jack Sullivan" said
he visited his brother in the West Side
prison and told of many conversations
there, in which Weber told him that
Becker was innocent and had >been
framed up. and that the only way he
(Webber) could save his life was by cor
roborating Roses story. Weber urged
Charlie Sullivan, the latter said to in
duce his brother to accept $4,000 to say
that he saw Becker on ed. street and
Broadway a few moments after Rosen-
thai was shot. Sullivan corroborated the
story told by Fishman about meeting
Weber in City Hall Park.
Frederick II. Hawley. formerly re-
porter for an afternoon newspaper. the
next witness, was considered to be the
star witness for the defense.
Hawley testified that on the morning
of the murder about a half hour after it
occurred he called Beckers house twice
on the telephone. 1t has been shown by
the prosecution that two calls went to
Becker that morning from a pay station
near the scene of the crime.
4 told Becker to hurry down town. as