Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-04-16
BECKER NOT PARTY
TO GUNMEN' s DEED
"Dago Frank Facing Death,
Says Rosenthal Murder Was
Gamblers Fight.
ADMITS PARTIAL GUILT
Tells Warden Clancy "Gyp the
Blood" Lefty Louie" and
Harry Vallon Fired the
Fatal Shots.

sinner, although present at the scene of
the shooting, did not ire any of the
shots. Cirofici made no attempt, how
ever, to deny that he was included in
the original plot to STAY Rosenthal. even
admitting that two nights before the
gambler was slain he went with other
gangsters to look for their intended vic
tim. They We're frightened away from
Roscnthal by men they thought detec-
tves on that occasion. The condemned
man also admitted that early on the
night of the actual killing he was in the
grey murder car with the gunner, but
he insisted that he left them before they
shot the gambler.
FRIGHT OR DISCRETION.
He did not explain precisely why he left
the other gunner just prior to the shoot
ing, but two reasons are advanced. One
is that he became frightened and the
other that he deserted in order to bail out
his sweetheart, Jean Gordon, who had
been arrested.
The statement. which was made YER
bally in the principal keepers Office about
four O'Clock this morning, was the result
of the insistent plea on the part of Giro
tici's mother and his sister for the truth.
They had been here and made an unsuc-
cessful appeal to the Governor to save the
prisoners life, Returning to the prison
hear dawn they were met by the warden
and taken to the office. where they met
Ciroiici.
Mr.. Clancy came to Albany to-day and
told his story to Superintendent John b.
Riley Of the State prison department and
Governor Glynn The warden first issued
Il formal statement rehearsng a part of
what Cirof1ci told him and later added de-
tails which included Ciroicis admission
that he and other Gangsters had sought
Rosenthal two nights before the Staying
NOT PRESENT AT SHOOTING.
The formal statement OF the warden fol-
lows:
About eight o'clock Sunday night
Rosenberg asked me to save Frank
saying he had nothing to do with the
shooting, he was not there. | went over
and asked Frank why he did not tell
the truth He replied that he knew
what was going on, but was not there
when the shooting took place. ad-
v'sed him TO tell the whole story. He
said if he did they would kill his brother.
asked whom he meant by they He
replied that there We're 80 men in New
York he could name He said. 4 don't
care about myself-its my family
care for
II caused Frank Ciroic to be brought
from the condemned cell house to the
principal keepers office about four
O'Clock Monday morning He made the
following. among other statements, in
the presence of myself. principal Keeper
McInerney, the chaplain his mother and
sister. They urged him to tell the whole
truth, He hesitated and said
GOD WILL PROTECT US"
-" 4 don't want to make any statement
for the public. ] do not fear for my
self, but I do fear for you"
His sister replied Don't have any
fear for us. we will take care Of our
selves. God will protect us
His mother and sister continued 20
urge him to tell the truth He said I
did not do the shooting The men who
fred the shots Wee Gyp. Louie and
Vallon.'
"He said. i was Ave miles away at
had nothing to do with this case. 1t
~as a gamblers fight
He mentioned several raids on gamh-
ling houses and said that the story
Shapiro told to Commissioner Dougherty
was true. He said. 4 told some lies on
the stand to prove an alibi for the rest
of the boys The testimony about the
conversation with Rose IN the car on the
way down was not true. d was in Bird
geY Webber's when the ARRANGEMENTS
We're made. | did not know just what
the arrangements We're. | knew some
thing was coming off, I did not see
Louie pack the trunk as ] testified on
the stand. There were guns there, but
not the ones they used When asked
how he gained this information. he said
I heard the boys talking about it since
/ was here.
STATEMENT VOLUNTARY.
The conversation then related to
other matters not directly connected with
the Rosenthal murder. He admitted his
knowledge of and participation In the
for the murder but denied
his presence when the actual murder was
committed"
According to Mr.. Clancy, practically
everything that Ciroiici said after he
started to make his final statement was
voluntary. His defense Of Becker came
absolutely without suggestion from any
one, the warden maintained,
Cirohci's statement was not wholly I'M
expected 1t was rumored last Thursday
that he might talk and this caused the |
Governor to send Mr., Riley TO Sing Sing |
The prisoner gave Mr.. Riley a statement !
which contradicted the later one In some |
minor details. but 1t contained little more |
information than had been previously |
brought out, After making his statement
to Mr., Clancy, Choilci almost collapsed |
and this was the cause OF the sudden |
switch In the wardens plans which sent |
"Dago Frank to the chair first instead
pr 'Gyp the Blood"