The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-04-13
NO CONFESSION
AS FOUR GUNMEN
WENT TO DEATH

| their belief that their fate hinged upon
Becker's and that if he were not guilty,
they must be set free. The news crush
ing hopes of this nature as announced by
the warden was received with stoieal
calmness.
The crime for which the four gunmen
paid the death penalty started a wave
of police reform, from which the rippies
have not yet subsidized Throughout the
revelations made at the time and sub
sequently, stalked the vague, sinister
monster known as the "police system"
The Rosenthal Shooting.
Rosenthal was shot down early on the
morning of July 10, 1912, in front of the
hotel Metropole in the heart of the Ten
derloin. On receiving an announcement
from a man who came into the hotel, he
walked out and fell dead before fusil-
lade of bullets. The murderers leaped
into an automobile and escaped. Weeks
later, after Becker had been arrested,
the gunner were found in fiat in
Brooklyn.
Their conviction and Becker's were
based chiefly on the testimony of three
go -betweens who turned states evidence.
Three men--Jack Rose, Bridgey Webber
and Harry Vallon-declared that they
had hired the gunner to kill the gam
bier, Rosenthal, at Becker,s request.
Sam Schepps, little gambler, cor
roborated their testimony, and was not
adiudged an accomplice.
Becker was police lieutenant IN
charge of the "strong arm squad" whose
duties were to keep in subsection the
gangs of the city and TO regulate gam
bling houses and places of i'll fame.
Rose, Webber, and Vallon said that
Becker had made use of his position to
collect money from these houses. Ro-
senthal, according to these same wit
nesses, having a grievance against Beck
er, was about to give evidence against
Becker to the district attorney.
Becker was arrested July 90, 1912, but
nearly two months elapsed before the
apprehension of the gunmen. Their trial
before Justice Golf marked a record of
speed in criminal procedure.
Final Messages to Outside Friends.
Easter Sunday and the night follow
ing was almost one continuous prayer
for the condemned. They were on their
knees virtually all the time that they
were not talking with their relatives.
To the boys of the East Side in New
York, the Jewish trio of the gunmen
sent final message through Rabbi
Jacob Goldstein. Whitley" Lewis
wrote:
"There are many boys who are we'll
brought up and have good parents, who
do not look out for the company they
get into. Bad company is the cause of
their fall. They get a bad record and
then no matter whether guilty or not
they would be framed up.
Keep away from bad company is the
best message | can send"
Lefty Louie" said: add to what ]
said the other day about bad company. |
A fellow who honestly earns six dollars |
a week is better off than he who gets |
81 900 week, if he does not get it |
straight"
''We were supposed to have as many
friends as any fellow that was on the |
East Side, but when it came to show |
down, it was only the 'shooP (syna- |
goguel that stood by us outside of our
parents. If had life to live over again |
| would surely follow this advice"
"Gyp the Blood said he had nothing |
to add to what had ben said
Relatives Last Visit.
Mrs. Rosenberg, 'Iefty Louie's" blond |
young wife; Mrs. Horowitz, wife of |
'Gyp the Blood" Mr.. and Mrs. John
Cirofici and Paul Cirofiei. relatives OF /
ADago Frank" Morris and Joseph Sell
brothers of "Whitey Lewis" |
all spent the early part of Sonday after
noon in last visit to the death cham |
her The women walled aloud as they |
went out of the prison and could not |
compose themselves sufficiently to speak. |
On the way to the station they said that |
the men about to die had never main
tanned their innocence so strongly as in /
this last remonstrance. They were calm
and resigned, however, and it was the
yunmen who played the part of consol-
ers.
u must die sometime" lefty Louie"
told his wife; 'if it please God that l
die now, / am ready"
Whitley Lewis" asked his brother to
tell their mother that she was not the
mother OF a murderer. 81 have never
been more than little Wild" he said.
Near the railroad station a photo
yrapher who tried to take picture of
the weeping wives "Gyp" and Lefty
Louie" was set upon by the Seidenshner
brothers, Morris and Joe. He was knock
ed down and pursued into a small res
Laurant where he barricaded himself and
saved his camera.