Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1914-04-16
WITH PRAYERS ON
LIPS GUNMEN ARE
SENT {
Four New York Ganqsters PAY
With Their Lives for Muir
der of Herman Rosen-
thai, the Gambler.
GUILT ADMITTED BY NONE
Criminals Bear Up Bravely to
Last Moment = Spiritual
Advisers With Them
in Death Chamber.
GUILT ADMITTED BY MONE

Sing Sing. O%ssinning, N. Y, April 13.
The four gunner convicted OF the
murder of Herman Rosenthal died in
the electric chair at Sing Sing prison
at daybreak this morning. None on
fessed his guilt and none mentioned the
name of Charles Becker. the former po-
lice lieutenant, found guilty of insti-
eating the murder. out saved by court
of appeals reversal.
OF the four who died. Frank Seid-
enshner Whitley Lewis" made h only
statement. Even he did not flatly as
sert his innocence.
"Gentlemen," he mumbled as they
strapped him in the chair. L did not
shoot at Rosenthal. Those who said l
did We're perjurers. For the sake of
justice. gentlemen, l say / didn't. The
witness Stannish-"
Whitley did not finish the sentence.
The strange harness had been adjusted
and the current shot his body forward
in the chair.
Seidenshner was the second to die.
"Dago Frank Drank CiroficD came
first: "Gyp the Blood (Harry Horo-
witz) was third and Lefty Louie
CLouis Rosenberg last. In 40 minutes
all four We're dispatched. This time
would a been shortened had it not
been for the o~vercrowding of newspa-
per reporters. Their numbers necessi-
tated a shifting of witnesses for each
execution.
None Break Down.
There was no untoward incident
throughout the procedure. All walked
quietly to abe chair Inc only their
quaking knees and the sickly green
palor of their faces attested that the
realization of death was on them. Will
liam Cashin, Roman Catholic chaplain
of the prison, accompanied "Dago
Frank to the chair. With Whitley
Lewis and "Gyp the Blood" was Rabbi
Joseph Goldstein. of New York. Rabbi
Mayer Kopfstein, long the spiritual adj
wiser OF the Rosenberg family, stood by
Lefty Louie"
Priest and rabbi alike averted their
drawn faces from the chair of death
struggling to control themselves as they
intoned a prayer for the dying:
"G~entlemen," said Rabbi Goldstein, as
he left the death chamber. IF o ask
whether the Jewish boys We're guilty,
will say l don't know. They did not
confess to me. AS for the Italian, ]
don't believe he was at the scene of the
crime. I don't think any of them
should have been convicted on the
testimony offered"
Italian Goes First.
Dawn was just creeping over the
hills when the witnesses We're admitted
to the bare court yard of the death
house. Many We're ashen faced and
trembling. From u printed list a clerk
read off the names of those who We're
to see the first man die. A moment
more and the door of the death cham
Der had closed behind them. Warden
Blood would die first, followed by
Lofty Louie" ''Dago Frank and
Whitley Lewis But as it t%ranspired
the man who first came through the
little iron door at h right was "Dagc
Frank He had shown signs of col
lapsing and 1t was deemed eXpedient
to shield him from the ordeal of wait
Ing.
State electrician Davis tested the
electric current.
1.-TWO of these men have told me that
they will make a statement an
nounced Warden Calancy, but under
no circumstances must anyone ask
them any questions"
The head and leg sponges were then
wet and Head Keeper McInerny acting
on a signal from the warden went tic
the death cell. There he found Cirofici
in prayer with Father Cashin. Tho
condemned man clutched a crucifix in
each hand as he was led into the pres
ence of death. He had to pc supported
by two keepers.
Dies With Prayer on Lips.
In the death cell could be heard tho
murmur of the other slayers in theil
su~pplications.
The warden and attendants stepped
back from the rubber mat.
Oh, God. l meet my God gaspe6
the Italian. The state electrician
turned the switch.
The first contact was gradually re-
duccd and then a second shock was
given. The physicians applied The
Stethoscope.
I pronounce this man dead" sail
O'Clock. The group of witnesses lief
the death chamber and the body O.
"Dago Frank was taken to the au
topsy room.
The doctors said Cirofci had made
little resistance to the electric current
which registered 1920 volts and be.
tween nine and 10 amperes. IF TIL,
four he died the easiest. He had u.
tended making a statement, but his
mental processes failed him.
A new lot of witnesses filed i IN
Through the little door presently came
Whitley Lewis" He was CARRIED in {
The statement that he never finished
was on his lips as he entered. The at.
~tendants, fearing a shocking spectacle
of hysteria, sought to soothe him. a
current of 1920 volts, with a slightly
higher amperage than had been use(
on Cirifici. took his life.
The switch was first closed at 5:47:3t
and he was pronounced dead at 5:52.
Jewish Boys Die Last.
AT 1856 "Gyp the Blood was brought
in. He had a Jewish prayer book in
his hand and Rabbi Goldstein walked
-. pZt