The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1914-04-16
WITH PRAYERS ON
LIPS GUAMEN ARE
SENT TOETERN|TY
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.

Sing Sing, Ossinning, N. Y, April 10.
The -four gunmen convicted of the
murder OF Herman Rosenthal died in
the electric chair at Sing Sing prison
at daybreak this morning. None con-
fesSed his guilt n none mentioned the
name of Charles Becker, the former po-
lice lieutenant, found guilty of insti-
eating the murder, but saved by court
Of appeals reversal.
OF the four who died, Frank Seid-
enshner Whitley Lewis" made the only
statement. Even he did not fatty as
sert his innocence.
Gentlemen" he mumbled as they
strapped him in the chair, Il did not
shoot at Rosenthal. Those who said l
did were %perjurers. For the sake OF
justice, gentlemen, I say 1 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.
Seldenshner was the second to die.
"Dago Frank Drank Cirofici) came
first: "Gyp the Blood" Harry Horo-
witz) was third and Lefty Louie
(Louis Rosenberg last. In 40 minutes
all four were dispatched. This time
would have been shortened had 1t not
been for the overcrowding of newspa-
per reporters. IUelT nuIlDeTS heCeSSl-
tated a shifting Of witnesses for each
execution.
None Break Down.
There was no untoward incident
throughout the procedure. All walked
quietly to III chair and only their
quaking knees and the sickly green
palor of their faces attested that the
realization of death was on them. VIII
liam. Cashin, Roman Catholic chaplain
nf the nriGnn nrHnTnnlnIan "IJ4RO
Frank to the chair. With Whitley
Lewis and "Gyp the Blood" was Rabbi
Joseph Goldstein, of New York. Rabbi
Mayer Kopfstein, long the spiritual ad-
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.
Gentlemen" said Rabbi Goldstein, as
he left the death chamber, If you ask
whether the Jewish boys were guilty, l
will say I don't know. They did not
confess to me. AS for the italian, I
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 were admitted
to the bare court yard OF the death
house. Many were ashen faced and
TREMBLING, From a printed list a clerk
read off the names of those who were
to see HI first man die. A
more and the door of the death cham
Der had closed behind them. Warden
Clancy had announced that "Gyp the
Blood" would die first, followed by
Lefty Louie" "Dago Frank and
Whitley Lewis" But as 1t transpired
kha Uhn PtPct Oanon fhrn1lOh the
little iron door at the right was "Dago
Frank" He had show signs Of col
lapsing and it 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 to
the death cell. There he found Cirofici
in prayer with Father Cashin. The
condemned man clutched a cruelty in
ach hand as he was led into the pres
ence of death. He had to be supported
by two keepers.
Dies With Prayer on Lips.
In the death cell could be heard the
murmur Of the other slayers in their
supplications.
The warden and attendants stepped
back from the rubber mat.
oh, God, l meet my God" gasped
the Italian. The state electrician
turned the switch.
THE first contact was gradually re-
duced and then a second shock was
given. The physicians applied the
stethoscope.
Il pronounce this man dead" said
DR.. Farr in a low voice. 1t was SAB
o'clock. The group of witnesses left
the death chamber and the body of
"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. or the
four he died the easiest. He had in
tended making a statement, but his
mental processes failed him.
A new lot of witnesses filed in.
Through the little door presently came
Whitley Lewis" He was CARRIED in a
black suit. as "Dago Frank" a been.
The statement that ne 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 used
on Ciriici. took his life.
The switch was first closed at 5:47:3 &c
and he was pronounced dead at 5:52.
Jewish Boys Die Last.
At $3.50 "Gyp the Blood" was brought
in. He had a Jewish prayer book in
his hand and Rabbi Goldstein walk ed