New-York tribune., 1914-03-30
TEN JURORS COME
TO CUNMEN'S AID
Join in Appeal to Governor
for Reprieve Until After
Becker Trial.
NEW AFFIDAVITS
GO WITH PETITION
Whitman Will Oppose Clemency
if Glynn Refers Plea to
Him for Opinion.


The petition for executive clemency
for the four men awaiting execution at
Sing Sing for the murder of Herman
Rosenthal will be presented to Gov
ernor Glynn by their counsel at Albany
to-day. The petitioners ask for COM
mutation Of sentence, or a reprieve or
stay until after the second trial OF for
mer Lieutenant Charles Becker, who
was jointly indicted with them and
others for the shooting of Rosenthal.
a commutation of sentence is not
strongly urged by Charles G.. f. Wahle
and II. Lionel Kringel, the prisoners
counsel, at this time. but reprieve is
asked until after the disposition of the
Becker case, in the hope Of possible de
velopments. Ten of the twelve trial
Jurors who convicted the men--"Lefty
Louie" Rosenberg, "Gyp the Blood"
Harry Horowitz) 'Dago" Frank
Ciroflci and Whitley" Lewis Jacob
Seidenshner)-joined in a petition to
the Governor in the form of an affidavit
for the reprieve.
Besides the argument submitted by
counsel in favor of granting their petit
ton, there is separate petition by the
prisoners. sworn TO by each one and
several affdavits of new witnesses" in
1f h.
Vallon and Bridge" Webber did the
shooting.
Opposed by Whitman.
District Attorney Whitman said last
night that he would oppose the petition
for a reprieve If the Governor sought
his opinion in the matter.
I'm my opinion there is no merit in
the application" said Mr.. Whitman.
81 am unalterably opposed to II. There
is no doubt Of the guilt Of the gunner.
The decision Of the Court Of Appeals in
their case affirming their conviction,
was unanimous. As a matter Of law
and as far as the Becker case is CON
cerned there is no reason TO delay the
mandate Of the higher court. The state
could not call the gunmen as witnesses
a. the Becker trial, nor could the de-
fence
"The gunmen's case Will not be af-
fected one way or the other however
the second Becker trial may turn out.
Becker merely contends that Jack
Rose hired the gunner and not he. and
that Rose was not acting as his
agent"
The principal affidavit in regard TO
Vallon and Weber is made by William
B. C'Bat'D Masterson, vice e-president Of
the Lewis Publishing Company, which
publishes THE Morning Telegraph
Mssterson swears that 4. L. Witt,
otherwise known as Butch" Witt,
bookmaker, told him that he CWitO
was an eyewitness Of the shooting,
standing so close TO Rosenthal that one
Of the bullets nearly grazed his sleeve,
and he believed for a few seconds that
he (WitD had been shot Witt told
IL,
that Nallon and Webber did the shoot
ing.
Mr. Wahle made an affidavit telling
Of his unsuccessful efforts 10 find Witt.
He describes an interview with Witt
some time prior TO the trial in which
Witt promised to make an affidavit and
testify as d witness for the defence.
Wives Add Their Mite.
There are affidavits in The petition
papers made by the wives of Lefty
Louie" and "Gyp the Blood" that they
heard young Coup, the clerk at the
Elks Club who was brought back to
this country from London by the Dis
trict Attorney supposedly as an eye
witness against the gunmen though he
was not called 10 testify at the trial
Continued on ninth page. third column.
IN G M