The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-14
WHITMAN WELCOMES
FRANKS CONFESSION
1t COrrObOrates Testimony Of
WALTON, Rose and Schepps.
He Says.
vALLON NOT IMPLICATED
CirOfici's Statement. in Law.
Is Considered Only
Hearsay.

District Attorney whitman and his sub
ordinates in charge of the prosecution OF
Becker and the gunner expressed graft
fication upon learning yesterday that Dago
Frank Cirofici had confessed before going
to the electric chair.
"Ciroficis confession does not affect
my own belief In the guilt of the four
GUNNER" said Mr.. whitman, whose conf
ment upon the confession was brief
Needless to say. ] was satisfied Of their
guilt. But Ciroficrs confession Is of
value In that II will satisfactorily set
at rest any doubts which may have been
entertained here and there among the
general public.
i'Of great Importance 10 the fact tina,
Cirohcis story comedies exactly with the
testimony OF Vallor. Rose. Schepps and
other important Witnesses. 1t was the
States contention Throughout. the trials o;
Becker and OF the gunner that the four
men whose sentences were executed this
morning were hired murdere.s. no NOR
and no less who did not get the command
to kill personally from Becker. but TIM,
they had been hired to Kill Rosenthai by
those whom Becker had told to employ
murderers to do the shooting
Mr.. Whitman said that the confession
will have no direct bearing in tho pro-
cedure at the coming trial OF Becker
Considered from the point of testimony
DaKO Franks confession nj best IL hear
say no far as II relates to the actual
shooting.
Mr. Whitman said ne believes Frans
was truthful In saying that Whitley Levi
did not fire "A shot The belief OF the
District Attorney. However. that Franz
himself not only was present but also
discharged his revolver was mistaken b,
the confession.
The opinion held at the Distrc; At.
iorney's office Is that Dago FRANK still
persisted in saying he was not present
oven when I, came To a final confession
solely to soften his own participGtion In
the actual killing in the mind OF his old
mother.
remark by a prominent lawyer who
I'd dropped in to see the District At
'orney on other matters later caused Mr.
Whitman to comment upon how quickly
even those who followed the testimony
~ the trials forget important details OF
testimony. The lawyer. who Is not con
necte,i in any way with the Rosentha
| case. suggested that Daso Franks state
ment yesterday that WALTON had beei
present might affect the states case"
Mr.. Whitman pointed out that Valior
! had admitted consistently that he wa
present In regard TO Dago Frank!
statement that the gunner did not know
| Of Becker before the shooting ii was sait
| Mt the District Attorneys office yssterds,
| that outside Of general statements thai
| "the police" would look after th"' gunner
the state never mad cortenied tina
Becker's name had been used directly &c
the gunner when they were hired 10 d.
the shooting.
The prosecution also pointed out after
learning ~ bapo Franks confession tina
a. his story NJ the actual killing wa II
The nature Of aearsay the confession can
not N law implicate WALTON in the shoot
iAg~ NJ. Whitman said that the state II
always prepared To- prove that WALTON wa
/ not IL the gray murder car