Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-04-14
Watched for Victim

Cirofici averred he was five miles
away at the time the crime was COM
mitted. and that Whitley Lewis Sci
denshner although present at the
scene of the shooting did not fire any
of the shots Cirofici made no at
tempt, however, to deny that he was
included in the original plot to slay
Rosenthal, even admitting that two
nights before the gambler was slain.
he went with other gangsters to look
for their intended victim. They were
frightened away from Rosenthal by
men whom they thought to be detec-
tives on that occasion. The condemned
man also admitted that early on the
night of the killing he was in the gray
murder car with the gunner but he
insisted that he left them before they
shot the gambler.
He did not explain precisely why he
left the other gunner just prior to
the shooting, but two reasons are adj
vanced. One is that he became fright
ened, and the other that he deserted
in order to bail out his sweetheart,
Jean Gordon, who had been arrested.
Listens to Mothers Plea
The statement which was made
verbally in the principal keepers Office
about 4 o'clock this morning, was the
result of the insistent plea on the part
of Cirofici's mother and his sister for
the truth They had been here and
made an unsuccessful appeal to the
governor to save the prisoners life.
Returning to the prison near dawn,
they were met by the warden and tax.
en- to the office, where they met Giro
fici.
Mr.. Clancy came to Albany today
and told his story to Supt John 3. Ri
ley of the state prison department and
Gov. Glynn. The warden first issued
formal statement rehearsing a part
of what Ciroffci told him and later add
ed details which includes Girofiei's adj
mission that he and other gangsters
had sought Rosenthal two nights be-
fore the Staying.
Warden's Statement
The formal statement of the warden
follows:
About o'clock Sunday nigth Ros
enberg asked me to save Frank, say
ing he had nothing to do with the
shooting, he was not. l went over
and asked Frank why he did not tell
the truth. He replied that he knew
what was going on. but was not there
when the shooting took place. I adj
vised him to tell the whole story. He
said if he did they would kill his
brother. / asked whom he meant by
they He replied that there were so
men in New York he could name. He
said don't care about myself. It's
my family l care for
Il caused Frank Cirofic to be
brought from the condemned cell house
to the principal keepers office about
o'clock Monday morning. He made
the following, among other statements
in the presence of myself, Principal
Keeper McInerney, the chaplain, his
mother and sister. They urged him to
tell the whole truth. He hesitated and
said:
at don't want to make any state
ment for the public. l do not fear for
myself, but l do fear for YOU
His sister replied: Don't have any
fear for us. We will take care of our
selves. God will protect u.s.
His mother and sister continued to
urge him to tell the truth He said: L
did not do any shooting. The men who
fired the shots were Gyp, Louie and
Vallon.'
He said: Z was five miles away
at the time. SO far as l know Becker
had nothing to do with this case. 1t
was a gamblers fight
Continued on Page 14-coIumn y
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