The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-04-13

brew. The theory that the strongest
shall die last Lefty bore out by hie
uncanny resistance to the current. The
nrst contact was given at sos. At S:l1
he was pronounced dead.
The only relatives Of the gunner
who were in the prison at the time OF
the execution were Dago Frank'a
mother. sister and brothers. and Whit
ey Lewis brotherA Mrs. Cirofict waa
hour after the electrocution. the bod
les Of the gunner will be claimed by
relatives. Mrs Cirofici remained with
her son AZ 1ato ~ q. m. This Is an
unusual procedure. She had thougnt
until the last moment that on her
sons plea for mercy the governor
would grant q reprieve. She believed
In her boys Innocence to the end. She
pleaded with Frank in Italian to con-
Tess, but he said he had told all ne
knew and that he had not been pres
emit when Herman Rosenthal was
killed.
History Of the Case.
The last avenue of hope for the four
gunner was closed six days before
their execution, when Governor Glynn
refused to grant stay, penoine the
second trial Of Lieutenant Charles
er courts Of having plotted the murder
of Herman Rosenthal to prevent him
from maxine graft revelations to Dis
trict Attorney Whitman. The Court OF
Appeals, in reversing the decision 1or
Becker. declared itself unconvinceo
that he had directed the MURDER, Dur
upheld the judgment OF the lower
court that the four gunner had been
the instruments. Motions for a new
trial. on the ground Of new evidence
made by their attorney. were denied.
and they were sentenced to die during
the week beginning April ID.
Four days before their execution a
delegation of New York rabbis visited
Governor Glynn and pleaded in vain
with him to postpone the execution
until after the second trial OF Becker.
The governor remained fixed IN the
opinion that he had already expressed
that Becker's guilt or innocence
could in no way affect the guilt OF the
gunner who had been judged guilty
by two courts.
Their Real Names.
The real names Of the men who have
been known as 'Gyp the Blood
Lefty Louie" "Daso Frank" and
WITT, Louis Rosenberg. Frank Giro
fici and Frank Seidenshiner. The
youngest, Lefty Louie, was q, the old
est, Dago Frank. q. AL were Jews but
Dago Frank. As the nickname i'm
plies. he was an Italian. Gyp the
Their young widows survive them.
Not only during the trial but in
given out at Sing Sing.
three Of the gunner persisted In the
that Dago Frank had not
been present at the time Of the muir
der, and was not in any way concerned
in the plot to murder ROsenthaL Dur
ing their stay in the death house all
four maintained an attitude Of martyr
like innocence, tempered with an opti-
mism growing out of their belief that
their fate hinged upon Becker's and
that II he We're not guilty. they must
be set free. The news, crushing hopes
warden, was received with stoical
calmness.
The crime for which the four gunner
paid the death penalty started a wave of
have not yet subsidized. Throughout the
made at the time and subse-
quently stalked the vague. sinisters mon
ster, known as the police system"
The Crime.
Rosenthal was shot down early on the
morning OF July 16 1912. in front of tho
Hotel Metropole in the heart Of the Ten
derloin.s On receiving an announcement
walked out and fell dead before fusiliade
of bullets. The murderer leaped into an
automobile and escaped. Weeks later.
after Becker had been arrested the gun
men were 1OOnQ III u IlAI IN brooklyn.
Their conviction and Becker's were
based chiefly on the testimony Of three
who turned states evidence.
These men-Jack Rose. Bridgey Weber
and Harry vallon-declared that they had
hired the gunner to kill the gambler,
Rosentha1. at Becker's request.
Sam Schepps little gambler. corrob-
GRATED their testimony. and was not ad-
judged an accomplish.
Becker was police lieutenant in charge
Of the strong arm squad whose duties
were - keep in subsection the gangs Of
the city and to regulate gambling houses
and places of illfame. Rose, Weber and
WALTON said that Becker had made use Of
his position to collect money from these
houses. Rosentha1, according to these
same witnesses. having a grievance
against Becker. was about to give evidence
against Becker to the district attorney.
Becker was arrested July g. 1912, but
nearly two months elapsed before the ap
prehension of the gunner. Their trial
before Justice Goff marked a record of