Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-04-14
In sing sing
DEATH HOUSE
AS FOUR MEN
GO TO CHAIR

Sing Sing Prison, Ossining, N. T.,
April 13.-The four gunner convict
ed of the murder of Herman Rosen-
thai, died in the electric chair at Sing
Sing prison at the break of day this
Easter Monday morning. None con-
fessed his guilt and none mentioned
the name of Charles Becker, the former
police lieutenant, found guilty of in
stigating the murder, but saved by
court of appeals reversal.
Only Statement
OF the four who died, Frank Sic
denshner c'Whitey Lewis"), made the
only statement Even he did not flat
ly assert his innocence.
Gentlemen" he mumbled as they
strapped him in the chair II did not
shoot at Rosenthal. Them who said /
did was perjurers. For the sake of
justice, gentlemen, l say / didn't. The
witness Stannish -"
Whitley" did not finish the sentence.
The strange harness had been adjust
ed and the current shot his body for
ward in the chair. He had meant to
say that Stannish, waiter, and wit
but death interviewed.
"Dago Frank' First
Seidenshner was the second man to
die "Dago Frank" Drank Ciroflci)
came first, "Gyp the Blood" Harry
Horowitz) was third and Lefty
Louie louis Rosenberg last. In 40
minutes fiat all four were despatched.
This time would have been shortened
had it not been for the er-crowding
of newspaper reporters. Their num-
bers necessitated a shifting of wit
ness for each execution. There was
no untoward incident throughout the
procedure. All walked quietly to their
doom and only their quaking knees and
the sickly green pallor of their faces
attested that the realization of death
was upon them.
William e. Cashin, Roman Catholic
chaplain of the prison, accompanied
"Dago Frank" to the chair. With
Whitley Lewis" and "Gyp the Blood"
was Rabbi Joseph Goldstein of New
York. Rabbi Mayer Kopfstein, long
the spiritual adviser of the Rosenberg
family, stood by. Priest and Rabbi
alike averted their faces from the chair
of death, meantime, struggling to con-
troll their choking utterances as they
intoned a prayer for the dying.
Did Not Confess
Gentlemen" said Rabbi Goldstein,
as he left the death chamber, IF you
ask me whether the Jewish boys were
guilty, will say do not know. They
did not confess to me. AS for the Ital-
ian, ] do not believe he was at the
scene Of the crime. / do not think any
of them should have been convicted
on the testimony offeredS
An anaemic moon still hung in the
sky when those who were to witness
the execution gathered in front of the
prison. The air was chill and q raw
wind swept across the Hudson, which
bounds the prison at the west. Faint
lights glimmered at corridor ends of
| the building but no sound came from
within. The hideous noises which con-
victs have been said to omit when
one or more of their number is to die,
were spared those who waited.
Witnesses of Executions
Dawn was just creeping over the
hills when the witnesses were admit
ted to the bare courtyard of the death
house Many were ashen-faced and
trembling. From a printed list clerk
read off the names of those who were
! to see the first man die. A moment
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 it TRANSFERRED
/ the man who first came through the
| little iron door at the right was "Dago
Fra NIX" He had shown signs of col
lapsing and it was deemed expedient
to shield him from the ordeal of wait
/ ing.
state Electrician Davis carefully