New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-22
ALDERMEN BLOCK
R0FRANOREWARD.
Mayor, Using His Special
Power. Offers S500-WiIl
Renew Fight for $4,000.
INSULT TO POLICE"
OPPONENTS EXCUSE
Fugitive Innocent. Says Carni-
vale, Accusing Fennimore-
Perkins Exonerates Detectives.

with Rocco Carniyalc in the Tombs
protesting the innocence Of Michael a.
Rofrano. three aldermen blocking the
reoues, Of the Mayor for a $4,000 re-
ward and the Police Department up in
the air because of its inability 10 find
the fugitive Italian politician an at
mosphere Of gloom was apparent yes
terday among officials working on the
case.
When Mayor Mitchell heard that
three members Of the Board Of Alder
men had refused 10 vote for his special
measure he Immediately offered a re-
ward Of $500 on his own initiative.
This was done under Section 1870 OF the
Code OF Ordinances, which empowers
him 70 issue a reward not exceeding
this amount. A unanimous vote is nee
essary for an amount exceeding this,
and when Aldermen Quinn. Schmelzel
and jacobson, uptown Republicans,
voted against il the matter was put over
until the next meeting Tuesday
when a special message requesting the
$4,000 reward will be again acted upon:
II object 10 offering q reward sald
Alderman Quinn, explaining his mega,
tive vote, because ! believe 1t would
be an insult TO the Police Department.
If the police cannot get this man we
had better turn the Job over 20 the bu-
reau of standards. Maybe they can get
him"
"Rofrano Innocent"
For the first time since Rocco Car
nivale was brought back from Dame
mora last Saturday with the under
standing that he wanted to talk to DIS
trict Attorney Perkins about the con-
fesson of Frank Fennimore, in which
Michael A. Rofrano was directly impiI-
Gated in the murder and lawlessness IN
the I'd Assembly District, an oppor-
tunity was given him last night TO
talk TO reporters. He Immediately
launched into a prOtestation or the IN
nocence OF Rofrano and himself, and
said that no amount Of persuasion from
the District Attorneys Office, his
mother or his sweetheart, Pauline Sam
uels. could induce him TO tell anything
which would implicate Rofrano.
"As God is my judge" he said. "Ro-
franc is an innocent man. and | viii
die in prison before will say anything
about him Neither he nor | had any
thing TO do with this murder (the
shooting Of Michael Gaimari. for which
Carnivale was convicted of murder in
the second degree and for which
Gaetani Montimagno is in the death
house at Sing Sing, but will take my
medicine and save the others"
lie refused to name the Others but
when Frank Fennimore was mentioned
he burst out:
"Ah-now you said something. That's
the man He is the one that did this.
Police Search Liner.
He was asked if il was not fact
that Monday he told George Brothers
and Deacon Murphy of the District At
torney's staff that he lied on the wit
ness stand when he denied knowing
Montimagno and admitted that much
of what the La SALES testified TO was
true. lie shrugged his stocky shoulders,
lifted both arms partly above his head.
and with n smile Frightening up his
usually sallow face said:
81 didn't tell the District Attorney
anything"
The only apparent crew as 10 the
present whereabouts of Rofrano yes
terday. and to which the police heads
hopefully chung, came from the steam
ship Tuscana, of the Anchor Line.
which was bringing to port the sur
vivors of the Greek steamer Athlnai.
burned at sea. They were due to ar
rive at the Anchor Lines dock at West
Fourteenth Street last night. There
was a liberal delegation from the Po-
lice Department at the dock. but no one
that even resembled Rofrano was
aboard. This was known before the
steamer reached it's pier, all passengers
having been scrutinized by detectives
who boarded the steamer down the bay:
All blame for Rofrano having eluded
Clinton Woods and Henry Jessup on
Monday. when they were assigned to
give him the long tail" by District
Attorney Perkins, was removed yester-
day by the District Attorney himself.
The meaning Of the kind Of shadowing
intended for Rofrano was explained by
Mr.. Perkins as lose him rather than
let him know he is being Swallowed"
Tommaso Porcaro and Joseph Brondini
pleaded not guilty, with leave to with