The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-18
ROFRANO DENIES HE
PLOTTED MURDER
Charges Political Conspiracy
and Admits Talking About
Resigning.
MRS. GAIMARI IN SWOON

Michael Rofrano. a deputy IN the De-
,u-,rnent Of Street Cleaning. whose name
,.s sesn mentioned as the man higher
.,. IN the murder Of Michael Gaimari.
. o~ol,tical lieutenant of Thomas r.
ro,.y IN the Second Assembly district.
mad his day IN court yesterday at the
rrurder trial OF Rocco Carnivale. called
pox Cornell. before Justice Davis In
~. s,preme Court. Tn defence called
MN 20 the witness stand.
=, a three hour examination by Lloyd
p stryker. counsel for Carnivale. and
assistant District Attorney Brothers.
po,rano was questioned concerning his
.crnec,ion with various political organ
nations. He old how he broke away
,,om Foley and organized the Home
Rule Democratic Club abou; three years
,so He denied that he had been asked
,ecen,l 10 resign his $1,000 place In
m. city government. but admitted that
he had talked with Commissioned
rethers,on abou, ~resigning just after
Gae,ano Montimagno had been convicted
n, murder in the first degree as the &C.
" u
,uaI slayer Of Gaimari.
On that occasion Rofrano said he
tod the Commissioner that he had sew
erai large real estate deals pending
and wanted 10 resign. He quoted the
conservation as follows: II told him I
-eeYet,ed that my name had been mixed
up In the Mcntima gno trial and that I
had contemplated %resigning. but that IN
view Of the villalnous attack on me I
vouh get out only after I had been
indicated. All this I said Of my own
Wdtion."
Mrs. Gaimari Faints.
sereed with him that II would be better
for him to resign II ne could no., give
al his time 10 his duties.
When Rofrano was called TO the stand
IN the morning he carried with him a
large bag containing papers that he re-
terred 20 often. II was noticeable that
hs was not as robust as he formerly
was and at times beads OF perspiration
stood out on his forehead.
Mrs. Michael Gaimari. who has been
n attendance every day of the trial.
stood up as Rofrano was sworn. AMI
tust as he began to testify she fell IN
tufit '"N "eS NoNNtA W SA WIN
In Cherry street.
The court room was crowded at the
time. Police Commissioners Woods. his
secretary, Guy Scull. Deputy Commits
sloner Lord. Tax Commissioner Mullan,
representative OF Mayor Mitchell at the
trial Civil Service Commissioners Keogh.
District Attorney Perkins and many
members o. his stan had prominent
seats. The corridors were filled with
49,. - --
mony.
At the outset Rofrano told the Jurors
he was a product of the lower East Side
Of New York. IL years Did. and tina H.
had been successful In a business way.
His counsel always addressed him as
Commissioner" in asking questions. He
has held many public and social offices,
No said.
In reply to questions by his counsel
Rofrano said he nae never wanted Gal
mari out Of the way and denied that nc
had ever counselled his death. lie was
then asked
Did you fear Gaimari politically? p
Denies Hiring slayer.
why, no. He was only an election
district captain for Foley" was his re.
ply with a smile.
did you want him killed % asked Mr.
stryker.
why should II had nothins
against him and he had nothing against
me-"
Rofrano denied emphatically that III
hid hired Montlmagno to kill Gaimari
He said he had been on bad terms with
carnivale because OF the trouble tn,
latter got him into In the case OF tn,
Ga!mari brothers, who had beer arrested
for murder. In that case CarnivaIe wa.
indicted for suborning Joseph Baldo Il
cSnmit perjury.
On discrimination Rofrano said h,
mad known Carnfvale for twenty-hv,
years. having been brought up In tn,
same district with him. He heard h,
smoked opium, as many OF the youni
men Of the district did. He had beer
friendly with him until the Baldo Incl
dent and had not seen him in a year
He admitted that case brought him q
lot of publicity that ne did not like ane
ne laid 1t all 10 Carnivale. The wit
ness said he was not on speaking terms
with Gaimari for eighteen months. ye
ne was not his enemy. He did not at
tend his funeral. Neither had he at
tended the funeral Of James Minott. wh'
Uas killed by Joseph and Antonio La
sale, who have testified against Carni
vale.
In answer 10 Mr.. Brothers Rofran'
admitted ne had hired Emory r. Buck
ner a. his counsel two days before tn,
M1ntimagno trial started. He said Mr.
Denlng had been In court and had givei
MN some Information about the testi
nony In which his name appeared. blu
ne "A HAt a. AN,n dill