The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-31
HISTORY OF MURDER
FOR WHICH 5 DIED
Three Years and a Fortnight
Since Herman ROsenthal
Was Killed.
I.ANY LEGAL
MOVES

Three years and a fortnight nave
to death on the sidewalk In front OF the
Metropole. and in that time five men
have paid the penalty for the crime IN
the death chair at Sing Sing. with
Becker's execution yesterday the legal
curtain seems to nave been rung down
upon the case. a cause celcbre in the
criminal annals of this city.
1t was early in July. 1912, that a
policeman was placed day and night in
side of Rosenthal's gambling house Mt
l04 West Forty fifth street to keep him
from opening mp. on July 10 Roseu.
that's resentment took the form Of an
affidavit published in a newspaper ac-
cusing Becker, partner in his gambling
house. of prosecuting him. District
| Attorney Whitman had Rosenthal before
| him two days later. heard part Of his
' story and arranged for him 10 come
back the next morning, Tuesday, July
is, to finish and swear to his charges,
About . o'clock that morning the
gambler was called from the Metropole
restaurant and shot TO death on the
sidewalk by the four guumen
But for the fact that "A vaudeville
actor named Gallagher had caught the
number Of the big automobile in which
the gunner sped away the crime might
still he among New NorL's unsolved
mysteries. That number-4l3l3 n. Y.
obtained by Mr.. Whitman. disclosed
the owners of the car, Libby and
Shapiro. and led TO the disclosure by
them that It was Jack Rose, gambler
and graft collector. who had hired IL.
After that the detection Of the criminals
moved or quickly and unerringly.
Rose surrendered himself two days
after the murder. Webber and Sam Paul
three days later. WALTON and Becker's
friend Jack Sullivan also were caught
in the District Attorneys net. and on
July 30 Mr.. Whitman gave out the
names OF the four gunmen-Gyp the
Blood, Lefty Louie, Whitley Lewis and
Dago Frank Cirofci.
Becker WAS indicted and arrested on
July % after Mr.. Whitman had oh
tained the confessions OF Rose. Weber
and WALTON.
The search for mo four gunnsn went
on III over mo country LOT SeScfdi
weeks. Dago Frank was arrested in
a Harlem fiat Whitley Lewis in the
Catskills and Gyp the Blood and Lefty
Louie In Ii IlidgewOod HAT.
Becker WAS put on trial October 4.
1912. Rosc. Wchber and WALTON, al
though under indictment themselves.
took the stand against Becker on the
promise that If they told the truth they
would not be prosecuted. sam Schepps.
u.,I a.. IIA, rf, .L .A,,.l
not an ~accomplice. corroborated Rose.
Weber and WALTON. The first jury took
eight hours to decide that Becker was
guilty.
Ms gunner were tried a month
later. convicted, practically on tho same
testimony. and executed on April Is.
1914. Dago Frank before going TO the
chair made IA confession. given out
by the warden, that he had not been
engaged IN tho actual killing. which was
done. he said. by the three others. He
also said that so far as he knew Becker
had nothing to do with II,
The Court OF Appeals granted Becker
a new trial largely through dissat,s-
faction with the character of tho test
mony concerning the Harlem "onference
at which Becker ordered Rosenthal
, killed,
|, Beckers second trial began May 6,
1914, and AZ rhis James Marshall. \
negro. former stool pigeon for Becker
offered further cnrrolorative evidence
OF the meeting. Becker WAS found guilty
, for the second time on May %. 1914
: and his conviction mis- time as upheld
by the Court OF Appeals on May 25 last
The last move. outside Of the final
A appeals TO Justice Ford and tho Cover
nor, was an effort TO have his case re-
@ viewed by Ia United States Supreme
!, Court, which WAS refused.