The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-03-21
History Of the Feud.

History of the Feud.
Following are the facts Of the political
feud which preceded. but which may not
be found to have boon responsible for
the series of Standings. beatings and
shootings in the district
For eleven years or more prior to the
Rofrano-Foley split. big Tom Foley and
Judge Paddy Diver had striven for the
Democratic leadership in the Secon
Assembly district. Foley got IT, The
tight on the Diver side was taken up
by DIVERS son Jimmie after his
father's death. The primary fights he
tween the two factions have been no
torious. Rofrano was long an adherent
Of Foley In the latter's organization, the
downtown Tammdny club at ~ Madi-
son street. just below Oliver. That was
until the fan Of 1912.
In the primaries that year Rorrauo
and Eugene priscoll. brother OF Clement
]. brisColl, one time Deputy Police
Commissioner broke away from Foley
and fought him bitterly. Rofrauo, then
~ years old. wa born on the East side,
was well liked by the Italians and had
held several public offices. He was a
lawyer then as now. in the firm Of
Simmons. Harris & Rofrano. 1913 Bro1d-
way. He has been chairman Of the
local school board " the First district.
director OF the Italian Chamber Of Com
merce and was once a superintendent in
the Tenement House Department.
The breach widened. without hone or
peace. and Rofrano organized the
Home Rule Democratic club with his
own following. one OF his chief lieu
tenants besides Gene Driscoll was Rocco
Carnivale. known ~ Rocks. who wac
arrested or Friday night At Coney ISL
uyI on "A phuryn nF Gnhnrnnftnn OF ngT=
jury in connection with one OF the dis
trict's murder trials. Mann others de-
fcctrf from the Foley ranks. lsofrano
became an agti-Tammany Democrat.
In order TO harass Foley he bought the
clubhouse then occupied by the Down
town Tammany Cluh at IS Madison
street and oustei the Foley club At the
expiration OF it's lease. They made the
place their own headquarters
The Foley followers. driven ont Of
their home. finally secured from Jimmie
Diver a lease on the old Diver club
house ~ 81 Madison street. across and
up the street from the Home Rule Club,
and moved into the former headquarters
Of Foley's erstwhile rival The warfare
between Foley and Rofrano has on
tinued undated and every primary Is
bitterly fought. Rofrano has gained
the favor of the present administration.
Nv Nv 'lf hh lAAltfAN w NNiNstAA'lt wv
Mayor Mitchell In opposition 10 Tam
many and received the $1,000 place IN
the Street cleaning department.
The warfare of violence began soon
after the political arrangement. one
OF the men who refused to scccde with
Rofrauo ami Driscoll was James Mluott,
Rofrauo's first cousin. Minott VS.
Slashed in the face with a razor on
December Is, 1918. sin months after
no ha., h.an han,aY tts, - tf.r.t. Leland
The slashinE Occurred at Forty-secoud
street and Eighth avenue. one OF those
arrested In the beating case was Rob
OFT Rofrano. brother Of Michael. All
the accused were fined 81 and tho cases
were dropped.
In November. 1919, Mike Gaimlrl. an
ardent Folevi'e, was STABBED IN the back
a. Cathariu" and OAK streets WhIlc
waking with Nike Murphy. another
FOLEY Lieutenant. Tn" Hssi.ltIt was
never caught or prosecuted. Bu, , iow
hours later Niucouzo C1rdi'io. one 81
Rofrano's following. was killed hy stab
bling At Catharinc ard Monroe streets
Tho AFFAIR was at night ard Albert
and John Gaintari. brothers OF Mike. A. d
Nicola 'ieno wer" charged VIII tho Kill
ing 'icuH's case was dismissed and
Albert and Johu claimant were acquitted
Il WIS Epfraro'S couuect.u. with THIS
case that led To attempts on the pare of
his political, opponents 10 persuade Com
missioner Fc'h-'st.n To- remove him.
Rofrauo and Rocks Carmytlc were
summoned as Witnesses for Tho prose
cutiou. giuseppe lialdo. e restaurant
keeper Of Couey Island, had been brought
into the case to identify the Gsimari
brothers. Baldo identified them IN
Deputy Commissioners Rubin's office at
Police Headquarters. hut later declared
that he did 1t at the direction OF Rocks
Carn!vale and that Rofrano was present
IN Rubin's office at The time.
Ba!do later made an affidavit for
Robert NJ. Moore. tho defendants
counsel. repudiating his identification,
although he was q friend OF Cardillo's,
and he was subsequently indicted for
perjury. lie was released on bail and
comes to trial Tomorrow. immediately
after his affidavit Judge Wadhams.
hearing the case, sent FOR Rofrano and
Caruivale. both Of whom had been
pointed out TO Baldo, the latter said. ~
powers at headquarters. Eofrano
testified at the trial. This past week,
however. the District Attorney got an
indictment for s~uhoruafion Of perjury
against cdrniVale and he was arrested
on Friday night.
The Murder Of Ninott.