New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-17
Tombs a Heaven y
WhereDaughterS and
Wife Can Visit Him.
REFUGE PLACE
STILL A SECRET
Sobs at Reunion After Ar
raignment-Flight Laid
TO Politics.

Nike Rofrano. back to face the music,
.lept last night with his ear against 8
rlsrk inflow in q hotel which he helped
20 build
Heaven" was Mikes name for the
hotel. for during his residence there he
nsv see every once in while his
little girl twins, his three other daugh-
tsrs. his wife, his mother and the
friends who are still willing TO live
with him. To others the hotel is the
Tombs.
So far as any evidence in hand goes
Rofrano-lately lawyer, contractor
Deputy Street Cleaning Commissioner
and rival Of Tom Foley for mastery IN
the Cd Assembly District-had no other
reason for surrendering himself TO face
q murder charge than an overwhelming
desire to be near his loved ones.
Rofrano's Family Reunion.
That explanation, specifically at
least is accepted by District Attorney
Su.arn and eorroborated by Martin W.
1ittleton. Rofrano's attorney.
After his arraignment, reunion with
his family. another talk with District
Attorney Swami and long interview
with counsel Rofrsno's whereabouts
during the eight months which have
,ra,ssd since he was indicted as the
.nan behind the gun" in the murder OF
Michael Gaimari, Foley's lieutenant, re-
NAMED a mystery.
Ny. Swami professed to have taken
no interest in this phase OF the case
and Mr.. Littleton said he had been too
busy discussing matters more pertinent
% the defence to ask any questions.
In the forenoon Rofrano was ar
-aicned before Judge Delehanty, IN
General Sessions His clear eyes and
bronzed skin betokened that, wherever
his hiding place, he had spent most OF
his time in the open air.
Ny Littleton pleaded not guilty for
Rofrano and was given until May 81
t, change the plea.
Even as these formalities were under
way Rofrano's chief thought was OF
his family. Mr.. Swami agreeing ne
might see them before returning 20
the Tombs. he was taken from the
courtroom 20 an anteroom in the honni-
eide bureau. In the meantime his
brother Robert had been sent 70 bring
the family.
Thev we're waiting when Mike Ro-
franc entered the room set apart for
the reunion, FIVE pigtailed girls in
white and two women in blsck-the
wife and mother. Rofrano had been
smiling in the courtroom. Re was still
smiling when he opened the door of the
room upstairs But on the threshold
his smile faded.
Prisoner Clings TO Secret.
The door closed again, shutting of a
picture of one little girl smuggling in
large mans arms and four more
little girls in line, waiting turns.
Most Of those waiting outside were
reporters. What interested thor- chief
ly was where Rofrano had been and
wky b mad returned. The rest of the
story had been retold the day Before.
with the news Of Rofrano's surrender
They knew the history of Mikes rise
in politics, Of his efforts TO wrest the
district leadership from Tom Foley. of
the guerilla warfare they brought on,
Of the murder Of Gaimari, of the trials
Of Gaetano Montimagno and Rocco
Carnivale. OF the testimony that
brought in Rofrano's name as a hirer
Of assassins, Of Rofranos disappear
ance on the day he was indicted and of
he fruitless search for him which has
been conducted since.
So the first and only questions that
were asked of Mike when he came
back into the corridor were
why did you come back? What's
behind it?"
Nike was crying. He jerked open
the door again, permitting view OF
i've little girls in white and two wom-
en- IN black. They, all seven, were cry
ing, too.
ALL
lie made only one other remark IN
the presence of reporters. That was
when a photographer snapped him IN
custody.
ITS tough 20 have my picture taken
Ike this" he said.
Later Rofrano was visited IN the
Iombs by Mr.. Littleton, his brother,
James, and Maxwell Harris and Maurice
Simmons, his erstwhle law partners.
They remained with him from shortly
after 3 o'clock until 5. OF the four
Mr. Littleton was the only one who
would talk.
Sure of Fair Trial, He Says.
"Rofrano is very anxious TO get TO
trial" he said. "He is sure that the
political situation-th the only thing that
led him to take iight-has changed TO
such an extent that he is sure of being
tried fairly. Mr.. Swami and | have
agreed 10 20 ahead with the case either
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