New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-02
ROFRANO'S ALBI
AIDED BY NEPHEW
Youth Says Uncle Seemed
Sorry When Told of
Gaimari's Death

Peter J. Campbell. a motherless boy
Of sixteen, yesterday took the witness
stand for his uncle. Michael A. Ro-
franc, accused OF procuring the muir
der Of Michael Gaimari, his political
Zoe. The lad testified that he saw
Rofrano At his home, IL Oliver Street,
at about the time the prosecutions
chief witnesses say the former official
was under the shadow Of the Brooklyn
Bridge, issuing orders for Gaimari's
death.
The boys story followed the testi-
mony of many witnesses who estab-
lished alibis for the eX-Deputy Street
Cleaning Commissioner on those occa-
sions when Rofrano's accusers and
telephone slips show that he was plot
ting. In its dramatic interest 1t was
regarded by the jury as eagerly as was
the original story of the Brooklyn
bridge murder conference from the
lips of Gaetsno Montimagno, the
actual assassin.
The youthful witness is the son Of
Rofrano's dead sister. He lives at %
Roosevelt Street, and, according TO his
tale, he was working on the morning
of March s, 1915, when Gsimari was
shot, in machine shop near his home.
About three-quarters of an hour be-
fore the murder, he said, a piece OF
iion dropped on his right foot and in
jured him so badly that he got per-
mission 10 quit work for the day. Al
ter going home for relief. he contin-
ueG, he hobbled to drug store at
Madison and Chestnut streets and
bought some iodine.
Saw Crowd Around Corner
81 saw a big crowd around the cor
ner in Madison Street he said. land
Gaimsri had been shot. ! got near
enough to his body to sec it was him,
and then ! went up TO my uncle Mixes
house 10 get one Of my uncle jim S
old shoes to wear in place of my own.
81 went upstairs, and the first per
son ! saw was my grandmother. the
ed one of Uncle Jih's shoes. Then |
told her about Mike Gaimari's being
shot. IN get the shoe, jim. You 20
mari she said.
81 went downstairs and ! saw Mrs.
RofranO. She said Uncle Mike was in
the bathroom. ] went TO the door and
he came out He wasn't all dress ed.
Then ! told him about the shooting"
At this iuncture John J. Fraser. Juror
No. 9. asked the witness what was Ro-
frano's first remark.
- L.
the boy replied.
Assistant District Attorney Brothers
sought in vain TO shake the youths tes-
timony. He brought out that the wit
ness had gone over his story with Mar
tin ". Littleton, Rofrano's counsel. as
early as last June, month after RO-
franc returned from his eight months
hiding.
Young Campbell's story. it is ex-
pected, will be corroborated in detail
to-day by Mrs. Rofrano. wife of the
defendant, who with Rofrano's aged
mother has occupied an inconspicuous
seat in the courtroom since the trial
Logan.
More testimony as to the alleged un-
fairness toward Rofrano on the part
Of District Attorney Perkins and AS
sistant District Attorney Murphy six
months before Rofrano was indicted
for Giamari's murder was given by
Emory r. Buckner, former Assistant
District Attorney, who as counsel for
Rofrano tried TO intercede with Mr..
Perkins.
He said that while Mr.. Perkins did
not actually refuse to liston to Ro-
frano's story. both the prosecutor and
Mr.. Murphy displayed hostility and
prejudice toward him" That EXPIRES
sion was afterward struck out of the
record at the request of Mr.. Brothers.
Wanted Rofrano Ousted
Mr.. Buckner testified that Mayor
Mitchell informed him that Mr.. Perkins
urged the executive TO Gust Rofrano
from the Street Cleaning Department
before the official was called as wit
ness in the case of Rox Cornell, one
of the accomplices.
Odd you go to see Mr.. Perkins
about that? A.-Yes. / told him il
wasn't fair to fire a man just as he was
going on the witness stand, as il would
tend to discredit his testimony. Mr.
Perkins said that as long as Rofrano re-
NAMED in Office il was not so easy to
get at the truth. ! protested TO the
Mayor that it would be equally hard
for Rofrano TO get q fair hearing II
he were discharged. The Mayor allowed
Rofrano to remain in Office until after
the Cornell case, which ended late in
May, 1915.
Early in the present trial MONT.
magno in his amazing accusation that
Rofrano even threatened him with
death If he would not shoot Gaimari
testified that he confessed all this "a
his attorneys, Caesar B. +. Barra and
Gerard J. Cuoco, before his trial.
Mr.. Cuoeo, called by Rofrano, testi'
fed yesterday that Montimagno never
even admitted his guilt before or after
conviction either TO him or TO Mr.
Barra.
After conviction he begged US tc
have him deported TO Italy," said the
attorney.