New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-12
DEATH SIGN HALTS.
ROFRANO'S TRIAL
La Sale, Murderer, Stops
Story at Visitors Ca
mora Gesture.

The trial of Michael A. Rofrano, for
mer Deputy Street Cleaning Commits
sioner, for murder was halted suddenly
last evening, when Joseph La Sale, a
convicted murderer and the first OF
several convicts who are expected 10
connect Rofrano with a conspiracy TO
kill MichaeS Gaimari, Big Tom Foley's
political lieutenant, announced he
could not go on with his testimony.
The witness had reached a point
where he was expected to relate tele-
phone conversations held between the
alleged conspirators and Rofrano. He
held whispered conversation with
Justice Weeks, after WHICH the court
adjourned the case until to-day.
According to Assistant District At
torney Dooling, some one in the court
room flashed the Camorra death signal
to La Sale. Assistant District At
torney Brothers, who was conducting
the direct examination, said La Sale
admitted that he had caught the sign.
La Sales Family Threatened.
ia Sale admitted to me-" he ex-
planned. within the last two weeks
his parents and brothers and sisters
had received notice that if Joe dared
to come down from sing Sing and tel!
the same story he told at the trial Of
Gaetano Montimagno, the actual slayer
of Gaimari, they would be killed
Mr.. Brothers said La Sale saw two
men get up in the courtroom. One
approached the door. placed his right
index finger between his teeth and
cast defiant glance at him. La Sale,
he declared, knew the man by sight
only, and was aware that he lived in
Brooklyn. where the Gaimari murder
plot was Matched.
La Sale on the stand avoided the
gaze of Rofrano, and IN spite OF per-
Sistent requests from Martin ". Lit
Teton, counsel for Rofrano, to speak
so the Jury could hear him, his tones
grew more inaudible as he went on.
lie had told of his conviction OF the
murder of James MinOtt, Rofrano's
cousin and q supporter of Tom Foley,
and had described the meeting OF the
conspirators in the home of RoX Cor
nell, in New Utrecht Avenue, Brooklyn.
Turned States Evidence.
He had seen Rofrano converse with
Cornell and Frank Fennimore after
Rofrano broke with Tom Foley over
the selection of a Representative for
his district. he continued. Fennimore
confessed mis- completely in the murder
and turned states evidence. He IS
serving seven years in Sing Sing. sud
denly La Sale grew pale and sulked
rs anything annoying you IN TINS
courtroom ." Mr.. Brothers asked.
al have been in the hospital and
don't feel WELL" he replied.
La Sale. with his brother Tony,
vas sentenced to Sing Sing for from
twenty years to life for killing Mlnott
after aiding District Attorney Perkins
in the prosecution of Cornell and Mon
tiroagno their terms were shortened by
Governor Whitman 10 not more thah
II was learned yesterday that Fen
nimore. on whom the prosecution mas
been relying 70 implcate koIraho III
the murder plot and strengthen the
conspiracy theory built up by the La
SALES. Montimagno and others proDa,
blv will not be called. 1t was rumoreu
Fennimore had become interested III
religious matters IN SlnS oI!S anu ~
repudiated the story he Originally 'oiu.
The report was denied last nlght DE
Mr. DOoling. ,...,
To-day Montimagno. the little gun
man, who is in the shadow Of the cleo
,ric chair. will testify for the prose
eution. He is expected to bring, Ro-
franc directly into the plot ana ms
testimony will be corroborated oy
- Miro an ex-convict, brought iato
the tiU1' case by Salvatore Curica, who, in
turn, was implicated by Montimagno'
Curica was indicted recently Tor MUIR
dor