New-York tribune., 1917-07-28
Abraham Graft Is Found
Guilty of First Degree
Manslaughter
Jury Acquits Two
Other Defendants
Whitman Took Case from
Hands of Swami
Last May

Joseph Cohen, Of 12l Tenth Street,
Brooklyn, known as king Of the
Chicken Pullers" and former New
York policeman, was convicted last
night Of the murder, on November "a,
1914, of Barnet Baf, independent live
poultry dealer, OF West Washington
Market. Abraham Graft, an employe Of
Charles Werner, one OF Bats COM
petitors, was convicted Of manslaugh-
ter In the first degree. Jacob Cohen,
brother Of Joseph Cohen, and David
Jacobs, his brother-in-lsw, were ac-
quilted. The four men have been
jointly on trial before Justice Tomp-
kins in the Criminal Branch of the
Supreme Court since June 25.
The cases went TO the jury at
o'clock in the afternoon. The jurors
we're locked up in a small room, with
one electric fan, and wrestled with the
evidence until 9:3O last night, when
they reached verdict Of murder in
the first degree against Joseph Cohen.
Al the same time they announced the
acquittal of David Jacobs and Jacob
Cohen. They were divided, however,
as to- Abraham Graf, who, the evil
dence clearly showed, was almost
equally guilty of conspiring to put
Bstf out of the way.
Justice Tompkins instructed them
that they had a right, under a de-
cision by the Court Of Appeals, to
bring in a compromise verdict, if they
could not agree. They retired for
three-quarters of an hour, and re-
turned at 1915 with the verdict Of
manslaughter in the first degree
Convicted Men Sent to Tombs
Justice Tompkins remanded both
convicted men to the Tombs until Au-
gust II. Cohen will be sentenced to
die in the electric chair. The maximum
penalty in Crafts case is fifty years in
state prison.
Joseph Cohen took the verdict as
calmly as though he had been acquitted.
Hat in hand he walked back across the
Bridge of Sighs to his cell with as little
emotion as Charles Becker displayed
when he was convicted of the murder
of Herman Rosenthal. He is forty years
old and resembles in physique the pow
erful Becker.
Up on the floor above the courtroom
his wife and two children were assem-
bled in the deputy sheriff's room, with
Cohen's two sisters and Mrs. Abraham
Graft and the wives of the acquitted
men. Mrs. Cohen and Mrs. Graft be-
came hysterical, and their cries could
be heard throughout the big Criminal
Courts building. Cohen's father, Henry
]. Cohen, of q Peck Street, Brooklyn,
left the courtroom weeping and con-
veyed the news to the waiting women.
A rumor was circulated through the
building early in the day that friends
Of Joe Cohen were planning gunplay
if he were convicted. Nine plainclothes
men in charge Of Sergeant Detective
Case were assigned to keep watch of
suspicious characters. Captain Cava-
naugh of the court squad maintained
good order and no demonstration oc-
cured at any time.
Cardinale Furnished Evidence
Cohen and his co-defendants were in
dicted last January on the testimony OF
Artonio Cardinale, the "go-between,
who was brought back from Italy as I
y,itness by Assistant District Attorne!
William Harman Black. In April, ow
ing 10 the illness Of Cardinale and Hi
,,ryillingness 10 furnish necessary evi
derce, the defendants were admitted L
beil in $4,000. Early in May las
Governor Whitman took the prosecu
lion out of the hands Of District At
tcrney Swami, and Deputy Attorney
General Alfred l. Becker was appointed
fo try the defendants. He selected
James OMallcy. former Assistant Dis
.rct Attorney in charge Of the Baf
.purder investigation under District At
crneys Perkins and Swami, TO assis
nm.
Cardinale was the principal witness
iic pictured Joseph Cohen as the arci
torSpirator ana the man who gave The
money with which 20 hire the gunmen
cohen took the stand in self-defenc,
nd testified that he was doing all o.
Haf's carting business and lost $500
as the result OF his death. Cohen, how
ever, WAS caught IN several lies abou
rs own career, and altogether made
lad witness FOR himself
That man was the master mind o
30 murder and he knows who con
5uted 10 the murder fund. SO doe
i5is Graf said Mr.. O'Malley after tn,
verdict was announced.
Threatens other Prosecutions.
There will be a sleeplcss night 70,
scverAi men in West Washington Mar
lcpu;y Attorney General Becker
The investigation OF Bats murder
viii not stop here"
Frank Moss, chief counsel for the
fou: defendants, said nc would begir
work AZ once on appeals for Cohen anC
Graft. Among the many exceptions il
the record. Mr.. Moss said, there are
several which he believes are Of great
Importance. Harry Kopp was asso
ciate counsel for Graf, and Senator
Alfred J. Gileh-ist, of Brooklyn. ap
pcared 20: Jake Cohen and David ia
eobs.
Noses Rosenstein, alias "Chicker
Moe" one OF the indicted men, pleaded
guilty 20 mansiaughter in the seconC
degree and was n witness against The
convicted men. Joseph Arichiello, th'
.cf, handed gunman, who was convicted
Of the shooting OF BRfF, will probably
got a new trial ns Il result Of the con
iction Of Cohen and Graf. Although
irichiello confessed and acted out his
part in the shooting, Cardinale declares
re did not do the shooting. Cardinal'
refused 70 tell who the real gunmaI
was. As a result of his services 70 tn,
s,ats CGrdinsle will probably nevei
be returned 20 Italy. He was a cor
porsl in the Italian army whom he wat