New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-14
:, .,,cs District Attorney
r.d to Suborn Perjury to
S.rd Him to Chair
o.l.res Probe Will
Bare Political Plot
,.v. knowledge of Ballot
r,,uds Led to Persecution
BY Secret Powers

u.,,d 4 Rofrano fled charges
coyerpor Whitman yesterday
IN ain, for the removal Of District At
rrsy Svann
T. :. alleged that the prosecutor in
lated and oppressed witnesses and
..~,,e5 10 suborn perjury in the
.s,,, 20 convict Rofrano Of the mur-
~ Michael Gaimari Rofrsno was
..,,.,s. Nr. Svann's zeal, Rofrano
.,.,,,,. was inspired by political mo-
and was part Of a plot against
i. he Of Tom Foley's foe.
I. hi, charges and in a letter TO the
.-..,or the former Deputy Street
-.,,inr Commissioner limited that an
..,,;gstior Of the allegations might
:, ,he political feud in Big Tom
-,.v,s district. which caused at least
-, murders. besides that of Michael
,,-s-i. Foley's henehman. and sent
!. rsn TO the death house.
EOfrano Charges Conspiracy
un, whole involved tangle is un-
-,3 some Ct the knotty problems
l., ss the utter disappearance OF
,.,,,ro for eight months, despite the
.si,,tion Of $1,000 reward, and
4. astonishing temperance to be
nd BIZ Tammany prosecutor. may
f. solved. In bringing the charges
rains, Mr. Swami vixen the original
,si,.nsrt was found while Charles
Perkins was District Attorney Ro-
.r.nO says in his letter;
-N;soush the original indictment
,.sirs. ne was found under the ad-
rri,rsiion OF District Attorney
Swsnn's prdsces the said District
attorney SWsnr, with full knowledge
y nv innocence. devised a new set
+ facts in furtherance Of the poilu-
Al conspiracy against me, upon which
Eas brought 10 trial
He asserts that the motives which
,rn s,he background and foundation
( this conspiracy against my life
II these:
.Ersi-My full and intimate knowl-
II Of election frauds perpetrated
irusghout Manhattan in the interests
. Ianmany candidates and my fur
ir knowledge Of the intricate poll;-
81 machinery by which these frauds
= operated on large scale in each
earring election.
Second Ny fixed purpose 10 en-
y this knowledge IN a full public eX-
aslc, that the men IN direct control
these elsr.ng ana widespread frauds
M the integrity OF the ballot should
: unmAsked. stripped of their evil
,sr and driven out of political life. ~
Says doom Was Sealed
&c says that from the moment Gov
nor Whitman offered HIM the posi-
n Of Superintendent OF Elections "a
g. that he dcchnedl my doom was
sied" Tnc icons spiratOrs" became
-Ynced that he was dangerous. he
'hsyes, and resolved 20 pvt him out OF
Z way. ln the following paragraph
trnounccl has conviction that the
'iret Attorney was pressed into SER
y as a tool:
The evidence 20 be submitted by me
Jour Investigating commissiorer er VIII
arly reveal that the administration
ne criminal law In this city IS now
hands that are directed and con-
liea by corrupt political influences,
= furthermore. that no man IS safe
DIS rights. or even in his life, who
Asrked for destruction By the secret
yer that dominates the District At
.hl,sy's oshco. making q rockcry alike
ne law and o. the common humani-
large financial inducements" Ro-
70 says, were offered him TO aban-
J, ms purpose Of prcferring charges
af,l District Attorney Swami. Al
ga seriously crippled in fortune
'he costly legal light for my life,
'sea'inues, he refused TO listen to the