New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-04-03
Prosecutor Believes Use of
Dope Revealed His
Secrets
Witness Furnishes
Rothenberg Alibi
Police Start Search to
Find Purchaser of
Revolver

who was murdered as HeTman KOSen-
thai was-on the eve of "squealing" to
the District Attorney about powerful
gamblers on intimate social
terms with Morris Rothe, .erg, held as
his slayer They smoked opium to-
gether in Cohen's expensive apartment,
at Z West Ninety Street, where
in the first floor lobby, the murder oc-
Cured.
Rothenberg, apparently mistaken
by the charge of homicide, insisted
that Cohen was his friend, and that
last Friday evening he dined with
Cohen and his wife and spent the re-
mainder of the evening "hitting the
pipe" Mrs. Cohen, who at first as
surcd District Attorney Swami that
Cohen never entertained his under
world associates in his home, finally
admitted yesterday that Rothenberg
told the truth about his visits to their
APARTMENTS.
"This." said Assistant District At
torney Smith, Supports our contention
cause powerful gambling interests
knew that he was going to 'squeal.
Two hours before Rothenberg arrived
at Cohen's home last Friday evening,
Cohen was talking with me on the telc-
phone about information which he was
gong to give me regarding five no.
torious gamblers. An hour later,
Rothenberg called Cohen on the tele-
phone and said he wanted to see him.
Cohen asked him up to his apartment.
When he got there he appeared to
have nothing special to say. The two
men smoked opium, each. one cooking
the others pill l am convinced that
Cohen, while under the influence of
the drug, betrayed some of the Sc
crets of his negotiations with the Dis
trict Attorney"
Tells of Another "Sauealer"
Mr.. Smith said Cohen told him the
following morning over the telephone
about Rothenberg's calling him up
shortly after he (Cohen) had talked
with Mr.. Smith.
"Was Cohen the only gambler of i'm
portance who was giving you Informal
ton at the time of the shooting?" Mr..
Smith was asked.
"He was not, and when I was in
formed of the murder Monday morning
over the telephone at first jumped to
the conclusion that it was another man
who had been shot," he replied
In spite of the fact that nothenberg
scored one point against the rrosecu-
ton yesterday by having witness VOL
unteer to corroborate his abb, District
Attorney Swami and Mr.. Smith were
confident Joseph Edney, the negro ele-
vator man who identified Rothenberg as
the slayer, had made no mistake.
The volunteer witness was Joseph
Galupo of SAP West 141st Street. He
called the District Attorney and said
he had some information to give about
the case. When he was examined later
he said he was with Rothenberg in the
New Colonial Restaurant, Broadway
and 1880 o'clock Monday morning. The
murder occurred at 655 o'clock.
Detectives Seek Waiter
Detectives under Captain McKenna
of the Fourth Branch, were. searching
yesterday for a waiter who was on
duty in the restaurant at the time
Rothenberg and Galupo swear they
were there. The walters name, the DO
lice said, is Durando. His version of
Rotnenbergs appearance in the place
Is needed, but up to a late hour last
night detectives said they had been un-
able to find him.
District Attorney Swami said Roth
enDerg sworc that between 10 o'clock
Sunday evening and l o'clock Monday
morning he was sitting alone drinking
liquor in Sofield's cafe, in West Forty
eighth Street, near Seventh Avenue.
Mr.. Swami said two witnesses had tes-
tined the accused man was accompanied
by woman of the underworld, known
as Ivonne Pachetcau. Rothenberg ad-
mitted he knew the woman. He said
she was a manicurist, but was unable
to tell where she might be found.
Galupo, the volunteer alibi witness,
said he didn't know the woman. Cap
tain McKenna sent two of his men out
last night to try to find Yvonne.
The prosecutor believes he will
make big stride in solving the muir
der to-day when detectives set to work
tracing the ivory-handlcd 38-calbre
Colt revolver found in the areaway of
West Ninety-frst Street, past which
Cohen's slayer fed. Two unexploded
shells were found in the revolver and
the noses of the bullets had been
carved In such a manner as virtually
to convert them into "dum dums ?"
This accounted for the ugly wounds
which two Of them inflicted on Cohen.
The serial number of the gun had
been polished with emery cloth until
1T had been eradicated," said Mr..
Swami, but Captain Jones, of the
Third Branch Detective Bureau. took
the gun TO pieces and discovered du-
plicate number inside. We have as
certained that it was sold at a certain
store on July -, 1917. All that re-
~ n A<t<
was sold.'
Frequently Staked by Cohen
"Rothcnbcrg." continued the Dis
trict Attorney, twas a hanger-on' in
gambling houses. He had been stakcd
frequently by Cohen, WHO was CON
stantly lending him money during the
last nYc or six months. Rothcnbcrv
admits he borrowed money Of Cohen.
"Rothcnbcrg also admits being in the
crap game run by Badly Saucr. in
lower Sixth avenue Galupo admits
being there. Both admit they saw
Cohen there. Similar testimony il fur
nishcd by Charles Timex and Joe 10
rach, gambling satellites Of the muir
dered man. RothenbcrY and Galupo.
however, put mysterious and un-
known man on the scene, who, they gay.
Was with Cohen and went uptown with
MN after the game ended. Rothcnbcrp
saJs the man was we'll set up and
rather DARK complezioned. Calupo. in
dcpendcntly questioned about this un-