The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-07-06
SING SING HOLDS Is
WHO AWAIT DEATH
Warden Brophy Puts 6 More
on Death Watch to Guard
Condemned Men.
ALL DESPERATE CASES
Prison Now Has the Largest
Number Of Slayers at One
Time in It's History.

Sing Sing PRISONS death house held
yesterday, the largest number Of muir
derers, and the most desperate In the
history of the institution. Warden Ed
ward v. Brophy carries greater re-
sponsibility than any predecessor. He
realizes this so thoroughly that he an
nounced he will at once increase the
death watch by six keepers. These will
be on guard every second Of the time
the twenty-three manslayers are await
ing the call to step through the little
red door.
OF these, only one, possibly. will be
executed before September. This is
Gordon Fawcett Handy who Is not
likely TO appeal his case. Therefore
the warden's company of lost men Is
sure to increase, although. as one OF
the oldest guards said yesterday, Sing
Sing now boards the hardest crowd that
was ever within her walls. 1t Is alb
eolutely necessary to reinforce the death
watch as well as to provide more
guards
1t was said at the prison. yesterday.
that the average person scarcely real
ICES the constant peril in which guards
stand. There is hardly an hour when
they do not risk being assaulted or
slain by men who have no chance what
ever OF escaping the death penalty and
who are careless of consequences.
All that stands between them and
freedom are the watchful keepers.
Oresta Shillitano, who shot his way
out Of the lighthouse just three years
ago, demonstrated that once the death
house guards are disposed OF 1t Is pos
sible for murderer to escape. A
prisoner facing certain death In the
electric chair has nothing to lose by
taking life. IL need be. to try to save
his own. So his every move must be
carefully noted. Every morsel Of food
must be inspected. every visitor
watched, and everything that goes into
the murderer's cell examined to see
that he gets nothing to facilitate self
destruction or escape.
All Desperate Criminals.
What Is particularly dangerous about
the present habitues of "murderers'
row" In Sing Sing Is that nearly all of
them are the hardest type OF murder
ers, men who took human life, not in
At of passion but by deliberate plotting
or in the commission Of robbery or some
other felony
There , 6 been a general Tightening
up" OF .iscipline and vigilance In the
lighthouse since the new warden took
hold. Some changes have been made
there that make escape practically I'm
possible. provi ed. however. the guard
force Is of size commensurate with the
number OF slayers to be watched. War
den Brophy already has seen to II that
there will not only be guards enough
but more than enough.
From unofficial but reliable records II
has been learned who's who" in Sing
Sing murderers' row. Frank Ferrara
OF Manhattan confined there two years.
two months. is the longest occupant Of
condemned" cell.
The latest arrival, Chester Cantine OF
Poughkeepsie. has been there about a
week. Handy Is the most notorious.
while Joseph Cohen Of Manhattan is the
"aristocrat" Of the lot
The slayers and their ofrenses follow:
Gordon Handy. shot and killed De
witt Peal and Henry Coons in a day
light holdup OF the East Brooklyn Saw
ings Bank last December. Sentenced
from Brooklyn by Justice Fawcett- and
has been lodged In Sing Sing two weeks
Joseph Cohen. convicted of directing
the assassination of Barnett Bafr
wealthy poulterer. in trade war in
Manhattan. Sentenced by Justice Tomp-
kins and has been awaiting execution
nearly two years.
Ferrnra Expects Commu tation.
Frank Ferrara, drove the murder car
for the assassins of Baff He has aided
the Investigation OF the Ban murder con-
spiracy and therefore received eleven
stays OF execution. He believes the Gov
ernor will eventually commute his sem
tence for turning States evidence.
James, alias Bull" Cassidy, one Of a
band Of four holdup men who shot and
killed aged Otto Fialo. ticket agent of
the Intervale avenue station of the sub
way In The Bronx He was sentenced
by Justice Mitchell and has been await
ing execution six months.
Joseph Milano. convicted Of murder In
the same robbery and sentenced by the
same Judge at the same time.
Charles Mclaughlin, same offense,
Judge, &c.
Joseph Userrot same crime, Judge, &C.
Chester Cantine, shot and killed Carr
Danzinger. merchant In his store in
daylight holdup In Poughkeepsie. Sem
fenced by Justice Morschauser within
week.
Richard, alias "Ricky" Harrison, ad-
Judged guilty OF the murder of George
GTiftiths, Canadian soldier, in Manhat.
tan. Sentenced five months ago by Jus.
tice Weeks. On the day of sentence he
made a sensational escape from the
the outside Jail wall, but slipped and was
found and recapturei inside the prison
yard where he had fallen.
Allesandro Vollero, sentenced in
Brooklyn by Justice Cropsey for shoot
ing Charles Umbriacco and Nicholas
Norello In a gang feud. In deathhouse
fourteen months. Has a stay OF SEN
tence from Governor until the fall.
Antonio Sansons, convicted OF the
murder OF Giachino Pinetti OF 303 East
1o6th street, Manhattan. Sentenced by
Judge Mcintyre after confessing he had
taken six lives. Has been imprisoned
In the condemned chamber five weeks.
Others I'm BIurderers' Row.
George De Somme Of Peekskill. shot
and killed Frank Cunningham while
hiing at another person in a Jealous
rage over a girl. Sentenced by Justice
TompkinH. and has been awaiting execu-
tion four months.
Michael Casalino. found guilty OF the
murder OF Mrs. Helen Holbach in a
hotel at South Ozone Park. L. !, Sen
fenced by Justice Callaghan. Doomed
60 death for two weeks.
Mugeritch Mihiterian, shot and killed
Gullabi Gulbenkian, rug dealer. OF 225
Fifth avenue. Manhattan. and his
nephew. Seropi Gulbenkian. Sentenced
by Judge Malone and has been IN ''mur-
derers' row. five and one-half months.
Angelo Giordano. found guilty in
Manhattan OF procuring. for money. the
death OF Giuseppe VerraEino OF 81
James street Judge Mott imposed ths