Evening star., 1944-03-05
Il Lepke Elecfrocuted
with Two Associates
I'm Murder Syndicate
Continued From First Page. }

ical figure" who was back of several
crimes" The News said this name
was given to Mr.. Hogan in addition
to those of three nationally prom
inent men Buchalter had named
previously.
There had been frequent conjec-
ture in the past week as the time
Of the execution drew near that
Buchalter would Sing" or tell of
others connected with his crimes
in an effort to save his life.
Mr.. Hogan refused to comment on
the News report that several men
had been named to him by Buch-
alter as implicated in the racket
kings affairs.
"a See Executions.
Twenty-four witnesses saw the
executions. 1t was said to be the
first Saturday night execution at
Sing Sing since 1917. Originally
scheduled for Thursday night, the
three executions were delayed until
tonight by an 11th-hour stay of
execution by the Governor.
The portly gang chieftain ate
hearty final meals, apparently conf
dent that he would receive seventh
stay OF execution.
Mrs. Buchalter spent part Of her
husbands last hours with him, and
left the prison with other relatives
OF the condemned men shortly
after $50.
Assistant District Attorney Burton
Turkus of Brooklyn, who prosecuted
the three men, said in comment on
their execution:
with the international gangsters
still to be brought to justice, pro-
cess that will cost the lives of count
less thousands of innocent persons
the passing of Lepke is of compare
lively little significance"
Buchalter's hope for life through
the courts was exhausted 10 hours
before execution time when the Su-
preme Court refused a petition that
would have caused another stay OF
execution.
About the time the Supreme Court
was considering an appeal to review
lower court denial of a writ ulti-
mately designed to return Buchalter
to Federal custody, Buchalter's wife
Betty. gave this statement to re-
porters at a restaurant within the
prisons shadow, saying it was from
her husband:
Il am anxious to have it clearly
understood that I did not offer to
talk and give information in ex-
change for any promise of a COM
mutation Of my death sentence (for
the 1896 murder OF Joseph Rosen
in Brooklyn)
Insists on Innocence.
II did not ask for that. I insist
that I am not guilty of the Rosen
murder, that the witnesses against
me lied and that did not receive a
fair trial.
-Four out of seven judges of the
(New York State) Court of Appeals
thought Weiss, Capone and I were
not guilty. Judge Harlan w. Rippey
said we were not given a remote
outside chance of any fair consider
alton Of our defense by the jury
and that the evidence wasn't enough
to submit to the jury.
THE one and only thing have
asked for is to have a commission
appointed to examine the facts In
the Rosen case. II that examination
does not show I am not guilty, am
willing to 60 to the chair regardless
OF what information I have given
or can give"
(The Court Of Appeals affirmed
the conviction Of Buchalter, Ca
pone and Weiss for the Rosen
murder by four three deci-
sion, Chief Judge Irving Lehman
writing the majority opinion and
Judge Rippey the minority opin-
ion.)
No Statement Received.
AT Albany earlier in the dav
Charles D. Breitel, counsel to Gov
Dewey, said no testimony or state
ments by Buchalter have been re-
ceived or are expected" by Gov
Dewey's ofIice.
Contrary to published reports, ,
said Mr.. Breitel, there have been
no communications between any one
IN the executive Offices and
Buchalter."
Through the many months the
case was argued between State and
Federal ofhcials-the State wanted
Buchalter shifted from Federal
vl1n