THE ROSENTHAL MURDER.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 56, 30 October 1912, Page 7

THE ROSENTHAL MURDER.

EXTRAORDINARY EVIDENCE. Now York, October 11. The trial of cx-Police Lieutenant Becker, who stands charged with the murder of Herman Rosenthal, who was lured from the Motropole Hotel at 2 o’clock on the morning of July loth, and shot dead by several men in a motor car, is now fairly under way. Louis Kraus, an eye-witness of the shooting, described how the murder was committed. He said that Rosenthal was shot on a signal from one of the conspirators. A man walked out of the Metropole and raised his hands to the level of his eyes. Shots were thereupon fired and Rosenthal who had just emerged from the hotel, fell on the pavement. Kraus identified “Lefty Louie,” “Gyp the Blood,” and “Whitey” Lewis as three of the men who were present at the time of the shooting. Another man who witnessed the murder, John Standish, swore that it was “Whitey” Lewis who fired the shot that killed Rosenthal. Thomas Ryan, a taxi-cab drjver, testified that only one man did the shooting, thus contradicting the evidence of Kraus that several shots were simultaneously fired by at least three persons. A report was current in the courtroom to-day that “Lefty Louie and Frank Cirofici, otherwise “Dago Frank,” were ready to make confessions. New York, October 13.

Interest in the trial was at a high pitch yesterday, when Jack Rose, one of the most important of the witnesses for the prosecution, was called to give evidence. Rose is an alert-eyed, strongly-built man of about 50, whose fingers blaze with diamonds. Among the fraternity with which he associates he is known as “Billiard-Ball Jack,” because of the loss of his eyebrows and hair many years ago. While on the witness stand he displayed unmistakable signs of nervousness, and was unable to meet the gaze of Becker, who never took his eyes off the informer.. Rose’s story was that lie first met Becker last year, when Becker raided his gambling establishment. He became chummy with the lieutenant, and as a result of the confidential chat they had lie agreed to collect on behalf of Becker tribute money from other gamblers. Rosenthal and Becker became acquainted with each other last New Year’s night, when Becker was Rosenthal’s 'guest at dinner. The two men talked mat tens over, and decided to enter into the gambling business together. Becker was to finance the enterprise, and with the £3OO that he provided for the purpose an establishment was started, and witness placed in charge of it. Later on Becker told witness that complaints against Rosenthal’s place were pouring into the office of Police Commissioner Waldo, and that Rosenthal would have to put up with a raid “to keep his (Becker’s) standing good” at headquarters. The establishment was accordingly raided, and two arrests were made. Becker met Rosenthal next morning and promised to make matters right. Becker afterwards retired from the “firm,” and began keeping a policeman always stationed at the premises of Rosenthal, who was consequently unable to do any business. Rosenthal became desperate at these unfriendly tactics, and threatened to tell District-Attorney Whitman of the lieutenant’s previous connection with the place unless the policeman was removed. Witness told Becker that Rosenthal might be silenced. Becker replied, “Ho might bo killed; Jack Zelig’s men could do it. He is getting too dangerous. Tell Zelig and his friends to get him out of the way.” Rose protested against the man being murdered, but Becker said, “Away with him; he must be ‘croaked.’ I will take care that the men do the job. The sentiment at the police headquarters is such that they would gladly give a medal to the man game enough to ‘croak’ Rosenthal. Here is £2O; give it to Zelig, and tell him I want Rosenthal stopped. If they want to save themselves and their friends they had better get rid of him at once.” Rose went on to say that. Becker withdrew from the gambling business because Rosenthal refused to send £IOO when a demand for that amount was made. On the night of the murder Becker said to witness, “Rosenthal is going to tell; wo must act quick.” Witness mot Becker, Harry Yallon, “Lefty Louis,” “Gyp the Blood,” “Bridgie” Webber, the lastnamed being in charge of the murder party. Mr Mclntyre, Becker’s counsel, tried hard to break down Rose’s evidence, but failed. Rose further stated that immediately after the murder lie paid £2OO to the men by whom it was perpetrated. Before the cross-ex-amination of Rose was concluded Mr Mclntyre pleaded for an adjournment, urging that he was too fatigued to continue the case. Judge Goff, however, resolutely refused to adjourn, and declared his intention to go on till midnight. Counsel protested that he was exhausted .He had not had any dinner and could not go on. Judge Goff: The cross-examination would have ended if you had shown any disposition. New York, October 14.

“Bridgie” Webber, one of tbc\ men from whom confessions were obtained, was the principal witness examined to-day. Webber declared that Becker told him that if the gang ‘croaked’ (killed) Rosenthal he would protect it. Witness described the meeting of the gunmen on the eve of the murder, and the arrangements that were made for the slaying of Rosenthal. [Ex-Police Lieutenant Becker was found guilty of the murder of Herman Rosenthal in the first degree, and remanded for sentence.]