Wikipedia baseline:Frank Cirofici
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Frank Cirofici
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Frank Cirofici, in a 1914 mugshot
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| Born |
Francesco Cirofici
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| Died | (1914-04-13)April 13, 1914 (aged 27-29) Sing Sing Prison, New York, United States
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| Status | Executed by electrocution |
| Conviction | First degree murder |
| Penalty | Death |
| Details | |
| Victims | Herman Rosenthal |
| Date | July 16, 1912 |
Francesco Cirofici (also known as Frank Murato or Dago Frank, 1887 – April 13, 1914) was an Italian-American criminal and gangster, who, along with Harry Horowitz, was responsible for the July 16, 1912, murder of gambler Herman Rosenthal outside the Hotel Metropole.[1]
Early life
Francesco Cirofici was born in 1887 in Italy.[2] He worked as a steam fitter as well as being a member of the Lenox Avenue Gang. Before his arrest in connection with the Rosenthal killing, he had been arrested only once. In 1905, he was imprisoned on a burglary charge in the Elmira Correctional Facility.[3] In 1907, Cirofici's name appeared on a list released by the NYPD of gamblers known to make a practice of cheating steamship passengers.[4]
Arrest and trial
Cirofici was arrested in connection with the Rosenthal murder on July 25, 1912.[3] It was rumored that Cirofici had been betrayed to the police by the owner of the Dante Café, James Verrella. Verrella was murdered on July 30, 1912, in retaliation for his supposed betrayal.[5] Cirofici was convicted of the Rosenthal killing after 25 minutes of jury deliberation on November 19, 1912.[6] He was sentenced to death on November 26, 1912, for the Rosenthal killing along with Charles Becker, Harry Horowitz, and "Lefty Louis Rosenberg" by Judge John W. Goff.[7]
The four gunmen appealed their conviction,[8] but Cirofici's guilty verdict, along with the verdicts of Horowitz and Rosenberg, were affirmed on February 25, 1914, with Becker winning a new trial.[9] In March 1914, Cirofici's sister, Mary Cirofici, collected signatures for an appeal for clemency to New York State Governor Martin H. Glynn.[10] Glynn denied the appeal on April 7, 1914.[11] On April 10, 1914, Cirofici's lawyers submitted five affidavits from five alibi witnesses.[12]
Two days later, on April 12, 1914, Cirofici's mother and sister attempted to see Glynn to beg for clemency. Glynn refused to allow them into his office and stated it would not be fair as he had not seen the mothers of any of the other men convicted.[13] Cirofici reportedly confessed his guilt in the killing 2 hours before[14] he was executed in the electric chair in Sing Sing Prison on April 13, 1914, despite warden James M. Clancy's attempt to grant him a temporary reprieve to allow Glynn to evaluate Cirofici's confession.[15]
References
- ^ "Rosenthal Case". The Lewiston Daily Sun. July 24, 1912. p. 10. Retrieved November 15, 2010.
- ^ "Gunmen's Sentence Nov. 26". Boston Evening Transcript. November 20, 1912. p. 4. Retrieved November 15, 2010.
- ^ a b ""Dago" Frank in the Police Net". The New York Times. July 26, 1912. p. 1. ProQuest 97359385. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
- ^ "Look Out for Card Sharps on Transatlantic Steamers; There Are a Number of Professional Gamblers On the White Way to Europe and Only the Captains Know Who They Are". The New York Times. July 21, 1907. p. 11. ProQuest 03624331. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
- ^ "Kill Betrayer of 'Dago Frank'". The New York Times. July 31, 1912. p. 1. ProQuest 97359412. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
- ^ "Gunmen Guilty in First Degree". The New York Times. November 20, 1912. p. 1. ProQuest 97251541. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
- ^ "Gunmen Near Becker in the Death House". The New York Times. November 27, 1912. p. 9. ProQuest 97278979. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
- ^ "Gunmen Ask Delay; Want Argument on Their Appeals Put Over Till October". The New York Times. June 6, 1913. p. 1. ProQuest 97473759. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
- ^ "Becker Wins New Trial On Errors; Gunmen to Die". The New York Times. February 25, 1914. p. 1. ProQuest 97621863. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
- ^ "Gunmen to Make Last Plea To-Day". The New York Times. March 30, 1914. p. 5. ProQuest 97456505. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
- ^ "Glynn Denies Gunmen's Appeal". The New York Times. April 8, 1914. p. 1. ProQuest 97527238. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
- ^ "New Move Planned to Save Gunmen". The New York Times. April 10, 1914. p. 1. ProQuest 97599142. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
- ^ "Glynn Denies Last Appeals". The New York Times. April 13, 1914. p. 2. ProQuest 97543592. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
- ^ "Denies Confession Will Help Becker". The New York Times. April 14, 1914. p. 1. ProQuest 97559462. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
- ^ "Riley Stands by Clancy". The New York Times. April 16, 1914. p. 3. ProQuest 97689166. Retrieved January 16, 2023.