Frank Cirofici

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]

Frank Cirofici
Frank Cirofici, in a 1914 mugshot
Born
Francesco Cirofici

1885 or 1886
Italy
Died(1914-04-13)April 13, 1914 (aged 27-29)
Sing Sing Prison, Ossining, New York, United States
Cause of deathExecution by electrocution
NationalityItalian
Criminal statusExecuted
ParentMaria Cirofici
Conviction(s)First degree murder
Criminal penaltyDeath
Details
VictimsHerman Rosenthal
DateJuly 16, 1912
Frank Cirofici's funeral

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 dodging a camera
Main article: Rosenthal murder case

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
  1. "Rosenthal Case". The Lewiston Daily Sun. 1912-07-24. p. 10. Retrieved 2010-11-15.
  2. "Gunmen's Sentence Nov. 26". Boston Evening Transcript. 1912-11-20. p. 4. Retrieved 2010-11-15.
  3. ""Dago" Frank in the Police Net". The New York Times. 1912-07-26. p. 1. ProQuest 97359385. Retrieved 2023-01-16.
  4. "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. 1907-07-21. p. 11. ProQuest 03624331. Retrieved 2023-01-16.
  5. "Kill Betrayer of 'Dago Frank'". The New York Times. 1912-07-31. p. 1. ProQuest 97359412. Retrieved 2023-01-16.
  6. "Gunmen Guilty in First Degree". The New York Times. 1912-11-20. p. 1. ProQuest 97251541. Retrieved 2023-01-16.
  7. "Gunmen Near Becker in the Death House". The New York Times. 1912-11-27. p. 9. ProQuest 97278979. Retrieved 2023-01-16.
  8. "Gunmen Ask Delay; Want Argument on Their Appeals Put Over Till October". The New York Times. 1913-06-06. p. 1. ProQuest 97473759. Retrieved 2023-01-16.
  9. "Becker Wins New Trial On Errors; Gunmen to Die". The New York Times. 1914-02-25. p. 1. ProQuest 97621863. Retrieved 2023-01-16.
  10. "Gunmen to Make Last Plea To-Day". The New York Times. 1914-03-30. p. 5. ProQuest 97456505. Retrieved 2023-01-16.
  11. "Glynn Denies Gunmen's Appeal". The New York Times. 1914-04-08. p. 1. ProQuest 97527238. Retrieved 2023-01-16.
  12. "New Move Planned to Save Gunmen". The New York Times. 1914-04-10. p. 1. ProQuest 97599142. Retrieved 2023-01-16.
  13. "Glynn Denies Last Appeals". The New York Times. 1914-04-13. p. 2. ProQuest 97543592. Retrieved 2023-01-16.
  14. "Denies Confession Will Help Becker". The New York Times. 1914-04-14. p. 1. ProQuest 97559462. Retrieved 2023-01-16.
  15. "Riley Stands by Clancy". The New York Times. 1914-04-16. p. 3. ProQuest 97689166. Retrieved 2023-01-16.
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