Frank Cirofici

Frank Cirofici's funeral

Francisco Cirofici (1887–1912) aka Frank Murato aka Dago Frank was a New York City criminal, who along with Harry Horowitz, was responsible for the 16 July 1912 murder of the gambler Herman Rosenthal outside the Metropole Hotel.^[1] The murder was ordered by Charles Becker.

Biography

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 on a burglary charge. He was imprisoned for this 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]

Cirocifi was arrested in connection with the Rosenthal murder on 25 July 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 30 July 1912 in retaliation for his supposed betrayal.^[5] Cirofici was convicted of the Rosenthal killing after 25 minutes of jury deliberation on 19 November 1912.^[6] He was sentenced to death on 26 November 1912 for the Rosenthal killing along with Charles Becker, Gyp the Blood, and Lefty Louis Rosenberg by presiding judge John W. Goff.^[7]

The four gunmen appealed their conviction^[8] but Cirofici's guilty verdict, along with Horowitz's and Rosenberg's, was affirmed on 25 February 1914, with Becker winning a new trial.^[9] In March 1914, Cirofici's sister, Mary Cirofici, collected signatures on an appeal for clemency to New York State Governor Martin H. Glynn.^[10] Glynn denied this appeal on 7 April 1914.^[11] On 10 April 1914, Cirofici's lawyers submitted 5 affadavits from 5 alibi witnesses,^[12] and on 12 April 1914, Cirofici's mother and sister attempted to see Glynn to beg for clemency. Glynn refused to allow them into his office, stating that it wouldn't be fair because he hadn't seen the mothers of any of the other men convicted.^[13] Cirofici confessed his guilt in the killing 2 hours before^[14] He was executed in the electric chair in Sing Sing Prison on 13 April 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. July 24, 1912. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=C64gAAAAIBAJ&sjid=gWkFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4314,4342110&dq=dago+frank&hl=en. Retrieved 2010-11-15. 
2. ^ "Gunmen". Boston Evening Transcript. November 20, 1912. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=fog-AAAAIBAJ&sjid=SVoMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4782,3494856&dq=dago+frank&hl=en. Retrieved 2010-11-15. 
3. ^ ^{a b} "'Dago' Frank in the Police Net". New York Times: 1. 26 July 1912. 
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.". New York Times. 21 July 1907. p. 11. 
5. ^ "Kill Betrayer of Dago Frank". New York Times. 31 July 1912. p. 1. 
6. ^ "Gunmen Guilty in First Degree: Jury Takes Just One Ballot and in 25 Minutes is Ready to Announce Verdict.". New York Times. 20 November 1912. pp. 1. 
7. ^ "Gunmen Near Becker in the Death House: Four Sentenced to Die in Week Beginning Jan. 6". New York Times. 27 November 1912. pp. 9. 
8. ^ "Gunmen Ask Delay: Want Argument on their Appeals put over till October". New York Times. 6 June 1913. pp. 1. 
9. ^ "Becker Wins New Trial on Errors, Gunmen to Die.". New York Times. 25 February 1914. pp. 1. 
10. ^ "Gunmen to Make Last Plea Today: Commutation or Reprieve Asked for in their Petition to Gov. Glynn". New York Times. 30 March 1914. pp. 5. 
11. ^ "Glynn Denies Gunmen's Appeal: Refuses Commutation or Reprieve to the Murderers of Rosenthal". New York Times. 8 April 1914. pp. 1. 
12. ^ "New Move Planned to Save Gunmen: Attempt to be Made to get Stay for 'Dago Frank' through Alibi Affadavits". New York Times. 10 April 1914. pp. 1. 
13. ^ "Glynn Denies Last Appeals: Refuses to see Mrs. Cirofici". New York Times. 13 April 1914. pp. 1. 
14. ^ "Denies Confession will Help Becker: Whitman Holds it is Not Evidence and will Ask Tomorrow for New Trial Next Month, Say Others 'Dago Frank' has Proved that the Conspirators Lied on the Stand, they Assert". New York Times. 14 April 1914. pp. 1. 
15. ^ "Riley Stands by Clancy: Warden at Last Moment Sought Reprieve for 'Dago Frank'". New York Times. 16 April 1914. pp. 3. 

Persondata
Name	Cirofici, Frank
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1887
Place of birth
Date of death	13 April 1914
Place of death	Ossining, New York