Frank Cirofici
Encyclopedia
Francisco Cirofici 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. The murder was ordered by Charles Becker
.
. 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
. In 1907, Cirofici's name appeared on a list released by the NYPD of gamblers known to make a practice of cheating steamship passengers.
Cirocifi was arrested in connection with the Rosenthal murder on 25 July 1912. 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. Cirofici was convicted of the Rosenthal killing after 25 minutes of jury deliberation on 19 November 1912. 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.
The four gunmen appealed their conviction but Cirofici's guilty verdict, along with Horowitz's and Rosenberg's, was affirmed on 25 February 1914, with Becker winning a new trial. In March 1914, Cirofici's sister, Mary Cirofici, collected signatures on an appeal for clemency to New York State Governor Martin H. Glynn
. Glynn denied this appeal on 7 April 1914. On 10 April 1914, Cirofici's lawyers submitted 5 affadavits from 5 alibi witnesses, 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. Cirofici confessed his guilt in the killing 2 hours before 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.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
criminal, who along with Harry Horowitz
Harry Horowitz
Harry Horowitz , also known as Gyp the Blood, was a Jewish-American underworld figure and a leader of the Lenox Avenue Gang in New York City.-Biography:...
, was responsible for the 16 July 1912 murder of the gambler Herman Rosenthal outside the Metropole Hotel. The murder was ordered by Charles Becker
Charles Becker
Charles Becker was a New York City police officer in the 1890s-1910s and who was tried, convicted and executed for ordering the murder of a Manhattan gambler, Herman Rosenthal in the Becker-Rosenthal trial. Becker was the first American police officer to receive the death penalty for murder...
.
Biography
Cirofici was born in 1887 in Italy. He worked as a steam fitter as well as being a member of the Lenox Avenue GangLenox Avenue Gang
The Lenox Avenue Gang was an early 20th century New York City street gang led by Harry Horowitz, and was one of the most violent gangs of the pre-Prohibition era.-History:...
. 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
Elmira Correctional Facility
Elmira Correctional Facility, known otherwise as "the Hill", is a maximum security prison located in New York in the USA. The prison is located in Chemung County, New York in the City of Elmira...
. In 1907, Cirofici's name appeared on a list released by the NYPD of gamblers known to make a practice of cheating steamship passengers.
Cirocifi was arrested in connection with the Rosenthal murder on 25 July 1912. 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. Cirofici was convicted of the Rosenthal killing after 25 minutes of jury deliberation on 19 November 1912. He was sentenced to death on 26 November 1912 for the Rosenthal killing along with Charles Becker
Charles Becker
Charles Becker was a New York City police officer in the 1890s-1910s and who was tried, convicted and executed for ordering the murder of a Manhattan gambler, Herman Rosenthal in the Becker-Rosenthal trial. Becker was the first American police officer to receive the death penalty for murder...
, Gyp the Blood, and Lefty Louis Rosenberg by presiding judge John W. Goff.
The four gunmen appealed their conviction but Cirofici's guilty verdict, along with Horowitz's and Rosenberg's, was affirmed on 25 February 1914, with Becker winning a new trial. In March 1914, Cirofici's sister, Mary Cirofici, collected signatures on an appeal for clemency to New York State Governor Martin H. Glynn
Martin H. Glynn
Martin Henry Glynn was an American politician. He was the 40th Governor of New York from 1913 to 1914, the first Irish American Roman Catholic head of government of what was then the most populated state of the US....
. Glynn denied this appeal on 7 April 1914. On 10 April 1914, Cirofici's lawyers submitted 5 affadavits from 5 alibi witnesses, 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. Cirofici confessed his guilt in the killing 2 hours before He was executed in the electric chair
Electric chair
Execution by electrocution, usually performed using an electric chair, is an execution method originating in the United States in which the condemned person is strapped to a specially built wooden chair and electrocuted through electrodes placed on the body...
in Sing Sing Prison on 13 April 1914, despite warden James M. Clancy
James M. Clancy
-Biography:He was warden during the July 1913 prison fire. Clancy tried to resign in October 1913, then again in April 1914.-References:...
's attempt to grant him a temporary reprieve to allow Glynn to evaluate Cirofici's confession.