Frank Cirofici Explained

Frank Cirofici
Birth Name:Francesco Cirofici
Birth Place:Italy
Death Date: (aged 27-29)
Death Place:Sing Sing Prison, Ossining, New York, United States
Death Cause:Execution by electrocution
Nationality:Italian
Criminal Penalty:Death
Parents:Maria Cirofici
Victims:Herman Rosenthal
Date:July 16, 1912
Conviction:First degree murder
Conviction Status:Executed

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

See 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]

Notes and References

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