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Rosenthal murder case

SOLVED1912Near Hotel Metropole, 147 West 43rd Street, Manhattan, New York City2 SOURCESUPDATED JUL 2026
Illustrative

Herman Rosenthal was a small-time bookmaker and gambler operating illegal casinos in Manhattan. In July 1912, the New York World named NYPD Lieutenant Charles Becker as one of three senior police officials implicated in Rosenthal's complaints that police were demanding a large share of his illegal profits in exchange for allowing his operations to continue. Two days after this article was published, at around 2 a.m. on July 16, 1912, Rosenthal was shot and killed on the street after leaving the Hotel Metropole at 147 West 43rd Street, near Times Square. Contemporary reports described the suspected gunmen as a Lower East Side gang.

Manhattan District Attorney Charles S. Whitman, who had an appointment scheduled with Rosenthal before the killing, stated his belief that the gangsters had acted at Becker's behest. An early witness, John J. Reisler ("John the Barber"), told police he saw "Bridgey" Webber fleeing the scene, but recanted his statement the following week, reportedly after being threatened; he was subsequently charged with perjury.

The case drew extensive newspaper coverage, including sustained front-page attention from The New York Times, as investigators uncovered links between the killing and organized gambling and police corruption. The NYPD recalled about 30 retired detectives to assist the investigation. One of them, Detective Frank Upton, formerly of the department's "Italian Squad," was involved in the July 25, 1912 arrest of suspect Francisco "Dago Frank" Cirofici, who was arrested along with a companion; both were reported to have been too affected by opium to resist arrest. Policewoman Mary A. Sullivan went undercover to gain the trust of women connected to the suspects, contributing to the investigation's progress.

The Becker–Rosenthal trial took place in New York City, running from October 7 to October 30, 1912, and resuming from May 2 to May 22, 1914, with additional procedural matters continuing into 1915. Five men were convicted of murder and sentenced to death: former Lieutenant Charles Becker, who was charged with ordering the killing and with protecting and extorting money from illegal gamblers, along with gunmen Francisco Cirofici ("Dago Frank"), Harry Horowitz ("Gyp the Blood"), Louis Rosenberg ("Lefty Louie"), and Jacob Seidenshner ("Whitey Lewis"). All five were executed at Sing Sing Prison.

Several other figures played roles in the case without being charged with the murder, including gambler-informants Jack Rose, Sam Schepps, Harry Vallon, and Louis "Bridgey" Webber, who testified against the defendants, and gang leader Jack Zelig, who was killed before he could testify for the prosecution. Charles Whitman, the prosecuting district attorney, was later elected Governor of New York in 1914.

Key facts

Victims
Herman Rosenthal
Date
1912
Location
Near Hotel Metropole, 147 West 43rd Street, Manhattan, New York City
Case status
solved

Case timeline

  1. 1912-07

    New York World names NYPD Lieutenant Charles Becker among senior police officials implicated in Herman Rosenthal's allegations of police extortion from illegal gambling.

  2. 1912-07-16

    Herman Rosenthal is shot and killed on the street outside the Hotel Metropole in Manhattan at approximately 2 a.m.

  3. 1912-07-25

    Detective Frank Upton assists in the arrest of suspect Francisco 'Dago Frank' Cirofici.

  4. 1912-10

    Becker–Rosenthal trial begins in New York City, running from October 7 to October 30.

  5. 1914-05

    Trial proceedings resume, running from May 2 to May 22.

  6. 1915

    Additional procedural events in the case take place.

Best coverage

No approved coverage links are attached yet.

People

  • Frank Upton

    LAW ENFORCEMENT

    NYPD detective, formerly of the 'Italian Squad,' recalled from retirement to assist the investigation and involved in the arrest of Francisco Cirofici.

  • Herman Rosenthal

    VICTIM

    Bookmaker and gambler murdered outside the Hotel Metropole in Manhattan on July 16, 1912.

  • Louis Rosenberg

    CONVICTED

    Gunman known as 'Lefty Louie,' convicted of murder and executed at Sing Sing Prison.

  • Mary A. Sullivan

    LAW ENFORCEMENT

    NYPD policewoman who went undercover to gain the trust of women connected to the suspects.

  • Charles Seymour Whitman

    LAW ENFORCEMENT

    Manhattan District Attorney who prosecuted the case and stated his belief the gangsters acted at Becker's behest; later elected Governor of New York.

  • Harry Horowitz

    CONVICTED

    Gunman known as 'Gyp the Blood,' convicted of murder and executed at Sing Sing Prison.

  • Francisco Cirofici

    CONVICTED

    Gunman known as 'Dago Frank,' convicted of murder and executed at Sing Sing Prison.

  • John J. Reisler

    CHARGED

    Witness who reported seeing 'Bridgey' Webber fleeing the crime scene, then recanted and was charged with perjury.

  • Jacob Seidenshner

    CONVICTED

    Gunman known as 'Whitey Lewis,' convicted of murder and executed at Sing Sing Prison.

  • Charles Becker

    CONVICTED

    Former NYPD lieutenant convicted of ordering Rosenthal's murder and of protecting/extorting illegal gamblers; executed at Sing Sing Prison.

Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.

Places

Near Hotel Metropole, 147 West 43rd Street, Manhattan, New York City

40.7566, -73.9878

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Common questions

What happened to the victim?
Herman Rosenthal, a Manhattan bookmaker who had accused NYPD officers of extorting protection money from his illegal gambling operations, was shot dead outside the Hotel Metropole in July 1912. NYPD Lieutenant Charles Becker and four gunmen were later convicted of ordering and carrying out the murder and were executed at Sing Sing Prison.
Where did the murder happen?
Near Hotel Metropole, 147 West 43rd Street, Manhattan, New York City.
Who was convicted?
Louis Rosenberg (Gunman known as 'Lefty Louie,' convicted of murder and executed at Sing Sing Prison.), Harry Horowitz (Gunman known as 'Gyp the Blood,' convicted of murder and executed at Sing Sing Prison.), Francisco Cirofici (Gunman known as 'Dago Frank,' convicted of murder and executed at Sing Sing Prison.), Jacob Seidenshner (Gunman known as 'Whitey Lewis,' convicted of murder and executed at Sing Sing Prison.), and Charles Becker (Former NYPD lieutenant convicted of ordering Rosenthal's murder and of protecting/extorting illegal gamblers; executed at Sing Sing Prison.).
What is the current status of the case?
Status: solved.
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Sources

  1. ENCYCLOPEDICRosenthal murder caseWikipedia · 2026-07-10
  2. PRESSContemporaneous coverage — flickr.comflickr.com · 2026-07-10