Frank Cirofici
{{Short description|American gangster and murderer}}
{{Infobox criminal
| name = Frank Cirofici
| birth_name = Francesco Cirofici
| image = Frank_Cirofici_mugshot_from_1914.jpg
| caption = Frank Cirofici, in a 1914 mugshot
| birth_date = {{Birth based on age at death|28|1914|04|13}}
| birth_place = Italy
| death_date = {{Death date|1914|04|13}} (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
}}
File:Dago Frank 5169604784 dbf19500c4 o.jpgFrancesco 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.{{cite news |date=1912-07-24 |title=Rosenthal Case |pages=10 |work=The Lewiston Daily Sun |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=C64gAAAAIBAJ&pg=4314,4342110&dq=dago+frank&hl=en |accessdate=2010-11-15}}
Early life
Francesco Cirofici was born in 1887 in Italy.{{cite news |date=1912-11-20 |title=Gunmen's Sentence Nov. 26 |pages=4 |work=Boston Evening Transcript |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=fog-AAAAIBAJ&pg=4782,3494856&dq=dago+frank&hl=en |accessdate=2010-11-15}} 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.{{Cite news |date=1912-07-26 |title="Dago" Frank in the Police Net |pages=1 |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1912/07/26/archives/dago-frank-in-the-police-net-man-wanted-as-rosenthals-slayer-taken.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=2023-01-16 |id={{ProQuest|97359385}}}} In 1907, Cirofici's name appeared on a list released by the NYPD of gamblers known to make a practice of cheating steamship passengers.{{Cite news |date=1907-07-21 |title=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 |pages=11 |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1907/07/21/archives/look-out-for-card-sharps-on-transatlantic-steamers-there-are-a.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=2023-01-16 |id={{ProQuest|03624331}}}}
Arrest and trial
File:"Dago" Frank dodging a camera LCCN2014687753.jpg
{{Main|Rosenthal murder case}}
Cirofici was arrested in connection with the Rosenthal murder on July 25, 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 July 30, 1912, in retaliation for his supposed betrayal.{{Cite news |date=1912-07-31 |title=Kill Betrayer of 'Dago Frank' |pages=1 |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1912/07/31/archives/kill-betrayer-of-dago-frank-four-gun-fighters-break-into-verrellas.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=2023-01-16 |id={{ProQuest|97359412}}}} Cirofici was convicted of the Rosenthal killing after 25 minutes of jury deliberation on November 19, 1912.{{Cite news |date=1912-11-20 |title=Gunmen Guilty in First Degree |pages=1 |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1912/11/20/archives/gunmen-guilty-in-first-degree-jury-takes-just-one-ballot-and-in-25.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=2023-01-16 |id={{ProQuest|97251541}}}} 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.{{Cite news |date=1912-11-27 |title=Gunmen Near Becker in the Death House |pages=9 |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1912/11/27/archives/gunmen-near-becker-in-the-death-house-four-sentenced-to-die-in-week.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=2023-01-16 |id={{ProQuest|97278979}}}}
The four gunmen appealed their conviction,{{Cite news |date=1913-06-06 |title=Gunmen Ask Delay; Want Argument on Their Appeals Put Over Till October |pages=1 |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1913/06/06/archives/gunmen-ask-delay-want-argument-on-their-appeals-put-over-till.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=2023-01-16 |id={{ProQuest|97473759}}}} 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.{{Cite news |date=1914-02-25 |title=Becker Wins New Trial On Errors; Gunmen to Die |pages=1 |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1914/02/25/archives/becker-wins-new-trial-on-errors-gunmen-to-die-court-of-appeals.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=2023-01-16 |id={{ProQuest|97621863}}}} In March 1914, Cirofici's sister, Mary Cirofici, collected signatures for an appeal for clemency to New York State Governor Martin H. Glynn.{{Cite news |date=1914-03-30 |title=Gunmen to Make Last Plea To-Day |pages=5 |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1914/03/30/archives/gunmen-to-make-last-plea-today-commutation-or-reprieve-asked-for-in.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=2023-01-16 |id={{ProQuest|97456505}}}} Glynn denied the appeal on April 7, 1914.{{Cite news |date=1914-04-08 |title=Glynn Denies Gunmen's Appeal |pages=1 |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1914/04/08/archives/glynn-denies-gunmens-appeal-refuses-commutation-or-reprieve-to-the.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=2023-01-16 |id={{ProQuest|97527238}}}} On April 10, 1914, Cirofici's lawyers submitted five affidavits from five alibi witnesses.{{Cite news |date=1914-04-10 |title=New Move Planned to Save Gunmen |pages=1 |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1914/04/10/archives/new-move-planned-to-save-gunmen-attempt-to-be-made-to-get-stay-for.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=2023-01-16 |id={{ProQuest|97599142}}}}
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.{{Cite news |date=1914-04-13 |title=Glynn Denies Last Appeals |pages=2 |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1914/04/13/archives/glynn-denies-last-appeals-refuses-to-see-mrs-cirofici-extra-guards.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=2023-01-16 |id={{ProQuest|97543592}}}} Cirofici reportedly confessed his guilt in the killing 2 hours before{{Cite news |date=1914-04-14 |title=Denies Confession Will Help Becker |pages=1 |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1914/04/14/archives/denies-confession-will-help-becker-whitman-holds-it-is-not-evidence.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=2023-01-16 |id={{ProQuest|97559462}}}} 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.{{Cite news |date=1914-04-16 |title=Riley Stands by Clancy |pages=3 |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1914/04/16/archives/riley-stands-by-clancy-warden-at-last-moment-sought-reprieve-for.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=2023-01-16 |id={{ProQuest|97689166}}}}
References
{{reflist|40em}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cirofici, Frank}}
Category:Rosenthal murder case
Category:People convicted of murder by New York (state)
Category:People executed by New York (state) by electric chair
Category:American people executed for murder
Category:20th-century executions by New York (state)
Category:20th-century executions of American people
Category:American gangsters of Italian descent
Category:Italian emigrants to the United States
Category:Executed American gangsters
Category:Executed Italian people