Rosenberg Witness Request, 1951
Suggested Teaching Instructions
The jury found both Rosenbergs guilty of conspiracy to commit espionage. At their sentencing, Judge Kaufman declared, “…I consider your crimes worse than murder…I believe your conduct in putting into the hands of the Russians the A-bomb years before our best scientists predicted Russia would perfect the bomb has already caused, in my opinion, the Communist aggression in Korea with the resultant casualties exceeding fifty thousand, and who knows how many millions more of innocent people may pay the price of your treason.”
The Rosenberg's attorney fought for two years to save their lives. But Julius and Ethel were executed at 8:00 p.m. on June 19, 1953, at Sing Sing Prison in Ossining, N.Y. They left behind two young sons.