The record-union., 1892-11-24
BECKER IN COURT.
He Tells the Court Why He Tried to
Dodge the Sheriff,
The Court Remands Him Without Bail
Suspicion OF Dark Plot to
Defeat Justice.

w Imam Becker, allaS O1duSen, VINO Is
alleged to have swindled a countryman
out of $50 some time ago by means of the
bogus freight agent' dodge, and who
was captured in San Francisco Tuesday
by Deputy Sheriff Alter, after a hard
chase, was taken before Superior Judge
Catlin yesterday.
Becker is a smooth talker, and he en-
deavored to convince the court that he
did not mean to Jump" his bail-which,
by the way, has been ordered forfeited
! and he asked the court to let him 90
| again on the same bond. He endeavored
to excuse himself for not appearing in
court by saying that he thought the case
had been postponed for two months. His
excuse for running away from Deputy
Alter was that he wanted to see his law
yer.
Il guess I understand all about this
case" said Judge Catlin, Significantly.
and he remanded Becker to the custody
Of the Sheriff without bonds. The court
evidently had come to the conclusion
that becker was a rather slippery GUS
toner, and had given the authorities
enough trouble already in keeping him
within their reach.
The authorities believe that in Becker's
CeioC q DOlNi l4Ot Llsttt DGCI u3lCNGU QD 10
defeat the ends of justice. ItaDpears That
nearly every time Becker's case was
called he was not present on one preteXt
or another. Some two months ago Judge
Catlin ordered his bonds forfeited. but. at
the suggestion of District Attorney RYAN.
who thought that Beck ers absence was
due to misunderstanding, the order Of
forfeiture was vacated. Then Becker's
case was set again, but once more he did
not appear, and again the bonds were for
! teltcd-th!S time to stay. This last order
OF forfeiture WAS made on Monday last
| 1t was only a shorG time aferward when
a dispatch was received from Lawyer
/ Kip OF San Francisco, who had been re-
| tanned by Becker, saving that his client
| was sick in bed and that his mother was
| dying. Deputy Sheriff Alter went to san
/ Francisco the next day and says he not
only found Becker enjoying good health
! but also in condition 10 give the officer
lively toot-race. Not only this, but the
dying mother" was also found by the
deputy 10 be a myth. The woman
Becker called his mother" was with him
when Alter put III an appearance and is
SAID to be altogether too youthful to have
Il son Of Becker's age. Alter asked her
about her Illness and she explained that
while she was not sick just then she ex-
pected to be shortly, rs she intended Un-
dergoing IL dangerous surgical operation
/ =
ramentO until after this mad been done.
At Becker's request the deputy took
his prisoner to Lawyer kip's Office. lie
had scarcely closed the door when Dis
trict Attorney Ryan, who happened to be
in san Francisco that day, dropped in to
talk with Kip about 5ecke's where
abouts, as Well a. his bondSmen.
Lawyer Kip explained that he had been
deceived in the matter-that word had
been sent to him that both Becker and
his mother were in the condition that he
set forth in his telegraal, ana he supposed
Of course That it was all right.
Mir Kip arrived in this city yesterday
ana had L rsUltation with both District
Attorney Ryan and Judge Catlin. The
object OF his visit was to set himself right
before them.
At the Sheritf7s Office the opinion is
| freely expressed that Becker's bonds are
of the "straw' Yariety-absolutely worth
less. District Attorney Ryan SAYS he is
going to iinu ont about it, and proposes
to begin suit against the hondsmen inn
mediately for the recovery Of the amount
of the hail. The bond was drawn uD in
san Francisco and accepted by Superior
Judge Trout CT that city.
The officials are inclined to believe that
the scheme was TO delay the ease as l0nr
/ as possible i'll order that Becker might
lie nearly Forgotten, then report him dy-
ing ana finally that he was dead-and
have the case dismissed.
Becker is engaged in the pawnbrokiug
business at the metropolis and is said 70
be WeIl-tO-do, having an interest in two
establishments there. lie told one of the
jailers yesterday that Il sucker VINO
would give up his money as easily as did
the couutryman he .s said to have robbed
deserved to lose it, and that such a trans
action should not be called a crime. lie
said, however, that he guessed he was in
''bad box" and was good for two
years"
His trial has been set for next Monday,
and he will be kept IN Jail until that time
to make sure that he Is on hand.