Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-02-01
THE RICHMOND DISPATCH "WEDNESDAY. FEBRUARY 1899.

on the 18th day of January. Becker came
TO see me at my house In company with
a friend. He Informed me that his family
had been detained at the place provided
by the government for the accommoda-
tons Of the ignorant immigrants who are
so unfortunate as to be detained by the
authorities.
II thought then II was simply some
trouble about Identification. and / pro-
cured copy OF Becker's naturalization
papers from the Clerk OF the Hastings
Court and prepared affidavits Of four
reputable citizens Of this city who swore
that they knew Becker. and that he was
the identical Moritz Becker that they
had known for many years. The credibll-
~ Of these witnesses was certified TO by
the Mayor Of this city. These papers
were forwarded at once 10 the commits
sioner's office at New York, but still the
family was held.
SHE DID NOT UNDERSTAND"
II do not deny that the woman made
statements that were misleading; in fact,
I hardly see how she could do otherwise.
She was a stranger TO our language and
our customs. and In her perplexity and
excitement she must have said many
things. subjected, al she was TO the
searching and TO her unlntelligibl0 eX-
/
migration. that cannot be substantiated'
but for all that. she did finally tell the
truth. and exhibited to the authorities
her marriage certificate. as l am credibly
Informed NV father and law partner.
who was in New York from the 10Th 70
the 10Th Of January. connected with
other business. was requested by me 10
visit the Barge office and see what the
trouble was He called there. and had
several interviews. During one Of them
! the woman stated TO one Of the commits
sioners that she had her marriage certlh-
| cate in her trunk Mr.. White was pres
, ent at this interview. Ny father did not
see the certificate. but he has no doubt
/ that she had IT.
WAS MARRIED TWICE.
/ "The statement in the POST tries "a
/ throw doubt upon the parentage Of the
/ Becker children. but purposely Ignores
/ the fact that Becker was married twice
and only one OF these chillren Vh,
/ voungesO Is by the second marriage.
: WAS Informed by the manager Of the
/ United Hebrew Charities q New York
who were making every effort they coulC
| 10 obtain the release Of this family. thai
they could do nothing further in New
| York ,and advised an appeal 10 Mr.
| Powderly or a writ OF habeas corpus
1 preferred the former. and proceeded L
/ Washington. where ! was fortunate
. enough 10 procure the Kind offices o
/ Colonel James D. Brady. who went Will
me 10 the Commissioner and helped m'
very much.
THE COMMISSIONERS GREETING.
'The first greeting / received from tn
/ Commissioner was You come 10 see m
about the Becker case. / am sorry f.
YOU. for we are going 10 send that man u
iaH. He has made many false statements
besides. his naturalization papers ar
fraudulent The Commissioner had evi
IDENTIFY prejudged the case. No argument
or entreaty Of any character availed, an
although Mr.. Powderly allowed ms to tall
for nearly two hours, he Informed me ina
nothing-not even a bond which J otere
10 have executed in any reasonabi
amount for the maintenance OF the chi
dren and mother-would alter his declsioi
asked for time 10 apply 10 the courts 10
a writ of habeas corpus. but this was r.
fused and ! was told that the famil
would be deported on Saturday, whic
was done.
Il am satisfied I'm my own mind ina
/ n proceeding before the courts would haN
secured the release of this poor family
but Becker could not afford to empio
counsel and pay the expenses attendar
upon a suit Of this character IN Ne" 1oii
and so had to let his family 60
WITNESSES TO THE MARRIAGE.
Mr.. Flegenheimer in further dlscussin
the case. said that Becker had been r.
cognized by his friends here as ma
ried man. and that he had number
friends i'm Baltimore who could testI
10 having seen him married In Russl'
The ahidavits 10 Becker's good characte
which were presented 10 Commission
Powderly were signed by Samuel Sheel
the jeweller Of this city; Adoiph Billiko
proprietor OF a cigar store on lower Mai
street; Mr. Schnurman. for whom Beck'
worked. and MI Samuel Bendit, Depui
United States Marshal.