Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-03-10


given of Beckers arrival in the United
States.
Mr.. Wise: Does not your record show
that Mr.. Stern was on the jury at the
ume these papers were issued?
witness: IL does; but he was not on
ne jury when the questions were asked.
Rc-eXaminod witness stated that no
thing was said as 10 the reasons that
The papers were sought by Becker. The
papers were undoubtedly obtained on the
strength OF the statements Of stern ana
Rosenbloom. and the action OF the court
was predicatcd on the statements or these
gentlemen. for Reckcr was told. when he
first applied that the papers could not be
issued on his own statement.
''IIow soon after the 4th was it?' ask
ed MIR Allan. that YOU received an in
timation that probable fraud had been
committed?" Witness could not say
whether it was within week or not.
He had heard rumors before he was
approached by Federal officials.
Questioned by Mr.. Wise. witness said
ne clearly understood Mortz Becker
when he FIRST made application for the
papers. in spite Of his broken English.
He did not tell the accused TO bring
friends with him.
CHANGE OF GIVEN NAME
Replying to Mr. Flegenhelmor. witness
said there had been some question as To
the entry of an order of court changing
the form Of Beckers given name as It ap-
peared in the naturalization papers. to its
Russian form. lie did not think he could
have been mistaken in the age given by
Becker as he was in the name. His age.
as II appears in The papers. was made up
from calculation based upon the dates
given.
Judge Witt was next called. Replying
TO the District Attorney, he stated that
he presided in the Hastings Court when
application was made by Montz Becker
for naturalization papers There are
number Of such applications made in the
court. lie remembered that Mr. Stern
and some other gentlemen whom he did
not know were there The applicant.
when he first came, was not satisfactory,
and ne went away and returned later. II
was "a very busy term, and ne paid little
attention TO the matter. 1T was made
clear TO him by the Deputy Clerk that
Becker was under q years Of age when
he came 10 this country, and an things
being clear and satisfactory, the papers
were issued. 1t was about a month after
the matter that his attention was called
TO it. and IL created no particular impress
sion upon his mind at the time, beyond
being perfectly clear 10 him that every
thing was regular.
Mr.. William II. Dunn was the next wit
ness. He stated that ne was ignorant
of the date and circumstances under
which Becker first came to Richmond.
He first saw him March. 1891. He knew
nothing of his antecedents. Becker was
engaged 10y Mr. \. Molloy, who is con-
nected with witness and is at present on
his way to this city from Philadelphia.
EVIDENCE OF MIR. KAPLAN.
Mr.. Max Kaplan was next called He
was examined through an interpreter.
He said he was 4 tailor. He had known
accused six years, and met him nrst in his
house in Baltimore He did not know
how long accused had lived in the United
States or where he came from originally.
He knew Marguerite Frank, because she
wrote to him that she had taken passage
for this country under that name, because
she had been unable TO take passage un-
der the name OF her husband. Witness
had always known the woman as the wife
Of Becker, and she always went under his
name. Becker lived in Baltimore two
years. Witness knew from what his
father-in-law had written TO him from
Russia that she had been the wife of
Becker for seven years. Becker spoke fre-
duently of his wife and family Nhile he
lived i'm Baltimore. and witness frequently
received letters from friends and relatives
i'm Russia containing news of Becker's
family. and he transmitted the news
Witness had many conversations With
Becker regarding his wife and family, and
stated that he married IN Riga He
never asked him of the date OF the mur-
riage, because he never thought it neces-
sary. He never asked how old his young
est child was, but he knew when the
child was born, as did Becker. lie could
not remember where Becker was when
the child was born. He never saw
Becker in the United States until some
five or six years ago. and did not know
whether he had been here prior TO that
time. Witness's own father and mother
in-law reside in Baltimore. They have
been ia this country sin years, but Wit
ness could not say whether they were here
before he met Becker in Baltimore. Wit
ness did not know Beckcr's first wife: his
second wife was q cousin OF Witnesses.
Becker introduced himself as the nus
band of his cousin, and witnesses father
in-law recognized Becker as the husband
of the woman. His father-in-law had
been present at the marriage at Riga.
HEARING ADJOURNED OVER.
AT TINS stage MT. AIldl asked the AOll-
missioner TO postpone the further hearing
until Saturday afternoon. His reasons
were. he said that two important wit
nesses were absent one was on his way
from Philadelphia. whose evidence would
be necessary To show that Becker came
to Richmond March. 1897 BY another wit
ness he would show that Becker was mar
ried i'm Russia within eight years,
though the birth Of his youngest child
would prove that He would also intro
ducc testimony 10 show that Becker lived
i'm Russia within the period that he swOre
I'm the Hastings Court that he had lived
Continuously I'm the United states He
did not care 10 introduce at this point tne
statements of the accused or ol Mr..
Lewis H. Robinson, the governmen, Otf-
cial. After some argument between cOun- !
sci il was decided 10 postpone the further !
hearing of the case until Monday morn
ing at 1890 O'Clock. the cnange being !
made i'm Difference 90 the religious prin- |
ciples of certain of the witnesses.
The bail bond Of Moritz Becker was |
renewed Mr.. Henry Schnurman again !
becoming surety. and the amount being !
fixed AT $3.50.