Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-03-01
TO ARREST BECKER,
The Russian May Be Taken
Into Custody This Morning,
COM'R POWDERLY HERE,
He Comes TO Confer With District.
Attorney Allan Touching the Case.
HE SAYS THE CASE is CLEAR oxH
In an Interesting Interview He
States That the Woman Repudiated
Richmond Man, and Denied 10 the
Last That lie Was Her Husband.

'''s 'h"t ht WIN ttf husUNnO.
Moritz Becker. the Russian who was
brought into prominence recently through
his unsuccessful effort to import to this
country family which he claimed to be
his, WILL In all probability be prosecuted
Tor Illegally obtaining naturalization
papers from the Hastings Court of this
city, and it is thought likely that he may
DE arrested to-day, though this move has
not yet been determined upon.
Hon. Terrence V. Powdery. Commits
sioner OF immigration, by whose orders
the Becker family was deported from
! these shores. arrived in the city last night.
| ana is quartered at the Jefferson. where
| He was seen by Dispatch man shortly
atter his arrival. He came here for the
! purpose of conferring with District-Attor-
ney Allan concerning what is best TO be
done in the Becker case. and on this con.
ference hangs Beckers fate. Mr.. Allan
! has investigated the case and made a
report to the department at Washington.
which. it is understood. recommends that
Becker be prosecuted. and it is thought
that Mr. Powderly Will endorse his recom-
mendation and advise that he proceed
| forthwith
| SHE REPUDIATED BECKER.
Mr.. Powdery told 'he reporter last
night that he thought 1t likely that a
| strong case would be made out against
Becker. Said he: "The man has made
misrepresentation throughout this case.
ana while our acti)n in deporting the
| family may have seemed inhuman to
those who were not I'm possession of the
facts, tAere was nothing left for us to do
Nhen the woman came TO this country
she gave the name OF Margion Franck.
and said she had left her husband in
Russia, he having furnished the money
| win winch To pay her passage over here.
| becker then came along and claimed TO
De her husband, though this she strenu-
ouSly denied, asserting on oath that he
was her brother After the case was
brought TO my attention she was given
an opportunity 10 amend her statement.
she declined 10 do so, however, and as
serted to the last that her husband was
IN Russia and that Becker was her
brother She declined positively 10 ac-
H.. Il
believe she told the truth.
CHILD HAD TO RETURN.
There was another reason for dopor,.
ing the family which thought All sufri-
cent and that was that one Of tho chill
dreh was suffering with favus This Dis
ease has been pronounced contagious bv
one of the most eminent surgeons. ana II
would have been wrong for us 10 have
admitted that child and permitted IL TO
| mnBie with and spread the disease among
other children Of this land. We could
not, therefore, permit the child TO land
here. and IL would have been inhuman
indeed to have sent it back and separa ed
1t from its mother We. therefore. de.
ported the whole family, and don't think
We erred"
Suppose. Mr. Powderly" the reporter
querled. you should ascertain after
Becker Is tried that his statements were
true, and that IL was his wife and chill
dren who were deported will the govern
ment send for the unfortunates and bring
them back at It's expense"
"Undoub,edly not" came the prompt
Response, but they will be permitted 20
return here. ana / Will go into my pocket
and help defray their expenses back
here"
"Do you have many such cases as ths?'
was next asked
"A great many, but It 50 happens that
they do not get into the papers, and.
therefore We are not criticised. / have
similar case on hand now"
"What about Mr.. Flegenheimers state
ment that you had prejudged the Becker
case before you heard argument on it2"
Quercd the reporter.
, II prejudged nothing" was Mr.. Pow
derys quick reply. "Mr. F1egenheimer
came TO me and insisted that | should
issue an order resembling that issued from
the New York bureau for the deportation
Of the family, but / could not do So be-
y cause the case was not properly before
me on an appeal. and | 30 tofd him II
/ | case Is pending In lower court and
- the attorney for the defendant goes 10
the Judge OF a higher court and asks
, ! that he then take the case on an appeal.
do you think he would do so? Not at
all. The case would have TO come up
i I'm its regular form, and that j. what
| insisted upon. or course. the writ OF
y habeas corpus would lie In such cases.
$ | and that plan Of procedure might have
a been adopted by Mr.. Flegenheimer. He
r. had recourse 20 that writ. but he did not
L avail himself Of II.
A VIGOROUS PROSECUTION.
80 far as Becker himself is concerned.
: II II be shown that he obtained his natu-
$ ralizatlon papers fraudulently. he will be
n prosecuted vigorously. II, on the con-
{ trary. 10 be shown that he was guiltless,
o | and that his statement was true, he VIII
c be honorably acquitted and his family
T. will be restored to him. His afhdayit
Il submitted 10 me was, however. one or
. the nimslest documents ! ever saw. Ap-
- parent lmpoHsibuities were cited In II and
= sworn 10 as facts. | don't think We Will
be called upon 20 bring the Becker fam
e lis back 20 this country, but II We aTe l
h shall hold 10 my promise 10 defray in
o part the expenses Of the voyage"
e Mr. Powdtrly will remain here to-day,
a and will return 10 Washington tonight.
@ He will probably converse with Becker
@ ere he departs.
TH= NA/GathGr