The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1907-05-25
BECKER SAW
GIRL KILLED
Says Tall SIav Murdered
Amelia StaffeIdt.
CONFRONTED BY CORPSE
Prisoner Breaks Down Under Ter
ribIe Third Degree Ordeal
COntrived by Police.

NEW YORK. May 25.-After thrill.
Ing scene, In which he was confront.
ed with the dead body OF murdered
Amelia Staifeldt, Henry Becker, under
arrest on suspicion OF being connected
with the crime, broke down and made
a confession In which he admitted that
he was near the scene OF the killing
and that his companion. tall slay
with black mustache, was struggling
with the girl Just previous TO her muir
der.
II was while ON the way from the
undertnker's In Winfield TO the railway
station that Becker made his confes-
sion. The detectives accused him OF
knowing more OF the tragedy than he
had admitted. and he said:
I'VE were going along the road and
saw the girl In the meadow. We hirt-
ed with her. aud the other fellow he
went over 10 where the girl was. |
saw him take hold Of her. and then she
screamed. got frightened and ran
away. looked back once more aud
saw the other fellow aud the girl fight
ing. and she was screaming. ran on
and did not look back any more !
went into yard and washed my
hnnds. and the other fellow came
along and he washed his hands. Then
he went away. he going one way and
I another. have not seen him since
That is the whole truth. 50 help me
God"
II was n powerfully dramatic and
significant scene when Becker was con
fronted by the dead body OF the victim
OF the crime.
without telling Becker where they
intended 90 take him. Detectives Gal.
win and Graham led him from his cell
IN Long Island City and conducted
him TO the undertaking establishment
where lies the body OF the murdered
girl.
Becker was marched Into the little
room and halted nj the foot OF the
slab. As he stood there wondering
what was TO H. done the covering was
suddenly pulled on the body and he
was hooking Into the white face OF the
dead girl.
Uttering n shrek. Becker staggered
back aud falling ON his knees crossed
himself and mumbled something In n
foreign language. which was translat-
ed by n man who understood II as
being. Would 10 God I could bring
her back 10 life"
Cringlng. mumbllng and moaning A.
he swaycd back and forth on the noor
the terror stricken man presented a
piilable spectacle
When asked n he knew the girl and
had met her. he said he did. but could
not remember where. although be
thought Il was In n house. lie admit.
tel he had seen the girl on wednos.
day. hut denied that he had killed her
who tore up the transfersr' sud.
denly asked Detective Calvin.
1t was the other fellow" was the
reply.
Becker described the other man a.
tall. with n dark mustache. and ad-
mlttcd that he and the other fellow
had washed their hands at pump be-
fore they went away.
When Becker was finally taken away
he stopped before leaving the room and
knelt down aud said. God bless her
whole family"
Central Office detectives were at work
on new clew which they believe will
lead to the murderer. This clsw.
which l. said 10 involve a relative of
the girl. was furnished 20 the police
by members Of the Stnffcldt family
The impression prevails about Elm.
hurst that the officers are ON the right
track and will make On arrest soon.
The name OF the suspect was care.
fully guarded. The members OF the
family. too. were very secretiye over
the newly developed feature OF the
cHse. the police having apparently
warned them not 10 discuss any phase
OF the mystery except with certain de
tcctlvcs.
Ralph Kornback. a brother.in.law Of
the murdered girl. l. said 10 have made
60 the central Office men the following
statement:
Il know that my sistcrin-law was
murdered by a man she knew and
who Il her relative"