The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-10-25
BECKER IS CONVICTED OF MURDER
 lST DEGREE
Jury on First Ballot Stood s to 4 For Second Degree Accused and His Attorney Con- fident That New Trial
 Will be Granted

Becker, now a convicted murderer awaiting the imposition of the death penalty, today recovered a seTnbIance of the iron nerve which has sustained him during the long, hard days of the trial. He was still hopeful. His lawyers had told him that the verdict returned to Justice Golf exactly on the stroke of midnight could not stand. They had explained to him the case progressed each point which they said
 meant reversible error as the result of the decisions of Justice Golf and Chief Counsel Mcintyre, when Golf ended his charge to the jury, had en- tered an exception to the whole of the address and had explained to Becker that no adverse verdict, predicated on such instructions, could stand. So Becker. still hopeful although | realizing full well that there were
 many weary months ahead of him in the grim. wl1ftewashed deatfhouse in the southwestern corner of Sing Sing prison, seemed concerned mostly over that she had fallen into a death-like swoon when she first heard the yer dict, early today, and that after he had passed from her sight across the Bridge of Signs she had again col fapsed, had been kept from him. His memory of the brave little woman, WI1OS0 ptdInLlVG dpp0dI1nS cry, My Charlie is as innocent as a baby . still rang in the ears of those who had heard 1t when she realized that the verdict had spone against the man standing below the Bridge of Signs blowing with both hands kisses of love and affection as. with a guard on each side, he had gone back to the cell which he will occupy until taken to the, prison deatl1house up the river.'''
  innocent. He blamed Justice Gof's charge for the verdict of the jury. He insisted that it was adroitly fram- ed so that every point made by the State was developed for the benefit of the jury while those made by the defense were covered over and en- also regretful that he had not had his. way and gone on the stand to ten tais own story He believed this
 McIntyre and that he would have ex- plaihed the points that stood out against him and at the same time have saved himself from the assaults of the But he accepted the belief of his lawyers that the verdict would not stand and was prepared to philoso- .of the court of appeals.
 - Mcintyre and his associate counsel said that they would appeal the case immediately. In fact, realizing that the decision would almost certainly be against them, they have been care fully preparing their facts for the ap- lately sentence is passed on next Wednesday.
 Under the law of New York State, the filing of a notice of appeal acts so no matter what date is fixed by Justice Golf in imposing sentence, 1t will be a matter of form.
 The verdict was a complete sur prise to nearly everyone who had fol- lowed the case closely. District Attor- ney Whitman, who prosecuted, and his day. that they themselves had expect ed a disagreement and the most they had looked for, if 2, verdict were re- turned, was one of second degree mur- der. So far as Attorney Mcintyre was concerned, however, he had little hope from the time the jury went out He not criticise. he believed the jury could do nothing under the charge but convict and that the only nope he had was that some of the jurymen would hold out against the death pen atty and so bring about disagree ment.
 that Mrs. Becker will be permitted to. visit her husband, daily, until he is taken to Sing Sing.
 Members of the jury refused to dis cuSs details Of their deliberations a1- though it was learned that the 12 were always agreed that Becker's guilt had been proven. the question being the for first degree and four for second degree.
 District Attorney Whitman said he verdict was just and would stand. An attempt to get statement from the police department failed.
 Becker ate a. hearty breakfast in the Tombs, sending to the prison restau- rant for it. He said he was feeling fine but that he could not see the re porters until he had consulted with his counsel.
 Assistant District Attorney Frank Moss admitted, today, that, although many of the principals in the RoSen- thai case had been threatened with death, he himself was probably inn mune.
 T am probably to be safe from the gunmen,'' he said word having come to me direct from the underworld that what I have done in the course of my duty will not be held against mel and that I need have fear.''
 Although admission to the courtroom where the verdict was anonunced was by card, an enormous crowd filled ii1 the corridors of the criminal courts build ing. A number of known gangsters were hustled into the streets.
 The jury had deHberated nearly eight hours before reaching the yer dict, though the case had been in their hands since 2:2O o'clock yesterday af- ternoon Actual deliberation began at 4:O7 o'clock when the doors of the jury room swung behind them on their return from luncheon. What happened behin9 those doors. how the debate ebbed and flowed who stood out eight hours against the fin al verdict, how many ballots were cast these were matters to whose secrecy each juror was pledged.
 Justice Threatened Punishment.
 While the jury was making up its mind, absolute stiffness heightened by the midnight quiet of the streets, pre- vailed in the court room. After the verdict was given no one was allowed to leave tha room until the jury had filed out. Justice Golf had given or ders that anyone disturbing the pro- ceedings in the slightest degree should be brought before him for punish ment.
 Two hundred persons or more gath