Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-08-01

New York, July 3O.-SWorn state-
ments, tending to show that the an
n1,al graft collected by high police Of
6cials in New York city from gamb-
ling houses and other illegal resorts
has amounted within the last year to
81, 400, 900, are in the hands of District
Attorney Whitman tonight. The
statements were made to the district
attorney to-day by BALD" Jack Rose,
self accused graft collector for Police
Lieutenant Charles Becker, head Of the
'strong arm squad" who tonight be-
gan his second day Of incarceration in
4lfe Tonfbs prison as an alleged insti-
gator Of the murder Of Herman Ros-
enthal the gambler.
This annual yield of s2,400.O00 pro-
lection money was equall-- divided, ac
cording to the story told by Rose.
among four high officials of the po-
1ice department one Of them being
, Becker. and from other evidence the
district attorney has collected ne has
reason to suspect that each 100000
was further distributed. In otheC
, words there were four separate sys
/: TENS Of bureaus Of graft collection
each headed by n high police official.
Mr.. Whitman. 1t was learned. has the
.
Rose has named and his further efforts
in this now most sensational police ex-
posure' that New York has ever seen
will be directed toward Strengthening
, the evidence which points against them
One of the officials named, 1t was learned
holds a position at headquarters and is
IN strict sense a civilian employee
BECKER HAS A CHANCE.
The name Of a former prominent city
official has been brought to the atten-
! ton Of the district attorney as having
been closely connected with the graft sys-
tenn, but 1t was learned that the evidence
I thus far obtained against him Is not of
tangible nature. The evidence, however
IS being closely followed by the detectives
in the employ of the district attorney.
It also became known tonight that II
Lieutenant Becker will tell all he knows
not only in respect to his own ALLEGED
completely in the murder but will unfold
the inner workings of the graft system
in so far as It may involve 1.-The men high
er up" no effort will be made to enforc,
the extreme penalty for the crime o
which he now stands accused. the murde
of Rosenthal. but ne will be granted len
iency on that condition only.
fund was told to Rose by Becker. the lit
tie bald-headed gambler said in a sworl
ptatAment to-day. Becker. he said, tolt
him that he handled $6Oo0oO a year ant
that equal amounts were handled by three
other officials. This. he said. came In col
lecttons from gambling houses. poo
rooms. houses Of Ill repute and the like.
COLLECTED GRAFT FOR MONTHS
Rose eaFd he had collected gamblini
graft for Becker for months and h
promised the district attorney that h,
would obtain for him the rates pal,
by gambling houses. make a tabula
ton Of what these receipts amounte
! to monthly and yearly and how thu
I-money was handled. That there were
I other collectors beside Rose Is the as
sumption Of the district attorney. wht
hopes to identify them. Becker. h
r,said, gave him liberal commissions fo
his work
Becker toli me that ne was thu
!, prince OF the police department" Ros'
Il said. Tie pard me literally out o
I my collections, but never was abb
to keep what got. l was 700
gambler, and gamblei 1t all away"
Part Of the business between tn
: gamblers and the police. the distric
! attorney was told, was boldly don
through checks. although his EFFORT
! IN secure evidence in this form hav
proved fruitless
"prdeie" Weber the gambling house
keeper who has also confessed ana whos
story largely resulted in the arrest G
/ Becker. promised Mr.. Whitman II wa
learned, to corroborate Roses statemen
Webber to-day admitted to the distrit
attorney that 5000 was the sum whic
me received to pay the men who actual
fired the shot which killed Rosenthal.
MURDERERs FELT SAFE.
In regard to the murder itself. RIOS
stated to Mr.. whitman that the reaso
why It was done 80 openly and that II
effort was made to cover the number {
the big gray murder car as 1t drove u
to the Hotel Metropole TO get" Rosei
4hal was that Becker was relied upon ft
protection.
In addition to the men higher up
District Attorney Whitman Is invest
eating the records of two member
of the STRONG arm squad" who helpe
Hacker in some of his sO-called fab
gambling raids. They will be aske
TO appear voluntarily" before II
grand jury and II they refuse, Con
missioner Waldo will be requested /
District Attorney Whitman to susper
them.
Although Mr. Whitman realizes tn;
he Is dealing with the testimony
gamblers in constructing his case,
believed that the corrOborative ev
dence Is strong. He plans. 1t WI
flearned. to go slowly In the case ar
L1t appears likely that the grand jul
Investigation will continue ali summe
EYEWITNESSES TELL OF MURDEF
The details Of how Rosenthal was sh
ndown we're related officially to-day for Il
first time by two of his companions. wi
were eyewitnesses of the murder. In Il
trial OF Patrolman William j. File befo
deputy Commissioner Dillon. The patrc
man has been under suspension since Il
shooting. charged with failure to "tal
arompt and efficient measures W etc