Evening journal., 1912-07-30
BECKER in
MESHES OF
MURDER PLOT

statements He detailed how the po-
lice graft was split and involved by
name. three police inspectors and a
host of minor officers. He also in
volyed former city official and sew
eral politicians. and il was 70 probe
these charges that the grand jury re-
assembled to-day.
Fear Murder BY system
The three men who had uncovered
the scandal slept on cots I'm the jury
room OF the Criminal Courts building
al last night In an agony of fear
they had protected TO District Attorney
Whitman that # they were sent back
70 their cells in the Tombs they would
be murdered by the system" and
Whitman, although he professed to be-
licve that there was no danger they
would be convicted with the recollec-
lion of the staying Of Rosenthal after
be had become a district attorneys
gitnoss In mind, refused 10 send them
back He had them placed IN care
fully-guarded room near his office,
where they slept ON cots and to-day
ordered that instead OF being sent TO
the Tombs thoy be kept in the West
Side prison for the present. Rose also
appealed for his family, saying there
was no doubt his wife, who could cor
roborato many of his statements.
would be killed. Tho district attorney
ordered four private detectives de-
tailed as a special guard to Mrs Rose,
and they will watch her at all times.
Roses story was 80 amazing that
District Attorney Whitman admitted
to-day that he would not have believed
certain parts of 1t lf Webber and Val
Ion had not independently related the
same facts. From the time he first
met Becker in an East Side precinct
the bald-headed gambler said their re-
lations had been mutually profitable.
When Becker went TO the head of the
''strong-arm squad" and took up the
raiding Of gambling houses, the pick
ings became soft for both according
TO Roses story He peddled protec-
lion and collected for il. He paid the
money, no alleges TO Becker and the
latter "split il up" Rose told how IL
was supposed to be split and exactly
who benefited, but that II still 10 be
proved When Rosenthal squealed,
Becker, Rose alleged, decreed his
murder Rose said that Becker threat
ened Webher, Vallon and himsf with
a "frame-up" If they failed 20 put RO-
senthal out OF the way. Rose said he
knew Becker could do this; that his
men had already iobbed big Jack"
Zelig by slipping q pistol into his
pocket and arrestng him for carrying
concealed weapons Rose said that
Becker told him several times that the
job must be pulled off and that three
days before the murder. he, Becker
Webbcr and Vallon met and went over
It, Webber, Rose alleged, was ordered
to finance the crime, and Jack zelig
was ordered to get the men TO carry
it out.
The quartctte who shot the gam
bier TO DEATH Rose alleged. were
Harry Horowitz, known as "Gyp the
Blood" Frank Muller. alias white
Jack Lewis" Lewis Rosenzweig,
alias Lefty Loowy" and "Dago
Frank" Clrofci, the last Of whom is
already under arrest
Get Away for Murdcrers.
Rose declared that he was assured
that the police would be fixed and
that the murders could make a "clean
getaway He said he conferred
with Becker Just before tho murder;
that the killing was showed ahead
Two days because IL was found Rosen-
thai was going before the district at
torney the next morning 10 tell all
he knew and that while Rosenthal's
dead body was lying ON the side
walk in front Of the Metropole he
(Rose) telephoned the news TO Beck
or from the Times building, few
hundred feet away.
Webber. Rose and Nallon passed
practically sleepless night accord
ing to Police Lieutenants Lee and
Russo, who had them I'm charge.
Webber, especially. Lee said, was
hystcrical aid seemed anxious 70
know it he would be regarded as q
"squealer." The three had their
breakfast sent IN from an outside
rcstap.ani, but according to the de.
tectiveG Rose was the only man e
Eat heartily.
Police Commissioner Waldo posi-
lively refused TO comment on Becker'l
arrest when he reached Headquarters
but his assistant, Deputy Commission
er Dougherty issued a statement n
justification OF his own actions IN
the case and declared that he hat
never had anything 10 do with Becker
who reported direct 20 Waldo.
Defends Police Department
District Attorney Whitman insiste,
today that the indictment OF Beckel
should not be considered an indict
ment of the police department ant
defended the rank and file Of the po
lice from the graft charges. He re
fused 10 duscuss what promises hat
been made TO the men who confesse'
other than positively to assert tina
under no circumstances would i'm
munity be granted to anyone whit
fred a shot al Rosenthal IL was IN
timated at the District Attorney
office that the state had a stronl
case against Rose aud tnat il coul'
show that he and Becker were IN
only two men under arrest who hal
any motive 20 kill ROsenthal
Police Inspector Hughes received
telegram today from the Syracuse
~ =, officials, saying that a ma
0ader arrast there for carrying con
esoied weapons, who gave his nam
as Harry Lewis, answers the dcscrir
ton of "Gyp the Blood" wanted fo
the murder Of Rosenthal. Hughe
uof "a doScrfpfion nv nhonp and wi