New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-15
'POu|CE THREATENING
HIM, ROSENTHAL SAYS
Makes Affidavit of His Charges
of Oppression, Asserting Lieut..
Becker Was His Partner.
GRAND JURY WILL PROBE
No Legal Evidence Yet, Whitman
Says-Police Watch Raided
House-Denial from Strong
Arm" Mans Counsel.

Herman Rosenthal. who lives in the
house al No. lM West 45th street, In when
a lone policeman has been doing peg duty
since IL was ralded AS a gambling house,
last April, was undsturbed yesterday at
the threats which he said had been coming
TO him through police channels since he
made charges Of graft in affidavit form
against Lieutenant Charles Becker, Of Po-
lice Commissioner Waldos strong arm
squad. Rosenthal. as well as his lawyer,
Joseph b. Rosenback. said yesterday that
they would make another attempt to-day
TO secure warrants on the ground Of OPP
preston in keeping a policeman in Rosen-
that's house against Captain William Day,
OF the West 18th street station. and Police
Inspector Hayes.
The substance OF Rosenthals charges,
that police official had been a silent part
ner In the 45th street gambling house, and
had later raided the place TO save his own
bacon" was told in The Tribune Satur-
day. Rosenthal put the charges in detailed
form yesterday in an affidavit. and openly
named Lieutenant Becker as the man who
loaned him $500 to put into his business.
on condition that the strong arm man
John W. Hart. former Assistant District
| Attorney and Becker's counsel. emphati-
cally denied Rosenthars charges against
his client yesterday. He said he might
issue detailed statement to-day in re-
gard to the matter, and that action would
| be brought against Rosenthal as soon as
he had the case a little more in hand.
The affidavit of Rosenthal will be found
10 contain many contradictory statements
| II carefully analysed" said Mr. Hart
| While 1t is false in every essential part. II
| may be difficult TO disprove offhand some
OF the immaterial details. But when the
whole thing is cleared up IT will show
Lieutenant Becker in very commendable
light
We shall take some definite action in
! the matter as soon as possible. I am await
| Ing only the return of District Attorney
| Whitman and Police Commissioner Waldo
TO do that ! am not prepared TO say now
just what action will he taken II may be
that ! will have n detailed statement TO
Essentials Affidavit.
Rosentha swore to his affidavit before
| G. c. Fiegel. "A notary public He said
that he first met Becker at a ball given
by the Elks. Later on New Years Eve,
| 1912, they had a merry dinner at the Elks'
| Club. at which Mrs. Becker and Mrs.
Rosenthal and several friends were pres
ent according to the affidavit The two
| families became quite intimate.
Becker went TO Roscnthals house, in
West 45th street. often and used TO tell
Rosenthal that he Becker was making
| money awful fast" Rosenthal swore. In
the latter part OF February Rosenthal de-
clared that he asked Becker for a loan Of
$1,000. and the lieutenant gave It to him
on condition that Becker should receive 20
per cent Of the profits when the place was
open.
Everything went along smoothly for a
few weeks. Rosenthal states In his AFFIDAVIT
| until Becker came and told him what
| hard time he was having "stalling Waldo
Becker wanted him TO frame UP n raid to
make things look right. Rosenthal sworc.
| but he would not consent 10 a fake raid.
A few nights later Rosenthal got a Ice-
phone message TO meet Becker at a CATS
In Columbus Circle. and when he returned
without having found him the rral raid
was in progress
Rosenthal was told that II was Charlie"
who was making the raid to save himself.
and that II would be all right so he stood
across the street until the police had gone.
according to the affidavit. Rosenthal said
that Becker aftcrward cancelled the mort
gage on the furniture which he had given
him as security for the $1,000 loan, and told
| him they were even. as he was Standing
the expense Of the raid
Becker promised to turn tho case out In
the grand jury, Rosenthal swore. but the
grand jury returned indictments against
Jesse Fleming and Herbert Hull. who were
arrested the night OF the raid. Rosenthal
said he had presented the whole matter