Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1912-10-19
DEFENSE OF BECKER BEGINS
Attorney for Accused Police Lieuten-
ant States What He Will Prove.
JEROME CALLED AS A WITNESS
Not Permitted to Testify as to what
Was Heard In a Conversation
that Was Held over the
-. Telephene. a$ ..

NEW YORK. Oct iS.-The defense be
gan It's innings today In the trial of
Police Lieutenant Becker charged with
the murder Of Herman Rosenthal.
| John W. Hart's opening address was
set for this morning. The defense will
call more than dozen witnesses, but
which would be first was not announced.
Among the witnesses was william Trav-
ers Jerome, former district attorney of
New York, subpoenaed to discredit Jack
Rose as to a telephone conversation with
Becker after the murder
Becker has expressed a desire to testify
in his own behalf, but his lawyers were
undecided, The fact that Mrs. Lefty
Louie" Rosenberg, wife of one Of the
four gunmen charged with the actual
murder, testified yesterday as states
witness gave rise to rumors that Lefty
Louie" Rosenberg had a confession to
make and would likewise go over to the
side of the state. This had been reported
from time to time, however. without con-
flrmation.
Before the opening of court Becker's
lawyers expressed satisfaction at Justice
Goffs decision yesterday, barring any
testimony tending to show that Becker
had fattened his modest policeman's
salary with gambling house graft At.
torney Hart opened for the defense. Ad-
dressing the jury he said in part
Talks for Becker.
The defendant does not intend to let
the case rest where It Is. He intends to
convince you gentlemen Of the jury, not
only that he is not guilty, but that he is
an innocent man.
We contend that the defendant is in
no way connected with the gunner who
committed this murder. The chief wit
nesses, aside from alleged accompices,
are Luban, the conviet Hallen, the self
confessed forger, and Margolis, the self
confessed perjurer.
"As to Luban, who claims to have wit
messed this murder, we will prove that
Luban never saw the murder; that he
was In Brooklyn at the time. We will
prove this by Lubans own brother. We
will prove that Webber, Rose and vallon
and Schepps conspired to kill Rosenthal
independently of Becker, each with his
own Independent motive for so doing"
William T. Jerome. the first witness,
said he and Hart the evening after the
murder, went to the Bar association,
where they engaged private room.
Becker came in about o'clock"
Jerome said, but he was not permitted to
testify that he had heard Becker hold a
telephone conversation with any one, Or
call Jack Rose on the telephone.
did you hear him say No. you stay
right where you are until you hear from
meT" asked Mr.. Hart.
Justice Goff sustained Moss objection
for the state and instructed Hart to dis
continue this line of examination.
The court then dismissed Jerome and
Police Commissioner Waldo testified next
did you direct Becker to raid Herman
RosenthaI's gambling house in April of
this year," was asked
Yes; / directed him to obtain evidence
against Rosenthal and others, and he
raided the place"
1T is stated that after the raid" said
McIntire, "a policeman was stationed at
Rosenthal's place"
Yes. directed that man be stationed
there"