Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1912-09-03
Justice GOff Sweeps
Aside Obstacles to
Rushing Case.
FUGITIVE EYEWITNESS
OF MURDER IN ENGLAND
Thomas Coupe, Met by Liver
pool Detectives, Declares
He Won't Return.

Jew YORK, Sept. 3.-On the ap-
plication of District Attorney Whit
man the case of Police Lieutenant
Charles Becker, charged with the
murder of Herman Rosenthal, was
transferred today from the Court OF
General Sessions to the crlminai
branch of the Supreme Court before
Justice John w. Goff. sitting in ex-
traordinary term. Justice Gon grant
ed the heapplication, agreeing not only
that Becker should be tried oetore
him but that he should plead TO the
Indictment before him.
Becker was arraigned before Jus
tice Golf for pleading shortly oetore
II o'clock, but still refused 10 plead
on his counsers advice, that the IN
dictment had been Improperly and
illegally found BY direction OF JUS
tice Golf a technical plea of not
guilty was entered for the prisoner.
Trial Set for September 1a.
Counsel for Becker protested that
he was not ready to go to trial and
insisted that he needed a week at
least for further preparation. JUS
tice Goff quickly overruled four mo-
tions brought by Mr.. Mcintyre to
obtain a delay, and, at Mr.. Whit
mans request, set the trial for Tues
cay September 10.
After conference with Mr.. Whit
man, however, the date of the trlaf
was changed by Justice Goft from
Tuesday, September 10. to Thursday,
September H. This was done because
Becker's counsel refused to waive
the usual two days allowance
granted after the opening of term
of court
mo sufficient reason has been
shown for prolonging the date of TINS
.rial," said the court.
Change of Venue Not Asked.
To the surprise of all, Becker's
lawyer did not ask for change OF
venue. He requested. however, that
the trial be set for some time abput
the middle of October, when the
"present hyster.a and clamor" should
have subsided. This was necessary.
he said, in order that his client might
have a fair and impartial trial.
Becker came into court non
chalantly and pleasantly greeted sew
eral friends. He stood erect, with his
arm resting on the railing before the
bar. and followed the proceedings
closely.
Mr.. Whitman also obtained from
Justice Golf authority to examine the
grand jurors who are to sit during
the extraordinary term In connection
with the John Doe proceedings into
police graft. He made this request In
view of recent disclosures that
number of men on the panel had
realty holdings used by gambling
establishments and disorderly houses
The prosecutor desires an absolutely
disinterested set of men before pro-
ceeding with his investigation.
Crowds at Court.
In hopes of catching glimpse OF
the prisoner, crowds gathered early
at the Criminal Courts building
Aside from the arraignment of
Becker. most interesting of the days
deyeIopments in the Rosenthal case
on this side of the Atlantic was the
discovery by the district attorneys
office of two alleged refugees, con
Quoted by the so-called vice trust,
and the report that considerable
sum of money belonging to Becker
had been traced to Port Jervis, N. Y
The refugees uncovered were SAID 10
be a hotel in Hoboken, N. j., ana
four cottages at Centreville. Sullivan
county, n. Y. where workers OF the
underworld who might be sought as
witnesses for the prosecution could
bide their time quietly until the storm
blew over.