Norwich bulletin., 1912-10-16

New York, Oct. 15.--Gamblers ana mi Police Lieutenant Charles Becker instigated the murder Of Herman Rosenthal, according to the line or oe- fense indicated by counsel for the ac- cused officer at today's session Of ms trial. A large sum of money raised py the gamblers was paid to get Rosen- thai out of New York when ne began to "souear' on the police, and Wheh he took the money and then refused to 20 the gamblers, threatened with the loss of their protection, plotted ana executed his murder through the agency of the four gunmen.
 Line of Defense Indicated.
 At least such was the line of defense implied on questions put by John r. Mcintyre. Becker''s counsel, to sam Echepps on the witness stand today
 Schepps was not given an oppor- tunity to say whether he had know ledge that such was the origin of the murder plot, for Justice Golf excluded the questions.
 Schepps merely looked bored. He had at that time spent practically the entire day on the stand corroborating the testimony of Jack Rose. Bridgic Webber and Harry Vallon, the trio of self confessed accompiices in the
 
 inspired the murder.
 schepos Says He Acted as Messenger. Schepps- today added another link to the chain of evidence against the de- ferdant by swearing that Becker had asked Him if the gunmen had been paid for their work. He also testified that he had been the bearer of a reassuring message from Lieutenant Becker 10 Jack Rose when the latter was in hiding ready to commit suicide" at the home of Harry Pollok. Sehepps' part in the plot was that of messenger for Rose in rounding up the gunmen, but he denied that he was conscious that the killing of Rosenthal was on foot He didn't fully comprehend it, he said, until Jack Rose had made a "ciean breast. of it' to him and then on fthe advice. of counsel he had got ten out of town.
 sehepps Calls Mcintyre a Liar.
 MT. McIntyre's efforts to break down the testimony of the witness resulted in frequent wordy tits between them that Justice Golf was obliged to cur tail.
 Schepps, glib of speech and com bative in his manner, on one occasion called the lawyer liar" and MT. Mcintyre retorted by referring tS schepps as a "grovelling thing"
 Did What Jack Rose Told Him.
 Becker's attorney tried again and again to make Schepps admit that he had been an accomplice in the crime, hut the witness appeared always ready with explanations with the part he had taken.
 Jack Rose told me to do it." was his most frequent excuse for his varl ous actions
 Schepps' Cross Examination.
 Attorney Mcintyre made strenuous efforts to break down Schepps' testi- nnony, but the witness refused to be entrapped.
 You were not supposed to know that this gang was going to murder Rosenthal, were you" asked the attor- ney, ironically.
 T did not know it," rejoined Schepps hastily.
 Aren't you testifying so that it win appear that you are not an accomplice to this crime, so that you can appear solely as corroborative witness !"
 "No.'
 Did Not Ride in Murder Car.
 Don't you know that after the mur- der you and vallon rode away in the 
 No"
 "Did you put a revolver at. the head of the driver of the car, and say: Get away from here as quick as you can; don't, stall this engine or I'll blow the top of your head off?'',
 T did not"
 Did you hear vallon say that?'
 "No."
 Did Not See Mrs. Becker.
 Reverting to Schepps' visit to Beck CTS house after the murder, Mir. McIn- tyre asked him if he had not sworn that he had seen Mrs. Becker there?'
 If did was mistaken" said Echepps.
 ~They wouldn't let me into the apart ment, and had to call on the phone Mrs. Becker answered the phone, and said: This is Schepps I've got a message from Jack Rose and I must see MT. Becker I didn't see Mrs. Becker"
 Schepps refused to be shaken in his version of Becker's conversation with him.
 Advised to Get Out of Town.
 Schepps volunteered the. statement that Rose had made a "clean breast" of the murder to him and that he had gone with Rose to police headquarters when Rose gave himself up.