Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-10-20
FOR BECKER
Witnesses Give Testimony
Favorable to Officer.
MENACEO By GAMBLERS
Rose and Weber Said to Have
Threatened to Kill Rosenthal.
DETAILS OF RAID ARE TOLD
Former Member of "Strong Arm
Squad" Refutes Contention That
It Was "Fake.''
AENACED By GAMBLERS
DETAILS OF RAID ARE TOLD

NEW YORK, October 19.-Witneses in
the trial of Police Lieut.. Becker testified
today to two points which the defense
considered vital to its case. These were:
First. That the raid on Herman Ros-
enthals gambling house April II was
made after evidence against it had been
obtained by the police. The state charges
that the raid was fake"
Second. That Bald Jack Rose and
Bridge" Weber. two of the self-con-
fessed accomplices to RosenthaIs muir
der, who have turned states evidence,
threatened to kill Rosenthal weeks before
he was murdered.
Another witness, Louis Pitt, brother of
Becker's so-called press agent. swore that
Jack Rose had gone down on his knees
in the Tombs and said. "On the grave
and on the memory of my dead mother. 1
say that Becker had nothing to do with
this affair."
Other witnesses. a police lieutenant and
his wife. testified they had visited Becker
at his home on the night of July II,
forty-eight hours after Rosenthal was
shot. and that Becker was there from
1910 o'clock until they left at Has
o'clock. Rose has testified that he was
with Becker elsewhere during those
hours.
Tells of Raid.
Joseph b. Sheppard. one-time member
OF Becker'S ''Strong-arm squad testi-
fled that he had obtained the evidence
upon which Rosenthars place was raided.
He was taken to the establishment two
days before the raid, he said, by steer
err" who met him and two other police
men at the Hotel Cadillac. The police
men wore citizens clothes and the steer
er" did not know their identity. They
We're met at the basement door by
man to whom the ''steerer' vouched for
their good intentions. went upstairs and
lost $50 paying roulette.
The next day, Sheppard said, he met
Becker. told him what had been done
and at Becker's instructions drew up
the necessary legal papers preparatory to
making raid. The day after this war
rants were issued and that night Rosen-
thals place was raided. One of the men
who had been at a wheel was arrested,
Sheppard said, and was identified by
Mrs. Rosenthal as her nephew. She ask
ed Becker not to take the youth away,
but Becker said he had a warrant for
him, and then, Sheppard testified. Mrs.
Rosenthal tried to draw Becker aside,
saying that she had something to tell
him.
And what did Becker say to her?"
asked John F. Mcintyre, chief of Beck
er's half dozen lawyers.
He said: If you have anything to say
to me say 1t here and now.
Will Be Cross Examined.
Sheppard was not cross-examined. but
District Attorney Whitman sad he would
be when court convenes Monday.
Justice Golf held only forenoon ses-
sion, as today is registration day here
and the members of the jury wanted to
register during the afternoon.
Robert A. Smith, a contractor, who
testified that Weber and Rose told him
they wanted Rosenthal out of the way.
was assailed by the state on cross
examination. Smith had testified on
direct examination that Rose told him
June IS that IL Jack Zelig had not got in
trouble he (Rose) would have had ROsen-
thai killed a month before. Webber's al
legged declaration. made to Smith, was
that He could cut Rosenthals throat
and lie down and sleep all night with
him."
So far as the introduction of evidence
is concerned, the case is considerably
more than half finished. Mr.. Mcintyre
said this afternoon that he expected to
introduce about twenty more witnesses,
and probably would rest his case We'd
nesday or Thursday. He said he would
ask for an entire day to sum up.