Evening journal., 1912-08-05
BECKER CALLS
BACK PLEA OF
..NOT GUILTY.
Counsel Attacks Indictment
But Argument Goes Over
Until Wednesday
WEBER GETS DEATH,
WARNING BY LETTER
Bv The United Press.

BY The United Press.
NEW YORK, Aug 5-Polce Lieu /
tenant Charles Becker, charged with
procuring the murder of Gambler
Herman Rosenthal, and said TO be
facing three indictments charging eN-
nortion in connection with police
gambling-graft. withdrew his plea Of
not guilty today when arraigned on a
charge Of murder in the FIRST degree
before Judge Grain in the court Of
general sessions. part one. He then
waived pleading Judge Grain inn
mediately transferred the case to
Judge Mulqueen. who was in charge
Of the grand jury, investigating the
murder and the graft charges against
the Police Department
Judge Muloueen adjourned the
nearing until Wednesday. when John
Hart, former assistant district attor-
ley and chief counsel for Becker,
presented two motions. The first at
tackled the indictment of Becker on
the ground that the grand Jury re-
turning n met al night and on the
urther contention that the full grand
Jury was not present The second
motion demanded for the defendant
The right TO inspect the grand jury
notes and also that the district at
torney be compelled to indorse on
he back Of the indictment. the names
81 the witnesses testifying against the
nolice Lieutenant Hart. stating that
II was customary 10 give two days
notice OF argument on motions, said
he was willing 10 waive this II the
district attorney did not object Judge
MulQueen, speaking for Whitman.
said that the district attorney would
waive anything in the interest Of a
speedy trial but added that there was
nothing before the court as he did
not understand the motions Of Hart.
Muldueen then continued the pro-
,eedings until Wednesday.
Becker was represented by Hart :
Robert n Elder. former district at
torney for Brooklyn. George w
Whiteside and Lloyd r. Striker. All
but Elder were assistants to William
Travers Jerome when he was district
attorney
II was Beoker's FIRST public sp-
pearance since the confessions oi
Rose, webber and Vsllon caused his
Indictment Immediately dressed
the lieutenant looked dapper and very
much ct ease Further than 70 NOD
AT his brother, John. in the audience
Becker was not seen to speak or t'
recognize anyone in the court room
There was considerable ,elief in
the West Side court prison Wien f
was announced that the further *
animation of Rose. Weber and Val
Ion by Coroner Feinhers had gonl
over until August 10 The confessini
Gamblers were said m he IN fear o
+ 81
20 to court and had petltioned Die
tricf Attorney Whitman for an espe
oially usilsnt guard not compose
Of policemen
LAWYER Sullivan today was author
ity for the statement that "Bridgie
Webber had received letter signe'
The Crowd" threatening him witt
death II he persisted in backing ul
Bald Jack" Rose.
The letter TO Webber, as quoted b,
Sullivan. follows:
MT Webber-In case you have an.
intention 70 live a few years NOR
it would he advisable for YOU TO kee
your mouth shut Don't DO like Ros
did He is on our death list. Whethe
he leaves prison or not he will di
before the month is over. He an
Frank Moss Tell Vallon the sam
thing You must remember you ar
involving some high officials and the
won't stand for exposure.
CSigned) "THE CROWD
The letter was dated August
midnight" Frank Moss. is assistsr
district attorney. IN charge of th
grand jury probe ....-..-.
That the police we're making no al
tempt TO catch other alleged murder
ers Of Rosenthsl was the ststemeT
today made to District Attorne
Whitman by a runner" for man
years attached To the Office of Nose
Sachs. a criminal LAWYER The ma
who visited Whitman to make an al
dsvit and then was smuggled fro
the building, swore that only veste
day he saw Sam Sohepps and "Gs
the Blood" Al 143rd street and Lenc
avenue He was positive NJ the
identity he said and when he poin
ed them out 70 two uniformed polio
men they said "Aw let em 60
-" and turned their backs TT
man gave Whitman the numbers
the policemen and Whitman summo
ed them 10 his Office