Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-10-19
R0SENTHAl IS
HELD VICTIM
Of GAMBLERS
Attorney for Defense Says
He Will Prove Becker
Had No Part in Crime
Jerome Testifies.

New York, Oct. 1S.-Police Lieuten
ant Charles Becker's defense to the
charge of instigating the murder OF
Herman RosenthAl Is that Rosentha
was murdered at the behest Of Other
gamblers who hated himsas meddlel
and informer to the police. John II
Hart, Beckef's lawyer, In presenting
his case to the jury 80 declared today
adding that he would prove Becker
mot only. not guilty but absolutely in
nocent"
Eve will prove Mr.. Hart said
that webber, Rose, vallon and
Sohepps conspired independently OF
Becker, and with independent motives
to murder Rosenthal. After Rosenthal
was murdered and they were rid OF
one of the two men they hated most
in the world, they conspired to get rid
of Becker, the other man they hated
by false evidence and perjured testi
mony."
Mr. Hart added that tht defendant
had no connection with the gunmen
and that Rose, vallon and other al.
legged conspirators had admitted Beck
er's innocence. As to Jack Rose, Mr.,
Hart declared the defense would prove
that "he had lied on the stand in
every particular"
Five witnesses for the defense were
sworn within an hour after Mr.. Hart
concluded his address. One of them,
Alexander Luban, testified that he
would not believe under OATH" his
brother Morris, q state witness.
Attorney Hart opened for the de.
tense. Addressing the jury he said in
part:
THE defendant does not intend to
let the case rest where it Is. He in.
tends to convince you, gentlemen OF
the jury, not only that he is not guilty,
but that he Is an innocent man.
1--WE contend that the defendant is
in no way connected with the gunner
who committed this murder. The chief
witnesses, aside from alleged accom-.
plices are Luban, the convict; Vallon
tht self-oonfessed forger, and MarJolis,
the sef-confessed perjurer.
GAS to Luban, who claims to have
witnessed this murder, we will prove
that Luban never saw the murder
that he was in Brooklyn at the time.
We will prove this by Luban's own
brother. We will prove that Webber.
Rose and Vallon and Schepps conspir-
ed to kill Rosenthal independently Of
Becker, each with his own independ-
ent motive for 50 doing
William T. Jerome, former district
attorney Of New York, was the de-
fense's first witness. He said he and
Mr.. Hart the evening after the mur-
der went to the bar association where
they engaged private room.
Becker came in about o'clock"
Mr. Jerome said. Mr.. Jerome was not
permitted to testify that he had heard
Becker hold telephone conversation
with anyone or call Jack Rose on the
telephone.
did you hear him say no, you stay
right where you are until you hear
from me-" asked Mr.. Hart.
Justice Goff sustained Mr.. Moss OBJ
lection for the state and instructed
Mr.. Hart to discontinue this line of ex-
animation
The court then dismissed Mr.. Jer.
ONE.
Police Commissioner Waldo testified
next.
did you direct Becker to raid Her
man Rosenthals gambling house in
April of this year?" was asked.
"Yes; I directed him to obtain evi-
dence against Rosenthal and others,
and he raided the place."
\ ut Is stated that after the raid, .
said Mr. Mcintyre, "a policeman was
stationed at Rosenthars place."
''Yes, | directed that man be sta
toned there
Mr.. Waldo was excused.