Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-10-07
PAIRING FOR
TRIAL Of BECKER
Slow Work Of Securing
Grand Jury-Fifty
Two in Venire.
MANY EXCUSES GIVEN.
Justice Golf Will Hold Night Sessions
in Order to Expedite the Trial of the
EX-Lieutenant.

New York, Oct. 1.-THE wheels OF
Justice started revolving lapidly
here today. With Justice John W.
Golf, presiding, the extraordinary
term of the criminal branch of the
Supreme Court got down to busi-
ness. Although the trial of Police
Lieut.. Becker for the murder of
Gambler Herman Rosenthal was the
chief program, in the event, not less
important was the empaneling of the
special grand jury which will probe
the relations between the police and
the underworld, the result of whose
work is expected to be the indict-
ment of many high police officials,
politicians and gamblers.
Selection Of the grand jury was
the first duty of the day, and while
the venerable justice questioned the
fifty men from whose numoer he
was to select %, Becker fumed anX-
iously in his cell. Many and varied
were the excuses presented by the
men drawn, most Of them well
known business men, but Golf is a
veteran criminal presiding justice
and only excuses that had the ring
of truth, were accepted.
Because of the intense interest IN
the trial of Becker extraordinary
precautions had been taken by the
authorities. The space within the
rail had been apportioned to the
press associations, newspaper repre-
sentatives and attorneys ana only
those bearing credentials, were ad-
mitted. Every person admitted to
the small section Of the room given
over to spectators, was carefully
scrutinized. 1t was made very plain
by the officials on duty that no
"gunmen" were to be allowed to en-
ter
Although Justice Goff 10 nearly 70
years old, he has decided to hold
night sessions of his court IN order
to expedite the trial not alone OF
Becker but of the four men accused
of being actual murderers Oh
Rosenthal and all of the other per-
sons implicated in the crime.
District Attorney Whitman ap-
peared with Frank Moss, his chief
assistant, as his aide. The defense
was in charge of John F. Mcintyre,
one of the leaders Of the criminal
branch of the bar, who has been
counsel for the defense in many OF
the most noted murder cases in tins
vicinity in recent years.
Whitman admitted today that the
murder of "Big Jack" Zelig Satur-
day night removed one of his most
important witnesses, but he insisted
that his death would not materially
weaken the case against Police
Lieut.. Becker. Whitman has de-
tailed an assistant to investigate the
stories told by "Red Phil Davidson,
who shot the gang leader. Although
the police have positively declared
there was no connection between
Davidson's crime and the trial Of
Becker, the district attorney is curl
ous to know what circumstances op-
Grated to have his witness killed at
exactly this time.
He believes the murder of Zelig
was instigated by persons who want
ed to close his mouth, as RosenthaP
was closed, and he will have David
son closely questioned until he gets
at the underlying motive, if posi-
BILE.
A special panel of $50 talesman
from the "Struck Jury" list was on
hand when the Becker trial was cal
led 1t was the belief of the district
attorney that he would have his jury
complete by tomorrow night. McIn-
tyre was more pessimistic and
thought the entire week would
needed get to the jury.