Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-08-08
Two Police offlcials and Civilia.x
Employe May Be Indicted
on Graft Charges.
WEBER CONFIRMS ROSE
Says He Was a Collector for OnA
of the Men 1nvolved--Beck.
er's Counsel Seek Change
of Venue.

new Ork, Aug. I.-DistriCt Attorney
Whitman has evidence in his possos-
sion. It was learned tonight on which
he expects to seek the indEtmen1 of
two high police officials and a civilian
employe attached to police hsadquart-
ers on tho charge OF levyins biaokmail
on gamblers and proprietors OF other
illegal resorts.
The mon In question were all men~
toned in the confession Of Jack"
Rose. the self-accused eToft collector
Of Police Lieutenant Becker, who II
under indictment for the -aur6e. Of
Herman Rosenthal. the gsmhoer.
Through private detectives and O. con-
fession Of "Bridgte" webber, the dis.
trict attorney has secured corrobora-
tive evidence OF the alleged graft ana
upon this he is convinced that indict-
ments can be found.
These three men. together with Police
Lieutenant Becker, collected more than
s2.4OO.00 protection money In a year. ac-
cordlng TO the story told by Rose. but his
Information In regard to the three officials
other than Becker was based, he said,
upon what Becker had told him Of tho
manner In which. and by whom, the
wholesale graft was distributed. To-day
"Bridg!e' Webber. who with Rose has
been promised leniency by the district at
torney for his confession Of partlcipa-
ton in the Rosenthal murder. sent word
to the prosecutor that he was prepared
to corroborate in writing everything that
Rose had said In regard to the gambling
graft as far as in his power and he mado
the additional declaration that he himself
acted as collector for one Of the police
officials involved.
WHITMAN HAS 20 WITNESSES.
The district attorney. however. loes
not expect to press the graft feature
OF the case before tne grand jury un-
til he has presented all the evidence
bearing upon the murder Of Rosen-
thai Tomorrow he expects to tako
before the jury 90 witnesses upon
whose testimony he hopes to secure
the Indictment OF Lefty Louis" "Gyp
the Blood "Dago Frank" Cirohci.
and "Whietie" Lewis. already charged
by the police with being the actual
murderers. the first two of whom 80
still at large.
Among the witnesses whom Mr., Whit
man has under supboena to testify at tns
trial Of Becker. II was further learned
tonight are two servants of 'JaoX
Rose, who have promised to corroborate
the charge made by Jack" Rose that
some of the money Rose collected from
gamblers was paid 10 Becker in Roses
10th street home. To-day Roses brother
brought to the district attorney a letter
from the gambler setting forth additional
details of his alleged gambling graft ~
lations with the police lieutenant aisd
giving further names OF gamblers who
were victims of the alleged extortSon.
CAN CoRROBoRATE CHARGER
District Attorney Whitman an
nounoed in court that he had 10 W.T.
nesses who would corroborate Jack
Roses charge that the police official
was the impelling spirit behind tho
murder and that II was done to pre-
vent Rosenthal from giving further
evidence to the district attorney In.
volving Becker in gambling graft
The statement was made by the pro-
secutor in opposing a motion to Quash
Bccker's Indictment on the grpund that
II was based on the testimony OF wit
nesses who had confessed their part in
the crime.
Judge MulQueen reserved decision aStsr
accepting briefs from both sides and BY
agreement the pleading Of Becker was ad-
journed until after the ruling is handed
down. Becker's counsel, It was reported
tonight. are planning 10 ask for a change
of venue when the case comes to trial
on the ground of prejudiced public opin-
Ion against their client.