The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-10-25
Becker, Convicted Of Murder, Be-
Iieves He VIII Yet Be a ,
Free Man i...5
TO Be SENTENCED NEXT WEEK
Justice Goff win Fix Date Of Ex.
scutIon Next Wednesday

New York. Oct 25.-The jurors,
who last night returned verdict OF
first degree murder against Lieuten-
ant Becker the first of the seven men
to be tried for the murder of Rosen-
thai. refused today to discuss their
deliberations.
Wednesday next. Justice Goff will
fix the time for the prisoners death
In the electric chair.
Mcintyre, chief counsel for the de-
fense, today began preliminary steps
looking to an appeal and stay of exc
be fought in the court of appeals and
be fought to the court of appeals, and
Becker, pacing a cell I'm the Tombs.
expresses hope of the outcome
Mrs. Becker. who tainted when the
verdict was announced. Is under the
care of relatives at her home In the
Bronx. Beckers mother. aged S3, is
overcome at her sons conviction.
The keepers of the Tombs say Beck
er did not sleep lasr night. His fell
low prisoners heard the verdict almost
the instant IL was pronounced. In
some mysterious manner the message
flashed from cell to cell. and when
Becker tramped back along the cor
ridor, faces were pressed at the bars
TO watch him. Yet no one spoke to
him. His set face invited no cheering
comments from his companions.
Not word came today from the
four gunmen and two alleged accom-
plices--"Jack" Sullivan and William
Sha piro--who also will be tried for
Rosenthals death. The dates of their
trials. which probably will be separate,
have not been announced.
Becker was found guilty last night,
The verdict was pronounced at IL: OF
O'clock this morning. Becker was re-
manded for sentence to the Tombs by
Justice Goff until October 30.
Mrs; Becker, sitting. outside the door
OF the courtroom. fell in a swoon
when the verdict was announced.
Becker did not finch when he heard
the verdict pronounced By Harold b.
skinner, foreman of the jury
John F. Mcintyre. Beckers chief
counsel, announced he would take an
Immediate appeal.
The twelve Jurors, with solemn
faces and measured steps, filed into
the courtroom at 1155 o'clock. A
minute later the defendant was
brought in Justice Goff had not yet
entered the room and for q moment
Becker took side seat. AS he wait
ed he scanned with anxious eyes the
faces of the jurors, but none of them
returned his gaze. A tense silence
Goff entered the courtroom and took
his seat. The jury roll was called.
The clerk then asked the jurors II
they had reached n verdict.
1--WE have" announced the foreman
The jury rose to its feet.
I'VE find the defendant guilty as
charged I'm the Indictment Mr.. Skin
ner said slowly and evenly, looking
sauarely at Justice Goff.
DO you find the defendant guilty as
charged in the Indictment" asked the
clerk
1--WE do. the foreman replied. .....
The court then directed that the roll
of the jurors be called for their in
dividual verdicts. AS he repeated the
question: do you find the defend
ant guilty of murder in the first de-
gree, as charged?" each juror answer
ed: II do"
Becker stood at the bar with square
shoulders. head erect Not muscle
moved in his face, but he swallowed
hard; that was ALL
When the last juror had answered
Justice Goff instructed the clerk to
take the defendants pedigree. Becker
answered the questions In low. firm
voice. A court officer brought the
questions to him. written on a slip OF
paper, and as the prisoner read them
to himself he replied:
"Forty-two years DID, American
citizen: born I'm Germany; address
32s9 Audubon avenue; lieutenant OF
police: married; Protestant; mother
living; habits temperate; never con.
victed before
When Becker's voice died away. Mr.
Mcintyre. who had covered his face
with his hands as the verdict was
given. rose and asked that all further
proceedings be deferred for one week
until can prepare the proper mo-
tions for appeal"
II will defer sentence" announced
Justice Goff. until october 30 ant
remand the prisoner until that date
Justice Con spoke in the same low
tone Of voice, almost a whisper. tha'
had characterized his utterances dur.
ing the trial.
Becker gave fieeting glance at the
tssdUa and roatod his ovoo for a ,y,o.