Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-08-16
THREATENED WITH DEATH.
"Bridgie" Weber and Harry WALTON
Afraid to Give Testimony.

New York, Aug. 15.-Threatened with
death if they revealed information re-
garding the three men higher up" in
the gambling graft scandal, Bridge
Weber and Harry WALTON. two of the
associates of Bald Jack" Rose. may
prove to be reealeitrant witnesses. Tie
prisoners are confronted on the other
hand by possible indictments charging
them with the murder of Herman Ro-
seminal, Unless they tell the whole
truth. The two prisoners tried TO de-
termine, today, what course TO pur-
sue
Weber and Vallon have been
.'reached" and told, according to Val
Ions counsel, to throw Police Lieuten
ant Becker To the wolves. but 10
shield the names of the three men now
regarded by the states attorney as
directors OF the graft system.
District Attorney Whitman is let.
ting the two prisoners themselves de-
eide what attitude they viii take.
Their indictments DEPEND largely upon
TIE testimony they give. Rose insists
that he win go through with the case
until the end and that pressure or
threats will not swerve him from tell
ing the secret of the gambling and 10.
lice system.
James Nj. sullivan, Vallons lawyer.
says that for some time messengers
from those higher up and from GER
tain police inspectors have surrepu-
tiously visited WALTON and Webber i'm
their cells and told them that they
might tell what they please about
Becker, but if they informed ON the big
fellows they might as well make away
with themselves, as they would NEE;
death, later. sullivan said, after seeing
Whitman
whitman has made case against
Becker and none of Becker's blackmai
ing employers seems 10 care Il hang
about Becller's situation. In fact, they
have sent word to Rose. Weber and
Vallon to throw Becker to the Wolves.
But they are determined that their own
names shall not be brought out Rose
will make good but Weber and Val
lon have been reached and / am
afraid they have made up their minds
to weaken | have told WALTON that he
is not playing square and that l will
no longer act as his counsel
In the confession of Rose, as pre-
pared by the gambler for Whitman
and printed, this morning. with Roses
own spelling and punctuation. Rose de-
elares that Becker had decided To kill
Rosenthal himself if others had not
done the work. After the murder Rose
SAYS he met Becker by appointment
near the scene of the killing. In his
written confession Rose says:
Il opened the conversation by say
ing: My God, Charlie, this is horri-
BILE. There viii be He'll to pay. He
said What is the matter don't worry,
leave all that to me. / asked. Have
you seen him and he said yes l saw
the sauealing --- / would have liked
to take my knife out and cut a piece
of his tongue out and hang it on the
- building as a warning to posi-
BILE future squealers. he said. Well |
was saved the trouble of doing it my
self. he said | became tired waiting
for you fellows to get the gang to do
it So decided, tonight. to do it myself.
II asked him how. Well, he said,
after / left Jack Sullivan | instructed
otto to drive by the Metropole and to
slow down without sopping l intended
if Rosenthal was there, to take out my
gun, blaze away at him and then tell
Otto TO keep going. but he wasn't
there. / said we'll what about these
fellows he said | will take good care
OF every body concerned to Weber he
said see that these fellows get enough
money to get out of town say about
$1,000 between them which Weber
said he would which makes $500 from
Weber"