The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-08-05
Wants to go FREQ on Murder Charge
Because the Grand Jury
Met In tho
Night.
HEARING ON WEDNESDAY
Police official 10 Indicted on the
Charge Of Having Procured the
Murder Of Gambler
Rosenthai.

UNITED Press Leased Wire Service.I
NEW YORK, Aug. 5.--Police Lieu
tenant Chas Becker, charged with
procuring the murder Of Gambler Her
man Rosenthal and said to be facing
three indictments charging extortion
in connection with police gambling
graft. withdrew his plea of not guilty
today when arraigned on charge OF
murder in the first degree before
Judge Grain in the court Of general
sessions, part one. He then waived
pleading Judge Grain Immediately
transferred the case to Judge Null
queen, who was in charge of the grand
jury investigating the murder, and
the graft charges against the police
department.
Judge Muiqueen adjourned the
! hearing until Wednesday when John
Hart, former assistant district attor
ney, and chief counsel for Becker pre-
1 sented two motions The first at
tackled the indictment of Becker, on
the ground that the grand jury return
ing 1t met at night, and on the fur
ther contention that the full GRAND
jury was not present. The second
motion demanded for the defendant
the right to inspect the grand jury
notes and also that the district attor-
ney be compelled to endorse on the
) back OF the indictment the names OF
E the witnesses testifying against the
( police lieutenant.
4 Hart, stating that 1t was customary
Z to give two days notice of argument
2 on motions, said he was willing to
, waive this if the district attorney did
not object. Judge Mulqueen, speak
ing for Whitman, said that the dis
trict attorney would waive anything
/ in the interest Of speedy trial. but
3 added that there was nothing before
q the court, as he did not understand
;. the motions of Hart. Judge Mulqueen
then continued the proceedings until
Wednesday.
Becker was represented by Hart;
Robert H. Elder, former district attor
ney for Brooklyn; George w. White
and Lloyd P. Stryker All, but Elder
were assistants to William Travers
: Jerome, when he was district attor
ney.
1t was Becker's first public appear
:. ance, since the confession of Rose
Webber and Vallon, caused his in
:. dictment. Immediately dressed, th
: lieutenant looked dapper and yer.
Il much at ease. Further than to nod a
his brother, John, in the audience
!. Becker was not seen to speak or t
: recognize anyone in the courtroom.
:, - There was considerable relief !
- the west side court prison, when
: was announced that the further exam
u ination Of Webber and Vallon by Coz
~ oner Feinberg had gone over unit
August 49, The confessing gambler
&c. were said to be in fear of their live
g if they were compelled to go to cour
d. and had petitioned District Attorne
he Whitman for an especial vigilar
ID guard not composed Of policemen.
IL Lawyer Sullivan today was autho
nd ity for the statement that Bridge
in Webber had received letter signe
'sThe Crowd" threatening him wit
lis death If he persisted in backing u
re BALD Jack" Rose.
re. The letter to Weber, as quoted
Sullivan follows:
"Mr. Weber: In case you have ar
r. intention to live few years more
lin would be advisable for you to kef
dy your mouth shut Don't do like Ro
dy did. He is on our death list. Whet
dy er he leaves prison. or not, he W
;. die before the month Is over. He al
dy Frank Moss. Tell yallon the sar
,ar thing. You must remember you
J involving some high officials and tn
won't stand for exposure.
ise "The crowd"
for The letter was dated August
.ge midnight Frank Moss is assista
ing district attorney. in charge of t
grand jury probe.
That the police were making no
tempt to catch the alleged murdere
,er of Rosenthal was the statement tod
ear made to District Attorney Whitman
ldy a runner" for many years attach
10 the office Of Moses Sachs, cri
inal lawyer,
The man who visited Whitman
54 make an affidavit and then "
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