The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1912-08-02
BECKER CHARGED
WITH KILLING
POLICE OFFICIAL ARRESTED AND
INDICTED FOR MURDER IN
FIRST DEGREE.
CLEAR RosENTHAL CASE.
Rapid Developments Follow Reported
Confession Of Gamblers-Rose
Declares He Was Forced to
Shaving.

New York, July 3l.-After a late
night session of the grand Jury in
which BALD Jack" Rose. BRIDGE"
Weber and Harry WALTON are elleged
to have made confessions directly i'm.
plicating Police Lieutenant Charles
Becker in the murder Of Herman Ro-
seminal In front Of the Hotel Met.
ropole two weeks ago. Becker was In.
dicted for murder In the first degree.
placed under arrest and hurried be-
for midnight session of the general
sessions.
After entering plea Of not guilty
the police officer was remanded with
out bail and taken to the Tombs. The
gamblers. whose statements are said
to have caused the indictment of
Becker pleaded with the officials not
to be taken back to the Tombs de-
claring they would be killed II re-
turned to their cells.
agents OF the police department"
they asserted would make way with
them In retaliation for their testimony
II they were returned to the prison.
So real was their fear that they were
allowed to sleep In the criminal courts
building under the guard of eight de-
tectives.
The greatest secrecy was maintain.
ed as to the admission made before
the grand Jury by the three men. who
have been held prisoners for some
time In connection with Rosenthal's
murder. II is asserted. however. that
Rose told of practically being forced
to arrange the killing of Rose. thai
under threats OF being 'jobbed" by
the police and sent to prison on manu-
featured evidence
That Lieutenant Becker was in CON-
munication with the actual murderers
after the killing also was asserted to
have been part Of Roses confession.
Another statement attributed to Bald
Jack" was that for several months he
had acted as collector Of toll from
gambling houses for certain police Of.
ficials.
The confessions OF the gamblers
were made after Max d. Steuer and
James Sullivan, counsel for the men.
had pleaded all afternoon with them
to tell what they knew of the murder.
When their consent was won. Dis
trict Attorney Whitman lost no time
in rushing them before the grand Jury.
In order to avoid change OF heart on
the part OF these witnesses the grand
Jury was assembled for the first night
session held by that body in IL years.
With this testimony as basis the
grand jury acted just as quickly. as
an Indictment was voted before the
sitting closed. Becker. who had been
arrested on a charge OF extortion NJ
his station house In the Bronx. was
hurried before Judge Mulqueen to
plead.
II was not until the accused lIeuten.
ant faced the court that the full
gravity OF the charge against him was
made known. lie had supposed until
that time the accusation Of extortion
alone faced him.
Indications about the criminal courts
building after Becker had been re.
turned to the Tombs were that with
the confession of the gamblers fresh
impetus had been given to the investi-
CATION OF the Rosenthal Staying.
Among the rumors circulated was
one that the names OF the actual STAY.
ers were now definitely known to
District Attorney whitman and that
even their hiding places had been re.
vealed. No one would Indicate how.
ever. II the arrests OF the much.want
ed men were In immediate prospect.