Norwich bulletin., 1912-08-06
Police Fund
Of $4,000
COLLECTED BY THE So CALLED
SYSTEM, WHITMAN LEARNS.
TO DEFEND BECKER
Prisoner Had Three Lawyers at Hear
Ine-Withdrew Plea of Not Guilty
Case Was Set Over Till Wednesday

New York, Aug. 5-A police fund
Of $50, 900 Is being raised for the de-
Tense of Charles Becker the police
lieutenant charged with instigating
the murder of Herman Rosenthal, ac-
cording to the information in the
hands of District Attorney Whitman
tonight. The money is being col
Iected, 1t is said, by the so-called sys-
tenn, which aside from the murder
cases. is to be the subject of a sep
| arate investigation by the district at
| torney, who believes there is a cor
rupt alliance between the System"
and the gambling fraternity, founded
on graft and blackmail. The infor-
nation came to the prosecutor today
| in connection with the arraignment
of Becker to answer the indictment
against him.
Defense Fund Engages Lawyer.
During five hours of legal procedure,
| which included the withdrawal by
! Becker of his plea of mot guilty" for
! the purpose of offering motion to in
validate the indictment. the prisoner
was represented by three lawyers, one
| Of whom entered the case and mystic
| riously withdrew. while the status OF
! the other two seemed doubtful in
| their own minds when the proceedings
were over 1t was said that the law
yers engaged by Becker were not sat
| lsfactory to the collectors of the de-
! tense fund, who. the district attorney
| heard have practically engaged a
! prominent criminal lawyer to defend
the lieutenant superseding the prison
er's own personal choice.
Substitute Motion for Former Plea.
| John w. Hart, who has thus far
represented Becker, was the lawyer
who conducted the public part Of to-
days legal proceedings. After with
! drawing his clients plea Of mot
| guilty." he made one motion to dis
miss the indictment on the ground that
| it was irregular. and another to re-
view the grand jury minutes and take
evidence to show whether the ground
| for the indictment was sufficient
| Judge Mulqueen refeused to hear ar
| guments on the motion today and set
| the case over Until Wednesday. Hart
in his application to inspect the jury
minutes, held that the evidence pro-
| duced was not legal in that it was tes-
ttmony Of accompltces in the alleged
| gie'' Webber, Harry Vallon.
Il Further surInise and believe" the
lawyer stated, that the testimony OF
each Of the three witnesses was con-
fession on their part OF the commits
sion of the crime or connection with
the same"
Officers Watch the Crowd.
The fact that Becker was to appear
for arraignment attracted an immense
crowd to the criminal courts building
IN the hope Of getting glimpse OF
the man who is the central figure in
/ al
Among them were recognized many
| gamblers and characters Of the un-
derworld and plain clothes men and
policemen circulated through the
building and guarded the entrance OF
the courtroom, ready to foresIaIl DOS
stble violence, The crowd eventually
became SO dense that corridors were
cleared and only persons having bust
ness were admitted to the court.
Becker, looking somewhat pale from
his week Of prison life walked from
the Tonnbs across the Bridge of Sighs
to the courtroom with firm step and
maintained a self possessed but grave
demeanor during the proceedings.
Will Press Murder Charge.
Although the district attorney says
| that he has evidence that he could
use In pressing a charge of extortio1
against the lieutenant in connection
with his relations with gamblers al
head of the Strong arm squad, the
prosecutor said tonight that he pro-
| posed to press only the murder charge
at present and that he would moi
hasten the trial until his evidence tc
| support the latter was In shape. II
the argument OF Attorney Hart should
prevail to Quash the present indfct.
nent, It would be easy to supersedt
it with another Indictment. Mr., Whit.
man said. on the additional evidence
he has collected.
Private Detectives in Boston.
While the police are searching the
Catskllls for Gyp the Blood" ant
Lefty Louie. \two Of the alleged res
murderers of Rosenthal, private detec.
tiVes employed by the district attor.
ney are looking for them in Boston
Mr., Whitman on his visit there Sun.
day was told by his men that Left,
Louis' had been seen there recently
and that they hoped to capture hin
soon.
Another Charge Against Policemen
The district attorney had volun.
tary witness before him today whC
accused two policemen of failing Il
arrest the two missing men when h,
pointed them out to the officers OF
West Forty second street two dsy:
ago The man said he knew then
both, but that the policemen refused
10 leave their fixed posts to arres
mem Both policemen, Mcmahon. an(
Fnlloln. admitted that the witnes,
mad pointed two men out to them al
Gyp the Blood" and Lefty Louie.
but declared that they did not dar,
to leave their fixed posts for fear O
being fined.
Aldermen Vote Investigation.
The vote of the board of aldermen
to undertake an investigation of thu
police department TODAY was rnani.
nous. although there had been tall
that Tammany leaders might trv II
plock the idea. Alderman DoHling
the Tammany leader, said that h,
could promise faithful cooperation
from all Democrats placed on the com.
mittee. He said he was heartily IL
favor of appropriating "a million i
necessary to uncover and put an enc
70 any alliance between the polio.
and criminals" but the proposaI Il
Inappropriate $4,000, which was unan.
lmously adopted, was deemed suffi.
cient,
The committee appointed for the
Investigation is headed by Alderman
Curran, republican, who started tn,
movement It includes six republicans
or rusionists. and three democrats. I
was reported, without confirmation
that tho committee desired TO heal
Mayor tiaynor as the first witness.
Recall Of Judges.
Washington, Aug. 5.-An amendment
to the constitution for the recall a