Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-07-30
Getting at the Truth in New York.

The latest developments in the New
York police scandal are not surprising in
character. although there may have been
reason during the last week to fear that
the full truth regarding the Rosenthal
murder would not be disclosed. And II
remains question whether the full truth
is told yet in this case. That Lieut..
Becker of the police force had an inter-
est in the removal of Rosenthal after he
had started to tell the district attorney
Of their corrupt relationship in the main
tenance of a gambling establishment was
plain enough If Rosenthais charge was
justified But the men directly impli-
Gated IN the killing seemed to retain their
nerve sufficiently to thwart Whitman In
his efforts to get higher up to the real
source of the murder inspiration. So long
as this appeared 70 be merely q gambler 8
feGd and did not involve the police It
was a matter of but little public con-
ceen .but the belief persisted that there
was not a sufficient motive on the part
of the gamblers 10 make way with
Roscn'ilal. however much they may have
despised him for 'squeaiing or making
trouble. Such men do not kill except un-
der sudden and tremendous strain OF
passion or when influenced by an over
powering motive of protection. The
gamblers themselves had nothing par
ticular 10 fear from tine effect of Rosen-
that's testimony regarding a corrupt re-
lationship with the police, but the police
had everything to fear if there was any
truth in his allegations.
Lieut. Becker's connection with the
case having been generally accepted from
the outset as established morally IL not
legally. there has been keen public in
terest in the vital question of how far up
the line of the official organization or
10 what point in the unofficial political
organization that controls New York tho
corruption ran. Who were the. men
higher up. has been the question in this
case from the outset. just as ii was the
question in the Lexow investigation Of
the middle nineties. which disclosed a
we'll organized system Of police graft in
which the wardnan or plain clothes de-
tective was the collecting agent and the
money was scattered all along the line
from the 'pantata" or captain to the
mysterious man or men at the top.
The confessions of Weber and Rose
place Commissioner Waldo and Mayor
Gaynor in most embarrassing situation.
especially in view of the mayors letter
to the commissioner last week. in which
he virtually characterized the whole
Rosenthal case as an unwarranted at
tack upon his administration by the
Subsidized gamblers press. He adj
vised the commissioner not to Charge
Lieut.. Becker with any offense unless
there was convicting proof-a sound
enough proposition in the main. but
strangely at variance with the usual po-
lice procedure when suspicion and accu-
sation suffice for the first stage of a
case. Had Lieut.. Becker made good use
OF his freedom 10 escape before the con-
LESSONS were made the mayor and po-
Ice commissioner would have today been
in a sorry plight indeed. As ii is they
are both now on the defensive. seriously
discrrdited by the confessions and in a
fair way TO he even more awkwardIy af-
fssted BY the rovelations that may be ex-
pected now that the lips OF the chief fig
urss III this conspiracy have been opened
and The full truth may be expected.