Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-10-15
BRIDGE" WEBER and VALLON|
CORROBORATE ROSES STORY.
Justice Golf Excludes All Gangster and Gun
men from Court Roonl--Prompted by
Threats on Life==Botil Witness Sub
ject to Rigid Cross=examination.

New York, Oct i4-"Bald Jack
Roses story Of how Police Lieutenant
Charles Becker plotted the murder OF
Herman Boaenthal was corroborated
on tho witness stand, today, by "Btid-
gle Weber and Harry ValIon. self
confessed acccmplices in the crime.
'Beidgies Weber went further He
swore that the police lieutenant had
told him tlIat on the night of the muir
der, he would have killed RosenthaI,
himself, had he seen the gambler.
Prompted by threats against his own
life. Justice GoT took drastic steps, to-
day to exclude gangsters and gun
men from the court room. The justice
admitted, tonight, that he had receiv-
ed such threats both by letter and tel
ephone and added that he had noted
attempts in the court room to intim
late Witnesses
He gave orders OF the court attend
ants TO exclude all persons Acting
susI5iciously'' or recognized as gang
sters anu required that newspaper men
ana others having business in the
court be admitted only by a special
pass.
IF this is not sufficient" Justice GoH
declared, Il VIII have the sheriff fill
the court room with armed deputies"
The justice was escorted to his home.
tonight, by two uniformed policemen.
New York oct. 14-"Bridgie'' Webber,
whose gambling rooms on I'D street were
the rendezvous of the alleged murderers
of Herman Rosenthal, took the witness
at he ftsi9 i of olf I
Becker and swore that Becker had said
that on the night of the murder he had
been looking for Rosenthal ito take a
shot at him himself Becker told him
he said, THAT while passing the Hotel
Cadillac in an automobile about half an
hour before the murder he had ordered
the chauffeur to slow down so that "if
l saw that -- Rosenthal up against
the wall there I would have taken a
shot at his myself.
Weber corroborated in all important
details the story of the murder as told
by Bald jack Rose on Saturday,
Winfield r. Sheehan secretary of Po-
lice Commissioner Waldo. was the first
witness to be called. His appearance
was a distinct surprise, Sheehan, who is
former newspaper man, was asked to
identify his signature on document
handAd to him by Assistant District At
torney Moss. The document was a COM
munication addressed to Becker and at
tached thereto We're letters identified by
the witness as having been written by
Becker. Sheehan said that he had signed
the document at the direction of Com
missioner Waldo.
did you ever talk to Becker about
the matters mentioned in these communi-
cations?' asked Mr.. Moss. No, sir
Sheehan answered.
on the ground that the commissioner
secretary had given only his opinion"
as to the authenticity of BeclIer's sigma
ture. John w Hart. of counsel for the
defence, objected to the introduction of
the papers in evidence. Justice Golf aft
err hearing Sheehans opinion. refused to
allow the papers to be admitted and
Sheehan was excused
BRIDGE Webber followed Sheenan
on the stand.
"Bridgie" said his real name was
Louis and admitted that he was
gambler He had known Herman Ros-
enthal for Is years. he said. and Jack
Rose for the same time. Becker, he
had known for two years.
where did you first meet Becker?''
fasked Mr.. Moss. I'm Jack Roses
place" said Webber. "Where did YOU
next meet him. in front of my po-
ker rooms.
Did you ever have conversation
with him?" Yes He used to come to
my place often, said Weber.
Did YOU ever have conversation
.I,.,I -
with Harry Valon and Jack Rose,
the latter part Of June. at 124th street
and Seventh avenue. Becker said:
THE d of lis trying to do me
in every way He is trying to see
Waldo, the commissioner. and now
he's going to set Whitman
That - has got to be stopped.
said Becker He's got to be croaked
before he gets TO Whitman.
Il said Charley, that's pretty
dangerous thing to do, to murder a
man
"'That's all right said Becker, hes
got to be stopped
BRIDGE" told of a subsequent meet
ing with Becker at the Union Square
hotel
".What are you doing about that
! - Rosenthal?' Becker said to me:
he's doing me; he's got to be croaked,'
II said: Charley, he's going to be
taken care of Your liable to see it in
the papers any day
The witness then told of meeting
Rose and telling him of Becker's in
sisteuce that the job be done. Web
Der said that Rose had agreed to get
The four gunner together at his poker
rooms on the night of July Is. On
that night he (Webber) saw Becker
and Jack sullivan at prize fight,
left them and went to his poker
rooms
Lefty Louie, Jack Rose, Harry
Valen. 'Gyp the Blood sam Schepps
and 'Dago Frank appeared on the
scene" Bridgic said.
.sRose asked me If / knew where
pnoc,,thal was Wahber testified