davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-20
RosenthaPs Charges and murder.

''Elcventh-In the spring and sum-
mer Of 1912 events transpircd which
brought such scandal to the eliminating
point and aroused the most intense public
feeling and apprehension One Herman
Rosenthal had long been notorious gam
bier and in the years of 1911 and 1912 was
the proprietor OF a gambling resort AT
No. 1O4 West 45th street, in the CITY OF
New York. In the early part Of the
month Of July 1912, said Rosenthal began
to make disclosures TO the public authori-
ties concerning the corrupt ARRANGEMENTS
and transactions between gamblers and
the members of the police force of the
City Of New York. and particularly be-
tween himself and Charles Becker, one OF
the lieutenants of police especially as
signed by the plaintiff. rs such Police
Commissioner, as a member of a Central
Office Squad organized by the plaintiff as
aforesaid On or about July 10, 1912 said
Rosenthal signed and verified and caused
TO be made public, and soon thereafter
placed in the hands of the District Attor-
ney of the County Of New York, a state
ment purporting TO be an affidavit duly
sworn TO by him, Of which copy is
hereto annexed marked Exhibit A. on
or about July Is, 1912, said Rosenthal ap-
peared before the District Attorney OF the
County Of New York and promised that
he would on the following morning fur
nish oral and documentary proofs against
| said Lieutenant Becker and other police
| officers and would bring to said District
| Attorney other gamblers who would also
| give additional evidence of corruption on
| the part Of such police officers, so as
| signed as aforesaid by the plaintiff as
| Police Commissioner TO such Central
| Office Squad The fact that such dis
closures and promises had been made by
said Rosenthal to the District Attorney
became known 20 the plaintiff and to said
! Becker and TO the public generally at the
time Of their occurrence.
"Twelfth-At about o'clock a. m
on the morning Of July 10. 1912. the day
| upon which said Herman Rosenthal was
| expected to appear before the grand Jury
| of the County Of New York to present
said evidence Of corruption on the part
| of officers Of said Police Department. he
was shot and instantly killed in front Of
| the Hotel Netropole, on 43d street, east
Of Broadway, one Of the most conspicu-
ously public places In the City Of New
| York. Five members OF the said New
York police force were in the immediate
vicinity. They made no arrests, failed 10
secure the correct license number Of the
automobile in which the assassins escaped
| from the scene of the said murder, and
the only person taken into custody by
them was the witness who, alone Of said
| spectators Of said crime, was able TO fur
nish the public authorities with the cor
rect license number Of said car.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-20

| trict Attorney as being actuated by d
! desire to secure political capital or by
other Interior motives. After said Rosen-
that's disclosures affecting said Becker
had been made public, the plaintih' a.
such Police Commissioner wrote To salu
| District Attorney and on the day before
said murder occurred caused to be maze
public a letter I'm which he said, with re-
gard to said charges so made by said
| Rosenthal:
With reference to the public charges
| made by a seIf-confessed gambler thSt
| A police lieutenant was In partnership
with him, IL appears that the iIeu-
tenant did his duty in this partleular
instance In spite Of any aHe9ed ST.
| tanqIements and that the uampieI
premises have bean closed TOR many
months In consequence.
And. on July II, 1912. the day aiter
said murder became known 10 the pubic
the plaintiff sent to said District Attorney,
and caused to be published, letter Oh
which copy is hereto annexed marked
Exhibit g. on July is, 1912, the said
District Attorney sent the plaintiff IN re-
ply, and caused TO be made public, letter
| OF WHICH Il tOIN - llflflO tAtlANFN''' ''-
Exhibit c. This defendant alleges that
all of the statements so made by salu
| District Attorney in said letter were and
are true.
information About Becker.
"Fffteenth-Sevcral months before the
commission of said murder, viz, IN the
early part Of the spring OF 1912, the PLAIN
tiff. as such Police Commissioner re-
celved official information Of the criminal
acts and corruption Of said lieutenant OF
police. Charles Becker, which II 1t had
been duly followed up and investigated
by the plaintiff as he as such police OH
clal had full opportunity TO do, would nave
disclosed 10 him and 20 the prosecuting
authorities OF the County Of New YORK
the criminal acts Of his subordinatos IN
said Department Of Police, and would
have enabled him to take such rcme-
dial measures as would have correct
ed the evil conditions then exist
ing and have avertcd the said great
scandal. Instead OF so duly following up
such information and making such proper
Investigation of the charges against said
lieutenant Of police, the plaintiff, as such
Police Commissioner, turned over 10 said
Becker himself the said information so
officially conveyed to him and accepted
as true the reports Of said Becker that
such charges against him were unfounded,
without any due or adequate invcstiga-
ton as to the truth thereof The latter
part Of March, 1912, the following letter
was received by the Mayor Of the City Of
New York and by him officially referred
TO the plaintiff, as such Commissioner Of
Police
Hon. w. J. Gaynor-l would Ike TO
have you investigate quietly Leu
tenant Becker. He is now collecting
more money than OeVery. and Il IS
we'll known TO every one at Poiice
Headquarters, Please do this and you
will be surprised az the result.
Yours, HENRY WILLIAMS.
March 27, 1912.
The plaintiff. as such Police Commits
sioner. instead OF conducting proper
independent investigation, turned over
said letter to said lieutenant or police,
Charles Becker, against whom said
charges were made, by the following OFF,
ciaI order:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-20

methods adopted by the plaintiff as such
Police Commissioner In dealing with gam
bling houses in New York, instead of
suppressing the same and decreasing the
amount Of corruption on the part Of police
officers. had had contrary effect and had
opened opportunities TO unprincipled mem
bers Of the police force under said new
system greatly TO increase their Illegal
ana corrupt gains. Many raids were
mace by such members of said Central
once Squad upon the gambling houses
In the City Of New York, but there were
evidences that many of such raids were
hcutious and not made in good faith, for
the purpose Of suppressing gambling. one
OF such evidences was She fact that in
said so-called raids none of the principals
or owners Of gambling houses were ar
rested, but only minor employees thereof
although such owners were well known TO
the members OF such police force respon-
sible for such raids. As such Police Com
missioner the plaintiff was bound to be
familiar with said facts, and in truth they
were personally known to him.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-20

Used to produce the two this morning and
paid $40 In fines.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-20

Com. Waldo: April 9, 1912
a gambler like Herman Rosenthal
allowed to run wide open with no one
20 lnterfear with him because he brags
and tell people TO f. with the Com,
strongly and tells the mans name
Lieut. Becker he Dives him money
Rosenthal partner is Jack Rose and
II Is Rose that hands Becker the
money Rose Is 8ecker's best friend
that Is how Rosenthal took Bose into
partnership with him through Mr..
Becker this information comes from
a man that has been playing In this
place at 45th ST number 1o4 is New
York allowed to be so dirty TO allow
a man like this to run and be pro-
tected by one Of your men They
rob every man that goes In the place
Watch Mr.. Becker's home and you
will see that these men Visit there
Would sign my name only am afraid
OF my life
On or about April II, 1912, the plain.
tiff. as such Police Commissioner. re.
ferred said anonymous letter I'm the same
manner to said accused lieutenant Of 20.
lice, Charles Becker, by the following ON.
cial order:
Office of the Police Commissioner.
SIy VI iNc" APT u, 1glE-He-
spectfully referred TO Lieut.. Becker,
commanding Special Squad. for re-
mark. BY direction Of the Police
Commissioner.
w. r. sHEEHAN, Secretary.
on or about April IS. 1912, the said ac
cused lieutenant of police made to the
plaintiff, as such Police Commissioner tht
following report:
Police Department of the City OF
New York, Special Squad April ia,
1912. - MEMORANDUM FOR THE
POLICE COMMISSIONER, re AN
ONYMOUS complaint relative to
Lieutenant CHARLES BECKER pro.
tectlng and receiving money from
GAMBLERS; ALSO, rel. 10 GAM
BLING at No. to4 West 45th St:
I have the honor to report that 1
have not, directly or indirectly. re-
celVed any money. from any person
for the purpose Of PROTECTING Gam.
bling or any other Illegal business
and court full investiuatlon; ALSO
relative TO Gambling House situated
at No. 104 West 45th ST. / have the
honor to report that evidence was
secured against the alleued Gambllnu
House by PatroImen James White
Joseph SHEPPARD and Charles c.
Stelnert, attached to the Special
Squad; warrants were Issued by Chief
Magistrate McAdoo and executed at
above premises on April 18th, 1912,
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-20
Office OF the Police Commissioner,
City Of New York,

Respectfully referred 70 Lieutenant
Becker for Investigation and report.
ev direction of the Police Commits
sioner. w. r. SREEHAN, Secretary
Subsequently, on or about April 10, 1912
the said Lieutenant Becker made TO The
plaintiff. as such Police Commissioner th'
following official report:
Police Department Of the City OF
New York. Special squad, April ~,
9t2.-Memorandum for the Police
Commissioner; re MEMO. from HIS
HONOR, THE MAYOR enclosing
letter signed HENRY WILLIAMS,
relative to Lieutenant CHARLES
BECKER collecting money:
have the honor 10 report that I
ASSIGNED Patrolman James G. White,
shield number 7708, OF the SPECIAL
SQUAD, TO investigate the attached
every effort 10 locate the writer with
out success, but interviewed the 70
lowing named persons, whose ad-
dresses he found in the City Directory,
all OF whom united In stating that
had anything to do with the writing
of the same: Williams, Henry A. 120
Liberty Street: Williams, Henry r., y
Broa dway; Williams, Henry D., p
East 21st Street; Williams, Henry NJ"
fo7 Reade Street; Williams, NJ" tO5
335 Seventh Avenue; Williams, Henry
S., Sc East 23d Street; Williams,
Henry, 80 Second Avenue; Williams,
Henry, ITO West 12sth Street; VIII
Iams, Henry r., 1879 Oak Street; VIII
Iams, Henry r., 23e Elm Street.
officer James c. White further re-
ports that he made several unsuc-
cessful attempts TO interview the fol-
lowing named persons, whom he found
were out Of town and are not expected
70 return for some time 20 come:
Henry e. Williams, a. Spruce Street;
Henry .. Williams, 70 William Street;
Henry 7. Williams, Washington
place; Henry r. Williams, 3i04 ia
malca Avenue. ! would respectfully
suggest, In view Of the fact that this
letter refers to myself, that some
ether members OF this department be
assigned to make further inVestiga-
lions II so desired. Respectfully,
CHARLES BECKER,
Lieutenant. In Charge, Special Squad.
On or about April 10, 1912, the plaintiff
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-20
Grand Jury's Presentment.

Ienth-ln the months OF January anu
February, 1912, the said conditions in
the City Of New York became of so seri-
Gus character that they became the
subject Of investigation by the grand jury
Of the County Of New York, and on or
about February 2, 1912, the said grand
jury handed to the judge then presiding
in the Court of General Sessions in said
county a presentment, in which said grand
jury declared as follows:
The additional grand jury feels i'm.
peUed 10 make special report TO the
court in the matter Of gambling cases
which have come before II this term.
After most careful investigation Of
these cases, the grand Jury has felt
compelled In almost every instance,
although satisfied that gambling had
taken place, to dismiss the complaint
for lack cf sufficient evidence, The
evidence In nearly every instance con-
sisted Of the INCORPORATED testimony
o. one person as to the original occur.
renee, even though supported by the
seizure of gambling paraphernalla
after an Interval Of three - ten days.
The grand Jury invited the Commits
sioner Of Police to aid in their InVesti-
cation and he appeared before them.
Their conclusion Is that the present
system Of obtaining evidence In GAM
bling cases is totally insufficient and
they therefore deem II their duty 10
BRING Il thus publicly 70 the attention
OF the court for such action as may
seem proper and fiji.
II is their further request, II il
meets with the approval Of the court,
that copy Of this report, with the
resolutions accompanying II, be sent
70 his honor, the Mayor.
'The said resolution so addressed to the
Mayor Of the City Of New York WIS as
follows:
Moved that, basinq its judgment
upon the evidence as introduced be-
fore this grand Jury In the gambling
cases which nave from day TO day
been brought before il, In the opinion
OF this grand Jury the method EN-.
ployed by the Police Department In
obtaining evidence under the law for
the prosecution OF the keepers OF
gambling houses IS totally Inadequate
for the purposes for which Il Is In
tended.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-20

On or about April TO- 1912, the plaintiff
as such Police Commissioner, received
through the United States mail an anony-
nous letter TO the following effect:
The Washington times., 1912-01-20
CLAIMS THAT BRYAN
WAS NEVER DEFEATED

To the Editor of THE TIMES:
read an excellent article in the Mail
Bag of your issue Of January 13 from
the pen of Mr.. Mich. eulogizing the
character, intelligence, and ability Of
Hon. William Jennings Bryan. agree
with him In every particular but one,
which Is this: Mr.. Mich says he voted
for Mr.. Bryan leach time he was de-
feated, and would do so again" I want
to say right here, Mr.. Mich. II you will
allow me the correction, Mr.. Bryan
never was defeated. He was twice elect
ed and twice counted out. a thing fire.
quently done to defeat an honest candi-
date. In all the wide world there can
not be found a man more suitable for
President OF our great (and once free)
nation than Hon. William Jennings
these fine qualities that the trusts and
combines do not want him in the White
House. They cannot dictate to such a
man. He would be the peoples choice.
not the combines.
the time has come when he will not be
counted out. AS President he will save
the Government millions OF dollars, and
at the same time lower our taxes. And
1t will be no bluff when he gets after
the combines, either. Only see the
thousands of dollars the present Con-
gress has already saved the Govern
ment; also note the false alarm sounded
These are not the kind of public serv-
ants who do such things.
We will see the greatest change for
prices and lower taxes. The poor will
be able to see their way to exist. Then
will be peace and plenty and good will
toward all. L. w. w.
The Washington times., 1912-01-20
The IcOnOclaSt.

You have shattered our fondest tradi-
tions, existing for age upon age:
You have spattered with mud all the
greatest who writ upon history's
page,
You have wrought with a pen dipped in
venom, you have spoken in SLAM
derous tone
OF the greatest and best of all ages
now. can't you leave Shakespeare
alone?
You would weaken our faith in the
Bible: the story of Adam refute.
In tome upon tome you've attempted
to prove mans evolved from the
brute.
the hosts Of Pharaoh o'erthrown.
And though this should be sufficit
quantum, you won't even let
Shakespeare alone.
You tell us that Nero ne'er fiddled
while Rome to the torch he con-
signed;
And that Homer did not write tho
iliad.the poem itself you've ma
You've taken the tub from Diogenes.
from the Tower of Babel the stone;
Desecrated the sacred Olympus--and
can't even let Shakespeare alone
You have proved that Macpherson, not
Ossian. wrote "Fingal:" and now
you reveal
To George sand and Musset. Owen
Meredith owes the better part of
his Lucille"
You tell us that Pope ne'er indited a
couplet entirely his own,
But owed much to Lucan and Horace
please. won't you let Shakespeare
alone?
You have told us as once you told Lin
coin. that Grant was fighter--of
booze.
And that when a postmaster. Ben
Franklin robbed the mail whenever
he'd choose.
That Webster once went as indorser
on a note-and he ne'er paid the
loan
Thus. running amuck through the ages,
you can't even let Shakespeare
alone!
- CHlLO.
The Washington times., 1912-01-20
CLAIMS SHAKESPEARE'S
BROTHER WROTE PLAYS

To the Editor Of THE TIMES.
notice In your issue Of the nth, a
militant suffragette throws the bomb in
to the midst Of the shakespeare Ba-
con controversy by claiming that Mrs.
Shakespeare wrote the plays attributed
to her husband. Sincerely hoping her
militant spirit will not be aroused.
claim Shakespeares brother wrote the
plays.
Shakespeare himself, said so in one
of his plays. Also, in the autobiography
of William Shakespeare, he says words
to the effect, that II his brother did not
write the plays he wrote, who did?
Besides this conclusive evidence, I
wish to advance the argument that II
the plays were written by the Shake
speare family, what's the difference?
You may say Bacon did not belong to
the Shakespeare family. If he did not,
what family did he belong to? Every
one agrees he was human, and there
fore he could not have belonged to the
bacon or hog family. Hence he must
have belonged to the Shakespeare fam
lily. since the name more nearly cor
responds to Shakespeare than any other
name in the language. IVORY.
The Washington times., 1912-01-20
RINK FOR ICE
SKATING WOULD PAY WELL

To the Editor OF THE TIMES:
washington was on Wednesday night
Drought face to face with the fact that
the citizens, II given the proper incen-
tive. would not rely wholly upon the
theater for their amusement during
the winter, but would patronize. without
doubt. a good fee skating rink. 1t
y estimated that the carnival brought
together 1900 enthusiasts. the majority
Ut whom were skaters. IL such a
number are interested In skating 1t is
but natural to suppose that any one
who would invest In a good rink
would be amply repaid. Such was the
sentiment Of many at Wednesday
nights carnival. There are many reas-
sons why rink would be WELCOME. not
only to the skaters. but to the perents
as well. To the latter. q rink would be
doubly welcome. since most parents
forbid their children to skate because
the Ice is rarely thick enough to the
point of safety. and 1t is not slncommon
to read Of MANY skating accidents. The
thousands Of skaters here from North
crn states would surely patronize such
O rink. 1t Is q misfortune that Wash
ingtons cold weather does not last
long enough TO satisfy the many
skaters who enjoy the sport. T.. Il. F.
The Washington times., 1912-01-20
SATURDAY, JANUARY 20, 1912.
CUMMINS AND IOWA. +,

~ Senator Albert B. Cummins is today announced
rs candidate for the Republican nomination for
President.
He is honestly and earnestly candidate in his
own right and interest He will have the support of
his own State without question.
Il That State found and fostered the Iowa idea"
Ind Cummins was its prophet He will be accepted
% the Presidential possibility representing the po-
tentiaites of that issue. "
Because of its long leadership in progressive
policies, especially tariff Iowas position will be
bf peculiar significance.
Ia The announcement of Mr.. Cummns aside from
all this, indicates the rapdity with which the
TAFT Administrations political house of cards is fall
Ing to pieces. Glasscock announced yesterday that
West Virginia was not for Taft; Cummins today
claims Iowa; the ST. Louis committee has indorsed
Roosevelt; New Yorks State committee refused to
indorse Taft. Even the South is not sticking loyalty
by its postmasters.
~ The beginning of the end seems not merely in
sight, but here.
The Washington times., 1912-01-20
la TOILETTE MEN
PLAN INVASION OF
KEYSTONE STATE
Progressive Leaders Say
They Will Win Some of
the Delegates.

That the progressives are going to be
able to make a big dent in the Penn
sylvania delegation to the Republican
national convention and keep q large
share of It away from President Taft
is asserted from the progressive head
quarters here. A statement from the
progressive headquarters says. In effect,
that the Taft forces will find Senators
Penrose and oliver cannot control the
situation for President Taft.
This statement says:
1T Is not 10 long ago that Penrose
discovered that his grip on the voters
had been broken. The election Of
Mayor Blankenburg In Philadelphia
demonstrated beyond all doubt that
the old machine leaders could no longer
dictate to the voters.
Now tnat the question Of delegates
to the next Republican national con-
vention rs beginning to receive atten-
ton In Pennsylvania, the two Senators
with a determinstion on the part Of the
voters To do as they please.
THE progressive sentiment is grow
ing In western Pennsylvania at such a
pace pace that hat. the two senstS,TIs are unn no
State Senator from Pittsburgh. came to
Washington day or two ago for the
purpose of making known his attitude
In connection with the Republican ma
tional convention. Mr.. Finn made no
secret of his admiration for Senator La
Toilette and for the policies for which
the Senator stands. 1t Is his intention
to stand for election as delegate-at-
large to the national convention on a
platform which will be in entire har-
mony with the La Toilette principles.
"Flinn has been fighting both Pen.
rose and Oliver. 1t Is now learned that
these two recognize the sentiment be.
hind Finn, and that they have decided
that 1t would be unwise to put up a
candidate against him. Pittsburgh:
therefore. probably will be represented
by a progressive delegate-at-large. In
formation received at progressive head
quarters in Washington lead the man.
ayers to believe that Finn will not be
lonely, for advices from Pennsylvania
are to the effect that a number Of other
progressives will be sent to the Repub-
lican national convention"
The Washington times., 1912-01-20
PERHAPS SIMlAN WROTE
descent OF MAN.
To the Editor OF THE TINES:

To the Editor OF THE TINES:
"A. II. W." seems to think that
Shakespeare could not have written the
plays and poems attributed to him be-
cause some members of his family were
unable to sign their names to a legal
instrument. II "A. B. W." will go back
a few generations he will find some OF
his own ancestors who could not sign
their names: hence, according to his
style of logic, he is not the author of
the article that appeared In today's
Times over his signature. Perhaps
Bacon wrote II! For such a supposition
would not be any more ridiculous than
10 suppose that Bacon wrote Shake
speare: This kind of argument reminds
me of the old darkey, who said he
knew he was not descended from
monkey, because monkeys are not fond
of chicken. The old darkey's logic is
just as sound as "A. b. W.'s."
There Is one thing which proves be-
yond all controversy that. whether
Shakespeare wrote what Is attributed
to him or not. Bacon did not write it:
was part of the man. He could not
open his mouth or put pen to paper
without expressing himself in the same
high flown, pompous, conceited, pc
dantic style that was second nature to
him. Hence he could not have written
Shakespeare without giving himself
away. You might as well claim that 4
as to say that Bacon could have writ
ten Shakespeare. So much was his
style u part of himself that he could
rot get rid of 1t. No matter how deep
you may bury a Baconian sentence in
good literature. any competent reader