The Washington herald., 1912-10-25

Gentlemen Of the Jury. have you
agreed upon q verdict?'
I'VE have" said Foreman Skinner.
Becker was ordered to rise. His man
ner indicated that he feared the worst.
As he dragged himself to his feet. his
body swayed. He looked upon the Jurors
and pityingly they looked upon him.
How say you. gentlemen Of the jury =
Guilty in the first DEGREE" almost
whispered the foreman.
Becker's chest sunk In with a sigh that
shook his whole frame. His mouth
twitched and all the muscles OF his face
knotted In an anguished spasm. A deep
drawn sigh swept over the court room.
Reporters Rush to Phones.
Whitman, In tho hour OF his triumph.
gaxed steadily ahead. as did also Moss.
his assistant, who drove the final shot in
the case home.
Then came rustlins Of feet and a rush
outward as the reporters hurried to the
waiting telephones.
Mcintyre. Aolicitouely whispering to his
client. who had fallen limp IN his chair.
demanded that the jury be polled. and
then came one Of the most dramatic Incl
dents Of the entire case.
These twelve men-after eight hours
battling with their consciences. having
pronounced the defendant guilty-turned
from judges to sympathiIers. and there
was scarcely q man of the twelve who
did not falter and whose voice did not
catch with q sob rs he individually record
ed his belief in the guilt Of the accused
man.
Dow J. Becker. juror No. q, sobbed
aloud, and had to repeate in broken tones
lis whispered yes
Becker in Collapse.
And then Becker was summoned to the
rail again. He trembled in every muscle
Gone his nerve. his strength, his vitality
his hope. His face was haggard. He had
to hold fast to the railing to keep from
falling For the first time since the tria
began he showed signs OF breaking down
The clock had just finished striking l:
as he took his place there at the bar a
convicted murderer. to give his pedigree
He seemed to realize his position. and
yet to be dazed, crushed, annihilated
His answers to the questions put to hin
by the clerk were almost inaudible. Once
he turned. as II to see whether the faith
full wife who had stood by him through
out was there to See the end. merci.
fu! court attendant, however. fearing tht
! verdict. or foreseeing IT. had barred heI
from the court. and even at that instant
the corridor by ready friends.
Becker gave his age as forty-two. Ger
many as his place OF birth, his business
| a lieutenant OF police. his religion Pro
| testant. his mothers name Lizzie.
Sentence IL Postponed.
These details over. Mcintyre mourn
fully asked that sentence be postponed
one week. Justice Gon announced tha
he would not sentence the convicted mar
| until Wednesday. Mcintyre vainly triet
| to have put on the record the nature o.
a request which the jury made, bu
which was not published by the court
Justice Goff declared that nothing mor'
could be added to the record ,and In
| few words dismissed the jury with th'
| thanks of the court.
To Appeal Case.
Mr.. Mcintyre announced immediatel,
after Becker had been conducted bacl
to the Tombs that he would take an ap
peal at oncs.
Harold b. Skinner. foreman OF tn
Jury, living at 6ol West 18th Street. de
clared Immediately after the jury ha'
been discharged that an agreement ha'
been reached among the jurors that the!
would not discuss the matter OF thei
deliberations or talk about the case II
| any form.
Not one word shall be said by
single one of u.s. he said.
In statement to the newspaper re
porters after the jury had rendered it
verdict John f. Mcintyre. of Becker
counsel. said:
Surprised Mt Court.
| 81 was very much surprised at the at
titude of the court toward the testi
mony of Schepps at Hot Springs. Be
fore the verdict was rendered requested
| the court TO allow the jurors to lool
over this testimony. The request was de