Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-10-21

nesses. to cali including several who
will testify to Becker's good reputa-
ton and character.
The first witness called, tomorrow,
is expected to be Police Lieutenant Jo-
scph b. Sheppard, who was a men,
her of Becler's strong arm squad
and, Who on Saturday, gave testi-
mony purporting to show that Beck
er's raid on Rosenthars gambling
place WAS a bona fide affair His di-
rect examination was finished and the
prosecution will begin the cross
examination.
New York, Oct. 20.-Witnesses in
the trial of Police Lieut. Becker tes-
titled. Saturday, To two points which
the defence considered vital to its
case. These were: First, that the
raid on Herman Rosenthafs gambling
house, on April Il, was made after
evidence against it had been obtain
ed by the police. The state charges
that the raid was a fake one. Sec
ond. that Bald Jack" Rose and
Bridge" Weber, two of the self-con-
fessed accomplices to RosenthaFs muir
der, who have turned states evidence,
threatened to kill Rosenthal weeks be-
fore he was murdered.
Louis Pitt, brother of Becker's So
called press agent. swore that Jack
Rose had gone down on his knees in
the Tombs and said: on the grave
and on the memory of my dead moth
err | say that Becker had nothing to
do with this affair"
Anntbor u.itnaGG declared that Npb.
Der, Rose. Schepps and WALTON were
placed in adjoining cells in the West
53rd street prison, but was not al
lowed TO say whether they were thus
afforded opportunity to hatch the plot.
which the defence claims they fran
ed. to shoulder the crime on Becker
\ police lieutenant and his wife tes-
tilted they had visited Becker at his
home on the night OF July l., IS hours
after Rosenthal was shot, and that
Becker was there from 10.43 Until they
LEFT ut i1.45 Jack Rose has testified
he WIS with Becker elsewhere during
those hours.
Joseph b. SHEPPARD. one time mem
her of Becker,s strong Arm squad,
testified he had obtained the evidence
upon Which Rosenthats place was
raided He was taken to Tie estab-
lishmtnt two days before the raid, he
said. BY Il ..steeSer' who met him and
two other policemen at the Holel Cad1
lilac. Tie policemen were in citizens
clothes. and the "steerer" did not
know their identity. They We're met
at tie basement door b. a man to
whom tire "steerer' Vouched for THEN
good intentions. went UP stairs and
lost SJp playing roulette.
The next day, Sheppard said, he met
Becker. told him what had been done
and at Becker.s instructions, drew up
the necessary legal papers preparatory
to making raid The day after this
the warrants We're issued and that night
RosenthaFs place was Taided. one of tho
men who had been at a wheel was ar
rested Sheppard said, and was identified
by Mrs Rosenthal as her nephew. She
asked Becker not to take the youth away,
but Becker said he had warrant for
him and then Sheppard testified, Mrs.
Rosenthal, to draw Becker aside, said
she had something to tell him.
And what did Becker say to her,
asked John NJ. Mcintyre, chief of Beck
er's half dozen lawyers.
"He said. If YOU have anything to
say to me. say it here and now And
he refused to let her lead him aside.
heard the whole thing.
Sheppard was not cross-eXamined, but
District Attorney Whitman said he
would be, Monday.
Justice Golf held only forenoon ses-
sion as today is registration day here
and the jury wanted TO register during
the afternoon.
Robert \ Smith, the contractor
who testified that Webber and Rose
told him they wanted Rosenthal out
of the way. was assaied by the state
on cross-eNamination. Smith had tes-
tilted on direct animation that Rose
told him. on June %, that if Jack Ze-
Hg had not got into trouble, he Rose)
would have had RosenthaI killed a
month before. Webber's alleged dec
| laration. made to Smith was, Smith
SAID that The could cut Rosenthaps
throat and lie down and sleep all
night with him.
District Attorney Whitman pinned
Smith down to an admission that he
| had told these threats to only one
man whom he could name-a detec-
| tive employed by Becker to get, evil
| deuce in the case.
Roses alleged threat to have Ros-
| enthal killed was another point
| brought out by Pitt, who swore Rose
told him. when they went to a the
| alter together, that Rose intended to
| have Rosenthal murdered.
So far as the Introduction of evil
| dence is concerned. the case is con-
| siderab bly, more than half finished. Mr.
| Mcintyre said, Saturday afternoon, he
| expected to introduce about 20 more
| witnesses and probably would rest his
| case. Wednesday or Thursday. He
| said he would ask for an entire day
to sum up.
At the request of John f. Mcintyre
| Becker's lawyer, District Attorney
Whitman produced, when court con
Nened. today stipulations signed b!
the state, with Jack Rose, Bridge
Weber, Harry WALTON and San
| soherps. They We're placed in evi
dence.
| The stipulations provided that if TIN
four men mentioned would testif,
before the grand jury in the Rosentha