Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-10-26

refused, todax to discuss their delib-
erations, returned at minutes after
u o'clock this morning, a verdict OF
first degree murder against Police
Lieutenant Charles Becker, the first
of seven men to be tried for the muir
der of Herman Rosenthal On Wednes-
day. Oct. 80, Supreme Court Justice
Golf will fix the time for the prison
er's death in the electric chair.
Exhausted by the ordeal of the trial
JOHN Mcintyre, chief counsel for the
defence, nevertheless began, today
the preliminary steps looking to an APP
peal and stay of execution for his
client. The case will be brought to the
court of appeals and Becker. pacing
his cell in the Tombs, expressed stoiid
hope of the outcome. At the same
time he denounced what he styled the
rigorous Partially of Justice Golf in
his charge to the jury and his conduct
after the trial.
Mrs Becker. who tainted in the COR
riders of the criminal courts building.
when a GREATNESS messenger sprint
ing for a telephone. shouted Guilty.
was under the care of relatives, TO-
day, at her home in The Bronx. Like
her convicted husband, she never
dreamed of first degree verdict, hut
rather counted on disagreement OF
the jury.
Justice Goff, it is understood, has
gone to the country for a much need
ed rest over the weekend. and the
Jurors, after Is days separation from
their families, returned 10 the routine
of nome and business. Murder trials
in New York are usually followed by
extensive interviews with the Jurors.
But in this case the court cautioned
them to remain silent as to what nap
pened. during the 7-hour debate On
Becker's fate.
one of the first places to which news
of the verdict was taken was the West
Side prison, where are quartered the
informers, Jack Rose. Sam Schepps
Bridge" Weber and Harry Valion'
The four apparently expected dlsa-
gre ement, however. for they were al
asleep with the exception of Schepps
He was at first suspicious when toia
that a first degree verdict had peeh
returned, then remarked laconlcally
MIR. Whitman is smart man.
Keepers at the Tombs say that
Becker did not sleep, last night, al
though not a sound came from his cell
after he had been marched over the
Bridge of signs, stunned by the YER
dict. He was to confer with his law
yers. today. and declined to give our
any extended interview. His fellow
prisoners heard the verdict almost IN
stantly IT was pronounced. In some
mysterious manner the message flash
ed from cell to cell and when Becker
tramped back along the corridor
faces were pressed at the bars te
watch him.
Yet no one smoke TO nim He gaZed
neither to right nor left, and his set face
invited no cheering comments from his
companions. Not "a word had come, to-
day, from the four gunner and the two
alleged accomplices-"Jack'' Sullivan and
William Shapiro-who are also 10 De 'rleo
for RosenthaI's death. The dates fol-
their trials. which probably Will be sep
arate, have not been announced.
Inasmuch as their testimony Will De
used at the trials to come, the iniormers
will doubtless remain in jail as material
witnesses. In view of their confessions
and threats against them they have ex-
pressed no desire for liberty and when
they are eventually released 1t Is ex-
pected they will leave New York
Lieut. Becker enlisted in the police de-
partment. Nov. /, 1893. He was % years
old at the time. His father is dead but
his mother, now in her SD year. lives
in New York and is overcome at his con-
viction.
IT am sorry the jury found as they
did,, was Lieutenant Charles Becker's
only comment to his jailer, this morning
az the convicted man sat on the edge Oh
his prison cot with his chin resting II
his hands. The iron nerve which stooo