New-York tribune., 1912-10-20
FORMER SUBORDINATE TAKES
STAND IN BECKER'S BEHALF

The frst direct attack on the testimony
OF sam" Schepps, the debonair message
bearer between Rose and Becker. was
made yesterday by the defence. Two Wit
nesses aimed hard blow at a high point
OF Scheppss testimony. Whether the blow
struck home to the Jury Is a matter
of conjecture. II is surmised. however
that the question Of veracity OF these par
ticular witnesses will be q difficult one
for the Jurors TO decide.
The witnesses were Police Lieutenant
Patrick B. Shea and his wife. Shea tes-
! tilted that he and his wife were calling
on the Beckers and spent the evening.
until nearly midnight, on July II, the
night that Schepps testified ne visited
Becker at the latter's apartment, and had
a talk with him about the Rosenthal muir
der. Shea and his wife denied that
! Schepps was there at all that night.
| Schepps's story on the witness stand
| in regard to the talk with Becker on July
I II. the day following the shooting, was that
he called on Becker late In the evening
and found the apartment dark Becker
reprimanded him when he started 70 light
! d HldkSH LOl e-bA RH'S ''''S NV
| do It, as some one might see it and think
1t suspicious. schepps said he told Beck
er of the Rosenthal murder. and said
| Rose was much worried. Becker gave
him a message TO Rose not TO worry, that
| there would be no trouble for any one, and
all that was necessary was to keep quiet
| Shea's examination by counsel for the
| defence was as follows:
| Q.-How long have you been a police
man? A.-Twenty years.
| Q.-Were you at Lieutenants Becker
J home on the night OF July IfE A.-fes
! sir. a.
I wife and | called at the Beckers' about
/ $50 and found Mrs. Becker at home alone
! Odd you see Becker there? A.-fes
| he came In about twenty minutes to II
| o'clock.
Glow long 3g were you theTe' A.-UntiI
Odd any one come in with Lieuten-
ant Becker? A.--No. SIR he came alone
! Q.-Was there any one else there? A
Q.-Name all the persons who were
| there while YOU and your wife were there
Any wife. Mrs. Becker, Lieutenant
| Becker and myself.
Q.-was Lieutenant Becker in your pres.
| ence practically all the time after he
/ Nesllit IA - 80
Went to Confer with Becker,
! Mr.. Mcintyre then turned the witness
over TO the prosecution for cross-examina-
ton. The District Attorney asked:
! Q.-Why did you go 10 Becker's housel
! A.-To have a conference with Becker
about the story in the paper that he had
| been down at Far Rockaway.
Odd you tell the Commissioner of Po-
| lice Of your visit? Al did not.
/ Q.--You didn't think II necessary?
Mr.. Mcintyre objected and was sus.
tained.
| Q.-You saw IL charged that Schepps
| was with Becker that night. Did you m.
| form the Police Department? A.-No.
| Q.-When did you talk with Lieutenant
| Becker about the night OF the 17th7 A.
l don't know that ever talked with him
/ about IT,
! Q.-You have not talked to any one about
II until you talked TO Mr.. Stryker7 A
No. not until Val O'Farrell came to see
me.
Q-Have you ever been on the Central
! ONCE Squad? A.-No.
Odd you speak TO any one but those
you mentioned after Rose was arrested
| A.-No.
Q.-Have you ever been to a station
house where Becker was assigned? A.
Yes
Q.--what precinct? A.--The old lot
| Precinct.