Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1912-10-18

Police Lieutenant Charles Becker
defense to the charge of instigatin
the murder of Herman RosenthaI, thu
gambler is that RosenthaI was mur
dered at tie behest of other gam
blers, who hated him as a meddle
and informer to the police. John n
Mart, Becker's lawyer, in presenting
his case to the jury so declared to
day, adding that he would prove Beck
err mot only is not guilty but abso
Iuteiy innocent"
"We will prove" Mr.. Hart said
chat Webber, Rose, and Schepps con
spired Independently of Becker, and
with independent motives, to murder
RosenthaI. After RosenthaI was mur'
dered and they we're rid of one of the
I two men they hated most in the
world, they conspired to get rid of
Becker, the other man they hated, by
false evidence and perjured testi-
mony."
Mr.. Hart added that defendant had
no connection with the gun men and
that Rose, vaI!on and other alleged
conspirators had admitted Becker's
innocence. As to Jack Rose, Mr..
Hart declared the defense would
prove that "he had lied on the stand
in every particular"
Five witnesses for the defense were
sworn within an hour after Mr.. Hart
concluded his address. One of them,
Alexander Luban, testified that he
would not believe "under oath" his
brother Morris, state witness.
New York, Oct 18.-The defense
opened it's case in the Becker trial
today. Attorney Hart in his opening
statement said:
I "The defendant denies any partici-
patton in the death of Herman Rose:.-
thai and will prove that the evidence
submitted against him is absolutely
false. &
"As to Luban, who claims to have
witnessed this murder, we will prove
that Luban never saw the murder
that he was in Brooklyn at the time.
We will prove this by Luban's own
brother. We will prove that Webber,
Rose and Vallon and Schepps con-
spired to kill Rosenthal Independently
o: Becker, each with his own indie
pendent motive for SO doing.
CAS- to the day and night of the
murder, we will prove where Becker
was every minute of the time and
that proof will discredit the states
witnesses who have testified as to his
movements"
"We will show" Mr.. Hart said,
that I went to the bar association
with former District Attorney Jer-
ONE and discussed the case there with
Becker. We talked of Rose, too. Beck
er went to the telephone and called
up Rose, and it was at that conversa
tion that Becker gave Rose the mi
tials j. H. as the password to admit
Rose at the home of Harry Pollock.
We will prove that Rose lied in al
most every particular while on the
stand.
I'VE shall show that there was a
public bidding for men to testify
against Becker. We shall show these !
accompices of the murderers. who
have already testified. determined on
July 80. to save their own lives, and |
tcrney.
"One of the men indicted for muir
Ter in connection with this crime, will
testify that he was thrown in close
contact with the states witnesses and
given every opportunity to save his
,wn skin by becoming party to the
dot in the Tombs to testify against
Becker
THAT man is Jack Sullivan. He
las helped the newsboys and the men
If the underworld.
I'VE shall show that these conspir-
tors had already gotten rid of Her
nan Rosenthal, one of the two men
hey hated most of all in the world,
nd that they planned to get rid of
he other man they hated, Lieutenant
seeker"
William T. Jerome, former dist
let attorney Of New York, was the
rst witness for the defense. lie
aid he and Mr.. Hart the evening after
he murder, went to the bar associa- {
ion where they engaged a private |
Dom. G
Becker ne in about s O'clock"
aid Mr. Jtome. {
did you hear the defendant men, T
ion the initials j.. H. to any body c
yer the telephone" asked Mr.. Hart. G
he question was not allowed nor was r
Ir. Jerome permitted to testify that +
e heard Becker hold telephone con- G
ersation with any, or call Jack Rose /
n the telephone. 3
Did you hear him say, No, you
tay right where you are until you I
ear from me-, . asked Mr.. Hart. G
Justice Golf sustained Mr.. Moss OBJ
action for the state and instructed G
Ir. Hart to discontinue this line of :