Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1912-10-25
FIND POLICE LIEUT. GUILTY OF
MURDER IN FIRST
DEGREE.
PRISONER WAS UNM1VTD
But His Wife Swooncd When She
Heard Her Husband Adjudgcd
Guilty as Charged.

NEW AOltk, OCT. 24,-IOlcc
Lieutenant Charles Becker was found
guilty tonight of murder In the first
degree by the jury which has been
trying him for lnstigating the death
of Herman Rosenthal, the gambler.
The verdict was pronounced at 1900
O'Clock this morning.
The verdict read: Murder in tho
first degree" and was pronounced
exactly at midnight Becker was re-
manded for sentence to the tombs hy
Justice Goff until October 80
Mrs Becker sitting outside tho
door Of the court room, fell In a
swoon when the verdict was announr-
ed.
Becker did not finch when he
heard the verdict pronounced ny
Harold b. skinner. foreman of the
jury.
John +. Mcintyre. Becker's chief
counsel. announced that he woulJ
take an immediate appeal. but added
beyond this he had nothing to say.
The 12 juro rs with solemn faces
and measured steps filed into tho
court room at 1855 o'clock. A
moment later the defendant was
brought for tha Tombs. Justice Gofi
had not yet entered the room and for
moment Becker took side seat
AS he was. he scanned with anxiety
the faces of the jurors but none OF
them returned his gaze. A tense
silence prevailed,
At 1857 o'clock Justice Goff en-.
tered the court room and, bowling
low to counsel, took his seat. Th5
jury roll was called. The clerk then
asked the jurors if they had reached
verdict.
eve have" announced Foreman
Skinner. The jury rose TO its feet
I'VE find the defendant guilty as
charged in the indictment" Mr.. Skin.
ner said slowly and evenly, lookng
squarely at Justice Goff
"Do you find the defendant guilty
ed in the Indictment" asked the
clerk.
1--WE do" the foreman replied.
The court then directed that tho
roll of the jurors be called for thai
individual verdcts. As he repeated
the question "do you find the de-
fendant guilty OF murder in the firs,
degree as charged" each juror an
swered 81 do"
Becker stood at the bar with
squared shoulders, head erect. Not
muscle moved in his face but he
swallowed hard. That was all
When the last juror answered,
Justice Golf instructed the clerk to
take the defendants pedigree. Beck
er answered the questions in a low,
firm voice, A court officer brought
the questions to him. written on
slip of paper, and as the prisoner
read them to himself he replied:
"Forty-two years old, American
citizen, born in Grmany, address 3229
Audubon avenue; Lieut. OF police
married, Protestant, Mother living,
habits temperate; never convicted
before"
When Becker's voice died away Mr
Mcintyre, who had covered his faao
with his hands as the verdict was
given. rose and asked that all further
proceedings be deferred for one week,
until | can prepare the proper mo-
tions for appeal"
II will defer sentence" announced
Justice Goff until October goth. ana
remand the prisoner until that date"
Justice Goff spoke in the same low
tone Of voice, almost a whisper, THAI
had characterized his utterances dur
ing the trial.
Becker gave a fleeting glance It
the judge and rested his eyes for a
moment on the jury. Then he turned
and, followed by a jail warden, walk
ed with unfaltering rapid step up tho
aisle OF the court room and dlsap-
peared through the door leading over
the bridge Of slghs" to the Tombs.
The jury had deliberated nearly
eight hours before reaching the YER
dict. although the case had been IN
their hands since 2:2O o'clock this
afternoon. Actual dellberatlon began
at 4:07 o'clock when the doors Of the
jury room swung behind them on
their return from lunch.
what happened behind those doors.
how the debate ebbed and flowed,
who stood out eight hours against the
final verdict. how many ballots were
east--these were matters TO whose
secrecy each Juror was pledged.
While the jury was making up lis
mind, absolute stiffness heightened
by the midnight quiet Of the streets.
prevailed in the court room.
After the verdict was given no one
was allowed to leave the room until !
the jury had filed out. Justice Goff |
had given orders that any one dis. |
turblng the proceedings in the slight !