The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-25

The court then directed that the roll of tLe .rors be called for their in- dividuaI verdicts. As he repeated the question, Do you find the defendant i gully of murder in the first degree as charged?" each juror answered, T do.' | Becker stood at the bar with squared shoulders, head erect. Not muscle moved in his face, but he swallowed hard
 When the last juror had answered, Justice Golf instructed the clerk to take the defendants pedigree. Becker an swered the questions in low, firm voice A court officer brought the questions to him, written a slip of paper and as the prisoner read them to himself, he replied:
 '.Forty-two years old American citl- zen, born in Germany, address, 325e Audubene avenue; lieutenant of police. married, Protestant, mother living, habits temperate, never convicted be- | fore"
 Sentence Deferred
 When Rockers voice died away, MT. Mcintyre, who had covered his face with his hands as the verdict was given, rose and asked that all further proceedings be deferred for one week, until 1 prepare the proper motions Tor . appeal" .I will defer sentence, an nounced Justice Golf, until October 30, | and remand the prisoner until that date"
 Justice Golf spoke in the same low tone of voice, almost a whisper, that Dhad been his utterance during the trial.
 Becker gave fleeting glace at the . judge and rested his eyes for a mo- ment on the jury. Then he turned and, followed by a jail warden walked with unfaltering rapid steps up to the aisle of the court room and disappeared through the door leading over the bridge of sighs to the tombs
 The jury had deliberated nearly eight hours before reaching the verdict, al though the case had been in their hands since 2:20 o'clock this afternoon. Ac- tual deliberation began at i:07 o'clock when the doors of the jury room swung behind them on their return from luncheon.
 All Quiet in Room
 What happened behind those doors, how the debate ebbed and flowed. against the final verdict, how many ballots were cast there, were matters to whose secrecy each juror was pledged
 While the jury was making up it's mind, absolute stiffness. heightened by the midnight quiet of the streets, pre- vailed in the court room.
 After the verdict was given no one was allowed to leave the room until the jury had filed out. Justice Golf nad given orders that any one disturbing the peace in the slightest degree would be brought before him for punishment.
 Two hundred persons or more gath f |. hal ear almost at the keyhole sat the pris- oners wife As the last juror left the room, by another esit. the door flew open and a man rushed excitediy into the corridor. The crowd gave way, He was half way down the steps to the telephone booth. when a policeman ohouted:
 Whats the verdict?"
 The fleeing man looked over his shoulder
 Guilty" he shouted.
 Mrs. Becker Paints
 For moment there was silence, keen. intense. gripping. It was broken by a womans muffied scream and the sound of falling body. The prisoner $ wife had fa sted dead away.
 Just befof Ale verdict was given, Mir. Mcintyre mase his last plea He asked that the court grant an earlier request of the jury to inspect the testimony or the persons who talked to Sam Schepps in Hot Springs. Ark. The court refused to hear the plea.
 MT Mcintyre had opposed granting that request of the jury when it was made to Justice Golf six and a half hours before. IL was upon this ques- tion whether Sam Schepps was an ac- eomplice to the murder that Justice Golf had hinged his charge to the jury.
 The penalty for murder In the first