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


by him throughout the ordeal of the To-
day trial did not desert him, today, and
his bearing was as firm and as steady as
at any time during the proceedings in
the courtroom.
Becker,s GOODNESS may be partly ac-
counted for by his confidence that an APP
peal will mean a reversal. followed by
new trial and probable aeqnittal. Before
he was taken 70 his cell from the court
room, ne said to friends seated near him:
Have no fear: this case is not endei
yet There will be new trial and / Will
be tried again at time when public
: elamor does not demand a victim. Then
/ am sure l will be acquitted. ! do not
believe that in these proceedings l had
the fair and impartial trial which Il
guaranteed to all men under our laws.
Lloyd p Stryker of Becker's counsel
said, today that the appeal would prob
ably take years time. John f. Nc
Intyre. Becker's chief counsel. was con-
fident of success In this action. There
is not the slightest doubt" he said,
that there will be a reversal of TINS
verdict in a higher court .
Becker will be in court, "Wednesday
next. and at that time sentence of death
will be pronounced.
1t was declared, this morning. that the
jury arrived at its verdict of first de-
gree murder after only three formal bal-
lots At no time during the eight hours
of deliberation was there a question OF
Beckers guilt-the only matter of de-
bate being as to whether the verdict
should be for first degree murder, mean
ing death to the prisoner, or second de-
gree murder. which is punishable by life
Imprisonment. 1t was said that the frst
ballot showed eight of the jurymen for
conviction in the first degree, While on
the second poll all but one of the IL were
agreed The final ballot, taken shortly
before midnight. was unanimous for a
verdict of first degree murder
District Attorney Whitman Will now
| turn his attention TO the cases OF the
gunner of the Rosenthal murder, VINO
must be tried before the same special
term of court as Becker. They nave All
asked for special trials, but 1t Is beiiev-
ed that Becker's conviction will make
their trials something not much more
than legal formalities.
A record in important criminal trlais
has been established by the prompt dis
position of the Becker case. Although
ii was one of the most important ana
| momentous cases ever called to trial mere,
it was disposed of in 10 days, during
which time 800 pages of testimony was
taken and 81 witnesses examined
The cost of the trial will reach a total
far less than that of most big criminal
cases. it is said. The largest single item
of expense was for bringing witness
from England This item was about
$1,000. The cost of running the court IS
figured at about 500 day, while the
expense of paying and caring Tor the
jury was about 5000 day.
Mrs. Becker was able to leave the
house. durinA the forenoon she drove
down town in a taxicab to meet MT.
Mcintyre preparatory to a conference
with her husband.
Jnauirv at the homes of the jurors
revealed the fact that they came 10
an agreement that precluded any pos
sibility of their talking about the case
without breaking their oaths.
Before Justice Golf had urged them
to keep silent. they had decided to say
nothing about the manner in winch
they arrived at their verdict or to re-
fer to any of the incidents, that at
tended the last day of the trial.
District Attorney Whitman said. this
afternoon. that the four gunner VIII
go on trial, in the early part OF Mo-
vember Then the informers also VIII
be brought into court once more to
repeat their story. Mr.. Whitman point
ed out that while counsel for the in
formers had the right to appear be-
fore Justice Golf and demand their re-
lease on bail. they had no desire Tor
liberty.
What they want now" he said,
srimly, lis not heavy bail, but heavier