Arizona republican., 1912-09-01
Several Upon Whom Dis
 trict Attorney Whitman Had Counted to Testify Against Becker in Murder Trial Have Disappeared
SECRET INFLUENCES
 HAVE BEEN WORKING
Discovery of an Attempt by the "Vice Trust" to Bribe the District Attorney; Fund of $50, 900 Had Been Raised
ASSOCIATED PRESS p1spArcHl

NEW YORK, Aug. 31.-Anot1er
 witness for the state in the Rosen-
 thai murder case has mysteriously
 disappeared, according to information
 obtained today at the office of Dis-
 trict Attorney Whitman. The mans
 identity was not revealed, but his
 testimony to the prosecutor was of
 such importance that detectives were
 dispatched tonight to Philadelphia on
 a tip that he had gone there.
 The man has been missing several
 days and his absence appears to have
 district attorneys office as he is
 said to be in a position to give sen
 sational evidence bearing upon the
 alleged gambling graft operations of
 Lieutenant Charles Becker, accused
 of instigating the murder of Herman
 Rosenthal.
 In view of the sudden departure
 for Europe of Thomas Cope, another
 witness, and the mysterious absence
 of Frank Walsh, also a witness. sus-
 ricions are expressed at the district
 attorneys office tonight that influ-
 ence is being exerted to get az many
 state witnesses as possible out of the
 way before Becker's trial begins on
 September 19.
 The witness reported missing to- night is said to have been one whom the district attorney has been keep ing in the background to spring as a surprise at the trial of Becker, as he had not testified before the grand jury. His testimony would help to establish the motive, it was said, for the killing of Rosenthal, in connec- ton with Becker's alleged relations with the gambler
 In gathering evidence for the pro- posed John Doe investigation of police alliance with gambling and dis orderly resorts, it was said today by one of the district attorneys assist ants. that the so-called vice trust"of thirty-two disorderly houses raided on August 15, had set aside the sum of s5O,000 out of its profits as a corruption fund for the delivery of the district attorney.
 Although a number of these houses reopened after the raid, which was torney Smith and agents of the sO- ciety for the prevention of crime. they were recently closed again. Fear Of repetition of a raid from the dis trict attorneys office Is reported as the reason. The fifty thousand dol lars raised was represented, it Is said. one weeks receipts of the in- mates of thirty-t two houses operated by the trust, who during that time were compelled to give up to the syndicate their personal profits. Through subterranean channels, word was conveyed to the district attor- ney's office that the $50,000 was forthcoming in payment of the priv ilege of operating without mOlesta- tion.
 It was said that nothing was fear ed by the syndicate from the police. Detectives from the district attor-
 ney's office were assigned to "nego- 1 tiate" with the heads of the Trust and have the procured evidence of the proffered bribe. it is said. which would be presented during the John 1 Doe proceedings
 l The tables have been turned by l many of .the gamblers upon whom the police had been wont to levy
 blackmail, it was reported today. l Taking advantage of the prospect of the prosecution which faces some of the grafters in the police department the victimized gamblers have been l demanding pay from the former
 grafters as the price of silence. and | are said to have obtained it..