The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-30
Death House" at Sing Sing Will Be Prisoners
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CONFESSION MADE
 BY WILLIAM SHAPIRO
''Red Phir' Davidson Will Be Tried To- day for Murder of Big Jack" Zelig-Other Gunmen
 to Be Tried


 er deposed police lieutenant. will be senteced tomorrow morning for the murder of Herman Rosethal, the gam bier. Becker will be brought before Justice Golf in the criminal courts building at 10:30 o'clock. He will be told he must die in the electric chai in Sing Sing prison.
 Mrs. Becker will be present to h, her husbands sentence pronounced T shall certainly be in the court room tomorrow" the devoted wife said to- day after leaving her husband behind the bars in 'murderer's row. in the Tombs.
 T shall go on the train with my hus- band to Sing Sing. I want to stay al his side as long as possible. I think lit is my duty to do that and to be as brave as I can."
 Becker to Sing Sing The death house" at Sing Sing will be Becker's home beginning not later than Sunday, the state plans. District Attorney Whitman does not want the responsibility of the ex-lieutenant's presence in this city when he places the "gunmen' on trial. The first of them probably will be tried Monday Sheriff Hamburger declares he will not delay Becker's removal from the Tombs
 The fact that Becker is rather more prominently in the public eye than any other convicted murderer makes no diff ference to me" said the sheriff today He is simply a man who has come un- der my Jurisdiction through the chan nels of justice and will be treated the same as all others"
 While states counsel is said to be willing to wait until Saturday before taking Becker to Sing Sing, Sheriff Hamburger said he would start with his prisoner Thursday morning, possibly to- morrow afternoon.
 Shapiro Confesses The task of the state ia prosecuting the gangsters-"Lefty Louie, 'Wnitey Lewis,' "GIp the Blood and "Dago Frank" was made less difficult this afternoon when William Shapiro. driver of the murder car made what was purported to be a complete confession Shapiro was closeted with District Attorney Whitman for several hours For days his counsel, Aaron J. Levy, had urged his client to tell all he knew. Shapiro feared to do so, said the lawyer, because he believed he would be killed. With Shapiros con fession and his testimony on the stand against the murder crew" all in cor rob oration of what the state already knows of the movements of Rosenthals s alleged slayers on the morning the gambler was killed, District Attorney Whitman believes he will have no trou- hle convictlng the gangsters.
 If Shapiro tells a story which will help convict his passengers in the
 murder car" he probably will be tried on some less serious charge than that of murder. MT. Whitman is said to be willing to agree to this. but is not pre- pared to grant Shapiro immunity.
 Davidson Tried Today
 Red Phil' Davidson slayer of Big Jack" Zelig, is expected to plead guilty either to murder in the second degree or to manstluaghter when brought to trial tomorrow. Mir Whitman while assured that Davidson will not force the state to try him. is ready to go on with the case. Davidsons counsel, James W. Osbrone, 1t is understood will insist that his client be allowed to plead to manslaughter, which has 20 years as maximum penalty. If the state insists on second degree murder as the plea Davidson can be sentenced to life Imprisonment.
 Levy Confirms Report
 Aaron J. Levy, his counsel, tonight con- firmed the report that Shapiro had con fessed and would take the stand against the four gangsters
 Shapiro told District Attorney Whit man this afternoon that the four gun men who were his passengers. were Rosenthars murderers," Mir Levy said.
 Shapiro also implicated Jack Sullivan as Beckers lieutsnant.'
 Did Shapiro implicate Becker?" ''Only on hearsay. He said he did not talk with Becker about the murder, but he told MT. Whitman of a conversation he overheard among the four accused gangsters-a conversation duplicating Becker in the crime"
 Did Shapiro duplicate Vallon and Schepps?''
 He did said MT. Levy. "He exon erated them. He said the gangsters begged and pleaded with him to blame the murder on Vallon and Schepps.
 MT. Levy said neither he nor Shapiro made any bargain for immunity in return for the confession and promise to testify
 Shapiro was only the driver of the murder car, said the lawyer. Driving car is not murder. MT Whitman has never had anything on Shapiro at any time He will never be tried for any crime at all, much less murder Hence taere could be no bargain with the state
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