New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-18
GRAY AUTO FIGURES IN
LIEUT.. BECKER'S CASE
Woman Tells Grand Jury She
Saw It in Front Of His House
Niuht of RoSenthaI Murder.
"CRAzY," DOUGHERTY SAYS
Car of Same Color Frequently
Called for Strong Arm" Man,
Another Witness Ayers -
Mortgage Investigated.

The advent of woman in green SILK
,,hose identity remained mystery en-
,,,,.,ed the proceedings yesterday before
H. ,,,o,d iury which Is investigating the
charges made by Herman Rosenthai
Gains, Lieutenant Charles Becker. The
,rorsn was OF medium height, slender
and dark. apparently about thirty years
., age She said that A gray automobhe
hearing the last four figures OF the license
number Of that used by the muroerers
q, Rosenthal had stood from IN the
evening until o'clock before Lieutenaht
Rockers door the night that Rosenthai
was shot.
The first glimpse caught OF the woman
vas when she was hurrying through the
corridor Of the Criminal Courts Buildins'
conveyed by District Attorney whitman
and Detective "Al" Thomas, OF his once
u WAS said later that she had come 70
the Office OF Hugh Beirne, Mr.. Whitman
secretary. with tho assertion that shc
bod valuable information to give In tho
Rosenthal matter
The District Attorney seemed excited by
the statements made by this new Witness
aud hurried down with her TO the gray
au,ornobile used by Rosenthars MURDER
crs which stood opposite the Crimlnai
courts Building. in Lafayette street TO-
os,htr they scanned the car, the woman
holding up her handbag to shield her
[ace from the curious throng which had
gathered Then they fastened back into
The building, and she was taken before
the grand jury.
I, was said that she told clear and
comprehensive story of seeing an auto
mobile similar in color and shape. and IN
the last four figures of It's license num-
hor "a that then standing In Lafayette
street. standing in front Of Lieutenant
Becker's homo at 1e5th street and Edge
combe avenue for three hours on Monday
evening. She said that from where she
vas tho FIRST figure o. the license number
was obscured by the lantern In front
Of Il.
Becker and a Gray Auto.
The superintendent Of the building
where Becker lives said nc had frequent
~ seen a gray automobile stop in front
Of the house. and that several times In
the evening Becker had gone out with Its
occupants.
When Commissioner Dougherty was
told OF the woman's statement he said
she was mistaken IL she thought 1t was
the same car as that used by the men
who shot Rosenthal. She must be
crazy" said Commissioner DoughertN.
Seven or eight witnesses have told us
that car did not leave the garage before
Il o'clock that night. Does she think the
police have been asleep
District Attorney Whitman refused to
comment on the woman's statement
further than TO say that II was hatly
contradicted by several witnesses he had
examined, who stated that between
o'clock and II o'clock on Monday even
INK Libby's gray automobile did net leave
the garage.
Robert II. H!bbard one Of the lawyers
who put through the mortgage deal
whereby Rosenthal claimed that In re-
turn for a loan OF $3.50 Lieutenant Beck
er became possessed Of chattei mort
gage on the furnishings of Rosenthals
place, was another witness called before
the grand jury
lie said he did not know that Becker
was concerned in the business at all.
Jacob Rose, Of No. so West 10th street,
he said, had asked him to arrange the
chattel mortgage under some other name
than his. Later, he said, Rose had come
10 him and asked 10 have satisfaction en-
tered, as most OF the money borrowed
h1d been returned. and as he and nosen-
tnal had had falling out he wanted no
more to do with him.
Hbbard said the first time he had
heard Becker's name mentioned In the
transaction was when Rosenthal asserted
Rose was acting as shield for Becker.
Attorney for Becker and Family.
District Attorney Whitman was told
that Hubbard had acted as attorney not
only for Lieutenant Becker. but for
his brother and other members Of his
family.
John J. Donohue, whose name appears
on the mortgage and on the record Of
satisfaction, and who was said TO have
been merely a dummy in the deal, was
another witness before the grand jury.