Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1912-10-29
LIEUTENANT
RELATES STORY
IN HIS CELL
Wanted TO TELLIT ON STAND
Jurors Fear Attacks From
GaDgStCFS

Charles Becker, former police lieu
tenant convicted of the murder of
Herman Rosenthal, says he wanted to
tell on the stand at his trial, was re-
lated in detail yesterday by Becker
from his cell in the Tombs. Had he
been allowed to tell this story, he
claims the verdict of the jury would
have been different
Becker declared Rose was a stool
pigeon" who furnished evidence upon
which numerous raids were made. He
gave an account of his finances in
an effort, he said, to show that he had
not boarded gamblers tribute.
Becker said Rose never asked m
for money for his services. Eventual
ly he learned why when Rose told
him that he and Rosenthal were go
ing into a gambling partnership and
asked immunity from raids, remind
ing the lieutenant of the gratuitous
services he had given him. Il said |
would not modest the place any more
than any other gambling house." said
Becker. 81 told him l would not make
a special effort to get evidence against
Rosenthal unless specifically directed
to do So
Later, Becker continued, Rose in
formed him Rosenthal had double
crossed him." and had stolen $4,000 of
the profits of the place. Soon after
tn complaint of the Joint" began
to reach Comm ssioner Waldo.
Il am sure these complaints were
written by Rose, or inspired by him, >
said Becker, and he declared that this
break between the partners was the
beginning of Roses enmity which led
Rosenthal to 'squeal," and later to a
gamblers pot, the outcome of which
was the killing of Rosenthal.
Becker denied that Rose, as the lat
ter test fed, telephoned him just after
Rosenthal's murder to inform him of
the crime. He said that if he got
another trial he would take the stand.
Regarding his finances, he asserted
that he never possessed more than
$29,5O0 at one time. He explained in
detail the sources of this money.
While Becker is ava ting sentence
of death to be imposed on Wednes-
day, Justice Golf, who will announce
the former lieutenants fate, is under
guard. Mr. Mcintyre is said to be
going about armed. The lives of all
have been threatened, it is reported,
and even the jurors who found Beck
err guilty are said Individually to fear
attack
Becker's $29, 800. which he saws was
all he and his wife had when Rosen-
tina was killed, was accumulated, ac-
cording to the ex-roliceman, as fol-
lows: $4,000 from Laura Becker, a
sister, before she died; $4,000 from
John Finnegan, a friend of his wife,
who died after giving her this amount;
$4,000 saved by Mrs. Becker; $500
Mrs. Beckers father gave her; $4,000
Becker saved himself.
"All this money we had saved" said
Becker. 1T was withdrawn on July
80 from the banks where we deposited.
That was the day after l was arrest
ed.
Becker said Finnegan had been
brought up with his wife's family and
that the $4,000 had been given to her
at different times, a few thousand dol
lars at time.
"She was a great pet of his" said
Becker. Finnegan, Becker added, had
been taken il with heart disease in
1911, had been treated in a sanatarium
which Becker named, and finally on
July 30 of this year fell dead while
getting off a street car After his
death, he says. his wife was Informed
that more property had been left her
Discussing Rosenthal, Becker said
the gambler had reputation for get
ting the police into trouble.
knowing this, | would have been
either insane or intoxicated if | had
made a friend of HIM. Rose said |
did There was not single instance
in Rosenthals career where the police
interfered that he did not get them
into trouble"
Becker mentioned instances of po-
licemen whom Rosenthal had had ar
rested or "ousted" from the depart
ment
Supplying what he considered anoth-
err motive for Roses enm ty against
Rosenthal, Becker said Rosenthal hir-
ed Charley Kelly, a pugilist, to do
up" Rose. Kelly tried, but got the
worst of the encounter, said Becker,
Kelly. however. gave Rosenthal the
impression that the assault had been
success.
Regarding a new trial, Becker said
The court of appeals is only hu-
man; it is now only case OF RAJ lroad-
ing me to the chair.
Gentlemen" he concluded, Il am
certainly "a against it, am not
asking fS$heny, but should certainly
like tHWeddinic to learn through you