New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-16
Defeats McIntyre's Labored
Effort TO Prove His Innocence
Is Purely Constructive
Most Obliging in His
Guilelessness.
DEFENCE IS AFTER VALLON
Trying Hard to Show He Did the
Shooting-Jurors Correct Counsel,
Demonstrating Closest of At
tention in Proceedings
Before Them.

Sam" Schepps, the fleet and "un-
suspecting" Mercury, who bore count
less messages for the sake Of his dear
old pal" Bald Jack" Rose, between
the accessories and the gunner muir
derers before and after the shooting Of
Herman Rosenthal, occupied the wit
ness stand during the entire court
session yesterday at the trial of Lieu
tenant Charles Becker. Stocky and
well built. Immediately groomed and
wearing heavy eyeglasses, the witness
looked more like postgraduate than
the associate Of gamblers and the ha-
bituc Of underworld circles.
Schepps was called by the prosecu-
ton TO corroborate the testimony Of his
associates. Rose. Weber and Vallon,
the self-confessed accomplices in the
case. He did fairly we'll in that re-
spect and filed In the inches AMI
creyices OF the remarkable murder plot
which was unfolded by the previous
witnesses.
Legally .;chepps's testimony Is a
good corroboration, as he has not been
arrested nor indicted in regard to the
crime. lie seemed proud OF that faci'
and nguratively showed his teeth and
snarled al Mr.. Mcintyre. counsel for
the defence. when the later drove him
into many corners In an effort TO sho"
that his innocence was purely con
structiye." Schepps usually wiggled
out Of the tight places without much
damage, covered up his injured feel
ings" and employed smooth answers
IN turn away the wrath Of his inquis-
itor.
ShrewdIy Guileless.
His guileless mind was the most re-
markable feature Of Schepps's under
world employment Though he hitted
about in the interests Of the conspira-
tors like a busy bee, and III here and
there at times and places where MS
uresencc would be the most damaging
IN the defendant, he never once heaid
so much as a whispering Of the murder
Mot he testified Though he was near
Ike SPOT where many OF the alleged
conversations duplicating Becker were
hold among Rose. Weber, Nallon and
the police lieutenant. he always with
drew TO a safe distance, according 10
Rose's instructions, so that he was un-
able to hear what was said.
uo took the automobile trip with
Pose and Vallon on the night or the
murder. when the latter were assem-
bling the gunmcn, merely Tor the
rIoaeure Of the ride" he said. He sat
sruq in the front seat, and, though ne
knew the men behind him were con
versing after "Dago' Frank CirohSi
had been taken into the car he heard
80, o word they said. Later, he was
NOT even curious" when he saw the
four gunmen assembled in Bridge
Weber's poker parlor, at AID street ana
o,v,t, ayenue a little while before the
shooting. -,
When Weber left the party III "''
n,ace enjoying a bountiful repast or
dered by their host and went to the
Metropole to find "the victim scheppS
rever thought to ask him where ne
vas going, he said When WEBER
aanoo hack and announced, so that
schepps heard him, that "Rosentnal
waa over at the Metropole," and the
four eunmen arose from the table and
siro,tIv went out, Schepps entertained
no suspicion, he testified.
No real suspicion entered MS mihu'
ho testified, until after the murder
and that was when his close friend
Rose was In hiding at the nome oi
Harry Pollok and he, schepps' knew
that BALD Jack" was wanted by the