The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-05-22
VERDICT
THIS EVENING.
Jury in Second Trial Of Form
er Policeman, is Now
Considering the
Case.
CONVICTION PREDICTED
$500. ~..;tx.A..;. I.>k
CONVICTION PREDICTED

Sullivan May be Tried
40 a Princi-
pal.
[By Fred ]. Wilson, United Press
STAFF Correspondent
NEW YORK, May 22.-Wheth sr
Chas. Becker will go to the electric
chair for the murder OF Gambler Her
man Rosenthal or will be freed with
the apologies of the community as
his counsel put it, probably will be
ecided before night by the verdict OF
jury which for seventeen days has
heard evidence and argument in the
famous case The present jury Is ex-
pected to hear the compl lstion OF Jus,
tice Seabury's charge by noon today.
Then they will take Becker's fate into
their hands and II the condolences
runs throughout, verdict will come
efore night.
Court convened today by Justice
S sabury's order at ten o'clock, half
hour earlier than usual. No time was
lost at the opening. After br1ef
statement of thanks to the twelve
men who will judge Becker the
Judge at once commenced his instruc-
tions on points Of law and fact to- be
considered in reaching verdict
Four men, the gunner who slew.
have died for the murder OF Rosen-
thai. Becker, who the state says
plotted and forced the crime, is today
in peril OF the chair Now fifth
life may be exacted It was general
ly believed today by those who heard
District Attorney Whitman sum UP
last night, that part Of his spe sch
was an intimation OF his intention to
try Jacob Reich. alias Jack Sullivan.
as q principal in the murder, II
Becker is convicted.
When court opened today there was
wide difference of opinion as to the
jury's probable verdict Whitman and
his aides professed to believe that
conviction was sure. Manton and
Becker's other attorneys declared
Rose, Webbcr and Vallon In the
states casa had been discred'ted.
Court room observers who had follow
ed the trial believed the evidence
strong and that.a verdict OF guilty"
was probable.
Dressed in her usual black, Mrs.
Becker looked shaken today. Beck
er. wearing straw hat pushed his
way in. smiled at friend and drop
ed into his seat. Only the biting OF
his lower lip betrayed Giscomposure.
Justice Seabury in his charge to the
fury reviewed the murder Of Rosen-
thai and the charge that Becker in
stigated 1t.
"Tha crime of which the defendant
is accused is one of the gravest in
our law" he said only the crime
OF treason exceeds it in gravity
Justice Seabury explained what is
!. reasonable doubt" and declared
that B.cker's guilt need not be prov
en- beyond all doubt" He explained
that no whim, no disinclination to
cause Becker's death must be allow
ed to save him, II the jury decides
the state has proved It's case.
Becker sat with the fingers OF his
left hand between his lips at this
stage of the Justices address. Fre-
ouently he sighed so heavily that 1t
was audible where the newspaper
m an sat.
One decision read by the justice
stated that chain of circumstances
growing in strength with incidents
NAV reach an 'irristible result" The
court brought out strongly the fact
that each fact in the chain need not
be absolutely proved but that il
most were So proven and the other
links seemed probable, the conclusion
was inevitable. The court held that
Justice should consider the stories OF
the three informers. motives they had
to protect themselves and used the
word "acquit' for the first time in
directing the jury to free the defend
ant IL it did not believe the testimony
Of Rose. webber and vallon. !
Those in the court room regarded
Justice Seabury's summary as emf
uently fair and remarkably compre
hensive. He declared the jurors
must settle in their own minds wheth
or Becker or Rose had the greater
motive for the crime. Another point
he left TO the jury was whether Mrs.
7osenthal or members Of Becker's |
strong arm squad perjured them |
selves In the conflicting testimony as