New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-05-27
BECKER WITNESSES
FACE PROSECUTION
Charge of SubOrnatiOn of
Perjury May Be Pressed
Against Several.
TO INVESTIGATE
"ALIBI" EVIDENCE
Whitman to Confer with Police
COmmissioner-COnfession of
Doomed Man Expected.

With the second Becker trial disposed
OF. an investigation. which may lead to
charges OF subornation Of perjury rela-
tive to some Of the evidence presented on
the last motion for a new trial for the
four gunner. is In order in the District
Attorneys office. II was said at the time
that Burwell and Dresner. the two self
confessed perjurers who testified for the
gunner, were TO have been witnesses for
Becker.
Police Commissioner Woods and Dis
trict Attorney Whitman will confer some
time this week in regard TO this and
other matters which have grown out Of
the gunmen's case and Beckers trial.
The story of the three policemen. former
members of Beckers strong arm
squad" who "alibied" Becker on the
night OF the so-called Harlem conference
in their testimony at the second trial,
will probably he the subject Of official in
vestigation at Police Headquarters.
District Attorney Whitman contendsd
in his summing up OF the Becker case
that this attempt 20 show that Becker
was not at the Harlem conference with
Rose, Webber and WALTON on the night
Of June q. 1912, but was occupied entirely
with a raid in that immediate neighbor-
hood, was "a police frame-up' on the
part Of Becker's former associates on the
squad.
II is understood that Commissioner
Woods intends to make thorough inves-
tigaton of the testimony OF these and
other police witnesses at the second
Becker trial. Sheppard and Patrolmen
John J. Shields and F. Q. Rice testified
that they were with Becker practically
every minute OF the evening OF June q
I'D 10 the time ne left them to go homo
about midnight. following the raid on
Johnson's crap joint" in West l24th St,
near Seventh av. Sheppard went further
than the others and said that he went to
Beckers home earlier in the evening and
accompanied him to the scene OF the
raid.
Carl Dresner, in making his confession
to the District Attorney. mentioned Lieu
tenant John Becker. brother of Charles,
who is attached 70 the West 90th ST. sta
ton. as the man who coached him on the
story he told as a witness for the gun
men before Justice Golf. John Becker
afterward denied Dresner's allegation in
an affidavit which became part OF the
early record of the second Becker trial.
when IL was included in the papers FOR
an unsuccessful motion TO adjudge Dis
trict Attorney Whitman in contempt or
court In giving out news prejudicial to
Becker's case,
II Is not the intention OF the Distrlct
Attorney to move for trial the indict-
ment for murder still pending against
lack Sullivan" Jacob Reich In the
Rosenthal case. The announcement was
made yesterday. in view OF recent re-
ports. that Sullivan might be tried. lie
was the star" witness for the defence
at the recent Becker trial. While the
District Attorney has always entertained
a strong belief that Sullivan had knowl-
edge OF the Rosenthal murder plot, 1t was
said that there was not sufficient evidence
10 warrant bringing him to trial.
Becker. who will be sentenced to death
Friday. has maintained his iron nerve
ever since his second conviction. He
sleeps well and eats well, according TO
;h1 keepers in the Tombs He declined
Yesterday to comment on the report that
Ia might make full statement regard
,or his former graft activities If assured
;hat ne could obtain the recommendation
OF the District Attorney for communication
OF his sentence to life imprisonment.
His lawyers denied that Becker had