South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-05-23
Attorney Manton Will Appeal
on Rulings Barring CirOfiCi'S
Statement and Admitting
Mrs. RoSenberg'S Statement.
Ex-LIEUTENANT FACES
DEATH CHAIR CALMLY
Hears Verdict Without Display
of Emotion and Keeps De-
bonair Spirit Back in Sing
Sing Prison.

NEW YORK. May "a Mayor
Mitchell today sent the following letter
to Dist. Atty Whitman congratulating
him upon his conduct of the Becker
case:
My dear Mr. Whitman:
II have just heard OF the outcome
of the Becker case. The whole COM
munity is under obligations 10 you. as
your work has been splendid.
(Signed) John Purroy Mitchell"
NEW YORK. May 23.-Though ex-
Lieut.. Charles Becker viii be SEN
fenced to death next Friday by jus
tce' Seabury for the murder Of Her
man Rosenthal, it viii be many
months before the final chapter is
written in the story OF the sordid
tragedy that has held the attention
OF the entire country since the
gambler was assassinated at the
Hotel Metropole on July Is. 1912.
Becker is back in his old cell in
the Tombs today while his chief
counsel. Martin T. Manron. is pre-
pairing the appeal that will act as a
stay Of execution. Manton viii make
hard fight before the court of ap-
peals to overthrow the verdict Of
guilty in the first degree that was re-
turned by the jury yesterday after
noon.
The decision OF the court OF ap-
peals reversing the verdict OF the first
trial was not handed down until Is
Becker The decision upholding or
reversing the verdict is not expected
TO take long, but there is a possibility
that a year may elapse before the
upper court delivers its judgment.
Becker Keeps Nerve.
There was no break visible in the
iron nerve of the convicted man to-
day. The Tombs guard said that he
was acting as if a conviction for
murder was an everyday occurrence
in his life: that ne ate hearty
breakfast and that he showed absO-
lutely no emotion over the verdict
that means he must return 10 the
death house at Sing Sing prison
Mrs. Becker. who collapsed when
the jury returned its verdict. had re-
covered her cOmposure today.
Atty. Manton said today that Beck
er's conviction was the greatest
shock he ever received. He believes
that the testimony OF Mrs. Lillian
Rosenberg, widow of Lefty Louie"
that she heard Jack Rose tell her
husband that Becker demanded
Rosenthals death had "a great deal TO
do With the verdict
In making his appeal. Atty Man.
ton Will urge as grounds for a new
trial, among other things. the admis-
sion OF Mrs. Rosenberg's testimony.
the barring Of testimony relating TO
the confession" Of "Dago Frank
CirOicI, the refusal OF Justice Sea-
bury 10 hear arguments on that Ques-
ton before the jury and the courts
charge of the jury.
Becker heard his doom with the
same iron nerve which has character
lzed him since ne was first arrested
for the Rosenthal murder He cough
ed slightly when brought into the
court room 20 hear the verdict He
received 10 fun in the face. gazing in
tently at Foreman r. Meredith Blag-
den. His only display of emotion was
a slight movement Of the muscles OF
his throat. He recovered himself
quickly and in a firm voice answered
Clerk Jenny's questions when his pedi-
gree was taken. He grasped the ex-
tended hand OF Martin Manton. his
chief counsel and smiled. Several OF
MS friends at once lcaped 20 his side.
II am very sorry Charley" said one.
II am sorry. too" was his reply.
VIII you say anything about it?"
'fNOt a word Not a word" re-
sponded Becker turning 70 the two
deputy sheriffs.
Just outside the court room the
handcuffs-an unusual proceeding in
such cases-Were snapped on his
wrists He braced his shoulders back
and with firm tread started for the
bridge Of sighs A final glimpse Of
the ex-chief OF the strong arm
squadron showed a slight vince. he
lifted both Of his manacled hands 20
his neck and tugged az his collar like
a man suffocating.