Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-02-25
BECKER EXPECTS
Freedom SOON;
RETR|AL UNLIKELY
Former Police Lieutenant viii
Be Brought Back to TOmbs
Tomorrow.
REINSTATEMENT TO
FORCE MAY BE SOUGHT
Ruling of Sam Schepps an Ac-
conplice May End the
Case.


NEW YORK, Feb. 25.-Charles
Becker, former police lieutenant, con-
victed of instigating the murder of
Herman Rosenthal, the gambler, who
has just been granted a new trial,
was visited in the death house at
Sing Sing prison today by his attor-
ney, Joseph A. Shay. Tomorrow, the
attorney told Becker he expects to
serve the remittitur of the Court of
Appeals on the prison warden. Beck
er will then leave the death house,
where he has been confined since the
fall of 1912, and be returned to cell
In the Tombs prison here until the
final disposition of his case.
az long to get back to the Tombs,
that I may see my loving, devoted
and faithful wife, and prepare to vim
dicate myself said Becker today.
MY liberty is now assured. ! can
never be convicted again. | will soon
be free"
Behind him in the death cells
Becker will leave the four gunmen
convicted of the actual killing OF
Rosenthal, whose protest against the
police graft system in New York. 1t
was charged, caused him to be shot
to death.
The Court of Appeals overruled the
petition of the gunmen, 'Dago Frank
Cirofici, "Gyp the Blood" Horowitz,
Lofty Louie Rosenberg and
''Whitey'' Lewis, and they wal be
executed next month unless the Gov
ernor grants executive clemency.
The opinion was expressed by the
attorneys and friends of Becker that
he would never be tried again as the
instigator of the murder of Rosen-
thai and there was also much talk
that Becker, If he eventually goes
49, hf
police force.
District Attorney Charles s. Whit
man, who will determine whether
Becker shall be tried again, has thus
far refused to say what further action
he will take in the case. 1t Is known,
however. that Mr.. Whitman believes
that second trial would be futile
in the face of the Court of Appeals
decision. That decision in effect
stamps Sam" Schepps. one of the.
principal witnesses for the State. as
an accomplice in the murder plot,
which Jack Rose, "Bridgie" Web
ber and Harry WALTON confessed,
duplicating Becker The des1sqr. II
Is pointed out, also leaves thcItstrict
attorney in an embarrassing position
With reference to Rose. Webber and
Vallon, who might, under certain
circumstances of a new trial be held
and tried for the murder of Rosen-
thai.
When informed of the courts action
Becker's first thought was of his
wife, whose loyalty to him has never
waned He asked that she be notified.
Later he met newspaper men, and to
them he expressed his feeling of hap
piness and confidence of ultimate
freedom.
Becker's stay of sixteen months in
the death house has resulted in
changes in his appearance. He has
improved in health and his makeup
is that Of an athlete in training; also,
he has read a great deal-thc Bible,
Shakespeare and many works of lit
erature--for a purpose which he re-
fused TO disclose. Warden Clancy. TO
whom fell the duty of supplying
Becker with books, told of having
been hard put several times to obtain
the works desired. One he had an
especially hard time finding was
Disraeli's "Curiosities of Literature"
What do | think of it?" Becker
said in answer to question. We'll,
what would you think of it if you
heard such news after you had been
In this place for sixteen months. SEN
fenced to death for a crime you never
committed? l am pleased beyond
words, of course"
When told that the court had criti-
cised the testimony of various wit
nesses, such as Rose, Vallon, Schepps
and Bridgie Weber, he smiled with
satisfaction.
How can they possibly accept evil
dence from those people in a new trial
after that?' he said.
Becker displayed exceptional Bit
terness when the name of Schepps
was mentioned.
II teu you that death house is an
awful .lace. Just think of it, I've
seen twelve men march past my cell
to die since / have been there. Most
of them went like men, too; but you
can believe that things like that are
hard on any ones nerves. I've fought
to keep out those influences from my
mind and I've succeeded"
When a previous request was made
through Warden Clancy for a state
ment, Becker sent out paper con-
tanning Books of Ecclesiasticus--
Chapter XIV, list TO 18th verses inclu-
sive." They express my sentiments"
he said.
the State against Becker, said today
that he was ready to testify again
in the case il wanted. He showed
feeling when mention was made of
the suggestion that Becker was made
a victim in order that he and others
who confessed their part in the plot
might be saved.
''If it can be proved" he said,
that it was frame-up | want to
take the cell made vacant by Becker
[ want also to pay the penalty, and
l want to waive immunity. We must
all face the judgment of God. There
and there only can I be judged upon
the testimony | gave at the trial"
.'Bridgie" Webber who is living in
Passac, N. j., refused to discuss the
Becker decision. II have nothing to
say. | don't want to be bothered
about it any more" he said