The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-05-23
By ASSOCIATED PRESS.

New York May 22.-Former Police
Lieutenant Charles Becker was ad-
judged guilty of murder in the hrst
degree here today on the charge of
instigating Gambler RosenthaFs muir
der two years ago, the jury deciding
that the four gunmen, eleCtrOcuted
were Becker's agents. BeCkers coun-
sci was given one weeks stay OF Judg-
ment for the preparation necessary In
asking for a new trial Becker states
he will fight the case to a finish.
Becker was confident of aCquitta1 on
the iurv entering and the verdict OF
guilty nearly caused his collapse but
he regained his composure lmmedi-
ately.
The fury foreman wiped tears from
his eyes as he gave the verdict and
other 1urymen wept The first ballot
was unanimous for conviction.
Mrs. Becker was in the sherih's Of
flee when the verdict was rendered.
She was informed by Becker's BROTH
ers. She collapsed and was unable
to leave until after the husband had
been taken to a cell in the TOmbs.
District Attorney Whitman was
gratified with the verdict.
GIVEN JURY AT 1882 O'CLOCK.
The, case Of Charles E. Becker, on
trial for the second time for instigat-
ing the murder of Herman RosentAal,
was given into the hands of the jury
IL -Ra
The charge was worded with ScruDv
ulous care. Several times Justice Sea
bury told the grave audience in the
jury box, after reviewing contradic-
tory evidence, yours is the duty to
decide which you shall believe. Jus
tice does not require a victim. If
this defendant is innocent, I would be
terrible to find him guilty because of
any prejudice that might be held
against him. But you must not allow
your Judgment to be Influenced by any
sympathy"
Becker appeared in court a few min
utes after the jurors We're seated. His
wife sat at the side room.
JUDGE CHARGES JURY.
This defendant" began Justice Sea-
bury, lis charged with murder in the
first degree. The people do not claim
that he fired the shot that killed Ro-
senthaL But they charge him with
procuring the commission of the
crime.
IF this defendant as a lieutenant
of police had a murder done, justice
demands that he be convicted and
punished by being sentenced TO death.
But he must be proved guilty beyond
reasonable doubt
Justice Seabury read the jury seV-
eral statutes dealing with the crime
of murder, to show that in law Il man
who procured or aided in the commits
sion of murder is to be considered a
principal.
IF this defendant" he continued,
either directly or indirectly procured
the murder Of Herman Rosenthal he is
guilty as charged.
1.-THE state has Zntroduced both di =
rect and circumstantial evidence. The
law does not act upon circumstantial
evidence alone. It does act however,
when some direct evidence is intro
duced. Jurors should not disregard
CircumstantiaI evidence Simply because
il is such"
y The jury sat in silence while tho
usual motions for dismissing the case
were made, and then filed quietly to
their room. Becker went back to his
cell in the ToInbs and his wife went to
luncheon at a nearby restaurant.
The jury made no attempt to begin
deliberations at once. In the custody
Of court officers, the twelve men went
10 luncheon at an uptown hotel
FINAL PLEA OF DEFENSE.
With the instructions of the court.
the jurors carried with them the final
pleas of Martin T. Manton. of Becker 5
counsel and District Attorney Charles
=. Whitman, the former asking that
no compromise verdict be reached but
that the accused former police lieu
Continued on Page Eight.)