The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-05-06
lBECKER'S FINAL ATTEMPT
TO ESCAPE DEATH CHAIR.

DlsSflCt AttOrney whitman declared
in contempt Of court. On the latter
phase Of the fight, which was pu. into
the form Of motion by Bourk
Cochran, Becker's attorney, Justice
Seabury promised to rule at o'clock
this afternoon.
Manton's attack on the district at
torney came rs soon as court con.
vened. Before a room filed with
talesmen and with Mrs. Becker, the
only woman present, the attorney for
the man accused of plotting Rosen-
that's death opened his batteries.
Charles Becker to the bar" thun.
dered the court crier Just after JUS
tice Seabury was seated and through
a door at the rear Of the court room
came the brawny figure Of the man
who was once the czar of New
York's underworld. Becker's face was
in absolute repose, as guarded by only
one policeman, he strobe to the front
of the room. He greeted his counsel,
Martin T. Manton and Bourke Cock
ran with quick smile and sat down.
Cochran then addressed the court
with demand that District Attorney
Whitman be adjudged in contempt Of
court for having inspired newspaper
stories prejudicial to the defense.
Cochran, on being required to do 30.
put his demand In the form OF mo-
ton, which Justice Seabu-y promised
to pass on at one o'clock. Cockran's
motion was based on newspaper re-
ports, said to have been inspired by
Whitman to the effect that Carl Dres-
ner, confessed per1urer had conspir-
ed with John Becker, the defendants
brother, In such a way as to prejudice
Becker's case. Cochran produced affi-
davits by newspaper men on the sup
port of his position and was waxing
eloquent when restrained by the court.
Whitman who then arose to address
the court declared that he had given
out nothing improper. He said Beck
or had an opportunity to give out
from both the Tombs and
from Sing Sing and - matter Of
fact he had gwen out such stSf9me6ts
some Of which were distinctly prejudi-
cial to the case Of the people.
After Justice Seabury's decision to
rule on the contempt question later,
Cochran moved for a change Of
venue. This request Justice Seabury
promptly denied. Cochran then asked
for a postponement on the grounds OF
prejudice. To this Justice
Seabury replied that postponement
would be granted in no circumstances
and the examination Of talesmen be-
gan.
VIM. M. Murdock, the first talesman
called, was examined by Whitman.
Murdock had an "unshakable opinion"
and he was excused
During Murdock's examination,
Becker motioned to his wife. She
arose and came to seat near him.
She was dressed entirely in black and
her face showed wan and pale.
Sector Rosenfield, a manufacturer,
was the second talesman called. AZ
ter Rosenfield had been challenged
by the defense, Matthew w. Webb
was excused because he had known
Becker and D. w. Cahill because he
had discussed the case. Several 9th.
ers were either challenged or excused
for cause The tenth called, T. Mere.
dith Blandgen, bond broker, was ac-
cepted and was made foreman OF the
jury. He Is Harvard graduate OF '99.
He admitted having had an opinion
but said he could decide the case on
the evidence presented. A new wit
ness in the case is reported to have
been uncovered today In the person
OF Walter Washington, negro por-
ter, employed in Bridgie Webber's
pool room. He is said to be ready to
swear that he saw Webber, Rose, VAL
lon and Becker In conference at the
time Rosenthals murder is said to
have been finally planned.
Justice Seabury ruled on the appli-
(Continued on page 81