The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-05-18
ROSENTHAL'S WIDOW
DESCRIBES BECKER'S
DEALS WITH GAMBLER
Former Police Officers Con-
fidential Agent Exposes
Deals With Gunmen to Put
Away Gambler.
TBY LEASED WIREl

IBT LEASED WIRE1
NEW YORK, May 18.-The most pa
thetic scene of the second trial of ex-
Lieutenant of Police Charles Becker
for the murder of Herman Rosenthal
was staged today when Mrs. Lillian
Rosenthal took the witness stand and
swOre to the close relations that exist
ed between her gambler husband and
the defendant.
CARRIED in black and trembling in all
her limbs, the girlish widow of the
gambler told how Becker had told her
that he was Rosenthars best friend
Mrs. Rosenthal became so nervous at
times her voice sank into a whisper,
and Justice Seabury had to request
her to speak louder in answering the
questions of District Attorney Whit
man. She said she first met Becker
on Thanksgiving night, 1911, at the
Elks club, and next on New Years eve
at the same place. She described the
second meeting as follows. We were
at dinner party, Becker, Mrs. Beck
er. my husband and myself. Becker
put his arms around my husbands
shoulder and said: What's the matter
Herman? Don't worry; I'm going to
help you all I can. I'm going to give
you money for your business
Avows Friendship.
Then he came to me and said: You
don't want to worry any more. l am
his best friend. and l am willing to
get up at any time, day or night, to
help him or you
Il heard him say. I am going to put
Jack Rose in the house to look after
my interests
In April Becker and his squad raid
ed our home. Ny husband was away
at the time. Becker was leading the
squad, and 1 said: Please don't let
them break up our home Becker
took me in his arms and said: Tell
Herman that he does not owe me that
$500. He can go down and get that
mortgage, and / said. What mort
gage?' He said, Herman knows all
about the mortgage: you just tell him
to go down town and get it. have no.
titled the party to give it to him."
Attorney Manton attempted to show
on cross-examination that gamblers
feud might have been responsible for
Rosenthal's death, but Mrs. Rosenthal
declared she had never heard that
Rose was her husbands enemy.
Pitt Takes Stand.
Then the state turned another big
gun on Becker when Charles B. Pitt,
.Jr.. was called Pitt was confidential
agent of Becker at the time Rosenthal
was killed.
Pitts testimony proved the sensa-
| ton of the trial. Describing a conver-
sation which he had with Becker on
1
killed, the witness said
Becker told me he had a telephone
message from bum that he would get
an affidavit from Dora Gilbert. dora
/ Gilbert was Rosenthals first wife). He
said | was to give d number of news
papermen the affidavit. He said Dora
Gilbert would accuse Rosenthal of
queer things"
Did you hear anything else?"
Becker Gives Warning.
"Yes, Becker said, keep away from
Times Square and get an alibi for ev-
i cry minute of your time tonight. I said
| why do | need an alibi' and he replied
| never mind, just get one or else you
may get into trouble ] answered,
Charlie, | am in on all things in the
partnership; why cannot l get in on
this? Is it about Hermann He said
Yes, but never mind anything else;
just get an alibi "
| Did you see Becker later in the
night?"
Yes, Becker told me to meet Brown
at the Lafayette baths
| Did you go to the baths?"
Yes, l met Harry Vallon and a
crowd of other fellows, went around
to Dora Gilberts, got the affidavit and
the next day brought it down to Beck
er at police headquarters"
when did you see Becker again."
Sees Becker in Tombs.
after his arrest l called on Becker
in the Tombs prison and he exclaim-
ed: Didn't I tell you the - would
squeal on me? l want you to go out
, and get me an affidavit on Rose, but
l guess it won't help much as he will
be called an accomplice.' He gave me
list of the men who had raided Rosen-
thals gambling house and told me to
tell them they must testify that they
did not hear a conversation between
Mrs. Rosenthal and myself at the time
of the raid. l called upon Becker al
most every day. Once l told him l had
! met a man named Wolfe. friend Of
the gunner, who sad the gunner
wanted $500 or else there would be
! nothing doing. He asked me: Who is
Wolfe?' I replied that he was a friend
| of the gunner. Becker then said: Tell
Wolfe I have not got the money now
but will send it to him as soon as
get my hands on it,"
did this take place before the gun
mems arrest?"
Eyes"
Did you go up to Sing Sing with
Becker after he was convicted the
| first time?"
Yes. On the way said. Charlie.
this may be the last time l will see
you He replied, 4 am going to leave
| this money with you and if anything
happens to me l want you to kill that
! squealing - Jack Rose"