South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-05-13
Begin Effort to Break Down
Testimony BY Prosecutions
Chief Witness in GrueIlng
CrOSS-ExaminatiOn.
DISCLOSE CONFLICTS
THROUGH TRIAL RECORD
Gambler Admits Discrepancies
in Details of Testimony
Prosecution Scores When
Reference to Appeal is Barred

NEW YORK. May 13.-Counsel for
ex-Police Lieutenant Becker on trial
for the second time for the murder Of
Herman Rosenthal. attempted today
10 tear down the fabric of the story
told on the witness stand yesterday by
Bald Jack" Rose gambler and under
world character. whose testimony fur
Cishes the corner stone of the prOSecu-
tiOn's case. Rose faced a gruelling
day when he entered court for his
CrOsS-eXaminatiOn at the hands of
Martin +. MantOn. one of the shTeWd-
est cross examiners at the New York
bar. Mr.. MantOn said that the de-
fence was more hopeful than at any
other time since the trial started.
We are in a position to show Rose
up for. the discrepancies in his story
yesterday are sufficient 10 give US
good grounds for an attack" said
Manton. chief lawyer for Becker. just
before entering Justice Seabury's court
room. Roses admission that Her
man ROsenthal. himself a gambling
house keeper, had acted as stool
pigeon for Becker is "a strong link in
the chain We are forging TO show that
Rosenthal was the victim of a war
among the New York gamblers"
Charge Gamblers Plot.
The contention of the defence which
Becker's lawyers will try TO strength
IN was the testimony of Rose. Sam
Schepps. Harry NalIon and "Bridgie'
Webber is that the quartet of gamb-
lers plotted Rosenthal's death them
selves and concOcted the story they
told on the witness stand at the first
trial of the police officer.
Roses grilling by Attorney MantOn
tegan with an attempt TO prove him a
disreputable character. He tried TO
show that Rose had been engaged in
white slavery. and that he was petty
tlief and that ne had tried TO black
mail Tom Sharkey for $1,000.
In reply to questions Rose said he
was born i'm Russia and was brought
20 this country when three years old.
lie denied that he had accepted Ne
earnings of women of the streets and
was emphatic in his declarations that
he had ever acted as "A 'steerer" for
an opium Joint formerly operated
by "Bridgie' WebbeT in Chinatown.
Rose crafuly professed ignorance of a
number of terms common amoungst
the gambling fraternity
AIantOn then switched TO Chicago.
Weren't YOU driven out OF Chicago
10y Mike White >" the lawyer asked.
NO" replied Rose.
Tells TX, .atiOns With ROseEthal.
Rose said he first met Rosenthal 90
years ago and later went into the
gambling business With him. Rose
was president OF the Hesper club but
denied the imputatiOn that ROsenthal
had him ousted
Rose denied that he had ever hired
any gunmen for Rosenthal', saying he
didn't know Rosenthal ever made use
Of any gangsters for this sinister pur-
pose.
Some of the details of Roses testi-
monN were not identical with those OF
his story told at the first trial and
Attorney MautOn proceeded To dwell
on these az length. one of these con-
ceTned the list of places where Rose
and Becker were i'm the habit of meet
ing
Another discrepancy in Roses story
concerned the amount of money that
FeCker had sent him TO Rosenthal 10
collect after the first nights play in
the gam bling house that ROsenthal
and Becker were promoting At the
FIRST trial Rose had said 10 was $500.
but this time the witness said il was
$500
Mr. Nanton also read from the rec
ords tn show that Rose had given tes-
timonv not given ar the first trial
The prosecution scored point
whNr Justice Seabury ruled that no
reference should be made To the court
OF appeals reversal Of the first Becker
conviction