Evening journal., 1914-05-18
Mrs. ROSENTHAL
AGAINST BECKER
Widow OF Slain Gambler
Tells of Raids on HuS-
bands Place
EITHER HERMAN OR
NE" SHE TESTIFIES
Rr rRED ]. NILSSON

United Press staff Correspondent.
NEW YORK, May 1S.-Three close
associates Of Charles Becker in the
days when as police lieutenant in
charge Of the strong arm squad he
ruled the underworld of New York,
today were scheduled to clinch the
case Of the State against Becker for
procuring the murder OF Gambler
Herman Rosenthal These were
Charles b. Pitt, Jr., once Beeker's
press agent" James b. White and
Charles c. Steinert, who before the
Rosenthal murder and Becker's dis
grace, were his right hand men on
the Strong arm squad"
White and Steinert will be re-
luctant witnesses against Becker.
Under subpoena by the defense, they
have been taken by the prosecution
as its own witnesses. They will
show. it is expected by District At
torney Whitman, that Becker was IN
the immediate neighborhood on the
night Jack Rose, Bridge" WeDDer
and Harry Vallon, the three inform
ers. have sworn Becker met them at
a vacant lot in Harlem to hold the
murder conference where Rosenthal s
fate was sealed. This, through the
decision OF the appellate court, grant
ing Becker new trial. is the heart
of the testimony by which the State
hopes to send the former police pow
er back TO the death-hOuse in Sing
Sing
The fact that testimony will have to
be dragged from White and Steinert, ~
Whitman's opinion. will make what
they saw OF the utmost significance.
There will be no reason, however, TO
drag testimony out Of Pitt. For years
Beeker's closest friend, Pitt has quar-
relied with his one-time employer. He
IT 4. said. will testify that messages
which he carried from Becker to Bald
Jack" Rose win show that Becker took
part in the Harlem murder conference
and had guilty knowledge OF Rosenthoi
murder,
Pitt is also expected to reveal details
of the way in which, while he ruled
the gamblers Becker cohtriyed TO ainass
more than S50.0OO year by graft, while
his salary was a bare $1,000; how some
Gamblers we're run down by the strong
arm squad" while others WHO paid
we're imniifne from arrest and how. by
Rockers request. be. Pitt. visited
former wife of Rosenthal the night be
fore the tragedy dt che Hotel Metropol'
aud obtained from her an affidavit at
lacking the gambler who was soon tC
IAN f6 The bullets OF the gunner. forced
As they said with dying lips, by Becker
10 their crime.
Besides these three witnesses, DIS
triet Attorney Whitman had otner'
whose identity ne is not revealing
ready to testify before the prosecu
tion closes, probably this afternoon
The widow Of Herman Rosenthal als'
VIII take the stand.
Nothing certain has yet deveiopei
as 10 whether or not Becker will tes
tify. The dehunciation OF Left
Louie's" widow, probably will fore
the accused man to brave Whitman
attack
The widow OF Herman Rosenthal
today. In Justice Seaburys court
looked into the eyes of the mai
charged with bringing about the mur
der of her husband.
sDo You know the defendant, Charles
BecKers's was the first question asked
BY District Attorney Whitman.
81 do. came the reply and from un
der her widows veil she looked square
" into Becker's eyes. the defendant
Strengthened in his chair but met he
gaze uumoved.
Mrs. Becker never took her eyes of
of the witness as the widow of the slail
gambler told her story.
Mrs. Rosenthal only once glanced a