The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-02-26
Whitman Will Move for
Trial In Becker Case
WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBLE.
TTY FOR HIS FREEDOM ON
MURDER CHARGE.
Vallon Refutes Charge of Becker
and Says II Is Made For Ef-
feet on Gunmen.

NEW YORK, Feb. 25.-District At
torney Charles 5. Whitman will not
personally assume the responsibility
OF letting Charles Becker go free on
the charge of numbering the gambler
Herman Rosenthal. II was learned to-
night. At least IL was Indicated that
the prosecutors present intention Is
TO move for second trial of the
former police lieutenant whose con-
viction as Rosenthal's slayer was set
aside by the State Court OF Appeals
yesterday.
IL was reported today that MIR.
Whitman, feeling that he could not
secure a second conviction owing 10
the wording of the higher courts
ruling concerning evidence presented
at the first trial, planned TO seek
Becker's indictment on the charge OF
extortion and bribery instead. basing
his allegations on information that as
head of the strong arm" squad Beck
or mulcted gambling houses. Mr..
Whitman tonight however. denied he
had such a move in mind.
Interest centered tonight on what
opportunity the district attorney
might have OF finding witnesses 10
corroborate the testimony of Vallon.
Rose and Webber. who at the time
of the prosecution of Becker and the
gunmen received immunity on their
promise TO tell the truth. Sam
Schepps' testimony was in effect held
by the higher court to be that Of an
accomplice.
vaIIon Breaks Silence.
Vallon late today broke the long
silence he has maintained since
Becker's conviction and denied II was
he who fired the shot that killed Ros-
enthal. Vallon's statement was made
after Becker in Sing Sing today had
declared he thought WALTON was the
slayer
Becker is pretty smooth" said Val
Ion, and his object in accusing me is
plain. He hopes that the accusation
and his expressions of sympathy will
Influence the four men In the death
house to think he Is going 10 do some
thing to aid them. His idea Is that as
their friend they will not confess and
long as he can make them think he Is
give Information duplicating him 10
the district attorney"
Mr.. Whitman tonight said regarding
WALTON that no evidence was ever pre-
sented at his office that WALTON fired
the fatal shot. The reports were in
vestigated and no coTroboration was
found" he said. THE highest court
in the state has decided that the con.
viction OF the gunner stands and that
they committed the murder"
To Be Brought Back.
Becker will be brought here from
Sing Sing death house late tomorrow
or early Friday and placed in the
Tombs pending a new trial. or a quash-
ing OF the murder indictment. His
counsel said tonight that the decision
OF the court OF appeals automatically
restored Becker as a member of the
police department under suspension.
by his conviction he was ousted from
the force, tut his counsel asys that his
move II he makes one, to get back as
a policeman will be TO secure "A writ
of mandamus directed against the po-
lice commissioner. Under this writ
be could be tried before a deputy ana
have an opportunity TO prove his in
nocence of any charge against him. l.
was reported also that n the murder
Indictment should be dismissed Beck
er's counsel would contend that his
suspension would be thereby lifted
automatically.