Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1914-03-04
CHARLES BECKER STILL HOPES.
Former y. Y. Police Lieutenant is
Granted New Trial.

New York, Feb. 25.-Charles Beck
er, former police lieutenant, convict-
ed OF instigating the murder of Her.
man Rosenthal. who has been grant
ed a new tr,al, was visited at Sing
Sing to-day by his attorney, JOS. A.
Shay. Tomorrow, the attorney told
Becker, he expects to serve the re-
mittitur of the Court of Appeals on
the prison warden. Becker then will
leave the death house, where he has
been confined since the autumn Of
1912, and be returned to a cell in the
Tombs here until final disposition of
his case.
Behind him in the death cells
Becker will leave the four gunmen--
"Dago Frank" Cirohci, "GyD the
Blood" IIorrowitz, 'Lefty Louie" Ro-
senburg and "Whitey" Lewis-Con-
victed OF the actual killing Of Rosen-
thai, and they will be executed next
month unless the Governor grants
clemoncy.
The opinion was expressed by at
torneys and friends Of Becker that he
would never be tried again as the
inStigatOr of the murder Of ROSen-
thai, and there was ale ~uch talk
that Becker, if he eventually GOES
free, will seek mstatement on the
police force.
District Attorney Whitman, who
will determine whether Becker shall
be tried again has thus far refused
to say what urther action he will
take. 1t is Known, however, that Mr..
Whitman relieves a second trial
would be utile in the face of the
C..,u OF Appeals decision. That. in
effect, stamps Sam" Schepps, one Of
4 N W
accompIice in the murder plot which
Jack" Rose, "Bridgie" Webber and
"EIarry" Vallon confessed, implcat-
ing Becker. The decision, it is point
ed out. also leaves the district attor-
ney in an embarrassing position with
reference to Rose, Webber and VAL
lon. who might under certain cir
cumstances OF Il new trial be heiu and
tried for the murder Of Rosenthal.
When informed of the courts ac-
tion Beckers first thought was of his
wife. whose loyalty to him has never
waned He asked that she be notI-
fed Later he met newspaper men
and to them he expressed his feeling
OF happiness and confidence Of ulti-
mate freedom.
Bc"ker's stay of 16 months in the
death house has resulted in changes
Ill MS appearance. lie mas improved
in health and his makeup is that of
an athlete in training. Also, he has
read great dealt-he Bible, Shakes
pcare and many works ii literature.
II tell you that death house is an
awful place." said Becker to-day.
"Just think Of it-I've seen - men
march past my cell to die since
have been there. Most Of them went
like meu, too. But You can believe
that things like that are hard on any
ones nerves. I've fought to keep out
those influences from my mind and
I've succeeded"
Jack Rose, chief State witness
against Becker, said to-day he wa;
ready to testify again if wanted. He
showed feeling when mention was
J made of the suggestion that Becker
was made victim in order that he
and others who confessed their pari
i'm the plot might be saved.
eff 1t can be proved" he said
that it was a frame-up, | want tC
take the cell made vacant by Becker
| want also to pay the penalty and
waive immunity. We must all face
the judgment of God. There and
there only can be judged upon the
testimony | gave at the trial"