The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-26
R0SENTHAL'S MOTHER
THINKS HE is ALIVE
Relatives Have Hard Work
Keeping Hcrman's Death
From Her.

Norman Rosenthal. Of whose murder
sx-Lieutenant Becker was convicted, but
now stands merely accused, died more
than nineteen months ago. yet his mother
thinks he il stili alive. She has never
heard of the Becker case and her rela-
tives intend that she never shall hear of
II.
Beckers mother, who died In December
last, believed TO the end OF her days that
her son was out West" on police duty.
The mother of Rosenthal thinks he 10 in
business in Canada.
She is Mrs. Rose Rosenthal, living at
the age OF - years with a daughter and
sop-in-law in brooklyn Two months be-
fore Herman Rosenthai was killed she be-
came paralyIed. Since then she has never
left her bed, Physicians have said, and
say now. that the truth about her son
would kill her.
She cannot speak or see to read, but ia
able to move her right arm "A little Her
mind IL clear and her hearing excellent
OFTEN she inquiries about her two sons
She does II by holding up one finger to in.
dictate the elder son and two fingers for
Herman, who was the younger. Her pro-
tectinR relatives have been forced to all
serss OF inventions to explain his absence
Tragic Play.
"For nineteen months" one Of them
said yesterday. 1--WE have been living n
makebelevc life at our house. It's like
play on the stage--a tragic play"
They told her first that Herman had
found a good business opportunity In the
West and had no chance to say good
by" before leaving. Eventually they
placed him In Canada.
Regularly she receives a letter from him
written OF course by some member OF
her household with q money order en-
closed relative reads the letter to her
cashes the money orver and places the
cash in her hand. These gifts are a CON
tinuation OF Herman Rosenthal's custom
He was very generous to his mother
70: this course OF Justihable deception
II Is fortunate that Mrs. Rosenthars sight
las failed. Otherwise she would see that
the handwriting of the letters is not
Hefmans. and IL would have been a urea,
task to Keep newspapers away from her
all this time.
PsssI~d ~ Trial.
The family was hardest pressed at the
time Of Roseurhals funeral. The old lady
couldn't understand what all the stir in
the nouse was about or why all her rela-
tlVes should be leaving home for the after
noon For once she seemed to suspect
something. That evening her little
granddaughters, coming home from their
unc'es grave, were Instructed to frolic
about their grandmothers bed. They did
IT. and Mrs, ROsenthal was convinced
that everything was all right.
No visitors are admitted to the house
who are not acquainted with the state of
"fars, There lies the greatest family
1ear-that some one will slip in and in
nocently blurt out the truth. Mrs. Rosen-
thAfs sense OF hearing IL so acute that
no sound about the house escapes her.
On day a stranger for whom the door
was opened said: Docs Herman Rosen-
MARS mother live here'' The door WAS
smut ~ once. but Mrs, Rosenthal had
heard and was making signs indicating
,mho IN that wants Ierman's mother
WY don't you let him in?'
Ine doctors say that " emotional shock
Prevented ~ ltosenthal may live sey,