Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-05-28

ASKED whether nc had ever been con-
victed before, Becker looked helpessly t
his counsel. Martin T. Manton, who was
standing beside him. Manton mumbled
something. The pair shook hands
Whats the answer" again asked the
clerk
| Becker remained silent. Manton, how
ever, answered for him, No"
Justice Seabury thanked each man of
| the jury for his services.
ASKS FOR ONE WEEK.
| Manton, told by the court he would be
granted reasonable time in which to
make any motions he deemed advisable
asked for one week and received it.
CHARLES Becker, you are remanded to
the Tombs prison until May 90" the court
announced.
The whole proceeding, from the time
Becker was pronounced guilty until a
recess was declared, occupied scarcely
four minutes
In the meantime jackson and John
Becker, standing at the door to the court
room, had heard the verdict. Jackson
sank into court attendants chair and
buried his face in his hands Mrs.
Beckers brother, John Lynch, and John
Becker both of them showing their grief.
hurried to the room where Becker's wife
was waiting.
WIFE DID NOT KNOW.
Everybody in the building and even
the crowd in the street outside knew
that Becker had been found guilty a
hailiff had shouted the news across the
rotunda Of the court house. But Mrs
Becker, sitting behind closed doors, did
not know it until John Becker entered
the room.
He did not say a word to her then
He didn't have to. His face showed
what had happened. His shoulders were
bent and shaking, his cheeks We're wet.
Lynch begged his sister to be calm, but
that did no good She collapsed com
pletely, and was still sobbing when her
husband was led into the ROOM She
threw her arms around his neck and
buried her face on his shoulder
oh" she cried, Charlie, I'm so sorry
so sorry. Poor Charlie. l didn't expect
it,"
She could say no more She released
her husband from her embrace and drop
ped into chair.
Becker stood looking down at her, as
she wept
Handouts were then locked about his
wrists; he was taken from the room and
around the marble corridors to the other
side of the building across the bridge of
signs" and into the Tombs. On his way
around the corridor friends who had
known Becker for years expressed their
sorrow.
Il am Very very sorry for myself"
ne declared grimly. Il have nothing
more to say"
Immediately after the court was ad-
journed Mr.. Manton said:
WILL PREPARE APPEAL.
II fail to see how the jury managed
to convict Becker in view OF the con-
ncting evidence that was presented by
the witnesses for the State and the testi-
mony that our witnesses gave. However.
it has been done. l will Immediately
set to work to prepare an appeal. We
will fight and fight hard to have Becker
cleared of this charge"
District Attorney Whitman express
ed himself highly gratified with the
verdict, 1T speaks for itself" he said
Becker is guilty. 1t was proved He
must pay the penalty of his crime"
Mrs. Becker remained in the sherlrf's
office a long time after her husband
had been returned to the Tombs She
was too overcome with grief to leave
Immediately, When she went at last
she had to be assisted from the build
ing.
This, the sixteenth and last day of
the second trial, was devoted to the
Judges charge and the elaboration of
the jury. In his review of the evidence
justice Seabury directed the Jury that
10 ma the defendant guilty they must
oecide that the stories of Rose, WALTON
ana Webber were supported by wit
hesses not involved in the crime
rms centered emphasis on the testi-
mony of Charles b. Pitt, Jr., who was
Beckers press agent, when the former
police lieutenant was master of the old
strong arm squad" Pitt was n wit
ness for the defense at the first trial
but at the second he took the stand at
the call of the district attorney Bee
ker's attorneys tried to prove that Pitt
also was an accomplice, but the court
left this question 10 the jury and their
verdict showed that they decided 10
was not.