The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-05-27
BECKER AGAIN CONVICTED.
POLICE LIEUTENANT FOUND
GUILTY BY JURY.
Pardon HIS Only Hope Unless High.
er Court Again Oversets Verdict,

Pardon Ills Only Hope Unless High
or Court Again Oversets Verdict.
New York, May 22.-Twelve men
today decided for the second time that
Charles Becker was the arch-con-
spirator responsible for the murder of
Herman Rosenthal, the gambler,
which nearly two years ago awoke
New York to a realization of corrup-
ton in the police department. and
opened a new era Of police reform.
Becker, once a police lieutenant
was found guilty Of murder in the
first degree. Only a pardon or in
reference again by the court Of ap-
peals can save him from following
to the electric chair the four gunmen
who shot Herman Rosenthal, the
gambler, early on the morning of July
16, 1912. The jury today decided that
the gunmen were Beckers agents.
The fifth ballot decided Becker's
fate. 1t was taken almost imme-
diately after the jurors returned from
luncheon at an uptown hotel where
they went when Supreme Court JUS
t!ce Samuel Seabury had finished his
charge. 1t was unanimous for con-
v.ction. Tears streamed down the
foreman's face as he announced the
decision and tears stood in the eyes of
several other jurymen. They had
agreed that the confederation which
the district attorney failed to present
at the first trial to support the stories
Of Rose, Vallon and Webber, the three
accomplices who turned informers,
had been furnished by new witnesses
at the second.
Becker's counsel announced that he
would appeal and gained week g
stay for the preparation of his future
campaign. The defendant was grant
ed short meeting with his wife and
his brothers and then was taken
back to his cell in the Tombs. Beck
er and his wife were talking shortly
before o'clock in a room adjoining
the sheriff's office when q court at
tendant announced that the jury, had
reached verdict. Mrs. Becker was
not permitted to accompany her hus-
band to the court room. Newspaper
men. court attendants, counsel for, the
defense and District Attorney Whit
man and his staff were the only other
persons admitted. The defendants s
two brothers, jackson and John
Becker, the latter a detective lieu
tenant, hurried to side entrance,
where they stood awaiting the ver-
dict.
When the little group in the court
room had found seats the ~ men who
alone knew Becker's fate filed silently
In with Foreman F. Meriden Blagden
at their head. All IL faces were AK
pressionless.
Attorney Manton. told by the court
he would be granted a reasona BILE
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 go"
the court announced. The whole pro-
ceedings from the time Becker was
found guilty until q recess was de-
clared occupied scarcely four min
utes.
Meanwhile Jackson and John
Becker, standing at the door to the
court room. had heard the verdict.
Jackson sank into a court attendant 8
chair and buried his face in his hands.
Mrs. Becker's brother, John Lynch.
and John Becker hurried to the room
where Becker's wife was waiting.
Everybody in the building and even a
crowd in the street outside knew that
Becker had been found guilty. A bailiff
had shouted the news across the ro-
tunda Of the court house. But Mrs.
Becker. sitting behind closed doo.s,
did not know it until John Becker or
tered the room. He did not say a
word to her then. He did not have to.
His face showed what had happened.
His shoulders were bent and shaking;
his cheeks were wet. Mrs. Becker col
lapsed and was still sobbing when
her husband was led into the room.
She threw her arms around his neck