Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-05-23

Charles Becker, twice convicted of insti
eating the murder of Rosenthal, are
preparing an appeal to a higher court.
An appeal would stay execution more
than a year.
New York, May 23.-Twelve men de-
cided late yesterday afternoon for the
second time that Charles Becker was
the arch-conspirator responsible for
the RosenthaI murder, which nearly
two years ago awoke New York to a
realization of corruption in the police
department and opened new era of
police reform.
Becker. once a police lieutenant,
was found guilty of murder in the first
degree. Only pardon or interference
again by the Court of Appeals can
save him from following to the electric
chair the four gunmen who shot Her
man Rosenthal. the gambler. early on
the morning of July 16, 1912. The
jury today decided that the gunner
were Becker's agents.
One ballot decided Becker's fate. 1t
was taken almost Immediately after
an uptown hotel where they went as
soon as Supreme Court Justice Samuel
Seabury finished his charge. 1t was
unanimous for conviction. Tears
streamed down the foreman's face as
he announced the decision, and tears
stood in the-eyes of several other jury
men; but sympathy did not warp their
judgment.
Becker's counsel announced that he
would appeal and gained a week s
stay for the preparation of his future
The defendant was grant
ed a short meeting with his wife and
his brothers and then taken back to
his cell in the Tombs.
Wife Kept From Court.
Becker and his wife were talking
shortly before 5 o'clock in a room ad- !
joining the sheriff's office when a court !
attendant announced that the jury had |
reached a verdict. Mrs. Becker was |
not permitted to accompany her hus- |
band to the courtroom. Newspaper |
men. court attendants, counsel for the |
defense and District Attorney Whit |
man and his staff were the only other /
persons allowed admission. The de- |
fendant's two brothers, Jackson and |
John Becker, the latter a detective
lieutenant, hurried to a side entrance
where they stood awaiting the verdict.
When the little group in the court !
-oom had found seats the twelve men
Who alone knew Becker's fate, filed
silently in with Foreman F. Sheridan
3lagden at their head. All twelve
aces were expressionless.
in he |
still talking to his wife when Justice
Seabury tok his seat. A bailiff was ,
ent for the defendant. Becker kissed
lis wife as he left her.
Its all right" he told her. Don't
worry. They'll free me-
Becker walked briskly through the
ourtroom to the rail facing Justice I,
;eabury and gripped 1t with both
ands. His face was colorless. He
danced hopefully at the jury, but he
i'd not catch the eye of a single man. I
% all outward appearances the jury ,
i'd not know the defendant was in the .
DOM. Clerk Penny asked the jury to
Use.
Foreman" he said. have you /
cached a verdict?' {
Jury Foreman in Tears.
Blagden, a youngish man, blond and
lin, brushed his eyes with a handker-
hief, already damp. I'VE have" he :
aid softly. I'VE find the defendant" :
He hesitated a moment and contin- !
ed in a whisper:
I'VE find this defendant guilty as
harged in the Indictment; guilty of
urder in the first degree"
Becker's face went gray. The big !
uscles in his neck jumped out in -.
eavy rolls. The veins at his temples
welled. His great frame swayed and :
then with quick control he =
ecame himself again.
Big tears welled into the eyes of the
tile foreman. He wiped them away
nd then the clerk began to ask the =,
lestions required by law. The roll =
as called and each individual juror.
ked IL guilty" was his verdict, too.
lswered yes.
When Mrs Becker was informed OF
le verdict she collapsed completely
I'd was still sobbing when her hus-
md was lead into the room. She
rev her arms around his neck and
lried her face on his shoulder.
90" she cried, Charlie. I'm so sor- e
y. so sorry. Poor Charlie. | didn't S
pect It," j
She could say no more. She re- u