Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-05-23
Continued from Page One)


and a bailiff was sent for the defend
ant Becker kissed his wife and left
her.
Becker Cheers Wife
It's all right" he told her. Don't
worry. They'll free me-" Becker en-
tered the door through which the jury
had passed only minute before. He
walked briskly to the rail facing JUS
tice Seabury, and gripped it with both
hands. His face was colorless. He
glanced hopefully at the jury, his gaze
resting upon the faces of each man
for a fraction of a second
But to all outward appearances the
jury did not even know the defend
ant was in the room. Clerk Penny
asked the jury to rise.
Foreman" he said, have you
reached a verdict?"
Guilty Of Murder"
BIagden, a youngish man, blonde
and slim. brushed his eyes with
handkerchief, already damp. I'VE
have he said softly. I'VE find the
defendant he hesitated a moment
and continued in a whisper: I'VE find
this defendant guilty as charged in
the Indictment; guilty of murder in
the first degree"
Becker's face was grey as he grip
ped the bar in front of him with all
his strength The big muscles in his
neck jumped out in heavy rolls. The
veins at his temples swelled. His
great frame swayed and dropped;
then, with quick control he became
himself again.
Big tears welled into the eyes of the
little foreman. He wiped them away
with his hand and then the clerk be-
gan to ask the questions required by
| law. The roll was called and each
| individual juror was asked if guilty
was his verdict, too
Becker Questioned
Becker stood motionless while these
questions were being put to the jul
rors. Immediately upon their conclu-
sion, the clerk began to take Beck
er's pedigree" To the first questions,
Becker answered in a steady voice
that he was 43 years old, was born
in the United States and that his
parents had both been born in Ger
many.
Married." queried the clerk.
For moment, Becker did not an
| swer. Then almost in a whisper he
replied, Yes"
AS TO his occupation Becker said
he was a former police officer in the
city of New York" a Catholic and
of temperate habits.
Asked whether he had ever been
convicted before. Becker looked help
! lessly at his counsel. Martin 7. Man
| ton. who was standing beside him.
Manton mumbled something. The
pair shook hands.
What's the answer" again asked
the clerk.
Becker remained silent.
Manton, however answered for him,
No"
Justice Seabury then thanked each
member OF the jury for his services
and they left the room.
Manton Receives Week
Manton, told by the court that he
would be granted a reasonable time
| in which to make any motions he
deemed advisable. asked for one week
and received it.
Remanded Until 2eth
Charles Becker. you are remanded
to the Tombs prison until May %,
the court announced.
The whole proceeding from the
time Becker was pronounced guilty,
until a recess was declared. occupied
scarcely four minutes. Meanwhile.
| Jackson and John Becker, standing at
| the door to the court toom, had heard
the verdict. Jackson sank into
court attendants chair and buried his
face in his hands Mr.. Becker's broth
er. John Lynch, and John Becker,
both of them showing their grief, hur-
ried to the room where Becker's wife
| was waiting. Everybody in the build
ing and even a crowd in the street
outside knew that Becker had been
! found guilty.
His Wife coIIapses
A bailiff had shouted the news
across the rotunda of the court house
But Mrs. Becker sitting behind clos
| ed doors. did not know it until John
Becker entered the room. He did not
saw a word to her then. He didp't
have to. His face showed what hap
pened. His shoulders were bent ana
shaking. his cheeks were wet. Lynch
| begged his sister to be calm, but that
did no good She collapsed completely
and was still sobbing when her hus-
band 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 sor-
ry so sorry. Poor Charliel / didn't
expect it."
She could say no more. She releas-
| ed her husband from her embrace and
| dropped into a chair.
Becker stood looking down at her as
| she wept.
Across Bridge Of Signs
| 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.
81 am very. very sorry for myself, he
| declared grimly. II have nothing more to
say
Manton's Statement