The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-02-28
BECKER TO 60 FREE.
PROBABLE THAT POLICE OFT1-
CIAL WILL NOT AGAIN STAND
TRIAL.
Courts Ruling Said by Whitman to
Destroy Case Against Becker-Win
BE Bar to Future Convictions.

OF Charles Becker, former police Neu-
tenant, of the murder Of the gambler,
Herman Rosenthal, was snnuled to-
day by the court of appeals AT AL
bany, the highest in the State. He is
entitled to a new trial. but it seemed
probable tonight that he might 70
free without facing second ordeal.
1t was made known that District At
tornsy Whitman believed that under
the prevailing opinion handed down
by the court conviction a second time
will be impossible.
Appeals taken by the four gunmen
Whitley Lewis, Lefty Louie"
"Gyp the Blood" and "Dago Frank"
convicted as actual murderers OF
Rosenthal. Becker being accused OF
having instigated them to commit the
crime. were not sustained and they
will have to die in the electric chair,
probably in March. except in the
event OF executive clemency.
The district attorney is the last
man In the world said Mr.. Whitman
tonight. who should want a convic-
tion to stand which 10 not justitiable
by law. That is all the comment that
I care to make
The district attorney had not re-
ceived the full text Of the opinion to-
night, but 1t was learned that. form
ing his judgment on such OF 1t as
was available. he had little hope OF
presenting sufficient evidence to con-
Wet Becker At q second trial. As
Mr.. Whitman was said to have inter-
preted the opinion, the testimony Of
the three chief witnesses against
Becker--John Rose. Bridsie Webber
and Harry Vallon--self-confes ac-
complies. had not been held by the
court to be credible. Though il is
known that the district attorney has
new evidence he could bring forth.
the testimony OF these three-the
gamblers who said they hired the
gunmen to kill Rosenthal at Becker's
behest-wss the foundation OF the
case.
Mr., Whitman also was under the
impression tonight that in effect the
court has held that Sam Schepps, who
corroborated the trio. also Was an
accomplics.
IF 20 men were in the conspiracy
20 murder" a lawyer close to tho dis
trict attorney said tonight. ''and 10
of them were turn Stags's evidence
against the Goth. the 20th could not
b. convicted under this decision. It
would be futile to bring Becker to
trial again."
The suggestion made tonight that
tho four gunmen. now that their only
hope lies in executive clenaenoy, might
turn States evidence wac not received
by the district attorney a. one that
held out hope OF aiding q conviction.
He thought their testimony would lie
In the same category as that Of Rose,
Webber and Vallon. 1t was the con-
sensus OF opinion among those in the
district attorneys office that il ao-
ton is taken by Bccker's counsel to-
wards obtaining dismissal Of the
case. District Attorney Whitman
would not oppose 1t.
When Mrs. Becker was informed
OF the reversal by Attorney Shay, she
Immediately left her home and went
to Shay's office. There Is reporters,
Becker's two brothers. Jackson Becker
and Police Lieut.. John Becker. were
waiting for her When Mrs. Becker
opened the door and her eyes fell
upon Shay. she ran through two Of
fees to reach him. The woman threw
her arms around Shay's neck and
kissed him.
Mrs. Becker's mother died yester-
day. She will be buried tomorrow.
Despite this fact, Mrs. Becker's face
was wreathed in smiles. II am the
happiest woman In the world" she
said. II don't believe my husband
Will ever DO tried again and aeither
does he" ...
Asked what she believed to have
been the cause OF Becker's conviction,
she said:
There was a hue and cry to get
some one for the murder Of Rosen-
thai My husband happened to be
caught in the net"
While Charlie has been in the
death house." she continued, III mon
have been executed came to know
those men during my visits. One by
one they were taken out and killed.
would talk to a man one week and
60 back the next to see his cell o.
cupied by some other unfortunate.
Every time l looked at Charlie I