The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-19
C. B. Pitt, Jr., Swears He Arranged Becker's
 Alibi
TESTIMONY COMES AS
 SURPRISE TO DEFENSE
Widow of Herman Rosenthal Placed on Stand-State Closes Case and Defense Will Begin It's
 Fight Today

New York, May ls-Distriet Attorney Whitman today completed his case against Charles Becker hy placing in the witness stand two men whom he con sldered his star witnesses--chrales B. Pitt. Jr., the former pohceman's friend. companion and press agent, and James Marshall, negro youth, who said he saw Becker and Jack Rose talking at the Harlem conference" which was declared by the court of appeals to have been the heart of the spinspracy to murder Her. man Rosenthal,f The gamblers widow and several other persons also testified before the prosecutor declared his case ended.
 Pitt swore that Becker had asked him while on board train on the way from New York 10 the death house at SingS Sing prison following his conviction, tA Hill Jack Rose. Pitt also said Becker had him carry messages to Jack Rose, both before Rosenthal'h murder and after Rose was locked up in the Tombs charged wth having taken part in the crime.
 Goes Into Details
 Marshall went fully into the details of his alleged operations as a stool pigeon for Becker. He was placed on the stand as the 'disinterested witness to the Harlem conference" which the eourt of appeals said was essential to convict Becker legally as the instigator of the plot that resulted in the killing of the gambler.
 Becker warned Pitt before the murder to keep away from Times Square the night it occurred, and also to establish an nj fpp oil, taJ lfpnualf to Pitt Until two months ago Pitt had been considered by Becker's counsel to be one of BeclSer's best friends. and, in fact, he made several affidavits calcu- lated to help the former policeman's ease. His testimony today was complete sur prise to the defense.
 Defense Begins Today
 The defense will open it's case tomorrow morning Becker will not be the first witness. His attorneys tonight refused to say definitely whether or not he would he called later, althpugh thsy assers Becker had demanded an opportunity to speak for himself Mrs Becker will go on the stand and try to save her husband from the electric chair. She is expected to contradict much of the testimony given by the witnesses for the state who swore that Rose and her husband were very friendly It is understood that she will also attack Pitt.
 IT Becker testifies t is understood he will admit that ire met Rose on many occasions, but will assert that the reia- tions between them were simply those that exist between every policeman and his ''stool pigeon which Rose admitted he was. rhtre are about 30 witnesses under snbpoenae to testify in Becker's behalf The case may be in the hands or the jury by Saturday night
 After recess late today the defense read 10 the jury copy of the testimony before the grand jury that indicted Becker. In this record, Pitt swore Becker was innocent and had been Framed by Whitman
 Letters written Becker at Sing Sing prison and after he was brought back to the Tombs were produced by Mr Manton. The letters were addressed lto My Dear Pal Charles" and contained numerous assertions that Becker was innocent. Half Of them Pitt finally con- fessed were in his handwritlng
 One letter addressed to the Tomas and signed Hiram Charles was dated April 2. At that time Plitt said earlier in the day he was holding conferences with Assistant District Attorney Groehl. In the letter Pitt asked Beck CT If he still wanted to give him the Icold shoulder and whether the writer could do something to aid the former policeman.
 Wanted Confession
 "Why were you negotiating With MT. Groehl2' asked Mr Mantoni
 "I was trying 10 fix 1t up for Becker to confess and show up the men high- er-up as grafters
 plitt stuck to his story about being asked by Becker to kin Bald Jack Rose. the informer. while Becker was being taken on d train from New York to Sing Sing.
 Pitt appeared to be even more nerv- ous during his oss-eNaminatlon than any time he was on the stand. In the middle of the cross-examination Becker moved to a far end of his counsels ta- ble where he could gaze directly into the face of the witness. He stared at him during the rest of the afternoon and was apparently eager to catch the eye of his time friend and cori- ~ >~>~>>>>>---
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