The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-05-08
CHAS. BECKER WILL
APPEAR ON STAND
IN own DEFENSE
Will Risk All On This Throw
Because His Wife Desired
Him to Show Up Other
Witnesses.

NEW YORK, May 7--Charles
Becker, means TO risk the greatest of
all hazards in his case. meeting the
leveled eyes of twelve jurymen while
he testifles in his own defense, and
endures the district attorneys severest
attack.
This news TRANSFERRED at the close
of the second day of the trial. which
resulted in procuring only one Juror.
Rocker believes that his failure to face
the jury in the former trial made an
irredeemably bad impression upon
Jury: and although he knows
that the district attorney Will take up
graft and the matter of where he ac-
CURED SO much money on a police
lieutenants salary. he feels that his
coming out in the open and thereby
permitting MIR. Whitman to bare his
past. is a lesser peril than lingering at
his counsel table when the eyes of the
1urymen turn questioningly upon him.
Becker's determination TO take the
stand is the result Of Mrs. Becker S
persistence that he should stand I'D
himself and say to the jury that Rose.
Webber, WALTON and Schepps are liars.
Becker said 10 friend
II am on trial for murder, not for
grating. Why should | hang back
and endanger my murder case because
hammer me about graft and bank ac-
counts?"
The advisability of his testifying was
discussed tonight after court adjourn
ed by Becker. Mrs Becker and the
lawyers, Martin r. Manton. Hartford
T. Marshall and John B. Thompson.
1t is likely that a definite statement
will come from the defense before the
trial Is far advanced.
Investigate Lawyer.
The information that Mr.. Cochran,
who SO ably bombarded the court on
Wednesday with accusations that the
district attorney had committed con-
tempt of court in giving out statements
tending to prejudice the community
aeains the accused man, was himself
under investigation for contefn pit.
appears. however, that affdavits have
been offered TO the district attoi ney
reciting that when Mr.. Cochran was
leaving the criminal courts building
on "Wednesday he paused long enough
to remark. with = gesture. tha; he was
throu1 n with the Becker case, bcca fuse
1t was an assassination. Mr.. Cochran
assured reporter that he had made
no such comment
Mr. Cochran, ii is learned. can hard
iy retire formally from the Becker
case, because he was never formally
in IL. He, however, is likely 10 make
the opening address To the jury, and
is practically certain 10 make the clos
ting appeal.
There is not the slightest truth in
rumors which were circulated today
that counsel for Becker Will put IL no
defense MIR Manton and his associates
have prepared a stronger case, they be-
iieve, than WAS presented for their
client on his former trial They in
tend to fight every step of the way
and they have witnesses, newcomers.
who are depended upon to smother
Jack Roses amazing narration.
As on the first day, Justice Seabury
was obliged TO adjourn court while
the afternoon was yet young. because
the lawyers ran out OF jury material
II became known today thar one Of
the most important new witnesses for
The people viii be James Marshall. an
actor, who is prepared TO testify that
he saw Rose and Becker comforting at
a time and place specified by Rose,
when Rose testified at the former trial.