The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-05-15
WORD Of NEGRO
IS IMPORTANT.
New Witness in Becker's Sec
ond Case May Influence
the Jury's Yer
dict.
POLICEMAN ON STAND
II Accused Man Goes Into Witness
Box. Whitman Will Give
Him Severe
Drilling.
POLICEMAN ON STAND
[By Fred ]. Wilson, United Press
Stan CORRESPONDENTS

[By Fred j. Wilson. United Press
Stan Correspondent
NEW YORK, May 15.-On the
word of negro boy apparently hangs
the life OF Charles Becker. once czar
Of New York's tenderloin territory, on
trial here for the murder OF Herman
Rosenthal. the gambler who "squ sal-
ed" James Marshall, colored. was
brought into the case of Harry Val
lon, gambler and informer who Oh d.
rect testimony declared that Marshall
was able to prove Becker took part
with Bald Jack" Rose, "Brigie" Web
her and Vallon himself in meeting
in Harlem where Rosenthafs death
was finally planned.
When the court OF appeals granted
nsw trial. 1t dubbed this meeting
the heart of the conspiracy. Becker
was taken out Of Sing Sing death
house by the appellate courts decis-
ion, because the testimony OF Rose.
Webber and vallon, accomplices IN
RosenthAls murder. was not confirm
ed in tn IL first trial by any unsmirch-
ed witness.
Marshalps name was onicially
brought into the case by vallon in
the few minutes he was on the stand
ct the close Of yesterdays session.
White -h4, BAcksr. Rose and Webber
held their murder conference. Vallon
said negro boy came up and talked
to Becker. The police lieutenant, aft
er the boy had gone, Is alleged to
have said:
That's little stool pigeon OF mine.
I'm going to raid crap game just q
block from here. but he tells me
there are only two people in the place.
I've got to wait
This boy, James Marshall has been
found and is being held by District
Attorney Whitman as possibly his
most vital witness. The first mention
of him came when Jack Rose was on
the stand. He declared negro boy
whom l suspect was Jim Marshall
cana once, looked at him and went
away without a word" Rose went
no further into the incident and even
attack by the defense lawyers could
elicit no word from him as to why he
suspected the boy was Jim Mar
shall"
Reports current for days that Beck
er will take the stand in an attempt
to save himself from the electric
chair. seemed well-based today. Scores
OF queries fram ed by Martin T. Man
ton, Becker's chief counsel, indicated
that his clien's testifying was at least
seriously contemplated. 1t is believ-
ed that the defense will exhaust its
every device to break down the prose-
cution's case otherwise. and then If
without success, they will place Beck
er himself on the stand. There Is no
love lost between Becker and Whit
man. The defense has practically
charged that Whitman, Rose, Weber
and vallon framed" the case be-
cause, as one defense witness will
swear, Whitman wanted Becker"
Manton came near accusing the dis
trict attorney Of conspiracy. There
is no doubt If Whitman gets Becker
on the stand, the allege6 instigator OF
Rosenthals murder will have to with
been hurled at any prisoner in New
York court. Reports that the defense
has dictograph conversations in which
Rose and Webber are said to have
admitted Becker had no part in the
Roscnthal murder, were current about
the court when 1t opened today with
vallon on the stand for cross exami-
nation. The same big crowds which
have attended every session Of the
trial, jammed into the criminal courts
building today While there yet was
no certain Information obtainable
from Attorney Whitman, 1t is believed
the prosecutions case will be com
pleted about next Tuesday. The line
of the defense has not been disclosed.
Under Whitman's questioning, VAL
lon related his visit to the house of
"Dago Frank" on the night of the
killing, to get the gunman. With Sam
Schepps, as chauff eur, he said he took
Cirofici to Webber's poker room,
where Rose and the other three gun
men waited while Webber went out
and located Rossnthal at the Metro
pole. Then. said vallon. he left with