The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1914-05-21
HIS PRESS AGENT
TURNS ON BECKER

New York, May 19.--Charles b. Pitt,
one time press agent and adviser for
Charles BECKER. on trial for the murder
OF the gambler Herman Rosenthal, took
the witness stand for he state today
and ccrroborated in many details the
stories OF Jack Rose and others that
Becker was the ~instigator OF the muir
der plot.
After Rosenthal had been murdered,
the witness swore, he met Becker, who
was indignant at the way the killing
had been accomplished.
What is the matter with JACK Rose
and the bunch" Pitt. quoted Becker as
saying, to pull the stunt the way they
did was very bad. You would suppose
lures"
On July 15. the day before the muir
der, Pitt said he saw Becker at police
headquarters. Becker told me- said
the witness, that he and I had to have
alibi for that night Keep away from
Whats coming off?' I asked.
Never mind said Becker. DO as you
are told. We've got to rave an alibi.
Tomorrow youll know why"
Pitt showed signs or nervousness
during his testimony. g
The witness said ne called on Deputy
Police Commissioner Dougherty and
did the best he could to establish an
alibi for Becker. He saw Becker later
and Becker sent him to see Rose. then
under arrest. He sent In a note to Rose
with reference to the employment OF
counsel.
Returning to Becker, said the wit
ness, he reported that Rose had agreed
TO allow Becker to select his lawyer,
Becker then dispatched Pitt, the WITT
ness swore. to Roses house on Long
Island. M
Tho next day, Sunday. Pitt asserted,
Becker said:
II wonder IL that bunch will squeaI
on meg"
"Then Becker told me to aee Rose"
said Pitt, and advise him he was do
ing all he could for him and to say
nothing" m
The next time Pitt saw Becker was
In the Tombs prison, after his arrest.
Becker said according to Pitt, Didn't
/ tell you they would squeal? I want
you to go out and get everything you
can on Jack Rose. Get hold of the men
in my SQUAD and have them testify I
had no conversation with Mrs. Rosen.
thai on the night OF the raid,
Pitt said he saw Becker many times
In the Tombs after that. He visited
him every day for three weeks after
his arrest until Becker went to the
death house at Sing Sing. Once he
told Becker, he said, that q friend OF
the GUNNER had told him to tell Beck
err the gunmen wanted $500 and that II
they did not get II quick. there'd be
trouble.
well" Becker said, according to the
witness. Tell them / have not got 1t
now. but as soon as / can get nay hands
on $500, the gunner will get it,"
Eaaa Wanted Rose Killed. .
Plftt said he wrote Becker almost
constantly after his conviction and that
Becker wrote him from the death
house. After Becker's conviction and
sentencing. he said. he journeyed with
the party to the prison. Z
II gave Becker a drink on the train,''
said the witness, and said 1t would
probably be the last for some time.
Becker put his arms around me and
started to cry. old PAL he said, If I
do GO on in the chair, 7 want you to
Dc me one favor. Kill that ~squealing
Jack Rose i .
Here the witness was turned over to
the defense for cross examination, Mr..
Manton asked Pitt IL he had ever
|Nbeen in jatle The witness admitted he
had been locked up once since Becker's
first trial. He raj questioned closely
about the killing of a negro who was
shot during one of Becker's gambling
raids. Pitt admitted he had been sus-
picious of the mans death.
"A typewriter statement by Pitt,
which was turned w to one Of Beck
er's former lawyers, was read to the
jury, In this statement Pitt said
Becker had been framed up" about
the gambling situation and Rosenthal
had told him he was going to do 1t.
Here recess was taken until $3.50
o'clock .
Interest in the second trial Of Charles
H. Becker for the murder Of Herman
Rosenthal today entered with the prob
ability OF several new witnesses being
called by District Attorney Whitman to
c~ororoborate the testimony of Jack
Rose, Harry WALTON and Bridge"
Weber that Becker had conspired
with them to nave RosenthaI killed.
It was also expected that two former
members of the Strong arm" squad,
Charles M. Steinert and James c.
White. would be witnesses today.
Whether Becker takes the stand in
his W behalf, it was said, would de-
pend entirely on developments.