New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-05-11
Expects Things to Move
Rapidly, Despite Threat
ening Delays.
"HARLEM CONFERENCE"
TO BE BIG ISSUE
Schepps, Rose and Weber Gather
Within Range of District
Attorneys Call.

and delays Saturday. the second trial OF
Charles Becker for the murder OF Herman
Rosenthal is expected to move along with
the unusual rapidity which II promised
at the start, when court reconvenes to-
day With a hundred new talesmen on
hand the two jurors needed to MI the
box will probably be obtained In short
order The District Attorney expects 10
deliver his opening address to the jury
and believes that several witnesses Tor
the people may be examined before the
close OF court.
It was said on good authority last
night that there were no more weak
brothers in the jury box. and that IN
all probability none OF the ten men al
ready selected would be excused. the
motion which Beck's counsel intends to
make for a mlstrial, growing out of the
contempt case against THE Globe for
the premature publication Saturday oil
District Attorney Whltman's opening
address. is not expected TO delay matters
Should proceedings move along as
smoothly as those associated with the
case expected last night, Bald JACK
Rose, the star" witness for the prosecu-
ton. will take the witness stand to-mor-
row. In that event the District Attor-
ney expects to complete the peoples case
by the end of the week. The prosecution
is confident that the case against Becker
is even stronger this time than II was AZ
the first trial.
Nik,Iiu Ipnn0rtant
In view OF the Importance attached by
the Court of Appeals, in granting new
trial. to the so-called Harlem confer
ence." at 124th ST. and Seventh ave,
where. Rose testified. he met Becker
Weber and WALTON and talked over plans
for the killing Of Rosenthal, a few days
before the murder the prosecution VIII
make a special point of Offering consid-
erably more evidence this time as PROOF
Of this meeting. While II did not figure as
a big issue" at the last trial, 1t VIII
now be treated as Of prime Importance
The Court of Appeals declared that
this conference lies AT the very founda-
ton OF the peoples claim OF the defend
ants guilt" and that IL was absolute
~ essential for the people TO estapiish
that the plan to murder Rosenthal was
fully formed at this conference the
decision pointed out that none or the
people's witnesses who testified they
were present at the conference was
able TO fix with any degree Of definite
ness the date when ii occurred and that
no two Of the witnesses could agree with
any precision on the location.
The prosecution is now confident or
proving beyond a doubt all the circum-
stances connected with the Harlem con-
ference. 1t might have been done at the
first trial. IL was said. had ii figured as
q prominent factor. The date June %,
191Z-the murder occurred on July It
viii be fixed by reference to raid made
by Becker on that night on Nayerley
Carriers negro crap Joint within two
blocks Of the meeting place. 1t is a
matter of court record that Becker made
the Carter raid, and this fact is also
taken by the prosecution TO show that
Re was in the immediate neighborhood at
the time the conference is supposed to
have been held, although he (Becker)
made an affidavit in the papers on the
appeal Of his case denying he was there.
Counts on Chauffeur.
Further proof Of the conference will be
introduced in the testimony OF Henry n.
Cohen, the chauffeur. who has made an
affidavit that he drove Weber and Sam
Schepps to Harlem that night letting
them out within block or two Of 124th
ST. and Seventh av. Schepps testified AT
the last trial that he went to Harlem with
Weber in a taxicab and saw the confer
ence. but remained two blocks away with
the chauffeur while it was going on.
Cohen made an affidavit, which was at
tached to the motion papers on Beckers
appeal, TO the effect that he did not re-
CALI the Harlem trip. lie Informed the
District Attorneys office that he was
ready TO testify with more certainty.
II Is understood that sensational testi-
mony may be given by Cohen relative 10
the making Of his first affidavit. A law
yer is said to be involved I'm the deal.
Cohen may testify, even If given the OPP
portunity, that he made the first affidavit
because he was strongly urged to do 50
Oh the plea that he could save five lives,
Becker's and the four gunmen's.
The witnesses for the people have be-
gun TO foregather in places conveniently
within reach of the Criminal Courts
Building Sam Schepps has come all the
way back from Vancouver. b. c.. accord
Ing 60 Bernard Sander, his counsel. and
Is within short committing distance OF the
city. Schepps is anxious 10 testify, nut
the prosecution has not yet decided
whether 10 call him. Sander said that
/ Schepps was prompted to return when he
learned that Cohen. the chauffeur, was
70 testify in support OF his story OF the
Harlem conference
lie believes that Cohen's testimony will
bear out his story. his lawyer said, and
he is anxious 10 take the witness stand
again and "vindicate" himself from the
aspersion OF the Court OF Appeals. which
cast grave doubt upon his credibility.
Rose Here Under Guard.
Bald jack Rose is in the city under
guard by the District Attorneys men.
Detective Thomas. Of the District Attor-
neys office. will act as escort for
BRIDGE" Weber from Passaic. Weber
asked the District Attorney to furnish
him a bodyguard on his trips TO and from
the court. WALTON has made no such re-
quest, but is still available Schepps has
told his friends that he fears nobody,
now that the gunner are dead.
1t will lie necessary for the prosecution