The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-05-18
SURPRISE WITNESSES

District Attorney Whitman Has 9th
ers to Put on the Stand
to Wind up HIs
[By Fred j. Wilson, United Press
STAFF Corr sspondentI
NEW YORK. May 1S.-Three close
associates of Chas. Becker in the
days when as police lieutenant IN
charge of the strong arm squad he
ruled the underworld of New York,
,, today were scheduled to clinch the
case of the state against Becker for
procuring the murder of Gambler
Herman Ros anthal. These were
Charles B. Pitt. Jr., once Beckers
press agent, James B. White and
Chas. C. Steinert, who before the Ros-
enthal murder and Beckars disgrace,
were his right hand men In the
strong arm squad"
White and Steinert will be reluct-
ant witnesses against Becker. Under
subpoena by the defense they have
been taken by the prosecution as its
own witnesses. They will prove, It
is expected by District Attorney Whit
man, that Becker was In the immed1-
ats neighborhood on the night JACK
Rose, Brigie Webber and Harry Val
lon. the three informers, have sworn
Becker met them at vacant lot IN
Harlem, to hold the murder confer
ence where Rosenthaps fate was seal
ed. This, through the decision OF the
appellate court, granting Becker a
new trial, is the, heart OF the testi-
mony BY which the state hopes to
send the former police power back to
ths death house in Sing Sing. The
very fact that testimony will have to
be dragged from White and Steinert
in Whitman's opinion, will make what
they say Of the utmost significance.
There will be no reason, however. to
drag testimony out OF Pitt. For years
Becker's closest friend, Pitt has quar-
relied with his one-time employer. He.
it is said, will testify that messages
which he carried from Becker to
BALD jack Rose will show that
Becker took part in the Harlem muir
der conference and had guilty know
ledge of Rosenthal's murder.
Pitt is also expected to reveal de-
tails of the way in which, while he
ruled the gamblers, Becker endeavor-
ed to mass more than $4,000 year.
Besides hsse three witnesses, District
Attorney Whitman has others whose
identity he Is not revealing, ready to
testify before the prosecution closes,
probably today. The Widow Rosen-
thai is also likely to take the stand.
Nothing certain has developed as to
whether or not Becker will testify.
Denunciation OF Lefty Louie's widow,
probably will force the accused man
to brave Whitman's attack.
Herman Rosenthaps widow slared
TODAY across Justice Seabury's court
into the eyes Of Chas. Becker, accus- !
ed of procuring the murder Of her
husband
"Do you know the defendant, Char
les Becker?" was the first question
asked by District Attorney Whitman.
81 do" came the reply from under
her widows veil, as she looked |
squarely into Becker's eyes. The de- !
{ fandant Strengthened in his chair, but |
met her gaze unmoved. |
Mrs. Becker never took her eyes /
Of the witness as the widow of the |
slain gambler told her story. |
Mrs. Rosenthal only once glanced |
as the woman whose fate is linked |
with Becker's. The gamblers widow
detailed at considerable length, the
between her husband and |
Becker, told of Becker's raids on |
RosenthaPs gambling house and how,
when she protested, Becker said:
Hush. it was either Herman or me-"
Mrs. RosenthaPs direct examination
was brief
'Tf anything happens to me l want /
,ou to kill that squealing Rose"
This was The exact wording of a
.equest made by former Police Lieu
enant Becker to Charles Pitt, Jr..
lis press agent and former bosom
riend. according to Pitts testimony
IN the witness stand today in Becker's
second trial for the murder of Her
nan Rosenthal.
Pli.t testified after the rumor had
circulated through the court that
Seekers attorney had offered to have
he prisoner plead guilty to charge +
# less than first degree murder.
There was no confirmation obtain