The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-05-20
BECKER AND COUNSEL
CLASH OVER ACTION
Police Officer Believes He
Can Clear Himself If Per-
mitted to Take Stand.
[BY LEASED WlREl

NEW YORK, May 20.-A smashing
blow was struck today at the defense
in the trial Of Ex-Police Lieutenant
Charles Becker, when Justice Seabury
refused to allow the Introduction of an
alleged confession made by one OF the
gunner, "Dago Frank" Cirofici, just
before his execution in Sing Sing, In
which he exonerated Becker from all
blame for the murder of Herman Ros-
enthal.
Thomas F. McInenery. head keeper
at Sing Sing, had just been called to
the stand by the defense, when Judge
Seabury halted the proceedings and
demanded to know what Attorney
Manton expected to prove by Mcln-
emery.
Mr.. Manton replied: The purpose
OF this witness testimony is to tell or
dying statement of Dago Frank,
which he made to this witness, to
Father Cashin, his confessor and to
others, in which he exonerated Charles
Becker from any blame for the murder
of Herman Rosenthal.'
Enters Protest in Record.
Counsel for Becker then had it Off
cialiy recorded that he had called Nc
Inerney and had also summoned War
den Clancey, OF Sing Sing prison, and
the Rev Father Cashn, chaplain OF
the same prison, to testify as TO 'Dago
Frank s" dying confession. At the
same time Manton moved that the tes-
timony of Bald Jack Rose, Mrs. Her
man Rosenthal and William Shapiro
be stricken from the record upon the
same grounds that McInerney's testi-
monv was excluded, but it was imme-
diately denied.
An open clash between cX-Lieuten-
ant Charles Becker who is on trial for
the murder of Herman Rosenthal, and
Attorney Martin T. Manton, chief
counsel for the defense. was threat
ened today. Becker is insistent that
he be allowed to take the stand in his
own defense and give the lie to his
accusers. Mantor is as firmly deter
mined TO keep Becker off the stand.
Shows His Anger.
In a talk with his brother John
Becker. the defendant showed his an
ger over the announcement made yes
terday that he would not testify.
brother. 1T is always bad for a cop
to face a crosse hammer, because a
lot Of things he really was not respOn-
sible for can be twisted against him
But | want to tell the jury the truth
about home rats. ! want to tell the
Jury that | worked hard to keep some
people off ROsenthal."
Despite Rockers wrath. MantOn de
cIarcd he had no intention Of putting
Becker On the stand.
Manton's New Move.
Chief interest in the trial centered
tndav in the efforts that Manton was
expected to maize TO set the alleged
confession OF "DaEo Frank exon
Grating Becker. before tn" jury. AND
the crOss-eXaminatiOn of Frederick
HaWlei. a former newspaper reporter
who cOntradicted Jack Roses story
that Becker met R0scnthal's slaycrs
after the murder
At the first trial tIawley was badly
tangled mp by the state and DistriCt
Attorney Whitman expressed conf
dence today that he would be able tC
repeat.
District Attorney Whitman got Haw
ley in bad" at the outset by establish
ing that the witness gave conflicting
testimony at the first trial
ON the last trial" asked Whitman
you testified that Becker was will
YOU all during the time that ne was a
the Forty-seventh street station. an,
that no was not out of your sight fol
more than five minutes at any time .
"TeS
Then questioned YOU and you ad
mitted that he was out Of YOUR sigh
for more than half an hour. Which
is true?"
He was out of my sight but no
more than half an hour"