Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1914-05-18
ADMITTED THE KILLING
AFTER THE MURDER THE FOR
mER POLICE OFFICER DISCUS
sED DETAILS OF CRIME
TOLD HIN TO GET AN ALIBI
BEFORE THE SLAYiNG THE Wit
NESS WAS ADVISED TO
AVOID TIMES SQUARE


Pitt, onetime press agent and adviser
for Charles Becker, on trial for the
murder of the gambler, Herman Ro-
senthal, took the witness stand for the
state today and corroborated in many
details the stories of Jack Rose and
others that Becker was the instigator
OF the murder plot.
After Rosenthal had been murder
ed, 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 buneh?" Pitt quoted Becker
as having said, ito pull the stunt the
way they did which was bad. You
would suppose it was being done for
the moving pictures"
On July 15, the day before the
murder, Pitt, said he saw Becker at
police headquarters.
Becker told me-" said the witness,
that he and had to have an alibi
for that night. Keep away from the
Times Square tonight he told me.
What's coming Off asked
Never mind, said Hecker. Do
as you saret told. ssseive<got DO have.
an alibi. Tomorrow you'll know why"
Pitt showed signs of nervousness
during his testimony The witness
said he called on Deputy Police Com
missioner 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 employ
ment of counsel.
Returning to Becker said the wit
ness, he reported that Rose had
lagreed to allow Becker to select his
lawyer. Becker then dispatched
Pitt, the witness swore, to Roses
house on Long Island The next day.
Sunday, Pitt asserted. Becker said:
Il wonder if that bunch will squeal
on me-"
Then Becker told me to see Rose.
said Pitt, 'iand advise him he was
doing everything he could for him
and for him to say nothing"
The next time Pitt saw Becker
was in the Tombs prison, after his
arrest. Becker said, according lta
Pitt: did not I tell they would
squeal? 1 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 / had no conversa-
tion with Mrs. Rosenthal on the night
of the raid"
| Pitts 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 a friend
of the galnmen had told him to tell
Becker that gunner wanted $500 and
that il they did not get it quick there
twould be trouble.
| 'WelI;" Becker said. according &c
the witness, tell them haven't goi
liz now; as soon as get hands on
$500 the gunmen will get it,
Il Pitt said he wrote Becker almos'
constantly after his conviction ant
that Becker wrote him from th'
death house. After Becher's convic
tion and sentencing he said he jour
neyed with his party to prison.
t! Il gave Becker a drink on tn
train." said the witness, "and sal
i 1t would probably be the last TO
) some time. Becker put his arm
t around me and started to cry.
Old pal. he said. II go off T
t the chair want you to do me On
: favor, kill that squealing Jack Rose.
: Here the witness was turned ose
9 to the defense MT Manton aslze
Pitt if he had ever been in jail. tn