New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-28
NEW WITNESS
FOUND. TO AID
BECKER'S CASE
Gambler Tells Story Con-
Meeting Living Politician
with Murder Plot.
WILL MAKE AFFIDAVIT,
DETECTIVE STATES
STORY Shows Conspirators
JObbed Whitman" Says
Val O'Farrell.

A possible new witness, willing to
testify in the effort to save Charles
Becker from death in the electric chair
for the murder of Herman Rosenthal,
has been uncovered by Val OFarrell,
the detective. The story told by this
man connects an East Side politician
with the plot which caused the gam
bler's death.
This witness, according to OFarrell,
is prepared to make an affidavit to-day
to the effect:
That Becker knew nothing of the
plan TO kill Rosenthal.
That the scheme was Matched weeks
before the raid on the Rosenthal place
by Becker, and at a time when Becker
and Rosenthal were on the best of
terms and supposedly partners in the
gambling business.
That, fearing he might become in
volved in the case, he left New York
and remained away until after the
murder.
That one Of the chief conspirators is
an East Side politician.
That this man was interested in the
gambling business, and, like Weber,
was angry because Rosenthal, in OPP
Grating uptown, was getting business
Webber's game would otherwise have
secured.
That he and others whom he named
heard Weber, the politician and others
plan the death of Rosenthal.
The reason this man gives for not
coming forward before is that he had
believed until the last moment that
Becker would beat" the case without
! his aid.
The politician IN question, when seen
By a Tribune reporter last night, aoso-
lutely refused to discuss the case.
"Did you know that Becker's counsel
are bringing you into the case" the
reporter asked.
81 won't talk about the Becker case"
replied the man. THAT is final. You
know me well enough TO know that |
won't dc thing if say won't"
Were you ever partner OF Web
ber's?"
81 won't say word" he replied. 81
cannot talk about Becker or any one
connected with the case"
The new witness was located at the
~ trrbt h4v
who got his story from him. Last
night he again got into touch with
! the detective and arranged 70 make his
| affidavit to-day.
! "His story, if true, makes 1t clear
that not only was Becker framed by
/ Weber. Rose and that gang, but that
/ they jobbed the District Attorneys Of
| fee as we'll" said 0Farrell last night.
~ do not believe that Whitman could
have had a hint Of this politicians part
| in the murder, for he surely would
/ have acted. The man is bigger game
than any mere lieutenant Of police.
HAS this man made an affidavit
ale is willing to testify and come
right out in the open. The others whom
he names are also willing to come out,
from what he says.
"What is his explanation Of keeping
| silent 80 long"
Like others, he figured that Becker
would in some way escape. Now ne
sees that it is all up with the man
unless the truth is told, and he has
come to the front, prepared 20 take
the consequences, be they what they
may.
According to him this job vas dis
cussed long before there was any hint
of a break between Rosentha! and
Becker and before there was any rea-
son for thinking that the policeman
wanted Rosenthal put out of the way
or injured in any way. The thing was
! discussed in his presence and in the
presence Of others. 1t finally got 50
| hot that, fearing for his own safety,
he left town. Some Of his story IS
/ .,,.oo,t;bIa Of docunrentarv prOOfp