The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-07-30

informers- Rose, Weber and Vallon-a
oorrohorating witness who was not impH-
Gated was needed Sam Schepps, a dapner
little gambler who had fled the CITY. was
the man who could do this He was found
Mt Hot Springs, Ariz., brought back to
New York and the peoples case against
Charles Becker was complete 1t went to
trial on Oct, I, 1872.
A verdict Of guilty of first degree muir
der was returned ut midnight Oct. "A,
1912, after the jury had deliberated seven
hours and ffty-seven minutes Becker
was sentenced six days later to die in the
electric chair during the week of Dec 9,
1912 Within less than a month the
four gunner were placed on trial as the
actual slayers, found guilty and sent to
the death house.
More than year later, on Feb "a.
1914, the Court Of Appeals decided that
Becker should have new trial The gun
mems conviction was upheld and they
paid the penalty with their lives on April
Il, 1914 One of the number, 'Daao
Frank confessed the guilt of his three as
sociates but maintained his own innocence
His confession, made on the eve of the
execution, became known the day they
were put to death.
Becker was brought back to the Tombs
His second trial was begun May 6, 1914.
and ended May -, with a verdict of
guilty He was sentenced to die during
the week of July 6, 1914. An appeal was
| filed, but the conviction was upheld by
the higher court in a decision handed
| down May -, last, and the date of the
Execution was set for the week beginning
July H. Shortly after the court of an
veals denied Becker a third trial, W.
Bourke Cochran became Becker's chief
counsel. He appeared before United
States Supreme Court Judge Hughes and
argued for a writ Of error, which was de-
MED
During the week previous to that in
which Becker was sentenced to die, Gov
ernor Whitman granted the condemned
man reprieve of two weeks, as he had
learned, it was stated, new motions were
to be made in Rockers behalf
On July 20 a $1,000 word statement bv
Becker was forwarded to the governor
The statement was said to contain new
facts and made public mention for the
first time of the name of the late Congress
man Timothy ID. Sullivan in connection
with the case. The governor declined t.
commute Becker's sentence after reading
the statement.
btCh6I dILoIitNN atIleIGupOn dppedkCC
to Supreme Court Justice Philbin for
third trial, and on July %, the Justice
signed an order for District Attorney Per
lins to show cause why -ew trial shoulC
not be granted The order was returnabi,
before Supreme Court Justice Ford, july
2G. The justice after spending two day
going over papers in the case announced
the night of July - that he had denicC
the application and Becker's only hope re
manned in possible executive clemency b,
Governor Whitman.
Throughout Beeler's troubles his wifi
remained loyal to him and was his con
slant adviser. She labored apparentl
without firing in his behalf, assisting hi
counsel in every way possible She ap
, peared to be crushed when the court o
appeals upheld his second conviction, bu
, soon turned her energies toward eleventh
hour work to save him 1t was largely a
her urging that he Joined in the plan t
. ask Governor Whitman, ms prosecutor
for clemency.
! There was one other woman who, if re
! lports are true, followed Becker's caree
'throqgh the sGourts as closely as dis ow
wife did This was Herman R0sehthaf
. i'widow Soon after Reeker.s-- col
viction she disappeared Not long ago sh
was found broken in health and spirit
and living with an old-time friend
Il am living for only one thing" sl
! Twas quoted az saving, 'to see the da
that Becker pays the penalty"