Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1915-07-27
Becker Respite
Until Friday
BRIEFS TO BE FILED AT NOON
TODAY.
COUNSEL REVIEW CASE
Justice Ford Declares That Since the
State Claims There Is No New Evil
denes. He Will Accept Afidavits at
Their Face Value.

New York. July 26.-Upon the re-
quest Of Supreme Court Justice Ford
Tor more time to consider the appli-
cation for a new trial made by Charles
Becker, under sentence Of death for
instgating the murder of Herman
Rosenthal. gambler. the execution of
the former police lieutenant was post
poned tonight from Wednesday until
Friday of this week.
Justice Requests Postponement.
Justice Ford today heard arguments
for and against the application. At
their conclusion he reserved decision
and gave counsel until noon tomor-
row to file briefs. Tonight the JUS
ttce telephoned to Warden Osborne
of Sing Sing prison and requested that
the execution be postponed. AS the
electrocution can take place legally
any day this week, at the discretion
Of the warden, this request was grant
ed
Justice Ford announced today that
he would decide the case as quickly
as possible Tonight it was stated
that he might not finish his delibera-
tions before Tuesday night or We'd
nesday.
The attempt made by Becker's at
torneys to have the condemned man,
as well as the authors of several af-
fidavits. alleged to contain new evil
dence, and the persons mentioned in
the proceedings, failed. for the time
being at least. Justice Ford stated
that he saw no necessity for calling
witnesses.
Tn view of the fact that the state.
has contended these affidavits are not
new evidence. propose to accept them
on their face value" he said.
Justice Ford then fixed tomorrow
noon as the expiration of time for filing
briefs, if any are to be filed
Cochran Reviews Case.
Mr.. Cochran, chief counsel for Beck
er. spoke for three hours in presenting
the application. He reviewed the
circumstances leading to the confess
sions OF Jack Rose. Bridgie Webber
and Harry Vallon, and the circum-
stances of the two trials. On this
foundation Mr.. Cochran presented the
alleged evidence relating to the Sulh-
van conference and the affidavit made
by Joseph Murphy, who claimed to
have overheard the informers oonspire
in the Tombs to frame Becker.
In conclusion, Mr.. Cochran said:
Declares Becker Has Not Asked for
Mercy.
IF Becker is now executed he will
be executed on a technicality. The
footsteps of justice are enmeshed.
Becker is ready for his fate. He has
asked mercy OF no one. out TOT Ine
first time we have a man about to be
executed who cannot submit his fate
to the hands Of an impartial chief ex-
ecutive. The governor of this state is
the official who constructed the case
against Becker. Save the state from
the stain of taking life in case where
the preponderance of proof is contrary
to the guilt of the man who is to be
executed"
State Claims No New Evidence.
Assistant District Attorney Taylor,
who opposed Becker's appeal, required
only an hour and a quarter to present
his case He said the court could only
grant Becker a new trial on the ground
of newly discovered evidence and de-
clared that none of the affidavits pre-
sented in Becker's application contain
ed new evidence.