Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-07-21

VI With LII
Dead Politician Said to Have Been
Interested in Rosenthal
Gambling House.
ALBANY. y. Y. July 2l.-Charles
Becker's final plea to Gov. Whitman to
save him from the electric chair for the
murder of Herman Rosenthal. the New
York gambler, was handed to William
Orr, Gov Whitman's private secretary.
today, by John Is. Johnston, partner of
Martin T. Manton, Becker's counsel.
The governor said he would make no
statement until he had time to examine
the document.
NEW YORK. July 21.-Counsel for
Charles Becker awaited today the re-
suit of Becker's appeal to Gov. Whit
man to forbid his execution July %
for the murder Of Herman Rosenthal.
Becker's plea, sent to the governor at
Albany last night, included long
statement of his version of the facts
leading up to the murder.
plicity in the murder and said that
State Senator Timothy D. Sullivan. now
dead, had told Becker that he had $12.-
500 invested i'm Rosenthafs gambling
house, and that when Rosenthal began
to make public statements. about the
raids on his place Sullivan exacted a
promise from Becker 10 keep Sullivan's
name out Of 1t. Becker said that he
had kept his promise up to the time
Of the making Of his plea for executive
clemency.
Beckers statement made no dis
closures of police graft, but gave an
account of his movements on the night
of the murder.
Martin T. Manton of Becker's counsel
has announced that proceedings will
be started in a day or two on applica-
ton for a new trial for Becker on the
grounds of newly discovered evidence.
closed. 1t was reported that friends of
Sullivan have offered to make afhdavtts
substantiating in part the story which
Becker told.
W. Bourke Cochran, one of Becker's
attorneys. who prepared portion Of
the statement sent to the governor.
said 1t had been decided to take this
action in order to avoid delay in first
appealing to supreme court justice
for a new trial.
ask favors of any one, but he wants
to prove his innocence" Mr.. Cochran
said.
In Own Handwriting.
Becker's statement, done in his own
handwriting. is chronological history.
told in plain language, of what he says
y; md
the others mentioned in the murder
case. This communication was accom-
panied by a copy of the argument used
by Bourke Cochran of Becker's coun-
sci recently before United States SUI
preme Court Justice Hughes for writ
of error.
The latter document was included in
the papers sent to the governor in or
der that he might know the GROUNDS
on which Mr.. Cochran sought writ
of error.
Sullivan. according to the statement.
called the police lieutenant in and said
that Rosenthal must be induced to
leave town, because il any inquiry were
started 1t might reach into election
matters, a situation he wished to
avoid. This was not long before the
assassination Of Rosenthal
a sum of money was raised. presum
ably by Rose. from the gamblers to
get Rosenthal away. Rosenthal re-
fused the sum offered, but consented to
go for larger sum. 1t Is said that 1t
was for this larger sum that he was
he was shot. Becker adds that il 1t
could be shown that Rose had been
intrusted with sum OF money to be
given Rosenthal 1T would shed mood
Of light on the whole transaction and
would explain the source of $1,000
which Rose admittedly had paid to
the gunner.
The statement is accompanied by a
supplemental document. also framed by
Becker and really a part Of his story,
but revised somewhat by his attorneys.
In this second statement the con-
demned man declares at one point that
il he is to die he is as ready now to
meet his fate as he has any reason to
think he ever will be. He adds that
there is only one service can be rem
dred him now and that is aid in find
ing evidence which will establish his
innocence. and continues:
Appeals to Governor.
Although it involves the unprece-
dented (perhaps some would say pre-
posterous) proceeding of asking his
excellency. Charles s. Whitman. gov
ernor. of the state, to review, reverse
and in some respects condemn the
conduct of Hon. Charles s. Whitman,
district attorney of New York county,
in prosecuting an Indictment for MUIR
der against me. nevertheless that my
constitutional rights may be at least
asserted, ask your excellency most
respectfully on the records submitted
to Mr. Justice Hughes to forbid ex-
ecution OF the capital sentence pro-
nounced on me.
"I ask your excellency further, in
the light of certain facts, now disclosed
for the first time. to forbid my execu-
ton on the ground that my guilt of
this murder is not established SO
clearly as to justify the taking Of a
human life by the public executioner.
Here, sir. let me say that / do not
ask any Indulgence at your hands.
IF have actually committed the crime
Of which / have been found guilty, no
criminal ever went to execution more
thoroughly deserved of the punishment
inflicted on him.
Association With Rose.
Becker explains his associations with