Milford chronicle., 1915-07-23
BECKER'S TALE OF
FAMOUS MURDER
Brings Name Of Big Tim SuIIi-
van Into Tragedy.
WEBBER'S JEALOUSY CAUSE
Declares eunmen Were Hired to Kid
nap, Not to Kill, Rosenthal, the
"SqueaIing" Gambler.

GSCldTeS 1unmen were Hired 10 Ntu
nap, Not to Kill, RosenthaI, the
"squealing" Gambler.
Former Police Lieutenant Charles
Becker's own account of the murder
of Herman Rosenthal, the gambler, as
sent to Governor Whitman at Albany,
n. Y, from the Sing Sing death holse,
in the hope of obtaining clemency.
was revealed by an attorney who has
aided the condemned man in its prep
aration.
Becker is to be put to death next
week unless some action intervenes to
prevent or postpone his execution.
These are the salient facts in the
/ tale which Becker has kept locked up
In his breast until now, and which for
the first time brings the name of big
| Tim" Sullivan into the tragedy Ro-
senthal was backed in his gambling
business by big Tim" Becker pro-
| tected Rosenthals establishment be.
cause of his fear of big Tim," and
raided it, upon orders, and under the
impression that Police Commissioner
Waldo was under Big Tins" thumb.
Sullivan became panic stricken
when Rosenthal tried to "squeal" and
gave Jack Rose $4,000 to pay Rosen-
thai to get out of the country Rose,
desirous of keeping the most of the
money for himself. arranged with the
tour gunner" and "Bridgie" Webber
to kidnap Rosenthal and scare him
into leaving the country.
Murder was not contemplated.
Harry Vallon, crazed with drink, be-
gan to shoot when Rosenthal emerged |
from the Metropole hotel. instead of |
"slugging" the gambler with a black |
jack. Then the other members of the |
party Joined in.
Becker knew of the arrangements, |
but washed his hands of them. ''Big |
Tim," realizing that Becker was inno-
cent, and fearing that he himself
would be implicated in it, let Becker
be convicted, and then worried him
self to the point of insanity. It was
while suffering from a mental collapse
that his body was found upon the New
I Olh CGull al u NhS III mai AEAus IAGha
Father J. P. Curry, spiritual adviser
to Becker it is stated, declared that
Becker related the same tale to him
three years ago.
According to Becker's narrative,
the real motive which led to the MUIR
ier was "Bridgie" Webber's jealousy
IF Rosenthals success. Webber wrote
- /
er Waldo, complaining of Rosenthal's I
house and signing the name
If Harry Williams" to them. When 1
Waldo told Becker to investigate the !
,harges contained in the letter, the
,olice lieutenant went to Sullivan, {
Who said to him: "I'll fix it up. You
ct the house keep going" I
Becker, believing Waldo was really
nder the influence of Sullivan "a be- F
ief that was wholly erroneous), fail
d to raid the place. :
When Waldo received other letters,
owever, Becker saw that he would
ave to act, so he went to Sullivan,
nd the latter told him to go ahead
nd raid the Rosenthal establishment.
q due time this raid took place.
what does this mean?" asked Sui
van. "Rosenthal is going before the
rand jury and he is going to impli-
ate me-" That's all right" Becker
avs he told Sullivan. "All the wit
esses have been fixed" Jack Rose,
no was present, corroborated this.
1t was at this meeting, Becker says,
lat the question of getting Rosenthal
1t of the country was discussed
ose said he knew that Rosenthal =
Guild leave for $6OOO The money was
rickly obtained, and Rose was com
issioned to turn-it over to Rosen-
al and get him out Of the United
ates. Rose hoped to turn the trick y
ith $1,000 and keep the other $4,000
r himself.
The plans were made to kidnap Ro-
nthal, and the party met at Web
RS gambling room. The party was D
mixing, and Vallon became dead q
unk." Finally Weber went out and
lnd Rosenthal at the Metropole.
le gunmen went out to carry our
cir orders, which. according to
cker, were to knock Rosenthal in
lseble and carry him away. How
er, one of the party, Vallon. started 3
ooting.