The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-03
BECKER TO TELL
WHO GOT GRAFT
HE COLLECTED
Whitman Already Informed
of Higher Ups" Behind
Strong Arm Squad.
SIX POLICE OFFICIALS
NAMED BY PRISONER


o. Sing Sing. will reveal before he goes
10 the electric chair the names Of the
Police Department officials living and
dead with whom he divided the 100000
graf, money that was wrung from the
gamblers and illegal resort keepers In
his violent career as commander OF
the strong arm squad.
That was the prediction made yester-
day by the condemned mans lawyer,
Martin T. Manton. who gave to the
Governor on Thursday the names Of six
men VINO worked In the background and
took the cash that Becker ground out OF
eyildoers. Not all OF these men are
living. but those that are alive ought
to Mr.. Manton. because Becker is des-
perate now that hope is virtually gone.
The lawyer himself would not make
public the names Of the officials ac-
cussd by Becker. He said he was
bound not only by the ethics OF his pro-
fession and his promise to Gov. Whit
man, but was restrained also by the
Il possibility that some OF the men named
BY Becker might be falsely accused. He
is certain, however. that Becker intends
n to tell. and explains that Becker 10
swayed mostly by the feeling that no
doesn't want other men to be used
as tools and then cast aside when they
are no longer useful and merely dan
Rigorous.
Money Not His object.
"1 am convinced" said Mr.. Manton
last evening. that Charles Becker will
" live to the public the Information that
be gave to Gov. Whitman through me
sp Thursday. l wish / could pubffsh
khe names myself. 1t ought to be done
IN the interest Of Justice. The Gov
krnor ought to do It. hut Of course that
j. his business. I may not eriticiss
hbm.
But Becker will make a clean breast
bs the grating. He will issue a state
|ment not for money, but for the pur-
bose Of Justly dividing the guilt Of graft
bic doesn't want to die. II die he must,
Hand leave on earth a set Of men VINO
Knight use others as he has been used
large amount has been offered to
him to make a statement that could be
published by one newspaper alone. He
has refused that offer. when he IL ready
TO talk he will talk for all the news
papers and all the people"
No amount Of questioning. direct or
Indirect, could elicit from Mr., Mantoh
any further details concerning the
revelations expected other than that
Becker has told the Governor that SIX
persons beside himself Allied their
pockets from blackmail proceeds. MT.
Man,on left 1t clearly to be understood
That the large amounts of money banked
BY Lieut.. Becker in 1911 and 1912 In
the period when tho strong arm squad
was raiding and manipulating evidence
to suit Becker's ends were shared with
the six officials. At least ono OF these
10 dead.
The reason Becker had much less
money than was generally credited 70
him at the time of his arrest and two
because the greater part Of the black
Imail proceeds, estimated at fully $l00'-
V00O went to his silent and hidden con.
federates, was the impression gathered
from Mr., Manton's interview with the
newspaper men.
Resents whitman's Refusal.'
Although the lawyer was exceedingly
careful In his choice Of words. 1t was
strongly apparent that he bitterly re-
tents Gov. Whitman's refusal To COM
II mute Becker's sentence as a reward Tor
Beckers graft revelations. Mr.. Man
ton intimated that the Governor dis
played an astonishing eagerness TO drop
the whole business, a desire to close the
entire case. Even after the six names
were given to him. he declined. Mr..
Manton said. to extend any mercy to the
condemned man.
u requested him a week ago to ap-
point special commissioner to inquire
as to whether any man ought to nave
been convicted on the testimony OF such
witnesses as appeared against Charles
Becker" said Mr.. Manton, II suggested
also that the special commissioner could
90 10 Sing Sing and put any questions
he desired to Beckcr-graft questions
or any other sort. The Governor ap-
peared at first to think the suggestion
was an excellent one. But he informed
me on Thursday that he must deny the
iequest Up to date GOV. Whitman has
SHOWN no desire whatever for further
invest CATION"
Mr., Manton's point OF view. as stated
W the interview yesterday. was that the
iovernor should at least have given a
long reprieve to Becker, not only be-
cause time might demonstrate that Jack
Rose. Brdgle Webber and Harry Vallon
gave false testimony, but because
becker's willingness to expose the secret
efafters Of the Police Department could
be used for the public good. On the
fther hand, It was reported from Albany
YIN close friends had said that Becker's
evelatlons were OF no special i'm
Portance.
Cockrsn 10 Make Appeal.
w ROurke Cochran. senior member
the law firm OF Cochran & Manton
III make the appeal to the Supreme
ourt Of the United States. a step gen.
ally conceded as the last possible
Ndnce to save Becker from death. Mr.
anton announced that Mr. Cochran
aa consented to conduct the appeal pro-
eedings Within "A few days, possibly
afly next week, Mr.. Cochran will apply
Supreme Court Justice Charles f
uHhes, in charge OF this district. for q
'r't OF error on the ground that there
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