New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-02
OFFER TO REVEAL
GRAFT VALUELESS
Whitman, in Granting Re
prieve, Announces He
viii Go No Further.
pRISONERHOPESAGAIN
Counsel Withdraws from Case
Bourke Cochran May Make
Federal Appeal.
r,m sssr ourrupuOdont Of Tho Tribunal

ftnI Auo AhiheA"l
Albany, July 1.-Refusing to COM
mute the death sentence OF Charles
Becker, despite offers to expose police
,r,ft Governor Whitman to-day ex-
tended the former policeman's life two
weeks, 80 that an appeal can bo taken
70 the United States Supreme Court.
With Mr.. Whitman's announcement
that the date of Becker's execution had
been changed from the week of July |
19 to the woek beginning July rs, the
case passed finally from the Govern |
oTs hands He will hear no more per-
sons in Becker's behalf, and all rea-
sOnable possibility Of executive inter /
fsrence with the sentence has departed. /
Martin T. Manton, Becker's chief I
counsel, said, following his interview
with tho Governor, that his Office was /
through with the case, and that an
other attorney would take it to the
Federal court. Soon after this Mr..
Manton, who had prepared to take the
2:O5 train from Albany to New York,
suddenly disappeared. Word from
New York quoted John B. Johnston,
Manton's associate, as saying that the
attorney is now in Philadelphia. John
ston said also that, despite MantOn's
assertion that he was through with
the case, it was probable that they
would handle the appeal This may 4
mean that Bourke Cochran, who is as /
sociated with Manton and Johnston,
will engineer the Federal proceeding. /
Offers Graft Story. /
Mr.. Manton arrived At the Executive .
Offices a few minutes before noon, and .
was Immediately admitted TO Governor
Whitman's private Office. Mr.. Manton .
began by asking the Governor to ap-
point a commission Of justices Of the .
Supreme Court, Of former justices, to
hear a public plea for commutation Of
Becker's sentence 10 life imprisOn-
ment.
Mr. Whitman promptly denied the
request, whereupOn the attorney said .
he was authorized 10 offer from Becker
a story Of graft revelations that would .
expose the operations Of the New York .
police graft ring" if that story would .
induce the Governor TO save Beckers
life.
Mr. Manton was informed that no
such exposures would carry any weight .
with Mr Whitman, who wanted TO .
know whether il was planned 10 have .
Mrs. Becker come TO Albany to make .
an appeal for her husband. That had .
been Mrs Becker's intentions, the Gov
ernor was told. but, should a reprieve 4
be granted. assurance would be gwen .
that neither she nor any other person .
would ask the Governor TO keep Beck 4
er from the chair.
To this Mr.. MaDton added the state I
ment that he believed opportunity to .
take the case into the Federal court .
had been affected by Governor Whit .
mans recent absence from the state,
and that he thought it only just TO +
Becker 20 give him opportunity 10 take
this course Mr. Manton said he was
determined 20 drop out of the case
after to-day, and urged that time
should be given another attorney TO
prepare the appe ii.
Reprieve Ends Interview.
About l o'clock the Governor sent
for Owen L. Potter, the pardon clerk,
and, with the latter's arrival, Mr.. Whit ,
man said he had decided TO grant
repricve At 1:l5, after Mr. Potter
had been directed to draw up the re-
prieve paper, the interview ended.
As Mr.. Manton left the Governors
room he told the newspaper men OF the
seprieve When he was asked for the
details Of his plea he said that Gov
ernor Whitman was preparing a state
ment which would cover the matter.
That statement, which was held back
until 4 o'clock, against the preparation
OF the reprieve paper, read:
81 deem it my duty TO decline to ap-
point q commission to further examine
into the Becker case, and feel that l
must deny he application for commu-
tatiOn Of sentence TO imprisonment -or
life.
"Mr. Manton is of the opinion that
he has done all in his power for his
client, and has asked for a reprieve, IN
order that other counsel may have
ample time for preparation in the effort
10 take the case into the Federal court.
Owing 70 my absence during the last
week from the Capitol. and the incl
dent delay, think it is fair that the
extra time should be given, and | have
granted reprieve, postponing the exc
eution Of the sentence 10 the week be-
ginning July 26."
Wife Wins Aid.
The Governor later refused to add TO
the statement, holding that amplifca-
tion would reveal nothing additional of
importance When Mr.. Manton was
questioned on this he said there was
nothing for him 10 say now, giving a
strong hint that probably tomorrow he
ywiI issue statement giving in full
. MS explanation Of why he decided not
70 60 any further with the fight to save
his client.
1t IS known that for several weeks
ar. Manton has been convinced that
nnotning in sight could save Becker
rom execution, and he was persuaded
70 continue after the Court of Appeals
geeision refusing a third trial only by
he heroic insistence Of Mrs. Becker.
her remarkable efforts to win a
'oimutation for her husband evoked
COptinued ON page 8. column