Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-07-31


coincidence in connection with the ac.
cident was that experienced by the
child of Bert Starr. Mr.. Starr was
sitting in the front row with the child
in the go cart in front of him. The
vehicle was entirely demolished in
the wreckage that followed but the
child was unhurt.
district attorney declaring he had
nothing to fear. Harry VALID and
Bridgie Weber, gamblers and friends
of Rose and Becker, were arrested as
witnesses. The grand jury began its
|! investigation.
Rose Turns informer.
Rose lay in prison twelve days with.
out word from Becker, and, believing
his chief had deserted him, confessed.
Vallon and Weber corroborated his
story. He told of his long association
with Becker. of police corruption
which existed as Rosenthal had charg-
ed, OF thousands collected by Becker
for police protection and, finally, OF
his commission by Becker to arrange
to have Rosenthal killed by gunner
a commission he executed.
That night, July 20, 1912, District
Attorney Whitman summoned the
grand jury by telephone and telegraph,
laid ms evidence before it and within
two hours obtained the indictment OF
Becker on a charge Of murder.
Four east side gangsters were in
dicted as the actual murderers. Rose
had testified that these men were as
signed by Big Jack" Zelig, a gang
leader who had been arrested by
Becker's men on trumped-up charge,
to do the murder. They were to re-
ceive $1,000 and ZeIig was to be re-
leased. Zelig's orders had been issued
from the Tombs to the gunner.
These gunmen--known in the streets
of tho east side as "Gyp the Blood"
Horowitz, Lefty Louis" Rosenberg,
"Dagc Frank" Cirofici and Whitley
Lewis-were rounded up one by one
The last two were arrested, "Gyp the
Blood and Lefty Louie" were not
found till September, hiding in
Brooklyn fiat With them were found
their young wives, who, to divert sus
picion, had dyed their light hair dark.
Case: IL Complete.
To give standing to the testimony of
Becker's three accomplices who had
turned informers-Rose, Weber and
Vallon-a corroborating witness who
was not implicated was needed. Sah
Schepps, a dapper little gambler who
had fed the city, was the man who
could do this He was found at Hot
Springs, Ark, brought back to New
York and the peoples case against
| RI
to trial on October 1882.
A verdict of guilty of first degree
murder was returned at midnight
October "a, 1912, after the jury had
deliberated seven hours and fifty-seven
minutes. Becker was sentenced six
days later to die / the electric chair
during the week of December 9, 1912.
Within less than amonth the four gun.
men were placed on trial as the actual
slayers, found guilty and sent to the
death house.
More than a year later, on Febru-
airy "A, 1914, the court Of appeals de-
cided that Becker should have a new
trial. The gunmen's conviction was up
held and they paid the penalty with
their lives on April IA, 1914, One of
the number, "Dago Frank" confessed
the guilt of his three associates but
maintained his own innocence. His
J confession, made on the eve of the
execution, became known the day they
were put to death.
Becker was brought back to the.
Tombs. His second trial was begun
May s, 1914, and ended May %, with a
| mt re nj Ia 70
die during the week of July 6, 1914.
An appeal was filed, but the convic-
tion was upheld by the higher court
in decision handed down May Is.
last, and the date Of the execution was
set for the week beginning July r..
Later appeals postponed the execution
till today.
Wife Loyal To Becker
Throughout Becker's troubles his
wife remained loyal to him and was
his constant adviser. She labored ap.
parently without firing III his behalf,
assisting his counsel in every way pos
sible. She appeared to be crushed
when the Court of Appeals upheld his
second conviction but soon turned
her energies toward eleventh-hour
work to save him. 1t was largely at her
urging that he joined In the plan to ask
Governor Whitman, his prosecutor,
for clemency.
Waits For Vengeance.
There was one other women who,
if reports are true, followed Beckers
career through the courts as closely
as his own wife did. This was Herman
Rosenthaps widow. Soon after Beck
er's second conviction she disappear
Led. Not long ago she was found broken
lin health and spirit, and living with an
lold-time friend.
I II am living for one thing" she was
QUOTED as saying, TO see the day that