The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-07-30

lector, walked into the criminal
courts building the day after the muir
der and surrendered to the district at
torney, declaring he had nothing to
fear. Harry WALTON and Bridge
Weber, gamblers and friends or Rose
and Becker, were arrested as VII
nesses. The grand jury began It's IN
Rose lay in prison twelve days with
out word from Becker, and, believing
his chief had deserted him, confessed.
WALTON and Weber corroborated MS
story He told of his long assocla-
ton with Becker, of police corruption
which existed as Rosenthal had
charged, of thousands collected by
Becker for police protectlon ana, m
ally, of his commission by Becker TO
arrange to have Rosenthal killed py
gunmen-a commission he executed
Becker Quickly Indicted.
That night, July 20, 1912, District
Attorney Whitman summoned the
grand Jury by telephone and tele-
graph, laid his evidence before it and
within two hours obtained the ind1ct-
ment of Becker on a charge OF muir
der.
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
Beeker's men ne the on ,, a tPrinpe Thev
were to receive $1,000 and Zelig was
to be released. Zelig's orders had
been issued from the Tombs to the
gunner. A..
These gunmen-known in the
streets of the East Side as "Gyp the
Blood Horowitz, Lefty Louie" Ros-
enberg, "Dago Frank" Cirofici and
whitley Lewis-were rounded up
one by one. The last two were ar
rested. 'tGyp the Blood and Lefty
Louie were not found till September,
hiding in a Brooklyneflat. With them
were found their young wives VINO, 70
divert suspicion, had dyed their hght
| hair black.
To give standing to the testimony of
Becker's three accomplices who had
| turned informers-Rose, Weber ana
| Vallon-a corroborating witness WHO
was not implicated was needed. sam
Schepps, dapper little gambler WHO
| had fled the city, was the man VINO
| could do this. He was found at Hot
Springs, Ark, brought back to New
| York and the peoples case against
| Charles Becker was compete. II
went to trial on October Z, 1917.
| A verdict of guilty of first degree
| murder was returned at midnight,
october "a, 1912, after the jury haG
| deliberated seven hours and flfty-
seven minutes. Becker was sentenced
Esix days later to die in the electro
/ chair during the week of December >,
I1912, Within less than a month the
four gunner were placed on trial as
the actual slayers, found guilty and
sent to the death house.
Gunmen Pay Penalty.
More than year later, on FEBRUARY
"a 1914, the court of appeals decided
that Becker should have a new trial
The gunmen's conviction was upheio
and they paid the penalty with thell
lives on April IA, 1914. One or the
number, 'Dago Frank" confessed
the guilt of his three associates. but
maintained his own innocence. HIS
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 6, 1914, and ended May p, WITH
a verdict of guilty. He was sentenced
to die during the week of July 6, 19l
An appeal was filed, but the conv1c
ton was upheld by the higher cour
in a decision handed down May 20
last and the date of the execution wa;
set for the week beginning July IL.
Shortly after the court of appeal:
denied Becker third trial, w. Bourkt
Cochran became Becker's chief coun
sell He appeared before United state!
Court Justice Hughes and argued To-
a writ of error which was refused
During the week previous to that IL
which Becker was sentenced to die
Governor Whitman granted the con
demned man a reprieve of two weeks
as he had learned, it was said, new
motions were to be made in Becker
behalf.
Becker Appeals TO Whitman.
On July 20, 5000 word Statement
bv Becker was forwarded to the gov
ernor The statement was said e
contain new facts and make publ
mention for the first time of the nam
of the late Congressman Timothy
Sullivan, in connection with the case
The governor declined tc commute
Becker's sentence after reading tn
statement.
Becker's attorneys thereupon ap
pealed to Supreme Court Justice Phil
bin for a third trial and on July rs tn
justice signed an order for District Al
torney Perkins to show cause why
: new trial should not be granted. In
order was returnabIe before Suprem
Court Justice Ford on July 26. IN
: Justice reserved decision and devote
nearly all of his time for the next tw
r days to going over papers in the case
Shortly after 10 o'clock on the nigh
of July %, Justice Ford announced h
had denied the application and Beck
er's only hope remained in poss1bl
r clemency by Governor Whitman.
$ Throughout Becker's troubles hi
wife remained loyal to him and wa
l his constant adviser. She lahore
I apparently without firing in his be
half, assisting his counsel in ever
= way possible. She appeared to
= crushed when the court of appeals up
e held his second conviction, but 500
/ turned her energies toward eleventh
= hour work to save him. 1t was larger
e at her urging that he Joined in tn
y plan to ask Governor Whitman, hi
= prosecutor, for clemency.
f There was one other woman who
if reports are true, followed Becker
:. career as closely as his own wife olt
t This was Herman RosenthaPS WIDOW
t ! Soon a ftar Rockers second cOnyictIO