The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-03-31
Say Pressure Was Not
Used In Mrs. Beck
er's Case
DENIED CRIME
ON FIRST QUIZ
Admit, Too, She Com
planned of Physical
Condition

Detectives who questioned Mrs.
Caroline e. Becker at the time when
she gave her alleged confession
that she killed Miss Frances Bonn
holt with a chunk OF coal. testified
In Judge connolly's court. Tuesday
morning.
The defense made an attempt 10
show that tho confession was ex
torted from Mrs. Becker. The de
tectives denied that they had told
her that 1T would relieve her mind.
OF that they had taken advantage
OF the fact that she had a headache
and was In . weakened physical con
dition.
Detective John p Smith told OF
visiting the Bomholt residence on
Friday. Dec. Is. two days after Miss
Bomholts death. The defense OBJ
jected TO this testimony and the
objection was sustained. the ground
having already been covered.
Detective smith said that he also
saw Mrs. Becker that day. and thar
she had held out her left hand for
examination. He was one OF the
oficers who arrested Mrs. Becker.
He said that she gave Mr.. LANCE.
the man in whose house she lived.
s4-27, and asked him TO keep II for
her.
Cross-examined by Attorney
Thomas W. Thompson smith told
OF the questioning OF Mrs. Becker
In the woman's detention station, at
IL o'clock at night He said that
she was questioned for an hour and
q quarter.
"She said At FIRST that she didn't
commit the crime. didn't she?" ask.
ed Mr. Thompson.
-Yes."
Then why did you question her
Cor an hour and a quarter"
because all our investigation
pointed 10 Mrs. Becker
II was brought out that supt.
Downey told Mrs. Becker several
times TO tell the truth. Detective
Smith said that Mrs. Becker com
planned OF having a headache.
Smith said that supt. Downey and
Detectives Martin. Wilson and Ian.
nan all questioned Mrs. Becker.
"who talked with her nrsty' ask
Cd Mr.. Thompson.
.supt. Downey and Detective Mar
tin were talking with her when I
got there"
Then they sat down and two
more OF you questioned her. did
your"
.oh. not right away. She was let
alone for a while.
Smith said that Detective Martin
went out during the quiz and
brought Mrs. Becker a bandage to
ptuu tfouuu Nor ucdus
Detective Michael Iannan also
told about qrizzing Mrs. Becker In
the detention room. He said that
Mrs. Becker told them that she had
placed SIS In q shoe three weeks
before--the shoe found In her home
by the detectives. Lannan said:
I'VE called her attention to the
fact that her son had worn the shoe
the Monday before. and then she
said she put the money in the shoe
the next day. We asked her about
the spots on the money. and she
said they were dye. We said they
looked like blood. and then she said
they might be blood. as she had
hurt her hand with hammer. Lam
nan said that he arrived In the Can
neld station at 7:45 and talked
with Mrs. Becker for half an hour.
Then she lay down TIL Prosecutor
Jasnowski arrived, about II o'clock.
70 take her statement After leav-
ING the detention station. 1.annan
went TO the Bomholt homo and took
the stained coal, offered In evidence.
70 police headquarters.
Cross-examined by Attorney
George A. Kelly, Detective Lannan
denied that he was told to get q
sonfession from Mrs. Becker" by
Bupt. Downey. He said there was
40 stenographer present while the
detectives questioned Mrs. Beckes.
He admitted that the detectives
present when he arrived said that
Mrs. Becker had denied any connec.
Ion with the crime, and that she
llso denied Il TO him.
What did Detectives Martin aad
Wilson say TO her when you got
through. and what did she say TO
Ihem7r asked Mr.. Kelly.
II don't know
Mr. Kelly charged the witness
With evasion and the court demand
ID direct answers to tho questions.