New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-26
PERKINS EXPECTED
BECKER TO LOSE
Must Stamp Out Gangster
Saws PrOSecutOr-Tells
of MOntimagnO.

District Attorney Perkins yesterday
drew a parallel between the case OF
Charles Becker, who, it was decided
Yesterday, must die for the murder Of
Herman Rosenthal, and that Of Gaetano
Montimagno, whom Mr.. Perkins has
been prosecuting for the murder of
Michael Giamari, and who yesterday
was convicted.
When first asked for an opinion on
the Becker decision Mr.. Perkins was
reluctant to make any statement.
at is nothing more than | expected
all the time he said. 81 don't care to
discuss the case further"
Later, when the jury had found Mon
timagno guilty, the District Attorney
said:
at is a striking coincidence that the
conviction Of the first of the conspira-
tors guilty Of the murder Of Michael
Giamari should be found guilty Of MUIR
der in the first degree on the day of
the afFrmance by the Court of Appeals
of the conviction of Charles Becker.
1.-THE theory Of the prosecution which
was accepted by the trial jury IN the
Nontimagno case is that behind the
killing Of Giamari lies a political CON
spiracy which finally made use Of muir
der as n means 10 terroriZe the oppo-
nents Of political leader.
"Within the last few weeks an in
mate of the death house at Sing Sing
has testified that for promise OF SOW
he shot and killed a man whom he had
never heretofore seen. At the same
trial Young man testified as a witness
that he had accompanied the assassin,
prepared to kill the victim II the as
sassin's nerve had failed him, and HIM
self having no motive for taking his
place except the expectation OF pc
cuniary reward.
During the same period the public
has become possessed of information
of the operation of gangsters VINO
were hired by men seeking 70 perpetu-
ate their control of labor organlza-
tons. and in the course of these reve-
lations il was made plain that as
saults with intent to kill and actual
murders had been committed for
money by agents with no personal anil
mostly toward the victims.
Assasssin's Work Is Easy.
"The conviction of Montimagno
again demonstrates that 1t Is possible
TO hire an assassin in this city for
paltry sum Of money and that there
are persons who are prepared to re-
sort even TO the crime OF murder for
the attainment of their personal ends.
"The quick conviction of MontimaPno
bv the trial Jury is a striking evidence
that the efforts Of the District Attorney
toward maintaining law and order IN
this community are receiving support
from the law-abiding citizens in it. 1t
IS. however. a guarantee that the fur
Their efforts of the District Attorney,
which will be prosecuted vigorously
until the fountain head of this murder
conspiracy is brought to justice. VIII
receive public support.
"The revelations Of gang operations
coming TO public attention recently are
evidence that the execution of the gun
men in the Becker case has not driven
home completely the lesson that the
law will exact the highest penalty for
murder in the first degree. II is nee
essary that a further example should
be made. and that it be demonstrated
to the criminal element of the com
munity that criminal Justice in this
CITY is swift and sure and that the
man who makes himself the instrument
Of murder does 1t at the peril OF his
life"
Brdgie Weber. one OF the four in
formers, who testified at both of the
Becker trials. last night expressed his
opinion of the action OF the Court OF
Appeals in the case of the former po-
lice Lieutenant. Weber is now in Pas
sale. y. j.. and is In business with his
brother, Henry. under the name of the
Garfield Paper Box Company.
Weber Gives sympathy.
1.-THE verdict speaks for ITSELF ne
said. a. he sat in a Passalc poolroom'
and. of course. my sympat1les are
Nth Becker He made a mistake, Just
as | did. and just as the other fellows
did. and I am mighty sorry ior him. !
also svmpathize with Mrs. Becker.
81 did not expect any other verdict
from the Court of Appeals, for there
couldn't have been any other with the
great amount OF evidence against
Becker | don't think Governor Whit
man will pardon him. for he was the
District Attorney in the case. and ne
certainly wouldn't pardon the man ne
4