The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-03-25
BECKER PLEA BASED
ON NEGRO N PLITT.
Ey-Licutcnant'S Wife Hears
Counsel Attack Testimony
That Convicted Him.
STATES SIDE TODAY

ALBANY. March 2t-Rittcr attacks
were made this trtc~uoon upon tho testi-
mony of the negro. Marshall. and
Becker pr"ss agent. Pitt. 10y Martin
q. Munton i'm his appeal tu the Court of
Appeals foi the reversal uf tho judgment
tenant Charles Becker.
This testimony. upon which hinges the
substantiation ~ the existence Of the
lannon's Harlem conference" at which the
murder ~ Rn~onthal was alleged to
have been discussed by Becker and his
agents. was characterize ~ coming
from a "lunatic,' meaning Pitt. and "A
NEGRO who did not know what he was
saying meaning Marshall.
Counsci for Beckcr laid great stress
upon the recent recdntation and his
withdrawal of the recantation by Mar
shall. He was bitter In his denunciation
Of rlitt. declaring that he was not in his
right mind.
when the Court Of Appeals reversed
the judgment OF conviction after the
first trial Of Becker the decision indi-
Gated that tho corroburation OF sam
Schepps IS to the existence OF the Har-
lem conference was q reversible error
I'm the minds Of the Judges OF the Court
OF Appeals. The court held that Scheprs
was an accomplice and that Justice
Con should not have admitted his testi-
mony. Marshall and Tlitt gave the tes-
tlmony in tho peoples case needed after
Schepps was disposed Of
Mrs. Charles Becker Nas In the Court
OF Appeals chambers when the appeal
was made to save her husband from the
chair. She was accompanied by her
brother. J. r. Lynch. She listened in
tently to the argument and kent her eyes
on the Judges. VINO consulted with one
another more frequently than they do on
an ordinary case.
Judge ~Sesbury. who presided at the
second trial OF Becker. did not sit on the
case. Hearing the appeal were Chief
Judge Bartlett and Judges Hogan. Cud-
deback. IIiscock. Chase. Cardozo and
Miller.
When the cour, adjourned tonight
Mr.. Manton had completed a review o'
the facts in the case lie Will resume
argument tomorrow on the law.
Nothing could hc more evident, do
clared Mr.. Mantou. than Whitman
wanted Becker and that II was no
long before he saw these scoundrel'
were willing to give him Rocker. pro
vided only they receive proper compen
sation and facilities for arranging theiI
story"
GOV. Whitman declined to make ar!
comment upon the case because of tn,
likelihood of his having to pass upoi
1t II the Court of Appeals upholds tn
conviction.
Assistant District Attorney Robert G
Taylor will present tn" case Of IN,
State Tomorrow. lie will be ASSISTED
by Assistant District Attorney Fred n
Groehl. His brief was Med with tn
Court of Appeals to-day.
THE States case has been full
proved" the District Attorneys brie
states. 1T goes without saving that tn
testimony In this ease proves murde
with generalization for several week
prior to the conmittsl of the Grim,
The apparent delay was due 70 wha
Rose said WAS his sailing
Rose placed every obstacle in tn
way. He scut Ielig out Of town in
terrupted the Garden Restaurant at
tempt at murder by pretending ther
was a Burns detective in the place
dulGed in various other obstructive tao
tics. all of which have been noted.
''In view Of Roses lack OF iuitiativ
Becker put Weber in charge. Tn
testimony proves conclusively the State
contention that Becker was responsible
for the murder aud manpuyred plan
for it's accomplishment"
The argument on the appeal will TAX
w the whole session of the court &c
morrow.