New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-05
Prisoner Has Prepared
Denial of Rose Testimony
and Harlem Conference.
NOTED LAWYER GIVES
HIM RENEWED HOPE
Secretly Visits Death House and
Outlines Plan He's Sure
Will Lead to Freedom.

day that although Charles Becker has
at no time contemplated writing con-
fession, he has compiled a mass OF
notes affecting various features Of his
case which it has been his intention
to give publicity before he goes 70 the
electric chair for the murder Of Her
man Rosenthal.
But for W. Bourke Cochran. now
clearly his chief counsel, those notes
in statement form, would have seen
print some time ago. Mr. COCHRAN,
however. decided chat Becker snould
make no statement until every iegal
opportunity 70 save the former lieu
tenant had been exhausted.
For more than three weeks Mr.. Cock
ran has been playing quietly the leaG-
ing mart in Beckcrs battle 20 eVade
the chair, though his law partner
Martin T. Manton, was supposed u
have exclusive charge OF the case
on the dav Of Mr.. Manton's first trip
% Albanv TO plead with Governor
Whitman for clemency, Mr.. Cochran
went TO Sing Sing and had long taIs
with the condo nned man. One or the
purposes Of Mr.. Manton's visit 70 Al
hanv was to ask that Governor Nhlt-
man appoint commission of dlsln-
terosted men 10 hear the appeal. BE
lieving that there was a strong posi-
b:I;tv Of success in this application,
Mr. Cochran. in mis- talk that day WIN
BECKER. asked the latter "hethtr
sbould a commission be appointed, ne
would be willing TO subpit 20 an eK-
animation before the members OF the
commission and tell the story OF. Po--
lice grating so far as II was coh""eu
to his operations.
Becker Withheld Names.
Rockor readily agreed to do this.
10 said he would tell OF his coHec-
lions name the men from whom ne
Got the money. and tell what ne ana
Win il to the point just short OF re-
veaiine the Identities Of the men with
whom he divided the graft. lie IN
sisted that nothing could induce mn
n name the other persons 10 "Ho'"
the money went.
Mr. Manton waited in New York that
morning for word from Mr.. COCHRAN
If Becker's attitude. so that a oatgalH
might be made with Governor "nlI-
man. A mix-up occurred IN the pan
70 telephone this information so rl.
Manton, waiting until the moIIl'"k
was well advanced. decided 70 go OH
TO Albany without knowing WhetneI
Rocker was willing TO talk. bus pc
fore Mr.. Manton went 10 tne 0'a'e
Capitol Mr.. Cochran got INTO com
r,urication VIE him and. with the
fact of Becker's agreement; Mr. Mat'uo"
made his first plea TO Mr.. Whitman.
- .
,r-rod over anv names 70 Mr. Manton'
either personally or through Mr.. COCK
ran Mr.. Manton was enabled oy ms
trowlodge of the case 20 discuss names
,,.itb tho Governor. who decided that
as two of the persons suggested were
dead Beckers graft revelations
strinped of the Identities Of the men
higher I'D. would be yalueless: Ana i
reDatition of that offer last lnursday'
when Mr.. Manton saw the Governor
again. was no more productive.
Planned Public Statement.
Rocter began making mis- notes
shortly efter the appeal from the sec
ond verdict WAS taken to the court OF
ArnaaIs He believed then that thlrc
triai would be granted, and he wanted
70 nrenare himself for taking the
st.nd He thought that il he became
a witness acQuttal would surely tol-
low p..,.o.,,
first and several meetings with kosen
thai and Jack Rose. Big Tim SuliI-
van is also mentioned. When the
Court Of Appeals refused 10 overtime"
the second conviction Becker MADE
,eadv 20 incorporate them IN state
roent N the public. He felt that when
his story was generally known public
sentiment would cause the Governor
10 commute his sentence.
On this question several conferences
between Becker and his attorneys fol-
loved Mr.. Cochran from the start op-
nosed Rockers idea. so the statement
was held back. Whether It will ever
see the light is not to be learned now.
In the notes is study Of excerpts
from the testimony given against MN
ON both trials. He selected two points
which he regards as most vital IN
causing his conviction. lie deals nrst
with the testimony Of Rose IN the lat-
ter's story of the alleged gambling
connection between Becker and Roseh-
thai. Rose testified that when Becker
said he was going 10 enter camping
nartnership with Rosenthal ne, Rose,
pJ,,ieed Rocker not TO DO it, saying
that Rosenthal had cheated every man
with whom he had engaged IN bust
ness
Noted Lawyer to Becker's Aid.
Rocker asserts that Rose shifted the
characters in that feature OF the case
and that it was Rose who was con-
templatin- a business dea! with Rosen-
thai. and that it was Becker who ad-
vised Rose not TO trainc wl;h kosen-
The second point is built up out Of
the Harlem conference evidence.
Roses description OF what preceded
as we'll as what happened during that
conference, and his accurate knowI-
edge of the place were as Impressive
TO the Jury as Roses tale OF the tax
that passed.
Becker explains that when Rose
Gained this knowledge the occasion
was not conference for the purpose
Of planning RosenthaPs death. Rose,
Becker says in his notes. asked him
TO take him one night. on ralding
trip through the negro gambling re-
sorts Of Harlem Rose was brought
along one night on a tour Of raids the
tin on which had been given by James
Marshall, the negro. The place where
the Harlem conference" was held,
Rocker says. was the place where
Becker and his squad always gathered
before starting out on the raids. l.
was the Harlem headquarters.
That there IS still some hope OF
saving Becker is demonstrated by a
visit paid 20 Sing Sing by a prominent
: LAWYER few days ago, according 10
Warden Osborne. Mr.. Osborne says