The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1915-07-30

that Seeker had been divorced. d.
proving hts story
ON October s. the das before Beck
er was put to trial. Big Jack" zeiis.
famous East Side gunmsn. aud
boss OF the four that marderei
Rosenihai. was shot io- death in Sec
.ond avenue BY g2nsster
Becker wen, 20 trial the next day
before Justice Goff. In three weeks.
ION October 20. the jury returned .
verdict guilty in the first degree.
Becker was convicted mainly on
the testimony OF Jack Rose. about the
now famous Harlem Conference, !"
In that conference. Rose swore. he
met becker at lsssh street and Sew
lenth avenue. on the night Of June
81. aud Becker promised him and
his pals immanity Il they would put
Ross nshai out Of the way. The testi-
mons of Weber. and WALTON corrof.-
Grated Roses statements. II was
furtne- corroBorated ~ nsgr,
named Marshall. in no VS. connected
with the case. vino said he saw Rose
AID Becker talsing on that corner
tLaE nigAt.
After hls conviction. we.ch he took
with remarkable foxsitude. Becker
was sentenced 10 die December 3.
An appeal saved him. however. as It
acted as stay OF execution
On November IL. cyp the
Biood. Whitley Lewis. ''Daso
Frank, and Lefty Louie we're
found vuilsy of murder il the nrgt
degree aud we're sentenced to be
elsetroeuted
Little Of importance occurred IN
the cases duripg 1918. There were
sporadic ouibursss OF activity. bat
nothing definite developed.
Becker spent all this time in the
death house at Sing Sing, near
where the four gunner were await
ing death. his iron nerve never
fallered Neither dia those OF his
four hirelings.
H vas Feb "a before rift in
the clouds revealed e The convicted
police lieutenant chance 10 escape
the chair On that date the Court
OF Appeals set aside the verdict
and ordered re-triaI The same
court, however, as a part OF the
same ruling. affirmed the death sem
tence OF the four geamen, and they
We're eieetrocgted In Sing Sing on
April 3, after every means 10 save
their liyes had been exhausted.
Becker was jubilant over his neY
trial tie could not see anything
bat that be would be acquitted
On May s. he was again put on
trial for murder. this time before
Justice seabury Sixteen days later
he again stood before the bar and
heard Guilty OF murder ia the
first degree. But again he Kept
his remarkable nerve and walked
from the court room without ire
NOR He VAS again sentenced to be
executed.
His friends aud attorneys, how
ever. cheered him up with prospects
Of another victory on the appeal
The case dragged along then I'M
til May %. 1915. when the Court OF
Appeals all bat crushed his last hope
when IL affirmed bis second conyic-
tlon Three weeks later the court
sealed his fate by refusing 10 listen
10 d re-argument OF the appeal
There Was bur one chance left
q communication from the governor.
But the governor OF 1915 and the
fighting young District Attorney Of
1872 were the same man. Whitman
havIng stepped into the governors
chair
hecker's conviction and the ac-
eompanyiug Volumes Of publicity
given the eases All over the United
States cleared New York Of the qua
men and the sangsters 10 large ex-
tent. Before July, 1919. New York
East Side, With It's labyrinths OF al
ley-like streets. blind alleys and
squaiId tenements and buildings
had been breeding aud nesting
place for gangsters aud gunner
The police seemed unable 10 stop
then. Gambling OF All kinds flour
ished throughout the East Side and
the TeBderloin District, further up
town But the Becker conviction
aud the eioetroeution OF four Of the
East Sides SONS put the fear OF
God 10 their hearts. as one Of the
ia@yers connected wlth the ease
termed IL
seeAeFs iron nerve and compos-
nre throughout the ups and downs
% bis thfee years hitter fight for