Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1915-07-24
BECKER CASE IS
I" NEARING CLIMAX
VIII Go to Electric Chair on Tues
day Unless Again Saved at
Eleventh Hour.

New York. July 2i.-with the near
approach OF the date fixed for the
Becker execution. all New York Is
awaiting with intense interest for any
new developments in the celebrated
case. VIII the condemned man be
saved from the electric chair at the
eleventh hour by some twist OF the
law discovered and employed In his
behalf by the able counsel In charge
OF his case: or. what appears more
improbable. will personal appeal 10
Governor Whitman by Mrs. Becker
secure another reprieve?
by a peculiar coincidence the week
In which the Becker case reaches its
climax marks the third anniversary
Of the arrest of the police lieutenant
on a charge OF instigating the murder
Of the gambler. Herman Rosenthal.
For the murder four men have al
ready paid the death penalty. while
ffth is In the death house awaiting
the march to the electric chair. For
three years the successive trials. the
! execution Of four gunner and the per.
/ sistent efforts to save the life OF
/ Becker have drawn up to the surface.
out OF the heinous muck OF New
York's underworld such revelations
OF crime. OF graft and police protec-
ton. OF the operations OF the gang
sters. as have fairly entitled the
Rosenthal murder to be termed the
crime OF the century"
The now famous case obtained Its
first publicity on July ~. 1912. when
morning newspaper published an
affidavit by Rosenthal accusing Beck
err then a police lieutenant In charge
Of the strongarm squad. with accept
ing protection money from gamblers.
According to the statements OF Rosen'
thai. Becker had been his silent part
ner" In the operation OF several
gambling houses until differences
arose between them over division OF
the profits.
Two days later II was announced
that District Attorney Whitman would
consider Rosenthars charges. July IL
was the day fixed for the gambler ia
lay his evidence against Becker be
fore the district attorney. At 1851
a. m. on that date Rosenthal was call
ed from the bar OF the Hotel Metro
pole and shot to death on the sidewalk
by four gunner. who made theiI
escape In a motor car.
The next day Shapiro and Libby
owners OF the motor car, were arrest
ed. They declared that Jack Rose
well known member Of the gambling
fraternity. had hired the car. One
day later Rose surrendered TO the
police and was held for murder. His
statements led to the arrest Of Bridge
Weber and Harry WALTON. Simultane
ously the district attorney named the
four gunner as the actual killers.
The four gunner were Frank Giro
fici (Dago Frank. Harry Horowiti
(Gyp the Blood. Louis Rosenberg
Lefty Louie) and Jacob Seidenshnel
Whitley Lewis. All four were youns
in years. but old In crime. DagS
Frank and Whitley Lewis were found
within a few days. but II was not un
I'll the following September that Cyl
the Blood and Lefty Louie were 10
Gated and arrested.
In the meantime Rose, Weber ant
vallon had turned States evidence
and accused Lieutenant Becker o.
having instlgated the murder. which
they procured. Becker was arrested
Just before midnight on July 30.
October "a Becker was found guilt,
Of murder in the first degree and sen
fenced to death the week bginninl
December ?. The conviction wal
based on the theory that he had beer
a silent partner OF Rosenthal In Z
gambling house. had extorted none!
from Rosenthal and. finally. had insti