Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-07-30

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ton
Rose lay in prison y days without
word from Becker. and, believing MS
chief had deserted him, confessed
WALTON and Weber corroborated ms
story. He told Of his long association
with Becker of police corruption
which existed as R0seutbai had
CHARGED. Of thousands collected by
Becker for police protection and, IN
ally. Of his commission By Becker 70
arrange TO have RoseRthal killed ~
gunmen-a commission he executed.
That night July 90, 1912, District
Attorney Whitman summoned the
grand jury by telephone and telegraph
laid his evidence before il and within
two hours obtained the Indictment Of
Becker on a charge Of murder
Four East side gangsters we're IN
dicted as the actual murderers. Rose
had testified that these men were as
signed by Big jack Zelig, a gang
leader who had been arrested by
Becker's own men on a trumpod-up
charge. TO do the murder They were
to receive 81 900 and Zeig was to he
released. ZeIig's orders had been IS
sued from the Tomb7 to the gunner.
These gunmeu-kncwn in the streets
of the East side as "Gyp the Blood
H0rowitz. Lefty Louie" Rosenberg.
'sDago Frank Cirofci and Whitley
Tewis-were rounded up one by one.
The last two were arrested, "Gyp the
Blood" and Lefty Louie" we're not
found till September hiding in
BROOKLYN fat. with them were found
their young wives who, to divert sus-
pfcfon. had died their light hair black
To give standing to the testimony
of Becker's three accomplices who
had turned informes s-Rose. Wehber
and VaIlon-a corr0b0rating witness
who was not implicated, was needed
Sam Schnepps. d dapper little gambler
who had fled the city, was the man
who could do this He vas found at
Hot Springs. Ark, brought back To
New York and the peoples ease
against Charles Becker was complete
4 1t went to trial on Oct. Z, 1912
A verdict Of guilty Of first degree
| murder was returned at midnight
/ Oct. q, 1912, after the jury had delib-
/ Grated seven hours and 81 minutes
( Becker was sentenced six days later
! to die in the electric chair during the
/ week Of Dec. 9, 1912. Within less than
/ month the four gunner were placed
on trial as the actual slayerss found
/ guilty and sent to the death house.
More than a year later. on Feb a
1 1914. the court of appeals decided that
/ Becker should have new trial The
( gunmen's conviction was upheld and
/ they paid the penalty with their lives
/ ON April IA, 1914. One Of the number
'Dago Frank confessed the guilt Of
! his three associates but maintained
his own innocence. His confession,
I made ON the eve Of the execution, be
/ came known the day they we're put to
/ death
Becker was brought back to the
Tombs. His second trial was begun
MAY 6. 1914. and ended May ., with q
verdict Of guilty. He was sentenced to
die during the week Of July 6, 1919
I An appeal was fled but the conviction
was upheld by the higher court In
/ decision handed down May ., last
and he date If t1e execution was set
FL +na veagx beginning July y.
c1a~+7,, af+sr +Aa court of aDpeals
sa-fo5 uacl-ar third trial W. Bourke
lorlran became BecEer,s chief coun-
sci He anDaared before United States
+ Supreme Court Justice Hughes and
,rgraa for p writ of error which was
5.~to5
T7,,~fog +5a week nraviaus to that
H., which Becker was sentenced to die
ror.rnor whitman granted the con
da7,nad man q ranriava of two weeks
nc Ia f,a4 learned # was stated new
-,-o,.r-s -,-era ~ he made i'm Becker
rabaTf
IN r,,fz, On o ao9 word statement
,,-. 80 NO rr,---s-fad IN the gov.
$50 THO -fo-a-,ar,+ wac said to con.
49, - r.r+. 81 -,s5a n,,b7jc mn