New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-04
All information He Says,
Was Few Names Men
toned by Manton.
SULLIVAN MURDER
TALE DISBELIEVED
Wife Denounces "Squeal" Story
Marshall TO Disclose Web
Der Confession.

persons" Governor Whitman to-day is-
sued n statement denying that Charles
Becker, through his attorney, Martin
T. Manton, gave him on Thursday any
information about graft or the Rosen-
thai murder.
The Governor also said that Manton,
and not he, should reveal the Identities
of the members of the graft ring that
the attorney disclosed to Mr.. Whitman
at the reprieve conference held here
two days ago.
81 notice in the morning papers to-
day." the Governor statement begins,
"the following announcement purport-
ing to come from Mr.. Manton:
al am convinced that Charles Becker
will give to the public the information
that he gave to Governor Whitman
through me last Thursday. | wish |
could publish the names myself. 1t
ought to be done in the interest OF JUS
tice; the Governor ought TO do it,
"Mr. Manton gave me no information
whatever relative to graft or to the
murder Of Rosenthal.
He did state TO me substantially
that he believed Becker could involve
in the infamous system oil police black
mail Of which he was part three or
four other persons, mentioning their
names.
81 am willing, and more than wiling,
that Mr.. Manton should publish these
names. He is under no obligation of
confidence 10 me, but DO not purpose
myself TO bargain with a condemned
murderer who simply offers TO confess
that he divided his plumber years ago
with three or four other persons. As |
have said before, Mr.. Manton IS at per-
feet liberty TO make public the names
he mentioned to me.
Sullivan Yarn Improbable.
"Police blackmail is one offence, and
a very serious one, OF course, but muir
der is quite another. And while all
that Becker would tell involving others
in his years of graft collections is per
haps true, il is not even suggested that
any OF these persons was connected
with him in the commission of the
awful crime Of which he was twice con-
victed and of which, / am absolutely
convinced, he is guilty
Mr.. Manton left town yesterday on
an automobile trip TO Waterbury, Conn,
and could not be found in time 70 learn
whether he would divulge the names he
mentioned TO the Governor John b.
Johnston, who Is associated with him
IN the Becker case, refused 10 comment
on the statement from Albany. W.
Bourke Cochran, Of the same law firm,
also refused to say anything on that
feature Of the case.
One of the men, IL was said yester-
day, was prominent politician, who
died a few years ago, and another a
policeman of rank, who also is dead.
The others are said to be persons whose
prominence is or was-contined 20
gambling circles.
The story printed in some of the
papers yesterday that Becker would say
Big Tim Sullivan was murdered by
the same group of gamblers responsible,
according 10 Becker, for Rosentha's
death, apparently has no reasonable
foundation. Sullivan was found dead
beside the railroad tracks near Pelham
on August 81. 1913. Some days after
the body had been taken to the Ford
ham Morgue it was identified. For "A
long time after that reports that Sui
livan had been murdered gained such
wide circulation that many official and
unofficial Investigations were put under
way, but the final decision of the Cor
Cncr's jury was that the politician had
been killed by train.
Wife Denies "SGueal" Story.
John b. Johnston said yesterday that
Becker would make no such assertion.
Becker has not told us anything Of
that kind he added.
Mrs. Becker also said her husband
had never told her anything about Sui
liyan's death and she did not believe
he knew anything about it save what
was printed in the newspapers.
The condemned mans wife vas very
angry when she read that Becker was
going TO squeal on the grafters who
worked with him.
THAT is an absolute lie," she said
81 have talked with my husband about
every feature Of the case, time after
time, and not once did he say 4ay-
thing about graft. He is innocent of
grating as well as of the murder Of
Rosenthal, and | am certain that If he
knew anything acout grating he would
tell me, particularly in view Of his
dreadful situation.
when | talked with Mr. Manton on
Friday he told me my husband was
not going 70 give out any statement
about grating. All this stuff that il
being printed about graft confessions
is as untrue as it can possibly be-"
Mrs. Becker will go 10 Sing Sing to-
day.
Mr. Cochran, who is to take the case
to the United States Supreme Court,
said yesterday that Mr.. MaAton, in de
failing on Friday the alleged grounds
on which the Federal court proceed
ings are 10 be based, acted without
authority from him, and that "the rea-
sons imputed 10 me in the newspapers
show complete misrepresentation Of the
grounds on which it is believed a Fed
eral question arises They would not,
in my judgment, be sufficient to justify
intervention by the Federal court.
THE grounds for invoking Federal
jurisdiction will be disclosed for the
first time TO that member Of the Fed
cral judiciary who may be asked 10
issue a writ. ! am in no way respon-
sible for the various statements con-
corning Becker that have lately ap-
peared in print, and / knew nothing Of
them until after they had been given
TO the press
Mr.. Cochran would not say when the
application for writ OF error would
be made
Hartford T. Marshall. once counsel
for Becker and for Bridge Weber,
said yesterday that on Tuesday he
would 90 before Judge willard Bart