New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-30
Appeal to Judge Hogan
Abandoned and Wife
Hurried to Whitman.
OFFER TO PLEAD
GUILTY DENIED
Lawyers Life Threatened for
Efforts to Save EX-Lieu-
tenant from Chair.

W. Bourke Cochran and Martin T..
Msnton, of counsel for Becker, were
as depressed when they reached their
Office, at 81 Nassau Street, yesterday
morning as if their client IN the death
house were close friend.
The lawyers had been confident that
a new trial would be granted, therefore
the decision shook them with unusual
force.
Soon after Mr.. Cochran and Mr. Man
ton got together yesterday morning, 10
see what further could be done, consld-
Grafton was given to plan to ask
Judge Hogan, of the Court Of Appeals,
who dissented from the affirmation of
the second conviction. for stay OF
execution. Judge Hogan lives in SYRIA
cuse. About an hour after this ten
tative plan had been announced the at
torneys decided TO abandon that and
rest everything on Mrs. Becker's inter
view with the Governor.
Deny Offered to Plead Guilty.
Cochran and Manton at this time ex-
pressed great indignation over the
statements from Albany that quoted
Governor Whitman as saying seeker
had offered to plead guilty TO murder
in the second degree PRIOR to his Sec
ond trial, and also that Becker was re-
sponsible for the death of his trst wlte.
There is absolutely no truth IN the
statement that Becker offered to plead
guilty TO murder in the second degree,
or any other degree, so far as | know,
Mr.. Manton said. Certainly no such
offer was made while was his counsel.
Becker will 90 to the chair with a dying
declaration of innocence.
81 believe Becker accepted graft while
a police officer, but am also convinced
he is not guilty Of murder
Mr.. Manton said that before he sec
ond trial Mr. Whitman received a re
port that Becker's first wife's death was
attended by suspicious circumstances.
But this information was absolute
" false" Mr.. Manton said. Mrs. Beck
or. | am told, will tell Governor Whit
man. when she sees him, all the details
of that. Mrs. Becker will also tel! me
Governor of the circumstances OF me
legal parting of Becker and his second
wife.
1T is impossible to get stay OF
execution from a judge, and no court
can grant a stay at this time. The only
person who can extend Becker's lie
now is the Governor, and we are asking
him for a stay so that we can appeal
TO the Court of Appeals in OCTOBER
when that body sits again.
Or the question raised by Mr.. Cock
ran in referring to Justice Ford's re-
fusal TO entertain brief in opposl-
ton to that submitted late on Wedhes-
dav bv the District Attorney. the just
ice said yesterday:
you can say for me that ! MAD my
mind made up before the District Az
tornev's brief was delivered to me. |
offered to give copy of 1t TO Becker
ATTORNEYS. and / believe the brief is
somewhere in the courthouse at inns
moment. did not consider 1t win
the other evidence submitted and dld
not even read it"
Letter Criticises Governor.
District Attorney Perkins, in the fol-
lowing letter sent to Justice Ford yes
terday, strongly criticises Governor
Whitman for giving currency TO
false report Of Justice Ford's decision
twentv-four hours in advance of the
courts announcement:
"Ny dear Judge Ford: | realize 1t is
probably wholly unnecessary. but
Wednesdays newspaper article to the
effect that had given Governor whit
man some information or intimation
as to your probable action IN the
Becker matter was so explicit that |
felt it can at least do no harm 10 write
YOU 10 say that the article was
fabrication pure and simple.
81 did not communicate with Gov
ernor Whitman in any wav as to what
your probable action on Becker's APP
plication for new trial would be. |
regret the publication while YOU still
had the case under advisement. and
should nave expressed my regret TO
YOU Immediately had | not felt that
even that would be improper until YOU
had rendered your decision"