The New York herald., 1922-12-20
PAL SAYS BECKER
PAID SLAYERS $1OO
Two Detectives, 1t Is Testi-
fled, Heard Prisoner Detail
Killing of Wife.
FELT SAFE AFTER BURIAL
Woman Who Lived With Ac-
-cused Man Is Carried Out
Of Court.

The prosecutions dark horse witness
in the Bronx pit murder trial broke into
the limelight yesterday. Harry Monstein
Of 10 East Hath street. for the last
three years a close friend of Abraham
Becker. testified that Becker had told
him last June Of paying two men $500
to kill his wife Jennie and bury her.
Monstein admitted having composed and
sent a letter and a telegram from Phila-
delphia with Jennie Becker's name
signed TO them. and rehearsed with in
difference how he got the complete story
of the murder out OF Becker by posing
as his protector when visiting him in
the Bronx county Jail.
shell never come back! She's
done away WITH Becker told me-" Mon
stein testified. az paid two fellows 800
to do 1t. They took her of up the road
in an auto, hit her over the head, and
buried her Becker told me this In q
restaurant on fremont avenue last June.
He seemed under the influence OF liquor
at the time"
Becker listened with a face as uE-
emotional as marble.
lMonstein Bwore that he interviewed
Becker three different times after the
latter was In Jail. He said he told the
prisoner he had bribed the guard as he
wanted to help his, friend. The witness
declared he did this voluntarily and
candidly LIED TO Becker TO get tho
evidence" He alleged that Detective
James McCartiu and Lieut.. Bruckman
were concealed within earshot of the
cell while he drew Becker's story from
him bit by bit.
Buried Deep snd safe, We Said.
she's buried under d and stone
seven feet deep at i40th street and
Southern Boul ard good for 100
years. and they her. Becker
said to his sup al che Jail, ac
cording to Moustel SEN Becker
added. She's been buriC- light months
and is covered with white powder that
will eat up flesh and leave nothing but
tho bonee.".
Becker subsequently told him there
was only one man. Monstein testified,
and he was "Rube." He asked for the
full name and wrote 1t on a matchbox
as Becker spoke--'Rubey Norktn." The
prisoner declared Norkin killed her. for
which 500 was paid to him. The wit
ness said that Becker told him Mrs |
Becker was In Norkin's automobile when |
killed and that they shook hands over |
the grave after the woman had been
buried. Monsten promised to see Nor |
kin and get him to blow"
The third visit to the cell was the next |
night, November 20, after Mrs. Becker's |
body had been found. Monstein said that |
Becker remarked he had a big lawyer |
who could get him out Of anything: |
bat o{af hin, 010 |
before the trial and $1,000 more after |
ward; that Anna should tell tho police |
she went to Cleveland with a man named
"A. Beck" not with Becker.
What do you question me so for? !
You make me nervous: you sound just |
like O detective" Monstein said Becker |
esked him this several times during his |
three visits, but he always answered ne
wanted to know the truth 30 that he
could help him out Of his trouble.
ForEets Wife's Last Name.
Alexander Mayper, counsel for the /
Defense. questioned Monstein closely |
about his residence in Norfolk, Va. In
1919. The defense brought out that Nov
stein. a married man, had been married
before. Monstein denied he was biga-
mist He said his first wife was named |
Edith" but he had forgotten her last
name.
Are you not called Harry the Rat /
In your neighborhood? asked Attorney
Mayper.
Albert Cohn. Assistant District Attor-
ney, objected. Judge Gibbs sustained
the objection, but Monstein merely
smiled at the query.
Anna Elias OF 1857 Clay avenue, the
other woman In Decker's life. swore
they had made an attempt to get mar
ried in January. 1920. and that her sister |
etopped the wedding when they were
at. .ho rahfi's. She admitted signing /
the wedding certificate "a. Beck" al |
though she knew his name was Becker |
because ''he saidihe wanted 10 go under
that name.~ She said Becker did not |
tell her at that time that he was mar
ried and the father OF four children She
became hysterical after two hours on
the stand and was carried out of court
Several minor witnesses were exam |
ined. including Mrs. Tina Berger Of
1857 Clay avenue. at whose house Beck !
or and Anna Elias lived as man and
wife since November Is, and Samuel
Spiegel Of s3s East 137th street where
they also lived Mrs. Florence Besiegel
of sss East 1t7th street testified Becker |
left his twin daughters with her and
agreed to pay $40 a week for their
board. She said Becker told her his
wife had died two months before. |
Becker left the children and never came |
back, she said.
II is expected the defense will con-
tinue TO cross-examine Monstein this
morning.
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