The New York herald., 1922-12-02
BECKER IS INDICTED
FOR MURDER OF WIFE,
BURIAL ALIVE HINTED
Reuben NOrkin Held in Bail
of $780, ,000-Grand Jury
to Meet Again.
OTHER BODIES SOUGHT
Man Says His Woman Cou-
sin. Missing Since 1915,
Knew a 'Norkin.'
WHOLE PLOT MAY BE DUG
Children in Case Suffer From
Taunts-Furnish Link
i'm Evidence.
WHOLE PLOT MAY BE DUG

\ terday on charge OF having mur-
dered his wife. Jennie Becker. whose
body was found last Wednesday buried
in an old boiler pit at 14oth street and
Southern Boulevard. The Bronx.
! Reuben Norkin. friend OF Becker,
who directed the detectives to the
spot near the Norkin welding shop
where the body was buried. was held
| by County Judge Louis d. Gibbs in
He was not called before the Grand
Jury.
The Grand Jury was instructed TO
continue its investigation and will sit
again next Thursday. The jury is ex-
| pected to indict a second man as an
accessory either before or after the
fact. or both.
Information In possession OF District
Attorney Edward ]. Glennon and his
assistant. Albert Cohn. indicates that the
murder was committed between 1880
and 80 on the morning OF April T.,
May Have Been Buried Alive.
| DR.. Carl Sellers Kennard. Bronx
county Medical Examiner, who testified
before the Grand Jury. said afterward
| he believed Mrs. Becker was buried
alive. He did not think the fracture OF
her skull. which was the only injury
| disclosed by the autopsy, was sufficient
TO produce immediate death. His theory
was further strengthened by the fact
that when the body was unearthed one
leg was crossed at right angles over
| the other. DIR. kennard thought this
may Nave resulted during struggles or
| the puried woman to release herself from
| her tomb
The District Attorneys office placed
someeconfidence in the suggestion, said
TO have originated in statement by
Becker, that other bodies are buried In
the vacant lot where Mrs. Becker's body
was found. Investigation OF the lot Is
being made and a day and night guard
| of police has been established to keep
! off all except those persons acting for
the District Attorney. Mr.. Cohn said
that II any indication In substantiation
is found the entire lot will be dug up.
A man walked into the Morrisania
police station last night and said his
cousin. Miss Fannie Bloom. who van
| shed in 1915 and never was found. was
p! acquainted with man named Norkin,
who lived at that time in Timpson place.
nearl 10th street and Southern Boule-
yard He was referred to the District
Attorneys office. but did not appear
there Norkin, however. was questioned
by Mr.. Cohn and admitted that In 1915
a woman named Bloom worked for his
mother in Timpson place. lie said he
knew nothing about her disappearance.
Miss X Courtney tombstone. an at
torney OF 56 Wall street, was appointed
guardian for the Bloom woman some
months ago to settle up an estate. She
said that her information was that when
the woman disappeared she was en-
| ploycd at Timpson place by family
named Norkn. The possible connection
of Norkin with this woman " Ill be gone
into further by the District Attorney.
Accuse Each Other Face to Face.
il became known that Becker's accu-
sation OF Norkin and Norkins accusa-
ton Of Becker came about In dramatic
fashion. Becker had been trying TO
smuggle notes from the Jail to Norkin.
and that called the attention Of the Die
trict Attorney TO Norkin. who was ques-
toned later. Norkin told one story and
Becker told another. Thursday they
were suddenly confronted with each
other In the District Attorneys office.
Becker Is said 10 have pointed at Norkin
and exclaimed:
You are the murderer OF my wife 20
Norkin Is alleged TO have replied:
"You are liar You did it,
A heated exchange of accusations
ensued and this constituted a part of
the murder story the District Attorney
had under Investigation. II was learned
that Becker sought to establish motive
on the part OF Norkin by saying he and
Norkin had quarrel over a motor re
pair bill and Norkin threatened to "get
even" with Becker.
Norkin's wife tainted outside the
Grand Jury room when she heard her
husband had been held In ball.
Police only Aid for Anna Elias.
Anna Elias. mother OF Becler's two
year-old child, also tainted as she left
tha Grand Jury room. where Il Is sup
posed she repeated her story OF her
Relationship with Becker and OF how
she had tried unsuccessfully since las
April to learn from him what had be-
come Of his wife.
The Elias woman was a forlorn figure
IN the court house corridor having been
turned into the street by her friends
and refused shelter for herself and baby.
She had eaten and slept by the gener
osity OF the police.
Life has not been easy for the Becker
children, either. Notoriety has so made
two Of the children the object cf de-
rlsion Of other children in an institution
IN which they were lodged that Il was
found advisable 70 send them TO branch
up state.
Incidentally. one OF the children be-
came link In the chain OF evidence
against Becker. Mr.. and Mrs. Philip
Weinberg ot 6O4 Union avenue, The
Bronx. were reported 20 have testified
TO the Grand Jury that friend desired
70 adopt three-y -year-old Celia Becker.
but was advised by her lawyer not 10
do It because OF complications IL Mrs.
Becker returned. The Wenbergs inter
viewed Becker, who was alleged to have
promised written pledge that Mrs.
Bocker would net return, but later re-
fused to Elsn u,