The New York herald., 1922-11-30
MRS. BECKER'S BODY
is DUG UP; HUSBAND
AND FRIEND SEIZED
Detective Drones One Re-
lentless Question to AL
legged Accessory.
WHERE is SHE BURIED? (?
Reuben NOrkin Breaks
Down Under Third De-
gree Near Grave.
HAD RIVAL IN LOVE
Autopsy Reveals Deep Frac-
ture at Base Of Skull; Not
Wife, Says Prisoner.
HAD RIVAL IN LOVE

|
disappeared from her home at S19
East 150th street. The Bronx, last
| April 7, was found last night in an old
boiler pit in a vacant lot at East 140th
street and Southern Boulevard, The
Bronx. Wrapped In piece of burlap
sacking and with the feet tied to-
gether, the body was discovered be-
meath six feet of refuse. 1t was sent
to the Fordham morgue, where Ed
ward j. Glennon, District Attorney of
Bronx county. and DR.. Karl S. Ken
nard Medical Examiner, said after an
examination that it was undoubtedly
that of Mrs. Becker. Later the Dis
trict Attorney announced that to-mor-
row he would ask the Grand Jury to
indict the woman's husband, Abraham
Becker. a chauffeur, on charge Of
first degree murder.
Detective James I. McCartin OF the
Morrisania station found the body after
he had walked back and forth near the
boiler pit for more than an hour with
owner of welding shop at 575 South
ern Boulevard This shop is surrounded
on all sides by vacant lots. one of them
being that in which the body was dis
covered. McCartin went to the welding
shop yesterday after receiving informa-
tion that Norkin was with Becker the
day that Mrs. Becker disappeared. He
talked to the man, but Norkin denied
any knowledge of the woman.
Then the detective made Norkin go
into the street with him. He ordered
the man to walk two PAGES ahead 2bf
him. and for almost an hour ttty
marched back and forth III FROM o. tAc
welding shop, covering distance OF
about twenty feet on either side OF
the building. AS they walked McCart.n
kept repeating in a monotone:
You know where she is buried. Tell
me where she Is buried
He said this over and over. For a
while Norkin Indignantly denied that he
knew anything. Then he began to get
nervous tie asked for light He said
he was stumbling in the darkness and
presently he was stumbling and breath
ing heavily, but always the detective re.
peated:
you know where she Is buried. Tell
me where she is buried"
At the end Of "a half hour Norkins
nerves had gone hack on him almost
completely. II was then that the detec-
tive noticed that he WINGED and shrank
every time they passed the boiler pit.
SO presently the detective stopped in
front OF the pit.
We'll rest here awhile he said.
For moment Norkin stood still
ffNtm- 4 80
was afraid TO stand there.
What are you afraid Off" asked the
detective.
She's buried there o. the man gasped.
"Dig There" He Says Finally.
He stepped forward and pointed.
dig there" he said. "and you'll find
her"
Norkin was Immediately arrested.
Guided by flashlights and lanterns De-
tective McCartn and others began to
dig. Soon they found the body. which
was said by the medical examiner to
have been underground for at least
six months. and probably longer.
The police assert that the motive for
the killing was Becker's desire TO get
rid OF his wife IN order that he might
marry Miss Anna Elias Of 1857 Clay
avenue. with whom the detectives say
he has been living since his wife disap-
peared. He is also said 10 have lived
with .he woman in Cleveland two years
ago.
One Of the witnesses Is Harry Smono-
witz Of 633 Home street who told the
District Attorney that on the afternoon
OF April Becker said 20 him:
Congratulate me have Just got
rid Of my Wife
soon after his wife had vanished
Becker placed two OF his children. one
S and the other s, In Jewish orphan
asylum. Another home was found fof
the twins. years old. and then. the
police say, Becker went to live with
Miss Elias at s4i Home street.
shortly before midnight Becker was
taken from the Bronx county jail to the
Morgue where he looked at the body
and said that u was not that OF his
wife The body was dressed In gray
sweater. blue and white drcss and
black shoes and stockings. His wife
never had clothing like that. Becker
said.
Medical Examiner Kennard began an
autopsy on the body late last night.
starting on the head he found that the
woman had apparently died from deep
fracture at the base OF the skull. The
fracture had apparently been caused by
a heavy instrument
when Or. Kennard and Stetler started
TO remove the clothing a wedding ring
fell from the folds to the floor. Three
worn initials were engraved on the In
side OF the ring. Dr. Kennard put II
under magnfying glass. The only
initial apparently visible was the center
one. which resembled an "a" II could
not be said definitely, however. IL that
actually was the letter.
The discovery OF the ring seemed TO
establish, for time at least. another
temuorary link in the chain OF evidence
against Becker. He reported TO the po-
lice on April that his wife wore a
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