New-York tribune., 1922-12-23
Jury Out Just One Hour
After Judge Issues His
Charges; Sets Record
in Bronx County Court
Denied Charge
To End of Case
Woman's Body Found in
Pit, Arrest of Mate
Made Shortly After

A jury IN the Bronx County Court
early this morning declared Abraham
Becker guilty Of The murder OF his
wife, Jennie, whose body was found
on November 20 last In q disused
boiler pit IN vacant lot at the inter
section Of lssth Street and Southern
Boulevard, the Bronx.
The expected climax 10 the trial,
which broke oil records for a night
session in Bronx County, came at l;47
o'clock. The jury retired at 12:47
a. m, after Judge Gibbs had charged
them on the issues Of the case for
ffty-fve minutes. Before the verdict,
which was returned after exactly one
hours deliberation, Becker maintained
his poise and appeared more cheerful
and confident than at any recent pc
Rod Of the trial.
Becker Has Firm Grip on Self
As the foreman Of the jury pro-
nounced the word guilty" Becker's
face paled. He showed no outward
signs OF distress, although his face
twitched slightly and his Adams apple
worked as n he were on .he verge Of
breakdown. To the end the con
vieted slayer held his feelings in strong
control.
Judge Gibbs remanded Becker for
| sentence until Tuesday morning
Afterwards It was learned that on the
hrst ballot the jury stood eight for
conviction. first degree murder; one
for conviction, second degree murder
and three for acquittal. The verdict
carno on the third ballot.
Alexander Mayper. Becker's counsel,
summing up for the defense. eontended
that the prosecution had failed def
nitely TO establish the identity Of the
body as that Of Mrs. Becker. He con-
tended also that there was q posi-
bility that Mrs. Becker had not been
killed by her husband, but By Reuben
Gorkin, Bteker's friend, who Is charged
with completely in the killing. Mr.
Mayper attacked the testimony OF
/ Harry Monstein with reference to an
alleged confession made BY Becker TO
MOnstoin, and referred 20 Monsto.n as
a stool pigeon" and "a viper with q
snakes heart"
The defense and prosecution rested
at 5;29 o'clock and Judge Gibbs de-
clared a recess until p. m, announc-
Ing that he would charge Immediately
sfter/summatlon and give the case 70
l the jury.
Denial Piled on Denial
All day long Becker fought for his
! life, denying, protesting, contradict
| ing, as Assistant District Attorney
Cohn approached the crime from every
angle IN a vigorous cross-oxamination.
His STILL inscrutsble face was wolf
like in It's secretiye cunning. Under
its tight-drawn layer Of skin the skele-
ton outline was plainly limned. His
! blue-suited figure rested languidly IN
the chair, knees crossed, hands pick
4 ing at each other. In the morning,
when his wife's clothes we're produced,
his natural pallor became a sickly
gray and he seemed about 70 collapse,
but as cross-eXamination began nc
pulled himself together and was calm
the rest Of the day.
Denial was piled on denial. He did
not kill his wife and he did not think
Reuben Norkin killed her, he said,
/ denying at the same time he ever told
the police that Norkn was her slayer.
He would admit nothing. II the qucs-
I tion was especially biting a flicker Of
his staring. bulging eyes would record
| his interest, but there was no visible
reaction 10 the main part Of the cross
examination.
Does Not Identify Clothing
lie left the witness stand 20 ex-
anime his wife's clothing at a window.
One by one he lifted the garments
a house dress, a gray sweater. coat,
lingering them carelessly. A crimson
sunset flooded the courtroom and
bathed the prisoner In it's vivid dye.
He would Identify none Of the ragged
pieces Of clothing. His wife had a
sweater--yes, but he knew II was dark
brown. He never noticed the color OF
her coat, although she had only two.
And as for her hair-well, he would
call II a dark blond.
Mr.. Cohn insisted that he carefully
examine a lock Of his vifes hair at
the window. Becker held It calmly,
turned his protruding eyes slowly 10
the Jury box, drew back his lips IN
fanglike smile and said;
~No, IL is not her hair. 1t Is TOO
Her wedding ring was bought In
England. where they lived for several
Years. When II was handed 10 him nc
couldn't be sure II was the ring his
vviSe wore. He was shown the marriage
license application, which he obtained
in 1920 70 marry Anna Elias, ana aa-
mitted having applied for u.