Jasper County Democrat, Volume 15, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 August 1912 — LIEUT. BECKER IS HELD FOR MURDER [ARTICLE]

LIEUT. BECKER IS HELD FOR MURDER

New York Police Officer Is Placed Under Arrest. ENTERS “NOT GUILTY” PLEA Three Men Held In Connection With Slaying of Gambler Rosenthal Reveal Secrets of Crime to Authorities. New York, July 30—Police Lieut. Charles A. Becker was indicted by the grand jury last night, arrested, arraigned and sent to the Tombs on the charge of having ordered and planned the assassination of Gambler Herman Rosenthal, who was shot down by assassins in front of the new Metropole hotel fourteen days ago. The indictment charges murder in the first degree, and comes as a result of confessions made by “Jack” Rose, “Brldgy” Webber and Harry Vallan. Becker Hounded Gamblers.

Each man swore separately and without qualification that Becker hounded them for weeks to “get Rosenthal.” It was even brought out that Becker expected Rose to bring about the killing of Rosenthal many days before fbe crime was committed. When Rose failed to meet with expectations a conference was called between Webber, Vallon, Rose and Becker at a Harlem resort, at which Becker said:

“This man Rosenthal has lived too long. You fellows must get him. Rose has failed to pull the job off, as I expected.” Turning to Webber, Becker is quoted as exclaiming: “Now, Webber, you men have got to do away with Rosenthal. Since Rose has failed, it is up to you to give the sign. You have got the money.” Monthly Graft Was Big. The witnesses admitted that Becker had been collecting graft from gamblers for a long time. Rose said he had been the collector. Webber and Vallon bore out this statement by telling how much they had paid Rose each week for police protection. The total amount collected each month was admitted to be large. Rose, in confessing his guilt and the details of how the murder was planned, made a pitiful plea for mercy. He said:

“It was necessary for me to obey the orders of Becker. It was the only way in which I could make a living. We (referring to the gamblers) considered him the biggest man in the police department. *Becker told me in the presence of others at the last conference when the killing of Rosenthal was discussed, that if we didn’t do away with this enemy, he would place pistols on us and send us to prison for seven years.”

i Name Actual Slayers. The three witnesses all testified that the men who did the actual killing were “Gip the Blood,” Lefty Loewy, Whitey Louie and Dago Frank. “Gip the Blood,” whose real name is Harry Horowitz, was arrested at Turnersville, Greene county, New York, last night and Dago Frank has been in the Tombs for the last three days.