LIEUT. BECKER'S WIFE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 305, 21 December 1912, Page 17

LIEUT. BECKER'S WIFE.

WOMAN'S ASTOUNDING STORY. HER LIFE HISTORY. On many points, the Old Street (London) Magistrate was on Saturday, November 2, informed the astounding story told the prevlons week by a woman who ciaimed to be the wife of Lieut. Becker, tne New York police chief, now lying under sentence of death, had been corroborated by the inquiries which had been made. It will be remembered that the court missionary was asked to provide food and shelter for the woman pending inquiries during the week, as she asked to be furnished with means to get back to New York; and a report was now brought forward by Mr Massey which threw some light on the bona fides of the woman, whilst some details were contradictory. Thus she had stated that she was taken by Herman Rosenthal (the man for whose murder I>ieut. Becfaer stands con and put upon the s.s. California on July •JS. Inquiries showed that the Oalifornian left on the 21st, and that the vessel which left on the 20th was the Columbia. On the other hand, she correctly gave the name of the doctor (Parr) of the California, but not of the stewardess. The missionary had ascertained that when she applied nnder advice, in London, to the Church Army, she gave the name of Gallagher, but, soon afterwards, it was discovered that some of her underclothing was marked "Mary Becker." The report from the Church Army states that it was quite impossible for the woman to have read the newspapers and the New York story while In their home, and so have prepared herself to bolster up her tale. Asked by the Church Army authorities to explain the different name, she said she was divorced from Becker, and so had taken the name of Gallagher, which was the name of her mothers second husband— an inspector still employed, she states, on the New York underground railway. At an early age, she says, she went on the stage as a chorus girl, but, later, became more prominent, and was known as Molly McGhop. her portrait in well-known plays frequently appearing. She also took part, And sang and danced, she says, iv entertainments on the steamer coming to England. It was while engaged on the stage Becker conrted her, and the marriage ceremony was gone through before a Rabbi, as | her mother was a Jewess. There was a cnild born of the marriage, and the Church Army has communicated with a Mrs McGowan and a Dr. Millar (both of New York State) respecting it. Mrs Becter furnishing the addresses as well as several others, which the Church Army secretary remarks "were evidently correct, as the police were able to see the persons referred to." On the whole, there is great corroboratiou of her story, and the magistrate said the assistance given to the woman would !tie continued temporarily. It was also stated that the proprietors of an illustrated paper would pay the woman's fare back to America, and that parties acting on behalf of Becker were acting to Secure her return, as a witness.