CONVICTED.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16559, 25 May 1914, Page 8

CONVICTED.

?.. THE BECKER CASE. By T»l«graph— Pr«i» A»soci*tion —Copyright.

NEW YORK, May 22. ' Police-Lieutenant Becker has again been .found guilty of complicity with . gunmen in the niurder of Rosenthal, a policy informer. . . At the second trial tho jury stated that unquestionably Becker assisted in the murder plot, and the death sentence must again be imposed; (Received May 24, 5.5 p.m.) NEW YORK, May 23. Becker’s counsel has announced that he will appeal against the death sentence. Several jurymen were in tears when the verdict was being announced. > Rosenthal was the keeper of a gam*. • hlin'g saloon in New York, and had to pay tribute, to the police to prevent raids on his place. It is supposed that Rosenthal had promised to give the authorities information of this system of blackmail, and Becker accordingly was said to have arranged to have him “removed.” Rosenthal was shot down by a'gang of “gunmen;” four of whom, in addition to Becker, were found guilty of tho murder. The testimony against i them was practically tho same as that ! against Becker, and they. were electrocuted in April. “This means the beginning of tbe ,end of gang rule in New ,■ York,” remarked District Attorney Whitman after the conviction of the four.' “From now on this office will pusli the case of every man arrested as being a ‘gangster.’ They will receive no mercy, and public opinion, that has 1 been aroused by the killing of Herman Rosenthal, will support the prosecuting officer in his. endeavours to remove these pests from? tbe city.” Becker was himself sentenced to the chair, and was to have been electrocuted in November, but his appeal for a new trial was allowed.