The sun. [volume], July 31, 1915, Page 3, Image 3

About The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916

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THE SUN, SATURDAY, JULY 31, 1915.
BECKER
BECKER FUNERAL
MONDAY MORNING;
WIDOW STRICKEN
Hotly Hi'oupht From Prison to
Ilronx Apartment in Auto
mobile Hcnrac.
CliOWl) AT DOOR KEPT
HACK BY POLICEMEN
Mr? Helm Lynch Becker, Charles
Hfcker'a widow, wns nlmost frantic with
grief ysterday when nil that km
earthly of the man she loved was
brought back to her from the death
house at Sins Sin.
When first the cotlln was carried Into
her little parlor she said not n, word. Her
Hps quivered, that was all. Thfn, sup
ported by her brother, John Lynch, ahe
moved forward an the black cloth covcr
lr mas drawn aw.iy. Still she did not
speak, but all tho bright color left her
cheeks. Sho took two more stops for
ward. "Poor Charley! Poor Charley!" she
whinnered.
Then suddenly nil her rent up anguish
seemed to rush over her uncontrollably,
as If notwithstanding that she had heard
from Oov, Whitman himself a little less
thin twcntyJfour hours before the words
that removed her nusuanu a last cnance,
her own last hope, ehe had mot quite
rail zed what It meant.
"Charley, Charley," she cried, throw
ing her arms about the body, still cov
ered with a gray, shroudlike cloth. "Oh.
Charley." She kissed the dead Hps
Kaln aird again, her arms clinging yet
more tightly.
For a moment nobody moved nor
spoke while- the stricken woman's voice
went on, spoaklng to her dead. Then.
her brother stepped forward and gently
led her away, both sobbing.
Innocent, She gay.
1 don't care what they say, I say
fee's Innocent." Mrs. Becker cried as she
entered her bedroom In tho rear of the
apartment, where she sat silently In her
black dress while the undertakers went
about what they had come to do.
It was a few minutes after 4 o'clock
when the automobile henrsc of William
T. Btruwc, whoso undertaking establish
ment Is at 2 West Fordham road, The
Bronx, n few blocks from tho Becker
apartment at 2251 I'nlverslty avenue,
drew up before the door. Mrs. Becker
had awaited Its coming anxiously, won
dering at the delay.
A little after noon, however, came a
message saying that the hearse, which
started from New York shortly after .
o'clock In the morning, had Just reached
Ossinlng. Mr Struwc, who went with the
hearse, said ho had to stop live times
because of tiro trouble, but expected to
be In New York aKaln by 2 :30 1'. M. On
the return trip, however, the engine went
wrong In front of Lyndhurst, Mrs. Fin
ley J. Shepard's home, and delayed him
attain. Mrs. Becker was very nervous
when finally the hearse stopped before
the apartment house, more than an hour
late.
Already her brother and her sister.
Susan Lynch, were worried about her,
fearing lt the strain and the fitful sleep
that was all she had after her return
from Ossinlng might cause her to break
down. She refused all day to see any
callers except close friends.
A crowd of perhaps 100 persons gath
ered about tho door as the hearse
stopped, and would have pushed forward
had not a mounted sergeant and two
patrolmen kept them far from the en
trance. After a moment's delay tho
plain box with Its black cloth covering
was lifted out.
The crowd pressed forward, looking
from the load tho undertaker's men were
lifting to tho shaded windows of Mrs.
Becker's apartment on the third floor.
They could Just hear a woman's muffled,
tobs from behind them, blotted out Imme
diately oh Borne one In another apart
ment struck tho first notes of a song
cn a piano. Suddenly the piano
topped ; the subs went on.
"Slowlv the black box was carried
through the door and up the stairs, the
four bearers stooping a little. The
leader of the strom; arm sauad was a
powerful man. ono remembered. For a
moment, as the body was taken Into the
apartment the front window shade waa
raised then quickly lowered.
While he was at Sing Sing Mr. Btruwe
prepared the body, doing his best to
nnba lnvlnltiln tho burns on the lore-
head mado by the electrodes. So well
did he succeed that Mrs. Becker waa
saved tho naln of seeing the brands.
Thn rnffln waa nlnced In the parlor, at
Ma head a nine branched brass candle
stick snnnorted on a heavy braes stand
int. Airn.iflv some flowers had arrived.
and soon after the hearse came a great
floral cross was brought in. None of the
family would say from whom tho llow
irs came. Instead of the usual black
t rape there wan hung on tho door a gar-
snd of nalm leaves, wniio lines uuu
irMtA nnrl mirnlo asters.
It was not until evening that any of
thn fomllv consented to see reporters.
John Lvnch. Mrs. Backer's brother,
finally stood In the doorway ot her
apartment and said that she waa In far
loo serious a condition to taw or mao
a statement.
Very Drnrr, Saya Brother.
".She has been very bravo," ho said,
"a wonderful woman, but this haa been
mur than even she could stand. Thank
heaven she didn't see the burns on Ms
Mr Lynch was told of statements In
that Mrs. Becker had
tii. I (nt hpfore her husband waa exocu
ted that sho would never rest until ahe
had cxjwsed thn methods uod by Gov.
Whltmun and some others when ho waa
District Attorney in nrostcutlng Uecker,
methods Mhn considered unjust, and that
hn had asserted at a family conference
that she wanted Mr. Whitman and these
Sam aids sued for IlOO.ouo.
Will Mrs Becker say If that Is true,
(r can you tell us whether It Is or notr
r.e was asked.
"I do not want to discuss It myself,
h answered, "and Mrs. Becker oonnot
ten anv one."
'Thus far the funeral plans are not
rompltite. Mrs. Becker Is In no con
Bltlon to discuss them much. We have
leclded. however, to Jvave the funeral
htvi At to o'clock Monday morning.
lh Hev. Father Nicholas' J. Murphy
Kill nri.i.! nt a solemn high requiem
mass at the Church of St, Nicholas of
lolentlne, Andrews avenue and Fordham
road. Burial will be In Woodlawn Come
tsry. where their little baby, who died
tfhen ho was one dny old, Is ounea.
"No. we have not yet decided on pall
bearers. To-morrow evening a few
friend, win come in. and the funeral will
tu private. Now, you must not ask me
sny more. I ennnot talk mucn now,"
tunl he closed the door. .
A little crowd hovered about the
apartment house until well Into tho
evening, watching thoso who left or en
lrd. Amonir them were two of Mr.
Hock's girl pupils of the graduating clasa
t Public School 90, 221 West 148th
Itreet. The Bronx.
"Sho was awfully good to us," ono of
tliein said. "I never had a nicer teacher.
phe used to alt still sometimes and not
DIES WITH PICTURE OF WIFE OVER HEART
Mrs. Helen Becker.
Picture of his wife worn by Chnrlcs Becker over his heart ns he was
put to death.
BECKER'S LAST STATEMENT MADE
BEFORE HE WENT TO HIS DEATH
My Dying Declaration.
GENTLEMEN: I stand before you in my full senses knowing that
no power on earth enn save me from the grave that is to receive me. In
the face of that, in the teeth of those who condemned mo and in tho
presence of my God nnd your God, I proclaim my absoluto innocence
of the foul crime for which I must die.
You are now about to witness my destruction by the State, which
is organized to protect the lives of the innocent. May Almighty God
pardon every one who has contributed in nny degree to my untimely
death. And now, on the brink of my grave, I declare to the world that
I am proud to have been the husband of the purest, noblest woman that
ever lived Helen Becker.
This acknowledgment is the only legacy I leave her. I bid you all
good-by. Father, I am ready to go. Amen. CHARLES BECKER.
thought she was thinking about him. She
told one of the girls once that having
the graduating class was the only thing
thut made her keep on teaching when
things got ho bad. Sho said sh was
afraid If she left us maybe wo wouldn't
all graduate."
few minutes before 6 o'clock Capt.
John T. Rclth of the Hlghbridge station.
In which precinct Mrs. Becker's home Is
situated, went In for a few moments.
'I Just went In to pay my respects,"
he said. "I know Mrs. Becker, nnd I
knew Charley." There was a catch In
the captain's voice.
The only other caller who was ad
mitted was Lieut. 1'atrlck Shea, who
came with his wife. Lieut. Shea e-tl-fled
that he nnd Mrs. Shea were with
Lieut, and Mrs. Becker on the night,
several nights after Rosenthal waa shot,
when It was asserted that Becker was
aiding the gunmen to get out of thn
way. Lieut. Shea would say onthlng
when he left.
Tho Hev. Father Murphy, who Is to
conduct the requiem mass for tho dead
man, la now In Philadelphia, but It was
said at the rectory that ho would return
to-morrow afternoon to consult with the
family In regard to final plans for the
funeral. Until then It Is not likely Mrs.
Bocker will go nny further with them.
EXECUTION WITNESS HURT.
Fdltor nrturnlns; Prom Sins; Slnit
nadir Injarrd In Aatn Accident.
Beacon, N. Y July 80. Returning
from Ossinlng, where he was one of the
witnesses of the execution of Charles
Becker, Charles II. Wlllloughby, editor of
the llttstleld, Mass., Daily Eagle, was
badly Injured to-day at Wapplngers
Falls, seven miles north of here, when
the auto In which he was riding crashed
Into tne side of a runanout.
Both cars were overturned and the
four occupant were burled beneath.
Wlllloughby Is the worst hurt Several
bones are fractured and he has suffered
a nervous collapse. Both cars were
speeding and came together at a cross
road.
SING SING LOWBROWS WIN.
Welfare League Klrrtlon Mar Un
seat Prison Jndge Wlllett.
Oseinino, N. V.. July 30. The ele
tlon of the Mutual Welfare League, tho
self-government organization of the State
prison, were held to-day, and the low
brows won decisively, electing 43 out
of BE delegates to tho central govern
lng body. Among the highbrows' cnndl
dates who were defeated were Burton
W. atbson, former New York lawyer.
and Hoffman Brown, also a former
lawyer.
The lowbrows In the larger committee
then proceeded to elect from tholr num
ber all the nine members of tho executive
committee. Among the lowbrows who
received this honor are Tough Tony Ma
reno, Thll Alibe, O. K. BUI Myers and
Kid Dropper Kaplan. As this committee
rule the prison court It in likely tnnt
Chief Justice William Wlllett of the
prison court will loe his Job.
A VACATION FOR YOU AND
"TENEMENT TOMMY"
We know many puny children
down In Allen, Cherry and other
crowded streets who are starving
for fresh air.
Three dollars will pay for a week's
seashore vacation for one of them.
Will you give at least one the
same health-restoring opportunity
you are going to have this summer?
Multiply the number of days you
expect to be away by forty-three
cents, send us the amount and we
will keep at least one of these little
victims of povertyf at Sea Breeze
while you are away. Send con
tributions to GEORGE BLAGDEN,
Treasurer, Room 311, 105 East
33nd Street.
The New York AnsocUWon for Improving
the Condi Uoa of the Poor.
CORNELIUS K.
BMSB, Jr..
ftMident.
3&
DEATH HOUSE LETTER
SENT TO MRS. BECKER
Inmates Write Consolation to
Doomed Man and Condemn
Capital Punishment.
Mrs. Becker late last night received a
elter written by the prisoners In the
death house at Sing Sing to her hus
band Just before his death, asserting
conlldcnce In his innocence nnd pro
testing against present penal methods
this State, particularly capital pun
ishment.
Tho letter, written on official Sing
Sing prison stationery, and addressed
'Mr. Charles Becker, Ossinlng. N. Y.,"
was composed by Hans -Schmidt, mur
derer of Anna Aumuller, In collaboration
with Carol Dranowitz, who was con
victed uf a Kast Sldo murder. Tho
document was signed by all tho Inmates
of tho death house. It follows:
't'lvuhu accept these few lines of fare
well from tho companions In misery
whom you will leavo' behind, and who
will sooner or later follow you.
Your manly behavior during the
trying days waa a sourco of Inspiration
and edification to us all.
'It Is In situations like this that
man shows his true mettle.
Wo who have lived with you through
these days In the human stockyards of
Slug Sing express to you our heartfelt
sympathy.
"Surely some day your case will oe
cited, clttd by historians of human prog
ress, ns one of the best arguments
against antiquated legal conceptions
chambers of horrors, death houtes, con
denmed cells, &c, ns conducted by the
Stato of New lork as a remnant ol
iiges gone by.
"Wo all who know you from your
actions In the human slaughter house ot
tho Umpire State feel sure that In the
couiso of time further developments
will prove to nil that the State has
killud you as an Innocent victim of cir
cumstances. "Tho Stato claims that tho sacrednesa
of human llfo must be Impressed upon
the people, while at the samo tlmo the
State Itself gives the worat example,
forcing Its employeca for a paltry sum
to help and assist In taking Uvea with
cruel deliberation and premeditation at
Slug Slug.
"Thereby the State Itself more than
any other agency lowers the standard of
publlo morals: It has a brutalizing ef
fect UR)u Uio publlo mind, cultivating
uud strengthening the lower Instincts
of man, Uio spirit of vengeance uid
blood thirst.
"Dear Mr. Becker, we who offer these
lines of farowell are unfortunate our
selves, We aro all at a loss to offer
you any consolation except tho example
of One who was executeu anu wnoso
last words were:
" 'Father, forgive them, for they know
not what thoy do
BIDDING FOR BECKER'S CELL.
Dlnyers In
Want
.Death llnnse Annex
Vacant Quarters.
Ossinino, July 30. Flvo murderers In
S ng S ng or son's deatnnouso annex ne.
gan bidding to-day for the two cells va
cated In the deathhouse by Charles
Becker and Sam Haynea, despite the
gloom cast over the prison by the exe
nrtlnn at thn two men.
Oaeto Montlmagno. slayer of Michael
Oalmerl, the politician, was' one of the
men who pleaded for Becker's cell. Those
In the annex occupy the cells once used
for solitary confinement, which are more
stuffy than thoso vacated by Becker and
llaynes. Warden Thomas Mott Osborne
will probably move the two successful
bidders from The annex to tne ueam
bouse on Sunday after the empty cell
have been cleaned.
Huns Schmidt, who was In the eel
next to Becker, bemoaned his absence
yesterday. "Boor fellow," said Schmidt
"He out ud a hard fight,
ii we miss nun rreaxiy. tmia i;&roii
"We rati him creauy," aara caroi
BUNGLING AT
TO GREWSOMENESS OF
Continued from Fir)t I'agt.
havo had tho strapping been done cor
lectly. The ndded forward bow of his body
Jerked Becker's head down slightly from
the helmet so tho leather cover
ing of tho lower part of his face slipped
far down on tho chin. Tho lower half
of his face, livid from Instantaneous
swelling and strain, bulged v.l.era the
restraining strap had slipped and un
covpred his mouth, ohln and part of the
neck. Witnesses averted their eyes.
As soon ns tho tlrst contact of sixty
seconds duration was over tho attendants
quickly rearranged tho face straps so
oil but thn lips were covered. Quickly
the guards also buckled tho chest strap
properly. During tho second and final
shocks, which lasted respectively tell
nnd the seconds, thero wns no mora
bungling.
Tho terrorstrlcken manner In which
the giant Becker went to his death and
tho hasty mismanagement of tho first
strapping wero tho details which seemed j
to stand out most In tho minus ot wnite
faced official witnesses and newspaper
men when they came from tho death
chamber shortly after 0 o'clock.
Again and again out on tho prison
lawn after Becker was dead witnesses
wero neani 10 voice incirur ici uiai iu
m... ..,.-.. ............
111(111 PVLUIIUI) IUIIhl-li UtVII HICII nim I
liar. Known uecker durinif hin most
j powerful days In tho Tenderloin and
thero were severnl such present gaepeil
with relief when the first shock of
electricity mercifully burned conscious
ness from his brain In a tlnsh.
Itiiyne stronger of Tiro.
At Becker's own request, mado a few
days ngo, he was permitted to dlo In
the chair ahoad of tho mulatto Sam
llaynes. who was put to death less than
ten minutes nftrr Becker's limp body
had been carried out to tho autopsy
room.
It sn happened, however, that In per
mitting Becker to sit In the chair llrst
thero was no violation of tho general
rule of the death chamber, wlilcli Is mat '
tho stronger of two men condemned to
die the same day must go through the
greater strain of waiting for his turn
after ho has heard the weaker prisoner
led out of the death house cell room.
I llaynes. who had a spotless record
during fifty years of his life, or until
' In u lit of drunkenness he killed Mrs.
1 John Harrlton of I'atterson. l'utnim
I county, had not received certain privi
leges granted to Becker In his last hours,
such oa the unprecedented one of taking
Becker from the death house early on
tho evening preceding his death and per
1 mining him to remain In one of tho
. prison otllces to receive relatives and
counsel until half an hour after midnight
yesterday morning.
llaynes, back In the death house, had
put In thesa hours nnd the succeeding
time up to the moment of his death
talking quietly with his only friend from
thn outside world, John Lowry, the Now
York business man who walked to the
death chair with him. llayms, when
his turn came to die, entered the death
chamber with firm step and sat down In
the electric chair with tho samo calm
ness. Mils Motionless In Chair.
"fJcntle-men." he said In a steady, fer-
vent volco to tho witnesses ranged In
front of him, "I die strong In Christ."
i nose were ins oniy wuros irum m
moment he cnnie Into the little room
until his death. Throughout the strap
ping and adjustment of the apparatus he
sat In the chair motionless txeept for u
slight movement of his lips as he prayed
silently,
Becker waa oftlclally pronoun' ed dead I
nt 5:53 A. M. nnd carried a way. Tho
r01ilil rtiiriMm'nmnnt nf Wiivn..'. ,itli '
was nnde thirteen minutes later nnd ho
too was carried to tho autopsy room
Just back of the electric chair by tho
white clad Internes of tho prison hos
pital. The statement which Becker had hoped
to mako verbally in the death chamber
until dissuaded from trying to do so by
his closest advisers waa supplementary
t.n U,,..,.,,A., VtA ..l.t.-..nJ . Ha,,
Whitman on Thursday and released for
publication that night after his lawyern ,
and others had persuaded him to tone,,'
A. .t.-.t .tt.. ..rlnl.t.il II.. n.,nl. ltl.i .t,l,,t,l-c
lhl L.nnn.i ,,,,., "Mv-
Dying Declaration.
After he had made his confession nnd
As Decker finally nave his declara
tlon out In written Instead of oral form
he therefore signed It, "Charles Uecker,"
with a fountain pen.
Ilia very last message, which h de
livered to Father Curry tlvo minutes bo-
fore, going to the chair, waa brief. It
ran:
'I am Innocent I am not millty by
deed or by conspiracy or In nny other
way of the death of Herman lloscntha.
I am sacrificed for my frlonda."
Neither Mrrpa .Nor Kat,
From tho time Father Curry nnd
Father William E. Cashln, the Catholic
chaplain, went to Fathor Cashln's houso
In ONdnlng to pet a few hours sleep
before the trying ordeal In tho death
chamber, Uecker spent his laHt seven or
elRht hours on earth without sleep or
food. After Mrs. Uecker had said her
last farewell to him In ono of tho prison
otllces at 12:30 A. M. Uecker waa con
utantly occuplod In conferences with
prison officials, In prayer or In look
ing after tho reloaso for publication of
h! final messages to the public.
Decker had left nn Inner otllco and
was back In tho death house before 1
o'clock, where he remained until a small
red door leading to the electrlo chair
room wjs opened for him at 5;42 In tho
morning, or two minutes before the first
shock was administered which blotted
consciousness from him forevor.
All of tho seventeon condemned men
In the death houso proper an over
flow of eight men Is housed In the old
but remodelled punishment cells while
twenty-five now cells nre nearlng com
pletlon were awake nnd waiting for
Decker as bo returned to his own death
house cell.
The condemned men had remained
awake so they themselves might con
duct a last religious service for Decker
and Ram llaynes and also to say their
good-bys. Their services, led by vari
ous prisoners In the death cells. In
eluded readings from tho Scripture, the
Lord s l'rayer nna otlier prayers which
altogether lasted an hour,
At 2:30 o'clock, or un hour after the
denth house Inmates had finished their
service, Uecker recelvod a most un
usual visit, considering the hour, the
length of the visit and the visitor.
Decker's caller was Warden Osborne,
who tries to avoid death house visits
unless such calls concern the prison
management In g-eneral. Warden Os
borne remained In conference with
Deckor until 4 o'clock. Rven a general
notion of what was discussed between
Mr. Osborne and Uecker during the hour
and a half they talked togcthor In low
tones could not be learned.
When Mr. Osborne had left the death
house Decker made a request that
showed the affection In which he held
his wife. A phutograph of Mrs. Decker
which had decorated the wall of his
cell had been removed, together with
everything else except his cot and
wvwrgrvu "v. - -
m r h , i" TPJ: "'Ting th" two jears or mor., and ; aperture as h opened th door very
noVr ? i iZi'.r ... ,,V J. ' Cr, J I've prayed for you often." sllchtly lie heard vole, and shutnin
CU ., ,h JSlZT f 1 11,6 "I '" ""r. ns he stood feet. Then th stout little old ward
211. ,,? m. oi'V ?l?.s fr ' "P " Kripped Mr. I.owry a hand. "Ami I pulled the door knob toward him, opened
gave out hli final brief statement. , knnw ...... . ., n,rl.,m, ,,f. ; h( ,,. ..,, Ml,nPe,i aside.
LAST MOMENT ADDS
for execution. Thin photograph, As
sistant Warden Johnston had announced,
would be malted Immediately to Mrs.
Becker.
Becker made a last request, however,
that he bo permitted to wear tho photo
graph pinned to his shirt when ho went
to the chair and that the picture be
burled with him. It was finally sug
gested that ho pin tho photograph to
his undershirt beneath the soft shirt
of light material which he wore when
he died.
lie pinned the picture beneath his
outer shirt therefore soon after Warden
Osborne had said goodby to him. It
was said later at the prison that tho
photograph rested on his breast be
neath his shirt when he died and that
It would go Into the coffin with him.
There waa a faint hint of day In
the east shortly after 4 o'clock whon
Father Curry, his white head bowed
nnd his dark brown eyes downcast,
came down the hill to tho prison with
tho young, keen eyed and very popular
Father Cashln.
Some of the witnesses who soon were
to enter the death chamber had been
talking In subdued toneB In groups faint
ly discernible on the prison lawns as
Becker's last day began to brighten.
Tn ,ma hoiM, nou ncr0 from ,
-prin waK ndng forth a steady rattle
of typewriting and telegraph keys
telegraph keys as
evening newspaper men and their opera
tors worked on In heat that was collar
wilting even at dawn up on the second
floor.
So Sleep for oniclnl.
Reporters and witnesses stopped talk
ing nnd raised their hats respectfully
ns tho two priests entered tho prison.
The warden's offices and offices sur
rounding It were, and had been Blncn
sunset, brilliantly Illuminated. None of
thn officials of the prison, from Warden
Osborno and Mr. Johnson, hli assistant,
down, had got a wink of sleep. Like
tho newspaper men and newspaper
girls, too or the trusties working as
telephone operntors or at office desks,
the drivers of village automobiles which
Hhot back and forth from tlm nrlon
p!Xtes steadily, Mr. Osborne had had no
dtep for almost twenty-four houis.
Daylight came quickly after Father
Cashln nnd Father Curry cnterej the
main entrance of the prison and disap
peared behind clanging gates. A little
group strolling Idly up and down the
gravel roadway In front of the prison
office windows stoppe 1 suddenly and
gazed toward an Ivy covered brick wall
that separates lawns and tennis courts
fiom tho death house.
Smoke and steam hail begun to rise In
the brightening daylight from low stacks
Just back of the north end of tlm wall.
Tho steam was beginning to come from
tll0 llttlo stoc,5 lutt!llB up from llu. lly,
namo houso which supplies electricity of
lilgli voltage to tho death chair. Very
young men who soon were to see a
man's life snuffed out Instantly in the
chair now were beginning out on thn
lawn nervously to light fresh cigarettes
every few minutes from half burned
stubs.
The groups In front of the warden's
(ilUi'o could only Imagliio what u'.is hap
pening during these last few minutes In
the death houso across the wall IMi feet
away. They knew that spiritual ad
visers were with the men about to dlo
before thn sun really had Hushed the
east strong men In perfect health. In
jth prime of life, about to ceabe to exist
oi ui rutiii m .t iiiiKrr.
Had the waiting groups outsldn known
It. Becker and Sam llaynes greeted tho
arrival at this t.me of the two priests
fitt.l M Ijiu-ri. ,1, ,, . ...i, I.,. it.,. .,,,l.,,u
onlv friend, ciadlv. even thoiich thev
liilKt IliiV., rMl(r...l tlvit tlm ..rrl.,,1 ..f
spiritual adviser meant a quick prepa-
rauon ior inc w.iik inio tnc uoam House.
SpenU Words of t'herr.
The young nnd the older Catholic
priests had a word of cheer and spiritual
hope for Sam Hanes, 1'iou slant, when
they went Into the death cell tow; audi
.Mr. Lowry, a Methodist, who does not
even so much us suggest to the con- i
tlemncl men ho works with that they i
Join his chinch (Just as Father
Curry, who llrst knew and grew to like
Becker when the then polkem.in was i
a Lutheran, never nrkeil 11,-cker to em-
ice the Catholic faith) went Into
Becker's cell with a last serious word.
(!ood-liy. Charlie." .Mr. Lowry said to
Becker, who was Hitting on Ins cot be-
Hood-by."
Tho most beautiful nraver In the
l athollo Church, Decker said then,
turning to Father Cnshln and Father
Curry, when Mr. Lowry had gone on
past three coll doom to Sam llnynes's
cell, "la tho Halve lteglna. Will you
both say It over with me 7"
Decker nnd th priests knelt on the
cll tloor together, and In soft tones
whlspeied tho prayer which begins
Hall, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy!
Our life, our sweetness nnd our hope!"
Decker at this tlmo had received com
munion and under the i tiles of tho church
he might break hW f.ist and eat break
fast. Ho did not want breakfast. H
had told Assistant Warden Johnson so
after Mr. Johnson had com Into the
death houso to shake Decker's baud for
the last tlmo,
"lod In permitting me to die," said
Docker to Father Curry Just after ho
had received communion, "must have
soino wise design. Father. I must bo
dying for come purpose di His I don't
know -what."
Prnyrrs for thr Dylnir.
The priests began to say th prayers
for the dying then and HivKtr Joined
in where he could.
"My Lord and my Ood," Decker and
tho prlebta snlil In unison as tjiey be
gan the prayer which brings with It
nn Indulgence granted by Dope I'lus X.,
"oven now ond willingly nnd cheerfully
I accept -whatever form of death Thou
wilt be pleased to send me, with all its
anguish, sorrow and pain,"
Jim O'Toole, a blueclad guard, be
tween whom and Deckor nn especially
strong friendship had grown up because
of O'Toolo's kindnesses to the condemnod
man nnd especially to Mrs. Decker, came
to the cell door hesitatingly and entered.
Decker, who worn hln soft shirt with
soft collar of grayish -white, black trous
ors and blnck allk socks, advanced his
right leg without being told.
O'Toole, -without a word, silt the right
leg of tho black trousers quickly up to
tho knee. Ho carefully cut a slit In the
leg of Decker's underclothing at th
right ktiee also. Then he rolled up tho
Blashed trousor let and bared the kne.
Following tills ho shook hands with
Deckor and left thn cell silently. This
was at C :1G o'clock.
A few seconds before Kill o'clock Act
ing Principal Keeper Fred Dorner for
tho first time In his llfo came to a con
demned man's door to tell him to wnlk
out to the electrlo chair. Decker, ashen
pale now, arose and made a movement
forward -without further signal than
merely a glanco of the eye from Dorner.
Father Curry wns about to pee his
first electrical execution and, as he snld
later, he feared ho would weaken, espe
daily ns tho man about to dl had been
his friend for so many years. Ho stopped
Decker, who with tho terror of death
now gripping him had begun mechan
ical y to walk out ot mi ceil.
i-,an t.s .,uiu -- UAn. fon ..ft, .fi.i k onro iiirouiiii an ui' ji
EXECUTION
out from this death house bearing mallco
toward any one?'
"Father," answered Becker In the
strained voice which a few seconds later
was to begin to tremble so violently, "I
forgive every one. From those I may
have wronged I pray forgiveness."
Turn Ilnek for Coat.
"You'd better put on your coat,
Charley," Father Cashln, who has seen
many men go from the room to death,
said after a pause as Becker again led
the way coatlcss. Becker turned back
to his cot and obeyed.
Tho shunting of feet out on the south
veranda of Warden Osborne's quarters a
few steps from the death house could be
heard by tho condemned men. Assistant
Warden Johnson was out there on the
porch telling In whispered tones almost
two sooie of men to form In lino. A few
minutes before this Warden Osborne,
who at the last minute had changed his
announced plan to spend tho night and
dny in Manhattan, had put on a golf cap
and started off with head bowed and
hands clasped behind him. Mr. Osborne,
who does not believe In capital punish
ment, slowly climbed the grass terraces
across the road from the prison nnd dis
appeared over the brow of the hill.
Some of the physicians, the official
witnesses and tho newspaper men
grouped on the veranda had begun to
remove their hats. There was light
enough now for a moving picture man
to set up his tripod. Following orders
from Warden Osborne the guards com
pelled the moving picture man to take
his machine wny before he had got
pictures of the lino of witnesses filing
down thn porch steps nnd through the
small door In the Ivy covered wall
which admitted them to tho condemned
nun's everclse ground between the high
wall and tho death house,
"Walk quietly, please, and don't talk."
Mr Johnion cautioned tho witnesses In
a whisper "When you pass through
this wall door you will be Just outside
of Becker's cell. He's In there still with
the priests nnd will hear you."
Two by two tho witnesses and re
porters entered the death chamber. Mr
Johnson cautioned them not to speak
nnd not to try to lenvo the room, once
the condemned man had entered It, until
the prisoner was pronounced dead. .
Two lines of stiff backed benches were
stretched across the rear of the death
chamber. These two rows of bench
were quickly hut quietly tilled. Back
of the second bench n line of men stood
along the south wall.
Ten Feet From Clmlr.
Ten feet In front of the middle of th
first bench was the electric chair not i
a macslvo chair as many think, but of
light but solid con.- ruction. Heavy
strips and loops of leather dangled about
Its legs of tawny ellow and from the
chair arms. Five steps to the rlcht of
the chair as on faces It Is a small red
door which lead. Into th old death
chamber, now being remodelled Into an
extra cell house, and then on Into tho
cell room where Bicker already was be
ginning his walk to death.
To bright llu-hts blazed high up on
the gray celling of the ne death houe.
A step back of th chair and to tho left
was a long lever agalnM the wall, with
an electric switch above It.
Dr. Charles N. Farr, th prlon phvsl
clan. and his assistant. Dr. Henry
Merencsj". Jr., wcie waiting beside tho
electric chair
Anlst nit Warden Johnson was stand
ing against the gray plastered wall near
' ",0 -mall led door,
his cnin in ni neni
gazing thoughtfully
ll'llld .H"l ll'.S CCS
at th floor. Around th cilalr were
Etotiped four guards in blue uniform".
ovh ready to strap an arm or a leg to
"'' oll Ur . .......
A heavy twl"led wire, thickly' In
sulated, dangled abnvn the chair. Then
tuck of th chair a mall. alert man.
l.ild ev.-ept around th temples, and
wearing a Cray co.it and trousers, a
s'ripei shirt, no aitco.it. a polki dot
tie and newly polished patent leather
shoes, looked over the switch and lever
In a buslne-sllko way. He was the
Stat electrician. At his own request
his name never is given out for publica
tion. Over neir th red dnor leading to the
rel's a -hort, r-dy pol little gu ml.
while haired whpi he wasn't bald,
peeked from tlm to tune amid the ec
w ide
silence inrougn an
1 Decker cam Into the r"om, hut not
thn Uecker thn reporters present nan
known in th days vvnen tno ponernu
hcvd of th strong arm squad domi
neered In the Tenderloin. Ills body
seemed shrunken nnd his face showed
fear. There were two priests In long
black cassocks, reading th litanies In
steady, but subdued voices, and between
them walked the doomed man.
One lg was bare from ths kn down
to the top of the blnck sock nnd the
slashed trouser leg had been rolled up
Into a knotty bulge. It wasn't the old
Decker, but a shadow.
II had bem directed Into th chair.
Glial ils droppid down on one knee and
strapped app.n.itui to either anklo In
seconds that seemed minutes. Other
guards ns quickly kvvuiik and buckled
strap that fatened his wrists to the
arms of the cn.ur. a guaru reaencu
from behind nnd dtmv his head back.
The helmet was pressed down on his
head and the dangling wire connected
with It. , M
Decker's weakening voice and the
voices of tho prie'ta weie th only
sounds, Leather shut out his sight sud
denly forever Allium tho last tones he
was phjslcilly able to utter came from
lips that showed idlghtly between tha
uppor and lower leather face bands.
The alert but unperturbed electrlclnn
looked over Decker's head to want Dr.
Farr. A slight hand movement by tho
prison plivslnan told the electrlclnn that
nil was ready. The electrician leaned
forward and watched Dicker's chest us
thn now sightless man In th chair tried
for tho last time to pray. When a mo
ment later tho electrician noted Decker's
chest nt tho end of an exhalation the
electrician shot over a long lever In
stantaneously. Father Curry turned
away his head from strnps thnt had
creaked sharply.
A few minutes later a, telegram, as re
qulied by law, was being sent from the
wai den's olllce. It was to (!ov. Whit
man and rad :
"CharlPS Decker nnd Pamuel llnyns
have been executed In conformity with
th law this morning, Thomas Mott
Osborne, Warden."
FORD TO TAKE N. Y. CONVICT.
Prisoner, .Si-nfencr fonunntt-il, to
Work In A ut I'Bi-tury.
At.rant, July 30. Henry Ford Is tn
get another New York State convict for
reformation In his automobile works In
Dstro t. upon representations irom .nr,
Ford, Oov. Whitman commuted to-duy
the sentence of Chnrles Wilson, n. young
Drooklyn stenographer, so that he will
be released from felng Sing prison to
morrow.
Wilson was sentoncrd December 11,
1311. to a term of from five to nlno
vears and ten mouths for assault, first
i.WS U W fivfiO ft woo,! jjnsoflW,
l
The Equitable is a
worthy home for the New
York Law Institute Library
The New York Law Institute, by its decision to
move its Law Library into the new Equitable
Building, has selected quarters and facilities
well worthy of an institution of its particular
dignity and character. .
Heretofore, the rather inaccessible location of
this -great library in the Post Office Building
has militated against a full enjoyment of its
benefits, nor were its old quarters consistent
with the importance of its advantages to the
legal profession.
In the Equitable Building, however, this won
derful storehouse of law literature will be so
centrally, so conveniently situated, as to in
crease its use by members and licensees, and to
enhance the attractions of membership toothers.
Obviously, the use of the Library is
restricted to members and licensees.
Building now open for tenants
Equitable Building Corporation
120 Broadway
MANTON PREPARES
ATTACK ON WHITMAN
I'ubHcntion Depends on An
swer Governor Mnkcs to
Lawyer's Telegram.
FAIHXKSS TX QUESTION
Locked up In oh of the desks In the
office of W. Dourko Cockran and !ar
tin T. Manton. Decker's lawyers. Is a
statement which has been carefully pre
pared by Mr. Manton for publication,
nnd yet may nvr see the light of day.
It Is un attack on Oov. Whitman for
several things which Mr. Manton be
lieves tho (Jovernor has said or done,
and Its release for publication depends
on the inihwcr Mr. Manton receives
from tho (Jovernor In response to the
following telegram, sent yesterday :
Th U'orM In n despatch from
Albany reports you saying: "To
Decker's denial that he had agreed
to make revelations of grafting tho
(Jovernor said Martin T. Mnnton had
given him a statement containing thn
names of tlvo men, two dead and
three living, who were implicated In
th grafting."
Did you inak this statement or
authorize, it .'
Answer prepaid.
ManTis T. Manton.
Will Wnlt for Answer.
Tho Oovernor's answer was not re
ceived when Mr. Manton's office was
closed for the day, but Mr. Manton
said he would wait a proper length of
time for the (Jovernor's answer. Other
newspapers besides tho U'orM printed
practically tho same Albany despatch,
but as Mr. Manton said:
"Suppose thu liovernor denies h
said anything of the kind, ns he has
denied saying that Decker offered to
plead guilty to murder In tho second
dcgicc, what would bo the use of giving
out the statement?"
Mr Manton refused to say yesterday
t wnetner ne nan given too uovcinor in
names in live men who snareci m
Decker's graft. "It will all be In thn
statement," he said, and refused to say
more. Dut those who havo been meet
ing him dally for thn last few weeks
and know something of his feelings ex
pec that his forthcoming statement will
deal with live jirlnclpal points, which
Mr. Manton will say Indicate that the
(Jovernor has not ncted fairly. Three
of them concern statements attributed
to tho (Jovernor In Albany despatches ;
ono other dtfhls with an alleged state
ment by tho Governor to Mr. Manton
that Joseph Murphy, the Sing Sing con
vict whoso afllduvlt was a featuro of
tho last resort to the courts to savu
Decker's llfo, was not In the Tombs
at the time ho said ho had overheard
a conversation between Vallon, Webber
and Ilosn Indicating that they planned to
frame up Decker. Subsequent Investi
gations by Mr. Manton disclosed that
Murphy was actually In tho Tomba
when ho nald he wan.
Trllmtr to flecker.
Mr. Manton paid a tribute to
Decker's courage yesterday. He saw
Hooker Thursday afternoon and said
that Decker's last wordi to him were an
assurance that he had neither piocuied,
Instigated or had anything to do with
any plan to kidnap, asault or murder
Herman Rosenthal,
"How could any man mak n state
ment llko Deckers last and he guilty?
ho demanded About reports that Mrs.
Decker will devote her life to exposing
tho methods by which her husband was
convicted Mr. Manton said:
"1 know that has always been her
frame of mind."
Mr. Cockran had not rgalnd his
conipnsmo when ho reached his oftlc.
Reporters asked him nboiit th Alu.my
story lh.it Mr Manton I-nil offered to
tell Gov. Whitman tho names of flvo
men who shared Decker's graft, nnd Mr.
Cockran answered by dictating the fol
lowing :
"I am not going to enrage in a con
troversy with any man who traduces the
dead. If Gov. Whitman has the names
of flvn mn, why doesn't he make them
known?
"Am legards this phase of the case
you would better see Mr. Manton about
hat, for he was the ono who had tho
eonvms.itlou with th Governor As a
matter of fact, however, tr.e Governor
asked Mr. Manton If Decker would lm
plicate a man who to-day holds public
olllc. Mr. Manton said he didn't know
whether Decker know anything about
the mm, and that ln Mnnton, only
came to the Governor with the offer
from Decker that he would go on the
wltnes stand and tell the whole truth
Mnnton said ho wan not In a position
to answer such a question,
"Isn't It a terrible thing that Becker
was scut to his death without a chance
of having the Judgment nf the last
ootirt reviewed by an Impartial au
thority? ,
"Tho Rxecutlve to whom the l.w gives
ultimate decision wan the vr' officer
who prosecuted him. What a pity that
he didn't submit tho record for the te
view ot nuch minds -io those of Kllhu
Root or farmer. eWol Judg Cullenyt
HISTORY OF MURDER
FOR WHICH 5 DIED
Tli roe Years and a Fortnight
Since Herman Rosenthal
Was Killed.
MANY
LEGAL
MOVES
Three years and a fortnight have
elapseil sln-o Herman Rosenthal waa shot
to death on tho sidewalk In front of the
Metropole, nnd In that tlmo tlvo men
have paid the penalty for the crime In
the death chair nt Sing Sing. With
Decker's execution yesterday tho legal
curtain seems to havo b'en rung down
upon the case, n cause eclcbre In the
criminal annals of this city.
It waa early In July. 1912, that a
policeman was placed day anil night In
side of Itosenthal'-i gambling house nt
101 West Forty-fifth street to keep him
from opening up. On July 13 Rosen
thal's resentment took tho form of an
aflldavit published In a newspaper ac
cusing Decker, partner tn his gambling
house, of persecuting him. District
Attorney Whitman had Rosenthal heforn
him two days later, heard part of his
story ann arranged for him to come
back the next motiiing, Tuesday, July
16. to finish and swear tn his charges.
About 2 o'clock (hat morning th
gambler was called from th Metropole
testaur.int nnd shot 'to death on the
sidewalk by th four gunmen.
Dut for tlm fact that a vaudeville
actor named Gallagher had caught the
number of th big nutomobll In which
th gunmen sped away, th clime might
still be among New York's unsolved
mysteries. That number 41313 N. Y.
obtained by Mr. Whitman, disclosed
th owners of the car, Llbby nnd
Shapiro, and led to thn disclosure by
them that It was Jack Roe, gamblr
and graft collector, who hud hired It.
After that the detection nf th criminals
moved on qulekiy nnd unerringly.
Rose surrendered himself two days
after th murder, Webber nnd Sam Paul
three das later Vallon and Decker's
friend Jack Sullivan also wero caught
In the District Attorney's net, nnd on
July 22 Mr Whitman gave out tho
names of tli four gunmn Gyp tho
Dlood, Lefty Louie, Whltey Lewis and
Dago Frank Clroilcl.
Decker was Indicted nnd arrested on
July 29 after Mr. Whitman hnd ob
tained the confessions of Rose, Wchbor
and Vallon.
Th search for the four gunmen went
on nil over the country for several
weeks. Dago Frank waa arrestod In
a Harlem lint Whltey Iwls In thn
Catskllli nnd Gyp the Dtood and Lefty
Louie In u Rldgownod Mat.
Decker vv.us put on trial Octobr 4.
1912. Jto.s", Welilier and Vallon, al
though under Indictment themselves,
took the stand against Decker on thn
priiinlso that If they told the 'truth they
would not be, prosecut'd. Sam Schcpps,
arrested at Hot Springs, Aik., though
not an accomplice, i-orroborntcd Ros.
Webber nnd Vallon Th tlrst Jury took
eight hours to decide Chat Decker was
guilty.
,Tlu gunmen were tried a month
later, convicted, practically on the same
testimony, und executed on April II,
1914. Dago Frank boforn going to th
chuli- made a confession, given out
by thn w.uden, that hn bid rot been
engaged iu tho nctunl killing, which wan
done, b said, by tho thren others. Ho
also said that so far as ho knew Decker
had nothing tn do with It.
Tlm Court of Appoals granted Dnknr
a new trial largely through dl-watls-f.ictlon
with thn character of the testi
mony concerning the Harlem i-onfrnce
at which Decker ordered Rosenthal
killed.
Reck!7.! second trial began May 6.
1914, and at this Jainns Marshall, a
negro, former Mool jilgeon for Hecknr,
oJTered further cnrro)irat!v evidnncn
of th meeting. Decker wms found guilty
for tho second tlmo on May 22, 1911.
and his conviction this time ns upheld
by the Court of Appeals on May 2S last.
Tho last move, outside of the final
appeals to Justice Ford nnd the Gover
nor, was an effort to have his oase re
viewed by tn I'nlted States Supreme
Court, which was refused.
LAKE HOPATCONG
C TOMORROW -Also Every
Sunday end Holiday
Lr, W. IU St. f .S3 : Lv. Llb'ily St. 1 .00;
Lr, Jackion Avr,, JmryCuy, Q.I7a,m,
Lv. Bioid St., Neomk, 8, JO a.m.
MAUCH CHUNK
TOMORROW
m sin l'w 3M8l.ll JOj Llb.ity St. g.Mi
91 .DO Jickioil Ave, Jril-y City, 8.7 l.tn,
Biod St., Ntwjik, 8.1S a.m.
HARD COAL NO 8M0KK COMFORT
lay word f or (wo or tnreafainuUhffi