New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-31


watched day and night by a prison
guard, Familiarity known as the death
watch, and permitted to see only his
counsel. the prison physician, a chap
lain, if he desires, and immediate mem
| bers of his family. These last may
come only within three feet Of him, a
curtain of steel mesh wire intervening.
Ten feet from Becker's cell is the
death chamber, with the chair in which
| he is doomed to die and when he Is
! permitted to exercise daily in the three
| feet of space between the tier of cells
and the wire screen he can see the lit
tie green door through which he has
been sentenced to pass.
There are ten other condemned per-
sons in the death house. On Becker's
left is the cell of Corporal L. Spohr,
United States soldier, who killed his
sweetheart On his right is the last Of
the empty cells on the ground floor,
and two PAGES further to the right is
the little green door There are five
other empty cells in the death house.
They are on a gallery just over
Beckers cell.
Just before Becker alighted from the
train he told several newspaper men
that he was glad the formalities at
tendant upon his conviction were about
over.
II will he free man yet said
! Becker. Il will fight this conviction
to the highest court in the land If nec-
essary. / was deprived of my consti-
tutional rights, and if the conviction
is not set aside by the Court Of Ap-
peals-and l am firmly convinced 1t
will bel will take the case TO the
United States Supreme Court.
Il did not even have A fighting
chance"
Becker intimated TO friends on the
train that Alton B. Parker would prob
ably be retained to argue the case on
appeal.
81 will not lack funds" said Becker.
Two influential friends have promised
to bear any legal expenses caused by
my fight against this unjust verdict"
Hastens to Wife's Side.
After the sentence Of death had been
pronounced upon him he Joined his
wife in the Sheriff's room just before
going across the Bridge Of Signs. He
kissed her and then left her while he
talked with Sheriff Hamburger beyond
her hearing. When he returned he
said:
'Dearie, / can stay here only two
days"
"Why can't you have temp asked his
wife. 1.-THE law gives them to you
mo. IT is optional with the Sheriff.
He will let me stay only two"
Sheriff Hamburger nodded.
mo. | don't want you to go up there
on a Friday" said his wife, with
shudder.
81 think myself I may go up to-day
and have It over with" said Becker.
1t wac only a question Of few min
utes before Becker was placed In the
"BIack Maria" which tore up La
fayette street, past Police Headquar-
ters. and stopped only when the Grand
Central Station was reached.
To Live Near Prison.
Accompanying Mrs. Becker, who VIII
make her home In cottage at ossin-
ing within walking distance OF the
nrison. where John Becker, the con-
demned mans brother his wife and
patrolman Charles Shepherd, who was
IN Becker's staff when he raided
Rosenthars gambling house
Becker was surrounded by a large
crowd that had been waiting Tor the
train. which had left New YORK at
II 20 and arrived at Sing Sing at LILO
o'clock. Mrs. Becker, accompanied py
Lieutenant John Becker and his "'ie'
drove up to the prison in -FOUR
wheeler.
Sheriff Hamburger walked his prls-
| oner nv a short cut TO the prison, with
noisy mob at his heels and on either
| side.
This walk was apparently a terrible
| ordeal for Becker. He seemed on the
no,nt OF utter collapse. Sheriff Har-
L,,-o.r could have put him into car
Il - A.ad