Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1913-09-03
CAPTAIN OF DEATH HOUSE"
Becker Heads Little Squad Who Are
Waiting ElectrocutiOn.

4NS" YIN, aug EI.-" lJnln
twenty feet of the dceth chair at
Sing Sing prison eleven men await
ing their call to pay the penalty ;or
murder in the first d egree have ac-
claimed former Police Lieutenant
Charles Becker, convicted Of murder
ing Herman Rosenthal the gam
| bier, as 'Captain Of the death house"
Out of Difference to William An
thony Grace and "Happy Jack" Null
raney, who until their electrocution
| shared with Becker the popularity
| or the death house, the fOrmality Of
| selecting captain was deferred un-
til after the removal" Of Grace last
| Monday.
| Becker, the four gunner. Francis
w. Muehficld, who with his cousin.
William Lingley, murdered Patrick
Burns, Bronx saloon-keeper, and
JOS. j. Mckenna, the murderer Of
siX-ycar-old Sigred Eckstrom, of the
Bronx, constitute the majority Of the
death house inmates. Muehfeld is
the veteran Of the group and insisted
their commander.
Leave it to Charlie" Muehfeld
said when Whitley Lewis" suggest
ed that the death cell colony should
have their hair closely cropped for
the summer months.
Lefty Louie" Rosenberg and "Da-
go Frank" Ciritici were in favor of
close slaves, but "Gyp the Blood"
Horrowitz dissented. McKenna was
also opposed to the idea. The for
mer police lieutenant took the mat
ter under a6visement and then gave
a decision against the suggestion
made by Whitley Lewis" The POM
padour style Of haircut was then
adopted by the gunmen.
THAT looks classy" remarked
Mrs. Lefty Louis, when she next vis-
tied the death house. and her hus-
band bowed in the direction Of the
former lieutenant.
Becker Is visited by his wife and
brother every Thursday, while the
four gunmen have their relatives at
the death house on Tuesdays. Lee
DOCK and Eng Hing also have guests
on Tuesdays, but Yung Hang, who
Is member of a rival Chinese So
ciety, has his visitors on THURSDAYS.
Pietro RebacCi, the youngest men,
her Of thn
Is barely nineteen years old, and who
was convicted Of a black hand mur-
der in Westchester, with Dominick
Gerdvine, who killed a cook in the
Middletown State Hospital, are MI
pils or Becker in the grammar class
which he has organized. The gum
men are also students when not oc-
cupied writing names Of cities for
the geographical contests.
Whatever feeling existed between
Becker and the gunmen after his
conviction has been dispelled entire
~ in the death house, where every
man is companionable. The former
lieutenant is always called "Charlie"
and the gunmen are referred to by
their first names.
Il never heard the name of 'Gyp
the Blood till | read it in the pa-
pers, Horrowitz said to one of the
death house visitors.
MY game, Charlie" Whitley Lew
is occasionally heard to call to
Becker when he wins a game of
checkers. Lewis is the champion
player and at times plays against
two opponents.
Your move, Harry" Becker may
be heard calling to Gyp the Blood
during one Of the games.
Charlie, what does the word
abundance mean?" Lee Dock calls
to Becker
'That means plenty - much
Lee" the "captain" Of the death
house explains.
'Then | have abundance work to
do for the spelling lesson" Dock re-
turns.
Dago Frank Cirifici was recently
called on to act as vocal instructor.
with Gerdvine and Rebacci and Gyp
the Blood he formed quartette.
Eng Hang and Lee Dock constructed
paper flutes with which they furnish
ed the music. Since the concerts
were arranged for every afternoon
after supper the members OF the
deatn house colony have learned all
the latest song hts.
Th hrnI1orl, L-af L.