davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-02-25
CITY CHAT
tAdvertiscmentsj

tAdvcrtiscmeutsJ
Buy n home % Rsidy Bros.
For express. call William Trefz
Tri-City Towel Supply company.
Independent Express 4 Storage
r / ss1.
Wear s. funion madel hat. Mems
Fashion shop. Harper house block
Pay taxes AZ room 80. State Bank
Building. Open Saturday evenings.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-02-25

s % ~ G. unusually
choice selections I'm
this lot Of spring and
winter coats 4 MUM
BIER Of pretty evening
effects. most season
able Girls misses and
women who wear sizes
81 and 80 can ind
wonderful values I'm
this lot. closing ont for
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-02-25
ASSOCIATION TO MEET
AND DISCUSS PROJECTS

Tho S1lfturst Improvement aeeo-
r.ariou VIII hold q meeting ar Joe
Ec1relv's store corner % Eleventh
and Aiken streets. 90 s O'Clock tomor-
rUu evening
tre session is rhr diecu sion o. plans
for extension % gas mains and public
Improvement into the territory.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-02-25
Values up to SASS.

Here % q choice selection OF -
beautiful waists. Fancy and
plain ussssalires. laces. nets.
c=spes- Colors are blue. brown.
black and white. Also a few
elegant Irish linen waists. hand
embroidered All 20 for
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-02-25

a number Of most
fashionable ia K G I
length evening and
silk coats, principally
IN green. black, blue
and purple also about
q half dozen ail-wool
spring and winter
" Gig Int garments.
Sizes 81 so and 80.
Closing out for
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-02-25

7 viii rot be responsible for any
debts contracted hy anyone except
myself after this date.
Feb. -. 1918. ERNEST De MAUE
(Advl
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-02-25

Beas1a- Tl-Afrer serving a. post
master % Hsason for IS years. George
Garry resigned this week IN order 20
become president o. tie hank % Bea-
sol
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-30
Becker 10th Slayer to Die
in Electric Chair at Sing Sing
Ex-Polce Lieutenant Biggest Man, Physically and Pc
liticaly, to Meet Fate There of Any of
100 Sentenced Since 1891.

with a bullet hole in it, were found
floating in the Hudson River. II is
presumed that one got afraid to cross
the Hudson in raging storm and a
fight followed in which they shot each
other with the revolvers they took
from the keepers.
Albert T. Patrick, the lawyer. had
the longest record of imprisonment in
the death house. After six years there
his sentence was committed Roland
Molineux and Dr. Kennedy were the
two foremost prisoners to be released
by new trials. Mrs. Madeline ferola,
the only condemned woman ever COM
mitted 10 Sing Sing, had her sentence
committed by Governor Whitmah
The first man to die in the chair in
New York State was Harri son Smiler.
lie was executed by Warren Brown
July IS. 1891, with james Slocum,
James Wood and Skukeck Jugiga.
William Lingley, Of The Bronx was
the one hundredth man executed.
Principal Keeper Connaughton, who
died two years ago. saw a. even hun
dred men go TO their d"atn, the exc
cution OF Lingley being the Iast he
supervised
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-30
INNOCENT" SAYS
BECKER TO FRIEND

A letter received from Charles Beck
er yesterday nv member of the uni
formed Police Department was made
public on the condition that the name
of the recipient be not disclosed. The
letter said:
my Dear Friend: | read your letter
to my noble wife. | am deeply CRATE
full to you for your kind words of SYM
patty for her, the best woman that
ever lived. am now going to tell you
once more that am as innocent as you
of this reeking crime. No matter
what you may think, the truth of my
words will become clear as crystal
when the light breaks through on the
ghastly murder. | am sure the day
will come when my most bitter enemies
will no longer doubt my assertion of
innocence. Please give my regards to
your family and all inqulring friends.
Tell them | say no innocent man need
fear 10 die. That is my mainstay.
now bid you last, fond farewell. May
God bless you and keep you safe, is the
prayer of your doomed friend
CHARLES BECKER"
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-30
GAMBLERS BUSY
AGAIN In CITY
Confined from page J

sands of dollars change hands across
the green tables each evening.
After some conversation with O'Nell
one of The Tribune men suggested that
he would like to sit in poker game for
little while. The proprietor of the
saloon demurred. 1t was hardly regu-
lar, he said. The applicant was not a
member OF the club. Still, he would
porter upstairs, where he was welcomed
with open arms.
The room was splendidly furnished
The hangings were rich and harmonl-
Gus. The carpets were heavy and thick.
The pictures and statuary which were
placed along the walls were in excellent
taste.
Cigars were offered the newcomer
Did he care for a drink? Wouldn't hi
like some lunch? Anything in the
house was at his service. This was a
strictly square game. 1t was ionest
all the way through. IL was necessary
that he understand that.
IL was necessary that the reporter
understand it-more than that, believe
the announcement with the faith of d
child When one loses Sl2 in less than
the same number of minutes, through
the simple process Of some one else
holding straight every hand, some
thing stronger than mere understand
ing is necessary still to believe in the
integrity of the game.
When the last dollar had been Of
fered up TO the most unrelentini
luck" ever a player was logged with
The Tribune man withdrew from the
game. The manager OF the place came
forward with the manner Of a heaC
waiter and suavely hoped that he wa.
satisfied. On being assured that HI
was. the manager renewed his offer o.
food, drink and tobacco. reiterated tina
il was a strictly ION the level" game
and ushered his guest out with the hope
that he would return again.
On Sixth Avenue near Twelfth STREE
another gambling joint masqueradinc
under the bizarre title OF THE Flower
and Feather Social Benefit Club" ha:
been running full blast for weeks
Jacob Luban. witness for the state III
the Becker trial. 4oses as the presiden,
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-30

of the organization, and it is due t.
him in part that the club houriShes
so openly.
At any time of the afternoon or
evening, a hundred men may be
found in the club. reaping social
benefit" from the poker, crap and stuss
games. In the afternoon the races are
also played heavily. Patrolmen look
the other way in passing the place, or
else come out openly and direct
wanderers to it.
Back of Jacob Luban stands Dollar
John" LANCER. or Langerman. notorious
in gambling circles in New YORK.
Luban himself has a twenty year
sentence for forgery hanging over his
head. He barely escaped Sing sing
and he is now out on certltcate oil
reasonable doubt.
In spite of the hold-off policy Of the
police. formal precautions are taken
before the stranger can break into the
confines Of the club. Cards arc issued
By all members and these must be pre-
sented to the watcher at the door be-
fore entry can be obtained.
1t is easy for the non-member to
meet one Of those eject 70 receive so
cial benefit" at any of the nearby
saloons. The club members are anaole
and are willing to place the wagers
Of the uninitiated on certain horses,
for a small commission. If a novitlate
appears to have money and a guileless
disposition. the rest is easy.
The rooms of tie club are on the
second floor of the building. The win
dows are coated with green paint. on
which is blazoned, Flower and Feather
s. B. c." To all outward appearance. il
is a business house. When one climbs
the stairs, this illusion is removed. On
the landing stands a guard. In front
OF the heavy barred doors. stands an
other. Once past these, however. and
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-30
FRIDAY UNLUCKY DAY
IN BECKER'S CAREER

Charles Becker long had a super
stition that Friday was an unlucky
day for him. When he was about TO
start from Sing Sing TO New York
for his second trial he said: IL am
glad that YOU did not come for me
on Friday"
Here are the important Becker
case dates that fell on Friday:
July IL, 19l2.-Herman Rosenthal
made public his accusation of graft
ing against Becker.
October Is. 1912 tmidnighD -
Becker found guilty of the murder
of Rosenthal.
May %. 19l4.-Found guilty the
second time.
Nay %, 1914.-Sentenced to death
by Justice Seabury. Asked that he
be not taken TO the death house the
same day friday.
July 23.-Justice Philbin issued
order directing the District Attor-
ney 10 show cause before Justice
Ford why new trial should not be
granted.
July 30.-Becker's execution day.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-30

o'clock" said Mrs. Becker. Only her
heavy breathing betrayed her emotion
and showed how keenly she felt the
disappointment. She had no doubt that
II she saw the Governor she could con-
vince him that he ought to reprleve her
husband until the fall, if not pardon
him.
The lawyers knew it was Becker's
last day on earth. They knew Mrs
Rocker was setting out to do the I'M
nossible to convince Mr.. Whitman IN
a few minutes that man he twice
convicted of murder in the first degree
and whose guilt he never doubted was
innocent.
She could not understand why the
Governor was not at the executive
chamber or at the mansion. After the
fruitless telephone call she and the
LAWYER held a whispered consultation.
Then Mrs. Becker called up Mr.. Man
ton. He was in New York. She told
him that were she to wait for the Gov
ernor she probably could not reach
Sing Sing in time to bid a last farewell
to her husband, should the Governor
refuse to reprieYe him.
After several hours wait word
came that the Governor would see
Mrs. Becker at the Nelson House, IN
Poughkeepsie. In minute, accom-
panied by Mr.. Johnston. she was in the
street. She saw Photographer and re-
tired to the lobby. She no longer tried
to smile. The despair that seized her
was pictured on her face.
Mr.. Johnston called a taxicab. and
then he escorted her to the machine.
She tried to keep the lawyer between
herslf and the photographer. She en-
tered the car and reached the depot in
time to take the 1857, which would
reach Poughkeepsie at 5:3O.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-30
Wife Plays Final Stake;
Loses Precious Last Hours
Mrs. Becker, Knowing Futity Of Appeal, Squanders
Day in Search for Governor-Nleets Defeat.
with Set Face and frightened Lips
By EMMA BUGBEE.
By EMMA BUGBEE.

one chance in a thousand. Governor
Whitman would not pardon her nus
band. She knew it. To ask him was
the hardest thing that has been asked
of her in all these three years. Yet
she took the sporting chance.
Mrs. Becker had said repeatedly that
she would never appeal to Governor
Whitman. She said it six weeks ago
when the plea for third trial was
denied She said it again at midnight
Wednesday when Justice Ford refused
the last appeal. That was at md
night, however. There was a long
sleepless night yet to come.
IL was then that she threw her pride
into the heap along with her faith and
happiness and youth that have been
demanded in payment of her husband
crime. This pride was born OF hatred
If the man Who convicted her husband
The one thing she never could do, she
cried. was to ask favor OF Governor
Whitman.
In the hot, sleepless night, however
even pride was sacrificed TO her hus-
bands life. She started for Albany on
the first morning train.
Life and Death Race.
Then there developed the last OF the
TRAGEDIES connected with this affair. \
trim TO Albany is not usually a day
tourney. When il is a matter OF llfe
and death. as in this case, 1t can be
done in few hours. Even ordinary
convenience was denied Mrs. Becker
While her husband waited alone IN ms
death cell she had to chase Governor
Whitman up and down the state ne
had left Albany yesterday morning ,ol
n visit to Camp Whitman, thirteen miles
below Poughkeepsie.
Mr.. Johnson's telegram. saying tha'
Mrs. Becker was coming, did not reacA
Albany until too late to hold the Coy
ernor. Camp Whitman is practically
inaccessible by telephone.
Bv the time William A. Orr, secre-
tarv 10 the Governor, had reached MN
ON the wire it was too late for Mrs.
Rocker TO catch a train to PoughKeep-
sic until 3 o'clock. Four hours were
wasted in an Albany hotel. The Gov
ernor and Major Moore reached the
Pouqhkeepsie Hotel shortly before
o'clock. and Mrs. Becker arrived soon
after. ploughing their way through the
crowd of Poughkeepsieites IN front OF
the hotel. A. m
Even then it was denied the woman
"a make her plea. She must wait
cIenching her teeth, while the men
talked OF legal technicalitles when she
knew could be of no avail. Inc only
thing which could have saved Charles
Becker was his wife's broken heart
laid At the feet of the man who broke
it-and this, it seemed, was not enough
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-30

1T Washington Street, February 6,
1925, by the Rev. j. II. McGeen, of st.
Peters Church, corner of Barclay and
Church streets. Mrs. Becker caught
cold on the night Of our marriage.
at settled on her lungs, and ten
days later she was treated by Dr.
Turner, Of 80 State Street; later by
Dr. Cook, of III West Twelfth Street;
by Dr. Rockwell, of the Roosevelt Hos
pltal or the Vanderbilt Clinic; also by
DR.. Loomis. the tuberculosis specialist
and by doctor in Jacksonville, Sulli-
van County, whittier she had been re-
moved on account of her disease.
Mrs. Becker died in her fathers
home on October IS. 1895, and WAS
buried from St. Peters Church, and
lies in Calvary Cemetery.
'No breath of suspicion was ever
raised against me as to my wife 5
death, for any one knew that the cause
was hasty consumption.
"Her father, Jeremiah Mahoney, now
lives at Roseville, Newark, n. j.
"Will you, sir, disarm this hideous
imputation while | remain alive, or
must | go to my death with so foul an
aspersion on my character without op-
portunity to meet and refute it?
ITO this charge and to all others
that may be formulated or insinuated
| answer by repeating solemnly on the
brink Of the world TO which you are
sending me before my time what was
my constant answer while in the world:
| am innocent AS you of having muir
dcred Herman Rosenthal or of having
counselled, procured or aided his muir
der or Of having any knowledge what
ever of that dreadful crime.
Mark well, sir, these words of mine.
When your power passes, then the
truth of RosenthaPs murder will be-
come known. But not while your nom.
inees remain District Attorneys AMI
can hold the club over these persons.
With the aid Of judges who were mis-
led into misconceiving the testimony
offered on my trial and into misstat-
ing il both to the jury and on the p
peal you have proved yourself able 20
destroy my life.
But. believe me, | surrender il with
out rancor. Not all the judges in this
state, nor in this country. nor the Gov
ernor of this state, nor the District
Attorney, all of them combined, can
destroy permanently the character Of
an innocent man.
CHARLES BECKER"
AS first prepared b. Becker. tn
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-30
PSALM BECKER READ
ON EVE OF DEATH

Among the passages OF Script
ure which Father Cdshin, chap
lain at Sing Sing, recommended
Becker to read jolloWing has con-
fession and communion 1Cos the
Fiftieth Psalm, Of icbich the fol-
lowing portions seemed TO hare
special application TO The circum-
stances:
Have mercy upon me. o God, ac-
oording to thy loving kindness:
According 10 the multitude Of thy
tender mercies blot out my trans
gressions.
Wash me thoroughly from mine
iniQuity,
And cleanse me from my sin.
For acknowledge my trans
gressions:
And my sin is ever before me.
Against thee. thee only have !
sinned,
And done that which is evil in thy
sight:
Hide thy face from my sins
And blot out all mine iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, o God;
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-30
Mrs. Becker RaCked
by FruitleSS Vigil

From stan Correspondent of The Tribune.I
Albany, July PA group of laugh
ing children were playing in front Of
the Hampton Hotel here few minutes
before noon to-day. In the old-fash-
toned entrance of the hotel stood sew
eral idlers. All at once the men in the
doorway stopped chatting. They
stepped to one side TO permit a sad
eyed little woman to enter. The chill
dren in the street stopped playing.
Initiating their elders they looked after
and pointed at the woman. Some one
recognized her and had passed the word
that she was Mrs. Charles Becker.
She passed into the domed Office of
the hotel, gloomy place on the bright
est days, and stepping into telephone
booth called up the executive cham
bers When she came out OF the booth
she was trying TO smile at her com
panion, John B. Johnston, of w. Bourke
Cockran's Office.
"They say he left town over an hour
ago and is reviewing the troops at the
state camp and won't return until 7
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-30

Mrs. Becker played the last day oil
her husbands life against his death 30
and lost. The priceless last hours
which she might have spent at MS
aide she souandered on railroad trains,
in dingy country hotels and taxicaoS'
From 8 o'clock yesterday morning II
almost midnight she was trying to ma
Governor Whitman.
She met him finally at . o'clock "
Poughkeepsie. after the Governor ma
motored I'D from Camp Whitman, and
she had wasted the whole day travel
ling first to Albany and then back 10
Poughkeepsie. ,..
The mercy plea lasted for almost
two hours. Mrs. Becker sat alone IN
dark room most of the time while her
LAWYER. John T. Johnston. went INTO the
Governor first with the last iegai re-
sort of Becker's counsel.
He asked Governor Whitman 20 grant
an extension of time until OCTOBER TO
hermit an appeal from Justice rord
decision that he had no power TO grant
new trial.
This failed. Then Mrs. Becker went
10 the Governor and laid her broken
heart at his feet.
No one knows what she said or how
the man who sent her husband TO the
chair framed his refusal to pardon
him. All the world knows is that very
soon the Governor hurried out, MS lace
stern and set. nh
Then the military aids and Pough-
kecpsie policemen cleared the hotel cor
ridors. a private side exit was opened
and while a whirring taxicaD walteu'
Mrs. Becker hurried out
Her lips were shut very tght, her
face was burning, and her eyes were
black with defeat.
IL was then the tenth hour, before
her husband must die. II was 40
o'clock, and the hour OF the execution
was 5:45. There was no tram from
Pouphkeepsie for more than an hour.
Mrs. Becker sprang into the taxi.
cab and ordered the chauffeur to speed
to Sing Sing. II is a distance OF forty
five miles. so that two more precious
hours were wasted on the dark country
roads. Twice they lost their way IN
the mountains about Peekskill.
Through it all, through the tension
of the day and the despair OF the night
Mrs. Becker never lost her selt-con-
troll. The magnificent nerve which she
has shown for three years reached ITS
climax yesterday.
Where a weaker woman would have
Welded to defeat and snatcEed the
thing of which she was sure her hus-
bands last day-Mrs. Becker played the
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-30

Perusal of Sing Sing prisons death
house records yesterday showed that
Charles Becker was the lleth mar put
to death in the electric chair. Becker,
in the death house two years and nine
months, is called the biggest man,
physically and politically, ever exc
cuted
The electric chair was introduced as
means of execution July rs, 1891,
exactly twenty-four years before
Becker lost his last chance TO escape
the death penalty through Justice
Ford refusing him a new trial.
While the chair has beer in use 100
condemned men have occupied the
death house and one conderneI wom-
an. OF this number ll6 have paid the
death penalty, thirty-two escaped 1t
by new trials, seventeen hac their
sentences committed TO life inn rison-
ment and two cheated the law by at
lacking keepers and ESCAPING
Those who broke out we've Csllister
and Roll. who escaped "a 1898. A
week afterward their bodies. each
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-30

the whole joint is at your service;
Dollar John" sits at a table at one END
of the room. II the visitor seems free
with his money and given 70 p.unging
the power behind the gambling house
is only too willing to confer card, the
possession of which makes one a full
fedged member of the organization. .,
But the Flower and Feather ). b. I.
is not content to remain in existence
simply by the sufrerance of toe police.
Inspired by the immunity which has
been his, Luban visited District AttoT,
ney Charles Perkins a short time ag9,
and asked for official Endorsement Of
his enterprise, saying that he was a
member of a social club which was
threatened by police persecution De-
cause of his presence within the organ
iZation.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-30
GERMAN U.BOATS
SINK TWO SHIPS

London. July 29.-The bels"a
steamship Princesse Marie JOSE o.
1858 tons s.ess burden, was 'OfP'
doed and sunk to-day BY a GermsI,
submarine. Twenty-one members "
the crew Of twenty-five were saYeS. II,
The Princesse Marie Jose was oun
at Hoboken, Belgium, in 1909: Inc E
sci was 299 feet long, Al feet pea"
and Is feet deep. s,
The Swedish brig Fortuna also VS. Ss,
torpedoed and sunk in the North -, -
bv a German submarine, according ~
a dispatch from Copenhagen 70 tn Tss
Exchange Telegraph Company ~"
crew was saved. h,,dsn
! The brig was 303 tons gross ouf''"
and was built in 1873.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-30
WIFE MAKES LAST
PLEA FOR BECKER
Continued from page !


power being placed with commits
sion" he was asked.
mo" he replied quickly, straighten-
ing up. II think the pardoning power
should lie with the Governor"
Mr.. Johnston bade the Governor
qoodbv and passed into the room in
which Mrs. Becker still sat. A moment
later she slipped out side stairway
and entered a waiting motor car to go
to Sing Sing for last farewell with
her husband.
The Governor denied vigorously to-
night that he ever told Charles Is.
Pitt that he intended TO pardon Becker
if he became Governor.
Mr.. Johnston declared tonight in the
presence of the Governor that he never
knew of Becker offering to plead guilty
to second degree murder. Mr. Whitman
said positively that any quotation from
him in the effect that Becker had made
such an offer was unwarranted, but he
added he would not deny the truth Of
such statement.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-30

statement ran full three times its pres.
ent length, but Father Cashin ana
Deputy Warden Johnson, after reading
it over, advised revision. 1t was too
bitter. Becker did not wish to change
il. but when his lawyers arrived he
talked with them. They spent much
time with him while he made altera-
tionS.
Although Becker began work on the
statement early this morning, 1t was
not until nearly $3.50 o'clock tonight
it was handed out for publication
through Mr.. Johnson.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-30
GUILTLESS, BECKER
TELLS WHITMAN

Continued from page I
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-30
Arrayed in Death Suit.

He locked a different dgure then
fror. any other time Deputy John
son ever saw him. There were no
gray prison trousers, no shirt of thin
striped cotton. Instead he wore a suit
of black. and soft gray flannel shirt.
Hi. hair cropped close TO his scalp like
= ANAL b Us made his big face sQuarer