The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-31

|BUNGLING AT LAST MOMENT ADDS
TO GREWSOMENESS OF EXECUTION

Tor execution. Thin p~hotograph AS
sistant Warden Johnston had announced.
would be mailed Immediately to Mrs.
Becker.
Becker made a last request, however.
that he be permitted TO wear the photo
| graph pinned to his shirt when he went
to the chair and that the picture be
buried with him. 1t was finally sug-
gested that no pin tho photograph to
his undersh!rt beneath the soft shirt
of light material which he wore when
he died.
He pinned the picture beneath his
outer shirt therefore soon after Warden
Osborne had said goodby to him. 1t
was said later at the prison that the
photograph rested on his breast be-
meath his shirt when he died and that
It would 20 into the coffin with him.
There was a faint hint OF day In
the east shortly after 1 o'clock when
Father Curry. his white head bowed
and his dark brown eyes downcast.
came dow the hill to the prison with
the young keen eyed and very popular
Father Cashin.
Some OF the witnesses who soon were
to enter the death chamber had been
talking In subdued tones In groups faint
ly discernible on the prison lawns as
Becker's las, day began TO brighten.
~ iIitll HOSt HOUSE dCTOsS lTOIl Nie
prison was sending forth a steady rattle
Of typewritins and telegraph KEYS as
evening newspaper men and their opera
tors worked on in heat that was collar
willing ever at dawn up on the second
floor.
No Sleep for officials.
Reporters and witnesses stopped talk
ing and raised their hats respectfully
as the two priests entered the prison.
The warden's offices and offices sur
rounding 1t were. and had been since
sunset. brilliantly illuminated. None of
the officials OF the prison. from Warden
Osborne and Mr.. johnson, his assistant.
down, had got a wink OF sleep. Like
the newspaper men-and newspaper
girls. too-or the TRUSTEES working as
telephone operators or at office desks,
the drivers of village automobiles which
shot back and forth from the prison
gates steadily. Mr.. Osborne had had no
sleep for almost twenty-four hours.
Daylight came quickly after Father
Cashin and Father Curry entered the
main entrance OF the prison and disap-
peared behind changing gates. \ l!ttle
group stro!ling idly up and down the
gravel roadway in front of the prison
office windows stopped suddenly and
gazed oward IN ivy covered brick wal
that separates lawns and tennis courts
from the death house.
Smoke and steam had begun to rise ir
the Frightening daylight from low stacks
Just back Of the north end OF the wall
The steam was beginning to come from
the little stock iutt!ng up from the dy'
namo house which supplies electricity %
high voltage To the death chair. Very
young men who soon were to see ;
mans life snuffed out Instantly in tn,
chair now were beginning out on th'
lawn n~crvously to light fresh cigarette,
every few minutes from half burneo
stubs.
l The group in front of the warden,
! Office could only imagine what was hap
: rening during these last few minutes II
the death house across the wall $50 fee
away. They knew that spiritual ad
visors were with the men about to Ill,
before the sun really had flushed tn
| cast-strong men in perfect health. II
the prime OF life. about TO cease to eXis
, In the snap Of a finger.
Had the waiting groups outside know
= II. Becker and Sam Haynes greeted tn
> arrival at his time OF the two priest
f, and Mr Lowry, the condemned mulatto.
I only friend, gladly, even though the.
must have realized that the arrival -
spiritual advisers meant "A quick prcpa
. ration for the walk into the death house