The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-08-04
BECKER IS PUT TO DEATH; =.
DIES In ELECTRIC CHAIR
Police Lieutenant Goes to His Maker
Proclaiming and Reiterating
His Innocence.

Charles Becker was put to death
in The electric chair at Sing Sing
prison at Ossing, n. F., Friday morn
ing for the killing of Herman Rosen-
thai, the New York gambler. The
former New York police lieutenant
retained his composure and protested
his innocence to the last. He went
to his death with photograph OF
his wife pinned on his shirt over his
heart. Three shocks were given be-
fore the prison physician pronounc-
ed Becker dead at fve-ffty-fve
o'clock.
Becker led the way. to his own exc
cution. He sat up all night on the
edge of his cot, calmly talking to
Deputy Warden Charles H. Johnson.
81 have got to face it" said Beck
er, "and I am going to meet it quiet
Iy and without trouble to any one.
To Father Curry, Becker gave his
last message as he took his place at
the head Of the little file of men that
marched to the room of death.
His. message read:
"I am not guilty by deed, or con-
spiracy, or in any other way of the
death of Rosenthal. I am sacrificed
to my friends. Bear this message to
the world and my friends. Amen.
The one-time police officer hesi-
tated as he entered the execution
room. It seemed to the witnesses as
if he was startled that the death
chair was so near at hand. He look
ed quickly at the double row Of wit
nesses, glanced at the floor, swept
with mis- eyes the whitened walls OF
the room and then suddenly, as II
coming to himself, walked briskly
over the rubber mat and seated HIM
self in the electric chair.
"Jesus, Mary Joseph, have mercy
On my SOUL" nervously spoke Becker
as denuty wardens stepped forward
and adjusted the electrodes. Hardly
q minute elapsed before the electrode
was applied to the right leg, a Slit
having been previously cut in the
trouser leg from the knee down.
After the electrode had been firm
ly adjusted against a shaven spot on
the back of the condemned mans
head the state executioner looked at
Deputy Warden Johnson who survey
ed the figure that was still mumbllng
the death prave- in the chair. John
son half turned his head and the exc
cutioner jammed the switch.
The first shock lasted a full min
ute and the executioner said that 1t
was eighteen hundred and fifty volts
and ten amperes in strength. It
came while Becker was still COM
nending his soul to his maker.
The two prison physicians stepped
forward to examine the collapsed tlg-
IRE supported in the death chair BY
the thick black leather straps. The
stethoscope was applied to the heart
md DR.. Charles Farr, the prison ply
,ician. pressed his finger against an
artery in the neck. There was still
feeble fluttering of the heart.
The physician stepped back from
The rubber mat and again the electric
current pulsed through the body.
The shock. lasted seven seconds: Al
ter a hasty examination, DR.. Farr
asked that a third shock be given.
This lasted five seconds. An examl-
nation that took several minutes fol-
owed. Three physicians among the
witnesses then made an examination
and DR.. Farr. at five-ffty-fve O'Clock,
quietly announced:
"I pronounce this man dead.