The Alaska daily empire., 1915-07-30

eleetroeuted ln the death chamber of Sing Sing prison at 5:45 o'clock this morning for instigasing the murder oi Herman Rosenthai, a gambler.
 Life was pronounced extinct at 5:47 o'clock.
 Becker died with cross tn his hands. His last words were: "Jesus, have mercy on us.' He met death without finehins, carrying out his de- termination to "die like a man."
 To satisfy the provisions of the law Warden Thomas Mott Osborne yesterday evening invited 27 persons 60 be present as witnesses as to the regularity Of the execution.
 The electric current was turned on while a priest stood on either side of the condemned man. chanting a lit- any. As the electricity flashed through his body the watchers shrank back from the chair. Two persons tainted.
 Becker went to death with a photo graph of his wife pinned on the out side Of his shirt.
 ASKS GODS LENlENcY.
 Becker left a statement proclaim ing that he was absolutely innocent and asked God to pardon everyone who "contri5uted In any degree to my untimely death7 His tribute to his wife. Mrs. Helen Becker, was a beau tiful farewell Co her.
 His statement was as follows:
 "This is my dying declaration. Gentlemen. stand before you. In
 my full senses knowing that no power on earth can now save me from the grave that Is to receive me. In the face Of that. in the teeth Of those who condemned me- and in the presence Of my God and your God. ] proclaim my ab- solute innocence Of the foul crime for which ] must die. You are now about to witness my de- struction by a State which Is or ganized to protect the lives of the innocent. May God Almighty pardon everyone who has contrib uted in any degree to my untime- ly death and now, on the brink of my grave. declare to the world that ] am proud to have been the husband Of the purest noblest woman that ever lived Helen Becker. This aeknowl- edgement is the only legacy can leave her. ] bid you all good bye. Father am ready to go. Amen" lt was signed Charles Becker
 Wife Pleads for Life.
 Mrs. Becker made her final plea for her husbands life. to Governor Charles S. Whitman last night She said. God knows Charlie is no saint. but he is not the foul murderer you would have the world know. he is not the arch-slayer that you have branded him. There is nothing to tell. only that ] know he is innocent Messages received last night from Ossining stated that Sing Sing prison was never more sombre than last night The silence in the prison em- phoszed Che pail that seemed to en- ve'op the "condemned section" Beck or was kept in a cell not far from where his four gunmen. who were electrocuted for killing Rosenthal. were incarcerated while awaiting ex- ecution. A strong watch was kept over him. His wife was with him un- til early this morning and he slept but little
 Three Death Warrants.
 lt was on July 16 that Becker es- capped the electric chair for the third time. Three death warrants had been made out. and the third one which was to have been put into execution that morning would have brought the death warrant three years to the day rom the killing of Rosentha in front of the Meuopole Hotel from the gray murder car But reprieve was granted All hope for Becker centered In the belief that the informers who testified against him would recant at the last moment and eNonerate Becker.
 Rumors at that time were circul- lated that Rose. Weber. Schepps and Vailon were ready to go back on their testimony. if 1t could have been done in such a way as to shield them from prosecution.
 Most Sensational Crime
 Herman Rosenthars murder was the most sensational gang" killing ever committed in New York. It oc- cured in the heart of the tenderloin district. Rosenthal. noted gambler and the storm-center Of the city's gambling scandal was shot to death. His murderers used a heavy touring ear to make their getaway
 For three years previousiy the po- lice and Rosenthal had conducted bitter leud and the gambler had brought serious charges against Lieut. Becker of the New York police only Q few days previously It was this frf r- A -- lr e. - a.