New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-31

were administered. Few saw the man
die He was almost as friendless IN
death as he was in life. A man came,
however, later in the day to claim ms
body.
The spectacular Becker left his wife
in the principal keepers Office after
their last meeting and was taken i'm
mediately back to his cell Keepers
McIncrncy and Fox were on duty there
with him and remained until he left
the place forever. The other men in
the death house were still awake when
Becker got to his cell, and those who
could read held a curious little service
for him. Each read chapter from
the Bible, and sometimes they sang
very softly. No man of all the eIgh-
teen could see more than one OF ms
! fellows from between the bars. About
/: 80 O'Clock they said the Lords Prayer
! in unison. Their service" was over:
"Goodby, Charlie. Good night,
! Becker" they called as the keepers told
! them 10 60 to bed.
| Becker had no thought of sleep. He
sat on the edge of his cot and talked
with Mclnerney and Fox. And hall
! way between , and 8 o'clock Deputy
Warden Johnson appeared. He went
into Becker's cell and sat with him.
They talked in low tones for an hour
and a half.
Repeats Favorite Prayer.
The two priests who have stood by
Becker during his ordeals, Father Cur
ry and Father Cashin, visited the death
house at o'clock Father Curry heard
the mans final confession. Father
Cashin went TO speak to Haynes for
time. When he returned the priests
sat on the edge of the prison cot,
Becker between them. They prayed.
81 think the most beautiful prayer in
the world is Hail, Holy Queen Will
you pray it?" asked Becker. And the
three men, sitting there on the gray
/ blanket, under the one little yellow
/ electric light bulb, chanted on:
Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of mercy,
/ our life, our sweetness and our hope,
! TO thee do we cry, poor, banished chill
dren of Eve. To thee do we send up
I our signs, mourning and weeping in
this valley of tears
"Turn, then, most gracious advocate.
/ thine eyes of mercy toward us, and
after this, our exile, show unto us the
blessed fruit of thy womb. Jesus. o
! Clement, o loving, o sweet Virgin
/ Mary"
pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.
| That we may be made worthy Of the
promises of Christ"
While the priest was still there
Keeper O'Toole entered to cut Becker's
trousers leg in preparation for the
execution. The men knew each other
well and had formed friendship. Both
felt the incident deeply. 1t was then
5:15 o'clock. Soon John Lowry, New
York lay preacher, who had been try
ing to give Haynes spiritual comfort
in fact, had been practically the sole
friend the negro had - came b.
Becker's cell.
Charlie, we know you will have your
spiritual life, at any rate" he said.
The time was growing short. Father
/ Curry spoke to Becker
"Now, Charlie" he said kindly, do
you go out of this world bearing malice
toward any one?"
Forgives Every One.
Father, ! forgive every one. From
those whom | may have wronged | beg
forgiveness" Becker said. He paused.
Then he added: 81 want you TO bear
this message 10 my friends and to the
world | am not guilty, by deed or
death of Herman Rosenthal. ! am sac
rifced for my friends"
IL was scarcely two minutes before
the time set for the execution that
Principal Keeper Dorner appeared in
the death house. He faced Becker's
cell. He said nothing-only beckoned
with his finger Becker arose hurried
ly and started out of the barred door.
He had been sitting in his shirt sleeves
and forgot his coat until Father Cashin
reminded him of it.
With the priests he walked out OF
the death house and through its new
annex. As he passed along the other
condemned mer called goodby to him
from behind the shades drawn in front
of their cells. Father Cashin and
Father Curry began the Litany and
Becker joined in with the responses.
SO they walked on into the execution
chamber itself.
The autopsy on Becker's body was
performed by Dr. +. Z. Miller, of p
Fast Thirty-frst Street; DR.. W. 5.
Bryant, of IT West Fifty-fourth
Street, and DR.. Joseph c. Stammer, Of
III West Seventy-ninth Street. The
man was found in splendid physical
condition. About noon the body was
embalmed and made ready for ship
ment TO New York.
Warden Osborne did not attend the
execution. He is opposed to capital
punishment and has not seen a man
put 10 death since he took charge Of
the famous prison. Shortly before the
execution he went for a short walk in
the country, returning about $50
o'clock. He, like Deputy Warden John
son, had been up most of the night,
and both sought their beds as soon as
possible, only 10 be up and at work
again long before noon.