Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-07-30
BECKER ASSb|lS
Governor WHITMAN
DOOMED MAN MAKES FINAL
STATEMENT, DENouNcINo
EXECUTIVE.
REITERATEs INNOCENCE
WHEN NEAR DEATH
Declares Governor Guilty Of Issuing
"FouI Aspersion Of Ny Character
Predicts That Truth Will Finally Be
known-Becker Exhibits Remarkable
Nerve During Last Hours.


hope Of former Police Lieutenant
Charles Becker, twice convicted of in
stigating the murder of Herman Ros-
enthal, gambler. died when he was told
early last evening that his wife had
failed to move Governor Whitman to
grant him a reprieve. This. Mrs.
Becker asked of the governor at con-
ference she had with him at Pough-
keepsie.
Failing in her mission. she motored
here to break the news to ner husband
but it had already reached him.
Becker, it was said, had not expected
clemency Almost at the moment the
news was received he gave cut let
ter he had written to Governor Whit
man in which he attacked the execu-
tive for having. he said, given to the
news papers statements which con-
tanned a foul aspersion of my charac-
ter and for which he demanded a re-
traction
Reiterates His Innocence.
In this letter Becker reiterated his
innocence
ITO these charges and to all others.
l answer" the letter read, by repeat
ing solemnly, on the brink of the world
to which you are sending me before
my time what was my constant an
swer while in the world: ] am as inno-
cent as you of having murdered Her
man Rosenthal, of having counseled,
procured or aided his murder. or hay
ing any knowledge Of that dreadful
crime"
The alleged statements which Becker
referred to as having been credited to
the governor were that he had offered
10 plead guilty OF murder in the sec
ond degree: that Becker in letter had
said he had offered to give testimony
agains. several persons (whose names
are undisclosed) Of having shared with
me in collecting money from lawbreak-
ers"; that he had sent counsel to two
n3en arrested for completely In the
i.osentha! murder and that with
cruelty almost inconceivable, 1t is
stated that my first wife died under
circumstances warranting suspicion
that had caused her death
Becke, explained the death OF his
first wife by declaring she died OK
"hasty consumption and that no
breat.. OF suspicion had ever been
raised against him In that connection
Predicts ] fuSb WIN DC S\VS""s
Mark we'll, sir. these words OF mine.
the letter concluded. when your power
passes. then the truth OF RosenthaPs
murder will become known. But not
while your nominees remain district
artornevs and can sold the club over
| these persons.
with the aid of judges who We're
misled into mfscorceiving the testi-
| %,-io oil ,pu int TiSSfatlnE
! both to the jurt'an on appeal you
have proved yourself about to destroy
my life. Believe me. / will surrender
| # without .rancor. Not all the judges
| in the state, nor in this country, nor
the governor of this state. nor the dis
trict attorney, nor all OF them com
bined. can destroy permanently the
character of an innocent man..
| Eats With Relish.
| The letter was mailed to Governor
Whitman last night. Becker slept
we'll and ate his usual meals with
relish.
| At the suggestion Of Father William
f. Cashin, the prison chaplain. his at
torneys, w. Bourke Cochran and Mar
tin T. Manton, were summoned from
| New York and read the statement.
| Neither would discuss its contents, out
it was understood Becker subsequently
modified the original draft
All cay say is that the statement
is not legal natter Mr.. Cochran SAID.
/ Father James Curry. of New York
who has been Becker's spirltuai ao-
wiser ever since his first conviction
was one of the doomed mans visitors
during the day. He left him q prayer
book and testament marked with con-
! soling passages.