The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-31
BECKER FUNERAL
MONDAY MORNING.:
WIDOW STRICKEN
Body Brought From Prison to
Bronx Apartment in Auto
mobile Hearse.
CROWD AT DOOR KEPT
BACK BY POLICEMEN

IF h'A'' 49,
Rockers widow. was almost frantic with
erlef yesterday when all that was
earthly of the man she loved was
brought back to her from the death
house at Sing Sing.
when first the coffin was carried into
her little parlor she said not n word. Her
lips quivered. that was all. Then. sup
ported by her brother. John Lynch. she
moved forward as the black cloth cover
ins was drawn way. still she did not
sneak, but all the bright color left her
checks. She took two moro steps Tor
ward
whispered.
Then suddenly all her pent up anguish
seemed to rush over her uncontrollably.
a. n Notwithstanding that she had heard
from Gov. Whitman himself a little less
than twentyLfour hours before the words
that removed her husbands last chance.
her own last hope, she had not quite
realized what It meant.
Charley. Charley" she cried. throw
tng her arms about the body, still COW
cred with a gray. shroudlike cloth. "Oh.
Charley" She kissed the dead lips
again ard again. her arms clinging yet
more tightly.
For a moment nobody moved nor
spoke wnlls the STRICKEN woman ; NoiCo
went on, speaking to her dead. Then
her brother stepped forward and gently
ied her away. both sobbing.
Innocent. she Says.
Il don't care what they say. I say
he's innocent Mrs. Becker cried as she
entered her bedroom in the rear Of the
apartment. where she sat silently In her
black dress while the undertakers went
about what they had come to do.
II was a few minutes after 4 O'Clock
when the automobile hearse of william
Struwe, whose undertaking establish
ment is at . West Fordham road, The
Bronx, n few blocks from the Becker
apartment at 229l University avenue,
drew up before the door. Mrs. Becker
had awaited its coming anxiously, Won
dering at the delay.
A little after noon. however, came a
message saying that the hearse. which
started from New York shortly after .
o'clock In the morning. had Just reached
Oss!ning. Mr. Struwe, who went with the
hearse. said he had to stop five times
because of tire trouble but expected 10
be in New York again by $50 +. NJ. ON
the return trip. however, the engine went
wrong in front OF Lyndhurst. Mrs, Fin
ley ]. Shepard's home. and delayed him
again. Mrs. Becker was very nervous
when finally the hearse stopped before
the apartment house. more than an hour
late.
Already her brother and her sister.
Susan Lynch, were worried about her.
fearing lest the strain and the ftful sleep
that was all she had after her return
from Ossining might cause her to break
down. She refused all day TO see any
callers except close friends.
A crowd OF perhaps 100 persons gath
cred about the door as the hearse
stopped. and would have pushed forward
had not a mounted sergeant and TWO
patrolmen kept them far from the en-
trance. After a moments delay the
plain box with its black cloth covering
was lifted out.
The crowd pressed forward. looking
from the load the undertakers men were
lifting TO the shaded windows OF Mrs.
Becker's apartment on the third moor.
They could just hear n woman's muiieu
sobs from behind them. biotted out imme-
diately AS some one In another apart
ment struck tho first notes OF q SONG
on a piano. Suddenly the piano
stopped the sobs went on.
SLOWLY the black box was carried
through the door and UP the stairs. the
four bearers STOPPING a little. the
leader of the strong arm squad was a
powerful man. one remembered For q
moment, as the body was taken into the
apartment the front window shade wa
raised-then quickly lowered.
While he was at Sing Sing Mr.. struwe
prepared TIE DOuys uoihb hs cSS
make invisible the burns on the lore
head made by the electrodes. So vel
did he succeed tina Mrs. Becker WA
paved the pain Of seeing the brands.
The coffin was placed In the parlor. o.
~ head q nine branched brass candle
stick supported on a heavy brass stand
ard. Already some flowers had arrived
and soon after the hearse came Q grea
Eoral cross was brought In. None OF tn
family would say from whom the flow
FRS came. Instead OF the usual biaci
Grape there was hung on the door a gar
land Of palm leaves, white lilies ane
white and purple asters.
II was not until evening that any o
the family consented to see reporters
John Lynch, Mrs. Beckers brother
finally stood in the doorway OF ne
apartment and said that she was In IA
700 serious a condition to talk or maxi
b statement.
Very Brave, Says Brother.
"she has been very brave" no said
"a wonderful woman. but this mas pee
more than even she could stand. Than
heaven she didn't see the burns on nj
forehead" .
Mr. Lynch was told OF statements Il
evening papers that Mrs. Becker ma
baid Just before her husband was execu
ted that she would never rest until sh
had EXPOSED the methods used by Gov
Whitman and some others when he wa
District Attorney in prosecuting Becker
methods she considered unjust, and ina
rhe had asserted at a family conferenc
that she wanted Mr.. Whitman and thes
same aids sued for 800 900.
viii Mrs. Becker say IL that Is true
or can you tell US whether 1t Is or notg
he was asked.
~ do not want to discuss II myself.
he answered, m Mrs. Becker oanno
zee any one"
Thus far the funeral plans arc nc
complete. Mrs. Becker Is in no con
alton 10 discuss them much. We hav
decided, however, to have the funers
service at 10 o'clock Monday morninf
The Rev. Father Nicholas ]. Murph
Will preside at a solemn high requier
mass at the Church OF st. Nicholas Q
Tolentine. Andrews avenue and Fordhal
road. Burial will be in Woodlawn Gene
tary, where their little baby, who die
when he was one day old. ia buried.
mo, we have not yet decided on pal
bearers. Tomorrow evening . icy
friends will come In. and the funeral WI
be private. Now. you must not ask m
any more. ] cannot talk much now
md he closed the door.
A little crowd lowered o tn
apartment house until well into tn
evening, watching those who left or er