Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-07-30

CARRIES A CRUCIFIx
Picture of Former Lieutenant's Wife
Found Pinned in His Boson-says
He Was Sacrificed"

Ossining, N. Y, July 30-At peac'
with his Maker, a prayer on his lips
but with never faltering of his iror
will, former Police Lieutenant Char
les Becker expiated the murder O
Gambler Herman Rosenthal at 90
a. m. today.
Pinned en- his PRISON shirt, above
his heart, the former car Of the ten
derloin carried with him in deatl
the picture of his devoted wife. IL
his hand he clutched crucifiX.
The death current cut off in hi'
throat the whisper, "Jesus, have
mercy" Just before he entered thu
death chamber Becker declared to
Father Curry:
"t am not guilty, by deed, con
spiracy, or in any other way, of thu
death of Herman Rosenthal. / an
sacrificed for my friends.
Previously the former police lieu
tenant at q. m. had issued IN!
diving statement" 1t was passion
ate reiteration of innocence and L
left as his only legacy to mis- wife
his declaration: 81 declare to the
world that | am proud to have beer
the husband of the purest, nobles'
woman that ever lived, Helen Bee
ker."
Becker walked unassisted from ms
cell to the death chamber. AS ne en-
tered he gireced cbout, seemlng'!
surprised. His face had the expires
sion of person coming from dark.
ness into sudden light. But there
was no hint of hesitancy to mce'
death in the stride with which hs
approached the chair which had $.
ready claimed the lives of four Others
IN repayment for the murder OF Her
man Rosenthal.
tBecker's nerve was mistaken ever
as the guards stepped forward ant
adjusted the electrodes. The for
mer: police! official glanced about IA:
little room, noting, perhaps those
who had assembled o:iwitness thi
! taking of a life for a life. Then ht
leaned forward to ;ielp The guard'
Iehtenrthe straps across the electro
es, through which in a moment
WOULD come the soaring current o.
death. -, ~,
: Priests intoned prayer. Becker;
lips. moved constantly in relteratlo.
of: the words: "Jesus, have mercy
tThese were his last words.
sWheni all was made ready the ex
ecutioner stepped back, and in full
view of the witnesses, calmly shu
the switch. s., ).
AS the great current of electnclt!
shot into the, frame Of the forrne
master of gunmen, the big bod!
Strengthened out, tugging at tn
creaking straps. For full minut'
it stretched thus.
"A slight sizzling was heard and
slight curl of smoke went up from
the right side. of Becker's head rls
ing from under the cap just Owe
the ear.
When the shock was at its helgh
Becker's grip on the crucihx tighten
ed but as the electrocutloner snap
ped the switch off, the cross shipped
from the relaxed fingers. A guar
caught it. The whole body droppc'
to a position of utter collapse. Bee
ker's shirt was then ripped open b:
the physicians. AS the black clof
was turned back to make way 10
the stethoscope, the photograph o
Becker's faithful wife was reVeaie
1t was pinned inside. ~
After a third shock had been aa
ministered Becker was declared deae
Poughkeepsie. N Y, July 3O.-GoS
Whitman last night denied Becker
last appeal. He stood firm as Mrs
Becker tearfully begged for mert
and the life of her husband.
81 know my husband is no saint
but he is not a murderer" Mr.:
Becker told the governor.
For half an hour the governor list
ened to the pleading of the brave an