New Britain herald., 1915-07-30
u lEr MADE BRAVE AIN PLEA TO WHITMAN
me at POughkeepsie When Ex-Lieutenant's Tie Cried to Executive, "Give Him Es. Chance

taken to a private room on the groun floor and there awaited the coming Q Charles Becker's wife. Ten minute after the governor entered the hote Mrs Becker arrived with MT. John ston. She was very nervous. but sh managed somehow to raise the g1oa of smile as she passed through tn crowd. It was quite apparent the1 that she had not abandoned all hope She was usIered into 8 room con nected with the one in which the gov
 ernor sat with Major Moore, an,
 there for a long time she remaine,
 alone in the dark, hearing the voice
 r;lised in argument on the other sid, Of tho partition. Of all her tryini experience that long wait was probab
 Iy the most painful. She could d. nothing in the world but grip he1 hands tightly and hope that the gov ernor would hear her prayer.
 Johnston's Argument Fails.
 MT Johnston made long argument of three points. First, he coritended that the governor ought to grant a re- spite until Cochran and Manton had had opportunity to review the de- c!sion of Justice Ford and take the decision to a higher court. He ar gued that there is an inherent power vested in Q justice of the supreme court to order new trial on such new evidence as was presented to Justice Ford, and that opportunity ought to be given to see whether or not the high court would set the yer dict aside on the grounds of fraud and perjury.
 T cannot do as you ask,' replied the governor, because there IS no appeal from Justice Ford's decision. !
 Then, said MT. Johnston, ask you to consider your determination not to submit this case to two former chief judges of the court of appeals, ex-Chief Judge Andrews and ex-Chief Judge Cullen, on the ground that Charles Becker is entitled by the con- stitution to have the final Judgment in his case pronounced by an impartial authority. ' <.
 Tn this matter said Governor shortly. "my original de- termination is final. It would be wholly improper for me to refer to others the final consideration of this case'
 And now" said Mir. Johnston, T ask you to grant a reprieve in order that we may present to you the new- ly distained since these motions were started"
 That also is impossible, ' { replied the Governor, because there has been no new evidence eiiscovered.
 The argument ended at 7:15 F. M. Then Mr. Johnston asked the Cover nor If he would see Mrs. Becker and permit her to say to him what she had In mind. The Governor wir,ced 1t this. He understood beforehand now painful the interview would Be ! md how uselessly distressing to Mrs. Becker. But he nodded consent. The 1 door connecting the two rooms. the l ,ne in which Johnston had argued and the one in which Mrs. Becker had sat for an hour and , half was unlocked and slid back. The Governor walked slowly and done into the room As he ap- preached Mrs. Becker she arose quickly and took two steps toward him. fmpulsively putting out her hands. The Governor bowed and irew up chair and after she had seated herself he sat down close to her. At first she was calm and poke in a firm voice.
 '.He Is Innocent. Wife Says.
 Governor" she said, ..I am Char ie Becker's wife. I am certain that know whether or not he is guilty. tell you he is innocent. Don't you believe you believe yourself that the nformers placed the blame on him Q save themselves 2"
 She went on in this way for sev. sral minutes, with the Governor lis- ,ening attentively, but saying not d word. When she paused he said.
 Mrs. Becker, no man has studied he case as much as T. No man has gone into 1t as thoroughly as T. No oody could have weighed the truth ma the lies as much as I. And I must tell you that I believe your h,s- band is guilty and therefore cannot interfere with the verdict of the .ourts.'
 Begins To Cry.
 Mrs. Becker began to .crv CHA 1rose to her feet and stood in front of the Governor, who apparentIv ound It distressing to keep his eyes 1pon her face and so looked steadily put of the window She began then Q plead without pretense of reason 'r argument, but solely on the grounds uf mercy. It was then that Ihe repeated over and over again:
 I know that Charlie was no saint ,ut ! know he was not a murderer.n
 There is no new evidence in the :ase, the Governor repeated. "ard fg my duty to dac1ino fo irtn.<~~~ -an you give me any new facts sa E there any new information you nave brought here?''
 There is not" sobbed Mrs. Beck 1T. but won't you please save Char ie's life Just save his life.''
 It was then that the Governor with lis final refusal turned away and ,nded the interview.