Evening journal., 1915-07-30
By GEORGE R. HOLMES


United Press STAFF Correspondent.
OSSINING, N. Y, July sO-At peace
with his Maker, a prayer on his lips,
but with never a faIterlng Of his iron
will, former Police Lieutenant Charles
Becker explated the murder of Gambs
Ter Herman Rosenthal at 5.b5 a. m.
today.
Despite the fact that the guards
worked as though they were trained
carefully for the work, the execution
was said by those who have seen o
number, to have been unnecessarily
horrible. Guards did not properly
adjust the straps supposed to cross
the chest and go under the arms. It
was by mistake slipped over instead
of under the left arm, so that when
the current was turned on the body
shifted around in the chair, the death
cap slipped mp and the ghastly agony
Of clenched teeth as Becker died was
plainly visible.
Pinned on his prison shirt, abova
his heart, the former Gar Of the Tens
derloin carried with him In death the
picture of his beloved wife. In his
hand he clutched cruciflx.
The death current cut of in his
throat the whisper. Jesus. have
mercy" It was not the plea Of man
shaken and fearful of death, but rath.
ler the prayer Of one who faced thu
Ruler OF Destiny with the conviction
that he was an innocent sacrifice.
Declares His Innocence.
q am not guilty. by deed. conspir<
acy OF in any other way, of the DEATH
Of Herman Rosenthal. ! am sacri-
feed by my friends"
Previously the former police lieu4
tenant at a. m had issued My
dying statement" II was a passions
ate reteration. Of innocence-and IL
left as his only legacy TO his wife his
declaration
"I declare to the world that I ann
proud to have been the husband OF the
purest. noblest woman that ever lived
Helen Becker"
| h1NhfI Wulhtu uudrclcitu lIOAu nlA
cell to the death chamber AS he en-
tered. he glanced about, seemingly
surprised. His face had the express
sion of a person coming from dark
ness into sudden light But there was
no hint OF hesitancy to meet death in
the stride with which he approached
the chair which had already claimed
the lives of four others In payment
for he of 01.~.I
Becker's nerve was unshaksn eHen
as the guards stepped forward and
adjusted the electrodes. The former
police official glanced about the little
room, noting perhaps. those who had
assembled to witness the taking OF a
life for a life Then he leaned for
ward to help the guards tighten the
straps across the electrodes, through
which in a moment would come the
soaring current of Death Priests
intoned prayers. Beckers lips moved
constantly in reiteration OF the words
Jesus. have mercyl"
I These we're his last words. Over
and over he said them-even when
his face was covered and his voics
smothered by the head and face
pieces.
The former Czsr OF the TAnderloin
died game He made no death
chamber statement It was obvious
when he stepped into. the room OF
death that his head was clear, and
that he had been given M drugs. The
condemned man led the death process
sien 7. vas apparent the prison
officials had acquiesced in this wish.
although the formation Of the pro-
cession was unusual Guards GUS
tomarily lead the way
Az 541 a. n, the witnesses were
seated in the death chamber A
guard retired 2 moment later Absoluta
T quiet reigned Suddenly the "lfttie
green door" swung open. Becker ap-
l pearcd His face wes solemn. but
} his eyes we're clear and unfaltertngIy
nxod on fha nathw7Y Of d~ath- He
had no air OF bravado. Behind Beck
{ or in tho PROCESSION came Fathers
Cashin and Curry But Becker stood
alone. No hand reached out 70 aid
o his step No guard watched him
(Continued on Page Id