Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1915-07-30
On Brink of the World Po-
lice Lieutenant Blames
Court "System."
DECLARES THAT TIME
WILL VINDICATE HIM
Given Hair Cut, Bath and
Then Was Placed in His
Prison Death Suit"

NSSlNING, N. Y, July 29.-The last
" hope of former Police Lieutenant
Charles Becker, twice convicted for
instigating the murder Of Herman
Rosonthal, gambler, died when he was
told tonight that his wife had failed
to move Governor Whitman TO grant
him a reprieve. This Mrs. Becker
asked Of the governor at a confer
ence at Poughkeepsie. Failing in her
mission, she motOred to break the
news to her husband but 1t already
reached him before she arrived.
Becker, it was said had not eX-
uected clemency. Almost at the mo-
ment the news was received the pris-
Cuer gave out a 'cttcr that he had
written to Governor Whitman in
which he criticized the executive for
having, as he indicated given to the
newspapers statements which cast
foul aspersion on my character and
for which he demanded a retraction.
In this letter Becker reiterated his
innocence Of the crime for which he
has been convicted.
ProClaims Innocence
"To these charges and to all others
/ answer" the letter read. "by re-
peating solemnly on the brink of the
world to which you are sending me
before my time. what was my con-
slant answer while in the world; |
am as innocent as you of having
murdered Herman Rosenthal or hav-
ing cOnselled, procured or aided in his
murder or of having any knowledge
Of the dreadful crime"
The alleged statements which
Becker referred to as having ben cred
offered to plead guilty of murder in
the second degree; that, quoting from
BeCkers letter he had offered to
give testimony against several per-
sons (whose names are undisclosed)
of having shared with me in collect
ing money from lawbreakers;" that he
had sent counsel to two men arrested
for completely in the Rosanthal mur-
der and that with cruelty almost
inconceivable, it is stated that my first
wife died under circumstances war
ranting suspicion that | had caused
her death"
About First Wife
Becker explained the death Of his
first wife by declaring that she had
died of 'hasty consumption" and that
no breath Of suspicion had ever been
raised against him in that connection.
Mark well, sir, these words of
mine" the letter concluded. when
your power passes, then the truth Of
RosenthaIs murder will become
known. But not while your nominees
remain district attorneys and can hold
the club over these persons.
with the aid Of Judges who were
misled into misconceiving the testi-
mony offered at my trial and into
misstatng it both to the jury and on
appeal, you have proved yourself able
to destroy my life. But believe me,
/ will surrender it without rancOr
Not all the judges in this state nor
in this country nor the governor of
this state, nor the district attorney
nor all of them combined can destroy
permanently the character of an in
nocent man"
Statement to Whitman.
The letter was mailed to Governor
Whitman tonight. Becker had spent
nearly the whole day in his cell pre-.
pairing IT. The statements which elic-
tied it appeared in copies of the
morning papers, which were sent to
his cell shortly after he arose at 6
a. m. to spend what were to be the
last "a hours OF his life. He had
the night before received the news
that his application for a new trial
had been denied by Supreme Court
Justice Ford in New York, but had
slept well, nevertheless. He ate his
Usual morning meal. Then he was
taken to the prison barber for the
usual hair clipping which is given to
prisoners who are to go to the cleo
tric chair. After a bath his clothes
were changed for the death suit Of
black and he was taken back TO his
cell