The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1915-08-03


q pronounce this man dead
During the night Becker penciled on
piece of paper what he captioned
my dying declaration" 1t was taken
to the wardens Office, where two copies
were typewriter, which Becker sign
ed in a bold hand with his fountain
pen. To Deputy Warden johnson, who
had charge of the execution in place
of Warden Thomas Mott Osborne, VINO
does not believe in the death penalty,
the one-time police lieutenant gave his
fountain pen as a gift. "It is the last
thing that l have to give away and
l want you to have it. l want you to
give this statement to the newspaper
men"
Becker's message read:
Gentlemen: I stand before you in
my full senses, knowing that no power
on earth can save me from the grave
that is to receive me. In the face
of that, in the teeth of those who con-
denim me, and in the presence of my
God and your God, proclaim my alb
solute innocence of the foul crime for
which must die. You are now about
to witness my destruction by the State,
which is organized to protect the lives
of the innocent. May Almighty God
pardon every one who has contributed
in any degree to my untimely death.
And now on the brink of my grave l
declare to the world that I am proud
to have been the husband of the purest,
noblest woman that ever lived-Helen
Becker. This acknowledgement is the
only legacy 1 can leave her. 1 bid
you goodbye. Father, am ready to
go. Amen"
Talked With Deputy Warden.
After his wife had said farewell
shortly before midnight Becker main
tained casual conversation with Dep
uty Warden Johnson, who sat beside
the screen in front of mis- cell. Some
times he smoked cigars, after which
he would let his head fall upon his
hand and gaze refectively at the con-
crete floor for minutes at a time.
Dawn found him seated on the edge
of his cot carefully pinning photo
graph of his wife on his white shirt
Just over his heart. Then as if he de-
sired to have her all to himself, Becker
put on thin black alpaca coat, which
he tightly buttoned. The photograph
was not seen by the witnesses until
the prison physician opened his coat
as he sat in the death chair.
Becker was put to death by TIE State
executioner, whose name is unknown
to the public This man succeeded
State Electrician Davis, and said ne
would not take the job unless his name
was kept secret. He lives in a little
town upstate and went about his
work briskly. Becker's executioner
said that in his opinion the man had
died instantly at the first contact. An
autopsy was performed, accordiny to
law, Immediately after the execution.
After Becker's body had been re-
moved from the chair Samuel Haynes,
a negro murderer, was brought into
the execution room and electrocuted.
One of Becker's last requests to War
den Osborne was tnat he be put to
death before the negro.
Mrs. Becker's last effort to save her
husband was made yesterday, when
she appealed personally to Governor
Whitman for a reprieve so that an ap-
peal might be taken to the State court
of appeals. Missing the Governor at
Albany, Mrs. Becker met him at Pougn-
keepsie. The plea was fruitless and
the untiring wife hurried back to Sing
Sing to bid her husband farewell. She
was with him for an hour. Leaving the
death house at 1890 o'clock this morn
ing, she left soon afterwards for New
York, outwardly displaying no effects
of the severe mental strain. John
Becker, her brother-in-law, accompa-
MED her.
A lengthy statement to Governor
Whitman was given out by Becker
late yesterday. Becker reiterated his
innocence and declared he never had
offered to plead guilty to second de-
gree murder.
Ia statement credited to Mrs, Becker
was given out here shortly after her
husbands death.
Statement From Mrs. Becker.
'I shall never rest" she is quoted
- oo-;oo H,r%;J howe ovp0oo6 rho