davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-31
Becker Never Read Farewell
Friends in Death House Sent
Affecting Tribute to His Manliness and Kindly Be-
havior Delivered to Wife Here-Document
Bitter Arraignment Of Capital Penalty

Charles Becker never read the letter
of farewell that the prisoners in the
death house sent him. A deputy war
den brought it to Mrs. Becker from
Sing Sing last night. It was written in
ink, on official prison paper. 1t read:
please accept these few lines OF
farewell from the companions in mis-
cry whom you will leave behind and
who will sooner or later follow you:
Your manly behavior during thes g
trying days was a source of gratifca-
tion and inspiration to US all.
at is in situations like this that a
man shows his true mettle.
I'VE who have lived with you through
these days in the human stockyards o.
Sing Sing express TO you our heartfelt
sympathy.
Some day your case will be cited
by historians of human progress as
one of the best arguments against anti
quated legal conceptions chambers OF
horrors. death house cells and so forth
as conducted by the State of New
York as a remnant of ages gone by.
1--WE. all who know you and your
actions in the human slaughter house
of the Empire State, feel sure that In
the course OF time further develop
ments will prove TO all that the state
has killed you as An innocent victim OF
circumstances.
1.-THE state claims that the sacred
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-31
PRISON DEPRESSED
BY BECKER DEATH
Sing Sing Fails to Recover as
Promptly as Usual from Ex-
ecutiOn Shock.

When night fell yesterday Sing
Sings machinery, upset by the unusual
events OF the week. was still out Of
gear Ordinarily an execution has lit
tie effect upon any of the officers and
inmates not in the death house.
Yesterday was an exception. The
uncertainty of the Becker execution
until the last moment and the delays
of one sort or another served to get
the nerves Of every one on edge. These
also interfered with the regular rou-
tine of the prison in many ways.
At nightfall the feeling of depres-
sion was still evident--so evident that
a veteran guard spoke of it.
"I've been through this thing before,
and it never hit me-" he said, but
this case has. It's hit lot of US, too"
why"
"Well, lot of US believed there was
a big doubt about the mans guilt 1t
was that, | guess, that got US. I've
never seen the prisoners so downcast,
even men that Becker helped send
here"
In the prison Office Deputy Warden
Johnson, worn and gray by the strain.
was trying 70 dispose of business that
had piled up on his desk.
Things got away behind and | Just
had to take lot Of papers upstairs,
where | could work without Interrupt
ton" he said. ITS been an awful
week"
Just then word came from Albany
that a pardon had been granted to the
long-term prisoner who has been John
sons stenographer, and the acting
warden congratulated him.
u don't see how can leave until
Monday" the prisoner said, though |
have been waiting for that for a long
time"
Why not?" visitor asked.
why? Because there is a lot OF
work to be done-that's all. There's
got to be draft fixed up between now
and Sunday. Can't go and leave Mr.
johnson in hole, can p"
All right, Charlie. Wen tackle tina,
tonight, after We eat" said the acting
warden.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-31

ness of human life must be impressed
upon the people, whilst at the same
time the state itself gave the worst
example, forcing its employees for a
paltry sum to help and assist in taking
lives with cool deliberation and pre-
mediation at Sing Sing.
Thereby the state itself more than
any other agency lowers the standard
of public morals-it has a brutalizing
effect upon the public mind strength
ening and cultivatinS the lower in
stinct IN man, the spirit of vengeance
and bloodthirst.
Dear Mr. Becker: We who offer YOU
these lines of farewell are unfortu-
mates ourselves. We are al! at a loss
to offer you any consolation. except
the example of One who was executed
as criminal and whose last words
were: Father, forgive them. for they
do not know what they do"
Il was impossible 10 learn last night
which of the seventeen inmates Of the
death house wrote the letter. Two Of
Becker's closest friends there were the
on either side of his. One of them is
Carol Dranowitz. who was recently re-
proved, at the request OF the Russian
Ambassador. as he was about to be ex-
ecuted for the trunk murder in Stan
ton Street two years ago.
On the other side is Hans Schmidt.
the unfrocked priest. who killed Anna
Aumueller. his servant. cut up her
body and threw the fragments into the
North River.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-31
EXECUTION NO BUNGLE,
SAY PRISON OFFICIALS

Statements that the execution OF
Charles Becker was "bungled' were
regarded BY Deputy Warden Johnson,
of Sing Sing. as not only untrue
but absurd. The point was raised
that because the breast strap was
left unbuckled during the first shock
Rockers head slid from under the
deatb helmet and his forehead was
badly burned.
DIR. Charles W. Farr. the prison
musician, said the electrode' as Is
usual. burned the head slightly
above the temple. There were no
other burns. The strap should nave
been passed under the arms and
over the chest. This was not done
because some one. endeavoring to
fasten it about Becker's arms as
well as his body, found il would not
buckle, and left it undone.
This, however. did not in any way
alter the effect of the first contact.
The strap was adjusted correctly
after the first contact. but il would
have made no difference had it re-
manned unbuckled.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-31
FOOD NEGLECTED
FOR BECKER NEWS
Record Sale of Papers in
City-East Side Shows
Hatred.

News of Becker's death caught New
York while it was eating its breakfast.
For weeks the city had wondered what
Becker would do before the fatal
shocks. Here was the answer.
Newsboys struggled and fought for
their merchandise as it came from ehe
presses. New York's pennies were
ready. Nervously, eagerly, men and
women and children grabbed at the
damp sheets.
How did Becker die? What did he
say? What was his wife going TO do ?
More! More! More" shouted the
newsboys, as their papers vanished in
sales. Hatless men stumbled from ten
ements with coins ready. Up the stairs
they rushed to wives and children, open
mouthed with suspense.
Breakfasts were forgotten. Some
didn't feel inclined to eat.
Becker had died bravely. The read
err forgot for the moment any preir-
dices he may have entertained. He read
how the man in the shadow of death
bore himself with remarkable COM
posure through the leaden night. His
eve followed closely the narrative OF
Becker's last moments-how he entered
the death chamber erect and fearless,
now ne SdL HlplStll uONH AOk NSSSi ~
ton without tremor.
Then came the climax, the finish to
the story of Becker's existence. The
readers heart was beating hard. 1t was
terrible.
New York, however, had not yet di-
gested what it had read. Men gath
cred at first in groups-in cafes, OH
street corners, in front of newspaper
offices. Every detail of the execution
was rehearsed. Men shook their heads
sadly in pity for the woman Becker
had left Schind him. For him they had
words of Notwithstanding more.
At noon time the war had been for
gotten. The scene at Park Row resem-
bled Election night. The newsboys were
still doing land Office business.
Over on the East Side, where the
memory of the four gunner is still
vivid. nothing else was discussed. In
market place, crowded park and dingy
tenement no words of admiration greet
ed the news of the final conduct of
Charles Becker.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-31
Becker Ruled by Fear;
Held Superi0rs in Leash
Steelv Eyes, Stern Face and Heavy Hand Won AbJec
Submission from Crimnals-Battled Way to
Position That Cost Honor and Life.

%, 1911. and that was the beginning Oh
the end. His work in that field was to
deal with rowdies, gangsters. violators
Of the Sullivan anti-concealed weapon
law and gamblers. The work was more
physical than mental, but up to the
point where he grated on the gam
blers he accomplished great deal that
was desirable.
For months before the murder OF
Rosenthal Becker's financial operations
raised a suspicion that he was getting
money from a source other than the
Police Department.
Indictment Surprise.
Becker was indicted on July %,
1912, thirteen days after Rosenthal
had been killed.
He was put on trial the first time on
October 7, 1912. Eighteen days later
he was convicted. On the afternoon
Of October % he was taken TO Sing
Sing, under sentence TO die in the
chair on December .. Joseph A. Shay
argued for new trial before tse
Court Of Appeals on December 2, 1913.
A second trial was ordered on Feb
urary "a, 1914.
This reversal heartened Becker and
his counsel to the belief that he would
not be tried again. Public clamor had
died down, but there was an undercur-
rent of hostility against Becker be-
cause OF the execution of the four
gunner. who went to the chair on
April -, 1914.
The second trial ended on May %,
1914, with Becker convicted second
time. This was again appealed, but
the Court Of Appeals, on May %, 1915,
affirmed the jury's verdict.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-31
Cochran AssailS Governor,
While MantOn Asks if
He Made Statement.
EXECUTIVE REPEATS
GRAFT OFFER STORY
Lawyer Declares II Pity That
Root or Cullen Was Not
Asked to Review Case.
lBy Telegraph to The Tribune. ]

Albany. July Ex-Governor Whit
man repeated tonight that Martin T.
Manton, counsel for Charles Becker,
did offer on behalf of Becker to give
up five prominent grafters il the Gov
ernor would commute the death SEN
tence to life imprisonment.
The Governor made this statement
when asked if he had received Mr..
Manton's telegram which the latter
sent to him from New York on reading
that the Governor had stated that
Becker was ready to give up the graft
ers for a Communication of sentence.
"Mr. Manton did not leave formal
statement with me containing the
names of the men Becker said were
grafters, and | am not sure whether
he said there were four or five or six.
But Mr.. Manton did give me several
names upon one of his visits here in
Becker's behalf.
II never mentioned the matter until
| read in the papers that MantOn had
given me some names, and that he had
been quoted as saying was at liberty
TO make them public if | cared. To
newspaper men who asked me for the
names the next day | said would not
make them public, but that Manton had
my permission to give them out If nc
desired. That's all there is TO the sit
uation so far as ! am concerned"
Martin T. Manton and W. Bourke
Cochran, Of Becker's counsel. yesterday
attacked Governor Whitman.
81 will not engage in any controversy
with a man who traduces the dead!
exclaimed Mr. Cochran, referring tC
the statement the Governor made that
he could furnish the names of five
men with whom Becker is said to have
divided his graft collections in the
Tenderloin.
Mr.. Manton sent this telegram tC
the Governor:
an a dispatch from Albany you are
quoted as saying: To Becker's denia
that he had agreed TO make revelation:
of grating. the Governor said Martir
T. Manton had given him a statement
containing the names of five men, two
dead and three living, who were i'm
plicated in grating
Did you make this statement OF
authorize il? Answer prepaid"
"If Governor Whitman has the name:
of the five men why does he not make
them known" asked Mr. Manton's Law
partner, W. Bourke Cochran.
you had better see Mr. Mantor
about this. He had the conversation
with the Governor. But can state, a.
matter of fact, that the Governol
asked Mr. Manton if Becker would i'm
picate a man who to-day holds public
Office. Mr.. Manton said he didn't know
whether Becker knew anything abou
this man. Mr. Manton said he only
came to Whitman with this offer from
Becker that he would go on the wit
ness stand and tell the whole truth.
as il not a terrible thing" continued
Mr. Cochran. that Becker was sent tC
his death without the chance to hav,
the judgment of the final court re
viewed by an impartial authority, a:
the law contemplates The executive
to whom the law gives the ultimate
decision was the very officer who prose
cuted him.
"What pity that the Governor die
not submit the record to the review oil
some such mind as that of Mr.. Root oil
Judge Cullen"
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-31
CONDEMNED MEN BID
FOR BECKER'S CELL
Five Beg Transfer from Dark
Quarters to Lighted Ones
Nearer Electric Chair.

Five inmates of Sing Sings death
house annex began bidding yesterday
for the two cells vacated in the death
house proper by Charles Becker and
Sam Haynes.
Gaetano Montimagno, slayer of
Michael Gaimari. the politician, was
one who pleaded for Becker's cell.
Those in the annex occupy the former
dark cells, once used for solitary con-
finement Warden Osborne probably
will move the two successful bidders
to the big death house tomorrow, after
the empty cells have been cleaned.
Hans Schmidt, who was in the cell
next to Becker, bemoaned his absence
yesterday. Poor fellow" said Schmidt;
"he put up hard fight"
1--WE miss him greatly" said Carol
Dranowitz. "He was a comfort 10 us
all"
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-31
NEW DEATH GUARD SET
Take Places of Keepers Who
Admitted Murphy.

George Cruise and John Tudor. keep
ers at Sing Sing, have been assigned
70 duty in the death house 20 take the
places OF George Meserole and John ]
Kennedy, suspended because Murphy,
the convict, whom Governor Whitman
accuses Of having conspired with Becker
TO frame a letter and a statement, got
into the lighthouse.
Some Of the keepers say Meserolc
and Kennedy were not responsible for
Murphy's visit, as passes for visits to
the lighthouse come from the War
den's office and mpst be honored.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-31

little man yanked his lever out again
and Becker's body skunk down IN the
chair. The two doctors Farr ana
Mereness went forward and pulled
open the prisoners SHIRT and under
shirt. His big, bare chest was purple
red. DR.. Farr placed his stethoscJne
over the mans heart. He talked 10
DR.. Mereness, and the assistant physl-
clan listened through his own lnstru-
ment Then they talked together,
nodded their heads, gravely stepped
back, and the eXecutioner T. rev on
the current once more. This time the
contact lasted ten seconds, and then
he threw off his switch.
The doctors made another examlna-
ton. DR.. Farr put his ear to Becker 5
chest. DR.. Mereness lifted the edge OF
the helmet and raised an eyelid and
peered intently into the eye. Then ne
placed his thumb and finger over the
mans throat, and felt mis- carotid
artery. The ex-pOliceman'S bulky fig
ure SUNK down in the chair so 1t al
most hid the seat and arms from view
The doctors were not completely sat
/ isfed. DR.. Farr gave the slgnal once
more, and the body vt was practically
nothing more shot up once more
strangely and terribly against the
straps. The lips grew perfectly gray,
Derhaps putty-colored would be bet
ter description. The contact this time
was for five seconds.
"Becker had q strong heartbeat
after the first contact" DR.. Farr sald
later. "He could never have lved' ana
would have died without regalnlng CON
seriousness in 4 minutes, should say
/ The law says the man must De exc
cuted. Another current was thrown on
Even after that there was FAINT heart
/ heat. After the third contact he was
absolutely lifeless.'
The last contact ended. and the
nrison physicians having decided the
man was dead, other doctors in the
room were, as usual, asked If they
cared to make an examination OF the
body. Three went forward and ap-
plied their stethoscopes for moment
or two. At precisely 1888 a. m. Dr
Farr made his customary formal state
ment, al pronounce this man dead.
Law Had Its Revenge.
The door to the yard was thrown
onen The air. hot and sultry already
in the youth Of the day, was refresh
ING after the execution chamber Al
most every one filed out. Keepers un'
ioosed the straps that held Becker IN
the chair. The body fell Imply down
Two keepers clad in long white cotton
coats Slid their hands beneath the
corpse and picked it up, just as Ghli-
dren make a cradle for schooltei'
low. They took it into the autopsy
room. Becker. once the power OF Ne"
York's Tenderloin, was nothing but Q
dead man. The law had obtained It's
revenge.
Negro Quietly Killed.
Immediately following Becker's deatr
came the execution of Samuel haynes
the negro murderer. But it faded into
insignifcance beside that of Becker
on which the eyes Of the country were
focused. Haynes met his death quietly
and bravely, but the score OF news
paper men had little heed to pay to ms
passing. .1u,.
The negro entered the death cham,
Der. stood up for n moment, and salo
in a strong voice to the spectators,
"Gentlemen, | die strong in Christ.
He was strapped il the chair, anc
three shocks of one minute, five sec
onds and FIVE seconds, respectively
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-31

Stiffens in Chair.
Father Cashin prayed on, his head
bent forward so Becker might hear
him the more clearly. Into thy hands,
o Lord, | commend my spirit" he said.
Unto Thy hands, o Lord, | com
mend my spirit" Becker repeated.
And as he finished the last word the
executioner showed home the lever
with a rattle and a bang. 1t sounded
like wooden mallet on undressed
lumber -,
Becker stifened in the chair like an
automaton. His arms and legs strained
against the straps. His lips, the only
mart of his face in sight, grew purple
almost black. There was a kissing
sound. and a little spiral of greenish
smoke appeared through the wire OF
the helmet above the mans right
temple. 80,
Capital punishment My Cod"
whispered Swapping, red-headed
Young fellow standing behind the last
bench in the room.
The current raced on through the
mans body for a full minute-l,S5O
volts at from seven 10 nine amperes.
DIR. Farr had given the signal. lie
had watched Becker as he spoke, and
at the end of long sentence, as the
prisoners lungs emptied themselves Of
air, he dropped his hand. And the
executioner had answered.
Doctors Hunt Life Sign.
At the end Of the minute the queer
Omaha daily bee., 1915-08-05
BIG DEMAND NOW FOR
AMERICAN CARS ABROAD

With every British automobile factory
engaged N turning out war munitions
and cars for the allies Ameriean-made
motor cars are gaining sim firmer grlp
GA the European market. according 10
George Hutton. well known automobile
enelneer Of Dublin. Ireland
Notwithstanding The unsettled con-
ffions and tho fact that 4 good many OF
~ aole-bodled men are az the front,
there still continues a very brisk demand
fer the better grade Of American car"
aaya Ar. Hutton. The Noll-buiit Yam
kee car equipped with self-starter. cleo
tr1c Lights and other eonveniences, il
ineeting With a tremendous demand and
cur only problem h securing enough cars
A. 60 around
4 was fortunate enough 70 secure the
first Dodge Brothers car shipped into
ireland and ] have driven il over s.0e9
miles. covering practically every county.
This machine. with iis wonderfa hnl
climbing ability and easy riding qualities.
A. the type Of car which VII sell most
readily Ia European MARKETS. In a long
journey through the wicklow mountains.
J was able 10 make al q the steep grades
IN high gear with this car. and had little
tropbie On tile roughest OF our country
loads
Omaha daily bee., 1915-08-05
Firestone Tires in
Thrilling Race

To participate in an automobile race
must be q thrilling experience even un-
der ordinary circumstances but to en-
gage In a race against bullets from a
machine gun and a number OF long range
rifles In the hands OF blood-thirsty enc
mics must be fraught with enough thrills
10 last a lifetime.
The Firestone Tire and Rubber company
has recently received from its agent AZ
san Antonio. Tex, a report Of an actual
occurrence Of this kind.
Nine OF carransa's men were recently
surprised In the interior OF Mexico by a
troop Of Villas soldiers.
Realizing that the odds were very much
AGAINST them they lost no time in jump
Ing into an automobile and letting 'er
out" to the limit In a mad dash for the
border With the zip, zip OF venseful
bullets as an incentive to speed. stones,
ruts and holes In the road received scant
attention. In fact they didn't even stick
10 the road. but cut across the fields
without regard Tor fences or other trifiins
obstacles
Through streams and mountain passes.
closely followed by the enemy they
bounoed and sped. putting to shame all
other auto races In history.
Omaha daily bee., 1915-08-05

the work clear and sharp with no oil on
the paper; Il must not adhere too tena-
ciously to the types. but leave them clean,
and at the same time dry quickly on the
paper, but not on the rollers: besides
which. II must be proof against the effect
Of time.
In the manufacture OF the common
black ink. lampblack and carbon black
are the most common pigments They are
really the same thing: that ls, finely
divided carbon, but differ IN tho process
OF manufacture. Sometimes a little indigo
or Prussian blue IL also employed with
the carbon. For wood engaging carbon
and ivory black, or q very fine bone
black known as Frankfort black, are
mixed. In photographic reproductions
Paris black is used.
The ingredients In colored inks include
some chemically made colors. such as
vermillion, Prussian or bronze blue,
chrome yellow and ultramarine blue. The
lake" pigments. made by precipitating a
coai-tar dyestuff on a metallic base, pro-
duce coiors Of greater briilianoy and ex-
treine fineness Of texture Natural earth
colors are not used 30 much as formerly,
their shades being now matched In the
Take" eolors.
RED ink Is made with oarnine or
coehineal, and in cheap inks, red lead.
but II rapidly blackeng and Is oof-
sequently Unsuitable for permanent work
Blue inks are made from indigo OF Prus-
sian blue; yellow with lead chromate or
yellow ochre; green and purple by mixing
yellow and blue. and red and blue, re-
spectively
The only Ink sufficiently opaque 70 ap-
pear white on q dark surface is made
from white lead. Tints and light tones
or the various colors are made by mix-
Ing the coiors with zinc white or another
transparent bass such a. magnesia or
blanc fire.
Ink making machinery consists OF sew
eral types OF mixing machines with
which the medium and dry color are
first roughly mixed together. and mills
on which the mass In thoroughly ground.
The type OF machine used depends upon
the character OF the ingredients ana the
result desired. Ink for uss on soft alb
sorbent paper. such as news ink. re-
ouires very little grinding and no pre-
liminary mixing. while other varieties
are not only run over the mixer, but re-
ceive repeated grindlngs on roller mills.
The numerous processes for which print
ING inks arc made and the variety Of
conditions under which they are employed
necessitate individual confederation In
determining the essential qualities de-
manded. The speed OF the press. the sort
OF paper stock to be used. the character
OF the form or printing plates, the pr,-
cess employed. and many other technical
points must all be taken into consldera-
ton by the ink maker.