The Detroit times., 1915-07-30
NEW YORK
POLICEMAN PAYS
WITH HIS LIFE

rent of death. Priests intoned
prayers. Becker's lips moved con
stantly in reiteration Of the words
JESUS, have mercy"
These were his last words. Over
and over he said them-even when
his face was covered and his voice
smothered by the head and face
pieces.
The former czar OF the tenderloin
died game" He made no death
chamber statement. II was obvious
when he stepped into the room OF
death that his head was clear, and
that he had been given no drugs,
The condemned man led the death
procession. II was apparent the
prison officials had aequiesced In
this wish. although the formation oil
! the procession was unusual. Guards
customarily lead the way.
At Sal n. m. the Witnesses were
seated in the death chamber. A
guard retired moment later Alb
| solute quiet reigned. Suddenly the
little green door swung open
Becker appeared. His face was sol
emn, but his eyes we're clear and
unfalteringly fixed on the pathway
of death. He had no air OF brav-
ado.
Behind Becker in the procession
came Fathers Cashir and Curry.
But Becker stood alone. No hand
reached out to aid his step, NO
guard watched him with the fear
of a collapse. The low voices OF
the priests and Becker's own whis-
pered exhortations echoed haltingly
through the death chamber.
The prisoner held black crucifix
in his left hand. II was about 10
inches long. and as he calmly took
his Mace in the death chair be
raised It to his lips. Following the
chant Of. the priests. he intoned:
"Oh, Lord. assist me In my last
agony. give you my heart and my
soul"
Meantime. the guards worked
swiftly and deftly. II took only a
few seconds to adjust all the straps.
Beckers' right trouser leg was slit
high TO the knee, and as he sat In
the chair his right leg showed bare
from the knee TO the shoe.
As the man sat there waiting the
fatal shock this big bare leg was one
of the most striking features OF the
strange picture.
The condemned mans face. for the
most part. was hidden by the rap
idIy-working guards. Becker wore
the prescribed black trousers. with
q loose black shirt. open At the
throat. and had the appearance OF
workman more than that OF the
belted and buckled lieutenant OF po-
lice whose picture Is familiar to the
public.
The ofiicial execut!oner was dap
per-looking young man OF perhaps IS
or 80. His name was not ofncially
announced, but il was stated he
would receive s1O0-S50 each--for
the killing Of Sam Haynes. q Negro.
and of Becker.
When all was made ready. the
dapper executioner stepped back anc
in full view OF the Witnesses. calmly
shut the switch.
As the great current OF electricity
shot into the frame of the former
master OF gunner. the big body
Strengthened out. tugged at the
creaking straps. For full minute
It stretched thus. A slight sizzling
was heard. and a slight curl OF
smoke went up from the right side
OF Becker's head, rising from under
the cap just over the ear.
When the shock was at It's height
Becker's grip on the crucihx tight
ened. But as the electrocutioner
snapped the switch of the cross slip
ped from the relaxed fingers. A
guard caught it, The whole body
dropped to position Of utter col
lapse. Becker's shirt was then rip
ped open by the physicians. AS the
black cloth was turned back TO make
way for the stethoscope. the photo
graph OF Becker's faithful wife was
revealed. II was pinned inside.
The doctors pushed II aside i'm.
patiently. evidently not knowing
what II was. They held stetho
scopes To the heart and felt Of the
neck arteries. Another shock was
demanded OF the cool young execu
toner. He stepped back and swung
the switch shut and open again
The crumpled body strained al the
straps again. Once more the doctors
| tested Becker's heart. They seemed
| TO argue as to whether there was
still evidence of life. Once again the
executi6ner was appealed to. and
once again ne shot Oh the current
The dead mans lips parted In a
ehastly smile. Three physicians
from among the legal witnesses
were asked to verify Becker's death
They stepped forward. felt mo.
ment for hesrtbeats and nodded
agreement that the ex-policeman
was dead. At exactly 5:55. DR.. Farr
the prison physician. announced In a
loud voice:
II pronounce this man dead"
During these CHASTITY ceremonies.
the priests stood solemnly by, silent
nearly all the while hui now and