Omaha daily bee., 1915-07-31
BECKER DIES IN
ELECTRIC CHAIR
Former Police Lieutenant, Con-
vieted Of, Murder, is Executed
at Sunrise.
WRITES DYING DECLARATION

SContinded from PAGE one)-
be givsDs This lasted five seconds. An
examination that took several minutes
followed. Three physicians among the
Witnesses then made an examination and
DR.. Farf at SIS o'clock announced Il
pronounce this man dead"
Beeler's Dyinw Declaration.
During the night Becker penciled on a
piece Of paper what ne caDtioned. MY
Dying Declaration II was taken 10
the warden's office where two copies
were typevvitten. which Becker signed
with his fountain pen In a bold hand.
To Deputy Warden Johnaon. who had
charge OF tho execution In place Of War
den Thomas Mott Osborne. who does not
believe IN the death penalty. the one
time police lieutenant gave his fountain
pen as gift 1T IL thu last thing that
| have 10 give away and ! want you 20
have t. 1 want you to give this state
ihent TO the newspaper men,"
Becker message given out Just before
he went 20 his death read;
my DYING DECLARATION.
.lientlcmen;
n stand before YOU in my full senses
- -
save me from the grave.
I'm case Of that. in the teeth OF those
WIN condemned me. and in the presence
Of my God ana your GOD. proclaim my
absolute Innocence OF the foul crime for
to witness my destruction by the state
which IL organized TO protect the lives
OF the lnnocent: may Almighty God par
don every one who has contributed in
any degree 20 my untlmeiy death. And
now on the brink Of my grave. declare
70 the world that I am proud TO have
been the husband OF the purest. nobIest
woman that ever hvtd-IIeien Becker.
This acknowledgement Il the only legacy
can leave her bid you all socdby.
Father. I am ready 20 go. Amen.
tsignedl CHARLES BECKER"
Pins wffes' Pieturs over Heart.
AFTER his wife had said farewell.
shortly after midnight. Becker maintained
q casual conversation with Deputy
Warden johnson. VINO sat beside the
screen in front OF his cell. Sometimes he
smoked cigars, after which he would let
his head fall upon his hand and gaze
reflectiveiy at the concrete floor for
minutes at a time. Dawn found hisn
seated on the edge Of his cot carefully
plnning a photograph OF his wife on his
white shirt over his heart.
Then, az II ne desired TO have her all
20 himself. Becker put on a thin black
alpaca coat. which he tightly bnttoned.
The photograph was not seen by the wit
nesses until the physician opened hts
coat AZ he sat in the death chair.
Becker was put 10 death by the state
executioner. whose name ls unknown TO
the public. This man succeeded state
Electrician Davis and he said ne would
not take the Job unless he name was
kept secret. He lives in . little town up
state and went about his work briskly.
Beckers executioner said that In his
opinion the man had died instantly At
the first contract.
An autopsy on the body OF Becker was
performed. according 70 law. Immediately
after. the execution. After Beckers body
had been removed from the electric chair,
samuel Haynes. 4 negro murderer. was
brought into the execution room and
olectrocused. one OF Beckers last re-
quests 10 Warden Osborne was that he
be put 10 death before the negro. Haynes.