The Washington times., 1915-07-30
MRS. BECKER WEEPS
IN HOPELESS PLEA
Governor Whitman Refuses Ap.
peal Of Lawyer and Then
the Wife.

POUGHKEEPSIE, July 3o.-The last
effort to save the life of ex-Police Lieut..
Charles Becker was made here by the
convicted mans wife, but 1t was a fall
ure.
For nearly half an hour Mrs Becker
plead with Gov. Charles s. Whitman.
At the end. when she had heard the
governor tell her gently of the real sor-
row he felt at his inability to help her,
Mrs. Becker's composure. that had been
maintained throughout trying day
only by her tremendous courage and
will. broke. and in tears she sobbed
out:
MY husband was no saint. but. oh. he
wasn't the awful murderer that they
say!'
Five minutes later. outwardly at least.
as calm and collected as has been her
of her trouble, Mrs. Becker was bound
in a taxicab for the railroad station
here where she planned to catch a train
for Ossining to take her last farewell
Of her husband in the death house In
sing Sing prison.
At the last moment she thought to
make faster time. and started for Os-
sning bv motor.
Las Plea In Darkened Room.
Mrs. Bccker's interview with the man
who twice had brought about her hus-
bands conviction Of murder was held
in a small room on the second floor
Of the Nelson House here. 1t was dusk
when the interview began, and heavy
shadows filled the room. 1t was dark
when it ended. but no lights had beer
made. and 1t was in darkness that the
prosecutor and the wife of Charles
Becker parted.
For more than an hour and a half the
governor had listened to the pleas and
arguments of John B. Johnston. one OF
room where Mrs Becker had waited.
alone, for all this time. Mr.. Whitman
had declined to intercede. but he knew
that Mrs. Becker was waiting, and he
went to her at 7:15 o'clock, passing
through an unoccupied room of the suite
of three that had separated the waiting
woman from the improvised council
chamber in one Of the hotel parlors.
Governor Gentle With Wife.
The governor bowed as he entered
the room. and. as Mrs. Becker waited
tensely for him to open the conversa-
ton. remarked gently and pleasantly:
II am ready now to hear anything
new that you have to offer me in this
case, Mrs. Becker. ! want you to feel
free to tell me everything. If there Is
anything you know that you have not
told. and that now you think would
help your husband, you may tell me
with the fullest assurance that it will
be regarded as absolutely confidential"
There Is nothing new. and | have
nothing to tell you In confidence Mrs.
Becker replied. But l do ask suf-
fcient delay to provide for a review OF
Justice Ford's dec sion"
1t was the decision Of Wednesday
evening, when Justice Ford decreed that
no inherent power lay in the supreme
court to open capital case already de-
cided by that court and passed on by
the court of appeals. 1t was the same
plea, which, in legal phraseology and
supported by citations of the law. Mr.
J Johnston had made a few moments be-
fore. AS he had declined to grant a re-
prieve before, so the governor did
again, but he did Is as kindly as It was
possible to make such statement. con-
cludins:
Il am sorry it is impossible for me-
to do anything. I am sorry. l can do
nothing"
1t was then that Mrs. Becker's con-