The Detroit times., 1915-07-30

In his left hand. II was about 10
inches long, and as he calmly took
his place In the death chair he
raised 1t TO his lips. Following the
chant OF the priests, he intoned:
"Oh. Lord. assist me In my last
agony. I give you my heart and my
soul.
Meantime, the guards worked
swiftly and deftly. IL took only a
few seconds to adjust all the straps.
Beckers right trouser leg was slit
hixh 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
idly-working guards. Becker wore
the prescribed black trousers, with
loose black shirt, opep at the
throat, and had the appearance OF q
workman more than that of the
belted and buckled lieutenant OF po-
lice whose picture is familiar 10 the
public.
The Official executioner was a dap
per.looking young man Of perhaps 2s
90
announced, but IL was stated he
would receive S100-$50 each-for
the killing OF Sam Haynes, Negro.
and OF Becker.
When all was made ready. the
dapper executioner stepped back and
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
1t stretched thus. A slight sizzling
was heard. and slight curl oil
smoke went up from the right side
OF Beckers head. rising from under
the cap just over the ear.
When the shock was at It's height
Becker's grip on the crucifix tight
ened. But as the electrocutioneI
snapped the switch of the cross slip
ped from the relaxed fingers.
guard caught It. The whole body
dropped to a 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 Beckers faithful wife was
revealed. II was pinned inside.
The doctors pushed II aside i'm
patiently. evidently not knowing
what IL 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 at the
straps again. Once more the doctors
tested Beckers heart. They seemed
to argue a. TO whether there was
still evidence of life. Once again the
executioner was appealed TO. and
once again he shot on the current
The dead mans lips parted In q
CHASTITY Ismile. Three physicians
from among the legal witnesses
were asked TO verify Becker's death
They stepped forward. felt a mo
ment for heartbeats and nodded
agreement that the ex-policemar
was dead. At exactly 5:55, DR.. Farr
the prison physician. announced in Z
loud voice:
81 pronounce this man dead"
During these CHASTITY ceremonies
the priests stood solemnly by. silen
nearly all the while. but now ant
then whispering prayers. The,
were the only ones whose sympath,
for Becker showed in face or ges
ture. Others, guards, physicians
and attendants, went about thu
work with a calm businesslike DELHI
Grafton.
Despite the fact that the guard
worked a. though they were traine'
carefully for the work, the execution
was said by those who have seen
number to have been unnecessarily
horrible. Guards ala not properl,
adjust the strap supposed to eros
the chest and go under the arms
II was by mistake slipped over In
stead OF under the left arm, 80 tina
when the current was turned on tn
body shifted around in the chaiI
1.-The death cap slipped up and tn
ghastiy agony OF cienched teeth q
Becker died was plainly visible.
Thomas Mott Osborne. warden o
Sing Sing. vas not Ii the prisol