New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-31
PRIESTS DECLARE
EXECUTIONBUNCLED
Fathers Curry and Cashin
Agree That Becker Was
Not Properly Tied.

Father James B. Curry. friend and
spiritual adviser Of Charles Becker. col.
lapsed yesterday afternoon after reach.
ing his home, % Oliver Street, asare.
suit of witnessing the execution.
His entire body shook as he reitera..
ed his conviction that an innocent man
had been done to death. Certain Of
Becker's innocence, he said the ordeal
of watching the killing of the former
police lieutenant had left him weak
and sick.
Father Curry agreed with Father
Cashin that the legal killing Of Becker
was a bungling job.
Charley Becker died brave" Father
Curry told a Tribune reporter. an
fact. he acted Is though he we're going
on a picnic When he left his cell be
grasped me by the waist and walked
along until we got to the death house
door.
shortly before Mrs. Becker joined
him last night he embraced and kissed
me goodby. I spoke 70 him Of his
mother in Heaven. The tears rolled
down his cheeks, and he said, 4 wan:
to see rhy mother"
"Have you any hard feelings agsins.
Curry asked Becker.
mo, father" he answered promptly
"Do you forgive every one who has
injured you"
IL do, father"
Father Curry said Becker made no
mention of Governor Whitman. He told
the clergyman that, while dsmning
other people | am damn'ng my own
soul" ~
"When left him the night before, !
said goodby 70 him as a friend con-
tinued Father Curry. This morning
we went to the cell, Father CashIn and
|. We found Warden Osborne, there.
After the Warden left | received beck'
er's last confession and mniStered a.
his reception of Holy Communion:
Garry this message TO my iHehu'
and 10 the world Charley sald 70 ne.
Tell them | am not guilty ~ deed' OF
by conspiracy, or by any otnet 10TH ~.
the death of Herman Rosenthal; ! nave
heon sacrificed for my friend"
To console Becker in the death mouse
Father Curry had presented MIN VIVA
a hook written by himself. entitled
HYMNS and Miscellanles. one o.
Rockers favorite poems IN tne poor
was "A Convict's Life when rs'nel
Curry had written concerning vac
death of Jimmie Breen. who dled IN TIE
chair several years ago.
1t is the story of youth VINO t0oA
another mans life. but persists IN MS
clainn that he was innocent. He shuns
spiritual advice. Finally the SOY
music of the prison organ inspires oe''
ter thoughts. He confesses 70 the
taught him how 70 live. he 10"
teaches him how TO die. -,
Several times a day Becker read tne
poem. until he knew portions Of II oy
heart But the part he liked best came
at the very end:
Ths ,,ory's told Tie currents deadly fam.
nc,rs,l hy law passed through the guiEeni z IiaNs
Tic law vas satisfied. twas ne Tor I've. IL,
The conyicts soul now freed from sn ana s''A'
Went to is God For sin was PAID me pNe'
IN full aioiement by this sacrin'e -
Ne placed his body where his mother '1,
Where both. at rest. await me Jgasns, . ''"'
Aud there they sleep IN consecfaiei uls..
In hope q rising with the blessed ils'.
Several minutes before his exeeu.
ton Becker asked Father Curry TO say
the "Salve Regina" prayer. when hso
inspired Father Curry 70 write we
poem. Becker especially liked the pa"
beginning: -
Hail, Holy Queen. Mother OF mercy
our life, our sweetness and our h9p S
To Thee do we cry, poor banlsned Gnu.
dren of Eve; TO Thee do we SEND W
our signs. mourning and weeping ]"
this valley of tears"
VALLEY of tears. valley OF tears
said Becker to Father Curry as ns
finished the prayer. This IS indeed
valley of tears, and it'll be a great is
lief 10 get out of it."