Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-07-27
BECKER GROWS
MORE HOPEFUL
OF NEW TRIAL
Justice Ford Studies Argu-
ments Bearing on Alleged
New Evidence.

NEW YORK, July 27-Supreme
Court Justice Ford today studied the
briefs filed by counsel for Charles
Becker and by representatives of the
district attorney in Becker's applica-
ton for a third trial on the ground
of newly discovered evidence :
In order to obtain time for the con-
sideration of the documents, Justice
Ford has requested and the warden
of Sing Sing prison has granted a
two-day postponement of the date SO:
for Becker's execution. Becker was
to nave gone to the electric chair
early tomorrow morning, but the
warden ordered the execution post
poned until Friday.
Jtfstice. Ford was irnpelled to ask
for this delay owing to the shortness
of time in which to pass upon the
application for a new trial. He said
that he would endeavor to decide on
the motion as soon as possible 1t is
stated that no witnesses for either
side will be heard.
Justice Ford was up early this
morning and at his chambers at 81
Chambers street at o clock. He i'm
mediately plunged into the mass of
records pertaining to the Becker case.
Record To Justice.
Today his honor received a copy of
the minutes of the second trial and
the appeal, comprising six large
volumes. The opinion was current
around the Justices chambers that no
decision could be reached before
Thursday.
The telegram sent to Justice Ford
at 9:25 o'clock last night by Warden
Thomas Mott Osborne, of Sing Sing,
was made public today. 1t read as
follows
Justice Ford, Breton Hall, New
York City:
I'm accordance with your request,
Becker execution will be postponed
until Friday morning.
"T. NJ. OSBORNE"
Becker, at Sing Sing, received
notice of his two days respite calmly.
1t was close to o'clock when JUS
tice Ford telephoned to Sing Sing
Prison. Deputy Warden Johnson
answered the phone in the absence of
the warden from the office. Justice
Ford told the deputy warden that ne
wanted time to consider the aprlica-
tion for an order to show cause why
Becker should not be granted a new
trial. and inasmuch as he might not
finish his deliberations before late
Tuesday night or Wednesday, he felt
that it was only fair that the electro
cution of Becker should he postponed
until Friday morning.
Mr.. Johnson Immediately talked
with the warden and the latter will
ingly postponed Beckers electrocution
until Friday morning. Father Cashin.
was also notified and he went to'
Beckers cell and told him that he
would not be put to death on Wednes-
day morning. Becker received the
news In a manner that indicated he
had almost given up hope of escaping
the chair.
Because of the postponement of the
electrocution of Becker Warden John
son also decided not to electrocute
Samuel Haines on Wednesday morn
ing. His electrocution has also been
put forward to Friday morning.
wife at Prison.
Mrs. Helen Becker, the wife of the
condemned man, who sat in the court
room all day yesterday listening to
the arguments why her husband
should and should not have another
chance for his life before jury, hur
ried to Sing Sing last night. She ar
rived at the prison at p. M, and
remained with her husband until IL
o'clock, supplying him with detailed
account of yesterdays proceedings.
When informed of the two day res
pite granted by the warden at the
instigation of Justice Ford, Becker's
face lighted up and he exclaimed;
That's good!"
After Becker learned that the last
fight for him was on in Justice Ford's
part of the Supreme Court shortly
before IL o'clock yesterday morning
he became restless He paced
up and down his celk There were no
indications of nervousness beyond
certain impatience to learn the out
come of the legal battle. He was re-
ported today as very hopeful.
The Original Plans.
According to the arrangements made
for his death tomorrow morning
Becker was to have taken farewell of
his wife and brothers, John and jack
son Becker, late today. Now Becker's
family will be permitted to see him at
any time they desire UP to late Thurs
day evening.
Justice Ford's decision will depend
on whether he considers the story in
volving the late big Tim" Sullivan
in the Rosenthal scandal as newly dis
covered evidence under the law.