The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-07-30
|I[n WITH PHOTOGRAPH Of HIS WIFE
PINNED DIRECTLY OVER HIS HEAP

LII nlO llH<
the world that 1 am proud . AVE
been the husband of the pv = mob
lest woman that ever liv = Helen
Becker. This acknowledg' . is the
only legacy I can leavS q. bid
you all goodbye. Father, i>am ready
to go. Amen.
(Signed) Charles Becker"
Never once during the long night
vigil which the condemned man knew
would end in death, did his compos-
ure forsake him. He died game" He
did not close his eyes during the
night, but dawn found him at peace
with his God and ready to die.
His most nerve trying period was
while waiting to bid farewell to Mrs.
Becker. She had made a final, un-
successful appeal to Governor Whit
man, at Poughkeepsie, late In. the
evening. Then she dashed in an auto
mobile for Sing Sing prison. The
chauffeur lost his way.
Hours passed and the condemned
man, pacing his cell In feverish dis
appointment and belief that perhaps
the usual rules that those about to
die must bid farewell to loved ones
before midnight would not be lifted IN
his case, but Thos. M. Osborn, war
den, had issued instructions to give
the condemned man every surcease,
every aid and every comfort. When
Mrs. Becker did arrive her husband
was even permitted to strain her to
his breast in a farewell embrace.
The two were not parted by steel
bars
Becker walked to the electric chair
unassisted. head erect, his lips NOV
| ing in prayer, with his nerves steeled
to the supreme ordeal. He led the
procession from the death cham ber.
| There was no doubt the former king
Of the tenderloin died game"
| AS guards adjusted the electrodes
to his leg and head. he looked about
the darkened chamber and assisted
them In their task as much as ne
could. While the priests intoned pray
ers, the former police lieutenant
lips moved In constant reiteratton OF
the phrase, Jesus, have mercy" The
smothered tones of his whispers could
be heard through the head piece after
lit had been adjusted and the current
came on as he said 1t. Literaly he
j died with the words on his lips.
Becker made no attersSt to state
his innocence In the death chamber
itself. It was at first believed he
would do so, but he determined to
stand by the statement he issued from
his cell at a. m.
Ahead Of Time.
Plans at the prison were switched
at the last moment. Last night it was
decided to execute a negro murderer
first-at 5:45 o'clock. Beckers death
was scheduled for fifteen minutes later.
But prison officials moved the time
forward and Becker died fifteen min
utes earlier than expected.
At SAL the witnesses were seated
in the death chamber. A guard re-
tired moment later. Absolute quiet
reigned. Suddenly the little green
door, swung open. Becker appeared.
His face was solemn, but his eyes
we're clear and unfalteringly fixed oa
the pathway of death. He had no air
Of bravado. Behind Becker In the
procession, came Fathers Cashin and
Curry. But Becker stood alone. NC
hand reached out to aid his step. No
guard watched him with the fear OF
collapse. The low voices of the
priests and Becker's own whisper
ed exhortations echoed haltingly
through the death chamber.
The prisoner held a black crucffix
in his left hand. It was about ten
inches long, and as he calmly took
his place in the death chair. he raised
it to his lips. Following the chant of
the priests. he 1ntoned:
ooh, Lord assist me in my last
agony. I give you my heart and my
soul"
Meantime the guards worked swift
ly and deftly. 1t took only a few
seconds to adjust all the straps. Beck
er's right pants leg was slit high 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 awaiting the
fatal shock. this Dig 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 rapidly working guards.
Becker wore the prescribed black
trousers, with a loose black shirt.
open at the throat and had the ap-
pearance OF workman more than
that of the belted and buckled lieu-
tenant OF police whose picture is ia
miliar to the public.
$50 for Killing Man.
The official executioner was dap
per looking young man of perhaps 2S
or 30. His name was not officially
announced, but 1t was stated he
would receive 3100-f1fty each for
the killing OF Sam Haynes. negro
and Of Becker.
When all was made ready, the dap
per looking 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 gunmeu. the big body