The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-30
Affecting Scene at POugh-
keepsie-"I Must Do My
Duty" He Says.
GIVE HIM 4 CHANCE"
SHE CRIES KNEELING
Sorrow Stricken. She Hur-
ries From Conference to
See Her Husband.

'o'ohhEfFslE' y. u. July "a
woman all in black even to the veil
which could not conceal her tears. an.
peared In the doorway OF the Nelson
House little before 8 o'clock tonight
and slowly crossed the sidewalk to "A
waiting automobile.
hundreds of persons. mostly men, who
had been waiting there silently for
hours. opened a way for her and many
OF them raised their hats as "A tribute
OF sympathy to her misery. Every per-
son In the crowd understood with the
first glance at the figure already in
mourning clothes that Charles Becker's
wife had failed In the last possible eff
fort to save his life. wife's appeal
to the Governor of the State.
One glance only revealed how terribly
the final disappointment had touched
Mrs. Becker. When she came to Pough.
keepsie to make her appeal to Gov
Whitman her spirit was not yet daunted
Slim as was the chance remaining, she
had taken heart Of II. and. urged by her
husbands lawyers. went before the Gov
ernor with the belief that. after all. a
wife's abject appeal might move him
where all other persuasion and argu-
ment had failed.
p,,, ~. ,,e,.o, -, ,,,,. ,,,
,aro,,,,i,. - c.'n ,a ,n .,,,h
a painful case, heard her plea and then
shook his head. no-Mrs. Becker's cour-
age which had upheld her for three
years. broke down.
hours n, other cond.mned men. in the
circums,ances ~ "a wife's appeal to the
only mower that could extend clemency.
a situation as affecting to the imagina-
tion. scene of AS extraordinary dra-
matte power. as was Mrs Helen Beckers
appearance before Gov. Whitman IN a
private room in the Nelson House this.
evening. but it is difficult to imagine that
such ever existed.
kneels In Supplication.
=. - ..,, ,..,,..a ,,.r. ,uo
s,,r. ~ ,oVra ar "a ,ho Gnvsrnor u'ho stood
,.. -, MAJ, .'' !, a,.a, ...',ng 10Th
,ma 30 ,hs i,wh,s and shadows bevond
,hs v,irdnu md n woman Mrs BECKER,
,,,ho aom.,ires LnaI, sometimes ex
,endsd hsr arms as she pleaded for any
grace the Goyernor vould Crant-a re-
nrieve a stay. communication of the death
sentence. ANYTHING. Persons who had a
right to he near by and who could not
heip but hear the voices in that room.
said tonight that they never can for
get one appeal that Mrs. Becker made
over and over again.
"GOv~rnor, I realize that Charlie WAS
no saint. But he wasn't u murderer,
he wasn't n murderer! Can't you
won't you do something for him-give
him q chance to prove that he had no
hand In killing ROsenthalF"
And they heard the Governors voice.
deep with sympathy. shaking a little
at times, sound in reply
81 am very sorry. very sorry. II II
were possible for me Ia act. l would do
40. II yOu will furnish me with any
new evidence will act. Have you any
new evidence In the casef"
And after "A little while, when Mrs
Becker controlled her sobbng, they
heard her appeal once more
"Goyernor, don't let him die In tho
morning, spare his life until we can
furnish the proof OF innocence we know
exists. Don't let them Nil him. Give
him a chance"
And at the last, as the Governor
turned away and signed for John b,
Johnston, who had brought Mrs, Becker
tcners heard him say In a voice that
uen,p.u ., ,ou,, mn, H..
M"un' ,',a a.,
dolns NY u.' ILL., ...'',
state nv" w" w. W."
OF 'he cou,' s"' ,o wv anu
symp"'nIA' WIN ~. ~ '".
can say VT !ou ""' "'"'''' ""'
This interview between Mrs Becker