The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-11
BECKER LOSES PLEA;
MUST DIE JULY 2S
Justice Hughes Refuses Writ
of Error and Osborne
Fixes Date.
NEWS UNNERvES SLAYER
Reaches Him In Death Cell
by Sing Sings Under
ground Channels.
NEWS UNNERvES SLAYER

GROUND NHunncIS.
Charles Becker Yesterday lost another
OF his few remaining chances to escape
the death chair. or at least 20 have an
other court review Of his case. Accord
ing to dispatches from Rangeley. Me,
United states Supreme Court Justice
Charles T.. Hughes refused the personal
application Of w. Bourke Cochran for
a writ OF error to the supreme Court,
Word came from Sing Sing just be-
fore midnight that Becker will go to
the electric chair on Wednesday. July
2s. Two other criminals. Sam Haynes
and Carol Dranowitz, will be executed
at the same time
rumor spread in the prison yester-
day afternoon that Becker had dropped
dead on hearing of the refusal Of jus
tice Hughes to grant writ OF error
on his behalf. Although Warden Os-
borne intended that Becker be informed
tomorrow morning OF the day set for
his execution. ne learned the exact num-
Der OF his days by the underground
route which transmits news OF this
character faster than 1t travels by Of
fetal routes.
Inmates of the death house said that
Becker. when he learned the day set
FOR his death. said simply like man
! stricken. Isn't that awful The ru-
NOR Of his falling dead was later proved
untrue by inquiry at the Wardens office.
Breaks From Custom.
Warden Osborne explained that he
had broken from the usual custom in
week Is given the warden in which
| - fiN the final date of execution. and
the warden usually sets the date for
Monday. The week set by Gov Whit
man is that OF the 26th.
Becker received no visitors yesterday.
Haynes and Dranowitz. who are to
die with Becker have abandoned every
top,. Haynes killed Mrs. John Har-
rson of Patterson, Putnam county,
n. Y. Dranowitz was convicted of
completely in trunk murder on the
Eas. Side Of New York few years
ago. The latter was reprieved four
times, once At the -intercession OF The
Russian Ambassador in this country.
! Beckers attorneys. Mr.. Cochran and
Martin T. Manton, have only two re-
! courses left TO save their clients life or
! delay the execution. unless OF course
/ Gov. Whitman should extend executive
/ clemency or new evidence should be
| discovered which a Supreme Court JUS
| ticc of this state would consider weighty
J .pniiyh n warrant new trial.
In their present plan the attorneys
/ are following exactly the course TO-
lowed by attorneys for Leo Frank n
] Georgia. which resulted in postpone
ments of the date of execution until
finally Gov Slaton commuted sentence.
/ pleas In Fra nk Case.
! In Franks case his attorneys applied
for writ OF error, as Mr.. Cochran did
! yesterday. This was refused and then
! Franks attorneys applied to a Distric,
Judge in Georgia for a writ of habeas
corpus. This was denied, whereupon
/ the attorneys appealed from the decision
to the United States Supreme Court
. The lower court was upheld and tht
writ denied on April 10 last. and that
| ended the legal resources OF Franks
lawyers. The proceedings acted as n
stay of execution, however. and whereas
escape the chair corresponding to those
, which have already been made in behal.
! Of Becker, was sentenced to die in the
week of January %. 1915, the legal pro-
ceedings delayed the final date set for
his execution until the week of June %
just five months later.
So Mr. Cochran and Mr. Manton plan
, to appeal to "A Federal District Judge
for writ Of habeas corpus. which IL
granted would cause rehearing OF
practically the whole case. IL this Is
denied. as expected. an appeal from
the decision to the United States Su.
preme Court will be made. and any
body's guess In as good as any one
else's about the effect OF this move.
The appeal to Justice Hughes was
made on the same grounds that the ap-
plication for a writ of habeas corpus
will be made. These grounds are that
the immunity agreement signed by Rose
Webber and Nallon was made to induce
them to swear falsely against Becker
that the change of Venue demanded a,
Becker's second trial should have beer
granted because of public feeling agains,
Becker, and that because OF Gov. Whit
mans incumbency OF his present office
Becker lost his constitutional right of q
final impartial review.
Mrs. Becker learned OF Justice
Hughes's decision yesterday morning
but she said her husbands lawyers hat
cautioned her against being interviewed
She expects to make her customary triI
to Sing Sing to see her husband this
afternoon.
Gov. Whitman said in Albany yestcr
day. when he was informed OF Justice
Hughes's decision that all he has tc
say about the Becker case is this
Il can only say that shall be ready
at all times to hear any appeal that
counsel for friends OF Becker may de-
sire to make to me-"
Mr.. Cochran left Rangeley Immediately
after Justice Hughes had denied his ap
plication. He will arrive in New YorL
early this morning IL he comes right
through.
District Attorney Perkins said thu
case has not been connected with his
office for some time. so he has no com
ment to make, John +. Mcintyre. coun
sci for Becker at the first trial. said ht
deeply regretted to learn of Justic,
Hughes's decision, as he feels tha
Becker is the victim of "frameup" by
Rose, Nallon, Webber and Schepps.
RUSSIANS ON OFFENSIVE.