The Washington herald., 1915-07-31

forward and back and it has cor
rugated handle on which a positive
grip may be taken. The man whisp-
ering to the short. rugged man. whose
hand is on the latch door. Is Fred
Dorner, principal keeper. The little
| fellow with his hand on the latch is
Edward McEnneny. a prison guard
who can't remember how many men
he has seen die.
Executioner Reticent.
! Tom Fox, the giant back of the chair.
! is one of the finest two-handed experts
at the rough and tumble game in exist
/ ence. Acting Assistant Principal Keeper
Halpin is on the left of the chair and
Joe Hayes and Bill Murphy, his fellow
! guards, are on the other side. 1t is
| 5:4l. Everything seems to be ready.
Well, let him come.
A short, rather plethoric man in a bag
gy, gray suit. and patent leather shoes
is tinkering with the switchboard and
fiicking the dust off the sinister-look
For some mysterious reason we're not
supposed to mention his name in the
oapers.
Back Of this free-care looking man is
another stranger. He is tall and we'll
! built, dressed in strict obedience to the
mandates of upper Fifth avenue. He
is the successor to State Electrician Da-
Wis. the inventor of the electric chair
The short plethoric man Ticking dust
off the switch board is his assistant and
the actual executioner.
In Through Red Door.
McEneny has opened the red door and
Dorner has gone through. The guards
have Tipped the straps out Of the chair
scat. They are standing erect and ex-
pectant. 1t is $40.
The red door swings open. Becker
has stepped into the room. He is the
first through the door. He is dressed
In black trousers and black coat and
loose flannel shirt. The coat Is but
toned The right leg of the trousers
has been ripped up the inner seam as
far as the knee. So has the leg of the
heavy muslin underwear. The slit trou-
ser leg is rolled up exposing Becker's
bare leg. But on his feet. instead of
the customary felt prison slippers. are
freshly shined oxfords such as police
lieutenants and captains wear in the
summer time. And they are laced with
broad silk laces.
Grip on Crucinx.
Ills hdii hdS oCSH SIoppco ouS hoS
shaved. They don't do that In Sing Sing
any more. In his hand he is carrying a
crucifx and on his face he wears an ex-
preston that we'll not forget There
doesn't seem to be any expression at all.
His face was always strong. pugnacious
and suggestive of impending brutality.
But this seems to be more of mask.
A heavy stubble of beard stands out
black and solid on the greenish paIlor Of
the skin. The mans driving himself
along. Looks like Frankenstein crea-
ton into which has just been breathed
the breath Of life.
His legs move as though the knees
were locked-still like. He's holding that
crucifix SO tightly that his knuckles are
white and shiny. He's a tremendous
animal. physically. He has a chest like
a barrel. His arms are massive and his
short legs pllar-like. He seems short Of
stature. but he's not. They say he could
dght like gorilla in the old days.
Directly in back Of him are Father
Cashin and Father Curry.
Hark: that's the Litany Of the Holy
Name, he's responding to now.
Lord have mercy upon u.s." he re-
spends. Lord have mercy upon us."
Jesus. Mary and Joseph, I give you
my heart and SOUL" he repeats- The
litany II over. What q voice! The mans
gone. gone No wonder Hanley gasped.
Can this mechanical thing be Charlie
Becker? His eyes are looking squArsly
this way. But only for . moment Back
they nash to the face Of Father Cashin.
Jesus. Mary and Joseph assist me In
my last agony"
Father Cashin had to lean over and
repeat the words before Becker caught
them and repeated. Hes in the chair.
They've strapped his feet to the oak
uprights That strap 10 tight. He
looks down at the pinehed ankle. The
man u Soing fast A minute moro ard
hen cellapss. HIS head = rolling. Ms