davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-31
DEATH HOUSE LETTER
SENT TO MRS. BECKER
Inmates Write Consolation to
Doomed Man and Condemn
Capital Punishment.

Mrs. Becker late last night received a
letter written by the prisoners in the
death house at Sing Sing to her hus-
band Just before his death, asserting
confidence in his innocence and pro-
testing against present penal methods
in this State. particularly capital pun
ishment.
The letter. written on official Sing
Sing prison stationery. and addressed
MIR. Charles Becker. Ossining. y. ""
vas composed by Hans Schmidt. muir
derer OF Anna Aumuller. in collaboration
with Carol Dranowitz, who was con-
victed OF a East Side murder. The
document was signed by all the inmates
OF the death house. 1t follows:
please accept these few lines of fare
well from the companions In misery
whom you will leave behind. and who
will sooner or later follow you.
Your manly behavior during tho
trying days was IA source OF inspiration
n ediication to us all.
TT is In situations like this that Z
man shows his true mettle.
We who have lived with o through
these days in the human stockyards OF
Sing Sing express to you our heartfelt
sympathy.
surely some day your case will b
cited. cited by historians of human prog
ress. as one OF tho best arguments
against a~ntiquated legal conceptions
chambers Of horrors. death houses. con-
denmed cells, &c. as conducted by tho
| State OF New York-as a n OF
ages gone by.
ave all who know you from your
actions In the human slaughter house o!
the Empire State feel sure that in thu
course of time further developments
will prove to all that the State ha,
killed you as an innocent victim OF cir
cumstances.
THE State claims that the sacrednes
OF human life must be impressed upoI
the people, while at the same time tn
State itself gives the worst example
forcing its employees for a paltry sun
to help and assist In taking lives will
cruel dehberation and generalization a
Sing Sing
Thereby the State itself moro tina
any other agency overs he standard o
public morals: It has a brutalizing eff
feet upon the public mind. cuitivatini
and strengthening the lower instinct
o. man. the spirit of vengeance an,
bloodthirst.
Dear Mr.. Becker. we who offer thes
lines OF farewell are unfortunate our
selves. We are all at a loss to offe
you any consolation except the exampl
of One who was executed n who's
last words were:
FEATHER. forgive them. for they kno,
mt uhaf fhav do"
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-31
MANTON PREPARES
ATTACK ON WHITMAN
Publication Depends on An
swer Governor Makes to
Lawyers Telegram.
FAIRNESS IN QUESTION

Locked up in one Of the desks in the
office OF W. Bourke Cochran II Mar
tin Z. Manton. Becker's lawyers. is a
statement which has been carefully pre-
pared by Mr.. Manton for publication,
and yet may never see the light Of day.
II is an attack on Gov. Whitman for
several things which Mr.. Manton be-
lieves the Governor has said or done.
and it's release for publication depends
on the answer Mr.. Manton receives
from the Governor in response to the
following telegram. sent yesterday:
The World in a despatch from
Albany reports you saying ITO
Becker's denial that he had agreed
to make revelations of grating the
Governor said Martin 7. Manton mad
given him a statement containing tho
names of five men. two dead and
three living. who were implicated in
the grating
bid you make this statement or
authoriz. il?
Answer prepaid.
MARTIN T. MANroN.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-31

thought she was thinking about him. She
told n Of the girls once that having
the graduating class was the only thing
that made her keep on teaching when
things got so bad. She said she was
afraid II she left US maybe We wouldn't
all graduate"
A few minutes before 6 o'clock Capt.
John 7. Reith Of the Highbridge station.
In which precinct Mrs. Becker's home Is
situated, went In for a few moments.
Il just went In to pay my respects"
he said. II know Mrs. Becker. and I
knew Charley" There was a catch In
the captains voice.
The only other caller who was ad-
mitted was Lieut.. Patrick Shea, who
came with his wife. Lieut.. Shea Iesti-
fed that he and Mrs. Shea were with
Lieut.. and Mrs. Becker on the night,
several nights after Rosenthal was shot.
when II was asserted that Becker was
aiding the gunner to get out OF the
way. Lieut.. Shea would say onthing
when he left.
The Rev. Father Murphy. who Is TO
conduct the requiem mass for the dead
man. is now In Philadelphia, but II WAS
said at the rectory that he would return
tomorrow afternoon TO consult with the
family In regard to final plans for the
funeral. Until then II Is not likely Mrs.
Becker will go any further with them.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-31
AVACATION FOR o AND
"TENEMENT TOMMY"

We know many puny children
down in Allen. Cherry and other
crowded streets who are starving
for fresh air.
Three dollars will pay for a weeks
seashore vacation for one Of them.
Will you give at least one the
same health-restoring opportunity
you are going to have this summer
Multiply the number Of days you
expect to be away by forty-three
cents. send US the amount and we
will keep at least one of these little
victims Of poverty at Sea Breeze
while you are away. Send con-
tributions to GEORGE BLAGDEN.
Treasurer. Room I'll. los East
22nd Street.
The New York Association for Improving
the Condition Of the Pooe.
CORNELIUS N. BLISS, j.,
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-31
SING SING LOWBR0WS WIN.
Welfare League Election May I'm.
seat Prison Judge wiIlett.

OssINING, N. Y. July 3O.-The eleS-
tions OF the Mutual Welfare League, the
self-government organization OF the State
prison. were held to-day. and the low
brows won decisively, e~lecting 43 out
OF Sc delegates to the central govern
ing body. Among the highbrows' candi-
dates who were defeated were Burton
w. Gibson. former New York lawyer.
and Hoffman Brown, also a former
lawyer.
The lowbrows In the larger committee
then proceeded to elect from their num-
Der all the nine members OF the executive
committee. Among the lowbrows who
received this honor are Tough Tony Ma
reno. Phil Able, o. X. BIZ Myers and
Kid Dropper Kaplan. As this committee
rules the prison court II Is likely that
Chief Justice William Willett OF the
prison court will lose his Job.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-31

The priests began 10 say the prayers
for the dying then and Becker Joined
in where he could.
"My Lord and my God" Becker and
the priests said in unison as they be-
gan the prayer which brings with II
an Indulgence granted by Pope Plus ",
"even now and willingly and cheerfully
! accept whatever form OF death Thou
wilt be pleased to send me, with all its
anguish, sorrow and palm
Jim O'Toole, a blueclad guard. be-
tween whom and Becker an especially
strong friendship had grown up because
of O'Toole's kindnesses to the condemned
man and especially TO Mrs. Becker, came
to the cell door ~hesitatingly and entered.
Becker, who wore his soft shirt with
soft collar Of grayish white. black trous-
ers and black silk socks, advanced his
right leg without being told.
O'Toole, without a word, slit tho right
leg of the black trousers quickly up to
the knee. He carefully cut a slit in the
leg OF Becker's underclothing at the
right knee also. Then he rolled up the
slashed trouser leg and barred the knee,
Following this he shook hands with
Becker and left the cell silently, This
was at 5:15 o'clock.
A few seconds before 5 Al o'clock Act
ing Principal Keeper Fred Dorner for
| the first time In his life came TO a con-
| demned mans door to tell him to walk
| out to the electric chair. Becker. ashen
pale now, arose n made a movement
forward without further signal than
! merely a glance Of the eye from Dorner.
| Father Curry was about to SEQ his
first electrical execution and. as he said
later, he feared ne would weaken, espe'
! cialiy as the man about TO die had beer
| his friend for so many years, He stopped
J Becker, who with the terror OF death
| now gripping him had begun mechan'
| ically to walk out Of his cell.
sChayleXF Said ths REtssts do You e
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-31
BIDDING FOR BECKER'S CELL.
Slayers in Death House Annex
Want Vacant Quarters.

O%ssININo, July 30.-Five murderers In
Sing Sing prisons lighthouse annex be-
gan bidding to-day for tho two cells va
Gated in the lighthouse by Charles
Becker and Sam Haynes. despite the
gloom cast over the prison by tho exc
cution Of the two men. .
Gaeto Montimagno. slayer OF Michael
Gaimeri, the politician. was one Of the
men who pleaded for Becker's cell. Those
in the annex occupy the cells once used
for solitary confinement. which are more
stuffy than those. vacated by Becker and
Haynes. Warden Thomas Mott Osborne
will probably move the two successful
bidders from the annex to the DEATH
house on Sunday after the empty cells
have been cleaned.
Hans Schmidt. who was In the eel
next to Becker. bemoaned his absence
YESTERDAY. poor fellow" said Schmidt
"He put up a hard night"
we miss him greatly" said Carol
pyapqYJtA M4sAAA2 eam9QEf - Dsss
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-31
Continued from First Page.

have had the strapping been done cor
iectly.
The added forward bow OF his body
JerkeJ Becker's head down slightly from
the helmet SO the leather cover
ing Of the lower part OF his face slipped
far down on the hin. The lower half
OF his face. livid from instantaneous
swelling and strain. bulged vl.ere the
restraining strap had slipped and UNI
covered his mouth. ohm and part of the
neck. Witnesses averted their eyes.
As soon as the first contact of sixty
seconds duration was over the attendants
quickly rearranged the face straps so
all but the lips we're covered. Quickly
the guards also buckled the chest strap
properly. During the second and final
shocks. which lasted respectively ten
and five seconds. there was no more
bungling.
The terrorstricken manner In which
the giant Becker went to his death and
the hasty mismanagement OF the first
strappinE were the details which seemed
to stand out most In the minds of white
faced official witnesses n newspaper
men when they came from the death
chamber shortly after 6 o'clock.
Again and again out on the prison
lawn after Becker was dead witnesses
were heard to voice their belief that he
could not have shaken off utter collapse
many seconds longer. Even men who
had known Becker during his most
powerful days in the Tenderloin-and
there were several such present-gasped
with relief when the first shock of
electricity m%ercifully burned conscious
ness from his brain IN "A flash.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-31

The young II the older Catholic
priests had "A word OF cheer and spiritual
hope for sam Haynes, Protestant. when
they went into the death cell row and
Mr, Lowry. a Methodist. who does not
even so much as suggest to the con-
demnei men he works with that they
Join his church Dust as Father
curry. who first knew and grew to like
Becker when the then policeman was
Il Lutheran. never asked Becker to cm-
brace the Catholic faith) went into
Becker's cell with "A last serious word.
'Good-hy, charlie" MIR. Lowry said to
Becker, who was sitting ON his cot be-
tween the priests. I've seen you often
during the last two years or more and
I've prayed for you often
II know it," said Becker. rs he stood
up and gripped MIR. Lowry's hand. And
! know that l will have spiritual life.
Good-by."
THE most beautiful prayer IN tho
Catholic Church." Becker said then,
turning to Father Cashin and Father
Curry, when Mr.. Lowry had gone on
past three cell doors TO Sam Haynes's
cell. us the Salve Regina. VIII you
both say II over with me-"
Becker and the priests knelt on the
cell floor together. II In soft tones
whispered the prayer which begins
HAL, Holy Queen, Mother OF Mercy
Our life, our sweetness and our hope y
Becker at this time had received com.
munlon and under tn. rules OF the church
he might break his fast and eat break
fast. He did not want breakfast. He
had told Assistant Warden Johnson :,
after Mr.. Johnson a come into the
death house to shake Becker's hand FOL
the last time.
God in permitting me TO die" SAID
-, . i.
had received communion. mus, have
some wise design. Father. | must b,
dying for some purpose o; HIs-I don't
know what"
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-31
EXECUTION WITNESS HURT.
Editor Returning From Sing Sing
Badly Injured In Auto Accident.

BEACON. n. Y. July S0.-Returning
from Osssning, where he was one OF the
witnesses OF the execution OF Charles
Becker. Charles II. willioughby. editor of
tho Fttsfeld. Mass. Daily Eagle, was
badly injured to-day at Wappingers
Falls. seven miles north Of here, when
the auto in which he was riding crashed
into the side OF a runabout.
Both cars were overturned and the
four occupants were buried beneath.
W%illioughby IL the worst hurt. Several
bones are fractured and no has suffered
a nervous collapse. Both cars were
speeding and came together at a cross
road.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-31
FORD TO TAKE N. Y. CONVICT
Prisoner, Sentence Committed "a
Work In Auto Factory.

ALBANY, July 30.-lienry Ford Is TO
get another New York state convict FOR
reformation in his automobile works In
Detroit. Upon representations from Mr..
Ford, Gov. Whitman commuted to-day
the sentence of Charles Wilson, a young
Brooklyn stenographer. 40 that he will
be- released from Sing Sing prison to-
morrow.
Wilson was sentenced December II,
1911, to a term OF from five TO nine
years and ten months for assault, first
DEGREE, HI has been q model prisoner.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-31

out from this death mouse bearing malice
toward any oneY'
Father" answered Becker in the
strained voice which a few seconds later
was to begin to tremble so violently. II
forgive every one. From those l may
have wronged 1 pray forgiveness"
Turns Back for Coat.
You'd better put or you coat.
Charley" Father Cashin. who has seen
many men go from the room to death.
said after a pause as Becker again led
the way coatless. Becker turned back
to his cot and obeyed.
The shutting OF feet out on the south
veranda Of Warden Osborne's quarters a
few steps from the death house could be
heard by the condemned men. Assistant
warden johnson was out there oil the
porch telling in whispered tones almost
two score of men to form In line. A few
minutes before this Warden Osborne,
who at the last minute had changed his
announced plan to spend tho night and
day in Manhattan. had put on a golf cap
and started off with head bowed and
hands clasped behind him. Mr.. Osborne.
who does not believe in capital punish
ment, slowly climbed tho grass terraces
across the road from the prison and dis
hIptdIeu over tNe brow OF tne nil.
Some OF the physicians. the official
witnesses and the newspaper men
grouped or the veranda had begun to
remove their hats. There was light
enough now for a moving picture man
to set up his tripod. Following orders
from Warden Osborne the guards COM
PEELED the moving picture man to take
his machine away before he had got
pictures OF the line OF witnesses fling
down the porch steps and through the
small door In the ivy covered wall
which admitted them to the condemned
mems exercise ground between the high
wall and the death house.
Wall quietly. please, and don't talk
Mr.. Johnson cautioned the witnesses In
a whisper. "When you pass through
this wall door you will be just outside
Of Becker's cell. He's in there still with
the priests and will rear you"
Two by two the witnesses and re-
porters entered the death chamber. Mr.
Johnson cautioned them not to speak
and not to try to leave the room, once
the condemned man had entered 1t, until
the prisoner was pronounced dead.
Two lines OF stiff backed benches were
stretched across the rear OF the death
chamber. These two rows of benches
were quickly hut quietly filed. Back
Of the second bench n line 81 men stood
along the south wall.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-31
BECkER'S LAST STATEMENT MADE
BEFORE HE WENT TO HIS DEATH

MY Dying Declaration.
GENTLEMEN: I stand before you in my full senses knowing that
no power o earth can save me from the grave that is to receive me. In
the face of that, in the teeth of those who condemned me and in the
presence of my God and your God, I proclaim my absolute innocence
of the foul crime for which must die.
You are low about to witness my destruction by the State, which
is organized to protect the lives of the innocent. May Almighty God
pardon every one who has contributed in any degree to my untimely
death. And now, on the brink of my grave, declare to the world that
I am proud to have been the husband of the purest, nobest woman that
ever hved-Helen Becker.
This acknowledgment is the only legacy leave her. l bid you all
good-by. Father, I am ready to go. Amen. CHARLES BECKER.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-31
VIII Wait for Answer.

The Governors answer was not re-
ceiyed when Mr.. Maiton's office was
closed for the day. but Mr.. Manton
said he would wait "A proper length OF
time for the Governors answer. Other
newspapers besides the World printed
practically the same Albany despatch.
but AZ Mr.. Manton said
suppose the Governor denies he
said anything of the kind. as he has
denied aging that Becker offered to
plead guilty to murder in the second
degree. what would be the use Of giving
out the statement
MIR. Mauton refused to say Yesterday
whether he had given the Governor the
names of five men who shared in
Beckcr's graft. at will all he I'm the
statement" he said, and refused to say
more. But those who have been meet
ing him daily for the last few weeks
and know something OF his feelings ex-
pec' that his forthcoming statement will
deal with five principal points. which
Mr.. Manton will say indicate that the
Governor has not acted fairly. Three
Of them concern statements attributed
to tho Governor in Albany dispatches
one other deals with an alleged state
ment by the Governor to Mr.. Manton
that Joseph Murphy. the Sing Sing con-
Wet whose affidavit was a feature of
the last resort to the courts to save
Becker's life. was not in tho Tombs
at the time he said he had overheard
"A conversation between WALTON. Weber
and Rose indicating that they planned "a
frame up Becker. Subsequent investi-
cations by Mr.. Manton disclosed that
Murphy was actually In the Tombs
when he said he was.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-31
Haynes stronger Of Two.

A. Becker's own request. made a few
days ago. he was permitted to die In
the chair ahead Of the mulatto Sam
Haynes. who was put to death less than
ten minutes after Becker's limp body
had been carried out to the autopsy
room.
II SO happened. however. that in per-
hitting Becker to sit In the chair first
there was no violation OF the general
rule OF the death chamber. which is that
the stronger OF two men condemned to
die the same day must go through the
greater strain OF waiting for his turn
! after he has heard the weaker prisoner
led out of the death house cell room.
Haynes. who had a spotless record
during fifty years OF his life. or until
in "a NJ of drunkenness he killed Mrs.
John Harrison of Patterson. Putnam
county. had not received certain privi-
leges granted TO Becker In his last hours,
such as the unprecedented one OF taking
Becker from the death house early on
the evening preceding his death and per
hitting him to remain In one OF the
prison offices TO receive relatives and
counsel until half an hour after midnigh;
yesterday morning.
Haynes. back In the death house. had
put in these hours and the succeeding
time up TO the moment OF his death
talking quietly with his only friend from
the outside world. John Lowry. the New
York business man who walked to the
death chair with him. Haynes. wher
his turn came to die. entered the deatf
chamber with Arm step and sat down In
the electric chair with the same calm
ness.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-31
Tribute to Becker.

Mr.. Manton paid a tribute TO
Becker's courage yesterday. lie saw
Becker Thursday afternoon and said
that Becker's last words 10 him were an
assurance that he had neither procured,
instigated or had anything TO do with
any plan TO k!dnap, assault or murder
Herman Rosenthal.
"liow could any nan make a state
ment like Bcckcr's last and be guilty 80
he demanded. About reports that Mrs,
Becker will devote her LIE to exposing
the methods by which her husband was
convicted Mr.. Manton said
81 know that has always been her
frame OF mind"
Mr.. Cochran had not resa'ned his
composuro when he reached his office.
Reporters asked him about the Albany
story tina, Mr.. Manton rad offered to
tell Gov. Whitman the James OF Ave
men who shared Becker's graft. and Mr..
Cochran answered by debating the fol-
El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-05-29
SIGNING BORDERl.AND
BY ALAMOCORDO MEN

AIamogordo. y. NJ. May 29.-Chas w
Arnold. proprietor Of the Alamo garage
and Otto Tinklepaugh, secretary Of the
AlamogordO Commercial club, are now
making a trip of inspection over the
road between AlamogordO and Roswell.
They are carrying a camera and viii
make photographs of the fOrds in the
mountain streams. 20 place at Roswell
TO show the exact condition of the
road and the best place to cross the
streams Upon their return to Alamo
gOrdO they viii make recommendations
as to the location of the stretches which
are most in need of repair work. The
placing Of signboards on the road be-
tween Alamogordo and Las Cruces was
finished yesterday afternoon by E
Blackburn. OF the Borderland garage
at Las Cruces. He put UP a total OF
45 signs on this stretch of road
El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-05-29
Of
TEXAS iDJlURNS
Congressional Redistricting
Bill Is Killed by Lackof
House Quorum.

Austin. Texas. May 29-Because the
legislature did not adjourn finally un-
til 1 o'clock this morning. the bulk Of
the members We're compelled to re-
main over until today. but practically
all of the lawmakers returned to their
homes today.
RedistrictIng Bill Killed.
A desperate fight was made in the
house after midnight to force the adOp-
ton Of the conference committee re-
port on the congressional redistricting
bill.
The house had refused to accept the
first report and the committee was d.
rected TO return to conference and
make an effort to reach an agreement.
Burgess Leads Fight.
The committee after midni~ht
reached an agreement, but the oppOsi-
ton to redistricting in the house. led
by representative Burgess. of FL Paso.
prevented the report coming TO a vote
A quorum was broken and il was
impossible TO obtain one to act on the
report. While this was in progress the
senate adjourned. about half an hour
earlier than the house
Rural schools Get s1.OOO.OOO.
Rural schools in Texas viii get
100000 through the passage of bill
by the special session approprfatfne
that amount for the country schools.
The session was called to consider
appropriations and n general appro-
priatiOn bill was passed. which with
additional appropriations made gives
total appropriations for the session Of
nearly S1S.O00.O0
Dulaney Con firmed.
". r. Dulaney, nominated by gov
ernOr Ferguson as successor to w O.
Stamps. removed. as = member OF the
prison commission, was cnofirmed by
the senate In executive session The
resignation Of commissioner Stamps
was sent to governor Ferguson last
night
Prison Committee Organizes.
The state prison probe committed
composed Of five members Of the SEN
ate held its first meeting today and
elected ". V HOwerton to be sscre-
tary Of the committed
Mr. Howerton is secretary OF the
senate The committee decided that
three OF its members shall remain here
during next week and two shall COM
mence at once the iuvestiga tion. hut
IL has not as vet been announced where
these two members shall commence
their task.
On next Monday week the entire
committee Will start out together The
committee IS given 60 days in which
to make the investigation.