The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1915-08-07
BECKER DIES IN
ELECTRIC CHAIR
FORMER NEW YORK POLICE LIEU
TENANT IN RAGE As FINAL
HOUR IS NEAR.
MARCHES TO CHAIR At 5:45
Twice Convicted for InstigatIng tho
Murder of Herman Rosenthal.
Gambler - Negro 10 His
Death Companion.
Becker's Dying Statement.

l
Becker's Dying Statement.
Ossining. N. r., July 30.-Becker's
dying statement issued at 1880 q. m,
/ is as follows:
My dying declaration, gentlemen.
as stand before you In my full
senses, knowing that no power ON
earth can save me from the grave
that is about to receive me. In the
face of that, in the teeth of those
who condemned me and in the pres
ence of my God and your God, pro-
claim my absolute innocense OF the
foul crime for which must die. You
are now about to witness my destruc-
ton by the state, which Is organised
to protect the lives Of the innocent
May God Almighty pardon every one
who has contributed in any degree
to my untimely death. And now on
the brink of my grave i declare to
the world ! am proud to have been
the husband of the purest, noblest
woman that ever lived. Helen Becker.
This acknowledgment is the only
legacy l leave her. 1 bid you all
goodbye. Father, / am ready to go.
Amen.
Ossining, N. Y, July 30.-Charles
Becker, former New York police lieu.
tennt and GEAR of the tenderloin," was
put to death in the electric chair In
Sing Sing prison this morning.
He had spent most of the night in
prayer and In the last visit with his
wife, who came to the prison shortly
after IL D. m.
All hope frcAa the condemned man
was given up when, early in the ev-
ening, Gov. Whitman told Mrs. Back
er that he would not interfere with
the execution.
After Mrs. Becker left Becker
wrote a brief statement. Then he
slept short while before the guards
called him for the death march.
Becker was convicted of hiring
gunner to kill Herman Rosenthal,
gambler, who was about to divulge
grating that would involve the DO
lice lieutenant. Four of the gunner
suffered the death penalty.
| Negro to Follow Becker.
Ossining. N. Y, July 29.-Becker
will be followed to the chair by a
negro half breed, Sam Haynes, who
wantonly slew a woman whom he
coveted.
Thus will Becker end his days as
did score of unfortunates that he
snatched from their hiding places
and sent at word to the narrow
cells in Sing Sings death house.
Worries About Wife.
At 1880 o'clock tonight Becker
began to worry about his wife. He
asked Deputy Warden Johnson
whether he had heard any news. Mr..
johnson sent back word that Mrs.
Becker was expected by IL O'Clock.
that she and John B. johnson, one of
Becker's lawyers, had left Pough-
keepsie in taxicab and that she
should be in Sing Sing soon.
At IL o'clock Mrs. Becker had not
arrived and Becker began to make Il
plain that worry for her was going
to take precedence over his religious
preparation for death.
RACES and Prays.
Today he ragged, cowed and prayed
in turn.
| He ragged at the governor, who had
turned an unhearing ear upon him
and his wife. For brief moment he
became the Becker of old, roarine
oaths, swinging his two huge fists
and calling down imprecations upon
the head of a man.
But none but his hopeless death
house associates could hear and he
took to writing.
From some OF the cells adjacent tc
his came jeers. Why should he rail
Had he not had everything done thai
money and influence could accom-
plish? Did he not appreciate tina,
with the same powers behind then
some of his neighbors might go scot
free7 Was he turning Yellow
/ But Becker did not hear; he ravet
as he wrote. He knew that his wifi
had gone to see the governor, plead
ing that his life be spared. Later h
heard that the governor would no
listen to the woman. or at least woul,
not pay attention to what she plead
cd for.
Il Just before he takes his seat II
the death chair Becker may make
statement In his present state o
mind 1t II likely to be one full o
villincation Of Gov. whitman.