Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-07-29
BECKER CALMLY
FACES DEATH CHAIR
Is Reported Bearing Up Well,
With Virtually All Hope
of Escape Gone.
WIFE TO SEE GOVERNOR.
IN WHOM ONLY HOPE LIES
Counsel Of Condemned Police Lieu.
tenant Abandons Idea of Ap-
pealing for Stay.

OSS1NING. N. Y, July 90
Charles Becker. former New
York police lieutenant. con-
demned to die tomorrow for in
stigating the murder of Herman
| Rosentha1, gambler, was reported
to be bearing up well today under
the realization that virtually all
hope of his escape from the cleo
trio chair had passed.
! Less than an hour after Becker re-
ceived word that Supreme Court Justice
| Ford had denied his appeal for a third
| trial the condemned man threw himself
on his cot. Becker lay with his face to
| the wall, and the guard said he did not
move all night.
| Becker arose at o'clock today After
| breakfast he was taken from his cell
while the final preparations for his execu
| ton were made.
Finds Death Suit on Return.
| When Becker returned to his cell he
| found that all of his clothing, personal
belongings and even the few furnishings
of the cell had been removed. On new
cot lay thin black suit white shirt
with soft collar and black tie. Black
stockings and soft felt slippers were also
provided. The left leg of the trousers
was not slit when Becker donned the
| clothes, as the Sitting is done just before
condemned man is led to the execution
! chamber.
| Father Cashin, the prison chaplain
and Becker's spiritual adviser, was ex-
/ pected to spend considerable time with
| the condemned man today and tonight.
Father Cashin also will accompany
Becker to the death chamber.
| Thomas Mott Osborne, warden of Sing
Sing. announced that he will leave the
prison late today. The warden is op-
posed to capital punishment. and never
ecution. Deputy Warden Johnson will
have charge of the execution of
Becker, and Samuel Haynes, a negro.
who probably will be electrocuted few
minutes before Becker.
Mrs. Becker In Albany.
ALBANY. N. Y. July 2s.-Mrs
Charles Becker arrived here at 1870
today to make final plea to Gov.
Whitman for her husbands life. She
was accompanied by John B. johnson of
Becker's counsel. Gov. Whitman prev
iously had left for Camp Whitman
Mrs. Becker did not learn until after
her arrival Of the governors departure
from the ci.y. She said her plans were
uncertain.
Shortly before Mrs. Becker's arrival
the public entrance to the executive
chamber in the capitol was closed and a
plain clothes man placed on guard. An
[unconf1rmed rumor said that the au-
] thorities had learned that some New
York gunmen had arrived in Albany
Another report was that the governor
would return to Albany early in the
afternoon and would receive Mrs.
Becker Immediately on his return.
After a conversation with William
Orr, Gov. Whitmans private secretary.
over the telephone. Mrs. Becker and
Attorney Johnson went to a hotel. 1t
was learned that the governor had no
tilted Becker's counsel in New York
that he would be out of town during
the day, but the message failed to
reach Mrs. Becker before her departure
for Albany.
Seeks Interview With Governor.
Gov. Whitman and Mai. Moore. his
military secretary. left Albany this
morning by automobile for Camp
Whitman. near Fishkill, to review the
| state troops encamped there. Before
leaving Gov. Whitman received tele-
gram from Mrs. Becker asking for an
interview. He replied that he was COM
PEELED to leave Albany, but would re-
| cetve Mrs. Becker on his return. which
will be about $50 o'clock this evening
Gov. Whitman had nothing to add
today to his brief statement of last
night. saying that. in denying new
trial for Becker, Justice Ford had
| taken the only step possible under the
circumstances.
In no quarter is 1t believed that plea
for mercy would change the executives
Becker's guilt. The rumor which be-
came public after Justice Ford handed
down his decision that Becker had Of
fered to plead guilty to second degree
| murder convinced the governor Of his
belief. based on the evidence, that no
| injustice will be done in executing the
former lieutenant
| AS result of worry over the Becker
case, the governor is said to be nearly
exhausted. He has followed every move
as closely as any of the attorneys. and
his appearance shows plainly the effects
Of his hours of study and worry.
Entirely Up to Governor.
NEW YORK, July 29-The sole hope
Of saving Charles Becker from dying
| in the electric chair at Sing Sing
prison tomorrow morning lies in Gov
Whitman. Counsel for the condemned
man announced today that they had
| abandoned the idea of appealing to
Judge Hogan OF the court of appeals
| at Syracuse for stay of execution.
course remaining open for them to
pursue was to appeal to the governor
to reprieve Becker until October, when
| the court Of appeals reconvenes.
Should the governor grant such a
stay Of execution, counsel said they
would enter an appeal from the decision
of Supreme Court Justice Ford, who
| last night declined to grant a new
| trial on the ground of newly discovered
| evidence. Martin T. Manton. one of
! Becker's counsel said that when Mrs.
Becker and John Johnston, a member
| OF his law firm, saw Gov. Whitman in
Albany this evening they would make
| a final plea for the stay.
[ Mr.. Manton said that the idea of ap-
pealing to Judge Hogan had been aban-
! dQned because there seemed no author
| fty In law for such a move.
Mr.. Manton said in connection with
the rumor that Becker had offered to
plead second degree murder:
There Is absolutely no truth in the
| statement that Becker offered to plead
guilty TO murder in the second degree
\ or any other degree, SO far as know.
Certainly. no such offer was made while
| ] was his counsel. Becker will go to
| the chair with dying declaration of
| innocence"
Justice Ford Announces Decision.
Justice Ford announced his decision
at 10 o'clock last night Jn his cham