Norwich bulletin., 1915-07-30
Mrs. Becker's
Plea was Futile
GOV. WHITMAN REFusED TO
COMMUTE SENTENCE.
GOVERNOR AFFECTED
Appeal Was Based Solely on Her Be-
lief in Her husbands Innocence
Time Of E'seution s45 This Morn
ins-1as Lett Statement.

Poughkeepsie. N. z, July 2s.-In a
oimiy lighted room of the Nelson
mousse here tonight. Mrs. Charles Reck-
er. whose husband must die tornorrov,
at Sing Sing for the murder OF Her-
man Rosenthal. pleaded futneIy with,
Governor Whitman to coramfIfa her.
ment -N- -9NA
Weeping slightly. but maintaining
such control that the governor later
remarked admiringIy on her com
posure, she based her appeal solelv or,
ner belief in her husbands fnnocence- .
Tnere was no offer either by her or:
John b. Johnston. one of Becker's at
torneys who accompanied her, to ex-
pose anything in exchange for the
convicted mans life.
Governor, know Charlie is no
saint was her repeated assertion.
Out ne Is not the foul murderer that
he has been branded"
Whitman visibIy Affected.
The governor was visibly affected.
out ne shook his head negatively.
cannot" he said 'fbut want Won
TO feel free to tell me everything. IF
there Is anything that you know that
you have not told me that you think
would help your husband or that I
should know, you may tell It to me
now with the fullest assurance that IL
VIII be regarded as absolutely conf
dential" :
There is nothing to tell" Mrs.
Becker replied. II only know he Is
innocent"
Conference Lasted IS Minutes.
/ The conference between Mrs. Beck
er and the governor lasted about If
teen minutes Mr.. johnson and Ma
| 1or John Stanley Moore, the gov
ernor's military secretary, also were
| present.
Prior to seeing Mrs. Becker. the
governor conferred for more than an
hour with Mr. Johnson The attor-
ney appealed for a reprieve in order
that the case might be taken to the
court of appeals and also asked the
governor to permit former Justices
Edgar NJ Cullen and Charles D. An
drews TO pass on the appeal for a
communication or reprfeve as specially
appointed commissioners. The exc
cutive declined both requests. When
4 asked to grant a reprieve that new
evidence might be submitted, the
governor said there was none
The conference here was arranged
only after the telephone wires be-
tween Albany and Camp Whitman.
where the governor had gone to re-
view the New York State militia, had
been kept busy for several hours in
: an attempt to locate him He left
Albany shortly about 10 O'Clock this
morning and Mrs. Becker and Mr.
Johnson arrived there shortly after
11-S0 in the hope Of seeing the execu-
| tive They remained at an Albany
|, hotel until about. 4 o'clock this aft
| ernoon- when the governor was locat-
ed by his secretary, William A Orr
and agreed to meet them here.
Mrs. Becker Was Silent.
Throughout the day, both in the
hotel and on the trains,a Mrs. Becker
, was silent. seldom speaking, even tC
Mr.. Johnson ..-.
CARRIED in a black tafreta suit and
black hat trimmed with white wings
! she sat quietly in the corner of the
hotel or of the trains gazing out the
windows into space. Few recognized
, her and she recognized no one 4
crowd as large as that often seen IT
front OF the hotel on regatta days had
gathered about the Nelson house wher
the governors car rolled up about 5.3t
CONTINUED on Page Three)