New Britain herald., 1915-07-29
ELL DIE LIKE A
 MAI" SAYS BECKER
SVears He Is Innocent -GazeS at
 Wife'S Picture

Ossining, N Y, July 29.-"Well I,ll
 die like a man" With these words
 Charles Becker received the news that
 his last hope had failed There was :
 strong handgrip for Deputy Warden I Charles H. Johnson, who brought hir l tlle news and he sat down on the a5,.ya of lis cot with the picture Of his wife before him to await the arrival of the prison chaplain.
 By a margin of minutes Mrs Becker missed being at her husbands s,aa when the news was received sha reached the prison shortly after ' o'clock last evening, and did not leave until few minutes after 70 o'clock. The down train was whistling for the Ossining station when the news reached the prison. It was too late to recall her. Becker's one request of Father William 2. Cashin was that ha telephone to Mrs. Becker.
 The news flashed through the prison. It was 1928 when the first word came. Inside of ten minutes it had come from half a dozen sources and the telephone bell was jingling continually The guards, streaming with rain water and hugging their rifles under their coats, were just com ing in from the walls. The change of the guard aided in spreading the news.
 Seated on Cot.
 Becker, having said farewell to his wife, was seated on shis cot waiting. The atmosphere of the prison was R even more depressing than usual. For hours there had been steady rain The iron bars and the stonework were clammy with moisture. The air was heavy
 Mrs. Becker, for the first time in her three years ordeal, had been openly distrait and there was a hope less look in her eyes. I E
 The door changed, and Becker looked up to meet the eyes of Deputy Warden Johnson, standing on the op- posite side of the heavy screen. The prisoner arose and shuffled across the vacant space.
 Charlie, I've bad news for you said the deputy warden. extending his hand through the bars. ssThe motion was denied.,'
 Denied repeated Becker
 GraSps JOhnSOn's Hand.
 Then he grasped Johnson's hand in a warm, firm grip, whose tensity alone betrayed his emotion. There was not a quaver in his voice nor a shrinkins, in his glance as he spoke.
 We'll, I'll die like a man. he said.
 Deputy Warden Johnson returned the handclasp and withdrew, leaving Becker to the pelting of the rain, his thoughts and the picture of his wife, I from which the glass had been re- moved. 5s,Asf iis; gsss ss sti sfgaI
 Warden Osborne as soon as the news was received telephoned to ! Father Cashin. He came splashing through the mud in a taxicab and was It once admitted to the death house. | He was there about twenty minutes.
 He found Becker slngularly calm | and collected He was not afraid to l lie; his only grief was for his wife. He did not wish to Have her the name of 9 man convicted or murder But l he was confident that his name would l be cleared in time. Whatever the Judgment of men might be. he said, he had no fear of the hereafter. He asked Father Cashin to telephone Mrs. Fsecker immediately and inform her of l his certitude of the future and the ealmness with which he was facing it.
 Mrs. Rockers Last Trip.
 This afternoon Mrs. Becker will make her last trip to Sing Sing. From 7 to 4 in the afternoon IS the time all lowed the doomed men to see their relatives. Tn Beckers case it is prob able that the time may De extended a | bit.
 The death watch was set at 8 O clock this morning. In view of the promi l hence which the case has had in the ! extra guards were sta toned about the prison to keep curi- osity seekers at a distance. Tomor- row morning Father James B. Curry, of St James Roman Catholic church, | who added his affidavit to those who | joined in. the last minute effort to i save Becker, VIII act with Father Cashin as spiritual adviser
 The prison officials are confident r that Becker will keep hIs word; that tl1re will have to be no extra pre- in the execution cham Der; that, So far as such B thing may be- all will be done in order.
 Gave Away Belon-ings.
 Becker spent yesterday as, well as a man might caged up in cell anxious ly awaiting g decision whether he should die or have chance for life. Outwardly he was calm and preserved his usual steel nerved exterior But
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