The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1915-08-03
Execution of Becker.

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the New York gambler. The former
New York police lieutenant retained
his composure and protested his inno-
cence to the last. He went to his death
with a photograph of his wife pinned
ON his shirt over his heart. Three
shocks were given before the prison
physicians pronounced Becker dead at
5:55 o'clock.
Becker led the way to his own exc
cution. He sat up all night on the
edge of his cot, calmly talking to Dep
uty Warden Charles H. Johnson.
81 have got to face it," said Becker,
"and 1 am going to meet it quietly and
without trouble to any one"
The deputy warden left Becker about
an hour before the time set for the
execution, and wnen the priests,
Father W. E. Cashin, the prison priest,
and Father Curry of New York, came
to administer the last rites they found
the condemned man with his face rest
ing on his hand gazing at the prison
floor. The priests remained with him
to the end.
Shortly after 5 o'clock the first Of
the witnesses began to assemble out
side the prison walls. Quietly their
names were checked off by Deputy
Warden Johnson, Then the witnesses
were led to the place of execution in
the death house adjoining the old ex-
ecution chamber, where the four gun
men were put to death over year
ago for killing Rosenthal When the
witnesses were seated Deputy Warden
johnson nodded to Principal Keeper
Fred Dorner and they left the room
through a small wooden door tnat led
to the death cells beyond, where Beck
er was praying with his spiritual ad-
Yisers.
Becker rose to his feet when he saw
Johnson and took a crucifix from the
hand of the prison priest. To Father
Curry Becker gave his last message as
he took his place at the head of the
little file of men that marched to the
room of death.
Beeker'S Last Message.
His last message was:
"I am not guilty by deed, or con-
spiracy, or in any other way, of the
death of Rosenthal. am sacrificed to
the world and my friends. Amen"
The one-time police officer hesitated
as ne entered the execution room. 1t
seemed to the witnesses as if he was
startled that the death chair was so
near at hand. He looked quickly at
the double row Of witnesses, glanced
at the floor, swept with his eyes the
whitened wall of the room and then
suddenly, as if coming to himself,
walked briskly over the rubber mat
and seated himself in the electric chair.
Behind Becker followed the prison
priests chanting the prayer Of death,
which was repeated by the condemned
man.
Jesus, Mary, Joseph, have mercy on
1Jclxy OF .
deputy wardens stepped forward and
adjusted the electrodes. Hardly a
minute elapsed before the electrode
was applied to the right leg, slit
having been previously cut in the
trouser leg from the knee down. At
ter the electrode had been firmly ad-
iusted against shaven spot on the
back of the condemned mans head, the
State executioner looked at Deputy
Warden Johnson, who surveyed the
figure that was still mumbling the
death prayer in the chair. Johnson
half turned his head and the execu-
toned jammed TIE switch.
TIE first shock lasted full minute
and the executioner said that it was
1850 volts and ten amperes in
strength. 1t came while Becker was
still commencing his soul to his maker.
The two prison physicians stepped
forward to examine the collapsed fig
ure supported in the death chair by the
thick, black leather straps. The steth-
oscope was applied to the heart and
DR.. Charles Farr, the prison physician,
pressed his finger against an artery in
the neck. There was still a feeble
suffering of the heart.
Pronounced Dead.
The physician stepped back from the
rubber mat and again the electric cur
rent pulsed through the body. The
, shock lasted seven seconds. After a
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