The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-27
Has Hope But Not Much Faith
in Outcome, His Friends
Declare.
EXPECT EXECUTIONER
AT THE PRISON TO-DAY

0hanged from "wednesday "
Friday.
TIA mar whose attitude toward tho
last efforts Of his lawyers TO save mis- mo
has been, as one close to him M the
prtson put Il this evening. "a feeling OF
hops. but not much faith" received the
news OF a further extension OF rte
calmly. He thanked johnson for coming
over 10 the death house to tell him ana
then asked for any further details OF the
day's proceedings IN Manhattan
sJustice Ford's message to me" the
essistant warden said later. asked
vnether the time OF execution could
not be delayed forty-eight hours. As
Il lies within the power OF warden
Osborne to set the hour OF the execution
any time during the present week JUS
tics Ford was told hat this could be
dome. The Justice then said that as
oriefs were to be submitted for his con-
alteration ne had decided to request the
warden to set the date forty-eight hours
after the original hour OF b:4b o'clock
wednesday morning. The warden OF
oourse granted the request"
Becker's Appetite GOOD.
Tho ~hope, but not much faith" With
which Becker In his last hours looks upon
the fsht his lawyers are putting up IN
his behalf seemed to change very little
n At all when two more days Of life
were granted to him tonight. He has
been eating with regularity. thus dis
oroving wild stories heard about Man.
hastan's Tenderloin during the last few
days that he would refuse all food for
y or three days before being led TO the
electric chair. The underworld has been
basing this story on a protested belief
nat Becker would not eat just before
going to the chair for fear that his food
would be "doped."
sHe isn't going to let them dope him."
tho Tenderloin has been saying. be
cause he's going to put up one last light
before they kill him"
Mr., Johnson. Father Cashin and other
urison onicials all laugh at this yarn.
Not even the close approach OF death
has interferod with the condemned mans
appetite.
Until Justice Ford's message reached
Sim Sing this evening IL had been
planned to have Becker say his last
farewells to his wife. his sister and two
brothers tomorrow afternoon. Also the
dnal bath and close hair cut to permit
OF tho application OF the head electrode.
the removal of every object from his
cell except his cot and the other last
minute preparations for the execution
have now been postponed from to-mor-
row until Thursday.
Mra. rrcker came up 10 the prison
as soon As the court proceedings ended.
She sat through the argument Of counsel
in order to tell her husband Just what
went on before Justice Ford. She also
brought with her copies OF all the New
York evening papers. Becker seemed
anxious to know the details Of the hear
ing. His only other visitors were
the deputy warden and his spiritual
advisers, Father cashin and Father
Curry. In the forenoon Father Curry
heard his confession.
Osborne TO Re Away.
Warden Osborne said to-day that fol-
lowing his usual custom of absenting
himself on the day OF an execution he
would leave Ossining tomorrow morn
Ing. With the change tonight In the
day OF execution the warden probably
will remain hero a day or two longer.
1t was laid to-day he probably will spend
the day OF the execution at the Univer-
sity Club. New York.
Warden Osborne ~telegraphed tonight
20 all those who were invited to the
execution advising them OF tho post
ponement. Twenty-seven invitations had
been sent out a few days ago.
Becker to-day might have taken what
evef enjoyment was possible under the
circumstances out OF the first band con-
cert he has heard In a long time. The
prison band, led by a lifer. usually does
Its playing On the second floor Of an old
building at the north end of the prison
yard, or so far away that only the
eaintest oun reach the vicinity Of the
death house Of days when the wind Ia
blowing In that direction. To-day. how
ever, the band played Suppe's "Poe
and Peasant" overture. the overture to
"Mignon" and other selections under
Pm apple tree just outside tho death
house.
Prison officials made an unoffcial test
II the electric chair apparatus to-day.
Tn ofhcial test Is set for Tomorrow and
the State electrician. that man OF much
mystery who is TO throw the switch
when Becker is strapped In the chair,
also was scheduled TO arrive here to-
morrow. Hs arrival will probably be
delayed now.
VINO the executioner Is and where he
PONIES from cannot be learned. He h
The successor to State Electrician Davis
whose last work at Sing Sing was to
Mrn on the electricity the morning tina,
Hyp the Blood, Whitley Lewis. Dagc
Frank and Lefty Louie were executed
fhs new man insisted whom he took thu
lob Of State electrician that his name
pever be given out for publication. A.
10 his home. all that can be learned Ia
hat ne lives In q little hamlet up the
state"
Rarely II ever have prison oficiali
1t Sing Sing. wen those to whom
executions are "all In the days work.
shown SO keen ar interest In any new,
bearing upon the fate Of a condemned
man as they do in the case of Becker
All afternoon prisoners talked In low
tones among themselves about the prob
lble outcome Of the Manhattan proceed
lngs. The keepers and others who wer,
permitted about the onices and the en-
france to the prison buttonholed late ar
rivals among newspaper men to And on
hat was happening at the Becker hear
Ing in the city.
Warden Thomas Mott Osborne also
put off until Friday the execution Of San
Haynes. the negro, convicted Of TIL
murder OF Mrs. John Harrison. at Pater
son, Putnam county. Haynes was 4
a been eloctrocuted tomorrow will
Becker. hut when Justice Ford tele
phoned his request for a delay 70
Becker the Sing Sing head decided 4
postpone Haynes's end too. Gov. Whit
man had previously refused Haynes'
Plea for a reprieve.
No President Yet for Richmond.