The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-04-16

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After his confession about ten min
utes were consumed In prayers. pre-
paratory for holy communion. with
his arm around ms waist and mine
around his. with our free hands we
each held the book of prayers. Once
he interrupted the pray rs. and said /:
Brings blessed Sacrament.
why. father. you are nervous
what are you nervous about?"
assured him that was not
nervous, that my hand usually
trembled somewhat. Father Cashin
here brought In the blessed sacra-
ment, and on u small shelf used as
a table In the cell for the edminis-
tration OF holy communion, / I'D
ministered holy communion. and
what touching picture Il would
have been TO outsiders II their eyes
could have seen into the cell on that
morning.
The good priest. Father Cashin, the
friend Of the prisoners and OF every
body. knelt at the door OF the cell.
repeating the responses: within. to-
ward the rear OF his cell. Becker
knelt, awaiting to receive the sacra-
ment; between the two stood.
Becker's priest friend, who had
worked three years to save his body
and Its life, all in vain. but now
was certain that had done more,
for. after God. had saved his soul.
The prayers OF thanksgiving after
holy communion were said by Becker
with me for few moments. Father
Cashin then suggested short, ejacula-
tory. richly indulgenced prayers. and
as the good priest stood at the cell
door / repeated them. Becker sug-
gested the beautiful prayer dear to
every Catholic heart, namely, the
Hall. Holy Queen, Mother OF Mercy"
sc. 4ts.
Father Cashin gave to Becker a
copy OF prayer indulgenced by the
late holy father Plus y: II was an
act OF acceptance from the hands of
God, OF any form or manner of death
which God might send: my Lord
and my God, even now l most will
ingly and cheerfully accept what
ever form Of death Thou shalt wilt
be pleased to send me, with all its
anguish. sorrow and pain"
|. Becker said 1t aloud most impress
sively. and said. Isn't that beauti-
ful?" and he repeated It, and again
he said 1t the third time. From his
tone and manner there could be no
doubt but that the prayer was heart
felt and sincere.
/ Conscious OF Crisis.
AS well as I thought knew and
understood Becker. he was really a
revelation to me this morning. The
vision Of the death before him was
a terrifying one; even the strongest
man might well be appalled, as the
moment approached, about fifteen
minutes. when he was to be marched
through the green door to the hor-
rible. horrible chair. Becker was an
intelligent man, too. man OF very
strong mentality; even his enemies
will admit that; he knew well the
nature OF his fast approaching death;
yet he never weakened for a single
moment. bii4 II
No drug was given to Becker, and
Father Cashin has informed me that
no drug. as far as he knows, is ever
given to the condemned men before
their electrocution. Mr.. o'Toole
came to the cell for the third time
This visit was for the purpose oil
bidding good-by to his ward; the
keepers endeavor to hide hill
grief failed completely, for he
was shaking with emotion as
! Becker took him In his
arms and kissed him good-by. There
was not cooler man that morning
In any section OF the big prison plant
from the warden down. He never
Il once showed sign OF nervousness
when Principal Keeper Dorner came
to his cell and said:
ut Is time now, CHARLIE
1 Becker sprang to his feet from his
cot as though he were called to 20
on beat In a hurry. Put on your
coat, Charlie" said the keeper, for
Becker had forgotten It: then turn
ing back to where the coat was hang
ing on the wall, he took It hurriedly
and while pushing his arms through
the sleeve, he began the death march.
!: 1t was a quarter to six that Fri.
day morning when Becker started for
the chair. Near the so-called green
door within the condemned cell
house. Deputy Warden johnson was
standing awaiting the procession
The warden. or his Representative, ]
was Informed, does not usually enter
the condemned cell section on such
an occasion, but remains at his post
In the death house. Becker told me
some weeks prior to the electrocution
that he would ask his friend. Mr..
Johnson, to accompany him to the
chair. In the procession the princi-
pal keeper fell In behind the deputy
warden. then came Father Cashin
reading the lltany of the holy name
OF Jesus. and while Becker. with cru
cifxpin hand. and followed, we to-
gether repeated the responses to the
litany.
4 Keeps up His Nerve.
!. II Is true that Becker then walked
briskly and steadily. never emitting
a single response to the Invocation
Of the litany. Through the green
!, door and along the short, fiaggered
passageway back OF 1t, we walked
into the old death house. now con-
! verted into a new condemned cell
section. then into the new, Clearly
4 and lightsome death house toward
4 the. chair.
AS soon as Becker reached the
chair he faced full front toward the
eastern end Of the room. where the
! witnesses and reporters. about forty
In number. were assembled. then