The Washington times., 1925-08-25
New and Amazing Serial Describes Ont
Mans Long But Losing Battle
for Freedom

ever that nothing should interfere
with Becker's execution. lie
turned a deaf ear to the sugges-
ton that he, as prosecutor in the
case, was disqualified to pass un.
biased judgment as court Of last
resort, and that he let the lieu.
tenant governor make the final
decision as TO whether or not
Becker was to die. And when
the final night arrived, and Mrs.
Becker went to Albany. to make
her last appeal, Whitman could
not be found.
Some one was good enough to
Tip off, that he was in q certain
hotel at Poughkeepsie, many miles
away. and Mrs. Becker motored
there and unearthed him. Her
frantic appeal to him was useless.
. She came back to the prison
knowing all hope was gone.
Contrary to all precedent. o.
borne permitted the doomed man
to spend two or three hours with
his wife that last night, and when
the poor little woman finally
left the prison Osborne succeeded
in persuading the battery Of
newspaper photographers, who
had lined up at the entrance with
flash powders all ready, to re-
frain from their purpose Of get
ting pictures of Mrs. Becker In
the most poignant hour Of her
distress.
Murdered by State Placed ON
CaAIxet
Perhaps there are some who
viii call this another evidence Of
Osborne's 'sentimentality,. but
certainly not anyone who viii
put one OF their own womenlInd
in Mrs. Becker's place ct that
pitiful moment.
Becker walked to his death
without a tremor, protesting to
the very last that he was
framed" and entirely innocent Of
the crime charged "A few days
before his death, when asked to
disclose certain facts in connec.
tion with New York gambling
operations, he said:
81 am not guilty of the Rosen-
thai murder. but rather than
squeal I prefer taking my
chances. / believed that this
framed.up evidence of gamblers
would fall to pieces. At my first
trial many graft charges were
made. Had I taken the stand I
would have been questioned about
graft and would have been com.
PEELED to squeaI. I did not take
the stand. At my second trial
I thought would win
An interesting fact in connec-
ton with this case is that when
the casket for Becker's remains
was ordered by Mrs. Becker it
bore on silver plate the words:
Murdered by the State OF New
York.
As I now recall 1t, this inscrip-
ton was removed from the casket
at the urgent behest Of friends.
There was scarcely q man, Of
ficers and guards alike, who had
any knowledge of the inside
facts OF the case, who did not
feel that that inscription was
true. I know / felt that way,
and when, some months later, In
reply to an inquiry of q friend
as to why 1 left Sing Sing, re-
piled that such close contact
with the execution of human be-
ings was too much for me. I.
was criticised for being 'senti.
mental"
All can say in self-defense is
that it Is an ordeal to see and
learn to know a man, guilty or
innocent, and have him led out
to slaughter before ones eyes.
I'll wager that many persons
who now think they believe in
capital punishment would change
their view should they go
through what 1 have gone
through in relation to it. And
say, without apology, that al.
cohoI became a greater curse in
my life because of these very
things.
(To Be Continued Tomorrow