New Britain Herald Newspaper, July 30, 1915, Page 11

n % ‘;le’:t‘pfima’% SUgh the body. The " shock '1astéd” séven “secands and the " current then was turned off. After a hasty examination Dr. Farr asked that & third shock be given. This lasted five seconds. An -ex- amination that took several minutes followed. < Three physicians among theé witnesses: then made an examina- tiofl and Dr. Farr at 5:5656 o’clock ~guietly announced: ‘I pronounce this man dead.” > > His Dying Declaration, During thé night Beckeér pencilled on a plece of paper what he captioned . “my dying ‘declaration.” It was taken to the warden‘s office, where the two ' ¢coples were typéwritten, which Bécker signed with his fountain pen. a beld hand. The Deputy War- den Johnson, who had ¢harge of the execution in place of Warden Thomas Meott Osborne who does not believe in the death penalty, the one-time Police Lieutenatn:presented with his fountain pen with these words: ¢It is the last thing that I have to give away and I want you to have it. I want you to give this state- ment to the riewspaper men, . Proud Of Wife. Becker’s message, given out fust before he went to his death read: “Gentlénien; I stand before you. in my full senses, knowing that no power on edrth can save me from the grave is to receive me. In the face of that, in the teéth of those who .condemned me and in the presence of my God and your God, I proclaim »my absolute innocence of the' foul crime for which I must die. - You are now about to witness my destruc- tion by the state which is organized to protect the lives of the innocent. May Almighty God pardan every one who has contributed in any degree to' my untimely death. And now on the brink of my grave I declare to the world that I am proud to have “beeri the husband of the purest, nob- lest woman that evér livéd,—Helen sker. 'This dcknowledgement is ‘only legacy I can leave her, I bid you all good bye. Father I am > "' Becker. was;put to death by the is uny ~Ranter . = “You didn’t, hey?” The squire’s eyes as ' the ¥ and friénds of Rose and Becker, arrested as witnesses. The Grand Jury began its investigation. Rose lay in prison twelve woilld mot take the job me ‘was kept secret. He ttle town up-state and days , be- the date of the execution was set for the week beginning July 12, _#ii Cockran Chief Counsel, Shortly after the Court of Appeals assisted in the autopsy, said @ Becker showed unusual resistance to the electric current. p It was expected that Becker’s body ‘will be removed sometime today to ; ” Personal electric: cur-: about his work ‘briskly. "Becker Died Instantly. Becker's executioner 'said that in his opinion the man had died instant- 1y at the fAifst “contict. An autopsy on.the body of Becker ‘was performed according to law im- mediatgly after the execution. After Becke: body had been removd from the electric chair, Samuel Haynes, a negro was brought into the execu- tion room ané électrocuted. One of Becker's last requests to Warden Os- borne was that he be put to death before the negro Haynes. Rosenthal Murdered in 19132, Herman Rosenthal, the gambler for whose murder Charles Becker was sentenced to die in the electric chair, was shot to death by hired gun- men in the early morning of July 16, 1912, in front of the Hatel Metro- pole on Forty-third street, a - few steps from Broadway. The murder was the swift culmination of sensa- tional charges made a few days be- fore Rosenthal against Becker in which. Rosénthal asserted that Beck- er, then head of the Strang Arm Squad of detectives, freély sold po- lce protection and had accumulated thousands of dollars of graft money. Raosenthal went further than that, He swore that Becker was ‘his silent partner in & gambling enterprise that | fajled and that Becker angered by losses where he had expected large profits, raided the Rosenthal estab- lishment and drove Rosenthal out of business by 'stationing uniformed po- { licemen on his preniisest.day and night. TR Whitman Began Investigation. These charges were published and District Attorney Whitman began an investigation of them. He sam- moneéd Rosenthal to the .Criminal Courts building and listened:'to . his story. An appoifitment was. made with Rosénthal for the next day. Be- fore the time c¢ame, Rosénthal was murdeéred. : When the assassinis had done their work, theéy ran across the street, Jumped into a grey automobile which was waiting at the curb and whirled away uptown. A bystander the license nuniber of the car. District Attorney Whitman, noti- fled by télephone of the murder, reached the police station where Ro- senthal’s body lay hefore dawn. He arcused his detectives from thelr sleep and spread a dragnet over the city for the murder ¢ar. It was found before night. Its driver, Louis Sha- pire, and Louis Libbey, part owner, were arrested and Mr. Whitman as- serted gpenly in an emphatic. state- ment that the .police had abetted the murder. * Becked Openly Suspected. New York City, already interested in the charges of police corruption, responded to the news aof the murder as if to a call to arms. Becker who had been the chief target of Rosen- thal’s accusations, was. openly sus- | Put to death, | | pected. He was relieved of his com- mand of the Strong Arm Squad and transterred to the | Branx. - Jack Roge, his, graft, v, walked in- to '.homc!fln_flm “Courts building the day after the murder and surrender- ed to the District Attorney, declar- ing ‘he had nothing to fear. Harry Vallon and Bridgie Webber, gamblers caught | without word frmi‘?e 3 lieving his chiefdhia d€sertef confessed. Valompghd "W roborated his story. He told of his long association with Becker, of po- lice corruption which existed as Ro- senthal had charged, of thousands collected by Becker for police pro- tection’ and, finally, of \his commis- sion’ by Becker to arrangeé to have Roseénthal killed by gunmen—a com- mission he executed. Has Becker Indicted. That night, July 29, 1912, District Attorney Whitman summoned the Grand Jury by telephone and tele- graph, laid his evidence Defore it and’ within two hours obtained the indictment of Becker on a charge of murder. Four East Side gangsters were in- dicted 'as the actual murderers. Rose had testified that these men were as- | signed by “Big Jack” Zelig, & gang | leader who had been arrested by | Becker’'s men on a trumped-up ¢harge ! to do 'the murder. They were to re- celve $1,000 and Zelig was to be re- leased. Zelig's orders had been is- sued from the Tombs to the gunmen. Gunmen Rounded Up. These ' gunmen—known in the streets of the East Side as “Gyp the Blood” ~Horowitz, “Lefty Loule” | Rosenberg, “Dago Frank” Ciroficl and “Whitey” Lewis—were rounded up one by one. The last two Were 'ar- rested, “Gyp the Blood” and “Lefty Luie” were not found till September, hiding in a Brooklyn flat. - With them were found their young wives who, to divert suspicion, had dled their light ! hair black. ey To give standing to the testimony of Becker’s three accomplics who had turned informers—Rose, Webber and | Vallon-—a corroborating witness who | was not implicated, was needed. Sam-| , Echepps, a dapper little gambler, who had fled the city, was the man who | could do this. He was found at Hot Springs, Ark., brought back to New York and the people’s case against Charles Becker was complete. It went | to trial on October 7, 1912. Verdict of Guilty. A verdict of guilty of first degree murder ‘was returned at midnight | October- 24, 1912, after the jury had deliberated seven hours and fifty- seven minutes. . Becker was sentenced i six daysilater to die ) im .the: electric | dess than . a .month | the four gunmen were placed on trial as the actual slayers, found guilty and sent to the death ‘house. More than a year later, on February 24, 1914, the court of appeals decided that Becker should have a new trial. The gunmen’s conviction was upheld end they paid the penalty with their lives on April 14, 1914. One of the number, “Dago Krank” confessed the guilt of his three associates but main- tained his own innocence. His confes- sion, made on the eve of the execu- tion, became known the day they were Second Trial in 1914. Becker was brought back to . the 'Pom,‘s. 4 Hig second :trial was ‘begun May 8,/1914, and ended May 22, with | a verdict of guilty. He was sentenced to die during the week of July 6, 1914, An appeal was filed, but the conviction was upheld by the higher court in a decision handed down May 25, last, denied Becker a third - tral, Bourke ‘Cockran became . Becker’s chief counsel. He appealed before United States Supreme Court Justice Hughes and argued for a writ o whlgch was denied. o New York, July 30.—Mrs. Helen During the week previous to that | Becker, according to her brother, in which Becker was sentenced to |John Lynch, was bearing up well die Governor Whitman granted the|today after the strain she underwent condemned man a reprieve of two |Yesterday and last night Mrs. weeks, as he had learned, it was stat- | Becker is resting at her home today ed, new motions were to be made in | 2nd is Dot expected to see anyone Becker’s behalf. except memberlk ot.l.le‘ri !-.::wllz“ Makes An undertaker Wi esp: to- . Seurermen. day to Ossining to get the body of On July 20, a 15,000 word state- | Charles Becker. The funeral, it was ment by Becker was forwarded to | announced, will take place Monday. the Governor. The statement was | A solemn requiem Mass will be said said to contain mew facts and made |at the church of St. Nicholas ot public mention for the first time of | Tolentine. Interment will be at the name of the late Congressman | Woodlawn Cemetery. Timothy D. Sullivan, in connection with the case, The Governor- de- clined to commute Becker’s sentence. Becker's dttorneys thereupon ap- plied to Supreme Court Justice Phil- | New Britain Could Put Over 5,000 bin for a third trial and on July 23, | ngen in the Field In Case of War. the Justice signed an order for Dis- trict Attorney Perkins with a new It is interesting to mote at this trial granted. The order was re- |time when the armies of Europe are turnable before Supreme Court Jus- | being mowed down every day just tice Ford on July 26. The Justice | how large a number of recruits New after spending two dayé going over | Britain could furnish should this papers in the case announced the | country be suddenly precipitated in- night of July 28 that he had denied | to war and it become necessary for the application and Becker’s only | every eligible man to take up arms. hope remained in. possible executive From a perusal of the registrar's clemency by @overnor Whitman. report is appears that there are. at Throughout Becker’s troubles 'his| present over 5,600 men in this city wife remained loyal to him and was | who are eligible for military duty. his constant adviser. She labored ap- | This number includes all between the parently without tiring in his behalf, | ages of eighteen and forty-five who assisting his counsel In every way|are not disbarred for some reason. possible. She appeared to be crushed | There are something over 800 men when the court of appeals upheld his | in this city who are ineligible ta mili- second conviction, but soon turned her | tary duty because they either have energies toward eleventh-hour work | ajready done military work, are fed- to save him. It was latgely at her |eral employes, members of the fire urging that he joined in the plan to|or police departments or are em- ask Governor Whitman, his prosécu- | ployed in some other branch of work tor, for clemency, which would free them from ‘respon- Living for Becker's Death. S There was one other woman, who, i reports are true, followed Becker's career through the courts as closely as his own wife did. This was Herman Rogenthal's widow. Soon after Becker’s second conviction she dis- appeared. - Not long ago ’‘she was found broken in health and spirit, and living with an old-time friend, of 121 Maple street are rejoicing at “I am living for only one thing” |the birth of a ten pound son, born she was quoted as saying, “to see the | yegterday. Both mother and child cay that Becker pays the penalty.” are doing Sy Sy gl ¥ Baby Stanley is unusually well sup- ‘A statement credited to Mrs. Beck- 1 e er was given out here shortly after plied with relatives on his father's s side, three great grandparents join- ba.‘: MRh N Gnath » ing with the parents In rejoicing at ‘I shall never rest,” she was quot- the bi: Mr. a W, H. Stan- ed as having said, “until I have ex- | the birth. h e, Mxs, W, posed the methods which were used | 1Y Of 71 Pearl street are great to convict my husband. ~ Whether ts and Mrs. Louls Mo- he was gullty or innecent, there was | OUfh of Cordallis, Oregon, is al=o a stification for th _ | great grandmother. W. H. Stanley :foy'rcxf toc con!;k:\‘.m;mn.e o R was the first vice president and secre- “I would rather 'lose all the other | tary Of the Stanley, Rule & Level Co., members of my family, as dear as they are ta me, than lose Charlie. No one can take his place. ' In all of the ten years of our married life I never had occasion to cease to re- gret that T was his wife. D “Charlie was no. angel. He made no pretense of being one. He was just an ordinary human being—and perhaps that is why I loved him so.” Showed Unusual Resistance. graph pole. New York where funeral services will Mrs. Becker Bearing Up Well, MANY RECRUITS HERE. GREAT GRANDSON HERE. Fourth Idving Generation Arrived Yesterday. Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence M. Stanley Cedar Hill farm are grandparents, IN AUTO ACCIDENT. Hil, is at the Winsted Hospital sut- The boy is injured probably be held on Sunday. ! Mr, énd Mrs. Theodore A. Stanley of Eveérson Davis, the .young son of Mr. and Mrs. Russell Davis af Maple fering from injuries received late yes- terday when an automobile in which he was riding crashed into a tele- Mrs. Dudley T. Hoimes and daug ter, Miss Fannie have. gone .to wan Beach for the month of August. Dr. J. J. Andzulaitis and family left today for the Adirondacks. George Rellly and David Swanson will spend the next two weeks at Old Orchard, Maine. Miss Eleanor Bissomette of Stafford Springs, is the guest of Miss Margaret Quinlivan of Stanley street. Miss Ruth Moore of Smalley street has returned from a trip to New 'Haven. Miss Rena Dorsey of Elm street | will spend the first two weeks in Au- tgust at Indian Neck. Helen Roche of Unton street will sojourn at Indian Neck. Theron H. Camp and family of Russell street. will leave tomorrow on a ten days’ auto trip to Saratoga, N. Y. i Grace Rellly stenographer in the office of the board of public works will spend the coming twc weeks at the shore. Mr. and Mrs George H. Booth of Camp street are at Short Peach ALLIES LOSE HEAVILY IN DARDANELLES ! omcer of U. . Crumer North Caro- Mna Says Australian and Irish De- . tachment Alnost Annihilated. Berlin, July 830—( By wireless to Sayville.)—A despatch from Athens, Greece, to the Overseas News Agency “The American erulser North Caro- Hina returned recently to Greece from an extended trip in the war some. An officer of the ship told an acquaint- ance that the real losses of the entente allles in the Dardanelles surpassed everything heretofore reported. The Australian and Irish detachments were almost annthilated. “The attempts to storm the rocky, steep heights on the Asiatic side of the straits were termed by these offi- cers as simply insanity. Turkish ma- chine guns directed by German offi- cers mowed down the storming ranks. The Turks, lead by the Germans, fought with great fury. ‘“Wounded English officers at Alex- andria spoke with the highest admir ation of their antagonssts. The Aus- tralian troops of 1,600 men returned from a charge 67 strong. These were wounded. Thelir comrades were dead. Dr. W. O, Stillman of Albany, who { about the head. ";The' Great Mistake to the soil of the val- ley. His judgments and ' bis: decisions had spread “throughout the mount ‘West 3 horse thief bad just been cap- He was brought in by a part of posse sent in search of him, and tied upon a roan horse beneath the spreading branches of a tree which %‘cqg:nd, renown as the Tribunal [ree. ‘was 2 clean-faced, weather- ed lad to whom the wide sombrero and bandana lent a corrobora- ce of the West -amply his self-contained man- ner. Dad’s eyes strayed from his boy- 1sh face to the horse. r the squire “He liev,” Farmer ~%Thar’s the squire now."” ' The motley throng swayed, parted,’ %:4nd through the path that was opened the ‘squire ‘gravely passed on and up: “/ty the platform circling the Tribunal Tree and eat himself upon a soap box placed there- that ‘purpose. In~ statitly pervasive silence ensued. The men edged closer 'and formed a semi- »Dli‘t(7 ;away his handker- eisurely turned his keen g He scrutinized ‘thie squire lafd down his. over the' c; . “Now you lis- ten,” he continued. = “You .been a- stealin’ hosses in this vallcy for more than a month. You stole omne from Dad Tupper, and one from Big Ike, and my team of blacks”—the squire frowned—“and last night you run off with 8i Bilkins’ roan—thet there hoss you are a-sittin’ tied to right now. I want you to onderstand thet this co’t has a judicial as well as a pussonal conscience, and bein’ as you air a boy, it you air willing to confess the co’t will hang you for only one hoss and let you off for the others. What hev you got to say to thet?” The boy's face grew dark with wrath. - “I didn’t steal no hoss!” he exclaimed. “This is my hoss. I bought it.” “Ub-huh! You bought it, hey?” A shrewd gleam gathered in the aqyuin'l eyes. “The co’t knows thet hoss,” he said. “Hit knows it’s Si’s hoss, but being as this is'a legal proceeding, 1’11 just ax the crowd. Men, is that Si Bilkins’ hoss?” “Hit 1s,” choruse a volume of voices. “Thar, prisoner! You are cotched in a lie to begin with.” e “I ain't!” cried the boy. “Iain’t told no lie. I bought this hoss from Poker Pete, 50's he could get the money to go to ‘Albuguerque. That’s why I can't find him to prove it.” The squire glanced meaningly at the men, a Jaugh ensued, whispers filitered ‘through the:crowd, and as if by com- mon consent all eyes were turned up- on_ the - boy—contemptuously. They knew that was Si Bilkins’ horse, that he was lying, and upon the tensity of their silent repudiation of his denial fell an ominous,. pervading. silence, broken at length by a coarse laugh from the outskifts. Thd squire leaned forward animated, judicious, and grave. His eyes flashed and his voice ' rang stern. ... “Prisoner,” he said, “you.alr a lar —a onmitigated, low-down, hoss-thiev- ing llar. This co’t ain’t much.on poet~ ry and eddication and heavenly attain- ments, but it’'s ace-high on facts and jurasprudence, and every fact backed by Blackstone and Tom O’Connor goes to prove you did steal that hoss. You stole it, do you onderstand, and by the eternal—" “Now hold on, squire,” cried Farmer Joe. “This hoss ain’t been swore to yHS o : X The squire glared at the interrupter. “It hain't?” he cried. “Ain’t the hull crowd proved it!” Ny “But Si ain’t swore to. it, and the prisoner says it's his'n—says ‘tain’t Si's hoss at all.” “Si Bilkins! Whar's Si Bilkins?” roared the squire. £ “Si ain’t got in yit,” called a voice from the outskirts. “He's ‘with the yuther party gone towards Silver City.” ! The squire leaned disgustedly against the trunk of the tree. “Iknow it’s Si's hoss,” he asserted. “The hull crowd knows it—and you know it, too, Joe. Now, don't you? Farmer Joe hesitated. *“It looks like his'n,” he admitted. “But squire. this yere prisoner’s a boy. Wait for Si, or leastwise send for Old Gal Bilkins and let Mer swear to the hoss!” “Yes, why don’t you wait for Si Bil- kins?” called the boy. “It's because you are locoed—a long-whiskered maverick run wild—a lean-jawed, snappin’ coyote. You're wusser'n a bughouse dog bayin’ at the moon. You wait, I tell you!” ‘With a painful effort at self-control the squire turned gravely to Dad Tup- per. “Mr. Prosecutor,” he asked, hey this case been proved?” “It hev,” Dad solemnly answered. The squire heaved a sigh of relief, and slanting his eye upon the waning sun he pondered. He knit his brows and brought his eyes grimly to a level with the prisoner’s face. His manner was portentous, Like a swift, invisi- ble current branding its meaping upon the brain, the terrible purpose in his mind ¢ flashed through the audience, and instinctively it.knew what his next words would be, and they hung with bated breath upon them, tensely ‘waiting. ' The squire lifted an impres- sive hand. “It air the jedgment of this co't,” he announced, “that you be hanged by the neck until you air dead, dead, dead. A sigh thrilled the throng, a flutter Git the rope, Mr. Sheriffl” By Ethelred Elkins broke the sflence, and the prisoner sat - the ¢ ‘int thet’s i 5 sl only p’ 's cropped out in “Oh, yes, thet's pa's gone. . “Afr really goin’ to' hang me!” he asked, in an awed voice. “We air,” snapped the squire. “We air goin’ to hang you because you are ‘wusser'n,pizen—a low-down, no ’count disreputable hoss thief. Throw it over thet air limb, Ike.” “Swish-h-sh-sh!” bhissed the rope and then—itdangled with its yawning ‘noose not ten feet away from the pris- oner. His face paled, and he turned e pathetic eyes upon the - iquire. “Sholy you ain’t, is you?” he gasped. “We is.” The squire’s voice rang sharp with decision. “And now,” he continued, “I want to ask you a question. Air you goin’ to send your warped and - twisted soul to hell with a lie stainin’ it? Ailr you goin’ to the beautiful land of Kingdom Come a-smellin’ of hoss— St Bilkins’ hoss? Air you?” The boy shuddered. He glanced frantically about him as though hop- ing for sympathy somewhere. But tragedy was in the atmosphere, and naught but hardened faces met his eyes. “I didn’t steal this hoss!” he cried, in a voice of panic. “I tell you I didn’t. This i{s my hoss. It never was yourn. Please won’t you wait for Si Bilkins?” “Or send for Old Gal Bilkins,” sup- plemented Farmer Joe. The squire was adamant. With un- abated sterness he asked the prisoner if he could pray. “It air ag’in the law,” he s2id, “to hang a man what hain’t prayed or been prayed for ” The boy lowered his eyes. “No,” he answered in a whisper, “I can't pray, I dunno how.” “Then I'll call Parson Bob,” said the squire. “Parson Bob! Oh, Parson Bob!” i “Parson Bob's with the yuther party, too,” informed Sandy McDowell. “What!” gasped Dad Tucker. parson ain’t yere nuther.” The audience thrilled. The situa- tlon was serious. Tragedy was like to be averted. But the squire came to the Tescue. “Prisonss,” be deolased, “thet air “The yore favor yit, and it ain’t no p’int at all. Butte and Anaconda has set the precedent thet it’s legal for a co't to pray for a hoss thief who can’t pray n’:m{em}mymw. ‘This ‘¢o' comple up on Secripture, But the boy's had returned. ‘cepting a few remarks made by Mat- “No, I am M_O::M thew, Mark, Luke, and John, and it flani will remark as a pussonal axiom thet a c6't comes mighty nigh stultifym’ its judicial conscience when it prays for 2 hoss thief. However, it's got to be did, and so—" ° “Now hold on, squire,” again inter- posed Farmer Joe. “You kain't pray. You know you kain't. Wait for the parson and SL.” 4 “Thet air a fact, Joe. Thet air a fact,” murmured the squire. “But hit’s got to be did. Prisoner, may the Lord help your onery soul through the gates of hell. Go 'on, Mr. Sheriff; go on with the hanging.” Struggling to free his hands from the thongs which bound them, the un- happy lad felt the noose settle coldly sinuously, embraclugly about his throat. “Men,” he cried in a stricken, ap- pealing voice, “gimme a chanct! Don’t hang me like a dog! Wait for 8i Bil- kins, I didn’t steal thet hoss, I swear I didn’t!” His voice died away in a sob, and the squire arose amidst profound, im- posing silence. Towering tall and ma- jestic above the throng, he swept it with a penetrating glance. Approval and expectancy met his eyes, and turn- ing to Big Ike, he was about to give the signal, when from the outer edge of the throng there arose a shrill, hoarse cry. “Here’s Old Gal Bilkins. Make way for the Old aGL” The squire isat down. A murmur surged through the throng; it parted, and through the opening a little wiz- ened, dried-up woman appeared, lead- +ing two tow-headed boys. *“Oh, ma!” cried the eldest. “Lookee! Dad’s hoss.” The frown vanished from the squire’s brow. Smiles radiated from his face, and he called the lad to with a paternal afr. v “Is thet Si Bilkins' hoss.” The squire laughed. feet in triumph. knowed thet hoss?'he prisoner, what hev you you going to confess?” The Old Gal examined the animal craefully—head, tall, hoofs, and shoul- ders, and then amidst tensity of si- lenoce she turned to the squire with an air of disgust. “No, ‘tain't,” she said. The squire was astounded. The audience filtered with whispers, and murmurings arose from every part of it “But Mis' Bilkins,” the squire re- monstrated, “you must be mistaken. The hull crowd knows it’s Si's hoss. The co't knows it, and—" “Well, ‘tain’t!” snapped the Old Gal. “Si Bilkins' hoss is a hoss. This yere hess is a mare!” Be Thankful. “Girls used to be proud and haugh- ty in the old " remarked Mo- Bifty to his friend Duffer. “And parents used to make courting as difficult as they could for the youmg men.” “Yes, used to chase the beaux with bull " returned Duffer. “And now a father has to go down into the basement and shovel coal in- to the furnace to keep the house nice and warm for the fellow who calls on his daughter.” B “Well,” sald McBiffy, “1 mygelf d not exactly approve of the cold distant idea. My daughter is a ular old-fashioned girl, cold ai tant to the last degree. It always work out well, T . in June, 1914, § from Cleveland, for several years. knew no members of pany except Geo. president. o He was quaintance. The Benton harbor, Mic] tor C, C. Rekiiff and June 10, 1914, At the general condition @ and her life saving 1 gave her a “In determii considered the life and did not take the deck space, th general practice to do had deck space for | persons.” 3 Reid eral rule in dete; space as a basis for passenger capacity of divide the number deck space by either iy on the addition life saving equ