of |
| the innocent. May almighty God pardon everyone 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 been the husband of |
| the purest, noblest woman that ever lived,--Helen |
| Becker. |
| |
| "This acknowledgment is the only legacy I can leave|
| her. I bid you all good-bye. Father, I am ready to |
| go. Amen." |
| |
| "CHARLES BECKER." |
+----------------------------------------------------+
|Ossining, N. Y., July 30.--At peace with his Maker, |
|a prayer on his lips, but with never a faltering of |
|his iron will, Charles Becker expiated the murder of|
|Herman Rosenthal at 5:55 this morning. Pinned on his|
|shirt above his heart, he carried with him the |
|picture of his devoted wife. In his hand he clutched|
|the crucifix. |
| |
|The death current cut off in his throat the whisper,|
|"Jesus have mercy." It was not the plea of a man |
|shaken and fearful of death, but rather the prayer |
|of one with the conviction that he was innocent. |
| |
|Just before he entered the death chamber he declared|
|to Father Curry, "I am not guilty by deeds, |
|conspiracy or any other way of the death of |
|Rosenthal. I am sacrificed for my friends." |
|Previously at 4 A.M. he issued "My Dying Statement."|
|It was a passionate reiteration of innocence, and is|
|left as his only legacy to his wife: "I declare to |
|the world that I am proud to have been the husband |
|of the purest, noblest woman that ever lived,--Helen|
|Becker." |
| |
|Absolute quiet reigned in the death house at 5.50 |
|A.M. Suddenly the little green door swung open. |
|Becker appeared. He had no air of bravado. Behind |
|him in the procession came Fathers Cashin and Curry.|
|Becker walked unassisted to