charles becker’s execution

7/31/2019 CHARLES BECKERS EXECUTION

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CHARLES BECKERS EXECUTION

At 5:41 a.m., Charles Becker, accompanied by Father Cashin and Father James B.Curry, entered the execution room at Sing Sing Prison. Becker, dressed entirely in black except

for a white shirt, held a black crucifix about 10 inches long in his left hand. The members of thepress in the adjacent room, who had known Becker since his days with the Special (Strong Arm)Squad, were shocked by his appearance. Instead of the big, broad-shouldered and strapping manthey were accustomed to seeing, the man who was minutes from his death was now the shell ofhis former self. Beckers shoulders slumped forward, the cheeks of his face were creased withthick lines, and his eyes looked like black, hollow sockets.

The two priests began intonating the Litany of the Holy Name as Becker approached theelectric chair - the machine of death the guards had christened Old Sparky. As soon as Becker,in response to the priests prayers, uttered the words Lord have mercy on us, five burly guardsseized Becker and sat him in the electric chair. They immediately tossed heavy straps around hisknees, ankles, wrists, elbows and chest, and tightly secured them with buckles. Not able to move

anymore, Becker mouthed the words, Oh Lord, assist me in my last agony. I give you my heartand soul.Two guards slapped a leather cap down on Beckers head and began screwing in the

electrodes on the front and back of Beckers head, and over his temples.Standing behind and slightly to the right of Becker was the official executioner; a grim,

shaven man, dressed in gray and about 30-years-old, whose name was not released to the press.The executioner was to be paid $100 - $50 for executing Becker and $50 to execute a Negronamed Sam Hayne, who was to follow Becker into the electric chair.

At 5:43 a.m., Dr. Charles Farr, the doctor in charge of the execution, motioned to theexecutioner. The grim man dressed in gray pulled down the electricity lever, which trust 1,850volts and 10 amps into Beckers body. Becker stiffened straight from the initial shock, and the

crucifix slipped out of his hand; a guard caught the crucifix before it hit the ground. The musclesof Beckers head and neck swelled outward, as Father Cashin and Dr. Farr stood solemnly onrubber mat just feet away from the electric chair. The doctor stood quiet and grim, but FatherCashins lips moved precipitously in prayer.

The first shock lasted about a minute. Dr. Farr then stepped forward, ripped openBeckers coat and tore open his shirt. Exposed for all to see was a picture of Helen Becker,

pinned to the inside of Beckers shirt and close to his heart. Dr. Farr applied his stethoscope to

the middle of Beckers chest.Beckers heart still beat strongly.The executioner pulled the lever down a second time. This shock lasted only 10 seconds -

five seconds longer than is usually required for a mans second jolt. Dr. Farr moved forward

again, this time removing Beckers leather cap.His second stethoscope examination revealed a slight heartbeat.A third shock was administered; Beckers body heaved forward, and then fell limp. Dr.

Farr made his third examination, and at exactly 5:55 a.m., he said in a loud voice, I pronouncethis man dead.

Immediately after Beckers execution, the press assembled outside the execution room.

Warden Osborne then proceeded to read a statement by Becker that Becker was not allowed tosay in the execution room. It read.


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Gentlemen: My dying declaration:

I stand before you in my full senses, knowing that no power on earth can save me from

the grave that is about to receive me. In the face of that, in the teeth of those who condemn me,

and in the presence of my God and your God, I proclaim my absolute innocence for the crime ofwhich I must die. You are now about to witness my destruction by the State, which is organized

to protect the lives 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 noblest woman who has ever livedHelen Becker. This acknowledgement is the

only legacy I can leave her.

I bid you all goodbye; Father I am ready to go. Amen.

CHARLES BECKER

After Warden Osborne finished reading Beckers dying declaration, Father Cashin wasasked by the press, From your experience with condemned men, isnt it your belief that a

condemned man always confesses in the hours before his execution?Invariably, Father Cashin said. Usually the confession comes after the sacrament has

been given. Becker maintained his innocence to the end.Father Cashin said after he had administered the holy sacrament of Extreme Unction (the

last rites) to Becker, he had asked Becker, Are you guilty by word, or deed or by any manner

whatsoever of this crime?Becker firmly answered, Father, as I stand on the brink of the grave, I am not.

CHARLES BECKERS FUNERAL

Charles Beckers body was transported to his home in the Bronx and arrived later thatsame afternoon. His coffin was carried up the steps of the apartment building and laid to rest inthe living room for one day of viewing.

Helen Becker, her rage for Governor Whitman - his actions and his inactions - stillstewing, commissioned a local engraver to construct a five-by-seven-inch silver plaque for herhusbands coffin. She took full responsibility for this herself and made it clear her husband had

not requested such a plaque be placed on his coffin.The plaque read:

CHARLES BECKERMURDERED JULY 30, 1915BY GOVERNOR WHITMAN

District Attorney Francis Martin of the Bronx read about the plague in the newspapers.He immediately rushed to police headquarters, where he met with Inspector Joseph Faurot andfirst Deputy Commissioner Leon Godley. They determined that this plaque was illegal, and as aresult, Inspector Faurot and Captain Wines rushed to the Becker residence to see if such a plaque


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actually existed. When they saw the plaque for themselves, they informed Helen Becker that theplaque was criminally libelous and had to be removed immediately. When Helen Becker refused,Inspector Faurot unscrewed the plaque himself, put it into his pocket, and he and Captain Winesexited the premises.

District Attorney Martin explained his actions to the press, While I have sympathy for

Mrs. Becker, as I would for anyone in trouble, Martin said, I could not, as District Attorney,permit the Governor to be libeled.District Attorney Martin insisted he had not been given any direct orders from Governor

Whitman to remove the plaque.From the moment Beckers body was returned to his home, a curious crowd began

forming outside. On August 2, when Beckers coffin was being transported from Beckers home

to St. Nicholas of Tollentine Church three blocks away, there was an estimated three thousandpeople gathered around the cordoned-off area from Beckers home to the church. Beckerspallbearers were five members of the police department: Lieut. James Brady, Capt. John Bourke,Lieut. Patrick Shea, patrolmen John OConnor and John Ferrick; and former police officer

Joseph Shepard.

As the pallbearers carried Beckers coffin toward the church, scores of people brokethrough the barricade. Policemen used their clubs to beat back the rioters and it took fiveminutes for order to be restored so the pallbearers could continue their journey.

After Beckers coffin reached the church, and his funeral mass began, an estimated

10,000 people surrounded the area near the church. There were seats for 700 people inside thechurch, but it was estimated at least twice as many had piled inside.

Outside the church during the service, battles ensued between the police and a belligerentcrowd, and more police enforcements from the High Bridge Police Station were summoned tothe scene. In front of the church, people were jammed so close together, women began to faint.

While the funeral services were taking place, a wagon containing floral tributes pulled upin front of the church. One large floral arrangement was a large cross made of lilies, bay leaves,and asters. Large purple lettering across it said: Sacrificed for Politics. On the cross waspinned a large envelope with the inscription, From a Friend.

Another large floral arrangement had the words, To the Martyr, with sincere

sympathies. A third floral arrangement, sent by former inspector Alexander ClubberWilliams, who had instructed Becker in Beckers early years as a policemen on the proper use ofthe billy club, read, In sympathy and respect to Charlie.

When the funeral mass ended, the long trip to Woodlawn Cemetery began. The hearsethat contained Beckers coffin was pulled by two black horses and followed by five black

carriages; the first of which carried Helen Becker and her brother. They arrived at WoodlawnCemetery at 11 a.m. As the flowers were taken off the wagon to be placed near Beckers grave,

cemetery officials were ordered by the police to pull letters off the floral arrangement which saidSacrificed for Politics. When they had finished their task, all that read was S O F. The floral

arrangement that read To the Martyr, with sincere sympathies was also altered as to make it

meaningless.Immediately after Charles Beckers body was buried, Mrs. Becker told the press she had

nothing to say today, but would issue a statement in a few days.That statement never came.


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Helen Becker returned home after her husbands funeral, not only heartbroken, but dead

broke. She had used up all her husbands ill-gotten gains to pay for his numerous defenselawyers, who did not work cheaply.

Helen Becker continued to live on her meager teachers salary and eventually became an

assistant principle in a northern Manhattan public school. She retired in the mid-1940s and lived

until 1962 - 50 years after her husbands conviction for the murder of Herman Rosenthal.Although she had been proposed to many times, Helen Becker never remarried. As towhy she never accepted any future proposals of marriage, she often said, I prefer to remain awidow in memory of a man who was put to death by the great state of New York for a crime hedid not commit. He was not an angel; he never made a pretense of being one. He was just anordinary human being and that is why I loved him so.

charles becker’s execution

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