Becker Goes to His Death on the Chair Protesting Htrinnocence to Very Last ■>
HARRISBURG SSSKKg. TELEGRAPH
LXXXIV— 174
"lIM KOI GUILTY"
DECLARES BECKER K
HE GOES 10 CHI:
DEAD ITJi 1. M.
Protests His Innocence to
the Last; Three Shocks
Sent Through His Body;
Retains His Composure
Throughout Ordeal; Last
Words a Prayer
PINS PHOTOGRAPH OF
WIFE OVER HEART
Bids Newspapermen Good-by
in Statement; Praises Wife
as "Purest, Noblest Wo
man That Ever Lived";
Mrs. Becker Said Farewell
at Midnight; Negro Mur
derer Follows Former Po
liceman
By Associated Press
Sing Sing Prison, Ossining, X. Y.,
July 30. Charles Becker was put to
death in the electric chair here this
morning for the killing of Herman Ro
senthal, the New York gambler. The
former New York police lieutenant
retained his composure and protested
his innocence to the last. He went
to his death with a photograph of his
wife pinned on his shirt over his
heart. Three shocks were given before
the prison physicians pronounced him
dead at 5.55 o'clock.
Becker led the way to his execution.
The condemned man sat up all night
on the edge of his cot calmly talking
to Deputy Warden Charles H. John
son.
"I've Got to Eaoe It**
"1 have got to face it," said Becker,
"and I am going to meet it quietly and
without trouble to any one."
m The deputy warden left Becker
an hour before the time set for
the execution and when the priests,
Father W. E. Cashin, the prison
priest, and Father Curry.of New York,
came to administer the last rites they
found the man who instigated Herman
Rosenthal's murder, with his face
resting on his hand gazing at the pri
[Continoed on Page 12.]
Matt and Jeff
Are Coming Back I
YES, and right in the midst
of the vacation period,
too. A cablegram from
the European War Zone to the
editor of The Telegraph brings
the glad tidings. Mutt and Jeff
have been "all shot to pieces"
at times since their disappear
ance last February, but it
takes more than a German
rapid fire gun to "gret" Mutt
and Jeff. And they're coming
home. Yes, sir. No fooling
this time. And the readers of
The Telegraph who have miss
ed their smiling countenances
for so many weary months will
count the days until August 9.
Yes, that's the date.
Up In the mountains, down at
the seashore, or anywhere you
may be spending your vacation
days, the Harrisburg Telegraph
reaching you every day is like re
ceiving "a letter from home." Did
Harrisburg win the ball game?
Who pitched? Is the weather hot?
Where was the big fire?
Your favorite newspaper, the
Harrisburg Telegraph, will have
all the story—a paper published
in a distant city might give the
Item In a few lines.
Phone the Circulation Depart
ment now.
THE WEATHER
For Ilnrrlntfiirg and vicinity: Part
ly cloudy to-night and Saturday;
probably tbundtrahonrriii not
ranch change In temperature.
For Eaatern Pennsylvania i Partly
cloudy to-night and Saturday,
with probably occaaional thunder-
Hhowera; not murb change In
temperaturei light, variable
K wlnda.
River
The Suaquehanna river and Its
principal branches will probably
fall slowly. I,ocal rises may pirn*,
nlbly occur as a result of heavy
local rains. A stage of about 3,0
feet la Indicated for Harrlaburg;
1 Saturday morning.
General Conditions
Pressure la relatively high over the
Southeastern and Northwestern
States and has Increased some
what over the Missouri Valley.
Showers have occurred over a part
of the Lake Region. In the Upper
Ohio and lower Missouri valleys.
In the Middle Atlantic and New
England States.
Temperaturei 8 a. m., 70i 2 p. m„ 88.
Sun: Rises, R. 02 a. M.i sets, 7.22
p. m.
Moon i New moon, August 10, 5i82
p. m.
River Stao-et 4.1 feet above low
water mark.
Yeaterday'a Weather
Highest temperature, 88.
Lowest temperature, 70.
Mean temperature, 7D.
Normal temperature, 73,
BECKER, HIS WIDOW, AND DEATH CHAIR
C'"* *•'* "• »
*• H
eecKEft PJEJKSTH CHAMBJ&« AT SIHG SIMG
CONCRETE DRAIN IN
13TH WARD STREETS
Another Quarter Mile of 4-Foot
Sewer to Be Constructed Be
fore Winter Sets In
Bids for the construction of another
quarter of a mile of four-foot concrete
sewer in the Thirteenth ward were
opened at noon to-day by City Cora
mlssioer W. H. Lynch, superintendent
of streets and public improvements.
The bids:
M. M. Sheesley & Son. $7,359.49.
Stucker Brothers Construction
Company, for reinforced concrete,
$8,916; for amco block, segment,
(8.653.
Henry Opperman, reinforced
concrete, $7,949.
William H. Opperman, reln
[ContSnued on Page 12.]
COLORED WOMAN MURDERED
By Associated Press
Doylestown, Pa., July 30.—Mrs. Su
san Jenkins, colored, 80 years old. was
found with her head crushed at aer
home in Fallsington, this county, to
day. A railroad bolt was found in the
house. Mrs. Jackson was a dealer in
produce, and her murder was prob
ably actuated by robbery. Her hus
band, two grandchildren and a board
er have been by the Bucks
county authorities pending an investi
gation.
lEBIU FORCES
oism mums
•
Marines Will Not Be Withdrawn
Pending Establishment of
Stable Government
By Associated Press
Washington, D. C., July 30.—Secre
tary Lansing announced to-day that a
committee of public safety, organized
in Port Au Prince Haiti, has taken
charge of the capital and is conduct
ing the de facto government. ATter
a conference with American naval
officers and the American Charge
D'Affaires, the committee decided upon
disarmament of the city which began
yesterday.
With the disarming of Haitten sol
diers and civilians at Port Au Prince
by American forces, It was believed
here that this was the beginning of
the restoration of permanent order In
that republic. It wa.s not considered
likely that the American marines un
der Rear Admiral Caperton would be
withdrawn pending the establishment
of a stable government.
The gunboat Nashville to-day was
ordered from San Domingo to Cape
Haitlen to reinforce the gunboat
Eagle.
The Navy Department is expecting
from Admiral Caperton a detailed re
port of conditions in the Haitien capi
tal which are now said to be quiet.
Pennsy's $65,000,000
Bond Issue Approved
By Associated Press
Trenton, N. J., July 30.—The Board
of Public Utility Commissioners to
day approved an issue of $66,000,000
of bonds for the Pennsylvania Rail
road Company. The bonds are se
cured by a general mortgage on the
railroads' property and franchise. The
mortgage will be executed to secure
the railroads bonds to be issued from
time to time there under, insofar as
the mortgage will be lien upon the
leasehold interests of the United
New Jersey Railroad and Canal Com
pany and the Belvldere, Delaware
Railroad Company, corporations of
New Jersey.
The bonds will mature June 1, 1965
and will bear interest at 4 H per cent,
payable semiannually on July and De
cember 1.
RACING MOTORBOATS
WILL BE ARMORED
By Associated Press
New York, July 30. J. Stuart
Blackton, who owns a fleet of fast
motorboats, said to-day that after the
motorboat races in August he will have
his boats armored so that they can
be used as auxiliary coast defense ves
sels-
HARRISBURG, PA., FRIDAY EVENING, JULY 30, 1915
TO ASK INDICTMENTS
IN EASTLAND CASE
Captain Pederson Says "Fault Is
Not Mine"; Death Lists Now
Total 1,071
By Associated Press
Chicago, 111., July 30. Federal and
State Grand Juries and the board rep
resenting the steambuat Inspection
service resumed their inquiries to-day
into the responsibility of the capsizing
of the steamship Eastland last Satur
day.
State's Attorney Hoyne was pre
pared to ask to-day for lndictifients in
response to recommendations of the
coroner's Jury, but he has not decided
whether to ask for indictments of Fed
eral Steamship Inspectors Reid and
Eckliff. Secretary Redfield had in
formed Mr. Hoyne of legal technical
[Continued on Page 12.]
Motorcyclist Hits Girl
at State and 13th St.
While running across the street in
front of her home to Join her play
mates. last evening, Elizabeth Dunlap,
aged 7, of 1244 State street, was struck
by a motorcyclist.
The child sustained bruises and
lacerations of the body and legs. Five
stitches were required to close a gash
I in her forehead.
"JICK" SPEEL GOES
Oil RETIRED LIST
In U. S. Navy Service 40 Years;
On Numerous Trips
Arouod World
a
it',. 1
H
iM jhHHHL M
v"
* ►' * It-lfe©* '-
y --v; ;|S ,
j&gJSB. *.
JOHN N. SPEEL
Pay Director United States Navy Re
tired To-day
A Harrlsburger, John N. Speel, 124
Walnut street, was included in the list
of United States Navy officials, retired
to-day. "Jack" Speel, as he was
known at home, has been a member
of the corps of pay directors for many
[Continued on Page 12.] '
TEXANS LYNCH MEXICAN
Alleged Murderer and Horse Thier
Hanged by Masked Men
liy Associated Press
Brownsville, Tex., July 30.—Adolfo
Munoz, a Mexican, was lynched near
this place late last night.
Eight masked men took Munoz from
Deputy Sheriff Frank Carr, who held
him on a charge of murder and horse
theft, and hanged him to a tree.
U. S. WAITS REPLY TO
DEMAND ON MEXICO
Insist That Warring Factions Per
mit Food to Reach
Capital
By Associated Press
Washington, D. C., July 3f. Re
sponses from the Mexican military
factions to urgent representations by
the United States Government that
they allow food supplies to reach the
starving people of Mexico City were
to-day awaited by officials here.
Notes addressed to CJenerals Car
ranza. Villa and Zapata demand that
the railroad lines from Vera Cruz to
Mexico City be kept open for the
transportation of food supplies. These
faction leaders are In control of the
road. The demand was made upon
humanitarian grounds.
The dispatch of the notes followed
the receipt by Secretary Lansing of a
communication from the Red Cross
sent by Charles J. O'Connor, in charge
of the Red Cross relief work in Mexico
City. He pictured conditions in the
Mexican capital as more chaotic than
ever. People are actually dying of
starvation, despite the fact that they
have the money with which to buy
food.
The action of the United States is a
forerunner of a more definite step in
the near future in the form of a final
demand that the hands of the warring
tactions settle their differences and
restore peace in the southern republic.
IRK OUT BIG WAR
PROBLEM IT GRETNA
■ Regular Army Troops Mingling
With Militiamen; Keep Them
Posted on Points
By Associated Press
Mount Gretna, Pa., July 30. Tht>
big tentod city over the hills from
Mount Gretna, where have dwelt for
the last six days the militia cavalry
men of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and
Maryland and a detachment of two
[Continued on Pago 12.]
| Driver Seriously Hurt
When Hurled to Street
by Runowoy Horse
Frightened by a train passing under
the State street bridge shortly before
I o'clock this afternoon, a horse
driven by Maurice Press, a Junk dealer
of 1102 Cowden street, tore down tlic
western approach or the bridge hurling
Press to tlie street .anil scattering
papers and junk over the street for al
most a block.
Press was hurried to the Harrlshurg
Hospital in a jitney before the am
bulance arrived. Ills condition Is said
to IK> critical. Severe bruises of the
body, lacerations of the face and head
and other injuries were treated by tlie
physicians.
NO RELIEF FROM HOT
WAVE YET IN SIGHT
No Immediate relief from the pres
ent hot wave is In sight. The entire
country east of the Mississippi is in
the grip of abnormally high humidity.
Occasional thunderstorms accompanied
by light winds are expected to tone
the temperature down during the next
few days.
FAINTS ON TENNIS COURT
Miss Ruth Starry, 33 South Eigh
teenth street, one of Harrisburg's
popular tennis stars, was taken ill at
Reservoir Park last evening. Near
the close of the match In which she
played. Miss Stary fainted. She re
covered soon after and was about
again to-day.
SPOT, SIX TIMES EARTH'S
DIAMETER, APPEARS ON SUN
St. I-JOUIS, July 30. A spot, six
times the diameter of the earth, was
observed upon the sun yesterday, by
astronomers at Christian Brothers'
College.
The spot appeared to-day and will
be vlsble until August 10. It first ap
peared last February and now is on
•4ts seventh rotation with the tun.
LIGHTNING DESTROYS
DARN AND BIG CROP
AT NEWJfINGSTON
Bolt Hit Barn Just After Farmer
Closed It to the |
Storm
CATTLE SAVED; LOSS $4,000
Trees and Fences Blown Down
Through Surrounding
Countryside
Lightning struck and set fire to a
barn on the John Kutz farm, four
miles north of New Kingston during
the storm of last evening. The barn,
with this season's crop of hay and
wheat, and a number of farming in
struments was destroyed. The stock
was saved. The total loss is estimated
at $4,000.
Charles Lentzer, the tennant, with
two of his hired men, went into the
barn when the storm came up and
closed the doors. Mr. Lentzer had
just left the barn when the lightning
hit the barn. He called to his farm
hands and they got the cattle out in
safety.
The barn was a substantial struc
ture. The farm was at one time
known as the Roland Wingert farm.
This year's crops of hay and wheat
was large. The wheat was placed in
the barn ten days agi», and prepara
tions were being made to thresh it.
It is estimated that
500 bushels of wheat were destroyed
and several tons of hay.
Machinery used in threshing, five
ploughs, three wagons and other
farming machinery, along with four
sets ol harness and twenty or more
bushel of potatoes, were destroyed. It
was impossible to save the barn, or
even a part of the contents. Mr.
Lentzer with his men used their ef-1
forts in preventing the flying sparks
from setting fire to the house. His
loss is partially covered by insurance.
The storm last night did some dam
age about Harrisburg. A number of
trees were reported down along the
Harrisburg Railways Company lines
between Harrisburg and Linglestown,
and near Middletown. Along the lines
ol the Valley Traction Company, in the
vicinity of Shiremanstown, trees and
fences were blown down. The circuit
wires of the Harrisburg bight > and
Power Company were burned off in
several districts by the lightning and
the city was In darkness for a short
time.
Shot at Georgia Governor
Sixteen Times; Missed Each
Time; they're Friends
By Associated Press
Atlanta, Ga„ July 30.—The fact that
he shot at Governor Harris, of Georgia,
sixteen times —and missed each time—
may win for I. C. Wade, of Cornelia,
Ga., an appointment on the Governor's
stafT, provided the Governor can pre
vail upon the state ieeislature. now in
session, to abolish the age limit of 60
years. Governor Harris is a Confed
erate veteran. Mr. Wade served in
the Northern army.
When the present Governor was
campaigning a year ago he met Mr.
Wade at Cornelia. Talk turned to the
fighting at Mooreficld, Va., in the
sixties.
"Where were you on the morning of
the second day's battle when you fel
lows were making it so hot for us?"
asked the Confederate veteran.
"I was on outpost duty on the ex
treme end of the upper right wing and
I thought every minute would be my
last," replied Mr. Wade.
"You don't mean it! Well, tell me,
did you see a man saddle a horse and
ride off at top speed?"
"Did I see him? Why. I shot at
that man sixteen times, and missed
him every time."
"It's a good thing you missed,"
laughingly concluded Mr. Harris, "or
I wouldn't be here. I'm the man you
shot at."
A close friendship resulted from the
meeting and culminated to-day in
Governor Harris announcing he would
try to have the legislature change the
age limit in Mr. Wade's favor.
At'TOIST HITS BRIDGE AT
SIGHT OF "SEPTEMBER MORN"
By Associated Press
Philipsburg, Pa., July 30. With
his eyes intent upon a real "Sep
tember Morn' taking a dip in Clear-
Held creek, the driver of an auto, car
rying four passengers, lost control of
the car and sideswiped the bridge
crossing the stream.
The occupants got a bad scare and
the car left some of its paint and
decorations on the iron work. The
innocent cause of the near-accident
vanished during the commotion.
I —„
f HI2KE AHE A FEW IMPORTANT
DATES TO KEEP IN lUIND
August 24-i-Flnal day for filing pri
mary petitions for State offices
with Secretary of Commonwealth.
August 26. 31 and September 11
City registration days.
August 31—Final day to file pri
mary petitions for county and city
offices with County Commission-
September I—Final day to be as
sessed for November election.
September 2—Return day for regis
tration lists to County Commis
sioners.
September 21—Final day to pay poll
taxes for primary election.
September 21—Fall primaries.
October 2—Final day for out-of
town voters to pay taxes in order
to vote at Fall elections.
November 2—General elections.
Will Make Civic Club
Contest Awards July 31
Flies, killed In the Civic Club's I
contest will be measured at 11 I
North Market Square from 9 to 12 j
o'clock, morning of July 31. Five |
cents a pint will be paid for all i
flies and nearly S2O is offered in |
prise*.
14 PAGES
EXPECT NEW DRIVE
AT PARIS ON FALL
OF POLISH CAPITAL
Triumphant Entry of Kaiser at Warsaw Is Expected
Hourly; Third City of Russia in the Throes of Aban
donment; Problem Now to Move Czar's Armies In
tact and to Save Railroad
"Situation Serious, if Not Perilous," Declares British
Minister of Munitions; Expect Heavy German Attacks
in West With French Capital as Goal When City
Falls; Trench Warfare Continues in West
London, July SO, 12.02 P. M.—War
saw, the third city of Russia and the
sroal for wtiioli the German armies in
the east have been striving since Oc
tober. is at last in the throes of aban
d( nmcnt.
Germans in overwhelming numbers
are at the Kates <>f the Polish capital
niul dispatches both from the city itself
niui from Petrojtra<l say that further
resistance would be unwise.
Discounted not only through France
and Great Britain, but in Russia itself,
the fall of the city is expected hourly,
and the problem now is to move the
Russian armies intact, threatened as
they are from the south by the Austro-
Gerrrans and more seriously from the
north, where the German forces which
have swept through Poland are alm
inr at the railway from Warsaw to
Petrograd. This latter menace the
British press admits is imminent and
the hope in the allied countries now is
not for the safety of Warsaw but for
the continued cohesion of the Russian
army.
The Warsaw post office already has
been shifted to some point to the east
ward. the populace has been warned
to remain calm and presumably for
days Russian troops have been strip
ping the city of everything of military
value.
German Aviators OTer City
German aviators are hovering over
the city and according to German ad
vices plans have been completed for
g—w/|frn
I VILLA FORCES DEFEATED *>
Galveston, Tex., July 30.—General Alvero Obregon, I
, in command of Carranza forces operating against Torreon W
reports that he cut off and defeated a large force of Vilh f
troops south of that city. A
I FOOT CRUSHED BY WHEELS j;
Harrisburg. —G. P. Tawney, aged 41, 423 Cumbe'rlant L
( street, sustained a badly crushed foot, this afternoon whei i [
I it was caught between two wheels at the Central Iron ant I
Steel plant. He was taken to the hospital. ' -
■ REFUSES $27,000,000 ORDER
Pasadena, Cal., July 30. —E. T. Burrowes, a wealtl * *
manufacturer of Portland, Maine, who is spending the sum- j
mer here, announced to-day that he had refused a telegraphic £
offer to supply $27,000,000 worth of rifles to the allies. I '
1 AUTO HITS GIRL a »
Helena Foesel, aged 5, was struck and injured this af- ij l
■ ternoon by an automobile near her home, 1136 South Cam - j
eron street. The little girl was treated at the Harrisburg J
i llov 'al.
f ENGINEERS TO BE DROPPED f
All of the engineers of the Board of Public Work#, .lis
i except Chief Engineer Justin, will be dropped from the ; 1
city's service this week. The work on which they have been a |
engaged has been completed. On Wednesday, August 4, !i i
1* the Board of Public Works will make an inspection by au- | >
tomobile of the Paxton creek improvement, leaving the jj l
courthouse at 9 o'clock.
QUELL FOOD RIOTS '
El, Paso, Tex., July 30. —An incipient food riot was j
quelled in Chihuahua City, Wednesday, according to arrivals '
, from the south to-day. A mob of Mexicans marched to the
State palace and demanded reduced prices on food stuffs. •>j
TO GIVE STRIKERS MORE MONEY 1 '
1 New York, July 30. ~ Notices of immediate wage in- 4
creases of from five to fifteen per cent, in wages were posted ( »I
» to-day at the Bayonne, N. J., plant of the Tidewater Oil
Company, whose 1800 employed were on strike last deck ir. :
I sympathy with the employes of the adjoining plant of the *
Standard Oil Company. •
L MARRIAGE LICENSES ' '
James Marvin Cooke and Evn Elisabeth Ojler, city. f 5
>(" m A 11 «■ A" i»nlV" ix| |
• POSTSCRIPT
the triumphant entrance of the Ger
man emperor accompanied by his con
sort.
With Warsaw captured, whether or
not it proves a conquest of lasting
strategic advantage, a great wave of
enthusiasm will sweep over Germany
and Austria-Hungary, and it is pre
dicted here that the armies of the cen
tral powers will then seek to force a
period of trench warfare in tho east,
meanwhile throwing a great weight of
men and guns to the west with the
idea of resuming the battering toward
Calais and perhaps toward Paris.
In the west just now there has been
little worthy of note to break the
monotony of mining and bombing
from the North Sea to the Swiss
frontier.
Situation Perilous
The British public is so little Im
pressed with the events In the Kast
tliat David Ijloyd-George, the minister
of munitions. In a speech yesterday
api»nrently thought It necessary to
drive lionie the gravity of the situation
in the minds of those inclined to over
optimism. reminding them that re
verses in Hussia would mean Increased
pressure on the western allies. He
summed up his opinion with the ad
monition that "the situation is serious
if not perilous."
CONCERT TO-NTGHT
A concert will be given this evening
at Reservoir Park under the auspices
of the Harrisburg Band Concert Asso
ciation by the Municipal Band.