Our police guardians : history of the Police department of the city of New York, and the policing of same for the past one hundred years ... / compiled and written by officer "787", John J. Hickey, retired.

OUR POLICE GUARDIANS 159
degree before Justice John Goff in the Supreme Court of General
Sessions of New York.
November 26, the four "gunmen" sentenced to die in the electric
chair.
November 27, 1912, Becker gets a stay of proceedings.
December 3, the appeal of Becker is argued in the Court of Appeals and the four "gunmen" make an appeal.
February 24, 1913, a new trial granted Becker; the case against
four "gunmen" confirmed.
February 27, Lieutenant Becker leaves Sing Sing for New York
City, and lodged in the Tombs prison.
April 5, Governor Martin Glynn refuses to grant a reprieve to
the four "gunmen."
April 11, Justice Goff refuses a new trial for the four "gunmen."
May 22, 1915, the second trial of Becker is commenced, and he
is convicted and sentenced to die by Judge Seabury.
July 23, 1915, Becker's counsel makes an appeal to the late Justice
Philburn for a new trial, and Justice Philburn took the papers under
advisement, but was forced to deny Becker's appeal.
July 30, 1915, guilty or not guilty, Lieutenant Charlie Becker was
put to death in the electric chair at Sing Sing today, and may the Lord
have mercy on him. He went to the chair just as game as going to
his dinner at home, and his last words were, "Oh, Lord, I proclaim
to the world that I am innocent of this crime."
Friday played an important part in the life of Charlie Becker at
this time, and none feared Friday more than did poor Becker, and
why, well you read on. Rosenthal made a squeal on Friday, June
11, 1912. Becker was found guilty of murder in the first degree on
Friday, October 25, at midnight. Charlie Becker was taken to Sing
Sing on a Friday, and when the Sheriff's men came to take him back
to New York for a second trial he said I am mighty glad, boys, that
you did not come for me on a Friday. And after the second trial and
conviction, Becker begged that he be not taken back to Sing Sing on
a Friday.
Charlie Becker was the one hundred and sixteenth person to die
in the electric chair, in this state, and he was the biggest man physically of any one of the others who were electrocuted prior to Becker.
The electric chair in this state of New York was first operated July
28, 1891, and they celebrated the event by electrocuting four men, on
that same day, among whom was Smiler Harrison, first to the chair,
second came James Slocum, the old baseball player, then came James
Wood, followed by Skukeck Jugega. A h- 1 of a fine day's work,