The sun. (Wilmington, Del.) 1897-19??, 1901-12-30
SAY BRUCE is INSANE.
Defense In Halienbeck Murder
Case Impugns Confession.
MRS. VAN woRMER's STATEMENT.
Mother of Three of the Accused Sure
Her Boys Were Not Away From
Home Christmas Long Enough to
XIII Theis Uncle.

Her Boys Were Not Away From
Home Christmas Long Enough to
XIII Theis Uncle.
Hudson, n. Y, Dee. 30.-Mrs. Estella
Van Wormer insists that she told the
truth on the witness stand and that heI
stppsons, Burton. Willis and Frederick
Van Wormer, and Harvey Bruce were
not away from her home in Kinder
hook on Christmas eve long enough to
drive to Greenport and return after
killing Peter A. Hallenbeck.
When her counsel, AlouZo Farrar, a
former assemblyman, told her that
Bruce had confessed that he assisted
his cousins In killing IIallenbeck, she
solemnly protested that the story could
not be true. Many of her neighbors do
not believe that the four boys could
have been engaged In so horrible
conspiracy.
Harvey Bruce was admittedly the
weakest of the lot and the defense ON
the murder trial will be, il is said that
he is insane and that fear led him to
confess TO crime with which he had
no connection.
While riding in race at the Column
bia county fair few years ago he
was thrown against n fence, and his
skull is supposed to have been injured.
Many who have known him, il is be.
licNcd. will testify that he is mentally
unSound
Tried Ia EstnbIish an AIibi.
According to Brucc's story. the four
hurried back from Grcrnp0rt to Kin
drrllook with The idea of seeing ms
many persons AS they could to cstab.
fish al alibi.
Mrs Van Wormcr's statement that
The two boys who went TO hire the bug
gy began by driving back to her home
AMI hltched the horse side is con.
frmrd BY Il servant employed by Mr..
Farrar. who says She saw the horse
standing on the side street by the Van
Normcr house at o'clock Christmas
eve.
Dne thing that makes ncighhors dis.
inclined to believe in the guilt Of the
four boys is that on their return tc
/ Undertook Christmas eve after the
| murder two of them We're flirting with
| their swrrthearts, while the Others
were playing the piano. dancing and
singing at home. They seemed perfect.
Iy happy and innocent.
Fred ynn wormer Way Talk.
II is probable that the four prisoners
will today be taken before Coroner
| l.iSk. Mr.. Farrar will try to see that
| they do not compromise themselves.
Fred Van Wnrmcr seemed anxious ID
talk at the time OF his arrest. but
changed his mind ana said to Bruce,
There is plenty of time for that"
While Bruce will lie permitted To
plead guilty 10 a minor degree of crime
MS a consideration for turning states
evidence. il IL not likely that the dis,
trct attorney will agree TO grant any
concession to any one Of the others
Those who know him, however, be
licvc that Fred Van Wormer may vol
unte"r Il statement and then throw
himself upon the clemency Of the
court with Il cllance of escaping with
his life. in consideration Of the fact
thai he is not yet Of legal age.
Mrs Margaret Hallcnbcck, widow Of
the murdered man, and her mothcrin
law. Mrs, Alvina lialenbeck, will be
witnesses to-day Persons mentioned in
Brucc'S confession will then he
brought forward ANA finally the four
/ young men charged with the crime.
Mrs Margaret I!allenbeck has insist
cd from the outset TINT she saw four
4 masked men actually in her Kitchen III
4 the time Of the shooting This is borne
ont 10y the confession and does away
4 with the theory that Bruce held the
horse while his cousins went to com
nit the murder Another point is that
nll four returned to kiudcrhook 1T the
same time III the buggy in which they
had left
The confession viii not he made pub
lie III the inquest, as the testimony
without ii Is believed to he ample IN
Justify The iomrr in holding the pl'iS
utcIs for the grand Jury. which VIII
convene nii Jan. H. Their" will he no
term Of court here between January
and May. and the trial will probably
not occur Until spring.