Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1902-04-10
THEVANWORMERT TRIAL
More Relatives of Slain Peter Hallen.
beck Give Testimony.
IMOND VENEER ON THE STAND
Man Who Says He Sold Masks to the
Accused Boys Fails to RecOllect
Statements When Under
Cross Examination.

Hudson, N. Y, April 1O.-Mrs Cathe-
A. Hallenbeck, was the first witness OF
the day in the trial of the three Van
Werner brothers, charged with the
murder of Peter A. Hallenbeck. The
witness said she and her husband lived
at her dead brother-in-law's house. On
Christmas eve she, with Charles Hal
lenbeck, went to Greenport church.
After the alarm was given they went
home, where they saw the body and
were present when bullets were found.
Charles A. Hallenbeck was called
next. He described the bullet holes in
the walls and told Of footprint in the
snow about the house. He was present
with Sheriff Best when shoes were
fitted into these tracks, and he said the
shoes fitted the tracks exactly. On
cross examination the witness said he
did not know of any attempt being
made to fit shoes other than those tax
en- from the defendants to the snow
tracks. The witness did not examine
all the footprints. The first marks in
the snow to be measured led from the
house to the barn. There was four
inches of SNOW on the ground. 1t was
not frozen Christmas eve, but was the
next morning.
Livery Hands Testimony.
James Coons Of Undertook, an en-
plOyee of George "A. Brown. Il livery
man, testified that he hitched a bay
mare to wagon for Burton Van
WOrmer and Harvey Bruce on Christ
mas eve. The horse had been clipped
a short time before. Coons said:
II have driven that horse to Albany
with two in the wagon, a distance of
twenty miles, In two hours and ten
minutes. 1t was shod with hold fast
patent shoes. One forward foot was
smaller than the other l did not see
Willis or Frederick Van Wormer or
that day. Burton and Harvey Bruce
left the stable about o'clock"
Imond Veneer of Undertook was re-
called by the defense for cross exam
nation. He said: 1.-TWO prisoners pur-
chased masks on Saturday night and
two on Monday l do not know which
of the boys were the purchasers on
either night. l cannot tell which Van
Wormer was in the store with Harvey
Bruce on Christmas eve. do not
know what time they were in the
store. did not say before the coroner
that it was between 5 and Z o'clock.
l do not remember telling the grand
jury it was between and Z on Christ
mas eve that l sold the boys masks. l
cannot tell if my memory is good or
bad. l sold the masks before 1 went
after the mail. went after the mail a
little before o'clock Christmas eve."
Witness Couldn't Remember.
Witness Vener failed to recollect sew
eral statements made before the coro
ner and grand jury Notwithstanding
the fact that they were quoted to him
from typewriter statements.
Sheriff Henry ]. Best was the next
witness. He knew the Van Wormers
and Bruce. He was called on Christ
mas eve to go to the residence of Peter
A. Hallenbeck.
Sheriff Best told how he made an ex
animation Of the premises and the
tracks about the house. He saw the
track of wagon leading up to ring
on the barn. The wagon had been
backed out, cramped and then driven
toward Catskill. The snow was soft.
The tracks were very plain. He OBJ
served bullet marks in the kitchen. He
assisted other officers in arresting the
Van Wormers and Bruce at Kinder
hook.
Adjournment was taken with the
sheriff still on the stand.