New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-02
VAN W0RMERS EXECUTED
Three Brothers Pay the Penalty for
Killing Their Uncle.

snd Burton Van Wormer were put 10 death in IF
teen and one-hsH minutes at Clinton Prison to-
DAY Tor the murder OF their uncle. Peter A. Hal
lenbeck. at Greeneale. Columbia County. Christ
mas Eve 1891. The brothers walked calmly from
their cells in the care OF Father Belanger. and
aanked either side by prson deputies Drs.
Ransom. Spitzka and Macdonald were present
Willis the first Of the three crossed the threshold
81 the death chamber CT 1880 a. m. He walked
erect and unsupported and held the cruchN in his
right hand well mp before his face.
Frederick n. Van WoImer. the youngest brother
next came from the cell room. and walked fear
lesslv 10 the death chair. Two minutes after ne
entered the room the physicians pronounced MN
dead.
When Burton Ven worrner brought into The
presence OF death he WAS accompanied oy TWO
priests. Father CharbonneaU, who had been II 'He
cell room praying. having joined Father BelanSei-
Burton crossed the threshold at 1l:47 o'clock. as
firm OF step as either o. his brothers. his cruoilN
u his richt hand. He kept his eyes on the face
81 Father Charbonneau until the guards oouho
the strap around his head. He was killed even
more quickly than the other two. The current was
turned on at ll:g7:So. Only application was
necessary.
The time occupied in the execution Of the three
men including their walk from the cell DOORS the
removal OF the two bodies and the readjustment
81 the straps and electrodes, l5ia minutes The
three men were actually executed in minutes and
s. seconds.
Dr. Macdonald and Or. Sptzka. who have at
tended many executions. were unanimous IN oe-
olarinC the electric chair an extraordinarily hui
name and expeditions execution Of the law. In or
Ger 10 reduce 10 lhe smallest possible number the
list of witnesses Warden Deyo counted as VII
nesses the prison deputies and guards whose outE
compelled them 10 be present. Neither the DIS
trict Attorney nor the Sheriff Of columpia county,
NOV the Supreme Court Judge present.
Father Belanger said after the execution that
fhe last hours 81 the men were spent IN eNceelils
quiet with the strictest attention 20 the spiritual
interests which were their sole concern. Ihey
did no; talk even among themselves, each BENG
bso-fes In rie reflections incident TO his entrance
alone upon the dread ordeal. They assured faller
F3elaneer when ne arrived this morning that al'et
they had partaken 81 their communion they "o"-u
be nerfectly ready TO 60 and WlES SAID: i am
,,srfsctlv ready and glad to go ] am tired OF
waiting" 30 farewells were said, under Father
Relaneer's advice. until the grating Of the DIE
steel doors which separated them from the cor
-idor was heard. Then. Willis was LED from
his cell he was permitted 10 step TO the cells OF
Burton and Fred. and. pressing his face between
the heavy bars he kissed his two brothers, at the
same time shaking hands and saying. as ne turned
away: BE brave, boys.
When il came Frc6erck'S turn 10 so. as ne Ielt
his cell he stepped back few PAGES to the front 81
Burton-s cage and. graspins his brothers hands ID
hoth Of his kissed him repeatedly until the guard
quietly urged him away As Burton stepped nom
ais cage he looked back toward Allen Mooney
cell which was behind screen. and called; good
a.
ihis~ Then he walked 10 the death chair.
The autopsy revealed nothing unusual In each
case the condition OF the brain, heart ana o''ei
organs was absolutely normal
The murder was committed on Christmas E'e'
1en The three Van Wo-Taer brothers, with their
cousin. Harvey Bruce drove from Their nome IN
Kinderhook fourteen miles TO Greendale, ana put
ting on masks went 10 their uncle 5 mouse M
FIallenbeck answered the knock ana ~sS al " -
attacked lie was soon riddled with builets- I1ls
e "a rro4ber ran 10 the attic and barrlcaoed
.he door The aged man, after vigorous oele"0e'
fell dead. ,. =,
The young men. betrayed by their footprints IN
she snow were soon arrested. They we're trleo pc
eors Justice Chester in Albany on March So 1slz-
Harvey Bruce turned states eylde4ce ana ~ -
~ r6e Nan Werner brothers. Bruce was seIleA-ed
70 elg ses bSTr Al The trial that the bitterness Of
-be brothers toward their uncle was due chieIy 70
his having forecl0sed mortgage on lhtI -, s.e. =
mothers property IN Gresnoale @llSn loCeu 20 f,S
guilty April IS ls2 sna sentenceo 20 c-e + oi
Ftev The court affirmed the conviction and fXed on
ne TA S q ' rsre respiSeS tT Governor odel TO
whom judge Cady appealed Tor Communication OF
So = INN
II IS known that Governor oden would have vel
coIea any ss,sce ss 5e III thar little good would
result 70 The public mind from the morbid interest
attaching % the triple execution The Governor
Rad even written portion OF his maj opinion
committing the sentence OF tFeoeIilh II. an
-bs- ne might have been Influenced to the crime
by older brothers uut ca.el-- I+lllEte
convinced The Governor that The youngest brother
was as guilty as any. II, in fact he was not the
leader in the crime.
Mrs Halenbeck soon followed her husband 10
she grave as also did the aged mother Of The muir
dered nan A brother. George A. HaNenbeck, sur
wives. broken IN health
TIE triple execution o. TO-DAY raises 70 total
az sexenty-three the LIST OF the muToefers VINO
have died in the electric chair during the sixteen
years since that form q death-rnethoo superseded
The EalloWs The execution Of three brotlers II
one time is not Unprecedented. on June 3 10,
Tor rnurderirc q pa5ler three brothers-Nelson.
ISRAEL ir and Isaac Thayer-of Boston, Erie
county. were hanged on triple galloVs ln = puh-
lie square IN Buffalo.