The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-10-02

cutiOn that the last hours or the men were spent in quiet, with the strictest attention to the spiritual interests
 which were their sole concern. They
 did not converse even among them
 selves, each being absorbed in the re-
 factions incident to his entrance alone
 upon the dread ordeal.
 No fareWells were said, under Father
 Bolanger's advice, until the grating of
 the big steel doors which separated them from the corridor was heard. Then, as Willis was lead from his cell, he was allowed to step over to the cells of Burton and Fred, and through the
 openings between the heavy bars of
 their cages pressed their faces and in
 turn kissed those of his two brothers, at the same time shaking hands and saying as he. turned away: Be brave,- boys" ;.! @I
 When Willis had passed out into the corridor leading to the death chamber, Father Charbonneau, who waited with the other two, gave them no opportunity to become excited, but began to read the prayers of consolation to which brief responses were necessary, thus occupy ing their minds.
 When it came Fredericl1's turn to go as he left his cell he stepped back few paces to the front of Burtons cage and, grasping his brothers hands in both of his, kissed him repeatedly, until the guard quietly urged him away. When Burton's turn came, besides the priest there was but one other person
 to whom he might say good by. That was Allen Mooney, the last occupant of the death cells. As Burton stepped down his cage he looked back toward Mooney's cell, which was out of his view
 because of an iron screen, and called, Good by, Mooney; I hope you won't 5 have to go like this.'' Then he marched to his death chair. s- The condemned men did not get to sleep until nearly o'clock this morn ing. The last word from any of them last night to Keeper Nash was from Burton, who said: ''I have no more fear
 of the electric chair than of this meal which we are about to eat" # Keeper Murphy, who was in the cell
 room from midnight until a. rn., said when he came off duty that he never
 had seen men better prepared for death
 or more fully in possession of their
 nerve. Willis Van Wormer said to him.
 T wish there were three chairs in- stead of one, so that we could all go together. The hardest part of it all is 1 the suspense, but we are ready. We are grateful for the kindness which ev- Eerybody about the prison has shown to | Ius' Keeper Murphy awakened them shortly after o'clock They were It,
 tie dazed at first, sound sleep in the lat
 CT hours having followed the restless
 ness after midnight. They clothed them-
 selves in the garb they wore at the ex- eeution--a gray flannel shirt and dark trousers, each with the right leg slit to
 the knee to allow the attachment of the l lower electrode.
 Frederick. the youngest. who had all along been the least impressed and at all times had shown more bravado than
 the others, said as he dressed himself: 1 Well, suppose by this time to-morrow I we shall be in Kinderhook," showing l that the brothers expect their bodies to l be taken for burial to their home. At the last minute before leaving
 their cells Father Belanger, the faithful ], old priest who has encouraged the three
 boys by his prayers and ministrations, addressed the three Van Wormer broth- lers as follows:
 Friends, your troubles and suffer- iings will soon be over Keep up your I courage. You are not going to death, but to life, life everlasting in a better world. Your separation from one an- lother will be but momentary. Within a few minutes you will be together again and your good dispositions and ithe extraordinary care you have taken I to prepare yourselves for the long jour-I ney justify me in saying that you will find a most merciful Judge. No weak ness, then. It Is understood, is 1t not?a
 Yes, no weakness We are ready
 and anxious to go,' answered the three brothers. s.a4
 Now, Willis, come" And Willis Istepped out of his cell to the chair, car Irving crucifix In his right hand and Irepeating, with the help of Father Belanger, the inyocations, 'Jesus, Mary land Joseph give you my heart and lmy soul. Jesus, Mary and Joseph. assist
 me in my last agony"
 During that time Rev. Father Char lbonneau, of Keesyille, was, by his pious
 exhortations, keeping up the courage of the two other brothers. The same fu- lneral ceremonial was followed for the two others, with the addition that Fath- CT Charbonneau, having now performed ihis difficult and painful duty with the .l two brothers, accompanied the last one Ito the chair with Father Belanger. ! The autopsy upon the three bodies \ was made with great care by the off, cial physicians, Dr. Ransom, the prison
 surgeon; Dr. Charles F. Macdonald and pr. Edmond A. Spitzka, the brain i. anatonnist. pr. Spitzka remains at