The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-09-27

REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
New York, Sept. 6-Dannemora prison
next Thursday will be the scene of a re-
voting spectacle, when three young men,
one Of whom has not yet attained his ma
jority. will be electrocuted for the murder
Of their uncle.
The victims are Burton, Willis and Fred
erick Van Wormer, brothers. who. on
Christmas Eve, 1901, killed Peter Hallen-
beck at Greenport. The demand of the
community for the blood OF the boys in
expiation of the crime Is almost unani-
nous. They are without a friend, save a
stepmother, and she is destitute.
| That politics has entered into the case
there Is no room for doubt. This was
clearly shown when an appeal was made
for executive c1emency. Immediately the
entire countryside was aroused and indig-
| nation expressed on all sides. It was en-
phatically declared that If any mercy was
| shown the murderers the voters would re-
taliate with their ballots.
Governor Odell had decided to commute
the sentence of the youngest OF the three
brothers to life Imprisonment. but changed
his mind while at a luncheon decided
that he. too, must die. This fact became
known through the carelessness of a clerk.
vino, in issuing the Govebnor's decision
declining to commute the sentence, per-
mitted this extract to creep in:
! have. however. concluded to commute the
sentence OF Frederick N. Van wormer to i'm
prisonneut for life. ! do this. not because
there is anything In the evidence TO prove lin
less guilty than his companions. but because,
being the youngest, and but 20 years Of age. 1t
is not unreasonable to suppose that. in the
part he took In the affair, he acted under the
influence of his older brothers. 1 am fully SEN
sible of the fact that this is an act rather OF
mercy than of justice. but it Is one which 1
believe the policy OF the law will support. and
It will serve to divest the case of any appear
snce Of vindictiYeness or unrelenting sternness
which possibly ii might otherwise wear, and
from which the due administration of justice
ought as far as possible, to be free. But in the
case Of Willis and Burton, no grounds what
ever appear for Intervention.
The memorandum had been issued
through a mistake, but 1t revealed the
fact that the Governor had changed his
determination in regard TO Frederick with
In a brief period before the announce
ment of his decision.
oDELL'S DECISION.
1t is said that at the conclusion of the
hearing on Wednesday Of last week he
had practically made up his mind to per-
nit the executions to take place. but that
he postponed the announcement of his de-
cision in order to reconsider the whole
case and give the boys the benefit OF an
other examination OF the record Of the
trial.
While at luncheon Governor Odell con-
cluded finally that he would not commute
Frederick's sentence and that the three
brothers must suffer the death penalty for
their crime. Upon his return to his office
he directed that the paragraph relating
to a communication of Frederick be stricken
from the memorandum. This was done. as
was supposed, with every copy. but one
was overlooked, and that was given out
with the others, falling into the hands Of
the correspondent of the paper which
printed it.
The number of applications received by
Warden Deyo for appointment as wit
nesses is larger than for any execution in
several years, with the exception Of the
Czolgosz electrocution two years ago. Doc
tor E. C. Spitzka. who performed the au-
topsy on the body of Czolgosz. will be
present at the execution of the Van Wor-
mer boys.
That interference with the sentence of
death would become a factor in politics
is practically admitted by residents of
Greenport and adjacent towns. The clam
or for their lives IS not confined to q
class. One minister OF the gospel has
been foremost in demanding that the
death penalty be inflicted.
Substantially all Of the voters in the
town OF Greenport signed the petition to
the Governor, urging him for the sake of
public safety to allow the law to take its
course. All of the Jurors Joined in the Pc
tition. Everywhere in the county the po-
liticai phase is being discussed.
Before Governor odelTs decision was
down many prominent citizens
gave public expression to their views.
Whether this was done for the purpose
of influencing the Governor can only be
conjectured.
VOTES AT STAKE.
Governor Odell viii probably lose many
votes IL he shows clemency to the Van
Wormers,'' is the opinion expressed by
Charles D. Haines, who formerly repre-
this district in Congress.
at nave never yet voted anything but
the Republican ticket" exclaimed William
Heeney, who holds a responsible position
In the big knitting mill, but If Governor
Oden mmut the sentences Of the a
1 shall never vote for him
again. They were properly convicted and
they should suffer for their crime. The
plea thai they did not intend to kill Peter
Hallenbeck is ridiculous WHY did they
buy masks before starting on their long
drive TO G~reenport? Why Gid they at
tempt to create an alb! by openly driving
of town in another direction and then