The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1903-10-02

4
was taken back BY the guards. Fa-
Their Belanger went with them, and
when Burton Van Wormer was brought
] into the presence Of death he was ae-
companied by two priests, Father Char
bonneau having no further need to re-
main IN the cell room which the last
/ Van Wormer was leaving.
Burton crossed the threshold at 11:4T
as firm Of step as either Of his broth
ers, his eruciax clutched in his right
hand. the fingers tightly wound about
| the arms Of the crosspiece, bis arm
held down In front OF his body He
looked not upon it, but straight in
front Of him.
He did not look about at the wit
nesses. but the moment he was seated
in the chair fastened his eyes upon the
face of Father Charbonneau and kept
them there until the guards began to
bind the straps over his face. Either
he was taller than his brothers or sat
up straighter in the chair, for the
strap which Is intended to cover the
eyes did not reach high enough to
blindfold him, and as the current was
switched on he was still looking over
the upper edge Of the strap toward the
priest. He was killed even more
quickly than the other two The cur
rent was turned on at 11:47:3o. Only
one application was required, though
1t was retained slightly longer at full
pressure than in the other cases.
Took but Fifteen Minutes.
Drs. Ransom, Spitzka and MacDon-
aid had carefully examined the other
two mems bodies, but in the case Of
Burton, the last, other physicians who
were among the witnesses were asked
to step forward and examine the body
as it remained in the chair, and so the
official pronouncement Of death was
naturally delayed The entire time
consumed In the execution Of the three
men, including their walk from their
cell doors, the removal of the two
bodies and the readjushment of the
straps and electrodes, was but fifteen
and one-haIf minutes.
Father Belanger said after the exc
cution that the last hours Of the men
were spent in exceeding quiet, with the
strictest attention to the spiritual in
terests which were their sole concern.
They did not converse even among
themselves, each being absorbed in the
reflections incident to his entrance
alone upon the dread ordeal.
No farewells were said, under Fa-
Their Belanger's advice, until the graf
ing Of the big steel doors which sepa-
rated them from the corridor was
heard. Then, as Willis was led 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 the cages in which they
were confined, pressed his face and III
turn kissed those Of his two brothers
at the same time shaking hands and
saying as he turned away, "Be brave
boys"
The Brothers, Farewell.
AS soon as Willis had passed out
into the corridor leading 10 the death
chamber, Father Charbonneau, who
waited with the other two, gave them
no opportunity to become excited in
the suspense, but Immediately began
to read the prayers of consolation to
which brief responses were necessary,
thus occupying their minds in the min
utes of suspense.
When it came Frederick's turn to 20.
as he left his cell he stepped back a few
PAGES to the front Of Burton's cage and.
grasping his brothers hands in both Of
his, kissed him repeatedly until the
guard quietly urged him away.
Burton's departure from the death
house made the most pathetic scene of
all. Besides the aged priest who had
been so faithful to him, there was but
one other person in the world to whom
he might say goodby That was Allen
Mooney, the last occupant Of the death
cells, who sat in the. corner Of the front
Of his cell sobbing like child. As
Burton stepped from his cage he look
ed back toward Moneys cell, which
was out Of his view because Of a great
iron screen built for that purpose, and
called: "Goodby, Mooney. I hope you
won't have TO go like this" And then |
he marched to the death chair.
Keeper Murphy awakened the young
men shortly after o'clock They were
a little dazed at first, sound sleep In
the later hours having followed the
restlessness after midnight, but all
most Immediately they were awake to
a full realization Of the fact that this
was their last day.
Their new clothing was ready for
them, and they at once clothed them
selves in the garb they would wear at
the executon-a gray flannel shirt and
dark trousers, each with the right leg
slit to the knee to allow the attach
ment Of the lower electrode.
Took No breakfast.
They took no breakfast, in accord
ance with the Catholic requirement To
come fasting to their communion,
which Fathers Belanger and Char
bonneau administered TO them later
They said, moreover, that they would
not eat again, SO that their meal at
midnight was the last The majority
Of condemned men ask for something