Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-10-07
Van Wormer Brothers Electrocuted
in New York for Murder
of Their Uncle.
EXECUTION OF PENALTY IS
DlGhIFlED and SUCCESSFUL
Trio Are Composed to the Last and
Die Within Few Minutes of Each
Other-StOry of Crime and Trial
which Ended in Conviction and
Finally in Death.

Dannemora, N. Y, Oct. 2.-Without
one unforeseen incident to mar the per-
feet and dignifed execution of the death
penalty imposed by the trial court, sus-
tanned by the court Of appeals, and not
interfered with by Gov. Odell, Willis,
Frederick M. and Burton Van Wormer
were put to death in fifteen and one-half
minutes at the Clinton prison Thurs
day for the murder of their uncle, Peter
A. Hallenbeck, at Greendale, Columbia
county, on Christmas eve, 1901. There
was not one sensational circumstance
connected with the execution. The men
walked from the doors Of their cells, in
the care Of their priest and fanked on
either side by prison deputies, with calm
demeanor but extreme pallor.
Father Belanger, picturesque
his Office, but in the everyday black
frock coat Of clerical cut with little
purple stole upon the shoulders, walked
along with each Of the condemned men
in turn, saying words of consolation.
Willis Van Wormer entered the death
chamber at 11:34:30, the current was
turned into his body one minute later
and at 1887 he was declared dead. A:
11:41:30 Frederick entered the death
chamber, at 11:42 the current was
turned on, and he was declared dead at
11:43:30. Burton entered the death
chamber at 11:47, the current waa
turned on at 11:45:30, and he was de-
clared dead at 11:48:30.
In order to reduce to the smallest pos
sible number the list Of witnesses, the
warden counted as witnesses the prison
deputies and guards whose duty COM
PEELED them to be present. Neither the
district attorney nor the sheriff Of Co.
lumbia county, in which they were con-
victed, nor the supreme court Judge, was
present.
Father Belanger said after the execu-
ton that the last hours Of the men were
spent in exceeding quiet, with the strict
est attention to the spiritual interests
which we're their sole concern.
The autopsy upon all three of the Van
Wormer boys revealed nothing unusual.
In each case the condition Of the brain,
heart and other organs was absolutely
normal.
The Crime and Trial.
In almost all respects, the tragedy
which closed Thursday at Clinton prison
with the death in the electric chair Of the
three brothers Van Wormer, was unique
in modern criminal history. Only once
before, in this state, is it recalled that
three brothers have gone to their death
together for murder in which they were
Jointly concerned. On Christmas eve,
1901, with their cousin, Harvey Bruce,
the three brothers drove from their home
in Undertook, some IA miles, to the
hamlet of Greendale, in Columbia coun-
ty, where lived Peter A. Hallenbeck, the
uncle of the Van Wormers.
Mr.. Hallenbeck, his wife and his aged
mother were sitting in the lamplight in
their living-room. Both the women saw
them drive past. A few moments later
there was knock at the door, and Mr..
Hallenbeck answered 1t, to find masked
men before him, armed with revolvers.
Burton Van Wormer led the way, and
with him the old man grappled. At once
all four began a fusillade of pistol shots,
which fairly riddled the body of Mr..
| Hallenbeck, from which he soon died.
An attempt was also made to kill Mrs
| Hallenbeck, but it failed. The four
young men were soon after arrested, be-
trayed by their footprints in the snow
and because they were known to have
| harbored bitter feelings, and to have
made threats against their uncle, and
brought to trial.
Harvey Bruce turned states evidence
and it was to large extent upon his
testimony that the conviction of the Van
Wormer brothers was secured. 1t was
shown that the bitterness which the
brothers felt toward their uncle was due
chiefly to his having foreclosed mort
gage upon the property in Greendale
owned by their stepmother, the loss OF
which compelled their removal to
Undertook. On April Is all three were
found guilty and sentenced to be put to
death in the week ending May 80, 1902
Several stays of sentence had been
granted, until the governor refused fur
Their to Interfere. Harvey Bruce, their
| fellow il the crime, for which they died
| Thursday, was tried alone and was SEN
fenced to Imprisonment for 10 years.
i Another Indictment.
! Washington, Oct. 1.-The federal