The Gainesville star. [volume] (Gainesville, Fla.) 1903-19??, 1903-10-06
THREE BROTHERS DIE.
Van Wormer Boys Pay Death Penalty
In Electric chair for Murder OF
Their Aged Uncle -

A dispatch from DanneInoraI ~ ~
says. without one unforeseen incl
dent to mar the perfect and dignihed
execution OF the death penalty impoJ-
ed by the trial court, sustained by the
court OF appeals and not interfered
with by Governor odell, Willis, Freder-
lex NJ, and Burton VanWormer, three
brothers, were put TO death In fifteen
and half minutes at Clinton prison
Friday morning. for the murder Of
their uncle, Peter A. Hallenbeck, at
GreendAle, Columbia county, on Christ
mas eve, 1901. There was not one
sensational circumstance connected
with the execution. The men walked
from the doors OF their cells with calm
demeanor, but extreme pallor.
Every precaution had been taken to
hearing more than the departure 81
their brother from the room. The
doors had been padded and the inter-
stices stuffed with cotton 50 that the
steps Of those who removed the Me
less body from the death chamber to
the morgue could not be heard.
Three applications OF the current
and further time was required for the
execution Of wills, but only two appli-
cations OF the full current were deem
ed necessary in the case Of Frederick.
and In two nknutes from the time he
crossed the Threshold OF the room the
doctors pronounced him dead. The
bodies were carried out into the pris-
on morgue and the summons for the
last brother was taken back by tle
guards.
Burton was killyd even more quick
ly than he other two. Only one ap
plication was required, though 1t was
retained slightly longer at full press
ure than in the other cases.
In most all respects the tragedy
which closed at Clinton prison with
the electrocutlon of the three broth
ers was unique In modern criminal
history. Only once before IN this state
Is II recalled that three brothers have
gone to their death toeethe: for a
murder in which they we're Jointly con-
cerned.
On Christmas eve, 1901, with their
cousin, Harvey Bruce, the three broth
ers drove from their home In Kinder
hook, some fourteen miles to the ham
let OF Greendale, In Columbia county,
where lived Peter A. Hallenback, the
uncle OF the Van Worners. On the
way they stopped at the Greendale
church. Thence they went on to Hal
lenbeck's house, where Mr., Hallen-
beck, his aged wife and his aged
mother we're sitting In the lamplight
In their living room. Both the wo-
men saw them drive past. In few
moment there was knock at the
door and Mr.. Hallenbeck answered, to
find masked men before him, armed
with reyolyers. Burton Van Wormer
led the way, and with him the old man
grappled. At once the four began a
fusilade of pistol shots, which fairly
riddled the body OF Mr. Hallenbeck.
Mr.. Hallenbeck, although mortally
wounded, broke away from his assail.
ants and went to the landing of the
stairs, where he kept loaded shot
gun. The assailants saw him get the
gun and fed. The man fell to the
floor and died. The young men soon
afterward we're arrested, betrayed by
their footprints in the snow, and be-
cause they were known to have har-
bored bitter feelings and % have
made threats against their uncle. They
were brought to trial before an extra.
ordinary term OF the supreme court,
appointed by Governor odell, in AL.
bany. on March 30, 1902. Harvey
Bruce turned states evidence, and it
was to large extent on his testimony
that the conviction OF the Van Worm.
ers was secured. He swore that upon
the ride back from the scene of the
crime each of the brothers boosted Of
having shot their uncle
Judge OBrlen, in writing the unanl.
nous opinion of his court against the
appeal, pronounced incredible the main
plea OF defense that the expedition Of
the four to Hallenbecks house was in
the nature of young mems prank, the
fatal outcome Of which had not been
apparent The court fixed upon the
week OF July for the carrying out OF
the death sentence, but the Van
Wormers have been twice respited by
Governor Odell
Harvey Bruce. their fellow In crime,
for which they died, was tried alone
and was sentenced TO Imprisonment
for eighteen years.