The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-10-02

the death penalty imposed by the
trial court. sustained by the court of
appeals and nos interfered w.h by
Governor OdeH Willis. Frederick and
Burton Van NYormer were put to death
i'm fifteen and one-hair minutes az
Clinton prison today for the murder
Of thesr uncle, Peter A HaIlenbeck. al
Greendale ON Christmas eve. 1901 The
men walked zrom the doors of their
cells in the care OF their priest and
nanked on either side by prison depu-
ues' with calm demeanor, but extreme
paIiof. rather Belanger. pictur-
eSque inquire, not I'm the robes of his
once but IN the everyday black frock
coat ot clerical CUT with little purple
stole about the shoulders. walked
along with each OF the condemned men
IN turn saying words OF coincidence.
During Drizzling Rain.
Cloudy skies aud drizzling rain
Qarkened the cell room al the awaken
Ing of the three Van Wormer brothers
70 their last day on earth. The con-
dcmued men did not sleep last night
until nearly 9 O'Clock this morning but
tossed uneasily upon their cots. Tha
last thing any of them said last highs
from the lips of Burton said ne. --I
have no more Gear of the electric chair
than Of this meal which we are about
to eat, i would just as lief be the last
one TO so, for ] know that I can stand
the ordeal. I am not afraid" This
was not said bOastfuuy, but very
quietly.
Keeper Murphy who was in the cell
room from midnight until 8 a. M. said
rtrHn Il IA e--r
that he never had seen men better pre-
pared for death CT more fully in con-
troll of their nerve"
Il tell YOU" said he to the Associ-
ated Press representative. that they
were a lot more self-controlled than T.
Leaving out any question of their
suit or whether or not they ought 70
die. / have come to like those three
fellows. and it made me feel bad to say
good-by TO them"
Ready to Meet Death.
Willis Van WOrmer said this morn
ing to Keeper Murphy: Il only wish
there were three chairs instead of one,
so that we could all go together. The
hardest part of it an is the suspense.
but we are ready. We are grateful
for the Kindness which everybody
about the prison has shown to US"
Keeper Murphy awakened the young
men shortly after E o'clock this morn
ing. They were a little dazed at first,
sound sleep in the later hours having
followed the restlessness after mid
night, but almost Immediately they
were awake to a fun realiza ton OF the
fact that this was their last day on
earth. Their new clothing was ready
for them and they at once clothed
themselves in the garb they were 10
wear at the execution gray flannel
shirt and dark trousers, each with tn
leg slit on the knee TO allow the at
tachment OF the lower electrocude-
They took no breakfast in accord
ance with the Catholic requirement. To
come fasting 10 their communion
which Fathers Belanger and Charbon-
neau administered to them later. They
said, moreover that they would moi
eat again SO that their meal at mid
night was the last
Partook of Communion.
Frederick. the youngest. who has al
along been the least impressed Of thf
three. and at an times has shown more
/ bravadO than the others. said 10 Keep
J err Murphy as he dressed himself
/ ''Wen. suppose by this time tomor-
\ row we shall be I'm Undertook" evi
! IDENTIFY intimatinE that the brothers eX
pect theiN bodies viii be taken fol
I burial to their home. lit would be diff
ficuit to imagine anything more inn
presSive than the solemn service i'm th'
room OF the steel cages where Father
( Belanger and ChaTbOnneau Il httl
after 9 o'clock. administered to IN.
I three brothers their first and last com
munion, Signalling their fuu accept
ance into the faith of the Roman Cath
Ollie church. To the fullest possible
! extent the privacy Of the ceremon,
7 was assured. all keepers except the IN
I eXorable death watch being excluded
I The ancient ritual of the Lords sup
/ per after the manner Of the CathOli
church was observed.
4 A few feet away in his cell. unde-
I like condemnation of death. sat AIleI
! Mooney, the only other prisoner in The
/ celi room. listening to the ceremony
/ He stands convicted of the murder o
/ two women at Saranac Lake
Visited by Physician.
! The routine OF the prison was car
ried on with break early today iI
/ contrast with the former custom O.
I locking the men in their cells upoI
\ the day Of an execution.
/ DR.. Ransom, the prison physician
( visited the condemned men I'm thei
! cells this morning and closely notet
/ their physical condition. In the mean
/ while Warden Deyo had decided upor
I the order i'm which the men went to tn
I chair. as follows:
/ First. Willis, the oldest and mos
/ impressiOnable of the three. second
] Frederick. the youngest. who hal
( seemed TO be the most hardened: third
i Burton. the second ir point Of age.
At $50 it was reported by the war
\ den that the men were in the best pos
sible condition and weu nerved fo
/ their ordeal.
One at a Time.
Willis Van Worner entered the dealt
chamber at lI.34:30 the current wa
turned into the body one minute later
and at 1851 he was declared dead
At 11.41:30 Frederick entered th
death chamber. at 1872 the curren
! was turned on and he was declare,
dead at 11.43.2O
! Burton entered the death chamber q
/ 1J:47 the current was turned on q
4 11:t1.30 and ne was declared dead a
/ 1l;4S:30. The entire proceedings from
/ the start OF the first man from his eel
/ 10 the doctors declaration Of the dealt
oe the last consumed bur fifteen and
] half minutes. and no untoward inct
/ dents married the execution Of the law
j During the first execution Fathe
4 -harbonneau remained in the corridO
1 between the death cells readins
( prayers and invocahons to the remain
\ ing Van WOrmers. Every preCautOl
/ had been taken TO prevent the remain
! departure of their brother from th
room The doors had been padded an'
the fntcrstices stuffed with cotton. s.
- The steps OF those who removed tn