Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-09-30
VAN WORKERS TO DIE
Intend to Meet Their Fate
 Without Showing Fear.
DO NOT WISH TO SEE STEPMoTHER
Mrs. Van WOrmeR Is Prostrated by Refusal of Governor OdeA to Lm- tervene and Request of the
 Boys Not to See Them Again.


 PLATTSRURG, N. Y., Sept. 30.- Mrs. Estella Van Wormer, stepmother of the three brothers who are to die to- morrow morning in the electric chair at Dannemora, was told upon her ar rival at Dannemora that her Stepsons had requested that she should not be allowed to visit them or even so much as see them in their cells in the death house. It was not because they did not wish to see the woman who has been the only mother they have ever known and who has stood by them through thick and thin, for it required all the courage the young men could muster to take the stand they took after a long talk with Warden .Deyo and Rev. Father Belanger, their spiritual adviser, but solely because they were afraid that the ordeal of the farewell would completely unnerve them.
 The thought uppermost in the minds of Wills, Burton and Frederick Van Wermer is that they must not weaken or even appear to weaken. Realizing fully that they must die within thirty six hours, they intend to meet their fate with fortitude They appear to regard any evidence of fear as even more disgraceful than death in the electric chair.
 Mrs. Van Wormer was on the verge of nervous prostration when she reached Plattsburg after her attempt to plead with Governor Odell at All bany.
 During the hours ride from Platts-
 
 said: II think Governor Odell's action in refusing to see me was heartless: am poor and unable to pay the cost of removing the bodies of my sons from Dannemora to Kinderhook, but if could only get their bodies back to Kinderhook know I could arrange for their interment there. I hope and pray that some way can be found to bury. my boys somewhere near my home in Columbia county, so that can visit their graves. l expect to see them soon after reach Dannemora, and I will stay all night and visit them again.
 Mrs. Van Wormer was so overcome with emotion that she broke down and cried like child At Dannemora sta tion she was met by Father Belanger, the venerable pastor of St. Joseph's church, who conducted her to the par ish house where she was met by War den Deyo
 Father Belanger and Warden Deyo visited the boys and found them calm and prepared to die. The question of which shall go first to the chair is still an open one and will in all probability remain so until the very last minute It is intended that if any one of the trio shows signs of weakening he shall be taken first. If all three are apparently equal to the ordeal Fred S, the youngest brothers, plan my be adopted. Fred has told both Warden Deyo and Father Belanger that he is ready to go first and that he believes Willis should go second and Burton last. Burton wrote a letter to Pearl Connor, bidding her goodby. The three brothers are declared by Prison Physician Ransom to be in excellent physical condition, and they eat and sleep fairly well. State Electri- elan Davis will arrive at Dannemora and will make an unusually thorough exam -.ation of the entire electrical ap- paratus.
 Since Governor Odell's refusal to in- terfere in their behalf the three young men have received scores of letters l from people in all parts of the country, mostly from ministers, assuring them of the divine forgiveness and urging them to be brave and to trust in Gods l mercy