The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-10-01
Van Wormer Brothers
Electrocuted Today at
Clinton Prison.
ALL DEAD In 1t MINUTES
Eldest Lad, Willis, Who Dis
played Lack of Nerve,
the First to Die.

DANNEMORA. ". Y. Oct. L-Willis
Van Wormer. the eldest of the three
brothers sentenced to be eIectrocuted
for the murder OF their uncle, Peter A.
Hallenbeek. entered the death chamber
at the Clinton prison at 1884 a. m. The
current was turned on and at 1877 he
was pronounced dead.
Frederick, the youngest, aged eighteen
years. was then led into his death, which
was announced at :4S o'clock. Burton,
aged twenty-five, was electrocuted at
11:4s o'clock
Thus in fourteen minutes the three boy
murderers had paid the penalty of their
crime.
Welcomed the Priest.
The boys looked forward eagerly to
the visit this morning of Father Belan-
ger and his assistant. Father Char
boneua- The priests entered the prison
shortly after O'Clock and went at once
to the death house TO administer the
first and last communion
State Electrician Davis was at the
prison at o'clock to see that final
preparations were complete. He ex-
a.ained the clothing to see that the right
legs OF the trousers were properly slit
10 the line to allow the easy application
OF the electrode. The prison barber
yesterday afternoon visited the youths
in their cells and shaved a portion OF
the hair from their heads to allow the
adjustment of the helmet
Boys Arrange Details.
At $50 a m. Warden Deyo said it had
been decided to take in Willis. the old
est. first: Frederick, the youngest. sec
ond. and Burton last. This arrange.
ment was agreed upon by the boys them
selves, after long discussion during
the night. They decided that Willis
should be permitted to go first because
of his iIl-health and consequent weak
ness.
The boys spent the greater part of
last night in reading their Bible and
gave especial study to a book expound-
ing aud explaining the Catholic faith
which had been furnished them by Fa-
thcr Beiangsr- This they read and stud
led earnestly and it was passed repeat
edly from one cell TO the other, each
marking passages which seemed of par
ticular interest and to which they de-
sired 10 direct the especial attention of
the others.
Story Of the Crime.
Peter A. Hallenbeck was murdered in
his farmhouse at Greenport, Columbia
county. on the evening of December "a
1901 II was Christmas Eve. and a heavy
fall OF snow covered the ground. Across
the snow cleaned the lights from
neighboring church. where a Christmas
festival was in progress. In the Hallen-
oeek home the farmer. his wife. and her
mother sat by the fire, forming typi-
cal homelike scene.
while they sat there. for il was still
early In the evening, a knock was heard
at the kitchen door Opening II the old
man saw four masked figures standing
there, and In the first impulse of self
protection. did his best in his feeble
way to repulse those whom he doubt
less thought intended TO invade his
home. fierce melee followed in
which some eighteen shots were fired
and when the smoke cleared away the
old man was lying lifeless on his owD
doorstep.
The Alleged Motive.
The Van Wormer boys and Harvey
Bruce were accused and convicted. The
latter turned States witness and es-
capped with eighteen years in the peni-
tentiary. IL was shown that Ha1ian
beck had forecIosed mortgage on the
Van Wormer homestead at Kinderhood.
and this is supposed to have prompted
the murder