The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-10-01
PUT TO DEATH.
Three Van WOrmer Brothers
Killed by Electric Shock
For the Murder of Their Uncle
in 1891.
DONE IN Is 1-2 MINUTES
But 80 Seconds Required to
Finish One Of Them.
One Was Executed Without Be-
ing BlindfOlded.
DONE IN Is 1-2 MINUTES

Dannemora. N. Y. Oct. Without
one unforeseen accident to mar the per-
feet and dignified execution of the death
penalty imposed by the trial court, sus-
tanned by the court of appeals and not
interfered with by Governor Odell, Will
lis, Frederick NJ. and Burton Van
Wormer were put to death in f1rteen
and one-half minutes at Clinton prison
today for the murder of their uncle,
Peter A Hallenbeck. at Greendale, on
Christmas eve. 1891. The men walked
from the doors of their cells in the care
of their priest and hanked on either
side by prison deputies with calm de-
meanor but extreme pallor.
Father Belanger. a picturesque white
haired figure. not in the robes or his
Office, but in the every day black frock
coat of clerical cut with little purple
stole about his shoulders. walked along
with each of the condemned men in
turn. saying words of consolation.
Willis Van Wormer entered the death
chamber at 11;34:3O. the current was
turned into his body one minute later
and at 11:37 ne was declared dead AT
11:41:30 Frederick entered the death
chamber. at 11:43 the current was turn
ed on. and he was declared dead at
11:43:30
Burton entered the death chamber at
11:4I and the current was turned on at
11:47:30 and he was declared dead at
n:4S:30 This entire proceeding from
the start of the first man from his cell
to the doctors declaration of the death
of the last consumed but 1872 minutes
and no untoWard incident rnarred the
execution of the law.
During the first execution Father
Charbonneau remained in the corridor,
between the death cells. reading prayers
and invocations to the remaining Van
WOrmers. Every precaution had been
taken to prevent the remaining men
from hearing more than the departure
of their brother from the room. The
doors had been padded and the inter
stices stuffed with cotton the steps
of those who removed the lifelesS Dody
from the chamber to the rnoFgue could
not be heard.
Three applications of the current and
four minutes time were required for
the execution of Willis. but only two
applications of the full current were
deemed necessary in the case of Fred
erick, and two minutes from the time
he crossed the threshold of the room
the doctors pronounced him dead The
bodies were carried out into the prison
morgue. and the summons for the last
brother was taken back by the guards.
Father RelaIger went with them and
when Burton Won Wormer was
brought into the presence of death he
was accompanied by two priests,
Father Charbonneau having no further
Burton was taller than his brothers or
; sat up straighter in the chair, for the
strap which is intended to cover the eyes
did not reach high enough to blindfoId
him; as the current was switched on
ne was still looking over the upper
edge of the strap toward the priest.
He was killed even more quickly than
the other two. The current was turned
on at II :47:30 Only one application
was required. though it was retained
slightly longer at full pressure than in
the other cases.
Doctors Ransom. Spitzka and Mo
Donald had carefully examined the
other mems bodies. but in the case of
Burton, the last. other physicians who
were present among the Witnesses
We're asked to step forward and exam
Inc the body as it remained in the chair,
and so the official pronouncement of
death was naturally delayed.
In the case of Willis the current was
on IN the three contacts for so seconds:
IN that of Frederick with two con-
tactss minute and seconds: in that
OF Burton. with but one contact, l
minute and Is seconds, so that the
actual time consumed in executing the
three men was minutes and 54 sec
Onds.
Dannemora, N. Y. Oct. 1.-Cloudv
skies and a drizzling rain darkened the
cen room at the awakening of the three
Van Worner brothers to their last day
on earth. The condemned men did moi
sleep last night until nearly 3 o'clock
this morning, but tossed uneasily upon
their cots. The last thing any of them
said last night to Assistant Chief Keep
er Nash was from the lips of Burton.
Il have no more fear of the electric
chair than of this meal which we are
about to eat 1 would just as lief be
the last one to go in for know 1 can
stand the farewell. | am not afraid y
This was not said boastfully but
very quietly. Keeper Murphy who was
IN the cell room from midnight until 3
a. m. said when he came off duty this
morning that ne never had seen men
better prepared for death or more fully
An possession of their nerve.
Il tell you" said he. to the Associated
Press representative, they were a LOT
more self controlled than 1. Leaving
out any question of their guilt or
whether or not they ought to die. I
have come to like those three fellows
and it made me feel bad to say good
bye to them"
Willis Van Wormer said this morning
to Keeper Murphy:
u only wish there were three chairs
instead of one so that we all three could
go together. The hardest part of it all
is the suspense, but we are ready. We
everybody about the prison has shown
to US.
Keeper Murphy awakened the young
men shortly after o'clock this morn
ing. They were little dazed at first,
sound sleep in the later hours having
followed the restlessness after midnight.
but almost Immediately they were
awake to full realization of the fact
that this was their last day on earth
TIE rev clothing was ready for them
Eud they at once clothed themselves in
the garb they will wear at the execli-
ton gray harrel shirt and dark
trousers, each with the leg slit to the
knee to allow the attachment of the
nrfr