New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-21
Corrupt Must Die
To-day; Whitman
Declines to Act
Humanitarian Cults Plea
for Reprieve for Slayer
Is Vain

Albany, April Ex-Governor Whit
man finally declined to interfere with
the execution at Sing Sing prison to-
morrow morning of Petrus van den
Corrupt, after having been urged to
grant reprieve by Gerald van Casteel,
who maintained that the slayer had
shown signs of insanity before killing
Barbara Wright, for whose murder NJ
was sentenced to death.
"There was no evidence presented"
Governor Whitman said, "to worrant
me interfering with the carrying out
of the sentence. Mr. Van Steel was
with A. Mr. Schumacher, who once
worked with Won den Corrupt. He said
Won den Corput then had acted queer
" at times, but was addicted to intoxl-
cants, which probably accounted for
his actions
Van der Corput's last hope of life lay
with the Governor. That hope, revived
Thursday night, rested for while on
the courts, but two justices yesterday
refused to intervene.
At 2:30 yesterday morning. while the
condemned man was confessng before
Father Cashin in preparation for MS
death. set for three hours later, the
Governor telephoned to Warden Meyer
ordering a stay until ! a. m. to-day.
Two hours before, the Governor had
instructed the warden to proceed Win
the execution, but later he was IN
formed that counsel for the prisoner
had procured stay of execution from
Justice Erlanger pending an eXamina-
ton of Van der Corrupt by two COM
missioners in lunacy.
Moses Grossman and Mr.. Van Gas
teel, attorneysc for the Humanitarian
Cult; Misha Appelbaum, its founder'
Dr. George Kirby and DR.. Simon GOOD
hart went to Sing Sing early yesterday
and arranged for the examination.
Asks Further Stay
Meanwhile, Charles Goldzier argued
for further stay of execution before
Justice Giegerich, of the supreme
Court, contending that an abundance
of new evidence had been obtained
which would establish that Van der
CORRUPT had been confined in three IN
sane asylums in this country and In the
Canal Zone and that a faint OF insanity
was predominant in his family. VIII
lam Travers Jerome, who had argued
the condemned mans case before the
Court of Appeals, also appeared for
him.
Robert c. Taylor, Deputy Assistant
District Attorney, who appeared against
the prisoner before the Court of APP
peals. and District Attorney Swami OPP
posed the granting of further stay
and asked that the writ be vacated.
Justice Giegerich declared that he
Lad no jurisdiction TO grant a stay and
that the power Of reprieve was solely
in the hands of the Governor. He va
Gated the writ and suggested that the
prisoners counsel resort TO General
Sessions. the court of origin. The law
yers hurried to the chambers of Judge
kosalsky, who also denied the applica-
ton for stay.
Sent TO Capital
Mr.. Van Casteel was sent TO Albany
last night to make a final appeal TO the
Governor. He requested further stay
the appointment Of a lunscy commits
sion or Communication of the death SEN
tence TO life Imprisonment.
Before starting he said: al shall pre-
sent to the Governor late tonight Aft
dayits bearing on Van der Corput's in
sanity that were not shown TO Justice
Erlanger. Also, shall offer the report
of TIE two alienists who examined the
prisoner this afternoon"
"The affidavits." Mr.. Applebaum said,
contain the honest opinion Of the
alienists that the condemned man had
experienced serious mental disturb
anecs, and they recommend an oppor-
tunity for a further examination. that
his real condition may be determined. I"