At the time of their arrest, their shoes were taken from them and
found to match prints in the snow at the Hallenback farm and they
were charged with the murder, Bruce then made a complete confession
and agreed to testify for the prosecution at the trial of his cousins,
Bach of the brothers took the stand and each admitted that he had
shot Hallenback but they claimed that they had gone to the farm only
to "scare": him and had begun firing when he grabbed Willis' throat,
All three were convicted and sentenced to die and at his trial which
followed Bruce pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 18 years in pri-
son, Up until the time of their executions, the brothers never be~
lieved that they: would pay the extreme HEHKKKEE penalty but that their
lives would be spared: by executive clemency. Their appeal to the New
York Court of Mppeals on the grounds that the seizures of their shoes
for comparison with the footprints was forcing them to give testimony
against themselves and a violation of their constitutional rights and
that Bruce should not have been, allowed to testify against them while
an indictment against him for the same crime was pending was unsuccess
ful and on Oct. 1, 1903, they were electrocuted at KHHXKKAKK Clinton
Prison, After their bodies were removed from the chair and they had
seri pronounced dead, Frederick's es blinked and there were muscu-
cone ar mbvements. S “doctors then elecnined (in and stated that he
as still alive. Preparations were being made to place him back into”
the Evers an electrobut ex him again wien He pied,
AGENT OF DEATH by Elliott, Pages 52-58; 67 NORTHEASTERN 299
a
At the time of their arrest, their shoes were taken from them and
found to match prints in the snow at the Hallenback farm and they
were charged withthe murder, Bruce then made a complete confession
and agreed to testify for the prosecution at the trial of his cousins,
Each of the brothers took the stand and each admitted that he had
shot Hallenback but they claimed that they had gone to the farm only
to "scare: him and had begun firing when he grabbed Willis' throat,
All three were convicted and sentenced to die and at his trial which
followed Bruce pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 18 years in pri-
son, Up until the time of their executions, the brothers never be-
lieved that they would pay the extreme HRHKKKKE penalty but that their
lives would be spared: by executive clemency. Their appeal to the New
York Court of Appeals on the grounds that the seizures of their shoes
for comparison with the footprints was forcing them to give testimony
against themselves and a violation of their constitutional rights and
that Bruce should not have been, allowed to testify against them while
an indictment against him for the same crime was pending was unsuccesg
ful and on Octe 1, 1903, they were electrocuted at HKEXEKAKK Clinton
Prison, « After their bodies were removed from the chair and they had
2 C i} d derick's blinked and there were muscu-
het F ether hay re oe Ors then re Fenian tin and stated that he
Hise ee ice ee
ei gain wi 1e die
AGENT OF DEATH by Elliott, Pages 52-58; 67 NORTHEASTERN 299
At the time of their arrest, their shoes were taken from than and
found to mitch prints in the snow at the Hallenback farm and they
were charged with the murder, Bruce then made a complete confession
and agreed to testify for the prosecution at the trial of his cousins.
Each of the brothers took the s d and each admitted that he had
shot Hallenback but they claimed that they had gone te the farm only
to "scare": him and had begun firing when he grabbed Willis' throat,
All three were convicted and sentenced to die and at his trial which
soni owee Bruce pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 18 years in pri-
son, Up until the time of their executions, the brothers never be-
lieved that they: would pay the extreme MBMKKKHE penalty but that their]
lives would be spared: by executive clemency, Their appeal to the New
York Court of Appeals on the grounds that the seizures of their shoes
for. comparison with the footprints was forcing them to give testimony
against themselves and a violation of their constitutional rights and
that Bruce should not have been. allowed to testify against them while
an indictment against him for the same crime was pending was unsuccesq
ful and on Oct, 1, 1903, they were electrocuted at MMHXEKXK# Clinton
Prison, « After their bodies were removed from the chair and they had
Se2 HES AoEESEE Oita Scindted in"ane etated Tat ie
Pop pe tee ee
HNI OF DEATH by Elliott, Pages “52-583 67 NORTHEASTERN 299.
fete Hd i = alent ahs
rear
= nau ita,
Odtober 1, 1903
VAN WORMER, Burton, Frederick and Willis
Willis Van Wormer, 26-yearseold, and his borthers, Burton, 22-years-
old and Frederick, were white farmers who lived with their SKEAKRKKEE
widowed stepmother on a farm south of Hudson, N. Y., wntil Skbptember,
1901, when the husband of their aunt, 55-year-old Peter A, Hallenback,
foreclosed a mortgage that he held on the property and the Van Wormer
family moved to Kinderhook, fifteen miles away. The brothers were
bitter over the foreclosure HEXKWEXKXMK and, at the time of their
departure, threatened to kill Hallenback in revenge, In Kinderhook
they were joined by their cousin, Harvey Bruce, who agreed to join
them in murdering Hallenback, On the evening of Dec. 2h, 1901, they
rented a wagon in Kinderhook and drove it to the Hallenback farm,
arriving around 7:30 while Mr. and Mrs, Hallenback and his aged mo-
ther were sitting in the living room, The brothers and Bruce went
into the barn where they turned their XXSKKKE coats inside out and
further disguised themselves by donning matks, They then went and
kwhocked on the kitchen door, ‘When Mr, Hallenback opened it, they
began Lring at him with revolvers and he was struck nine times. Mrs,
Hatlenback Pushed into the kitchen and they fired at her also but
none of the bullets took effect. The brothers then departed on the
wagon and returned to Kinderhook where they were arrésted on suspicion
Odtober 1, 1903
VAN WORMER, Burton, Frederick and Willis
Willis Van Wormer, 26-years-old, and his borthers, Burton, 22-years-
old and Frederick, were white farmers who lived with their &X%.
widowed stepmother on a farm south of Hudson, N. Y., until Skptember,
1901, when the husband of their aunt, 55-year-old Peter A. Hallenback,
foreclosed a mortgage that he held on the property and the Van Wormer
family moved to Kinderhook, fifteen miles away. The brothers were
bitter over the foreclosure HUXKMEXKXHK and, at the time of their
departure, threatened to kill Hallenback in revenge, In Kinderhook
they were joined by their cousin, Harvey Bruce, who agreed to join
them in murdering Hallenback, On the evening of Dec. 2h, 1901, they
rented a wagon in Kinderhook and drove it to the Hallenback farm,
arriving around 7:30 while Mr. and Mrs, Hallenback and his aged mo-
ther were sitting in the living room, The brothers and Bruce went
into the barn where they turned their QXSKHKE coats inside out and
further disguised themselves by donning mabks, They then went and
knocked on the kitchen door, When Mr, Hallenback opened it, they
ete i ie
pseen dirinp at Hin with SUeuseEe and they fsa st ter algo tut, |
none of the bullets took effect. The brothers then departed on the
wagon and returned to Kinderhook where they were arrésted on suspicion
October 1, 1903
VAN WORMER, Burton, Frederick and tillis
willis Van Wormer, 26-yearseold, and his borthers, Burton, 22-years-
old and Frederick, were white farmers who lived with their
widowed stepmother on a farm south of Hudson, Ne Y., until Skpterber,
1901, when the husband of their aunt, 55-year-old Peter A. Hallenback,|
foreclosed a mortgage that he held on the property and the Van Vormer
ily moved to Kinderhook, fifteen miles awaye The brothers were
bitter over the foreclosure AKXKMEXXGHK and, at the time of their
departure, threatened to kill Hallenback in revenge, In Kinderhook
they were joined by their cousin, Harvey Bruce, who agreed to join
then in murdering Hallenback, On the evening of Dec. 2h, 1901, they
]
further disguised themselves by donning masks. They then went and
idiocked on the kitchen door, ‘hen Mr, Hallenback opened it, they
began firing at him pith revolvers anj ho vag struck nine times, Mrs
RstPocpadie Rushed Tats ‘the Letcher and they fired at her also but,
none ofthe bullets took effect. The brothers then departed on the
wagon and returned to Kinderhook where they were arrested on suspicicr|
Negras Geratert
let a ict a
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