New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-12-12
THE TWELFTH STREET MURDER.

RETURN OF THE SUSPECTED HOMICIDE.
At noon on Tuesday Capt. Caiirey Of the Fifteenth
Ward police, arrived in this city, having in custody
Alfred Buchanan, the suspected murderer of Mrs.
Shancks who was arrested in the town Of Susquehan
ma Broome County, n. Y, at the instance Of Mr..
Theodore Sprngsteen. Upon the receipt ola Geographic
dispatch from Susquehanna setting forth that young
man had been apprehended there suspicion, the Su-
perntendent of Police directed Capt. Cafrey to pro-
coed at once TO the place and take the accused in GUS
tody. Capt CaiIrey left this city early on Monday
morning and arrived at susquchama about o'clock
p. H. Of the same day. Upon making himself known
he was conducted TO the principal hotel, where he
found Buchanan in charge of a constable. The captain
at once took the prisoner in charge, and made prepa
rations 10 return to this city.
1t appears that, on Saturday evening, upon the ar
rival Of the train at Susquehanna one OF the passen
gers approached group of men who stood talking in
the depot and asked where he could find Mr.. Spring
steen one of the conductors of the road He sad that
he did not know him personally, but had heard of him,
as he the speaker and Springsteens brother once
worked together in the Methodist Book Concern.
While they were thus talking, Springsteen came up,
when Buchanan made himself known, and asked per-
mission to stay there that night he very tired
T.
tween Buchanan and his brother, took him to his
houfe During the preparations for supper, Buchanan
said he would like TO wash, and accordingly shown
into the she'd As soon as he commenced washing, the
wounds on his hands broke out afesh and blood flowed
freely therefrOm. He also appeared greatly agtated.
These circumstances particularly attracted the attention
of Springsteen, who at came to the conclusion
that his guest was the murderer of Mrs. Shaneks
account of whose terrible fate he had read i'll the New
York papeis of that morning. Without beraying his
suspicious to his guest he alluded Carelessy to the cuts
Oh bis hand and proceeded to dress them with basam
of fir having flSt carefully washed them with CASTLE
soap.
As soon ne he could leave the house without exciting
the suspicion of Buchanan he repaired to the Office of
Justice A. j. Seymour and made affidavit against
the accused, embodying his suspicion in the matter.
The Justice forthwith issued his warrant for the arrest
of Buchanan, when a constable of the place took him
into custody. Buchanan seemed very much excited at
this state OF affairs but denied any participation in the
murder of Mrs Shancks. Capt Gafrey found blood
upon the prisoners pantaloons, but none was found
upon the of bis clothing. Both of his hands Were
badly scratched and cut if with glass, and there was
also u cut upon bis face Upon the fore finger of his
left hand long and deep cut, which had the ap-
pearance of having been recently inflicted. Early the
following morning the Captain started for New-York
with his prisoner arriving at jersey City Just before
noom Here they Were met by Inspector Carpenter,
hurried into carriage, and driven TO the Central Po
lice Office in New.York.
THE PRISONER.
Alfred Buchanan the accused is young man. not
quite 20 years Of age, nearly six feet in hight slight
built light hair and light complexion sunkeu eyes and
cheeks, weighs about $50 pounds and at the present
time has a care-wom and haggard appearance. The
shape of bis head and the general expression of his
features indicate that he is person of less than average
intelligence For several years he has been subject to
fits, having had as manyas twenty-five in single day.
At an early age he attended series of psychological
lectures and was experimental upon by the lecturer
To this fact his parents attribute his disease for while
attending those lectures he was first seized with fits
and they have since reappeared at intervals His mind
affected at time by them that his parents
could DO nothing with him. They We're accordingly
compelled to send him to the Lunac Asylum on Black
wells Island, where he remained upward of four
months under medical treatment Although partial
restoration was effected the Young man never entirely
recovered his reason. lie could be taught but little at
school, and was never competent to learn trade or
transact any business. His condition was more worse
at some times than at others-a morose, sulen aud
ugly state of mind coming upon him at stated intervals
AT such times, his parents and brothers and sisters
were afraid OF him. and were compelled to keep close
watch upon all lis actions. They treated him as an
person, ana were not at all asonished al
his eccentIictes.
On several occasions he has abruptly left home and
been gone for days at imehs absence causing his
family great ueasiness but special alarm for his
safety tie has rather a vicious disposition, having |
been accused OF several thos though lac wa, never
arrested for them. few weeks since he WAS charqed
with having stolen some billiard balls from the AL
bon, for which oacnse the detectives sought him for
long ime without success. lie was once accused Of
having s'l IRE 10 carpenter shop, and was suspected
OF beng The nendnil who caused the partial dostruc.
l'"n OF public school-housc in the Ninth Ward lie |
was wen SHOWN to the police o. the Ninth Wand. hay |
Hs Been ound at various times suffering from liis On |
he sheet According Ia tLe statement OF his parents.
Alfred wur absent ilom home on rhursday night. but
returned about IL O'Clock Friday morning. Hs
bands were 'tcn cU and bleeding liz face WIS
eri,Lcd. nd hif shirt, coat pants. looms anI ha, |