The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-12-13
THE TWELFTH STREET TRAGEDY.

The Coroner's Inquest-Intoresting Pro-
ceedings-Interview Between the Prison
er and His Mother-An Affecting Scene
The Testimony Yesterday, &c.
Coroner Jackman resumed the inquest yesterday In the
case Of Mrs. Sarah Shancks the Fifteenth precinct
station house. Long before the hour apart for the
emblng Of the jury the station house beseged with
an eager throng who resorted to arce order 70 gain
admission. At two O'Clock the Of the jury
called, when all answering TO their names, IL was de-
cded 10 proceed with the investigation Captain Caey
was requested to bring the prisoner and in few mo-
ments Buchanan forthcoming The accused looked
Jaded and somewhat melancholy and judging from the
condition Of his eyes, he had been crying great
deal. He took seat within few feet Of the
Coroner and the jury, and then calmly surveyed
the room, If he was in search Of some one
His father and brother in the at the time, ana
Kindly recognized him the moment they caught his eye
Their presence seemed give him great relief, and
tended 10 make his situation comparatively comfortable
compared with what 1t would have been If they had
been absent.
Some time spent by the jury in debating upon the
propriety Of subpnnang General Superintendent Ken
nedy us il was ntimaied that knew more about the
than he really wished TO disclose the inquest
but after considerable talk the matter dropped with
abe understanding that IL would be brought up again at
future time. Mr. Smith appeared behalf Of the
District Attorney, and gentleman, whose did
not learn present to defend the rights of the pr
soner. Mr. Smith the only one who was allowed to
take any part the examination OF the witnesses how
ever The prisoners counsel by his clients side and
look notes OF the testimony.
THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF THE PRI-
soNER.
VIM smcaton recalled deposed as folows:-I was at
my mother laws the Tuesday before the murder
saw the prisoner there; | asked deceased who he was
when she replied that he the carpenter who was in
the habit doing jobs for her. she said she could
not get rid Of the prisoner and when looked at him
he went out, gave him very severe look, which he
will probably remember she objected to the prisoners
presence the ground that she thought he dis
honest subsequently heard something about silks
which were stolen, but know nothing Of personally
Ann Maria Clark deposed that she never saw the pri
soner before TO her knowledge
Susan Ferguson recalled identify the prisoner the
young man Mrs shancks sent to me with message one
day this occurred on Wednesday last; the
prisoner before or since until to-day.
MRS. BUcHANAN's sTATEMENT-AN AFFECTING
SCENE.
At this point the Coroner announced that the pri-
eoner mother Mrs Buchanan, would be the next wit
hess, and in a moment afterwards the lady in
question entered the room In approaching the witness
stand she had to pass BY the prisoner Buchanan ,
moment she came up he burst Then fol-
lowed affecting scene, which the pen can hardly do
her son. whom she had for several days. and,
sobbing violently cried, "Alfred Alfred you nno-
and throwing up his hands in most dramatic manner,
loudly exciained II am mother am" The effect upon
Abe audience was electrical, and few could
feeling touch of sympathy. The Co
roner, the jury. the spectators, and even the
police, moved TO pity, and for several moments
all eyes riveted, it WERE TO the forms of the
mother and her child. Gradually, however, the sobbing
minutes perhaps the witness sufficiently composed
40 proceed with her testimony. Her evidence which
was given in clear, Straightforward manner ran as
Mary Buchanan sworn, says-I reside at No 1877 West
Tenth street. the prisoner my SON saw him Friday
mornings noticed that his clothes and hands were
bloody asked him what was the matter when he said
1ha he had been stabbed he then told his father that he
had been in 'muss with some in the Bowery; that
1hc man called him son of - and as that reflected
by Tending off the blows he said that he knocked the
with hand while he Tended of the blows
with the other asked him II he had been drinking,
when he replied the affirmative; then advised him to
wash himself ans 60 to bed; Saturday morning my
eldest came home after reading the HERALD, and
asked the prisoner II he had been in the "muss' the
prisoner said that he had and seemed astonshed
at the question: my eldest son said if he thought
abe prisoner was guilty he would deliver him over to
Captain Scbring the prisoner exclaimed that he in
nocent, but we kked he would put his hat and go
with before the Captain he then said Mamma don't
be worried at ALL am an innocent boy when he left
home he said he intended leaving this city and going to
his brother who lived the country the prisoner
had often been away from home thought nothing Of
it. believe his brother and his father gave him some
day morning about half past nine O'Clock he left home
with couple Of pillars which his father requested him TO
take 10 No 81 Fast Twelfth street there nothing I'M
usual in his manner that morning when came again
Mt eleven O'Clock h. remained ut home for the remainder OF
the day; he sleep upon sofa noticed that he
behaved rather strangely we thong he was tpsey his
face red and thought there something the mat
1er with him; We always looked upon the prisoner as
half wtted child he the habit of getting fits and
at time tried to get down into the water closet TO de-
stroy himself he said about i've six years sent
him TO the hospital Rantas Island TO be treated for
ths malady; he was then under the care Of pr Whit
tesey the doctor told me that we should not let him
have any hearty victuals; had TO send him to the
hospital a second time never had TO send him there
third time the prisoner said he liked TO 20 TO Randals
Island MS IL was so quiet there; his temper
lent at times, and often afraid Of him;
his associates used to call him Crazy which
nsed 10 irrtate him very much; never
knew that the prisoner acquainted with the de
ceased: IL from reading the newspapers that
thought he might be implicated In the murder knew
ahat he had done Job for some one In that ncghborhood
about ago when asked by eldest son II he
guilty, he said, ono am innocent boy-I have been
20 her place and done Jobs for her but am Innocent
vhe unable to tell us what part Of the Bpwery the
81 age ana is native Of Sew York he left home on sa
turday evening and did not see him again until oday;
in the morning and all day on saturday until evening
when be left bone already stated; during the last
year or two he acted strangely at times making 2
about days ago, while at the dinner table b. took the
carving knife of the table and said b. would stab himself
the heart at the time pointing tho knife towards
his breast my daughter took tn knife from him, and
asked him what was the matter, when he said that he
wanted to kill himself my daughter often said she
nfraid Of him, and would not live IN the house with him.
THE BROTHERS, EVIDENCE.
Edmund A. Buchanan, Of No 1877 West Tenth street,
brother lives the house with he left home
between eight and nine ocock Friday morning;
when home In the evening, about half past five or
six O'Clock, the prisoner: were at the tea
liable At the time, and ! noticed that his hands
were all bandaged up and that mother had been
crying after mother told that the prisoner had
In night she said that he had been In fight In the
Bowery mother commenced crying; the prisoner sat In
rocking chair and commenced singing; told him that
there trouble enough and that h. ought TO stop
singing; then left the house and spent the evening
town; Saturday morning potccd the account of the
Twelfth murder IA the newspapers, but did not
sDsak 10 the prisoner about the affair until came home
- Nnner that day: the paror before dinner
sAs prisoner lying the sofa; asked him II he
knew Charles Hardy; be said he did not; then asked
Am II be know anything about the murder, and
ne said he did not ] told him that IL knew he
was guilty | would bring him around 10 Captain
Sebrng; he said ~ am innocent, but II you think am
guilty will 20 around with you" he said that he knew
Abe deceased and thai he had done job for her about
gear ago: he was home when came back to tea ask.
I'd him xhere he got the wounds. and said II he