The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-12-12

HIS CONDUCT AND GENERAL DEMEANoR.
mnou. any alectation Of nonchalance, the prisoner
re4ny seemed at times entirely unmoved. During the
greater part Of the time he occupied himself gazing
Oh tne window next TO which he sat and watching the
quickly changing landscape. AT times something very
Ike tears seemed TO gather his eyes, but these he
wiped away they seemed TO become absorbed again and
soon os,' disappeared After time he drew OF his
hi'lehs, one after the other, and examined his
hands with great interest and minuteness. They
were both gashed and cut dreadfully and in
the most remarkable manner The wounds were
not such as would be inflicted by knife or dagger but
rather such as might be caused had dashed
his hand through thick glass window or in whose hands
glass bottle had been broken 10 fragments some Of
the fingers had been rudey bound up in strips OF white
muslin Some OF the wounds appeared stl to give him
much pam, ana he picked at them DESTROYS TO ex
tract painful foreign substance The left aide OF his
face was also scratched He appeared entirely dsincned
TO converse 10 Few general questions he returned eva
and unsatisfactory replies and had evidently deter
mined TO say as little as possible.
HE READS THE PAPERs.
AT Turner's forty seven miles from the CITY, the news
boys came on board with the morning papers copy
of the HERALD handed to the prisoner and passing
all the other matter without glance he literally
devoured the two articles relating to himself As he read
them the muscles Of his face twched convulsvey and
his countenance turned to deadly paor As the train
became extreme. No one could look upon him and not
feel pity for his condition, supposing him be
guilty. And the question would intrude ITSELF How
could one so young commit such horrd crimeS
All along the route the excitement among the villagers
was intense, and the utmost curiosity exhibited to
catch glimpse OF the young carpenter who had rendered
himself so notorious in connection with of the
horrible murders that was perpetrated Captain
Carey afraid Of some popular outbreak and accord
ingy Kept the prisoner closely confined possible
On the arrival of the train at Jersey City large crowd
assembled IN anticipation Of his arrival lie was imme
diaely placed in close carriage, and driven by cir
cutous route to the ferry the crowd running along in
the wake of the carriage
HIS APPEARANCE AT POLICE HEADQUARTERS.
During tho day Buchanan's father visited the General
superintendent office and had an interview with the
prisoner. The parent seemed very much affected by the
situation of his son. and gave vent to his feelings
Buchanan he ahspnt
from home on the night preceding the murder that
Friday forenoon about III O'Clock he appeared at the
house with his hands cut and bleeding his face scratched
and his clothes stained with blood His mother, who
was alarmed at his absence, asked him where he had
been the previous night, and what had happened him.
lie tried TO smooth over matters by saying that he had
difficulty with some man in Mercer street and that
the wounds We're received in wardng OF blows aimed
at him by his assailant His excuse seemed a
plausible one, and nothing thought
Of the incident until saturday morning, when Mr..
Buchanan seeing Of the murder in the news.
papers at once suspected that his in way
implicated in the affair Accordingly he questioned the
prisoner closely in relation TO his cut hands and bloody
clothing but the latter stouty denied all knowledge
the MURDER and reiterated his story about the fight in
Mercer street.
excuse about going down town business and taking
his departure quietly left the city Nsthing was
heard Of him by his parents until the news Of his arrest
arrived from Susquehanna, on Monday, and II not
until the parents were thus assured of his flight
that they were forced TO believe in his guilt.
When confronted with his father, yesterday, the
prisoner said that he was on his way to
uncle of his who lived at Chicago when he
rested Buchanan had previously told this story 10 the
police, and IN relating II second time he varied but
little.
HOW HE ACCOUNTS FOR HIS WOUNDS.
When asked TO account for the MANNED condition Of his
hands by the police he stated that he met stranger
who asked him 10 driak, that they went into saloon
and after partkng Of several drinks about TO leave
when they were insued by one Of the inmates A row
then ensued he says, when he drew knife TO defend
himself and while doing so cut his hands. His hands
bear less than six cuts some Of them appearing to
"A IA ypI
edged instrument such as piece Of crockery
The prisoners face Is also scratched, as Il
doubt inflicted quite recently. He says that these
scratches were also received In the barroom fight but
his manner in accounting for the injuries not
straightforward or likely to impress the hearer with the
truth of the statement.
During his detention at Police Headquarters Buchanan
was visited by the District Attorney, Coroner Jackman
and Mr. William Smeaton the son-in-aw OF Mrs.
Shancks.
Atfour O'Clock the prisoner was placed in carriage and
conveyed 10 the Fifteenth precinct station house where
he was locked up for the remainder of the day Today
he viii be brought before Coroner Jackman on the in
quest, and what disposition will be made of him there
remains TO he seen. The feeling TO his guilt sgems "a
be universal THE evidence against him Is purely crcum
stanta but II Is of such nature that few believe
the unfortunate man innocent.
HISTORY OF THE PRISONER.
Alfred Buchanan Is native Of this city, and Is about
twenty years Of age. He is tall slim built and lgh
complexioned with sinister and rather bad expression
OF counenence For years past he has been subject
Ats, and was much reduced in flesh in consequence
His parents reside at l31 East Tenth street. and have
always maintained excellent character for industry
and honesty Buchanan was Ia the hab, Of attending
lectures psychology when he WIS a lad and the
effect upon him extraordinary. He invariably
attacked with hts his return home after attending
these lectures His manner, too, was strange and Dor
dered on insanity. Things went in this way for a
year or more, when the malady seeming 70 increase
his parents determined TO send him to the Iunac sy
um Backwcs Island. There he remained about four
months when he discharged cured. ON being taken
home, however, symptoms OF insanity exhibited them
selves again and the father and mother were obliged
keep strict watch upon hio movements. About this
time IL discovered that the prisoner had pencnant
for stealing and occasion he got himself into rou
BILE in consequence OF petty theft which he committed
at billiard saloon Al another time he suspected
Of setting ire TO carpenters shop and Afterwards the
police looked upon him the author Of another incenf
~ fire, involving the partial destruction of public
school IN the Ninth ward.