The New York herald., 1870-03-26
TIE SLEEPY HOLLOW MASSACRE.


Testimony Of Charles Rsndall-A witness
Paints While ON tho stand and II Borne
from the Court Room = Damaging
Evidence Against the Prisoner.
Shortly before the hour Of twelve yesterday order
was called In the Court Of Oyer and Terminer, ~
White Plains, westchester county and the trial OF
Isaac Van wart Bucknout resumed. The attend
ance was even moro numerous than on the two pre-
vous days. many of the spectators being ladies. who
monopolized almost the entire gallery. Buckhout
AZ usual, maintained an imperturbaole air and was
evidently pleased by the formidable 'front.' presented
by his numerous counsel. When the names OF the
witnesses for the prosecution had been Gales Dis
trict Attorney Dykman opened the case, and,
In briefly reviewing the particulars Of the tragedy
reminded the jury OF It's appalling magnitude he
announced that the prisoner was now pnt on trial
for the murder OF Alfred Kendall, whose killing the
prosecution were prepared 10 prove was an act OF
wilful and deliberate murder. Notwithstanding the
array Of legal talent with which wealth and innu-
ence had surrounded the accused, he said II Justice
be obstructed In this case then there Is adequate
punishment for crime In this country, and the wei.
fare Of society Is imperilled.
TESTIMONY FOR THE PROSECUTION
The nrst witness called for the people was A. r.
Stiner, who, ON being sworn, testided:-I live in
White Plans, ana am an engineer and surveyor;
made diagram Of the premises formerly occupied by
the prisoner describing the position OF the various
ro0ms); visited the house for this purpose
few days after the murder BY request Of the District
Attorney tdia gram shown}; witness recognized tho
drawing, and testified TO ms having been told by
parties IN the house that the articles OF furniture
marked in the diagram were in the same positions
as on tho morning OF the murder.
Cross-examined--Did not ascertain poinIs OF COM
unont thn w
contained piano, on which there was q violin; an
arm chair, centre table three or four chairs stove
rooms; was very glad to get out OF the house.
Mrs. Sarah +. Cass, being sworn, testifed:-I am
az MS late residence near sleepy Hollow for about
year; knew BuckhOut and his wife; there was only
small ed dividing my asaess na M n9ass % 0m 70 nat 1s 2.
with ns about two O'Clock on Christmas day last and
stayed until about nalf-past eleven O'CLOCK that
night.
was played during the evening which resulted IN
Buckhont and my sister belug defeated; my brother
then told the prisoner that he (my brother and Mrs.
Buckhout had cheated, on learning which Buckhout
a. angry ana Sega sSa, % sn eaa
man might be, q good woman could reform him.
my father said he did not think 30, ana added "You
worthless follows" this was said IN nun and
the conversation was changed at my fathers
eleven O'Clock that night; saw the prisoner and
Mrs. Buckh0ut again on the following "wednesday at
cea wen win win Ss
worthless yet;" on my way home Mrs. Buckhout and
the prisoner walked with me, the latter remaining
short distance behind; asked him TO come up and
walk with us, but he refused saying It 10 written,
"Get thee behind me. Satan;' SAID he should not
compare himself with satan, ana ne replied "Weli
am as bad rs Satan, and
TWILL DO SOMETHING DESPERATE YETI
When parted n win them ne @ ssd hs & sure asr ANA
Years day." nave known the prisoner about four
years and never knew hun TO De scx OF alng fas ,
the maiu points Of her testimony renamed un-
shaken.
ness was next placed upon the stand, and fully cor
roDorated the testimony OF her sister. The witness
about i've months since rsIBuckhout called at her
father's house for the purpose OF asking ms advice
and that accused had invited her brother, sister
and herself to spend New YEARS evening at his
house, but the invitation was declined.
Charles Kendall "a aon OF the murdered man. and
whom Buckhout also shot, tearing ont his left eye
and otherwise disfgurtng him. on being sworn,
testifed-I live at Sleepy Hollow, and am a son OF
the late Alfred Kendall ana brother Of the last Two
acquainted with him nearly four years; nave often
been In his company while shooting and asaing; we
| opinion or him. he was usually cheerful and good
natured; he appeared strange on one or two occa-
sions, rne reason for which learned was that he
ana wondered why he should feel SO and appear
was the only change had noticed In his appearance
down to Christmas; ne was at our house on that
anove regarding the game Of cards.) Buckhout was
asked 10 nave glass OF spirits and water before
VIM tnat night but ne refused Should ~ ss rna
mas day; on New Years day my father and
/ went 70 Buckhouus house between the
morning; ne opened the kitchen door for us;
my father went IN first, and followed; ne snook
hands with father ana 1; Mrs. Buckhout was in the
Kitchen near the stove and she advanced to shake
hands with us; we then passed into the sitting
na rs my as aafr ana
the room then; father sat with his back 70 table
nearly IN the centre Of the room, with his sderace
| towards q door leading into small bedroom, and
sat on sofa In OF the room; Buckhout LETT
the room before we had been In the house ten min
he returned in q few minutes with pitcher
Of cider ana two g0bets; ne first handed father a
goblet into which @ ne poured tae @ cider and ana then
than two glasses and AZ he was putting the pitcher
on the table asked him Il he was not going to take
| some cider; he said nothing, but walked into the
bedroom, and in an instant almost
| SAW THR GUN LEvELLED,
as / thought me; the next / remember
was coming to my senses and I knew that
was shot; | saw father sitting IN hrs
| towards the kitcncn door and In doing saw Mrs.
Buckhout lying on the floor; ! passed through the
sensible; Buckhout told me last September tnat he
was going to get divorce from his wife as she had
could not prove it, although ne believed IT, and snas
when he could prove 1t ne would not stay with his
wife any longer.
A WITNESS FAINrs ON THE STAND.
Mrs. Elizabeth Jerks, being sworn, testifed-l live
] In sleepy Hollow and occupied portion OF the
house IN which Buoknout lived; have resided there
year on the 1ss Of next April. Here the witness
tainted, and whom rest0ratives were applied which
partially restored her to consciousness, she gave
utterance to few faint hystercal snreks, and IN
that condition was carried from the courtroom The
occurrence created quite q sensation among the
large number OF ladies present.
ou + y = r M n M e YIY q