The New York herald., 1870-01-03
THE SLEEPY HOLLOW TRAGEDY.
REVOLVING SACRIFICE OF LIFE.
The Stock Of Gun Smashed on the Skull
Of a MISREPRESENTATION Without q
Motive-Coroner's Inquest and
Verdict of the Jury.

Never have the people OF that romantic section Of
Westchester county known as Sleepy Hollow
(which has been made mem orable by the gifted pen
Of Washington Irving) received such q terrible
shock as that which startled their community ON
last Saturday morning, when two peaceaDe and
unoending persons were sent into eternity without
q moments warning, and third shot and mutt
lated beyond hope OF recovery. To those not familiar
with the locality named 1t may be men,
toned that Sleepy Hollow Is situated about
two miles to the north and west of Tarry.
town, and commands o magnificent view OF the
Hudson river. Around the place are clustered
numerous associations and incidents OF the Revolu.
tonary war. and these, together with the graphic
delineations Of It's scenery and inhabitanta which
have been made part Of our national literature by
the genial author Of "Sunnyside," still make the
quiet spot almost inspired ground to the tourist.
The pastoral lands are owned and titled by numer-
GUS farmers, whose comfortable dwellings dot the
hllIsides and the valleys lmpresslng the beholder
with ideas OF primitive simplicity and industry.
LOCATION OF THE MURDERS.
Isaac Van Wart Buckh0ut the man VINO has I'M
brued his hands with the blood Of his wife and chat
OF two Of his neighbors, Is the owner OF farm and
lived with his wife In story and half cottage
situated on the upper Sing Sing road ct the place
above named. He is man about forty years old,
OF stout proportions and muscular frame, while his
wife was about seven years younger, and is repre-
sented as having been modest, domesticated and
amiable woman. The neighbors award Buckhout
the credit OF being quiet and orderly citizen,
but his home and she whom he had sworn to
cherish were at intervals saddened BY his fond
ness for intoxicating liquors. 1t Ii stated that DUR
ing last spring he became angry at the reproaches
Of his wife and left his home staying away about
week when her entreaties induced him to return.
Although not q constant drinker. Buckhout would
40 on periodical 'ypreeS," the last one, during
Christmas Day. That he was stall suffering from the
effects Of TINS debauch IS the most charitable con.
stTction that a. present can oe placed on hls ap-
PARTICULARS OF THE TRAGEDY.
>. Az distance Of perhaps quarter Of mils from
lishman, who did business as wine importer and
insurance broker, in Pine street. New YorK. own
the property Of Buckhout, Kendall was In the habit
OF going toand returning from the city daily. The
two families have always been excellent neighoors,
Buckhout frequently seeking counsel OF Kendall
on business matters and tho latter has often
assisted him not only with his advice,
Kendall son Of tha man named. and WI who is ass abous
twenty-three years OF age, Buckn0ut equally In.
innate, the two being constant companions while
hunting fishing or enjoying other rural pastmes.
On Christmas Day Buckhout and bis wife dined with
Kendall and his family, and after the festival
their s hosts BucsSous tas. ksesa hs
son and youngest daughter snOuld partako OF his
ing arrived the daughter, it appears, had other
matters 70 occupy her attention, and aban-
doned the idea OF visiting. Young Kendall also
his father urged HIM, saying that Buckhout low
spirited and they would 60 and 'cheer him up for
nalfpast ten a. NJ, and q few minutes later Mr..
Kendall, accompanied by his son. was seen BY some
and what followed can only be cleaned from the
appearance OF the premises as they were found
shortly afterwards.
A FEARFUL PICTURE
Not more than ten minutes had elapsed after
the Rendalls were seen to enter the fatal house
when Mrs. Frances Weeks, living GEAR Buckhout
beard two reports nom rhe discharge OF . gan in
quick succession, but she at first paid attention
to the matter. Her womany curiosity prevailed In
D Short time, and she proceeded towards tho house.
meeting Buckhout who passed her without speak
ing. On entering the open door terrible scene
vision, ana sne fed In terror terror from the the
spot Some other persons, who were near
caught the ALARM and on gong to the house discov-
cred the dreadful extent OF the tragedy In the sit
ting room Alfred Kendall was discovered seated on
o chair his feet crossed, dead. and surrounded by
pool OF blood, his neck having received the murder
ous charge OF bucksh0t. which severed the carotid
artery and divided tho spinal chord producing
portion OF goblet, out Of which he had been drink
ing cider, and It Is thought that When he first
saw Buckhoat point the weapon at him
hlmser anu the shot striking this carried away the
upper part OF 1t. Lying bleeding and insensible on
SOi0 III INC bHWo 0puILincnt was fOunQ Charles
Kendall, having received frigntful wound in the
right temple, which had penetrated the eye and
carried away . portion OF tno face. In o kitchen
adjoining the sitting room Mrs. Buckhout lay ap-
parently Dead her skull smashed In sickenlng
manner by blows from gun, the stock OF
woman. Having emptied botn chambers Of .
double barr0lled gun into the bodies OF the Rendalls
It would appear that BuckhOnt entered the kitchen,
and having broken tho stock Of the gun into frag-
ments on the head OF his wife, struck her again
with she barrels, sinking the hammers Of the trig
gers into her BRAIN She expired shortly after being
discovered. Charles Kendall at once had surgical
attention. but no was still insenstble last evening,
and 1t was thought impossible he could survive
much longer his injuries being considered Of fatal
nature.
THE MURDERER sURRHNDERs HIMSELF.
After leaving the house BucknOut walked about
mile to the dwelling or Ira Miller OF his neigh
bors. and on approaching him exclaimed. ''I'm
ruined man; shot Charley Kendall" The former ex-
pressed his disbelief OF the statement when Buckhout
repeated the words. ana. handing him revolver,
said, II surrender myself to you; take Tarry-
town, as iear the neighbOrs are after me and will
lynch me-" Upon examining the revolver Miller
found one chamber empty and oil the others loaded.
Buckhouts assertion Miller drove him To Tarrytown
ana gave him into the custody OF Constable Alfred
Lawrence. who took him to White Plains Jall.
THE INQUEST.
coroner van 1agSel held an inquest on tho bodies
Of Mrs. Buckhout and Alfred Kendall, In the house
where the murders occurred, yesterday, during
which It appeared from the testimony OF young
woman diving IN part OF the dwelling, and occu-
pied oy man who titled Buckhouts farm ons
snares that although under the same roof, and but
she heard no noise preceding or AFTER tho shooting
nor did she go In to see what the matter. Mrs.
Weeks also testified TO what she saw, as already
stated ABOVE, except that she noticed nothing
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