The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-08-29
WAsTCHEsTER CONvICTs.
Tho Last Days Of Buckhout and His Poisoning
Propenities-w Wheeler, tho Ex-convict,
Awaiting His Trial for the Sing Sing
Prison Escape-The Moral Degen-
eraoy Of Westchester County.

WHITE PLAINS, August Is, 1871.
This sleepy, duh and drowsy town was awakened
from its ordinary lassltude to-day by the assembling
at Court House OF the Grand Jury for the county,
The number Of indictments is rather larger than
usual, and the character of the offences Is some.
what heavier also. There are three murderers
awaiting their trial. and one for execution, In
the jail. The calendar includes in its
list OF offences nearly every form OF
crime which humanity is guilty or 1t is
clear that the moral condition OF Westchester
county Is very low, and II is believed that before the
Grand Jury discharged they will cali the attention
OF the county to this very significant fact The con-
ditlon of the Sing Sing Prison and its present man.
agement Is TO receive the practical attention OF the
jury and on an early day 1t is their intention to visit
the prison officially and present report thereon.
The prisoner who eXcltes the greatest public inter-
est at
THE WHITE PLAINS PRISON,
just now, Is Buckhout the perpetrator OF the
Sleepy Hollow tragedy. The prison has to- day been
placed in charge OF the Sheriff, he has taken an
almost unprecedented course in reference to the
admission OF visitors This of1cial told me to-day
that he had good reasons for believing that the
friends OF Buckhout would supply him with poison
If they could and that Buckhout to avoid the
degradation Of hanging. would
TAKE HIS LIFE BY POISON.
To prevent the possibility OF Buckhout doing this
the doors have been vigorously closed to all but the
officials. II Is scarcely likely that this rigid rule
will be enforced 80 as TO exclude all the unhappy
mans relatives and friends from seeing him again
until he is placed in the care OF the hangman.
The TACT, however, Is, that today BuckhOurs
brother was not allowed to see him.
On Saturday I had q long CONVEX sation with
Buckhout; and If any reliance is to be placed in
what he said and the apparent attitude OF his mind
,lo1
by dying like rat in It's hole from the administra-
ton of poison by his own hand am inclined TO
think that this poisoning theory Is a delusion OF
the Sheritrs, and that neither BucknOuJ nor
his friends have any intention Of depriying the
law OF its victim. On Saturday Buckhout had
not given up all hope OF u reprieve. lie attaches
considerable Importance the fact that twenty -four
urymen were unable TO agree as to the character OF
MS crime ana that the prov ocation ne received be-
fore he committed the fatal deed should weigh with
the Governor in review OF his sentence. He also
thinks that an early friendship between the Cover
nor and himself and his tBuckhOutS) family will he
an element in the review which will weigh some
what In the mind Of Governor Hoffman and direct
II toward clemency. The same
wONDRoUs CALMNESS,
the same profession OF an unwaverlng trust in God
and that whatever Is done with him will be ordered
Oy MS creator, ana therefore Will be all right, Is
manifested by Buckhout to-day, as 1t has been I'M
yarylngly since his condemnation. The prison OIL
Gals think that at his execution all this drmness
will give way, and that he Will not die so
signedly as this talk would seem TO indicate
Among the other criminals confined in the White
Plains Prison Is Wheeler, the eX-cOnvct, who was
the chief organizer or and active partlcpator In.
the conspiracy at Sing sing Prison, by which twelve
Of the convlcrs escaped. Wheeler has been held
here for examination, under a commitment by
Justice Howe, OF sing Sing for several days past.
The prosecution have decided to waive any pre-
iminary examination and TO prefer an Indictment
before The Grand Jury tomorrow Tuesday,. The
evidence connecting Wheeler with
THE ESCAPE OF TIE CoNvICTs
very clear. The captain OF the tug has Identified
wheeler as the man who took charge OF the tug
when they reached the dock at Sing Sing, and VINO
gave orders to and threatened the engineer with
death II he dld not obey his wheeers) orders. The
engineer gives similar evidence The policeman at
HackensacK also testi1es to seeing him In company
In the woods with Kingsand when he arrested
them. and has identified Wheeler as the man ne had
watched for some time with Kingsland. 1t is known
to the Sing Sing Prison Orhcals that Kingsland and
Wat Williams two OF the captured convicts, were
TIE RINGLEADERs OF THE ESCAPED.
Both have money obtained by the 'crackingn OF
bank S640 900 was stolen by small gang OF bur-
glars OF which Klngsland and Williams were the
directing spirits Not one cent OF that large amount
has been restored or traced IN any way and there
are very good reasons for suppOsing that Wheeler
was supplied with adequate FUNDS for the carrying
out OF the means to effect the escape convict
friends. There Is no doubt that Wheeler VIII be
convicted, and that he will return to his familiar
quarters in the State Prison.