New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-04-05
THE BUCKOUT TRIAL
MORE EVIDENCE on THE QUESTION OF INSANITY
The trial of Buckout, the murderer, OF Sleepy

MORE EVIDENCE ON THE QUESTION OF iNsANiIf'
The trial Of Buckout, the murderer, OF Sleepy
Hollow, was continued yesterday. Dr. George L. D.
Choate testified: l was superintendent Of the state
Lunatc Asylum In Massachusetts, for II years;
/ have seen the prisoner BuckOut; / saw hin
first last June; visited him with Dr. Brown OF the
Bloomngdale iLunatc Asylum after the first trial. we
called upon him and had all interview Of perhaps
two hours In length did not introduce ourselves, al
though he probably knew Dr. Brown; Buckout was calm
placid and pleasant; VIC began our conversation with
general topics, embracing his life in the Jail, about his
residence and mode OF fe his relatives and past history
all these subjects his the point and
straightforward there slight symptom OF mental
arrangement; not enough to attract attention II bad
not been engaged in scrunzing such cases. his express
sions when conversing did not exhibit any striking
suit; he sometimes smiled and occasionally laughed
when uncaed for although his answers TO some ques-
tons simple matters direct, while to ques-
tons OF more Intricate nature he showed obtuse-
ness after talking general topics, he came
to the matter OF the Homicide he at first extremely
recent so much SO that felt sure that he had been
asked him II that not the case lie admitted that it
was so; happened 10 have letter from his brother,
which took ont and read. in which no expressed hope
that Isaac 1.-THE prsOner) would be free, and tell all
he could after reading that letter, the prisoner was
more inclined to talk 10 lie admitted everything re
gardng the homicide and in to questions put to
him; then asked him why he killed his wife; he re-
Piled because she had been uDfaithfu TO him, and as
serted that she had been intimate with Charles Kendall
Mr. Willard, and his own brother Benjamin Buckout, and
Others; endeavored to find the OF this Jealousy
how he knew that his wife was unfaithfm To nm
without stating any facts or circumstances, he
asked him whether he had ever any improprie-
ties, whether any body had told him anything to
Communications between his wife and any Of the persons
alluded TO by him. to al OF which questions be replied In
the negative; exhausted all the questions We could
think Of without discovering single circumstance on
which to sustain his suspicious; formed the opinion
then from his own statement that he was laborng under
an insane delusion as TO the chastity OF his we II
sane ma OF an SSgds&t m & Pc s gS5y Ie Sfa
posed reason for 50 doing and he always watches MS w
be compared TO dream III the night; BucHOut admitted
that be had nothing to justify his suspicious; he
could not state single circumstance that had occurred
to base suspicion npOn ana ne Dad heru I h
against his wifes chastity asked Buckout why ne had
sorry TO the nildehty OF his WIFE, by aidng the son anu
sending Willard to the house to live fOr the purpose OF
that many years before he had been Invited to join
masonic lodge but his wife persuaded him not to do it
have connection with his wife, and for that reason ne
killed him; that the Masons had caused articles .E
his case be said no could not understand these news
paper articles he intended TO convey the Information
or idea the MasOns, be not being Mason had got
these articles nserted have met with good many IN
sane persons who had dread OF tree Masohs IN TIC
mOnOmanacs seem To fear Spirits devils ana OnceI5 Oh
tine law the ide 10 nG % o. t9t tScy were delI
sons only question 10 come up whether there
was any possibility of deception the part of Buckont
concluded fter weighing the circumstances over, that
no could not teigni had another interview Win
Buckout on Saturday last perhaps for an hour;
when met him this time, he remembered my former
visit then went direct 10 matters connected with the
homicide and asked him why nc Killed MS vic, iso Us
10 the matter Free Masonry examined hin lu0re NJ
length; when called upon him this time asked INN II
he remembered me- and he said ne dd asked hl1 II nc
uneasy about his trial. he said that he did not ana
remarked that his former ta qua hih' "a gla[ neI .,
wife, said that he knew she was uniithful to him,
that his heart told him he repeated THIS several tes
he then asserted that the elder Kendall had also been too
viii his wife, varying from his former slatenen
some newsnapers and said that the issue OF his
rested With the Free asons that he stood alone outside
cmted; he oppressed DO admitted TO the order
and said II he could not be he had as well be hansed he
then spoke OF the ia and said IL mysterious place;
he heard voices talking about himself when he was not
engaq ed talking himself he heard these voices day and
night; he also noticed strange and peculiar smells when
be also attributed to the Free MasonS from what nave
land heard, am Of the opinion that bieSQut has
continue insane think lie belongs 70 tho most dan
serSui eisI 1r hSya seen uckout several
tines visited him in June at the ja IN compahys"h
O. What, was your conclusion as to the state OF MS
at 9%ss ta Il he was Sincere IN ali his diso.
ulaton he was an insane man. believe he was not
seen several OF dissmuated insanity and dId not
think his was So because he made no attempt TO enforce
minds the impression mat ne was insane; no
showed ingenuity in parrylng our questOnsi ms
dread Of the Mas0ns seemed to e one OF those vague
working their destruction; his statement that he had
heard persons talking about IL an instance OF the
a. the time OF committing the murders should con
slider Buckout unable To- Judge between right sna
his LelusiOn with the homicide think tue man waS In
sane without regard to the act. $500
Francis Weeks testified everyday habit for
Buckout TO go with his sleeves rolled up above the
ebows: have known him to 81 on rocks and different
places from one to five hours during the last 1--WE years
Cross Xamined-I raw him sit BY the wo0dshed IN tne
spring Of 1909 rom two to three hours he was alone,
ana smoking; lie held his hoad up looking down the
srect never before saw q SIT 50 long IN one place
3 lie would. al, nj,
i sydney Bayles, testified live between Sing sing
and TarrytOwu, and have been Intimately acquainted
with him foI about II years. satup with him all night
on the 5h Of December 1869, At Mr. Idieys, ana saw
MIN frequently aftrward never tsaW anything u MS
manner or conduct that appeared irrational.
Adjourned TO o'clock this morning.
TIE ADJOURNMENT OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE