The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-17
The Sleepy Hollow MuTdcrs-The Victims and
the Vengeance Of the Law.
A Frightful Crime and It's Con-
sequences.
ANOTHER PENITENT MALEFACTOR.
Strenuous Efforts to Save the Criminal-Hopes
Of Executive Interference Entertained to the
Last Moment-Buckhout Not Dsmayed
When Under the Gallows-Sceues
and Incidents Of the Execution.

In the tragic annals OF human turpitude, since the
fSatricdal knife OF Cain first stained the virgin soil
Of earth with brothers blood, lG would be difficult
70 discover q crime more atroclousy conceived or
more rightfully executed than that for which Isaac
Van Wart Bucknout in the yard OF the County Jail
1T White Plains, Westchester county, yesterday SUI
Tered the extreme penalty OF the law. And although
Justice In this instance has been signally tardy,
owing to the too numerous facilities afforded by our
judiciary as at present constituted, where
BY arch criminals often evade the consequences
Of their acts the righteous retribution which has
ct last overtaken the Sleepy Hollow murderer IS
regarded with satisfaction by that entire commu.
NIFTY whose moral Obligations he ignored throughout
his lifetime and whose peaceful law-abiding ten
denotes ne ruthessly violated and proianed.
The career OF the man who has forfeited his life
10 outraged law reveals nature unusually de-
PRAYED. Having been brought up In strictly agri-
cultural district or tue county named, his educa-
tional advantages appear to have been somewhat
cfrcumscriDed; although his rather, being
q farmer in comfortable circumstances, did
not altogether neglect the instruction Of
his sons. some Of whom have proved successful
business men and worthy members OF society. Ma.
turally possessing low order of intellect and pre-
dominating development OF animal instincts, Buck
the schoolroom for the congenIal pleasures Of
hunting, fishing and otner kindred sports. owing
70 his depraved tastes he constantly thrown into
the CompaniOnshlp of others equally dissoute as
himself 30 that ere he arrived at mans estate he
had IN addition TO his other vices contracted habits
Of ntoxlcaiion, and was generally considered one
OF the most worthless characters in the neighbOr.
hood. His INDECENT, dsobedient and reckless course
Of life was
A CONSTANT SOURCE OF GRIEF
TO his pious mother, who, when speaking OF him,
would call HIM ner "errlng son. adding that "he
had caused her more bitter anxiety and trouble
than all the rest Of her children" He was man
without any apparent aim or ambition IN life.
Licentiousness and liquor were his delight, and he
vas regarded as a mortal enemy to female purity.
In respect to the latter TRAIT even during his mar
ried life, Bucknoups gross prOcviucs
were perpetual source Of terror TO those
matrons among his, neighbors who had
daughters growing up around them; and
1t Is a notorious fact that on one occasion the
mother OF young woman living in the neighbor-
hOOd-perhaps within a few hundred yards OF Buck
hOut-armed herself with loaded shotgun and
watched with determined persistency the door OF
his house night and day for whole week, during
which time
THE COwARDLY sEDUCER
remained secreted not daring to face the vengeance
Of outraged maternity.
In an evil hour for himself and for ner who had
trustingiy conHded to him her earthly happiness, he
married Miss Louisa Cook, an estimabe young lady,
daughter OF wealthy and respectable resident Of
the town Of Ussining. After his marriage Buck
bout boarded with OF his brothers at sing Sing
but his corrupt nature In whose guilty atmosphere
no honorable thought could exist, caused him TO
become jealous Of that brother though, 1t is gener-
Is. however, that revenge and murder were then in
Buckhout's heart, and II his brother had not taken
himself out OF the way he would have shot him.
From that time forward 1t is said by those who
knew HIM best that murder ranKed in his bosom
and al the time the triple tragedy took place, If
Buckhout could have enticed his brother to his
house with the Rendas, he would have slain him
with the rest Of his Victims BY the aid OF his wifes
relatives farm was subsequently purchased In the
romantic neighborhood of Sleepy Hollow Here,
surrounded by the tranquil charms OF
A LOVELY LANDSCAPE
one beauties OF winch have been delineated in the
pages OF our national literature by Washington
irvingl the hearty good wishes ana The friendly co.
operation OF Tue numerous farmers whose comfort
aple cottages dot tile hiisIdcs ana valleys Impress
ing the pehocer with IDEAS OF simplicity, thrift aud
rcp0se, 1t seemed as though no recurrence OF do.
nestle trouble would cloud the sunshine Of their
newly married existence. Ere long, however, the
storm OF Buckbouts vile passions again arose. and he
Telapscd INTO ms lorner habits Of dissipation, 10
JnhdeIy. While the farm renamed neglected and
unprOductive, and While the almost heart broken
vile
CRoucHED AROUND HER LONELY PRESIDE,
BucknouJ continued his carousals, often abSenting
himself Tor several consecutive days and nights,
only to return home after proracted debaucn
either to natreat his victim or shock her sensitive
nature with foul charges OF INCONSISTENCY.
Among buck0ut'S neighbOrS was Alfred Kendall,
an Engilshman, 0i unblemshed reputation, VINO did
business as a wine Importer and insurance broker
IN Pine street, New York. AS the farm owned by
Mr. ndall Joined the property Of Bucknout, the
members Of both families had always been on the
most friendly terms with eacn other Buckhout and
his wire were on all occasions welcomed 10 the
house OF MIR. Kendall, VINO had often aided the ior-
mer by his purse, as well as his counsel In business
matters. Between Buckhout ana Charles Kendall,
SOD OF the murdered man, friendly Intimacy
had also existed for years, and In times past they
and other rural pastImes. ON December rs. 1869,
Bucknout and his vile dined with the Kendall
family, and in the evening
GAME OF CARDS
was played, during wncn Bucknout became un.
usually mOrose on ascerLaning that his VIE and
Charles Kendall had, In tho game, pracLlsed some
sieignt OF hand which resulted III his defeat After
wnhe, however Buckhout pretended TO regain
hrs cheerluness, and on leaving Tor home re.
d, quested tnat MIR. Kendall, MS son and
Youngest daughter should , share his MS hos
When the morning OF that Iaial day arrived the
daughter pleaded some excuse and abandoned the
idea OF visiting while her atner ana brother set out
for the dwelling Of Buckhout which place tney were
observed by some OF the neghpurs 10 en'er ABOUT
nali-pa ten A. M. Had they known tnat tneir
host, with fell design, had early on That morning
discharged the barrels of his gun that no might re-
load with larger sized shot. before placing the
newly PINNED weapon BEHIND convenient uoor'
they would doubtless have shrunk from Inc invita-
ton 10 what proved
FEAST OF BLOOD.
On entering, the guests found Buckhout ana MS
wife alone IN the house, and after cordial greeting
The treacherous host invited his two friends INTO tne
sitting apartment, while his vile renamed IN the
Kitchen Dusied with domestic duties. Having
poured out glass OF cider each for the unsuspecl-
Ing iatber and son, BucKhout, without utterng o
disappeared
ADJOINING apartment what followed may best be
gieaned from the eloquent and impressive exordlum
vi MT. Henry l.. Clinton In summing up the case on
Tue part OF the prosecution
Ine scene OF the LIST OF January, 1870, presented
80 lalthlully by the evidence" said MIR. CLINTON,
peseaIs description. on toe morning OF that day
Anaeu Kendall was the honored mead OF q most IN
sG,iesang anu promising family, who looked up "a
NH, WIN reverence, anecuon ami devotion. He, a
natIVe VI Orelgn land, bred 10 the nrnieSslOu OF