New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-02-17
THE GALLOWS IN WESTCHES1ER'
END OF THE SLEEPY HOLLOW TRAGEDY-HANG-
ING OF BUCKHOUT AT WHITE PLAlNo'
hanged

END OF THE SLEEPY HOLLOW TRAGEDf-hAE'"
ING OF BUCKHOUT AT WHITE PLAiNo'
Isaac Van Wart BuCkhOut was hanged NJ
White Plains westchester County yesterday, with III
the dreadful formalities which the law directs. b"
houts crime is still familiar, not only TO the Peop'e -
Weschester Countrywide scene Of the tragedy-Du' W ~
newspaper readers in the state, and the horrioe Dru'
and vlndctiveness OF the double murder sent shuuu
over the country, which is not yet forgotten eonvc
ton secured only after three long ana expensive
trials two jures having disagreed.
The murder committed in sleepy Hollow, west
chester County, village associated with the most ro
mantle memories II here that Buckhout llved III "
small cottage the upper Sing Sing road Han mic
from the home Of Buckhout and his wife was the resi-
dence Of Alfred Kendall and his family. ON christmas
Day, 1862 Buckhout invited the Kendall family, WIN
whom he was on terms OF intimacy, spend the coming
New Years with himself and wife. Inc invita-
ton accepted, and the fatal day tne
visit was made. While old Mr.. Kendall and Cbarhe
Kendall, young man OF %, were cOnversing ID thest
ting room, BuckhOu stole IN behind them with shoe-
gun and without word OF warning aimed at them ana
fred killing the old gentleman instantly. and tearing
out the left eye OF the The murderer then rshed
into the kitchen frenzy OF and beat his VIE 10
death with the stock OF his gun. Bnckhout gave hsch
up and pacedin JAIL where, after chloroforn test
had been applied TO determine whether he was insane
he confessed his guilt The assigned for the com
pretended to believe that his wife, to whom he was clan
destnely married and who was known as an aInaoe
and nofensive woman had been guilty oil improper III
timacy with young Kendall This suspicion INDUCED IN
and kept alive by liquor, resulted In the gs'y Tragedy
Buckhou was first tIied in Aprl, 1870, when the jury
failed to agree. In April OF the following year 'ne sec
ond trial had the result strong was the evidence
of insanity considered by OF the jury. In July,
however OF the year, 19i lac was placed on trial
for the third and last time. The insanity question naa
been thoroughly tested, and conclusive evidence estao
li-hed the fact that he was sane He was accoruhe!
sentenced TO be hanged the lst day OF September io
lowing On the very day when the sentence was to have
been carried out order from Justice Pratt stay ca Tue
execution The again argued but IN Vah' ana
he again sentenced
purhc the last two weeks the. condemned man was
constantly attended by his spiritual advisersthe heN'
Messr, C;nibert Of the Washington Irving Memorial
Church. aud Van rkecck Of the Episcopal Chnrch IN
White Plains. His attitude In regard to the future I'VE
indicated thorough pcnrcuce and resignation MI van
Keeck remarked yesterday, that he was convinced
that Buckhont died the faith, forgving all and FOR
given by ALL" Yesterday morning the iail-yard at
White Plains presented the usual gloomy aspect the
scahold looming up at one side 10 an unusual night
WHILE with singular Lack 0f Proprety, not even poard
was raised the hdeOus spectacle. The weight was
in plain sight rcathcrbed being arranged to deaden ITS
sion ~ II fell with queer sort OF decacy, which
none but shprifs can understand the AK which was 10
sever the rope tucked out OF sight under corner OF
the feather mattress from which syly drawn ont
Al the proper moment The yard was filled by crowd OF
officials and curious spectators who smoked cigars ana
clapped their hands together to keep warm Arouh"
| the Court-Hou the sd Regiment \. q. :.
\ Y consisting OF 800 men, underl con-
| m,nd of Col. Fay, stationed a. guard
An efficient force Of police officers eaehed the Sherlh
Office at o'clock and took charge OF all the entrances 10
the la yard Enclosure prepared for the execution AZ
early hour IA the morning stangerr p' gan 20 @
veyancc; hut only the clergy In attendance upon the
prisoner the reporters. and those called upon to assist
rested by some persons from the sleepy Hollow region
that they offered 80 for sherMs ORDER OF admission
Bcujann Bpckh9n br3shsr o OF ths prisoner and Mr..
| Albany without any satisfactory assurance
from the Governor or hope bey 3nd promise OF ngcs
ion in the matter in time TO be teegraphed TO Whte
Plains, Mr. Buckhout immediately proceeded 10 the ail
to mis- brother hi, failure and to bid him fare
| veil In the meantime the inside the cell Of the
| doomed wa solemn in the extreme. The Rey; MI
| IOdgsOn were administering what consolation they
could to The unaP prisoner Bucknont AT Oh the ROOT
a, thr countenauces of those who looked curiousy In
! glanced np aud smiled ut those outside the cell he
c9gea an asqnPG am o ri. @ @s Sa' IGusd ha
| clergyman recitcd feclingly the words,
- Sh IN, I' to no II" . 'Tos. riIg~
Buckhout with that strange smile which. were it not
S 10 cen MH"% aud caIny said 80 M G
| bert. could lie down this bed now and say Thy
/
one. forgive al - hope 10 be forgiven The hymn,
Nearer my God Ia Thee, was then sulg' scarcely had
| the words died when the unfortunate man
brother entered the cell with dispatch which had just
received the Governor refusing 10 Interfere.
Mr. Buckhout silently cIsped his condemned brother
hand and down on the bed by his side All waited
for ihr dreaded news BuckhOut looked inqurngly at
his brother who with detected head, ana with his
laud over his ewes. The latter glanced up answered
The look by shake OF the head and burst into tears.
Buckhuu laid his hand cdrcssngy over the shoulder OF
his wecping brother and snOOthed his hair - he SAID.
| ~oothincly. Never mind Ben, We won't he parted
| long" The brothers then separated, and soon after
the sheriff aud his deputies entered the cell Buckhout
was informed that his last hOur was come and 1T once
up submitted To lie pnlONc. Inc dcdtl-War-
| rant was then read Ia him. The moose was placed
around his neck. and the procession To the scaifod
formed. the sheriff leading followed by the condemned
Having taken ms position under the drop, which
lac his accord the clergyman read the solemn
-cI vice, the doomed man listening ntcntly lie even
smiled as babe the sheriff. tine cleTgymen, and all his
friends goOd-by He displayed the most extraordinary
nerve. showing symptoms of fear, aud Strengthened
himself M 10 hs ill hight, nearly six feet while the
ring the rope dangea against his cheek and the
There could have been present who did not pity
the condemned man as he met his death so cooly. AT
last the black cap was pulled over his face, and the
iron fastened 10 the moose 10y Deputy Sheriff
Ford, whose agitation upon performing the duty was
visible to all Sheriff Brundage, SEEING the with one
hand severed the cord which held the weight in position
and the body OF BuckhOut the next Instant IN tn"
air. Consciousness must have been lost Instantly there
scarcely struggle. In eleven minutes the pulse
was impcrceptihe and In fourteen and one-alf minutes
the had ceased To beat At II O'Clock the ply -lcans
pronounced life extinct and the body was cut down and
placed III u coffin. which bore inscription whatever
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