New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-06-07
DID HE POISON HIS WIFE?
DIR. r. w. BUCHANAN ARRESTED.
DISTRICr-ATTORNEY NICOLL ACTS on THE hE-
SUITS OF AN AUTOPsY-sTORY OF
TIE wOMAN's DEATH.


TIE woM>N's DEATH.
The results Of nm autopsy made on the body OF
Mrs. Anna Buchanan imIellcd DiS'rlct-a'-
torney Ncoll, Yesterday. TO have her husband Ut.
Robert W. Buchanan. arrested on the charge OF
poisoning her. The woman died on April 23' at
their home, No. 267 West Eeventhst Her III
ness began the previous day On that morn
ing DR.. Burnett G. Mcintyre, Of No 22l West
Fourth-st was called in to attend her. She grew
worse. and at D. m Dr. Henry p. Watson. OF
No. 2s4 West Fourth-st., was also summoned
The patient was In deep coma She could not
be arouaed and az 3 D. H. on the next day she
died
The two physicians were convinced that the
woman died from cerebral hemorrhagc, and a
death certificate was issued In accordance WIN
this belief The body was buried in Greenwood
Cemetery week later Dr. Buchanan went 70
Halifax. ~ s., where he remarked his frst wi'e'
from whom he had been divorced. In short
while James NJ Smith, Of Newark, who had known
the dead woman, charged DIR. Buchahah WIN
poisoning her lie told Of conversations WIN
the husband. in which he, DR.. Buchanan inti-
mated that hc had killed his wife
Other evidence tending TO cast suspicion on til'
husband was found W. ). Dorla, also OF New
erik, recounted talks he had had with Dr- bh-
chanan. The physician had at one tlme threat
cncd to get rid Of his wife. After her dea"i he
declared 70 Doria that she died from IN accieh''
overdose of morphine Then he became frightened
and asked Doria whittier lie should lice =" escape
arrest. George F. Dale Of No. 81 EiShtl-ave..
had heard Buchanan threaten to dump his wife.
The dead woman was worth about S2''oOo ana
had made will in favor of her husband Richard
w. Macombcr. OF No 81 Eighth-ave, was Wit
ness to this document.
Thc two physicians were certain that the woman
died from cerebral hcmorrhagr, but DR.. Watson
admitted thot morphine and b~ladonna together
might have produced similar symptoms us
ct-Attorncy Nicoll was in doubt ior 'iinc as
t. what course 70 take, but on saturday hhhiy
decided TO have autopsy made lie accord
inrly sen, Assistant Di>trIct-Attorncy Osborne 70
obtain from Judge Lawrence, in the supreme
| Court. an order permitting the cxhuining of the
body Through Inspector Steers arrangements
were made 10 have the grave open at p m OH
Sunday
Mr. Nicoll chose Dr. II. p IOoinis, OF No. 80
W.st Thirty -fourth-st., and Professor Charles n
Dorcuus. Of No 80 East Twenty y-ninth-s'., TO per-
form the AUTOPSY. Drs. Watson and Mcintyre
were asked TO bt present also. but only Dr. Wat
son came Assistant District-Attorney Osborne
and the undertaken and his assistant were asn
1
| Frchler IL Selle. near the cemetery. There, Dr
Ioomi. made the autopsy. Professor Dorcrnus and
| Dr. Watson taking notes.
The body was in (, remarkable state OF prcscr
yatdon and there was no odor The brain was
removed first. n was perfectly solid and intact.
| When II was cut up in small sections, no clotS
OF blood were found in IT, The scientsts were
| therefore certain Ihot cerebral hrmorrhagc had
not caused death. The organs were removed ana
examined. Nothing to Indicate urnemia or any
other natural c-iure OF iicath was founi. Ihc
inference was that narcotic poison hal Deeh
administered. =,
secured n warrant for the arrest OF DR. Buchanan
| from Judge MARITIME. The District lttorney
swore on information and belief that the physcian
Ind poisoned his wife. Detectives Edward Arm
| strong and Arthur Carey had been watching the
| suspected man since Thursday. He had moved
| 70 n boarding house ~ observation-disclosures
spventh-st and the Western lOulcyard Arm
strong remained this house and afry
watched lower Broadway. near the olicc of 'harieS
| f. Dawson Buchanan's counsel
The warrant was given 10 Detectives jacob
| Won (;crichtcn and Robert Mcknight. They at
| once went toward Davison's office No. 40 Broad
WAY They met Carey near thai place, All
thre, finally came upon buchanan near tcdar-Sh
lie was with his lawyer The ph, ,slcIan was
| arrested He said not word. lie was taken
Ia Police Headquarters. To-day he will he ar
rai0ncd before Judge MARITIME In general Sessions
The case will be cent 10 the Grand jury when
tbc chemical analysis of the organs is finished
| This will take week.