Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-07-03
DIR. Bucbannn md His Wives.

One of the most affecting incidents con-
nectsi with the last hours OF Dr.
Buchanan was the final visit OF the DOC
tors wife TO Governor Morton TO beg
him to commute the death sentence into
lfe-imprisonment. She arrived at the
Governors country residence at O'Clock
A. NJ, and he got up out Of b7d 70 see her.
She threw herself at his feet and begged
hard-oh so hard-for mercy for her nus
band But in vain. The Governor knew
his duty, and dsagreeable as 1t was, he
did IT, He let the law, too long delayed
anyhow take it's course. and Buchanan
on Monday received the punishment that
he so richly deserved.
This poor woman, who tried so hard
to save Buchanans life, had been the
victim Of one of that villains worst
crimes. He made charges against her.
and divorced her In order to marry
another-a rich, old, depraved woman,
whom he afterwards murdered. After he
had killed his second wife and stepped
into the possession Of her fortune tshe
having made will in his favor he
his widow.
Buchanan was tried in the spring OF
1893 on the charge of poisoning his second
wife, and the jury found verdict OF
guilty of murder in the first degree. The
trial was long and tedious one, and the
expert evidence was confusing and con-
fiicting, and one of the jurors in the case
became delrious Upon tbs and other
grounds the counsel for the prisoner
sought to set aside the verdict; but after
much delay the Court Of Appeals sus-
tanned the conviction. Then came
respite, technicalty about resentencing.
attempts to get the United States courts
20 interfere, appeal to the United States
Supreme Court. and finally an appeal to
the British Minister on the ground That
Buchanan was British subject. All in
vain. He got his deserts at last.
Buchanan was born of Scotch parents
in Edinburgh, In 1862, and began business
as a drug clerk. Later he was graduated
as a doctor of medicine. His first wire
was Helen j. Patterson, young woman
Of good family of Halifax His seconh
was q courtesan of Newark. y. j., named
Annie Sutherland, and she il was whom
he murdered for her fortune, estimated
at about $4,000. Every cent of this sum
which came into Buchanans hands he
either spent in dehauchery before he was
arrested or in lawyers fees and expenses
of experts, etc. after he fell into the
meshes OF the law. He leaves his widow
without a cent. Governor Morton, how
ever. has promised to assist her. II pos
sible. Her devotion to the miserable
wretch who has just been executed has
excited general sympathy.
The authorities at Sing Sing have
brought the electrocution process to such
n degree of perfection that buchanan was
killed painlessly and expedltiously. He
was dead in a minute or two after he
took his seat in the death-chair. No
death by hanging could have been so easy,
and the New York public now seems
well content to let the electrocution-law
/ stand, and in time we doubt not that
| II will be adopted in most other States.
| IL would not be convenient TO put electro
cution into use in country districts. but
| il is easy enough to take a condemned
man to the capital Of the State, or TO
/ any other city designated, there to have
/ his death effected in the electrical-chair.
| DR.. Buchanan was convicted in the city
of New York. but was taken 10 Sing Sing
for execution. One thing, however. may
! be said against the death-chair. and this
is that men such az buchanan was do not
deserve to have death made comfortable
! for them.