The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-07-01
BUCHANAN'S END.
The Convicted Wife Poisoner
Dies in the Electric
Chair at Sing Sing.
VAIN PLEAS OF HIS WIFE
Implores Nortons Intercession on
Her Knees-Hope to the
Last Gasp.
VAIN PLEAS OF HIS WIFE

SING SING, July 1, 1Ss5.-Dr. Robert W.
Buchanan was executed by electricity at
1122 O'Clock this forenoon. in the State
Prison.
when DR.. Robert w. Buchanan, the
wife poisoner, awoke this morning, after
a few hours of troubled sleep. he real
lied for the first time that the day OF
his doom had arrived Seven times IN
his remarkable fight for life he had
been as near the hour set for his execu-
ton as he was last night, but always
some act of executive clemeucy or
some new legal manoeuver interviewed
to grant him a new respite. Last night
no such good news reached but he kL>Nv
before he retired that his fate was stu
in doubt. A faint hope still remained
that the latest effort of his lawyers to
save him from the fatal chair might in
the opinion of the Attorney-General en-
title him to another chance to have his
case reviewed by the courts.
But while the doomed man slept the
following message came to Warden Sage
and made his duty plain
Syracuse. N. Y, June 3O 1895.
To Warden o. v. Sage. Sing Sing Prison.
N. "
I do not think the last proceedings
operate as stay. Have no further adj
vice to give.
T. E. HANCOCK.
Attorney-General.
| This message was received in response
| to the following sent ty the Warden
last night
Sing Sing, June 80 1895.
To Hon. T. E. Hancock. Attorney-Gen-
eral, Syracuse, N. "
Deputy Hasbrouck refuses to give
written opinion. Do the late proceed
| ings of Buchanan's lawyers act as a
stay or shall I proceed with execution?
| AS these proceedings differ somewhat
| from the former proceedings I decline
to act without direction from you,
either written or telegraphed
| 1t is your function to decide this, not
| mine.
| Answer at once, as execution is set for
| tomorrow, Monday, morning.
| o. v. SAGE,
| Agent and Warden.
| The Warden did not see the Attorney
| Generals opinion until he read it in the
New York papers this morning, but the
brief message given above was all the
! authority he required. He said, in fact
that it was more satisfactory to him thar
| the opinion itself, and thatifseftsno dauhi
! in his mind as to his duty to carry out
| the sentence of the Court of Appeals
| The Warden was at his desk soon
| after seven o'clock, and at once issued
| the usual orders in regard to the details
| of the execution The prisoners moi
employed in the shops were ordered tc
| be kept in their cells until twelve
o'clock, and the final preparations fol
| the execution were begun under the di.
rection of State Electrician E. F. Davis
who arrived from New York ON the firss
train this morning.
HIS LAST NIGHT.
DR.. Buchanan did not retire until two
o'clock this morning and then did mo-
remove his clothes, but he apparently
| rested somewhat better than the nigh
before and seemed refreshed and more
| cheerful than yesterday when he awok,
at $50 this morning. AT 7:30 he called
for bowl of milk, which has usually
constituted his breakfast. He saw nC
one but his guards until an hour later
when Warden Sage entered with the
condemned mans spiritual adviser TIL,
Warden informed Buchanan of the tenor
4
notified him that In accordance will
the opinion of the law department @
| the State 1t would be necessary to carry
! out the sentence of the court. Buchanan
the news and expressed no surprise
| Warden Sage told him of the efforts tina
reprievea or communication Of the sentence
from Governor Morton, but expressed
the, opinion that the chances were
| slight for a favorable result of her en-
4 trnat1nS iR hal
not much chance of that"
He was calm in spite of his full ap
preeiaton @ &c jdb Of the sit1ation ooa but did no
and the Wardeilg soon withdrew, leaving
| the condemned man with his m3nistel
80 - LAST HOPE GONE.
| The Warden. had scarcely reached hi:
office before he received the following
message from : Mrs: pn,gao13s9 B9chana@;- "a ~,
To. Warden Sage. Sing Sing, N. Y.
| All pleadings vain. Governor cannot
possibly ps interfere.
This was not communicated to Bu
chanan, the Warden deeming 1T "a kind
lsness to leave him to the last with what
jmay have entertained.
The Warden also received the follow
Ling from supposed crank who has sew
lregardins Buchanan's case:-
New York, July 1, 1895.
I have papers and two affidavits which
If submitted to you by me personally, g
temporary stay will be granted in the
| case Of Buchanan. sentenced to die dur.
stay until I reach Sing Sing with my
- p(Signed) 80 80 WIN. DANIELS.
Mrs Buchanan returned from Rhine,
| cliff at 1890 O'Clock and was met at the
depot by an officer from the Eprison. She
wished to be driven to the prison, but ii
l 1ry,s h0ct