Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1895-07-08

counteract ths external effects OF more
deadly one, so completely battling two
physicians of acknowledged skill and re-
specta bility called in for consultation
THAI they were not only unsusplclous dur
ing the victims illness, but testified in
the prisoners behalf at his trial, and but
for the slips which a criminal inevitably
makes after the most careful execution
of deeply-laid plot DIR. Buchanan would
BIO free today.
In the Last Hours.
Between the death cell which DIR. Blu
chanan occupied last night and the exc
cution room there is a space of but three
feet, separated by heavy wood and iron
door. From this door to the death chair
IS FIVE feet more, and as Buchanan sat
on the edge of the iron cot in his shirt
sleeves he could hear the guards arrang-
ing the room and ELECTRICIAN Davis get
ting his wires ready. This made him
nervous and he asked the guards whether
they had heard anything from the attor-
ney general. AS the night guards were
still on duty they could give him no IN
formation, so he paced up and down the
cell until after $50 o'clock chewing a
cigar and talking to himself occasionally.
His nervousness Increased as the minutes
went by until at last Warden Sage en-
tered the death house.
It was 11:14 when the witnesses were
called to the execution chamber All
was then ready and Electrician Davis
was at the switchboard. In closed box
was the convict who upon signal was to
turn the switch. When the party was
seated the electrician put bank of in
candescent lamps on the chair and sent
the current through them. There were
114O volts on the bank and when they
were switched off again the warden and
two Guards appeared at the door with
DR.. Buchanan. He walked in without
word and took his seat. In about
thirty seconds he was strapped and IN
forty seconds was pronounced dead.
The voltage of 1740 was kept on for
four seconds and then reduced to 40
volts, which was kept on for thirty sec
onds more. It was the quickest and
most successful execution ever seen at
this prison.
Astorney-GeneraPs Opinion.
Attorney General Hancock's opinion
said in substance that, as the court of APP
peals decided when the first attempt to se-
cure writ of habeas corpus was made
that there was no stay, there is none now
and the execution might take place.
Warden Sage received the following tele~
gram from Buchanan's attorneys in New
York city:
Opinion attorney general misleading and
misstates facts as to appeal. Buchanan's
case is in the Supreme court OF the United
authority is stayed. You must choose be-
tween supposed duty to the state and obedi-
ence to the supreme laws of our country.
ARTHUR G. BUTTS.
GEORGE w. GIBBONS.
Mrs. Buchanan arrived on the train
reaching here at 1870 and was taken to
the residence of the pastor Of the Pres
byterian church. Warden Sage sent her
word that she could not see the prisoner,
and at the time she arrived they were al
ready preparing him for the electric chair.
Wife's Last Piteous Appeal
Poughkeepsie, N. Y, July 1. = Mrs.
Buchanan, wife of the condemned MUIR
derer made an unsuccessful effort to in
duce Gov. Morton to commute her hus>
bands sentence to life imprisonment at 6
O'Clock this morning The woman sank
on her knees before the governor and
pleaded for her husbands life, though her
grief almost prevented her from speaking.
Gov. Morton was plainly overcome by the
womans pleading and tears stood in his
eyes as he lifted her to her feet and told
her that he could not grant her request.
Washington, d. c., July Up to the
nour of DR.. Buchanan's electrocution no
appeal had been filed in the United States
Supreme court. The court officials are of
the opinion that the electrocution settles
all legal complications and there can be no
further action In the form Of collecting
damages from the state of New York, as
has been suggested.