Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1895-07-02
IN THE DEATH CHAIR
Dr. Buchanan Paid the Penalty For
Numbering His Wife.
Mrs. Buchanan Piteously Ap.
peals to the Dead.
\ Brief History Of the Famous Legal Battle to
Eyads Execution.


was put to death by electricity at li:e2
o'clock yesterday forenoon for poisoning
his wife.
The condemned man had his eyes closed
when he entered the execution room, and
did not again open them. After he had
taken his seat in the chair, he sat motion
less, and appeared almost unconscious OF
what was going on about him. The straps
were adjusted by the guards, and Electri-
clan Davis took final survey of the ar
rangements.
Two contacts were made. but all the
physicians and electricians claim that the
second contact was merely precautionary
and that the victim died instantly. There
were no burns and no unpleasant features
and every physician present declared the
execution a success. The body has been
claimed by friends, and the case Will go
down into history as cause ceiebre.
Buchanan's Fight For Life.
Some three years ago young physician
named Buchanan poisoned his wife. dis
reputable but we'll woman, in order to
possess himself of her property and to take
a new spouse. A year later he was con-
victed on the charge, after a remarkably
long and sharply contested trial, full OF
the legal, medical and chemical intricactes.
His lawyers took an appeal to the highest
court in the state, and 1t, after months OF
delay, affirmed the verdict.
The murderer was duly sentenced, and
for time he seemed to submit to his fate;
but az the day of execution approached, q
lawyer, who Is said to be seeking noto-
riety, undertook to save him from death.
As every recourse to the state courts was
exhausted, no applied to the federal tri-
bunals In fashion familiar In such pro-
oedure, but without success. As Bu-
chapan was by birth Nova Scotian, tho
lawyer then invoked the aid Of tho British
embassy. When Sir Julian Pauncefote
refused him, he turned forthwith to the
Masons, of which fraternity the murderer
was member.
Baked in this quarter, he sought to Sc
cure statements from medical men cast
ing doubts upon the expert testimony that
had contributed much to Buchanans con-
viction. Failing in this venture yet again,
when tho day Of execution was close at
hand he finally pretended that he had re-
nounced all hope of the salvation of his
client, and, aided by the murderer fam
lily, besought the governor to grant Bu-
chanan a weeks respite, during which he
might prepare himself for death.
AS any humane magistrate would do,
Mr. Morton complied, and the execution
was accordingly deferred until May l..
No sooner, however, was the reprieve
granted than Buchanan and his lawyer
set about the devising of new pretexts for
application to the federal courts, and they
so far succeeded that yet another post
ponement of the execution become neces
sary until the supreme court could give
fresh decision upon request for its inter.
vention. This failed also, and DR.. Blu.
chanan was resentenced, and finally ex-
plated his crime in the electrical chair.
The question of Buchanan's guilt en-
tered little into these devious proceedings.
The obstacles raised have been mere legal
subterfuges designed to prolong the exist
ence of condemned man, in the hope
that by hook or by crook his sentence
might be commuted to Imprisonment for
life.
Pitiful Scene.
NEW YORK, July 2.-The body of DIR
Robert w. Buchanan was brought to this
city by Undertaken Huhus. Mr.. Huhu:
placed the body in a casket covered witt
black cloth and silver handles. A large
crowd were on hand, and the undertake.
allowed everybody VINO SO ueslreu TO pas
through his establishment and view tn,
remains.
At 10 o'clock Mrs. Buchanan arrived
She slipped through the crowd unobserve'
and passed into the room. When sh
reached the side of the casket she leaned
forward, and in a most pitiful manne
said: "Oh, Rob; dear Rob; speak to me
Rob, Rob, open your eyes; look at me
Rob-"
Leaning forward, the poor woman kisse
the face Of her dead husband again an
again, repeatedly calling upon him t
speak to her. Every moment she gre'
wilder and more hysterical, until at las
unable to control herself she almo:
shrieked in anguish: "Oh, Rob; love 20
so; speak to me, dear Rob"
After some difficulty, her friends su
oecded in getting the unfortunate woma
out of the room. She was taken to al
other room, where every effort was mat
by her friends to soothe and quiet her.
Arrangements have not yet been mac
for the funeral. but the burial will pro
ably be in Greenwood.