Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1895-07-04
BUCHANAN Is DEAD.
THE LAW REFUSED TO PROTECT
THE GUILTY MAN LONGER.
Mrs Buchanan Pli AIDED for Her Husband
Until the Last-The Doomed Man Mot
Death Calmly and Braveiy-Elec-
trocution Robbie d of its Horrors.

Sing Sing, n. V, July 1.-When Dr. Rob-
ert w. Buchanan, the wife polsoner
awoke this morning after few hours
of troubled sleep, he realized for the first
time that the day of his doom had ar
rived.
Several times in his remarkable fight for
life he had been as near the hour set for
his execution as he was last night, but
always some act of executive clemency
or some new legal manoouvre interviewed
to enable him to obtain new respite
Last night no such good news reached
him, but as he knew before retiring that
his fate was still in doubt 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, cntitle him to another chance
to have his case reviewed by the courts
But while the doomed man slept the fol-
lowing message came to Warden Sage and
made his duty plain:
Syracuse n. Y, June so.
To Warden a. V. Sage Sing Sing Prison:
/ do not think the last proceeding oper-
ates as a stay. Have no further advice to
give. (Signed) l.. l.. Hancock.
Acknowledgement
This message left no doubt in the war
den's mind as to his duty to carry out
the sentence of the Court Of Appeals. The
warden soon after o'clock issued the
usual orders in regard to the details of
the execution.
buchanan did not retire until O'Clock
this morning ana then did not remove
his clothes. He apparently rested some
what better than the night before and
seemed refreshed, more cheerful than
yesterday. At 1880 he called for a bowl
of milk which has usually constituted his
breakfast. He had apparently prepared
his mind for the news and expressed no
surprise when told by the warden He
was calm in spite of his full appreciation
of the situation, but did not seem to wish
to prolong the interview, and the warden
Withdrew, leaving him with his minister
and his guards
When the warden reached his office he
received the following message from Mrs
Buchanan:
IAN pleadings vain. Governor cannot
possibly interfere.
(SigncD Annie Buchanan"
Mrs Buchanan returned from her visit
TO the governor at 1920 o'clock and was
met at the depot by an officer from the
prison. She wished to be driven to the
prison but it was thought best not to al
lOW lIlS, so she WAS driven to Mrs Sage s
private apartments
1t is understood that in her interview
with the governor, she pleaded with him
on her knees. The governor, who was
very much affected, told her that. as far
as any assistance he could render her he
would gladly do if. but that he could not
possibly prevent the law taking it's course
Nothing was heard from Buchanan's
counsel until a few minutes before the
gyDCIltiDn ~ l., "a
exhausted every means of further pro-
longing his life and given up the case. At
II 10 O'Clock, however, the following mes
sage was received by Warden Sage, signed
by Arthur c. Butts and George W. Glib
bons:
Opinion of attorney general misleading
and mistakes facts as to appeal. Buch-
anan's case is in the Supreme Court of the
United states and your authority is stay
ed. HoH must choose between supposed
duty to the State and obedience to the
supreme laws of our country.
No attention was paid to the message
which was simply protest and had no
force in law
In the meantime, the witnesses invite |
to the execution had been arriving on the
morning trains and preparations were
completed for the execution.
The electrodes were then prepared by
saturating them with saltwater and.
when everything was ready. the signal
was given and the condemned man was
usherod into the chamber.
II was Just 20 o'clock when the iron
door was swung open to admit him He
had not moro than half A dozen steps to
take from his cell to the chair He walk
cd iirmly but la his arm linked in that
of the prison chaplain Wells, who led
him to the chair. Behind them walked
the head keeper, Commoughtou. State
Detective Jackson, and several guards.
Buchanan's last act before entering the
death chamber was to shake hands with
Warden Sage and bid him goodbye
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 notion
less ana appeared almost unconscious Of
what was going on about him. The straps
We're adjusted by the guards and Electric
ian Davis took a final survey of the ar
engagements.
At :Y, exactly one minute after Buch-
anan entered the chamber. nod was
given by DIR. Gibbs, who ofiiCiated as time
keeper, and the electrician pressed the
button which was the signal to the un-
seen oXeCutioner to turn on the fatal cur
rent.
The body in the chair gave a sudden
convulsiVe movement which strained the
straps by which ii was bound and then
remained motionless The only outward
indications of the effect OF the current
were the heightened color of the face, due
to the rush of blood to the head, and a
slight burning of the right leg where 1t
was in contact with the electrode.
The current was applied at first at the
full intensity Of 17i0 volts and after sew
en- seconds was reduced to 400 volts, where
it remained for so seconds. when it was
turned Off.
The physicians Immediately sought for
evidences Of life and, after a hurried ex-
animation, announced that Buchanan was
not dead. They were able to detect a
slight pulsation of the heart.
At HEST Electrician Davis again gave
the signal and the current was turned or
at fun force, 1t was not reduced this
time, but was held at 17iO volts for 2,
seconds.
| At II :25 10 the current was again turned
off and this time the victim was pro.
nounced dead.
THE BUCHANAN AUTOPSY.
Showed That the Execution Was Success
] fnI Rau "a I,,a, Ia