The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1895-07-05

/ The Murderer Spent a Fortune to Escape
to No Avail-The Doomed Mans wife
Made a Final But Vain Appeal 10 Gov
sFnor Merton.
SING SING, N. Y, July Mrs. Buch-
anan, first and also third wife Of DR..
Robert Buchanan, the condemned wife
murderer, went to Poughkeepsie last
night to make a last appeal for her
husband. At 6 o'clock this morning
she went to Rhinecliff, Governor Nor
tons home, and, securing entrance to
his private Office, sank on her knees
before the governor and pleaded for
her husbands life, though her grief
almost prevented her from speaking.
Governor Morton was plainly over
come by the wOman's pleading and
tears, and tears stood in his eyes as he
lifted hertO her feet and told her that
he could not grant her request.
News Of this refusal to Interfere
further was at once telegraphed here
and Warden Sage decided that nothing
was left to him but to carry out the
laws sentence, the attorney general
having also decided that it would be
right to proceed. Preparations we're
at once made for carrying out the
death sentence.
0Beneath the death cell which Buch-
anan occupied and the room of death
there is but a space of three feet, sep
arated 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 his iron cot in his shirt
sleeves he could hear the guards ar
ranging the room and Electrician Davis
getting his wires ready. This made
him nervous, and he asked the guards
whether they bad heard anything from
the attorney general. AS the night
guards we're still on duty they could
give him no information, and so be
paced up and down the cell until after
$50 O'Clock chewing a cigar and talk
ing to himself occasionally. His ner-
vOusness increased as the minutes went
by until Warden Sage entered with the
death warBant.
Mrs. Buchanan arrived on the train
reaching here at 1870 and was taken
to the residence of the pastor of the
Presbyterian church. Warden Sage
sent her word that she could not see
the prisoner, and at the time she arriv-
ed they were preparing him for the
electric chair.
1t was 11;14 when the witnesses were
called to the death chamber. All was
then ready and Electrician Davis was at
the switchboard. Close by in the death
cell was the convict who was to pay the
penalty.
When the witnesses we're seated
the electrician sent the current through
the lights on the chair. There we're
LAO volts on the bank and when they
we're switched off the warden and two
guards appeared at the door with DR..
Buchanan. He walked ia and without
word took his seat.
In about 30 seconds Buchanan was
strapped. Then the current was turn
ed on and in 10 seconds he was pro-
nOunced dead. The voltage of LAO
was kept Oh for four seconds and then
reduced to 40 volts which was kept on
for 30 seconds more. 1t was the quick
est and most successful electricison
ever known at the prison.
Never before, in the history of Grim
inal procedure in this country, was
there suchEa determined and untiring
legal fight made to save or prolOng the
life Of condemned murderer as that
in behalf of DR.. Buchanan.
He had practically been on the
threshold of the death chair no less
than three times when respited. On
two of these occasions his life was pro-
longed by the clemency of Governor
Morton, who granted a respite of one
week at the earnest solicitation Of the
prisoners wife and the other was oW-
ing to legal technicalities, among others
an appeal to the United States Supreme
court and the British ambassador, Sir
Julian Pauncefote.