Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1895-05-01
FOR THE THIRD Time
Buchanan Cheats the ElectrocutiOn
Chair Out OF u Victim.
Life Is Probably Safe For Six
Months Longer.
IN Impressive Scene Il slag Sing Prison
when lhs News Was Received.

1'ALBASY. May deputy Attorney Gen.
eral Hasbrouck has notified Warden Sage
Of Sing Sing prison to defer DR.. Buchsn-
on's electrocution until the appeal claimed
10 have boon taken to the United States
supreme court shall have been dismissed
or determined.
IL was few minutes after last night
when the telephone In the warden's ONCE
rang and Stenographer Yorke. who was at
the other end In the attorney generars
Office at Albany told Warden Sage the
opinion OF the attorney general that the
execution had better be delayed.
There was picturesque group about
the telephone-reporters officials OF the
prison, the lawyers Of the convicted man.
and, leaning In tho doorway between the
office and parlor, Mrs. Buchanan, her
eyes red with weeping-when tho warden
announced the message.
Lawyer Gibbons and his conferree rushed
over and shook hands with Mrs. Bu-
chanan. while the tears streamed down
her cheeks, and Mrs. Coleman, her COM
panion, hugged her rapturously Warden
Sage went Immediately to the death house
and had hardly halted before the door Of
the condemned mans cell when Buchanan
said: ANY news, Mr.. Sagep" and then
covered back In the farther corner Of the
cell, as II he were
Fearful OF the Answer.
"I have news," said the warden, "and
you will not be execu ted tomorrow" Tho
condemned man sprang to his feet, came
to the front of the cell and said. "Is that
true, Mr.. WardenY "Yes; and l will
send your wife to you."
In a few minutes Mrs. Buchanan ap-
peared at the door and strange scene oc-
CURED, as she pressed her face to the wire
screen and repeated to her husband the
news the warden had brought. 1t seemed
difficult for Buchanan to believe the story
Of his good luck, for he had told the
guards yesterday that he had made up his
mind to die.
to her husband, and whom she left him at
0 oo'clock she had him buoyed up with the
hope that he would finally escape. His
counsel also bade him hope that they
would DO ultimately successful. Mrs.
Buchanan. Lawyer Roche and Mrs. Cole
man left for New York at 9:40.
Means Six Months' Respite.
Mrs. Buchanan was tired out, for she
had worked all day In New York to OBJ
tain q stay Of proceedings or reprisve for
her husband, In case tho decision Of the
attorney general was not favorable. She
called upon Governor Morton before she
loft the city, and. while not securing an
audience with him, left letter In which
she asked for further lenienoy and reoited
his good qualities ~ q husband. The
general opinion here at the prison and Of
the lawyers for DIR. Buchanan Is that 1t
will be at least six months before the
execution can possibly take place.
It IL to be noted that DIR. Buchanan has
cheated the executioner more times than
any other criminal condemned under the
electrocution act. Three times has the
date been set and as mdny times has the
law been evaded.
At $3.50 last night. Mr.. Yorkc, who was
the messenger sent to Albany by the
warden, arrived at the prison with the
original opinion OF the attorney general.
Warden Sage had made the most elaborr se
preparations for the execution. A special
detail of men had been selected to watch
the dynamos and electric wires during the
night and extra precautions had been
taken in the death house. Even tho cleo
trical chair was guarded. A few of the
witnesses arrived yesterday afternoon, but
returned home TODAY