The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-07-02

l SING NJ IL July l,-Dr,
Buchanan suffered tho death penalty
for wife murder here to-day, Governor
Morton refusing to interfere further in
his behalf.
1t was lI;l4 when the witnesses we're
called into the execution chamber. All
was then in readiness, and Electrician
Davis was at tue switchboard. When
the party was seated, tho electrician put
q bank Of lncondsscsnt light' on the
chair aud sent the current through
them, There we're l,7lO volts on tho
bank, and when they were switched of
again the warden and two guards ap.
peared at the door with DR.. Buchanan,
He walked in and took his seat. In
about thirty seconds he was strapped,
and in forty seconds hO was pronounced
dead, The voltage OF Lao was kept on
for four seconds and thea reduced 10
forty volts, which kept on for thirty
seconds more. 1t was the quickest and
most successful execution ever seen Of
this prison,
Mrs. Buchanan arrived on the train
reaching hero at 1880, and was taken
to the residence Of the pastor Of tho
Presbyterian church. Warden Sage
sent her word that abe could not SEQ tho
prisoner, as at the time she arrived
lhOY were already preparing him for
the electric char.
THE CRIME.
Seldom, il ever, before in the history
OF criminal procedure in this country
has there been such an uutiring legal
fight made to save or prolong the life Of
a condemned murderer as that which
was made on behalf OF DR.. Robert w,
buchanan, the convicted wife poisoneE.
Buchanan practically was on the TIRES.
hold OF the death cell no less than
three times since he was sentenced.
On two occasions his life was prolonged
by the clemency OF Governor Morton,
who granted q respite OF one week at
the earnest solicitation Of tho prisoners
wife, aud tho other respite owing to
legal tschnicalities, among others an
appeal TO the United Statessupreme
court and the British ambassador, Sir
Julian Pnuncetnte.
DR.. Robert w. Buchanan was born Of
Scotch parents on October II, 1862, and
began business as q drug clerk in Hall.
fax, y. S. When q little over twenty.
one years Of age he graduated from the
College OF PhyIicians and Surgeons in
Chicago. He returned TO Halifax and
married Miss Helen J. Patterson, a
young woman OF good family. Subss.
duently Buchanan, accompanied by his
wife, went to Edinburgh, Scotland, for
a course at that city's celebrated uni.
yorSity. The doctor and his family re.
turned to this country In 1887, and
settled down In New York City. Debts
accumulated and tho young physician,
having picked up ZONE undesirable
companions, began 10 drink.
In 1890 his wife. whom he accused Of
faithleBSuesS, separated from him leaY.
ing their child In HE charge. After
this separation, Buchanan met q woman
named Annie Sutherland, who had
kept a resort in Newark, and she be-
came infatuated with him. He secured
a divorce from his frat vito and mar.
ried the Sutherland woman. This Wo.
man, who was roputOd to be very
wealthy, made and signed q will In tho
doctors favor. Tho instrument was
witnessed by two Of B%uchanan's quon-
dam friends, Macomber and Davis. She
was old enough TO be the doctors moth.
er, and when they went to live Mt 2G7
West Eleventh street, New York, no
passed her oil as a wealthy widow who
insisted on being his houSskeOper.
THIS DEAD WIZ y THE NEW ONE.
Buchanan soon began INDUCING
heavily in drink and quarrols became
frequent On April %, 1892, his second
vile took sick suddenly. A doctor was
called In, and Buchanan told him his
vile had kidney trouble. A dentists
wife and a professional nurse who at.
tended the woman saw Buchanan nd.
minister two spoonsiul Of medicine to
the sick woman that evening. On tho
following evening, April %, Mrs. Buch.
anRn died, while Buchanan was absent
on q professional call. At the funeral
he laughed and ioked with those who
accompanied him to tho cemetery, and
told many people that tho dOad woman
had left him $4,000.
on the 10th Of May he secretly 70.
married his divorced wife at Windsor,
n, s. They went TO Now York and
lived ut the Hotel Hamilton under
assumed names. As tho facts leaked
out, Buchanan became frightened aud
spread tho report that tho deceased
woman was addicted to the morphine
habit. On June 5 tho body was diain.
tered and an autopsy hold. The fol.
lowing day BE- chanHn was arrested and
committed on a charge OF murder. lie
trial, which was Il very sensational ono,
was begun March 20. 1893. II coat the
county about $4,000. Experts we're
plttod against CNch other and no stone
was left unturned by the prosecution OF
defense In their preparations for u
modicocgal battle. Tho bost criminal
lawyera IN tbs city defended Buchanan.
Tho trial lasted six weeks and under the
strain ono Of tho jurymen, llaStinga NJ.
Paradise, became dOlirioua while tho
tyolvo wore celebrating ovor the yer.
dict, On April 70, having debated for
two days, tho jury returned u verdict Of
guilty.
TnE LAST HOPE.
buchanan wont to bod al 2 o'clock
ihi, morning, but did not takO oil his
clothes, aud rested very unOmily. lilo
wns given n now suit OF clothes, and his
ceil Was entirely roAtled last night, aud
oII those growsomo details evidently
added 10 his nervousness, which DO.
camo moro apparent ~ tho moments
1oL Whom Warden Shgo returned to
lila office atlOr his catly visit to tho