Evening journal., 1895-07-01
BUCHANAN'S STRUGGLE
His Long Fight to Escape she
Electric Chair.
HIS WIPES oBAsBLEss EFFORTS
Mrs. Buchanan, After a Day Of Anxiety,
Started 60 Make Midnight visit to
Governor AIorlon's Home at Rhineolim
Why warden sage Hesitated.

Why Warden Sage Hesitated.
sISG SING, July 1.-The story Of DR.
Buchanan's last desperate attempt to es
cape the electric chair forms one Of the
most dramatic chapters in a life replete
with sensations.
His lawyers who have certainly been |
most active succeeded in getting Warden
Sage so confused that not until an early
hour this morning had he really decided
whether or not Buchanan was to die to
day
While the warden was frnntically wiring
the attorney goncral and Deputy Has.
hrouck for instructions Mrs. Buchanan,
the murderors heroic vito, was making
night journey to Rhinecliif that an were
sure would DO in vain.
81 do not propose to execute DIR. Hu-
chanan until the attorney general gives me
a written opinion as to the effect of the
papers Of appeal now IN their hands at Al
bany"
Warden Sage was the speaker, ana he
was so angry that his voice trembled as he
spoke to the group Of reporters. At the
door leading from the drawing room into
the Office the face Of woman, anxious
and troubled, appeared und as the warden
made his emphatic statement she smiled
and Withdrew quickly. Il was Mrs. Bu-
ohnnan, aud she had just left her husband.
Warden Sage made bho statement accred-
tied TO him after meeting his messenger
whom he had sent TO Albany at the train.
Frank ID. Burroughs, the messenger,
who had been in Albany for two days with
copies Of the paper served on the warden
a
returned at O'Clock last night with word
thnt the attorney generals department at
| Albany declined TO give an opinion In tho
matter other than the verbal one that it
would be all right TO proceed Mr.. Bur
roughs had not seen the attorney general,
but had talked with Deputy Attorney
| Hasbroucll, who had declined positively
| TO write any opinion
AS soon as the messenger returned to
Sing Sing and inade known this fact, fur
| ther stating that the attorney general was
| out Of the city, Warden Sage sent him
right back to Albany to await a written
decision. Then he dictated u telegram to
| Attorney General Hancock, at Syracuse,
| Informing him that he would not execute
| Buchanan until he had received an opin-
ion of the effect Of the legal papers served
upon him by counsel for DIR. Buchanan.
Warden sage's Statement.
Whom this had been dispatched, the
warden made this statement: II have been
served with papers that are said to act as
a stay. When similar papers were served
some time ago, Deputy Attorney General
Hasbrouck wrote an opinion, In which the
| attorney general concurred, saying that
the papers should act as stay. When
those latter papers were served, / sent
them at once to the attorney general witt
a request for an opinion, and SO far he has
given none He Is the legal adviser Of tn,
state, and ] do not propose 60 act ia his
J stead.
"Wnl you execute Buchanan If tho at
torncy general docs not give IN opinionp
was asked.
II don't like to cross bridge before
get TO H. bus don't see why 1 should as
sumo q legal responsibility that the Law
/ officer Of tho state shrinks FROM"
The warden did not expect an opinion
, or an answer from his telegram until TO
, day, and it was therefore thought reason
able to believe that there would not be al
: execution tin Tuesday ut the earliest
1 DIR. Buchanan grew restless Saturda.
, night, and it was 3 o'clock whom he dozel
/ of into n fitful slumhcr. All S O'Clock sun
. ulcs later no was visited by Mrs. Buchan
an. She took scat just outside the wir
screen and talked TO him in low tone q
voice He could not keep still and pace
the floor constantly smoking cigar afte
I cigaras he talked Of his trial and his stil
! surviving hope OF escape from the doat
I chair
The o0lorcd man Caesar. who is the new
: est man in the death house, and Leach
the wife murderer both took great inter
= est In the conversation. Mrs. Buchana
staid in the death house the entire day am
until o'clock last night not leaving eve
for dinner the warden sending down
3 lunch for her at the same tinc as the con
y demnod m0n had his dinner served Sh
, utc quite heartily but tho husband barel
d tasted the food and returned to the them
q / uppclmOst in his mind-his possible q
i cape from the death chair.
e Mrs. Buchauan's last EHort.
at least tNo-thirds of the afternoon ",
Spent in this discussion, and DIR. Buchai
an argticd it from an possible standpoint
3 The wnrdcn visited the cell twice, AN
y both times was asked whether he ha
good news Buchanan knew that Bu
. roughs had gonc TO Albany. and WI
y awaiting decision, and ne desired
X have his dwindling hopes revived. Th
the warden refused 10 do, and even "a
Ia night after reaching his decision to del'
= action, he would not tell the prisoner.
10 Buchanan was very restless and nervoi
Be Inst night, and up to late hour th
le morning had not slept The watch BE
ID was exceedingly close, as it was known th
with his knowledge of surgery he cou
le easily cheat the electric chair
Mrs Buchanan just before leaving he
le last night, begged the warden TO allie
her to say poodby 10 her husband. 1
In request was granted, and She told her hu
I hand that mo- opinion had as yet been 81
IN en- which seemed TO quiet him "a little.
~ AT iO.lb Mrs. Buchanan left here on
IL north hound train for Governor Mortor
home, Ellerslie at Rhinccin. She we
TO ask for Communication, and said s
would make an attempt To see Govern
ss Morton, no matter the hour OF her arrivi
Attorney General Hancoct's Statement
Il SYRACUSE, July Attorney Genei
e 4. H. Hancock was seen 10y "a rcIlrtgr a
4. / asked rcuirdinu his movements i'm 1