Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-07-01
Buchanan Nervous.

| Between the death cell which DR.. Bu-
| chanan occupied last night and the execu-
| ton room there is a space of but three
| feet separated by a heavy wood and iron
| door. From this door to the death chair is
| five feet more, and as Buchanan sat on 'he
edge Of the iron cot In his shirt sleeves he
could hear the guards arranging the room
and Electrician Davis getting his wires
| ready
| This made him nervous, and he asked the
| guards whether they had heard anything
from the attorney general. AS the night
guards were still on duty, they could give
| him no information, and so he paced up
and down the cell until after $40 o'clock,
| chewing cigar, ard talking to himself oc-
| casionally. His nervousness increased as
| the minutes went by. until at last Warden
| Sage entered the death house.
When the warden entered the corridor
Buchanan stepped to the front of the cell.
| and, grasping the iron bars with both
| hands, pressed his face to the bars
The warden said, Good morning. doc
! tor" but SO nervous was Buchanan that he
| did not answer except by nod.
Il have no hope to Offer" continued the
warden THE attorney general has de-
| cided against you. and unless the governor
interferes 1 have to carry out the SEN
| tence."
For an instant Buchanan's face blanched,
| and then he put his cigar between his teeth,
and stepping back he said, Il thought that
| would be the result. 1 will see Mrs. Bu-
| chanan again"
IF she comes here you may" replied the
warden and withdrew.
Buchanan sat down on the edge of the
| cot, and, refusing the bowl of milk that
usually forms his breakfast, buried his face
| in his hands. This was his only display of
| feeling, for in a few minutes he was up,
| walking his cell and talking to the guards.
Visited by IL Clergyman.
His manner was quite subdued, and when
| the warden returned, bringing with him the
pastor of the Scotch Presbyterian Church,
he was calm and collected. He received the
| clergyman rather gratefully, and listened
| quietly to the prayer.
The condemned negro, Caesar, was inter-
| ested and kept his face up against the bars
| Of his cell. A little later two Sisters of
Mercy from the Catholic Church of Sing
| Sing passed into the death cell.
Buchanan thanked them for their visit,
and they promised to return with Mrs. Bu-
chanan If she happened to come back.
Buchanan went to bed at 2 o'clock this
morning. but did not take off his clothes,
| and rested very uneasily. He was given a
new suit of clothes and his cell entirely re-
| fitted last night, and all those grewsone
| details evidently added to his nervousness,
| which becomes more apparent as the mo-
ments fly.
Mrs. Buchanan's Vain Effort.
Mrs. Buchanan. wife Of the condemned
| murderer, made an unsuccessful effort to
| induce Governor Morton to commute her
husbands sentence to life Imprisonment
| this morning. Mrs. Buchanan reached
Rhinebeck at u o'clock last night. She
arose shortly after am, and was driven
| hurriedly to Elerslie, where she was ad-
mitted to the governors handsome man.
| sion. Mr.. Morton was in bed, but, on being
| informed OF Mrs. Buchanan's presence in
| the house, he arose. and before o'clock
| met her in his library. The woman 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 overcome
| by the woman's pleading, and tears stood
| in his eyes as he lifted. l.er to her feet and
| told her that he could not grant her re-
| quest.
The highest courts have confirmed your
| husbands conviction, and 1 have no right
| to interfere. 1t was my sympathy for you
| that led me to give him a reprieve," said
| the governor.
| Then the governor asked Mrs. Buchanan
| nary questions about herself, expressed
sympathy for her, and told her that If she
| ever needed assistance to call upon him
and he would gladly help her.
After drinking a cup of coffee, which the
| governor handed Mrs. Buchanan, she left
Ellerslie and took the o'clock train for
| Sing Sing. She said that Warden Sage
| Continued on Third Page.)