The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1895-07-02
ENDS THEORDEAL
DR.. Buchanan at Last Pays the
Penalty Of His Crime.
PATHETIC APPEAL FOR oLBMENoY.

Mrs. buchanan Falls on Her Knees at
Governor Morton's Feet and Prays for
Her Husbands Life - The Governor
Deeply Affected.
SING SING, July with two electric
contacts, consuming not over a minute,
DIR. Buchanan was put to death in Sing
Sing prison yesterday. Like all others
who have preceded him, he went TO death
calmly, and did not say u word in the
death chamber. The only appearance of
fright or weakness was the fact that he
closed his eyes when he entered, and did
not open them again. Two contacts were
made, but all the physicians and electric
ians claim that the second contact was
merely precautionary and that the victim
died instantly. There were no burns and
no unpleasant features, and every physi-
clan present declared the execution a sue
cess. The body has been claimed by
friends, and the case will go down into
history as a celebre.
Warden Sage's action IN proceeding
with the electrocution was the result of a
telegram from the attorney general to the
effect that the warden would not be in the
wrong if he carried out the sentence in
the case of DIR. Buchanan. The indefinite
languagein which the opinion was couched
and the refusal of the attorney general to
advise the execution, but only to say that
he would not advise its delay, did not ex-
actly please the warden, who had expected
that when he acted it would be under the
advice of the states legal adviser. But
after consideration and consultation an
order was issued to proceed with the exc
cution.
Warden Sage said: IT am not pleased
with the opinion of the attorney general,
because it is not made flnal instruction
for me to proceed; but, as it says that 1
am not justified in delaying the execution,
shall go on with the affair"
The most pathetic feature of the execu-
ton was the vain appeal of the condemned
mans wife for executive clemency. She
went to Rhinecliff Sunday night, and
stopped at the village hotel. Arising
shortly after . o'clock she was driven to
Ellerslie, where she was admitted to the
governors mansion. Mr.. Morton was in
bed, but on being informed of Mrs. Buch-
anan's presence in the house he arose, and
before 6 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 plead
ing, and tears stood in his eyes as he lifted
her to her feet and told her that he could
not grant her request.
1.-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 q reprieve," said
the governor.
Then the governor asked Mrs. Blu
chanan many questions about herself, ex'
pressed 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 her, Mrs. Buchanan left
Ellerslie and took the s o'clock train fol
Sing Sing. During the execution Mrs
Buchanan was in the warden's house, hav
ing come there after the witnesses were
summoned to the death chamber. Sht
was extremely nervous, ssand when told o
the death Of her husband broke down anC
went freely. She was taken care of b!
Mrs. Sage.
Mrs. Buchanan is in destitute circum
stances, her expenses to Rhineclitf having
been betrayed by Warden Sage.
The persistency with which Buchanan
chung to life marked his case to the end
Since the death of the wife whom he nun
dered on April %, 1892, in order to re
marry the wife whom he had previousl,
divorced, his case has been marked by un
certainties which nave made it famous
He at first seemed likely to escape sus
1 picion, and was not arrested until jan
6, following the woman's death. His tria
: was delayed until March 20, 1893, an
e during its early stages his acquittal az
peared probable. When he was convicted
April 26, 1898, IA motion for a new tria
o was made, and the questions presented t
o the court were such that a decision wa
not rendered until Aug. IA following
when he was sentenced to die Oct. ?, 1885,
On Aug. 10, 1898, he was brought herr
" and has been here uninterruptedly since
with the exception of two days, when b
was taken away to be recommendation!
to New York and once to Albany. II
case has been twice before the court of a
meals of the state, once before the Unite
States supreme court, and any humble
delays and unusual legal proceedings ha'
marked its course through the lower sta
and federal courts. .
Invitations to his execution were sci
out four times by Warden Sage, but
the first three instances, on one ground
another, a respite was secured and the l
Fiction of the death penalty was pos
poned, and finally after every means
staying the execution was exhausted,
required two applications of the dead
current to overcome the tenacity WI
which the man chung to life.
THE WIDOWS ANGUISH.
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