The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-07-01

rather gratefully, and joined quietly, but
not with words, in the devotion. A little
later, two Sisters OF Mercy from the
Catholic Church at Sing Sing entered the
cell.
Buchanan thanked them for their visit
and they promised to return with Mrs.
Buchanan il she came 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 another
suit of new clothes, and his cell was en-
tirely refitted last night. When Warden
Sage returned to his office after his early
visit to the death house, he found a tele-
gram from Mrs. Buchanan. Ii read
To Warden sage-All ploadings vain Gov.
CsignedJ ASNIE BUCHANAN.
In addition to this there was another
from a man named William Daniels OF
New York, saying that he wished TO
serve papers on the warden. "They will
act as a stay" he said, "and ask you
to delay the execution till can arrive at
Sing Sing"
No address was given and the warden
did not reply, but proceeded with his ar
rangements for the execution. 1t Is al
legged that Daniels is a person who claims
to have dicovered that Buchanan is in
sane and has number OF affidavits 10
that effect. At $3.50 some of the witnesses
had not arrived. DIR. O'Sullivan OF New
York, who was one OF the counsel for
the defense, is here and will witness the
execution.
Among the witnesses present in the
warden's Office were: DIR. W. j. O'Sul-
livan, the legal medical defender OF DIR.
Buchanan; DR.. Irwin, prison physician;
DR.. John Wilson Gibbs, DIR. Ira W. Van
Giesen, the pathological expert, DIR. j. j.
Sullivan of Passaic, N. j., and DIR. G. ID.
Kelly, Mount Vernon. Baron A. Schlip-
penbach, vice-consul from Russia at New
York, and a half dozen press representa-
tives. Mrs. Buchanan arrived in the train
reaching here at 10:30, and was taken To
the residence of the clergyman of the
Presbyterian church. Warden Sage sent
her word that she could not see the
prisoner, and at the time she arrived
they were already preparing him by slit
ting his left trousers leg SO that the cleo
trio current could be applied
Shortly before IL O'Clock this morning,
the following dispatch was received at
the prison from New York:
Warden Sage. Sing Sing Prison-opinion
Attorney General misleading and misstates
facts, as 10 appeal. Buchanans case is in Su-
preme Court United States and by United
States law your authority is stayed. You
must choose between supposed duty to the
State-and- obedience to the supreme laws OF
our country ARTHUR &. BUTTS,
dEOHGE W. blBBONb.
II was IL II when the witnesses were
told 10 enter the execution chamber, and
led by the warden they passed to the
outside of the death house and thence IN
by side door. All was prepared and
electrician Davis was at the switchboard.
In the enclosed box was the convict, who
upon signal was 60 turn the switch.
When the party was seated the electrician
put q bank of incandescent lights on the
chair and sent the current through 1t:
There were 1740 volts on the bank, and
when they were switched of again the
warden and two guards appeared at the
door with DIR. Buchanan. He walked in
without a word and took his seat In
about 80 seconds he was strapped, and in
40 second was pronounced dead. The
voltage of 1740 was kept on for four
seconds and then reduced TO 40 volts,
which was kept on for 80 seconds more.
1t was the quickest and most successful
execution ever seen at this prison.
The wife's Plea.
PoUGHKEEPsIE, N. ", July /. - Mrs.
Buchanan, wife of the condemned muir
derer, made an unsuccessful effort TO have
Governor Morton commute her husbands
sentence to life imprisonment this morn
ing. Mrs. Buchanan reached Rhinebeck
at II o'clock last night, and stopped at
tllt NllldBt Dnc dIOHt ShOlbll uittI
a. m, and was driven hurriedly TO Ell
lerslie.
Mr.. Morton was in bed, but being in
formed 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 giref almost prevented her from
speaking. Governor Morton was plainly
overcome by the woman's pleading 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 have no
right to interfere. II was my sympathy
for you that led me to give him re-
prieve, " said the Governor.
Then he asked Mrs. Buchanan many
questions about herself, expressed much
sympathy for her and told her that If she
ever needed assistance to call upon him
and he would gladly help her.
Mrs. Buchanan left Ellerslie and took
the S o'clock train for Sing Sing. She
said that Warden Sage promised her that
he would not electrocute her husband
until she returned TO the prison, IN order
that she might see him again alive.
After turning off the 46-second contact,
the examining physicians, Doctors Irvine
and Van Geisen, examined the body and
unlOOSenlnR the ralner uRnJ collar
caused some air TO escape from the body.
The physicians stepped back and the cur
rent was applied for % seconds longer,
making the actual time / minute and 9
seconds. The body was then unstrapped
and taken TO the autopsy room. All OF
the physicians present agreed that death
was instantaneous and DIR. Van Geisen,
who has been quoted as not agreeing
that the electrical death Is sure, said
that he was not now OF that opinion, but
did not believe il success. When the
witnesses returned from the chamber
TO the warden's office a telephone mes
sage was handed TO the warden from New
York. Ii read
To Warden Sage-Opinion Of Attorney. Cen
eral misleading and misstates facts as 90 APP
peal. Buchanan's case ~ in supreme Court
of tho United States and your authority -
stayed. You must choose between supposed
duty Co the State and obedience to tho law OF
our country.
(Signed) ARTHUR G. BUTTS,
GEORGE GIBBONS.
The message came while the warden
was executing the sentence and almost at
the same time there came message say
ing that Governor Morton would not in
A. -. u. d a.