The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1853-11-16

Tile LouisriNe Co'uicr gives the fol-
lowing account of the murder of VIM
II. G. Butler, in that city, whose death
has already been announced by tclc-
graph
yesterday morning Matt f. Ward,
the eldest son of r. J Ward, Esq went
to the High School in this city, near the
corner of 2d-st.. on Chestnut, accompan-
led BY two of his brothers. Robert Ward.
youth of sixteen. and William Ward.
a smaller boy, and called for Mr.. VIM
II. G Butler one of the teachers. 4
few words passed between them, when
Mr.. Ward pulled out pistol and shot
Mr. b. down. The ball penetrated his
left breast, over the heart. and he fell to
the floor. exclaiming in his agony, i am
killed, oil, my poor wife and child =
Ward then dropped his pistol, and ac-
companied ly his brothers, retreatcd
from the school-room.
Mr. Butler was able to rise from the
floor, and left the room. assisted by some
boys but when in the street he fell n
cain. and was carried home. His ply
sicians think the wound will prove NOR
tai. The ball could not be extracted.
and he bled inwardly. Mr. Butler had
corrected VIM. Ward, one Of his pupils,
the day previous, for telling a falshood.
which led to the tragic affair
"Robert Ward, who accompanied his
brother, drew bowie-kuife, and when
Prof. Sturgus, the other teacher in the
school, advanced TO the assistance Of
Mr. Butler. he made such demonstra-
tions that the Professor retreated and
made his escape out Of window
"Mr. NJ. I. Ward and Robert j
Ward Jr., were promptly arrested and
lodged in Jail, and as the affair will un
dergo a judicial investigation, we for
bear narrating the particulars"
William H. G. Butler was native Of
Indiana and was 2S years old at tho
time Of his death. He was educated at
Hanover College, where he graduated
with distinguished honor. He was one
of the best educated men in the Western
country, and one of the best and mos
successful teachers After graduating
he removed to this city, where he wa
f for period of eighteen months private
, tutor in the family of Robert j. Ward
, Esq, the father of Mathew L. Ward
lie subsequently travelled in Europe
and three years ago was delegate fron
the American Peace Society to til,
Worlds Peace Convention at Frankfort
, on-thc- Maine, After his return, an'
since he established the Louisville Higl
: School in association with Professor
5 Sturgus, he was again offered the stua
, ton of private tutor in Mr.. Wards fam
lily, and liberal salary was proposed a
9 an inducement for him to accept thu
place. The desire to be more widel,
! useful, however, had caused him to un
) dertakc the establishment of a first elias
j., school here, for boys, and the same de
} sire now induced him to decline the offe
3. made by Mr.. Ward in spirit of gener
, osity and from warm personal regard
: Mr.. Butler married soon after his re
/. turn from Europe, and has left a widow
with child some seven months OLD.
lie was the soul of truth honor, in
q tegrity and real manliness. lie com
bined, in an unusual degree, the simple
y ity and trustfulness of childhood wit
the wisdom and caution of mature life
A member of the American Peace Soc
ETY., he was opposed to war a SINGER
and earnest Christian, he was VOID G
G guile lover of the truth in all thing
l. he conld make no terms with falsehoo
IS in any guise an amiable, modest, az
A complished and useful man, he had Il
enemies, and troups of friends.