Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1876-07-22
CUARIESTOWN JEFFERSON COUNTY, W. va, SATURDAY. y
The Butterwick Tragedy.

terwick's house the other day, says Max suler
ip the Philadelphia Bulletin, aud asked for
Mrs Butterwick. When she came into the
parlor be said
." Mrs. Butterwick, 'believe7 Mrs. But
terwick ! came here to bring you somerath-
er bad news, don't know bow you Will take
IT, but feel as if ought to tell you, no
matter how It cuts ;you up. Your husband
came to my house to-day with his dog is
a large yellow dog, believe yours is, amt it !?
with bushy tail? Well, anyhow, be stayed
around there for an hour or two looking at
the children and having good time; and al
ter while Wilson's colored boy said some
thing to him he didn't like, and he jumped at
the boy and threw him to the ground"
"Yery extraordinary conduct, l must say, +"
said Mrs. Butterwick.
"Well, you know, | was afraid he'd hurt
the boy, and 50 took hold of him aud tried
TO pull him of, and that made him mad at
me, and he turned round and began TO attack
ne. Now, really, for awhile thought he'd
kill me if he could and had chance"
lie certainly would never have attempted
such a thing"
"You cant always tell. So l ran into the
house aud got my gun and when he followed
me I took aim and e, him have both barrels.
Rns,ed the legs clean of of him, and he rolled
over nsensible.
"You infamous villain How can you
come and tell ne such horrible story as that
I believe you killed him. Where is he? /
want TO see Mr.. But,erwick at once"
Now be calm madam, aud let me finish
| know well enough you thought good deal
of hin, and kinder felt sorry | did Bat,
howsomedever, it was done and so as be was
insensibe picked him up and brought him
into the house, and as he seemed sortcr pretty
far gone my wife says, says she, William,
why don you load up again and put couple
more loads in him, SOS to settle him p"
"Ths wretch y
"Thats what she says. But thought Ia
holl on for awhile SOS to give him chance.
And after awhile he came to, but he was so
wrctched about tie legs that thought maybe
it'd be kindness to put him out Of bis
misery, so | got a club and hi. him on the
head s>til killed him"
Killed him Merciful heayerl is be
dead ?"
Dead as Julius Caesar, ma'am-rolled over
and died like lamb. And | thought I'd
come up and tell you about it, for | know IT'D
annoy you like thunder and wanted to let
you know did it in self-defence. Now don't
take on So Don't cry like that. 1t makes
me feel awful"
This istoo horrible How dare you come
to me after porpotrating such an Infamous
crime? III have you hung for murder. Ny
poor husband y
Couldn't help it, ma'am. I was driven
into it,"
"Did he say anything before he died ?"
"Say anything? l don't quite understand
the"
Did he leave any message for me before he
expired ?"
"N-n-no. ma'm-just kinder howed and
Topped his tail a couple Of times, that's all"
"Flopped his tail Ny husband? You
are certainly insane. Perhaps you intend to
kill me? Helpl holpl"
"Now be calmer Your husband2 Why,
madame, don't know what you mean?'
Didn't you say you killed Mr.. Butterwick,
you wretch ?"
Certainly not Well, that's the funniest
thing | ever-Mr. Butterwick-Mr. Butter
wickl Killed Butterwick That beats Ne
buchadnezzar Why, madame, was refer
ring to that yellow dog. killed your dog" "
Then Mrs Butterwick suddenly dried her
eyes, looked daggets at him for a minute, and
flounced out Of tho room.
The murderer twirled his hat on his finger
for q minute and then, slowly rising and moy-
ing to the front door, he murmured:
"Killod old Butterwick Well, that's good !
But blame NE if don't half believe she's
kinder sorry it wasn't bin instead Of the dog :"