The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-04-24
ALICE VI. BTTLFR'S FfTE.
Edward Tntro Trial for Murder-A Ter
ribIe sIght for "a Young IIm.bnnd.

ST. ALBANs, VT, April 23.-In the Franklin
county court. to-day began the trial Of Edward
Tatro, aged twenty-five. for the murder Of
Alice VI. Butler Mt Hghgate. ON June 2. 1876.
In January. 1873, Charles W. Butler. young
farmer. then twenty-five years old. married
Alice Mend. a pretty orphan girl. not quite
eighteen. and took her to his farm. two miles
north Of 1Iighgate Centre. whore they lived
happily in n small house near the main rond
some sixty rods from any other dwelling. rhcy
had no children. and tho family consisted Of
this couple Buffers father. an old man. and
Edward Tatro. who was employed on the farm
a young man then twonty-onc years Of age
small and slightly built but strong Ills
mother, a widow. lived near. and he had been
IN the habit Of work lng around for farmers in
that vicinity He had worked for Butler nearly
II year. and. except occasional Disbursements
about work. their relations had mainly been
pleasant
ON the day of the murder. Buffers fnthcr was
away on visit To on" Of the ncighbors. Charles
Butter was also away from home during most
OF the day assisting ut "A " raising" for "A unfph-
Dor. Saudinrd Sand"rson. and Tatro was plough
ing with Buffers teHm for another neghhor
i ward IIuskins. Butler cnme home bciwenn
four and five @ clock in the afternoon and Tatro
llst before six. After supper Butler told his
Wlle n" had som" business at II ighgute Centre
and asked her whether she wouldn't like To-
RIDE over there with him. She replied that she
was not feeling we'll Something was then said
ready he sad he would remain with Alice. who
IHu m'NuWnllH Eon" INTO a bedroom below
siairS. Butler won't away M seven o'clock leav-
ing them alone IN the house. and no other per-
that, except "a small boy who came to the house
son II known to have seen Mrs Butler alive after
a littl" later.
Butler returned about 10 o'clock. mt his
horse in the barn and went into tho hnu-e hy
the kitchen door on the north side A. he nm
preached he noticed that the house was dark
Opening the door. he advanced few steps
when his foot hit a4,ninst something lviu, an
the loor and by the dim Hight he saw n n, il re-.
sT,nhrd a human being; Surprising it To hc
Iatrp. who had gone to slecp there waiting for
MN, II" called him 10y name. Getting no re-
sponsc. he stepped t. the box and struck "A
nash OF light he saw blood on the floor and u
heap Of something lying there. The next match
burned. and revealed the body of his wife in a
pool oil blood. her clothing nearly all torn OH.
Rushing TO the barn. he mounted his horse
10 ride 70 the neighhurs for ns- stance. A hc
reached the gate. on horseback. he heard "a
sound oi confused voices. and met "A group II
hy Jhtro. VII" had nothing on hut the ta,tor"d
remnant 81 shirt. and was crying and bowling
like mailman.
The murdered woman lay upon tho floor.
IN. Clos" hy her on the iiopr were two sticks IT
sherwood. more or less blood stained and AN
Old mu-krt which usually -inoi ga I'll, stairway.
Lean TX against stuck close ~ wH- an axe.
on side ~ which WIS deeply stained Iih blood
In. boy I.tro wu~ "Nnml med, and his shirt
found covered with blood. his hunls stained
with o. though Their" were SOME Indications #
an attempt :" wipr them. and hiut'nn- md -tut-
t'ts 90 b. bare legs and arni-. H. WINS watched
whll" Nr Butter rod rapidly To- Hlgheats and
brought hl Is a I'N~IHI. ana officer Tatrn
was nearly crazy WITH rNeifem' mt. -Dhhing and
rrT. ~ ny ~inuty DENYING any guilt
I.tfN ufi 'rW Irl DNui0 >-..l tNnl i.fnn lut toll
e,"on.s "a story o. th",if..t that tie l,ns OF
Mrs. Butler WIS not Intentional