Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1880-01-22
A TERRIBLE CRIME.
JOHN BosToN's FoOD-A YOUNG FARM
HAND HATS OF 1T AND Is LIKELY TO
DIE-TALK OF IYNCHING BUTLER.


DIE-TALK OF LYNCHING BUTLER.
On Monday last horrible case of attempt
ed murder took place at Sheridan, small
hamlet about nine miles from Genoa. The
deed is charged upon Frank Butler, negro
formerly a resident of this city. He is sup
posed to have poisoned the food of John
Boston with murderous intent, and young
German known as Pete Stetfes, who slept at
Bostons house ate some of the food and Is not
likely to recover.
TIE POISONING OF sTEFFEs.
Stetfes, the German farm hand, came into
Bostons house about l o'clock in the after
noon, and seeing some bread and butter on
the table took three bites. Finding it bitter, he
conc uded the butter was rancid, put down the
bread and walked away. A few minutes aftt
leaving the house he vent into saloon and
there felt so badly that he fell out of chair
DR.. Smith was sent for and PRONOUNCED it 4
case of strychnine poisoning.
TIE NEGRO SUSPECTED
1t was ascertained that Butler, a negro,
had purcha sed bottle of strychnine at Harris
grocery store, about noon and was seen hang
ing about Boston's house almost Immediately
after making the purchase. He was at once
arrested, and when asked what he did with
the stryehnine, replied that he did not know,
and appeared very mush frightened. A search
was made in his house and the bottle Of
poison found with nearly all of the strychnine
gone. He was immediately placed in Jail
BuNGLING JOB.
All the food in Boston's house was then ex-
ahmed Everything was covered with strych,
nine. 1t was mixed up with the butter to
such an extent that it could be detected easily
with the naked eye. 1t was spread on the
bread, sprinkled on the meat, vegetables and
preserves and had even been thrown in the
water bucket. There was so much of it in
sight that if Stefes had not been in a hurry
he would have discovered it. He says he saw
the white mixture in the butter, but at the
time supposed it to be salt.
THE EVIDENCE AGAINST BUTLER
Is circumstantial. He purchased the poisien
It the grocery store and few minutes after
vent up to Boston's house with a party of
nen who wanted to inspect some stock. The
)arty went behind the house to see a colt,
,ut Butler went back and during the ten min
ltes the party were in the yard, Butler was
lot with them, but he joined them afterwards
tor far r.
lave dragged the food.
TIE CAUSE.
Boston has a sister-in-law who takes care Of
is child, little girl about seven years Of age, |
anne to see it. He also made several presents
f trifiDg value to Boston's sister-in law. Bos-
on did not like the looks of the negro and or
cred that he should not be allowed to call at |
he house. Butler hearing this threatened to
q reveDged. Several days before the poison
ng of Boston's food he had inquired of
lumber of persons what poison was the best
0 kill rats with. The fact of another man
eceiving the strychnine intended for Boston
dds considerably to the excitement, and there
talk Of lYnchlng the negro If the young
IAN dies The examination of the case is at
resent going on at Bodie.
LAER Yesterday afternoon the examina-
N of Butler closed and he was held to answer
efore the Grand Jury, with his bends fixed at
) ,O00 Being unable to give bail, he was re-
landed to Jail Steffers is still alive, with
disabilities of recovery.