The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1883-05-12
EXECUTION OF ROBERT BUTLER FOR
MURDER.
The Crime, Conviction, Escapes and
Kacaptures of the Prisoner.
ISpecial to the Picayune.I

Especial to the Picayune.I
MONROE, LA, May 5.-Robert But
Ter, colored, q years old, was executed
yesterday at Columbia, Caldwell par
ish, for the murder of George Burris,
colored, on August 7, 1876.
1t appeared from the evidence that
Butler, whose reputation was that of a
desperate man, and had been living at
Indian Village, in this parish, with a
colored woman as his wife, became in
sanely jealous of Burris, vino had sup
planted him in the woman's affections.
Burris and the woman, knowing But.
ler's disposition, left Ouachita parish
one evening for Caldwell parish. Night
overtaking them on the way, they
stopped at the house of Major Johnson,
Il colored man living in Caldwell par
ish. Butler, who had followed them,
caught up with them at this point, and
going up to the gate, discovered Burris
in the yard feeding a yoke of oxen and
fired upon him, killing him Instantly.
Immediately after the murder But
Ter fled, avoiding arrest for number
of years. He was finally caught in
Daugerfield, Morris county, Texas, by
Sheriff Ragland, of that place, in
April, 1882, and taken to Columbia,
| where he was tried and convicted July
! Is, 1882, on an indictment for murder
found September Is, 1876.
A motion for new trial being over
ruled, the case was carried to the Su-
preme Court. Pending the decision of
! of the appeal in the Supreme Court,
Butler broke Jail and returned to Dan
gerfield. A reward of $500 having
been offered for his capture, he was
arrested by one Of Sheriff Ragland's
deputies, and while on his way to Col
umbia by some means effected his es.
cape and returned again to the neigh
borhood of Dangertield, where he was
rearrested by man named Harris, who
succeeded in bring him to Columbia,
and secured the amount of the reward.
The judgment of the lower court
having been affirmed by the Supreme
Court on the 9Th of March last, tho
Governor issued his warrant fixing yes.
terday as the day for the execution.
The condemned man retired early
last night and slept soundly until mid
night, when he arose and engaged in
prayer. His breakfast, which was car
ricd to him at o'clock, he declined to
touch, but drank a cup of coffee.
Your correspondent, in company
with Sheriff Girod, visited him in Jail
at noon and found him engaged in
reading the Bible.
In reply to- inquiry he said he was
prepared to die, and that it was right
the law should take its course.
AT 2:lOp. m. he was taken from Jail
to the place of execution, about q hun
dred feet distant, Immediately adjoin-
ing the courthouse steps. He was as
sisted up the steps leading to the scat
fold by Rev. DIR. Harper and Sheriff
Girod, and at once took his position
on the fatal trap door. The death war
rant was then read to him, after which
he addressed the persons present, ex-
horting them in an earnest appeal to
be warned by his example. Prayer
was then offered by Rev. Mr.. Hopper,
in which the condemned man Joined. .
Bidding the Sheriff and his attendants
good-by, his arms and legs were then
pinioncd. Tho rope being placed
around his neck he requested the
Sheriff to draw it tight. In compli-
ance with his wish a handkerchief was
tied around his eyes, the black cap was
then drawn, and at 1887 p. m. the trap
was sprung. lie fell seven and a half
feet, and after a fow spasmodic move
ments of the muscles of the arms and
legs he gave no signs of life. Life was
pronounced extinct in ten minutes,
and after hanging twenty three min
utcs the body was cut down, when it
was aScertaincd that death was caused
by strangulation.
His body, which was dressed in q
black suit of clothes provided by the
white citizens of the town, was turned
over TO his brothers for burial.
AT no time during the trying ordeal
did he manifest any signs of fear, but
faced death braveiy.
The execution, which was public,
was witnessed by several hundred peo-
pie, large majority of whom were
colored, many coming from a distance.
Owing 10 the excellent arrangements
made by Sheriff Girod and his large
force of special deputies the execution
was conducted in quiet, orderly and
expeditions manner.
The execution Of Robert Butler was
tho second ono that has taken place in
the parish in many years.
AESENTEEISM OF STATE OFFICIALS.
On recent visit to the State Capital
Mt Ration Rnupe the editor of this