The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1883-10-23
BAD BUTTERWORTH.
An Ohio Man Who Holds Places
High Up Has q Terrible
Early History.

Special Correspondence Sunday Morning BazOo.
CINCINNATI, Oct. Is.
That every life contains history is un-
doubleday true, but that all lives contain
the history OF 4 crime is exceptionable.
However, be that as II may, your cores
pOndent happened upon an incident in the
life OF the lately appointed commissioner
of patents, Mr.. Ben Butterwor,h, of this
city, few days ago, which Is as full Of
yillainy OF sensational kind as the
day can afford.
Years ago, In sunny little village
called MaIueviiie, IN this goodly state OF
OHIO, composed tor the most part OF quiet,
plain, unpretending people from the state
Of Maine, there dweit young man OF ex-
ceedlngiy brilliant at;alnmentS and great
personal attraCtiveness> He was the son
of upright and wellto-do parents, whose
respectability Was uIquestiOned AID whose
social standing gave the young man the en-
Tree TO the best circles that the stald little
town afforded. This was Ben Butterworth,
genial, handsome, gifted, but with all the
neart Of a SensuslIst beat in his breast, and
The schemes OF iiber;ine aglIated the
workings of his busy brain.
In the same place resided a Methodist
minister by the name OF JO-eph Catch, not
remarkable in his calling perhaps, nor one
to mark an era in the world tor his elo-
quence, but devout, pure-minded and
teaching rather by his example than his
precepls. His family was composed Of an
amiable wife, two daughters aud two sons,
and ii is with the eldest OF these daughters
our story has to deal.
Ella each was perhaps IL years of age,
of medium height, graceful we'll rounded
figure and possessing a face. whose clear,
brunette complexion. delicate features and
brilliant coloring, made up a picture of re-
markable beauty. In addition to these
charmer, the mind of the young girl was
slowed with knowledge, and In the village
academy her intelligence, as we'll as her
modest and unassuming department were
subjects for commentator. She, TOO, was
a social favorile, and at the church social
and evening merry making, her laugh
rang the ciearest. In au hour fraughI
with evil, however. she met, as she was
bound to do, moving III the same circle,
Ben Butterworth, and at once there sprang
up and attach nenl between them, which
soon ripened into the most ardent and pas
sionate love.
Just why is not known, but the father Of
Miss Ella objected to the attentions OF But
terworth to his daughter and the result was
clandestine meetings arranged sometimes at
the homes of mutual friends, sometimes
with no eye, save Gods, to see. and no
canopy but the bending sky wherein shown
the glimmer of countless stars.
People began to talk, at first In whispers,
at iast openly, and the father Of the young
girl hearing of it, with a heart panied with
her disobedience, entreated her to give up
her loyer and remain quietly with those
whose tried and true hearts she could de-
pend upon. Tears and prOtestatiOns were
her answer, and for a time it seemed that
the counsel of her father had prevailed and
the wiles of her lover were unheeded. Bnt,
alas! one morning it was discovered that
the young girl had disappeared, and with
her the fascinating Ben, and as they could
not be traced, the heart broken parents
tried to console themselves with the belief
that at least the elopement had been SOL
emnized BY marriage. That this was err
roreOus was ere long proved, for 1t was as
certained that the once beautiful and win
some girl bad gone 10 an aunt, who resided
in Cleveland, Ohio, and there deserted by
the one in whom she had so fondly trusted,
had found q refuge. A babe was born, and
one day the hapless young mother, during
the absence of her aunt, in a fit of despera-
ton killed herself and the infant.
The tragedy cast gloom over the hearts
of those who had known her in her inno-
cent young girlbood, and nearly deprived
her parents of life. And was there no pun
ishment melted to Butterworth the seducer?
Perhaps in the lonely hours when remorse
made him its prey, not otherwise. After
time he came back to his old haunts, and
while his offense was not condoned, yet at
least it was tolerated, and once more hand
some Ben was welcomed in society. A few
years afterwsrd he met wealthy Virginia
lady whom he married, and soon his name
began to appear as a politician of rising
power. In the year 1878 he was elected TO
represent the first congressional district of
Ohio in the 18th congress, and filed the po-
sition with credit to himself and friends.
Since that time he has figured in the po-
litical world in various positions. and last
week as is we'll known, he was appointed as
commissioner of patents under President
Arthur.
Honors have been given him and to-day
he sits in high places, but in nameless
grave on the shores of blue Lake Erie there
sleeps q victim for whose lost soul one day
Ben Butterworth, powerful, respected and
honored as he is, shall make answer to that
God who said, Vengeance is Nine