The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1883-08-15
BUTLER'S SPOONS.
The Governors Account of the
Origin of the Famous Story.

1hC OONOA AOA . ]ASSOAl1O
Origin of the Famous Story.
Louisville, July 25. = Now that
Ben Butler is making a fight on the
Tewksbury Almshouse platform for
the democratic nomination for
President, a story concerning his
most notorious public record will
be in order. Senator Beck of Ken
lucky, who has a great personal
fondness for the Massachusetts
statesman, is the authority for it.
When Butler was in Congress he
was sent to Nova Scotia, one mem
Der of committee to look into q
fishery question, and Beck was a
Senate member of the same COM
paittee. The trip occupied some
weeks, and the two became eX-
Iceedingly friendly, so much SC, in
fact, that the reports of it IN Ken~
lucky began to affect Beck's popu-
larity and he arranged a very
dramatic quarrel with Butler, which
was duly reported for Kentucky
consumption, and thoroughly
cleared Beck's home atmosphere.
The personal friendship Of the two
has never tagged, however. On their
return from Nova Scotia, Beck
stopped at Buffers residence at
NeW5uryport, and there for the first
time heard the origin of the famous
spoons story, as related by Butler
himself. There is tinge of romance
in it which is quite creditable to
the better feelings Of Butler and
presents him in the attitude of hav-
ing endured a great deal of Oppro-
brium rather than tell the true story
and thus by acquitting himself
plunge the family Of a neighbor
into grief and shame. Senator Beck
asked Butler for the origin OF the
scandal and it was told as follows:
THE FAMOUS SPOON STORY.
while l was in New Orleans
there were a number of complaints
brought to me Of private houses
being entered by soldiers and plum
dered of fine plate, pictures and
other valuable adornments that
struck the fancy of the
marauders. l referred these COM
plants to young officer on
my staff with orders to investigate
them strictly. He reported to me
that the complaints were greatly
exaggerated and had originated from
The Impudence and trespasses of
private soldiers. Complaints con-
tinued to come in, and on investi-
cation were similarly disposed of.
One day, while [ was in a rather bad
humor, prominent citizen of New
Orleans came to my office and re-
neWed the old cry. His house had
been invaded and stripped of all its
valuable ornaments, and he came to
me to recover them. If the United
States said he, has sent an army of
robbers down here, and robbery is
their object, very well, l can put. up
with it; but if robbery is not author
lied, then | want my property re,
stored
"Beiug out of temper I answered
him rather grufiy and told him that
l did not believe a word of his story;
that l had had numerous cases in
vestigated without finding any
truth in the report and that l
thought it was system Of = lies to
annoy the Union forces and attempt
to awaken sympathy. In consider
able passion | then ordered him
away and said l did not want to
hear any more such tales To my
surprise he said he did not care a
- who [ was or what | thought {;
that his valuables had been stolen
and he intended to complain when
ever 1t was necessary. He was SO
much in earnest that a thought
struck me, and 1 intended to test
him to the utmost.
"'Get out of my Office said l, in
Ifeigned passion, and stop these IyS
ing complaints or I'll have you
taken out and shot
"'Y0u may shoot and be -
Responded the indign int Creole, tbut
1 shall complain as long as body
of robbers and thieves plumber me-
"OrderlyP l cried, and an officer
appeared, Take a file of men and
shoot this rebel immediately
ROBBED BY A YOUNG OFFICER.
"The orderly went out and soon
returned with file of men. Ia the
meantime the Creole was express
ing his opinion Of the government,
its troops and myself in language SO
earnest and sincere that l could not
doubt the truth of his complaint.
! He continued il even after the