The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-10-11

to the police, was often arrested, ana as otten
got out of trouble by the influence and money of
his father. Finally, after many escapades in
evil places, and many hours spent in the station
house, he threatened to kill his wife. This was
over year ago, while they were both living in
Columbus
In their years Of married life bright boy
had been born to them, and did much to keep
them together. For the threat to kill and his
violent actions, Charley was put in the city
prison at Columbus. But short time before
his mother had died. land Charley's wife lost
good friend, Fearing for her life and tired of
existence with brute, she came TO Plerceton,
Ind, to make her future home with Ira j. Ryer-
son, q relative of the Butler family, She came
in September 1888 while her husband was fun
ing and fretting behind the bars She wrote
him farewell letter before leaving In which
she made known her intention of leaving him
forever
Butler answered the letter in brutal, and yet
semi pathetic manner He threatened to kill
her and the child, if he had to walk to Indiana
to find them. On Sept. "a, 1888, Butler sent a
hypocritcal and pathetic appeal to Mayor wal
| cutt asking for release He gave his word of
honor that he would be a man and quit olsslpa-
ton This appeal and promise caused the mayor
! to let him out. Butler raised some money by
selling his wife's piano for $50, and left for
Pierceton Ind, at once He was drinking hard
when he left. On Friday he arrived at Pierce
ton Saturday afternoon he was very drunk,
and went to Ryerson's home with Mr.. Ryerson.
| He said that he wished to speak with his wife,
and was given permission. He became violent
as he talked, and she jumped up to leave, as she
| feared his threat would be carried out AS she
| turned her back to leave he fired, as only
| brute and coward can, to shoot detenseleSs
woman He fired twice and one large bullet
| crashed through her back, between the should
ers, and lodged near the base of the brain She
fell by the door, with scream, and the muir
derer walked over her body into the open air and
commenced crying He did rot have the cour-
age to kill himself and rid the world of human
devil.
| He submitted to arrest and was taken to War
saw. Ind. He would have been lynched on the
way had it not been that his wife was not yet
dead and was reported better. However, she
died few hours later. and her body was brought
| to Columbus by DIR. Butler and j. L. Sheehan, a
brother OF the deceased She was buried by the
side of Mrs Butler in the Columbus cemetery.
| Butler was kept in Jail in this town, and made
| great sensation last winter by escaping There
was a mystery about his disappearance and 1t
was suspected that he had powerful confeder-
ates
| He won't from here into northeast Ohio and
made ms way down to Alton and billiards IN
| Franklin county He was for several days IN
that locality and seen by sAyeral people who
knew him. He was staying with relatives and
| getting drunk every day. The Columbus police
were notified, yet did nothing, The sheriff OF
| this county finally went to Columbus and cap
tured the criminal at billiards. Hehad several
| hundred dollars whens found and had nothing
when in jail
| THE TRIAL
The trial lasted five long weeks, day and
night 1t proved to be one of the most cele-
brated trials yet heard in Indiana. The plea of
| insanity was entered and about 200 witnesses
testified The cost was about $4,000 to his
father, and So 900 to the county Many expert
witnesses in the medical and surgical fraternity,
both in Ohio and Indiana called to testify
in Buffers behalf. Speculation wild as to
the outcome of the case, and the desire of the
people was gratifed when the v~suict was an
nounced-'death by hanging" transcript
was fled with the Governor who, on the 4th
of October, called in person upon several promi
nent men and learned the feeling of the people,
and also interviewed Butler, but all to no avail.
This morning. at the very last moment, the
prisoner, by his counsel, asked the Governor to
suspend sentence in order that the question
lating to dispositions might be presented as a
federal question to the Supreme Court of the
United States but as there had been abundant
time after the sentence had been pronounced, II
the cause had been seasonably presented on ap-
peal TO have submitted the cause as federal
question-if it can be believed to be at best
and an effort to reverse a privilege given to
the prisoner at his own request, the Governor
felt that he should not interfere with the course
of justice by suspending the execution of the
sentence.
The case was fairly tried in different county
| from that III which the crime was committed,
and the court, in its sentence, said of the jury
| that it was composed OF the purest most intelli
gent and most conscientious men of the county.
In sentencing the prisoner, the court said:
You have not been unduly fastened either in the
preparation presentation of your No right
has beer trampled upon or denied, or grudgngly
given. No legal principle has been violated or safe
guard of human liberty broken down, but the majesty
of the law of this land, in quiet unobtrusive way
has in the result reached asserted itself believe
so as TO command the respect ana commence OF your
self and those who have ably represented you and
in such manner to demonstrate that the safety of
the public is not in outbursts of passion and violence
and that after all, while the law moves slowly
times, it with certainty, deals honorably and
Justly with human rights, with liberty and life.
will not undertake here to review the evidence which
surtains the verdict but allusion to a link in it may
not be out of place. Your poor wife without doubt
had the very best opportunity to know your mental
state. While she had, it is true, the inexperence
womans intuition, which is often more reliable than
the Judgment of those more learned. She lived with
you saw you, knew you as none other could She fled
from you for her life, through many weary miles of
travel forsakng home and friends. Her
manly intuition read in your words and acts
| in Ohio that her life in peril. At Ryersons
when your feet upon the stairway, it to her
the premontion of DEATH and she again fed to the
hallway until assured by your words that you had
murderous weapon and at the fatal moment she
again the alert. Her fight from home her keen
wachfulness of you at every step at your approach
and in Ryerson's house. her quick perception of
danger and attempted escape, is high evidence that
the belief that her life danger had settled down
upon her in Ohio driven her out and made her keenly
fearful of your slightest approach. She knew your
mental state Her letter to you, her acts toward you
most convincing proof that she who once loved
you knew so much, believed you sane
The evidence proves that you followed
her from Ohio with threat of murder your lips;
that you shot her down in cold blood under the roof
where she sought shelter and protection, Nay, it
proves more 1t proves that you placed the loaded
revolver to your own head, contemplated your own
life that you had sufficient mind to reason that if
you pulled the trigger it would launch your soul
into eternity; that you able to resist and
come this impulse to kill Yourself to desst from it.
Under this and the mountain of proof in this cause
the court can not interfere with the verdict.
The Pulpit for Blaine.
Philadelphia Press.
=