Mexico weekly ledger., 1884-10-23
HANGED.
Charley Butler, the Wife Murderer,
Hanged-His Sister.ln.law
Lives In Audrain.

Hanged-His Sister-in.Iaw
Lives I'm Audrain. t
Below we give on account of the J
hanging of Charley Butler, who kill
ed his wife in Ohio. The murdered I
lady was sister of Mrs. L. Botkin
of this city.
FIT. WAYNE, IND, October To-
Chas. w. Butler one Of the most
noted criminals in the State of Ohio,
and son of DIR. George Butler, a !
wealthy physician of Columbus, Ohio,
was executed at Columbia City, In
diana, to-day, for the murder Of Alb
bic Butler, his young wife, at Prince
ton, Ind, September %, 1884. Up
to last evening Butler preserved q
most stolid Indifference as to his aw-
full fate, but when advices were re-
ceived last night that the Supreme
Court and Governor had refused to
interfere in his behalf, Butler broke
completely down, and wept bitterly.
He asked for Catholic priest to ad-
minister spiritual consolation. Fa-
ther Pelhake responded, and admin
istered the rites of baptism and abso-
luton. The prisoner then retired at
1 O'Clock last night, slept soundly
until 5 o'clock this morning, arose,
dressed and partook of hearty
meal. The priest called this morning
hA cd
man until the execution. He assumed
again his stocial attitude, and had
very little to say, while the priest and
sheriff were with him. In his cell
Butler played several airs on his ac-
cordeon and, at 10 o'clock, took an
affective farewell of his sisters. Just
before the march to the scaffold he
played several airs on his ACCORDION,
concluding with song of farewell,
and then dancing, but was interrup-
ted by the sheriff's entering to read
the death warrant. At II O'Clock
the prisoner was handcuffed, and ac-
companied by the priest, sheriff and
deputies, marched to the scaffold.
Butler stepped near the drop and
made a rambling incoherent speech
of a few minutes, in which he said
that all connected with his trial and
execution would be sorry for it.
After the conclusion of his speech the
priest, prisoner and attendants knelt
in prayer, and when through, Butler
walked to the edge of the drop and
kicked viciously to see if it was solid
While the moose was being adjusted
and the black cap put over his head,
he cried out in pitious tones ''please
take this off; the rope is too tight
please loosen the rope, it amt right. "
The request was not needed. He
was assisted on to the drop. Al
12:OS the drop fell. Butler stood
too near the hinges of the drop anG
his descent was slow, his feet scrap
ing the drop. The moose, however
was adjusted properly. The body
writhed and quivered for some time
and In seven minutes he was pro
nounced dead from strangulation
Two hundred and fifty people wit
messed the execution. Immens'
Z crowds surrounded the jail, but ev
erything passed of peacefully, ant
the common verdict is "Butler diet
game"
BUTLER's CRIME.
Charley Butler was the son of DR.
George NJ. Butler of Colubus, Ohio
and was born less than thirty year
ago near Alton, Franklin county
Ohio. For years DR.. Butler prac
ticed his profession at Alton, ant
became very wealthy. He has TO
many years lived in Columbus. Il
the little village school of Alton
years ago, Charley Butler, as a bo,
of II, met Abbie Sheehan, th
/. daughter of farmer parents, livin
near the town. Often Mr.. Sheeha
came to Columbus and was dined a
the Butler mansion. AS a frequen
visitor at Alton, Charley kept up hi
acquaintance with and retaine
r an especial liking for abb
Sheean. She reciprocated his fee
ings for her, and kept up lovin
correspondence until her mothe
found it out and forbade it. Thi
). was when the girl was Is. When sh
II was 19, and her own mistress, sh
manifested much affection for th
young man, much to the disappoin
ment of her parents. 1t was know
in Columbus and Alton that Charlie
Butler was
NOT MODEL BOY,
and this united the opposition of tt
Sheenan family. This did NJ
discourage the persistent lover, and
few months later, in the fall of 1877;
the two were married, and then IL
parents could do nothing but accel
J the wild young man as son-in-lav
For time he was kept from dissip,
ton, but soon he became the Colun
bus synonym for all that was wicke
and reckless. Finally, after man
escapades in evil places, and mar
hours spent in the station house, !
threatened to kill his wife.
FOR THE THREAT TO KILL
and his violent actions Charley W,
put in the city prison at Columbu
, Fearing for her life, and tired of e
10 lstence with a brute, his wife can
to Pierceton, Ind, to make her futu
home with Ira j. Ryerson, relati
of the Butler family. She wrote hi
farewell letter before leaving,
which she made known her intenti
of leaving him forever. Butler a
m. swered the letter in brutal and J
semi-pathetic manner. He threaten
to kill her and the child if he had
walk to Indiana to find them.
September "a, 1888, Butler sent
appeal to Mayor Walcutt, asking
release. This appeal and prom
- caused the Mayor to let him o.
4 Butler raised some money and !
1I for Pierceton, Ind, at once.
- Friday he arrived at Plerceton. 81
urday afternoon he was very dru
and went to the Ryerson home.
> said that he wished to speak with