The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-18
EL0PED WITH A MULATfO
vILLAINoUs CONDUCT OF oxFoRD's
CITY MARSHAL.
A Wife and Two Promising Children
Deserted and Scandalized, All for a
Dusky Damsei of sixteen-Neighbors
to the Rescue.

Dusky Damsel OF Sixteen-Neighbors
to the Rescue.
There IL not more peaceful, refined
and pleasing little town To live in in
the whole country than Oxford, Miss. 1t
is, In fact, one of the classical centers OF the
south. The State University is located
there, besides an excellent female college.
1t Is beautiful, busy. but quiet place, and
an elevated, moral and religious sense
seems to pervade its most orderly popua-
ton Of 1000 souls.
But difficulties arise in the best regulated
familiesor communities and the high moral
sense Of Oxford has been shocked for the
past few weeks over n social sensation IN at
II most disgraceful in every par ocular.
TnE ArPEAL was advised OF II at the time,
but its information was followed by q re-
quest from reputable source asking that
the facts be withheld, rs there was
still doubt as 10 their credibili.
ty and that the chief offender
might yet turn up all right. and newspaper
publicity until the actual facts were ascer.
tanned would work injury 10 innocent par
ties. Therefore the request was complied
with; but all OF the facts are now known
and herewith given.
For the past ten years OF more Charles
Il. Butler has been the city marshal of the
town Of Oxford. lie had been born and
reared there and was highly respected by
the community, both on account of his
ability and uniform courtesy az an official.
Besides his family connections were most
respectable. His father before him had
filled responsible public trusts, and died in
Office with the respect Of all who knew
him. When young Butler asked for Office
he had but little difficulty IN getting il.
The best men in the town proncred as his
bondsmen. In fact, one OF the principal
questions put To candidates for council.
manic honoB was "Will yog vote to re-
tain Charley Butler as MARSHALL" 30 that
Il got TO be that competitions ceased 10 offer
themselves for Mr.. Buffers position, and
10 Tar ~ is known he might have lived
and died as the city marshal OF the
town. Butler was u peculiarly quiet
fellow, with several distinguishing feat
ures In the first place he was about the
ugliest man in the town, being low and
chunky in build but heavy In weight, and
one SIDE OF his face was birth marked,
being fiery red. giving him an appearance
which once seen was not easily forgotten.
lie was a married man, lived in one Of the
neat frame houses OF which the town
abounds. with his wife aud two children
n boy now Of seventeen years, and bright,
pretty daughter Of fourteen. They were
well ncognized socially, and for aught the
world knew lived happily and comfortably
until last November. Butler left Oxford
on the 18th Of that month and has not yet
returned. lie left ostensibly 10 70 10
Kansas Tor the purpose Of arrcs;ing and
bringing back TO trial two negroes, who
had some time before burglarized car ON
the Illinois Central railroad ut Abbeyille,
station about twelve miles north OF OK.
ford. Butler had been gone three or four
weeks without sending any message
10 his wife or friends, aud becoin-
ing uneasy, fearful that in his
attempt Ia arrest the negro, he had been
killed, she tclegraphed 10 several places
In Kansas In the vicinity OF where no
stated he was going. but received no It'd
ing from him.
A short while afterward some resident
in Chicago who had formerly lived in Ok
ford, and knew Butler well, saw in one Of
the daily papers there that he had filed a
bill for divorce against his wife nj Oxford
The information was transmitted 10 But.
lcr's home, and then IL dnwncd upon The
wiie, who was almost frantic with grief
and her friends, that the day after Butler
left home, Mana Rose, bright aud de-
cidedly cOmcly mulatto Girl, about sixteen
years old, accompanied by her mother,
had taken q norih-bound train, and had
bought tickets for Memphis. A rigid In.
quiry WIS commenced all along the line.
and ut Chicago, as 10 the grounds for
divorce. IL was asceriained that when
Butler left he came 10 thi- city and
uwaitcd the arrival Of the negro girl and
her mother, who followed the next day.
They stopped here several DAYS, aud then
Took a iuiin for Chicago. The complaint in
the bill Of divorce was adultery on tl,.
part ol his wife, and the mans name in.
volyed IN the charge, had formerly lived
nj Oxford, but had been dead five years,
and no one know IL better than But
Ter, and that this dead man had borne an
unblcmi-hed character all his life, and
left q wife and several children whom he
WIS devoted TO. lie had this negro girl
and her mother 10 appear M witnesses In
the Chicago court to subsianiiatc tho foul
and groundless charge he hal brought
against his wife, woman whose correct
ncsH OF character there never was or could
be, from the Christian life she had lived
mss wife and mother, the least faint Of
suspicion.
Aud what was MI this for? That he
might marry TIM dusky cyprian. Inquiry
nj home revealed this fact, for IL WIS
ut last found out, that for several months
prior TO his leaving, Butler had been lille.
iuy intimate with the girl, aud hat IL wis
only prctext that he was going a. look
for robbers. His real intention was 20 20 TO
Chicago, yet divorce from his wife and
marry this negro girl. hut be Il said
oven TO the crcdit Of Chicago
divorce court, Il did not deem the
allegations set forth sufficient, and refused
% grant the decree. II IA kiRxn that
Butler, determined not TO be thwarted In
his disgraccful design, procured mar.
riage license for himself aud the girl, but
whether they were married II not yet M.
certaincd. They were secii In Chicago
together several times aitcrward, and left
thcrc for some point further wcst along in
December, taking the girls mother with
them. Where they are nov Mrs Butler
nor any of her friends know.
The poor wife and children arc incon.
solablc with grief ut the shame and Ills.
s-xncs, that haa heeo hrous,l,t ,,,.n,, fl...,..