The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1890-04-17
A Terrible Tragedy in Broad
Open Day.
\ CITIZEN OF CLINTON
MURDERED IN COLD
BLOOD.
The Verdict of the Coroncr's
jury.
THE DYING MANS DECLARATIONS
he RECOGNIZES HIS MURDERER.
The Murderer Stif1 mt Large.


On last Saturday evening; the
18th, our town was shocked by
a cold blooded murder, the most
bold, desperate and dastardly
deed ever committed during the
history of our pretty, law-abid-
ing and hospitable town.
Mr.. Ed. n. Butler was the vic
tim Of the shocking tragedy. IIis
residence Is on Elizabeth street,
on the hill just over Dollars
Branch. The thick undergrowth
Of this branch on the east side
of the street has not yet given
way to the tread of growth and
progress, which is making such
rapid strides in other quarters.
In this thicket, just back of the
fence, the alnhushe6 murderer
was concealed. His victim left
his residence a. 1:l5 p. M and
started, unsuspectingly, down
the sidewalk on the opposite
side of the street. When about
one hundred yards from his res
ideuce, within twenty yards OF
the hedge, the deamon, from
ambush, fired upon him. The
report was loud and deadly, that
of a gun much overloaded. The
load went crushing through But
ler's body. He did not fall, but
stood dazed for moment, then
leaned against tho fence. The
murderer. fearing that his hell
ish deed was not effected. stood
up from his hiding and began
to reload his gun. Butler then
followed fhr help, whereupon
his wife, who was standing on
the porch and saw the dreadful
tragedy, and several men at
work near ran to his assistance.
The murderer fled. Butler wa
borne to his house ard DIR. Ste
vens was summoned. He made
an examination and found that
the wound was large and ugly.
The missel. whatever it was,
certainly something larger than
a rifle balD had fractured the
upper part Of the hip bone. pass
ed through the bowels and lodg-
ed in the spinal column. The
doctor shook his head and can
didly told his patient that lac
must prepare to meet his God,
that his limit Of life could not
be more than forty-eight hours.
The doctor did all ia the power
of his profession to relieve the
sufferings Of tie unfortunate
man till the end should come.
On Monday at 1915, jnst forty
seven hours after the fatal shot.
his spirit passed into enternity.
DIR. II. II. Holiday, the coron-
; er, summoned the following ju-
~: VIM. A. Johnson, J. A Fer
, rell, w. S. Peterson, B. y. Hobbs,
, r. &. Holmes and Abner Merritt.
, The coroner and the jury inme-
, diately decided to have q post
mortem examination made,
! which was done by DR.. J. A.
: Stevens, the County Superin-
tedent of Health, assisted by
Dr.. K. II. Holiday. They re-
: ported that the a:issel after en-
lering the upper part of the
right hip penetrated the righi
decending coon Zone of the
large intest nes) and lodged in
! the spina! column, shattering 1t,
E either one of which wounds
would have caused death The
d doctors found the missei, which
1 was not a bullet, but piece oi
half inch rod Of steel about
J. one and one-fourth inches in
: le"gth. 1t was fiattened and
o sharp and ragged at one ead
just as chopped off at some
blacksmith shop The report
OF the doctors uu the autopsy
), together with the slug, was sent
: into the jury. The dying dec
: lara iDi o! the murdered man,
' stating that lie recognized his
r murderer, had been taken. This
was also placed before the jury
y The jury then examined seveIa
witnesses and then proceeded
to make up the verdict. which
a will not be disclosed, but re
/. ported TO the next term o.
d Sampson cou t, according to law
The deceased was a son oi
Mills Butler, and was As year:
{. of age. He leaves wife and
- eight or nine children. 1t was
,r touching to see The infant child
D, just beginning TO walk and hav.
ing learned to partially articu.
late only tive words, toddIine
'e about calling out papa mann
e mai" all unconscious that an
= assassin's hand bad left it al
IorDhan.