Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-05-06
S. N. BUTCHER ARRESTED
Fee Killing The Cottons, in Bling.
ham Canyon In 1878.
HE WAS ONCE ACQUITTED.
He Shows This, and Is Released on
His Own Recognizance.

Gabriel and Bert. The fatal shots
were fired by Samuel NJ. Butcher,
more generally known as ''Sod'i
Butcher. The latter was arrested,
and a month later had a trial and
was acquitted by jury, the justifi-
cation being self-defense.
1t has been rumored recently that
Mrs. Cotton was determined to have
the matter again brought up, and
she has been successful, for last
nights r. G. w. train from Bing-
ham carried Deputy Marshal Bush
and Mr.. Butcher, the latter under
arrest He was placed in the peni-
Tertiary, and was to have had a pre-
limiDary examination today, but
the grand jury having found an in
dictment charging the defendan;
with murder, in having killed Ga
briel Cotton, no hearing will be had
till the case comes up In the district
court.
Mr.. Butcher was seen today, and
gave the following account Of the
tragedy:
The trouble took place on the 24th
of July, 1873. There was a man
named Kirk up there, and he and /
had some trouble that day, and We
came near having a fight. We did
not, however, for when we were
feeling pretty warm, Kirk said, 81
am not able 10 fight you, but will
find some one who is" He then
went away.
1 thought it was all over, and
went about my business. Pretty
seon Kirk and Cotton came back. /
said to Kirk, 81 suppose you have
come to settle that trouble?" he
made no reply, but Cotton broke in
and said, "fOu go into the house
You - b-.3
1 replied, "COtton, Eve got moth
ing against you You have nothing
to do with this affair, and / want no
trouble. I've nothing against you,
and If you have anything against
me, I'll be glad to correct it.
l then got into the house, for was
a little efraid Of the old man Cotton.
I knew him 10 be a dangerous man,
and / had been warned that he and
his sons wanted an opportunity TO
kill me. When l went into the
house, Cotton and Kirk continued
on their way up to Mumford's.
Sol. Gee, who now lives in TOoele,
and VIM. Taylor, whose present
whereabouts l do not know, came
up to have a pick sharpened, and /
helped them. Then we all went
into a tent by the side Of the house,
and took dinner with my family.
After dinner / came out Of the
tent, and was surprised to see Gabe
Cotton, Jr., sitting on his horse in
front OF the door. He had double
barreled shot gun, and dropped it on
me. Then he ASKED where his father
was.
| moved close to my door, and
replied, "He's gone up to Num-
ford's with Kirk.
Gabe then raid. "Iou're n -
- liar"
| jumped into the house and
seized my shot gun, which was
loaded with buckshot. He cooked
his gun, and saw that he meant to
shoot me. l had nothing left but 70
fire first, i'll could, or be killed, so l
let him have it IN the breast and
- II. eli ha.t-rar.fS - this.
ground. His gun did not go of, but
il was still cooked, and would have
gone Off soon only l acted promptly.
Deputy Sheriff Saunders Afterwards
drew the loads from his gun. and
found niue buckshOt in each barrel
l knew old Gate Cotton would be
on me, so reloaded my gun IL was
mouse trying to get away, for L had
no chance. In about ten minutes
Cotton and his son Bert came.
Cotton saw the dead man lying on
the ground. and asked, WHO Is
that you've got there?"
I knew that If l told him he
would drop me, so answered, "f on
had better go and see"
[ knew he would shoot SO j
backed around TO my yard on the
south side Of the house, and in front
Of the tent. had my gun in my
hand.
Cotton stepped up, and seeing
who it was on the ground, ex-
claimed, .sOh, God! it's my son."
He ierked his revolver and began
shooting. tell you he was pretty
quick. / dodged about, so as to spoil
his aim, and he got in three shots.
I could not get time TO steady my
gun and fire, go l held it by my
side, and shot at random. The
charge caught him in the breast,
and he tOppled over dead
| turned and looked toward Bert
who had been back. He was riding
towards me and opened fire. L drew
my pistol and shot at him, the
bullet getting him in the left side Of
the head, close 10 the eye He fell
I from his horse. don't know nov
long ne lived. but IL was very little
lime after he was hit, If at all.
in the meantime, Ben Taskeri
who was on the north side oil my
house, and about a hundred yard:
away. opened fire on me. He had
breech-loading rife, and could JUS
see INV head over the tent, wher'
nv children were at the dinnel
table. Tasker fired five shots at me
and the bullets went through thu
tent. and came close TO me. IL wa
| lust luck that none of the children
were hit.
Gee was at the back OF the house
and saw the whole thing. Taske
kept ON shooting, 30 started ate
him, and he broke and ran over the
hill Ikea wolf
While this was going on a man
named Thompson had got into the
house; how | do not know. saw
him there. aud ordered him of
That evening we found a knife
which he had hidden under the Pill
low. but he got no chance to use II
A while after Mrs Cotton and on,
of her sons came and took th'
bodies.
[ remained al the house til
Deputy Sheriff Sanders came down
He had no warrant for me, but ]
gave myself up, and was taken to
| Salt Lake. In August, 1873, | wa:
tried in the probate court, before
Judge Smith and a jury. Judge
| Snow prosecuted and Mr.. Burmes
ter was my attorney. The jury
brought In a verdict of not guilty,
and / was released. thought that
ended the matter. | would never
have shot the Cottons, but had TO,
or they would have killed me on my
own ground. They had a bitter
feeling against me. / was in their
way, and lad Keen warned that