Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-06-18

evening. He told her that he had drank
enough to kill two men. She never
heard him threaten to take his life.
Frances Butcher, sad looking
woman, the widow of William,
said she left home last Saturday,
Her husband seemed to be out OF
his mind and threatened TO take her
life. He threatened only when he was
drinking. When sober he was like an
other man. lie had been on spree
week and two days, and during that
period WINS worse than ever before. She
identified a razor and an empty lauda-
mum bottle which were shown her.
Fannie Peregoy, neighbor OF the
deceased, said she was on her doorstep
until II. As o'clock. She knew nothing
nor heard anything. He was nearly
played out when when he returned
home In the afternoon. When sober he
was quiet but when he drank he acted
like he had not good sense. Once he
| chased his wife with a knife. She never
saw the brothers quarrel.
James Murphy testified to discover
| ing the corpse and calling to Mrs OAR
rell. William was lying on his back, on
the floor by the door, with his hands
crossed over his breast. Edward was
living alongside the corpse. The head
Of the latter was towards the door, as
were also Edwards feet. Witness
touched Edwards shoes and asked him
what was the matter. Without replying
the latter arose and went to the kitchen.
Eva Schoen, who resides next door 10
where William Butcher lived stated
that she had been rowing during the
evening and did not return home until
II O'Clock. William then was lying on
the lounge and Edward on the floor
She heard both men talking, and Mt 1
o'clock Tuesday morning they We're
noisy. At go o'clock she heard moans
ing. The two brothers were the only
persons in the house. She never heard
William talk of taking his life.
Edward Peregoy declared he never
heard William threaten TO take his life.
Police Officer Sherer told of his visit
to the home of the deceased He found
Edward asleep in chair and William
lying dead on the floor. The latter's
face was downward and his back was
covered with blood. The lounge was
soaked with blood and William evil
IDENTIFY had rolled OF IL Edward also
was covered with blood and when wit
|
When asked by the officer why he
killed his brother Edward made no
reply lie did not realize why he had
been arrested until he had been taken
to the police station. He possibly got
blood on him by lying alongside his
brother When intoxicated William
was boisterous and troublesome.
Catharine Murphy testified that
IL s. la,
morning and stated that his wife would
not get in and somebody would get
killed Early in the evening she saw
him walking aroun and then he was
looking good. During the evening she
did not hear word.
Edward Butcher next was sworn.
lie was brought in from cell and had
not vet gotten rid of the stupor result
ing from his debauch. lie stated that
accompanied by James Quail and two
, Italians whose names he did not know
but with whom he worked, he went 10
Williams house, where he remained all
night. He could not tell the hour when
the party reached there nor when his
companions departed. He had So, the
remainder Of s$12, which he had gotten
from woman named Conner for the
, purpose of paying a bill, He gave
William 30 cents and sent him aftei
beer. When it had been drunk he
, himself went after another 81
/, cents worth. lie went to Pere
, goy's fence, tapped and the beel
was handed over to him, There
: was no quarreling. He got knocked
: out after the last bottle of beer, and
knew nothing from the time he lay or
. the floor until he was awakened yester
1 day morning. His brother, he said, ht
thought was in a rocker the last time ht
saw him subsequently he said hi
a meant that his brother was in the rockel
: when he first went 10 the house. Boil
T had been drinking for several days
Witness lower lip was injured, but h,
could not tell how the injury was In
tlicted. The whole party was pretty
/ full. lie never heard his brother sal
. anything about taking his life, and wheI
] he went to the house his brother did no
. come out and make him sit on the steps
I Detective McVey said he had had in
g terviews with nearly all the witnesses
a and the statements of Edward Butche
!, on the witness stand were nearly tn
y same as those he had made to him. Ed
! ward told him that he accused hi
4 brother of putting his hand in his ed
a ward's) pocket, and in the next breatl
: Edward denied that he had made tn
accusation. Mr.. McVey knew tn
r, brothers for several years, and the,
4 seemed to get along together splendidly
$ Edward was taken back TO his cell
6 and after Mr.. McVey had been re
) quested to search for Quail and the tw
e Italians the jury adjourned until las
q night.
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