Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1894-06-01
An Interesting Account of the Career
of the Man Now Notorious
in Washington.
Incidents In His Life Prior to His
Alleged Connection With
Sugar Bribery. "
A Pyrotechnic and Sensational Career
Beginning With Services Dur
ing the War.
Major Buttz' History.

~ ON~
of the most prominent of North Da-
kotans at the present time, because of
his connection with the sugar bribery
scandal, is Major G. W. Buttz. The
gentleman in question is a pretty we'll
known figure here, and some of his his
tory may be interesting, in the light of
his present notoriety:
Maj. G. w. Buttz was born in Penn
sylvania and taken by his father when a
small child to Buttzville, N. j., where
his parents still reside. His father being
a mill owner, he learned the miller's
trade. At the commencement of the
war, he enlisted in a New Jersey regi-
ment, and was elected as first lieuten-
ant, which was his actual rank, during
the entire war, but he was twice
brevetted, once as captain and once as
major, for gallant and meritorious service
in the line of duty. Having contracted
chronic diarrhna, he was discharged
from the hospital as unfit for service,
and because of his disabilities, he now
draws a pension of $50 a month.
At the time of his discharge he settled
in Norfolk, Va, where he studied law,
became a successful prohibitioner, and
married the niece of an ex-governor of
that state, who died three years after the
marriage, her child dying at the same
time, and he has never since married.
He was chief lieutenant of General
Malone, and as such, organized the
rump convention that nominated Gov
ernor Walker, the first governor nomi-
mated in opposition to the regular demo-
cratic party in Virginia.
While General Butler was in COM
mand at Norfolk, he conceived the idea
that Buttz was interfering in some manner
with certain branches of the army, or
dered him arrested, placed him upon a
steamer, and took him outside the mill
tary district. Buttz at once proceeded
to Washington, and at a public reception
held by the president, told his grievances
showed his commission as lieutenant,
his orders of brevet, and honorable dis
charge, and on the back of the discharge
which Buttz still has, the president
endorsed this request: General
Butler: A young man, the bearer
of this, has told me of his diff
ference with you. I think there is room
enough at Norfolk for both of you. A.
Lincoln"
Buttz at once returned to Norfolk,
where he was arrested and taken before
General Butler, to whom he showed
the order. Butler took away his dis
charge and the order, which was after
ward surrendered to him.
At the close of the war, BUTTE organ
lied a mining scheme, and proceeded to
London and Paris, where he succeeded
in negotiating the bonds of the company
for $1,50O,000, and while on the way from
Paris to London to get the bonds, for de-
livery which bonds were deposited in what
was supposed to be one of the strongest
banks in England, the bank failed, and
the entire issue of bonds went into the
hands of a bankrupt court. Since that
time, the state department has been
called upon by several foreign govern
ments, making inquiry about the mining
corporation.
Major Buttz visited Europe three
times in following this project, and lost
$4,000. He then went to Charleston,
S.. c., where he was elected states at.
torney for the city and county of Charles.
ton. During his term of Office, impeach-
ment proceedings were brought against
him for corruption, and he was tried by
the state legislature, which acquitted
him. A vacaLcy having occurred by the
death OF a congressman, he ran for con-
gress against Judge Mackey "a cousin of
the Mackey who created such a sensa-
ton at Bismarck a few years ago. in
what was known as the 'shoe-string dis
trlct.' His election was contested, and
it was decided by congress that the cleo
ton was illegal, and a new one was had.
He was elected the second time, and took
his seat two months before the expira-
ton of the Forty-seventh congress-. Quo
warranto proceedings were brought
against him in supreme court, and Moses,
chief justice, having died, his office of
states attorney was declared vacant, be-
cause he had accepted the office OF con-
gresham. He was about this time pros
trated by a stroke of partial paralysis,
and came to Dakota in 1880, for the pur-
pose of recuperating his health. Set
Ting at Fargo, he kbecame the attorney
of Poronto, a half-breed Indian, who
claimed one-half of the present townsite
of the city Of Fargo.
He won the case in the district and
supreme court of the territory, but was
defeated in the United States supreme
court. During the tendency Of the suit,
Paronto had died, and Buttz became
executor Of his estate, by virtue Of a will
drawn by Buttz, which allowed him to
qualify without bonds. In 1882, he began