The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-01
BUTLER'S QUEER ACTS
ASKS TO BE LOCKED UP AND PRE-
VENTED FROM LEAVING TOWN.
Rejoicing mt HIS Home Over the Final
Clearing Up of the Mystery of
His Disappearance.

man, who has created so much excitement by
disappearing and then turning up in In
dianapolis with no recollection of how II
happened, occupied the time and attention
of the police again last night. For time
it was thought he had disappeared a sec
ond time and search was begun for him.
Late yesterday afternoon Mr.. Butler
called upon Superintendent Powell and made
the strange request that he be locl1d up
until his brother arrives. He said he had
a longing, which he was unable to under
stand, to leave this city. He had found
himself headed for the Union Station sew
eral times during the day and, fearing he
would stray away before his brother came,
he asked to be detained The Superintend-
ent replied that he had no authority to
lock him up, but that he might remain
a. headquarters if he wished to do
Mr.. Butler took a seat by window and
sat for more than an hour watching passers-
by and talking to the officers who came in.
While he was sitting thus, a well dressed
man entered and, walking to the ex-Con-
gresham, seized him by the hand and
said, cordially:
We'll. Walt am indeed glad to see you
II am alive and in the best of health"
replied Mr.. Butter, land | must say my
friends who, think me dead or insane, are
badly mistaken
The well-dressed stranger gave the name
OF ID. G. Philips and said he was an at
torney from Oelwein and sent here to
identify Mr.. Butler. He said there was no
mistake about Mr.. Buffers Identity a
consultation with Superintendent Powell
followed. Mr.. Phillips took from his pocket
a circular containing a description of the
man before him, who was thought to be
He has a small scar on his neck" Mr..
SYes, here it is" replied Mr. Butler.
! pointing to scar below his ear
He had one false TOOTH" continued Mr..
Here is the TOOTH answered Butler as
he drew false tooth from his vest pocket,
and then explained, Il am not wearing it
He generally wore a low collar and a
black string tie and always carried gold
pencil in his upper vest pocket" the cir
cular went on to explain
Gentlemen, you see the collar and tie,
replied Mr.. Butler, ''and here is the pencil"
He drew a small pencil from his pocket and
then added, Il guess there is no doubt
Mr. Phillips related to the Superintendent
the circumstances of Mr.. Buffers disap-
pearance: Thursday. Nov. %. he notified
Normal, that he was suffering with Sc
we're headache and would have to be ex-
Later he was seen in the neighborhood Of
the depot, but no one noticed him get on a
train and n his WHEREABOUTS have been
was in this city. The theory of murder is
| prevalent at Oeiwein and the reward of
body than for A clew to his whereabout IT'S
Superintendent Powell turned Mr. Butler
over to Mr.. Phillips and the two left the
| building together. They had not been gone
thirty minutes when the following tele-
| gram was received from James Butler:
mo one is authorized to act in the But
| Oelwen."
This telegram aroused in the minds of the
police another doubt and the case became
more complex. Had Mr.. Butler been de-
coyed away again? officers were sent out
| but no trace of the two men could be
| found superintendent Powell evidently be-
times from his home. Hours passed and
| Shortly before Midnight the ex-Congress-
man came walking leisurely into head
eaa snd sf fer home OH ga late frap
HE thinks I off in my head" Mr..
| Butler remarked, referring to Mr.. Phillips,
| rest Of them out in Iowa"
rs there any insurance upon your life?'
| the reporter asked
about $780," was the answer at have
| little property and some debts. If the prop
erty was sold and the debts paid I would
! be about even with the world.
| MIR. Butler was given room for the
night in the female department. The po-
easiness of the brother, who seems deter
| mined in his belief that ex-Congressman
! Butler is dead and that the indianapolis
| man is an impostor. He has asked for de-
scrptions, has requested that photographs
| be taken, but has shown no disposition to
| come here and clear the matater up al
though he might have reached here since
learning of his brothers whereabouts. His
actions may be accounted for, to some ex-
! tent, by the following reward offered at
| Oelwein, which shows that the theory of
murder predominates there:
| "a reward of $500 is offered by the city of
Oelwein for the recovery of the murdered
| body of Walter HI. Butler, if found at or in
| the vicinity of Oelwein or Fairbank Ia,
| within three months.
within three months
Mr.: Butler is evidently popular man at
| his home. Late last night the following
| telegram was received from Oelwein:
| 'ThiS city is all excitement TONIGHT over
| news that positively clears away all doubts
! as to the safety and welfare of Hon. Walt
| H. Butler The Mayor purchased all the
| fireworks to be had and grand Nominations
are being made"