Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1897-09-16

William l. Book was born in Worth
twp. fifty years ago, and moved to Al
legheny twp. where ne engaged in tho
oil-producing business some fifteen
years ago
His family consisted of his wife nee
Nelson and two daughters. the eldest
of whom is married to Mr. Dunhle Of
Emlenton. His wife died last winter
His youngest daughter, Blanche. was
inclined TO be wayward and though ne
was kind to and aiTectionate with her
( he threatened to send her TO the Re
( form School, as she persisted in run
ming out nights and keeping company
+ that he disapproved Of
During the latter part of May last
Blanche left her home and went to live
with James Shaffer of that township
and shortly after appeared before Esq.
Lindsey and charged her father with
attempting TO rape her She went
/ back next dav and withdrew the
/ charge, and made excuses for making it,;
/ but about two weeks afterwards she
/ came TO Butler and made the same in
formation before Esq. Anderson, who
returned the case to Court She ap-
peared before the Grand Jury last week
and told what was apparently a
straightforward story, and the Grand
Jury found true bill against her
father
The case was on the trial list for this
week, and number of the people of
that neighborhood We're here as wit
nesses.
On Tuesday morning Of this week
Mr. Book told his brother that he had
passed a horrible night Worrying over
his troubles He entered the Court
room and took seat. perhaps by acci-
dent. behind his daughter and near TO
her and had been there but short
time when he got up and remarked to
his brother that he had a notion to
make short work of this thing-or
words to that effect His brother
reasoned with him, and William left
the room, end shortly afterwards word
came back that he had shot himself
He went directly to his room in the
Nixon House, and there, with a pistol
which he seems to have previously pos
sessed sent bullet through his head.
The bali entered his right temple Just
above the ear and lodged in his left
eye forcing the eye from its socket,
and it was found lodged in the bones
there and taken out. He fingered in
great agony till two O'Clock that after
noon, when death released him from
His lDnUpf -pfnsaI a him
His body was taken to Roessing's un-
dertaking room, and after being proper
ly prepared was taken to Lower Zion
church in Worth twp, for burial
The defense in this case is said to
have been perfect one, and would
have completely eXOnerated Mr.. Book
but on the other hand would have dis
graced the daughter, and seeing moth
ing but disgrace at either end of the
dilemma in which she had placed him,
he brooded over his troubles until his
mind gave away and the pistol did the
rest.
William Book had the goodwill and
respect of his neighbors, and was
known as a thoroughly honest and de
cent man, and his death under these
circumstances is as sad a one as has
ever happened in the county.
An inquest was held by the Coroner
with jury and the verdict was sui
eide. Book said, after he shot himself
that he had done it on account of his
trouble, and at the same time he as
serted his innocence of the charge
his daughter had made against him.
When the snot was heard in the
hotel. a rush was made for the room,
Book was found lying on the floor, his
head was covered with blood and his
left eye protruded from its socket. He
was placed on the bed, and asked where
the pistol was, and he motioned to the
floor, but the pistol had disappeared
and has not yet been found.
1t is said that Shaffer offered to set
tie the case for $1,000.