Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-01-13
CHARGED NTH LB[L
S. c. Butte. of stanhope, Gets
Into Jail Because OF Queer
Actions.
Published Story Accusing For-
mer Citizen Of Eldora OF
Highway Robbery.
The Insanity Commission De-
clared Him Accused
OF Criminal Libel.
speclal TO mes-RepublIcan.

Webster City, Jan. 13-S. c. Butte, OF
Stanhope a, small village south of here,
was taken from this city to Eldora last
night by officers from the latter named
place to answer to the charge of GRIM
inal libel Mr.. Butte was first brought
to Webster City to appear before the
commissioners Of insanity. He Was ex-
amined by them and dismissed. He was
dismissed rot because ne was not
known 10 be demented but because he
was thought To be harmless. He is the
victim OF q strange and almost unneard
OF hallucnation. Mr.. Butte believes
Himself to be the heir 10 much money
richer in fact than the ancient Croesus
or the modern aLorgans or Nanderbilts-
He thinks that this pile Of wealth is
w'ronsfGiiy in the possession of other
parties whom he persists in harrassin&
for it. Many Webster City citizens and
prominent people in this section OF
Iowa have been for some time past re-
ceiving letters from this harmless
lunatic demanding that they return
him his money. Mr.. Butte has 4 literary
bent He writes well. About two
weeks ago he wrote an article to the
Des Moines state Register entitled . An
Iowa ReIniniscence' The article was
written in remembrance of early Iowa
days. 1t related that years ago MI.
Butte had come into possession OF
draft for $40. 900 from a Dubuque lottery
deal That while on his way home ov-
er,land he was attacked by masked
sfssf,t 4 .f ;,Al1 ~
boat Rock who relieved him OF his
draft Ire article described the rob-
berry in detail making very readable
article concluded by recitins that j. =.
Snyder-now deceased-of Eldora had
later confessed that he was the ronper
and that the money was deposited IN
an Eldora bank The whole story was
of course a mere fabrication which had
originated in Mr.. Butes brain. The
Register had been imposed upon. Pre-
vious to the appearance of this srue!e
in the Register he had writtrA threat
ening letters to Mrs. Snyoer demanding
that she return him his money No at
tention was paid to these letters until
the article In question was published.
1t maligned deeply Mr. Snyder's good
name and reputation and caused the
charge of criminal libel to be preferred
against Mr.. Butte.
Upon every other subject than that of
his supposed moneys Mr.. Butte is as ra-
tienal as anyone and discusses with in
telligence current topics He is an ex-
ceilent conversationalist upon any sub
ject except the money question. HIS all
ment is most mysterious. The Web
ster Citians who have letters from this
strangely affected man have paid no at
tention to them, knowing their author
to be irresponsible.
AS soon as the Eldora authorities
found out that Mr.. Butte had been dis
missed by the insane commissioners
they ordered him detained. Sheriff SUIT
ton held him here. He was taken by
the authorities TO Eldora where he will
appear before Judge Whitaker tomor-
row. Unless the judge prevent this pc
cularly affected man will be held 10 the
grand jury 10 answer to the charge OF
criminal libel.