The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1904-02-11
THE BUTLER CASE.
Judge Graves 0verrules Demur-
rer and Sends Case Before
Jury With Statement That to
DO Otherwise Would Be Trav-
esty on Justice.
esty on Justice.

~ OutOt Woo VVutu w tfus
esty on Justice.
Fulton, Mo-, Feb. 6-Following q
strong summary Of the States case
by Judge Graves, in which he declar-
ed that upon such showing 1t would
be "travesty upon justice" to take
the case away from the jury, Edward
Butler took the stand in bis own be.
hall and disclosed that it is the pur.
pose OF his defense to deny In detail
all the essential statements sworn to
by the confessed members Of the for.
mer boodling combine.
The unfolding Of this programme
was distinctly apparent when four OF
Buffers witnesses had completed
their precisely told testimony this
evening.
They were: Butler himself, Ed.
Butler, Jr., William Devine and p. j..
Laughlin, both foremen in the en-
ploy OF Ed. Butler & Sons, horse
shoers.
In the history OF all the Doodle
trials never has one day been so full
OF incident as to-day.
Until $50 in the afternoon But.
ler's accusers recited their damaging
testimony.
Having been over it before they
were clear on every point, never fal-
tering, never hesitating, answering
cross.examinatlon without sign OF
embarrassment, each contributing
toward a convincing total-a closely
woven circumstantial case against
the defendant.
DOODLE NARRATIVE
AsToUNDs CITIZENS.
The two Murrells, Helms, Tam
blyn, Robertson and Schumacher
sold a story which astounded the
residents OF this quiet county. Many
OF them embarked that they had read
d the st. Louis Doodle deals, but
theg had never dreamed OF the enor-
nifty Of the conspiracy formed by
chat combine nor of its wholesale pi-
, racy, oil the astounding venality OF
= which the corrupt Legislators were
guilty.
Each told now often he was bribed,
which was 80 often he could not keep
count. Each told the highest amount
he had received and the lowest.
lEach declared that he had regarded
the matter as merely business" and
nota i)raach of public confidence and
crust.
The effect Of the jury may we'll be
imagined. All wore expressions OF
extreme astonishment,
Some sat open mouthed during the
recitals; Others frowned; Others we're
Inclined at times to smile at such
Developments as Otto Schumacher s
look OF innocent amaZement and
negative answer when asked II he
had ever refused bride.
GRAVES ovERRULEs
DEFENsE's DEMURRER.
The climax came when Judge
Graves overruled the demurrer to the
evidence. AS the Judge pronounced
his brief estimate OF the evidence the
silence was profound, and when he
concluded it was only the vigorous
demands for silence from the Sheriff
that prevented an cutlery oil indorse
ment from the auditors.
In stating his reasons Tor overrul
ing the demurrer to the evidence
Jadge Graves outlined, in the absenc'
1 the jury, OF course, as convincing
an argument for conviction as coui'
have been framed. 1t was as clea
asa bell and as direct as languag
yermits.
He said:
1.-The question upon this demurre
Il whether or not circumstances
the evidence Of this case SO connec
the defendant (Butler) with tn
bribery as to render him guilty.
Il will cite the chain oil circuu
stances as related in the testimony
"Upon the afternoon OF Novemb'
%, this evidence shows that Gutl
came before the combine with
proposition Of $4,000 cash an
s27. 900 additional. The propos
lion was rejected, and the combi'