The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-09-29
Taken From Last Evenings
Milwaukee Train, III.
Was Well Known on Change
in Chicago.
At One Time Owned Most of
Ellsworth, Mimi.

From Fridays Daily.
John Butler of Minneapolis died at the
police station at $3.50 o'clock last even
ing. He arrived on the D. m. north
bound Milwaukee train, having purchas
ed ticket at Wells or some point be
yond for Mankato. His condition on the
train was such that Conductor L. j. Muir
ply telegraphed ahead to Chief Donahue
to meet the train at the depot and take
charge of the man. This telegram was
received at about 6:30, and several po-
licemen were at the station. 1t took the
efforts of five men to take Butler to the
station, as he had to be carried and was
Il heavy man. He was apparently out
of his head. Quite crowd assembled to
watch the proceeding.
At the police station, Butler was given
Il cot in the corridor, and DIR. Andrews
was summoned Immediately. The man
was given a hyperdemic injection, which
quoted him, and he soon afterwards
went to sleep. He never awoke from this
sleep, but died peacefully. Just what
caused his death is not certain, and DR..
| Andrews said that Il postmortem exam
| nation would be needed to determine
this. The remains were taken to John
Klein & Co.'S undertaking rooms.
-,eIore going to sleep, Butler told who
he was, and his body was subsequently
identified by City Attorney Daley and
others who had known him in past years.
In the pockets were found few dollars
and some land contracts.
The deceased leaves Il fine family, con-
sisting of his wife, six sons and two
daughters. One of his sons is DR.. John
Butler Jr. of Minneapolis, and another,
Richard, made some rich strikes in the
Klondike and is said to have become a
millionaire. City Attorney Daley mott
| fed Dir. Butler of the death of his faith
er, and received a reply that Dr. Butler
would arrive today to take charge of the
remains. He desired that no post NOR
tenn be held
Mr. Butler was well known over the
northwest. He was formerly Il member
of the Chicago Board of Trade, and of
the Minneapolis Board or Trade, and was
a heavy operator at times. He was
known as Il "plunger." There is not a
member of the Chicago Board of Trade
today but who knew John Butler.
The deceased was at one time associ-
ated with Cudahy, the millionaire pork
packer, and with President Ives of the
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy road, in
the ownership of long line of elevators.
He at one time lived on farm in Iowa,
close to Ellsworth, Mimi, and later was
for many years a resident of Ellsworth.
He owned a large part of that town, in
Guiding some of the stores, and Butler
addition is today a prominent part of
the town. Later he moved to Minneapo-
lis, where he has continued to reside
City Attorney Daley knew Mr. Butler
well at Ellsworth, and he and others
who knew him speak in the highest
terms of him. They say that he was a
fine man, and had hosts of friends His
unfortunate death is to be deplored and
his family will have the sympathy of all.
The police did what they could to
make the last moments of the unfortun-
ate man as comfortable as possible. Dur
ing his deIirium on the train and after
wards he was continually acting as
though he was on the Board of Trade,
shouting puts and calls with raised
| fingers.
In Mr.. Buffers palmy days he owned
his private car, and was a liberal spend
er. He met with financial reverses SOM,
years ago, but had partially retrieved
his fortune. He was heavily interested
in Canadian lands at the time of his
death, having large tract near Winni-
peg.
| Dr. John Butler, Jr., arrived on the
lO:45 a. IN. train, and at once consulted
with Deputy Coroner j. w. Fowler,
Judge Hughes, who was acting for the
county attorney in the latter's absence,
DR.. Andrews and Chief Donahue 1t was
decided that no inquest was necessary,
and that no postmortem examination
should be held. Both physicians were
convinced that death was due to apo
plexy, resulting from Mr.. Buffers strug-
giles when in a delirious condition. 1t
was also decided to have the remains
prepared for burial and to take them to
Minneapolis tomorrow morning, where
the funeral services will be held
DR.. Butler states that his father was
fifty eight years of age, He was man
of powerful physique, and had led an
active life, and it was certain that moth
ing but apoplexy would have removed
him SO suddenly. He had recently re-
turned from Alaska. where he went to
see three of his sons. Since then he
had been to Winnipeg, and four days