The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-12-23
HORRIBLE BIC
SKULL OF NJ
William Shackleford, a Negro
Renter, Arrested for
the Murder
ATROCIOUS CRIME AT
52ND ST., WOODLAND
Woman Unconscious When Found BY
Somebody Weapon Discovered.
The Coroner Will Hold
Inquest Today.

With the skull crushed from the eff
fects of a terrible blow dealt with
blunt instrument, the unconscious body
of Mrs. S. c. Butts was found last night
at Woodlawn.
The woman died ten minutes after the
alarm was given. and she was unable to
make a statement as to her assailant, or
as to the incidents leading to the horri-
BILE crime.
Some few hours after the murder, Of
ficers Gray and Fowler arrested William
Shackelford, a negro, and he is now con-
fined at Woodlawn with the charge of.
murder held against him. The negro
strenuously denies that he is guilty, but
the officers have reasons to believe [
they have the right man.
The body of Mrs. Butts was brought
to town in the ambulance of Gaudin COM
pany, and will be prepared for burial.
Coroner Paris will hold the inquest this
morning at 10 o'clock.
Body Discovered.
Mrs. Butts was the proprietor of lit
tie store at Avenue e and Fifty-seeond
street. She and her n-year-old son,
Thomas, lived in the rear of the store.
The body was found in the store by the
son.
According to the boys statement he
was sent out about s o'clock to buy some
meat for the Sunday dinner. He returned
within half an hour and as he entered
the store, ran upon the body of his moth
er. Mrs. Butts was lying in the center of
tho store, and the son instantly saw that
his mother mad been dealt blow in the
rear of the head. He Immediately gave
the laarm and Officers Gray and Fowler
Immediately began the investigation.
AS stated, however. Mrs. Butts did not
recover consciousness, and she was not
able to give a statement nor furnish any
clue.
Shackleford Arrested.
AS stated, some hours after the crime
Officers Gray and Fowler arrested VIII
Shackleford, a negro.
Suspicion was first aroused when the
officers learned that the negro visited
the store every Saturday night, and paid
Mrs Butts money due on rents. Before
the arrest, the negro was questioned. He
stated that he did not pay his rent the
current week. He testified that he mad
not drawn his money. Investigation found
this to be untrue the officers learning
that he did draw his weeks wages.
The officers at Woodlawn believe that
the negro went to the store to pay his
rent, and that while there he struck
the blow that took the woman's life x
is presumed that Mrs. Butts, after meet
ing the negro, turned to go behind the
COUNTER and that as soon as she turned
her head the blow was struck.
1t is believed that the house was then
robbed, although the officers were unable
to give the amount of the alleged theft.
The Bloody instrument.
An investigation of the premises brought
to light the instrument with which the
blow was struck. 1t was in the form OF
heavy stick. This instrument was
bloody, and to the spike there chung sew
eral gray hairs.
Mrs. Butts was reputed to be exception
ally well to do. The general impression
was that she had considerable money
hid away in her home. 1t is believed that
in some way the negro Shackelford
learned that she had money. 1t was
found however, that IS was the total
amount of money found on the place
Throughout the bed room OF the little
family there was much disorder, bureau
drawers being open, and clothing scat
tered from one end to the other. 1t is
thought that the murderer after striking
the woman, went through the house, and
took whatever valuables that he encoun-
tered.
Mrs. Butts was a widow and is SUR
vived only by her son. The woman had
conducted the store at Fifty-second street
for a long number of years. and had
the respect of the entire neighborhood.