The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-07-11
Miss Carter Related Circum-
stances on Car and Murder
Followed Quickly.
COLD FLOODED, SAYS FoLKEs
Evidence Supports Plea Of Justi'
fable Homicidc-Verdict
Possibly To-Day.

POSSIBLY To-Day.
After delay Of two and half
hours in securing a Jury, w. c. Butler
was put on trial in the Hastings Court
at 1880 o'clock yesterday afternoon
for the murder OF John j. Fairfield.
at the corner OF Eighteenth and
franklin Streets. on the afternoon of
May 18th.
Two panels had to be taken before
twelve men could be secured to try
the prisoner. Lawyer H. NJ. Smith,
who represents the prisoner was par
ticular to see that every Juror was
married and the father of children, for
his defense, as outlined In his opening
address to the Jury, will be based on
justifiable homicide. With the ptis-
oner sat his wife and child Mrs.
Butler is pale, slim young woman;
the child is a golden-haired, blue
eyed girl OF four years They did not
stay long with the prisoner, but in
the evening the little girl returned
and sat for the remainder OF the time
in her fathers lap. With his arms
about her, he smiled for the first time
during the trial.
Called II Cold-Bloodcd Murder.
when court reconvened at 1880
o'clock. with the right number of men
IN the jury box. Conlmonwealth's At
torney Folkes addressed the Jury on
the various degrees of murder and the
penalties therefor. He said that in
virginia all homicide is presumed to
be In the second degree, the penalty for
which is from one to five years in tho
lpenitcntiary. He was prepared he
said. to show that the killing was not
of the second degree but first degree
murder. unprovoked and cold-blooded
Mr.. Smith pictured the ruined home.
his statement being plain, clear-cut and
simple. He did not attempt to sup
press any Of the charges OF treachery
brought out by the homicide. AS he
referred to the wife the prisoner
bowed his head on his arms and wept
1t was not until after Mr.. Smith had
concluded his statement to the jury
that he looked up. His face was stern
and set during the trial. and he plainly
showed the effects of confinement. Mr..
Smith stated that the defense would
prove that Buffers home had been
ruined by the Vaccinations Of heart
less villain, and that he would bring in
evidence to show that fairfield visited
Buffers home, not only for weeks. but
~ AAe tMoulu HOl, lie SdIu,
depend on the "unwritten law" or upon
Americana dementia' for the acquit-
tai OF his client
His assertion was supported by the
testimony. A score of witnesses tes-
tilted that Of their own knowledge
fairfield had been in the habit of call
Ing almost every night on Mrs. Butler:
that he often referred to his power
over her, and sometimes boosted OF 1t.
His character was married by every
word that fell from the witnesses lips.
According to some, he knew that his
life was in peril. and boosted that he
could pour out as much hot lead as
Butler.
Widow Denied Stnte ment.
The sorriest and most ptiable figure
In the crowded courtroom was that Of
Mrs. fairfield. the slain mans widow.
Forced to hear the name of her dead
husband covered with reproach and
ignominy. and to go on the stand in
last effort to shield him from further
dishonor remembering her seven chill
dren and the fact that she was left,
not only in shame, but penniless-it
was most trying ordeal: but she went
through 1t bravely. Prisoner and wit
ness gazed at each other intently for
q second as she took the stand, but
there was no sign OF recognition. She
testified that she knew nothing of her
husbands visits to Hrs. Butler though
Mr.. Smith tried to force her to admit
having stated to Detective Wiltshire
and Policeman Parkinson that she had
said to them after the killing of her
husband that she had been aware OF
his relations with the other woman;
that she had charged him with 1t, and,
that she was not surprised when she
n a do Il ~
Parkinson swore, however that she
had made such statement and that
he had taken 1t down in writing. Mrs.
fairfield said that she did not remem-
Der having made the statement and
asserted that II she had done so 1t
was while laboring under tremendous
excitement. Joseph W. fairfield, one
ofthe dead mans sons-there are seven
children ltogether-was also called to
the chair. He knew little save that
Butler came to his house on the morn
ing OF the killing to see his father.
They talked together, he said, for ten
minutes. and he never saw his father
again until he was brought in dead.
Is several eye-witnesses the tragedy
were examined. but their testimony
was unimportant. inasmuch az the KILL
Ing was admitted. It was the testi-
mony OF those who knew OF the friend
ship between Hairfeld and the UNI
fortunate woman that counted. 1t
came In like an avalanche. One after
the other. they came forward and told
OF seeing fairfield in Mrs. Buffers
home almost every night. All the
neighborhood, 1t seemed. knew OF the
Intimacy; only Butler himself was left
in the dark. ~
Woman Told Facts to Butler.
After the examination OF the few
witnesses for the Commonwealth, Miss
Matte Carter, from whose lips Butler
first gathered the sad story that led
him to murder. was called She had
lived with the Butler family, on the
second floor In their home about a
year. She knew Fairfield, and testl-
fled that he called on Mrs. Butler al
most every night. He would stop at
the gate and ask for glass OF water
and then follow Mrs. Butler to the
rear OF the house. where they remain
cd until he left She swore that Hair
field had come to her and offered to
beg on his knees that che would not
tell his WIFE She testified to the Civ
ing OF many presents. She told no