The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-12-13
Butler, In Choctau County, Is
Stirred By Outcome Of A.
ready DepoTab|e Case
FAMILIES CLASH AS The
RESULT OF MANS DEATH
Charge Made That Young UIImer Was
Murdered, But This Theory
Is Given Little
Credence.

Cuba. December 12-(Special.) )-One
man with his throat cut. another in jail
a young lady frantic with horror she
gazed on the blood squirting from her
fathers wound, was the result of des-
perate encounter between Oliver C. Ull-
1ner and Ben Bruister on the streets of
Butler at s o'clock this morning. In
tel1igence was brought by wildly ex-
cited negro at noon today, who brought
a telegram to I. B. Ullmer, Demopolis,
Ala. which read:
Come at once. Ben Bruister has cut
papa and which was signed Lucy
Ullmer.'
At the hour the negro, Van Robertson,
an employe of the liveyr stable, left,
1t was impossible to determine the ex-
tent of o. C. Ullmer's injuries, but he
had been carried home and DIR. d. T.
Mccall was working with might and
main to staunch the wound and save his
patients life.
Ben Bruister, his assailant. was in the
custody of Sheriff Wilcox, who had
sworn in several deputies to preserve
order and who had also taken into GUS
tody young Barton Ullmer who was
swearing vengeance against his father
assailant.
Result of Suicide.
The trouble seems to be result of the
alleged suicide of young Cromwell TIL
mer. which occurred on the steps of the
Bruister home last Monday night at s
o'clock, after he had been in conyersa-
ton with Miss Margaret Bruster
From what can be gathered it appears
the young people, Cromwell Ullmer and
Miss Bruister were sweethearts and had
been for some time. On account of the
age of the young people. Mrs. Bruister
opposed the early marriage and insisted
that Miss Margaret terminate her rela-
tions at once. This, it appears. was
measura-ly done on the fatal night of
Ullmers death.
Some surprise exists here that his body
was allowed to remain on the steps of
the Bruister home for so long time,
nothing being done until PUNK Adams.
who lives some distance away, came and
notified the citizens. 1t appears that no
coroner's jury was empanelled and some
people have been heard to doubt the the
the best people of that section inclines
to the idea that his wounds were self
inflicted. although an ugly wound on the
head might give color to the theory that
he was killed.
Murder Theory Doubted.
Crowell Ullmer, the unfortunate young
man who took his life, was an excellent
wit M had ha nd vyb
high in the community. 1t appears that
Mr.. Bruister did not object to the atten-
ton paid Miss Margaret by the deceased
and that they had always been good
friends. His relations with the young
man, 1t is said, were very cordial and
he requested him to call at his home on
the fateful Monday night for the pur-
pose of effecting an exchange of letters
incident to the termination Of the love
affair His sole objection to the pro-
posed upion 1t appears, was based on
the youth of the parties. For this rea-
son and on account of his high standing
Mr. Bruisters friends scout the idea that
young Ullmer met his death by any
other means except his own hand.
Much Feeling Manifested.
Much bitterness now exists between
the partisans of each family. and the
end is not yet.
In the encounter on yesterday Miss
Lucy Ullmer ran In between her father
and Bruister, and while In this position
Mr.. Bruister reached over her should .
and cut Ullmer's throat, and but for the
fact that she had her fathers arm pin
ioned 1t is probable that he would have
killed Bruister by a pistol shot, as he
was endeavoring to draw his pistol after
being cut. Accounts differ as to who
precipitated the encounter.
Miss Lucy Ullmer Is in a precarious
condition as the result of the trouble,
and Is under the care of physicians.
l. e. Ullmer of Demopolis reached
here tonight and left Immediately for
the bedside of his wounded brother
1t is learned tonight that cooler heads
are now in command Of the situation,
and it is believed that no further trou-
BILE will occur in the next few days
The families involved are among the
best in Choctaw county.