The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-12-26
BLACK-HAND NOTE
Figures in Sensation Involving
Former Hutchinson Pastor.
DIR. Buxton's New Charge Has
Proven Stormy One.
ACCUSED In CHURCH.
One of Elders Declares That His
Life Was Threatened.
Minister and Subordinate Both
Make Charges.
ACCUSED In CHURCH.

OF a church row following personal ac-
cusatlons made against one of the
church trustees and elders, by Rev. DR..
Albert Buxton, formerly pastor of the
CHRISTIAN church in Hutchinson, there is
all kinds of excitement in DR.. Buxton's
present church. at Pueblo Col.
LII. Buxton, who was pastor in Hutch
Illson Tor several years, was one of the
most prominent ministers of this city.
he was in Hutchinson in the '9Os. GO
ing nss from here to Texas to become head
OIL college, He returned to Kansas
TWO years ago, becoming pastor at
newton He went to Pueblo about a
year ago.
since January, when he took charge
oI the PUEBLO church, the congregation
and church beaTIfs have divided them
selves into two factions over his selec-
ton.
One of the leaders against DR.. Bux-
tion was DR.. w. w. Bulette an elder
ana trustee. Matters reached a sensa-
tional climax Sunday at the close of tbe
evening service when DIR. Bulette arose
ana charged that a threat against his
ne had been mailed him in BLACK
HAND letter and he created a sensa-
tioh by declaring that the senders of
the threat We're present among the con-
Sfegdtlon and that their arrest would
perhaps result if the Investigations of
the police warranted it. DR.. Bulette
|
| Of elders, the board of trustees and the
board of officers.
DIR. Buxton Now Quits.
The feud which resulted eliminated
| IN the cancellingt of DR.. Buxton's con-
tract at meeting of the board of trus-
| tees The Black Hand letter was sent
| inscribed on the side of a big club
| The Pueblo Cliieftain, in an account
| of the trouble. says:
AT both services of the Broadway
! Christian church Sunday city detec-
/ tives were seated in the audience on
the lookout for suspicious Characters,
| Last night the Black Hand threat was
revealed and City Detective James
keeley produced the club to which it
had been pinned. DR.. Bulette declared
| that he knew the identity of the per-
sons Who made the threat and defied
! them. He said that the matter would
4 be taken up by the authorities and the
authors punished.
the nature of the trouble which
caused the difference between DR. BIZ
| lette and the Rev. DR.. Buxton are
known only to- the board of trustees
and the board of elders. It was an,
nounced last night before the congre-
gatlon, after the regular service, that
the services of DIR. Buxton had ended
| in the Broadway christian church and
that accusations were banded about
at lively rate at the last meeting of
| the board of trustees.
Each Accused Other
| According to Dr. Bu1ette in his
btalk to the members of the church. DR.
Buxton made personal accusation
against him, for which he demanded
an accounting. DIR. Buxton later apol-
ogized, he said. DR. Rl1lette referred
to charges with which the board of
trustees were familiar, concerning Dr.
Buxton.
After reviewing the troubles of the
different boards of the church and
their troubles with their pastor, Dr.
| Bulette said that while he was down
town his 5-year-old boy found a large
club on the front porch of his home
and carried it to his mother. Mrs.
Bulette looked at the club and noticed
some writing on the side of it. she
said. When her husband returned
in the afternoon she showed the club
to him and DR.. Bulete Immediately
took up the matter with the police.
Chief of Police Yund appointed two
city detectives to work on the case,
and ever since they have been gather
ing evidence, which. it is said, may
result in arrests at any time.
Black Hand Letter.
1.-The inscription on the club read:
Beware Doc: If you show your
face at church your death is certain.
BLACK HAND
ION the other side of the club was
written in script:
Bring this club. You will need it.
The first part of the message was
printed in lead pencil evidently by
someone who writes much, as the let
tiers were well formed and the SEN
fences well written. It was written on
the bare wood of four-foot branch
of a tree on spot where the bark
had been scraped away. The club
weighed about twelve pounds.
DR.. Buxton came to Pueblo last
January from Kansas. He declares
that the whole affair was either q
joke or an empty threat and he made
known his strong dislike for DR.. Blu
lette.''