The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1910-12-16
The Inquest Held In That
City Monday Morning
But The Finding Is To Be
Given Out Later
What A Lima Paper Says
About The Affair

The Lima, o., Times-Democrat of
Monday has the following details of
the mysterious death of Joseph But
Ter, formerly of Mt. Vernon:
Mrs. Donaldson's rooming house at
401 east Market street was the scene
OF terrible tragedy about 1880 Sat
urday night, when Joseph Butler, 40,
an employe of the Lima Natural Gas
Co., met instantaneous death by the
discharge of aabullet from .32 cali
bre revolver, which entered his right
temple.
Whether Butler Intentionally shot
himself, or whether the weapon was
accidentally discharged during a
struggle between him and his wife for
the possession of 1t, may never be full
ly determined, as she was the only
witness of the terrible deed.
Immediately after the firing of the
shot, MRS. Butler rushed from the
room and awakened Mr.. ]. G. Staple
ton, who occupies a room just across
che hall from the one occupied by the
Buffers. When he saw what had hap
pened, he Immediately notified the po-
lice, and Captain Earnst and Detect
i've Slechter hurried to the scene.
Attention was first given Mrs. But
Ter, who was in hysterical condi-
tion from the excitement, and she
was carried to a living room down
stairs where she swooned. DR.. Hib-
bard was called at once to admins
ter restoratives.
A CHASTITY sight confronted the Of
ficers when they entered where the
shooting had occurred. Butler was ly-
ing on the floor, his head in pool of
blood, and the revolver lying at his
side. He must have expired instant
ly.
Coroner Pfeiffer was quickly noti-
fed, the body being left untouched
until his arrival. His investigation
disclosed the fact that the bullet had
entered the right temple, ranged up
ward and lodged somewhere in the
brain. An examination of the body
showed that while the unfortunate
man had on an overcoat, yet his un-
der coat and vest were lying on the
bed which had not been occupied.
Further search through his clothing
revealed that the dead man was a
member of three secret organizations,
namely, the Home Guards of America
the American Brotherhood of America
and the knights of the Maccabees. A
pocketbook containing $38.05 and a
few trinkets was also found.
In his trunk besides his clothing
were found the empty holster of the
revolver, and box of cartridges. But
one chamber of the revolver was emp
ty, which disproves the wife's story
that he thought he had killed her and
then turned the gun on himself. All
absence of powder burns also
strengthen the suppositiOn that he
did not shoot himself Intentionally.
The coroner took possession of al
the dead mans personal effects, in
Guiding the gun and the box of car
tridges. He pronounced the man dead
and ordered his body removed to the
Whitley morgue, which was done.
In the house at the time of tn,
shooting besides those already men
toned were Mrs. Donaldson and thu
two Glover sisters, all Of whom hat
retired except Susie Glover, who wal
entertaining a gentleman friend dow
stairs. She heard the shot, but knew
nothing of the events leading up to II
While the body was being removes
from the house, Mrs. Butler again be
came hysterical and opiates had t.
be given to quiet her.
A reporter from the Times-Demo
crat visited the Donaldson home Sur
day, and there interviewed Mrs. But
Ter, Mrs. Donaldson, and the roomers
Mrs. Butler had Gained down some
what, but still showed signs of cor
stant weeping. She is a middle age
woman of the brunette type, an
seems to deplore greatly the notoriet
she has been caused by the unfol
tunate incident.
Concerning Butler, Mrs. Donaldso
said he had been 'rooming at her HON
about month, coming here from M