The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1912-07-26
Mr.. AUSTIN BUTTONS TROUBLES
THE way of the transgressor is


hard especially so wnen' he hap
pens to be a man who has by educa-
ton and training been enabled to
mingle with the socially elect. He
drops further, and the contact with
the jail floor is so much more start
ling when he finally comes to and re-
allies where he is at. 1t is harder still
when the culprit happens, as in this
case, to have a trusting wife of the
clinging variety.
There was such a case on before
Justice John E. Marshall at the court
house Tuesday afternoon.
Austin Buxton, manager of the Rog-
ers Farm Co, at Burbank, was being
examined for forgery. 1t was charged
that on June 26th he had a note dis
counted which bore the signature and
endorsement of Ford H. Rogers of De-
troit, Mich, the president of the COM
pany. Buttons standing was vouch-
ed for by Chas. H. Seig, president Of
the New South Farm and Home Com
pany. Mr.. Seig simply knew Buxton
to be the manager of the Rogers Com
pany, and therefore naturally took it
for granted that he was all right. The
forgery was discovered later through
a telegram of inquiry to Mr.. Rogers,
and Buttons arrest followed. He was
arrested by the sheriff of Marion
county on the 10th instant and turned
over to Sheriff Kennerly, since which
date he has languished in the county
Jail.
Mr. Rogers came down from Detroit
and was present at the examination.
He swore that neither the signature
nor the endorsement were his; the
man had been in his employ as man.
ager only a short time; came recon-
mended as "a man who had had expert
ence on western ranches; didn't
know anything of his previous his
tory.
Buxton insisted that the note was
both made and endorsed by Mr. Rog-
srs. He was defended by Attorney
Walker of Jacksonville.
Hilburn & Merryday prosecuted the
case and when they had concluded the
examination of witnesses there was
no doubt in the mind of the court nor
of any of those present but that the
man was guilty of the charge. Judge
Marshall held Buxton to the circuit
court in the sum of $500, and as he
could not furnish bond he was led
back to Jail.
But it was a pathetic scene. Buxton
and his wife occupied chairs at the
end of the long table, and when it be-
came evident that the case was going
against her husband, Mrs. Buxton was
overcome with grief; her frame shook
with sobbing and she fell weeping
did his best to comfort her, but his
efforts had little effect. Buxton sat
with an unlighted cigar in his mouth,
and put on a bold front throughout
the examination. AS he was led off
to jail the wife kissed him goodbye
and went down the street with his
lawyer. She has gone to Ocala
where she hopes to secure a bond
Buxton is a stylishly dressed, gen
teel looking man Of average build and
about 50 years old He cultivates an
aristOcratic little moustache and
goatee, and wears nose glasses He
has more the appearance of a French
count than a no-count farmer 1t is
said that Buxton has obtained money
on forged paper before in this state,
and that he had succeeded in getting
off by compromising with the party
whose name was forged
The evidence against him in this
case is so clear, however, tthat there
is little doubt that he will bring up in
the state penitentiary-Pa
News.
Mr.. Buxton is very well known in
Ocala, and the many friends that he
made here will regret to learn of his
trouble.