The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-12
Robert r. Butler Fatally In
jured During Struggle at
Home in WOOdlawn
WOMAN is SILENT
ABOUT THE AFFAIR
Pair Had Not Been Living Together
and Shooting Followed Early
Morning Visit to Wife's
Home Yesterday

AS the elimination of months of domes-
tic misfortunes Robert r. Butler a
clothier Of Woodlawn, was perhaps fatal
ly shot in the abdomen at about $3.50
o'clock yesterday morning at the residence
Of his wife, 400 Floral Park, Woodawn.
Mrs. Butler, the wife, is now in the
county jail, being held without bond on
the charge of assault with intent to mur-
der.
From the investigation of the police fol-
lowing the shooting very little came to
light. 1t appears that there were no wit
nesses to the shooting, and only Mrs But
ler's incoherent account of the affair is
known, as Butler is unconscious in Nc
Adorys infirmary. and at the point of
death. Mrs. Butler stated that the shoot
ing was accidental, and following advice
of her counsel, Mr.. Harsh, of Harsh, Bed
dow Fits, she refused to make any
ceration in the county jail.
The police account of the shooting is
that Butler telephone to the residence
of j. II. Paskin, a next door neighbor
of Mrs. Butler, who was living separated
from her husband. The message was that
Butler desired to have his wife call him
up. This Mrs. Butler is said to have
done. and the visit of Butler followed.
Only Principals Know Facts
What happened within the house only
the principals know. and they have given
out only meager, contradictory statements
about it. Butler following the shooting.
came walking out of the house with the
pistol in his hand followed by Mrs. But
Ter. However, only few steps were
taken as Butler fell unconscious. but not
before he had accused his wife of shoot
ing him.
Woodin's ambulance was immediately
summoned, and Butler was removed TO
McAdory's infirmary, where an operation
was performed on him about noon. He
recovered consciousness late in the after
noon, but the doctors affirm that there
is little hope for him He was hit in
the lower part of the abdomen and the
bullet shaped its course downward
Following the shooting, Officer Sims and
Sergeant Armstrong of the Woodlawn
precinct investigated and Mrs Butler
was brought to police headquarters by
Sergeant Armstrong. She was placed in
care of Mrs. Wilson Searight until Deputy
Sheriff Jack Brown took her in charge
later in the afternoon and brought her to
the county jail.
Maintained Silence
In Mrs Searight's office Mrs Butler
maintained silence regarding the shoot
ing. She denied emphatically that she had
ever been arrested, but would neither af-
firm nor deny that she had had her hus-
band arrested several weeks ago. She
bro.se down and cried bitterly when she
ia IN lot
The warrant against Mrs. Butler was
sworn out by r. w. Butler a son of
Mr.. Butler by former marriage before
Judge II. B. Abernethy. AT first bail was
set at s6500 but later on advice OF pilysi-
clans at McAdorys infrmary no bond was
allowed.
Mrs. Butler is a young woman about %
years of age and has been married to
Butler only about year From the first.
however the domestic life of the Buffers
was full of disagreements. About two
months ago Mrs. Butler separated from
her husband as she alleged that his jeal-
ousy was unbearable. Since that time
Butler is said to have made many over
lures for her return, but without success,
and Mrs. Butler entered suit to make the
separation permanent
Parents Killed in Gadsden
Mrs. Butler is petite woman and quite
comely- Her parents were murdered in
their beds in Gadsden about two years
ago, and the murderers are now serving
their time in prison. She excited much
sympathy about police headquarters and
the welfare department. Mrs. Searight
was strong in her expressions of her be-
lief in the innocence of Mrs Butler.
The police theory about the shooting is
that Butler called on his wife and asked
her to return to him. On her refusal it
is thought that Butler made demonstra-
tion with a pistol, and Mrs. Butler. be-
coming frightened, struggle ensued in
which the pistol was accidentally dis
charged and Butler was fatally wounded.
The police view the case as purely an ac-
cident and if warrant had not been
sworn out they would have released Mrs.
Butler yesterday afternoon.
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