The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-18
FIRST DAY FA|LS To
7 UNRAVEL MYSTERY
| OF BUTLER KILLING
Mrs. Butler Refuses to Come
Before Coroner's Jury to
Testify in Case
CHARACTER UPHELD
BY THE WITNESSES
Set Husband Up in Business-When
She Refused Him Money He
Posed as Beggar in
Green Goggles

| XNyVsT7
| Several witnesses were examined yester-
day, the first day of the inquest into
the killing of Robert r. Butler, the Wood
lawn clothier by Coroner c. L. Spain and
a coroner's jury. The hearing brought
out nothing of a definite nature and the
! killing of Butler remains as much of a
S1ystery as ever. The inquest will be re-
sumed Friday morning at 10 O'Clock.
All the testimony brought forward yes
terday was favorable to Mrs. Butler. 1t
was adduced that Mrs. Butler had prom
| erty and had started her husband in busi-
ness in Woodawn, but had however, re-
fused to deed all her property over in his
name. This, witnesses averred, was the
cause of the tragedy. as from the time
that Mrs. Butler refused to give her hus-
oand any more money he began to abuse
her and to threaten suicide. 1t was also
brought out that r. w. Butler, a son of
| the deceased by former marriage, had
two days ago disposed of the contents Of
the clothing, store operated by Butler be-
fore he died. Most of the testimony was
regarding the property differences of the
Buffers
Mrs. Butler Refuses to Appear
The only feature of the hearing was the
refusal of Mrs. Butler to appear before
the coroner's jury and testify in her own
behalf. She refused absolutely to make
any kind of statement or to appear at
the inquest. In her cell at the county
jail she paced excitedly throughout the
day and would give no reason for her re-
fusal to appear before Coroner Spain.
]. II. Blythe. grocer of Woodlawn.
living at 5106 Fourth arenue. north, was
the only witness examined at the after
noon session of the inquest. His testi-
mony, while mostly of a hearsay charac-
ter, was greatly in favor of Mrs Butler.
Blythe testified that Mrs Butler was re-
garded by all who knew her in WoodlawS
as a very good woman, but that Butler
had bad reputation He stated that
Butler had been married three times and
that his second wife had died from neg
lect after Butler had gone through her
money.
Posed as Beggar
Mr.. Blythe further said that this fact
was brought to the attention of the third
Mrs. Butler and that she then and there
y.
Blythe stated that when Mrs. Butler was
married she settled numerous debts of
Butler and set him up in the clothing
business in Woodawn. He SAID that
when Butler found his wife adamant to
his demands for money he began to abuse
ner and run around the streets after her
disguised with green goggles and old
clothes and selling pencils and being lead
around by negro. Mr.. Blythe further
testified that Butler would run suddenly
into his house and point his pistol IN
every direction and act very aueerly. 1T
is plainly my opinion said Blythe. that
Butler went to his wifes house to kill her
and then to commit suicide. However, IN
the scdffle the little woman defended her.
self and 1 believe the gun went off acci-
IDENTIFY and killed him.
At the morning session only five wit
nesses were examined and outside of
Officer Ed Sims, Some had any direct
testimony to give. Officer Sims testi-
fled that he had arrested Mrs. Butler
and that Butler had vehemently accused
his wife of shooting him. Officer Sims
stated that Mrs Butler was present at
the accusation and that she answered.:
mo, darling, you Know L didn't SnOOt
you" He further testified that Mrs. But
Ter had bathed the wound of her hus-
band while he lay waiting the arrival
of the ambulance.
Other Witnesses Heard
Other witnesses were DIR. J. H. Col
Inns, who testified as to the wound on
the dead man; J. J. Patterson, a. neigh
Dor of Mrs. Butler, who testified to see.
ing a pistol at the store of Butler, but
that it was a small nickel-plated af
fair quite unlike the pistol that was
used in the actual killing. Mrs. J. N.
Baskin, another neighbor, was also a
witness and her testimony was that
Butler called her up and asked that
she Mrs. Baskin) inform his wife to
call him up as, soon as possible. She
testified that she gave the message to
Mrs Lamberth. with whom Mrs. Butler
was boarding. Mrs. Baskin testified that
she had been told that Mrs. Butler
said The old devil" when informed
that her husband wanted her to call
him up on the telephone.
Mrs Lamberth was called following
Mrs Baskin and testified to the excel
lent. character of Mrs. Butler. she, how
ever, stated that Mrs. Butler did not
take her husband seriously and did not
care for him. She had appeared wholly
Indifferent at the time Butler was shot.
Following adjournment Coroner Spain
stated that he would summon a large
number of witnesses for Fridays ses