Bisbee daily review., 1916-07-22
MYSTERY SURROUNDS SHAVING OF ARMY
 OFFICER AT ALPINE
Colonel Butler Riding With Slayer as Best of Friends; Was a Highly Esteemed Officer
(By Review Leased wire)

ALPINE, Tex, July 21.- Mystery surrounds the motive of Harry j. Spannell. manager of a local hotel, for shooting and killing his wife and Lieutenant Colonel M C. Butler. of the Sixth United States Cavalry. while the three were motoring yester- day evening, according to an an nouncement from the county attorney. Spannel, who surrendered himself i'm mediately after the shooting refused to discuss his case, and thorough investigation disclosed no apparent motive for the muroer
 Spannell was taken today to anoth- CT town, the name of which was not revealed, for safe keeping.
 Spannell was driving his wife and Col. Butler in his car along the main residential street of the town, when suddently he stopped his engine, turn ed in his seat, drew an automatic pis- tol and a revolver and with the one began shooting Colonel Butler and with the other his wife.
 He calmly emptied both firearms in to the bodies of the victims, accord ing to witnesses and then quietly, with no haste, walked to the court house and gave himself up.
 Killed Instantly
 Apparently Colonel Butler was shot first and Killed instantly for persons nearby heard the woman cry out after the shooting had begun, Harry don't kill mel" while the officer made no outcry. Previous to the shooting, Spanenll. who had achieved a local reputation for ready wit. chatted gai- ly with persons in the lobby of the Holland Hotel, of which he was man. ager. It was recalled today that he was extremely cordial toward Colonel Butler. with whom he had been very friendly, as he ushered his wife and the officer into the car for tue fatal drive. Because of this, local authori- ties did not believe the killings were premeditated.
 Was Much Esteemed
 Colonel Butler, who only recently was promoted from the rank of major, had been stationed here in command of the garrison for about two months and had become very popular with the townspeople. He lived at the Holland Hotel. and he and his wife and eleven year old son were on intimate terms socially with MT. and Mrs. Spannell and their five year old daughter.
 SpanneIl Shows Remorse
 Before being taken away from the local jail Spannell broke down com pletely and sobbed bitterly for hours. .bemoaning what he termed his mad ness" He persisted, however, in his refusal to discuss his reasons for the shooting or to say what transpired in the car preceding the killing.
 Spannell. who was thirty years old. is a native of Hazelton. Pa. where lis parents still live. A graduate of musical conservatories in this coun- try and abroad. he was an instructor in music in Baylor University, at Waco. Texas. when he met the daugh- ter of John R. Holland, a wealthy cat tleman and banker of Alpine. whom he later made his wife. Mrs. Span nell. who was twenty-nine years old. was then a student in the university. She was known as one of the most beautiful women in Texas Two years ago Spannell took charge of some of his father-in-law's business interests here.
 Of Fighting Family
 Colonel Butler was g years old and