Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-01-26
Bullet Which Slew Wife In
tended for Butler Alone,
Weeping Defendant TeSti-
fieS in Dramatic Recital.
SAYS ARMY OFFICER
ATTACKED HIM FIRST
Woman Resented Insult Re-
ceived Earlier in Day and
Was Trying to Tell Hus-
band at Time of Tragedy.
tsr soss'Hs ,ouss.L SPECIAL LEASED wrss,

| tsr Hoss'ss JoUssAL SPECIAL tsAsso wIssI
San Angelo, Tex, Jan. 25.-Tears
ieti from the eyes of jurors who lis
tened to the tensely dramatic story
that Harry j. Spaniel told them today,
When as a witness in his own defense,
ne described incoherently the scene in
which his wife and Lieut. Col. NJ. C..
Butler, &. S. A.. were slain, and for
whose deaths he Is charged with
murder Spanelfs sobbing was ech-
oed by spectators and court officers,
whose sympathies had been aroused
to high pitch that was visibly in
creased when the witness closed his
story with the declaration:
| Il never shot my wife. Butler
moved out of the way and Crystal fell.
Butler also fell"
As he was about to leave the wit.
ness stand, he sobbed:
THANK God! I've prayed Almighty
God to let me tell it as it is. Thank
God. O Crystal"
said Butler InsuIted Wife.
The story of the staying, which 'oc-
CURED in an automobile near Alpine
last July, as told by Spaniel, accused
Butler of being unduly attentive to
Mrs. Spaniel, eliminating with the oc-
easion when Spaniel said he saw his
wife leave Buffers room, where she
had gone with Mrs. Butler, and said
the army officer had insulted her.
The fatal shooting of Mrs. Spanelt
and Butler, Spaniel testified, followed
fight in the automobile as the result
OF incidents which occurred earlier In
the evening. The story of the shoot
! ing Was ffAeoded by n long narration
fof incidents in which Spaniel charged
Butler paid undue attention to the de-
fendant's wife, trying to show her
off, and leading up to the evening of
July 20, when he said he saw Butler
hurriedly and excitedly leave his
tButler's) room in the Holland hotel.
spanell said a moment later he saw
Mrs. Spaniel emerge from Buffers
room, where she had gone with Mrs.
Butler who had left the room for u
Few minutes. Mrs. Spaniel, when
faced by her husband, told him. ac-
cordlng to Spaniel. that something
happened" but she could not tell him
what it was then
When Killing Occurred
Mrs. SPANIEL accompanied her hus-
band in their automobile and Spaniel
said he remembered calling Butler to
the automobile. He said he did not
recall whether his little daughter left
the car. After driving few blocks,
Spaniel testified he asked Butler
what he had done UPSTAIRS Butler
replied, nothing" that Mrs. Spaniel
was. ''just excited" and misunderstood
him,
Then ] said to Butler" continued
Spaniel, that man who hasn't any
more respect than to follow women
around and do as he tButler) had
done, was nothing but - -
81 remember Butler jumped out of
his seat and said: IF 1t wasn't for
Mrs, Spaniel, Id choke those words
down your throat
mo he won't, I'm the one that has
been insulted,'" Spaniel said Mrs.
Spaniel cried as she jumped to her
feet.
She tried to tell me something,
while Butler tried to keep her quiet.
She kept saying that as soon as Mrs.
Butler left the room he (Butler)
grabbed her. but she said I can't re-
peat his filthy words
Struck by Officer.
Spaniel said he received blow on
the back OF his head. Butler
grabbed me and pushed my head
down on the steering wheel" he said.
Il then thought of the gun in
Pocket of the car and got it some
way"
Spanelrs testimony for the first
time rambled somewhat as IL events
were not quite clear. He continued:
The clouds had been coming over
me, cloud after cloud, veil after veil.
| didn't know what was acting; was
somebody else acting? I didn't know
what 1t was or who it was; it wasn't
me. And | knew 1 tried to turn it
back. Then | heard only one shot.
Il knew we wrestled on the seat
| felt that If Butler had got that gun
away from me he would kill me and
Crystal, too. | knew he was getting
It away from me, thought of
little pistol in my pocket don't
of his finally getting the
gun out of my hand. But I had got
ten the little pistol out, and I don't
fnow' but I think | fired q couple of
times. maybe.
Becomes Incohcrent.
Il found myself next outside the
car, over against the fence, and |
came back quickly to the car Butler
seemed to be right behind Mrs.
Spaniel. | could see flashes of
gun, | rushed around to the other
side of the car and rememb bered |
fired at him. though ! don't know
how many times. Then I saw him
fall and saw Mrs. Spaniel there in
the door.
Il know | grabbed her and called,
Crystal speak to mS!' and she was
all right As if rambling, Spaniel
And baby was waiting
for lis to come.
Child Prevents Suicide.
She was all right and l thought
she had tainted and | thought Butler