Milford chronicle., 1926-03-05

eight minutes, reached its verdict in
/ one and one-half minutes.
While the trial was in progress
one hundred and fifty members of
the 19Sth Anti-Aircraft Artillery,
Delaware National Guard, guarded
the Court House which had been
surrounded by a fence of barbed
, wire six feet in height. The guard
was present in Georgetown as the
result of proclamation issued a few
days before by Governor Robinson.
During the trial a crowd at times
numbering approximately 1000 per-
sons, a few of them women, clamor-
ed for admission to the courtroom.
Orders had been issued by Major S.
B. l. Duncan, commanding the
troops, and the judges, who sat at
the trial, to admit only those persons
with passes and having official bus
mess.
The courtroom itself was guarded
by a dozen state policemen who
searched everyone who entered the
Court House as spectators at the
trial. 1t was reported that a num-
ber of revOlvers were found on some
of the men. These were confiscated.
Officials feared that an attempt
might be made to shoot Butler dur
ing his trial.
No trouble was experienced by the
guardsmen during the morning ses-
sion of court. But in the afternoon,
q half hour before the afternoon
session of the court convened the
crowd, packed ten to fifteen deep
around the only gate through the
barbed wire barriers, leading to the
rear entrance of the Court House,
made a break to get through the
gate.
Major Duncan, Captain Fred Mar
vii of Laurel and other officers en-
deavored to quiet the mob and rea-
son with them. But everyone want
ed to get into the courtroom for the
afternoon session.
Finding that words made no i'm
preston, Major Duncan ordered a
squad of bombers TO don their gas
masks and lombard the mob with
tear gas bombs and candles. Several
guardsmen took their stations in
front of the crowd, but behind the
barriers while others went to the
roof of the Court House..
In a few minutes tear gas candles
were thrown from the roof, while
the guardsmen on THE ground hurled
bombs. The crowd broke, coughing
and choking, their eyes filled with
tears. The gas burns the eyes like
a thousand fires.
Twenty-Five of the bombs and can
dies were all the crowd needed.
They returned with handkerchiefs
over their eyes within few minutes
thoroughly calmed down, the fight
"gassed" out of them.
Although the jury convicted But
Ter at 4:10 o'clock, the court did not
sentence him until fex minutes af-
ter five o'clock. Then Butler was
taken from the courtroom by state
highway policemen.
He was later taken to the New
Castle County WorkhOuse at Green
bank.
The crime for which Butler was
convicted is said to have been the
most atrocious committed in this
state for several decades.
On the morning of January 21,
Eleanor had been left home alone,
her mother having gone visiting.
Her father was at work pruning
trees.
Shortly before noon Butler ap-
preached and after talking to the
girl persuaded her to take walk
with him. The two walked into a
nearby wood. Butler struck her and
assaulted her twice. He then beat
her unconscious with a board he
found on the ground and pushed
her into a ditch. He then returned
to his home where he was arrested a
few hours later while preparing to
go to Maryland.
The girl was found standing
against a tree, her clothes covered
with blood and mud by her father
and others who aided him in the
search.
Butler UncOncerned
Butler, all during his trial, appear
ed to be unconcerned. 1t was appar-
ent he did not fully appreciate the
predicament in which his Offense
placed him. He admitted having
taken a walk with the girl and hav-
ing struck her with the board, but
he denied having assaulted her. He
did admit, however, that he attempt
ed to assault her twice.
2 Butler was indicted for rape, an
offense punishable only by death.
His attorneys, James M. Tunnel and
Daniel ]. Layton, both of George
town, who had been appointed by
the court as defense counsel, en-
deavored to have him convicted of
assault with intent to commit rape.
Attorney General Clarence A.
who prosecuted the
case, argued before the jury for a
verdict of guilty. His argument was
by the three hundred
persons in the courtroom. The ap-
plause greeting Mr.. Southerland's
was the only demonstration
made during the entire trial.
Mr.. Southerland was assisted in
the prosecution by James r. Nor
ford, chief deputy attorney general
and Howard J. Cooke, deputy attor-
mel general for Sussex county,