The Telegram. — 1895-04-23 (Weymouth, Dorset, England)

MURDER AT DEVIZES.  An old man named Mark Butler, residing at Woodbridge Farm, Potterne, Devizes, was on Sunday evening found lying on some straw rubbish in the yard, with his head battered in, and a gardening tool still in a wannd in the head. Some effort was required to extract the tool, so firmly fixed in the wound was it. He received every attention possible and made some incoherent statemeet. Shortly afterwards Mr. Deputy-Chief Constable Baldwin charged the son James with unlawfully wounding his father. At a quarter to 12 the old man died, and the son was Limo* with wilful murder. He bad made no reply to the first charge, but on the subsequeut and , graver charge, he made a statement, which, however, was not of an incriminatory nature. He was removed to the Central Police-station at Devizes, where he is now on remand. Subsequent injuries Show that the deoea9ad muss have been first , stunned by a heavy broom, and afterwards struck with the hedge trimmer. There are two large pools of blood in the yard—one where the poor man was evidently struck, blood being spattered all about, and a large pool of congenled blood shows where he much have laid aurae time. Some half -dozen yards away is another pool, where he was found lying, sbowing that be had crawled some distance after being left for dead. The son James (who, it is stated, has not been on very friendly terms with his father) was seen to go to the house shortly after six o'clock in the evening, and was (also met in a field apparently returning home by a short cat. The inquest was held on Tuesday, by Mt.. Coroner Bylvester.—Mr, T. C. Hopkins, solicitor, watched the case on behalf of the accused, who was present, and who preserved a calm demeanour throughout . the proceedings, never evincing she slightest emAaon.—hlise Agnes Annie Butler, the daughter, first gave evidence, and Mr. Thomas Cole, jeweller, Devizes, proved disoovering the deceased in the farm-yard. Witness ran to the Organ beerbonse, where James Butler heed, and told him to come at once. James did not at first teem to realise whet was told him, but he afterwards ran towards the farm and ma there before witness. When witness got back to where the old man was lying, James and a man named Few were trying to raise deceased from the ground. Fresh assistance arrived, and they carried him into the house. B.C. Davis deposed to seeing Miss Butler and her Aster-in-law go into Putterne Church about half. past six on Sunday evening, and 12 minutes later he mai James Butler coming away from the dente lion of Woodbridge House and spoke to him. (The dietance irons the spot where the murder was emnrnitted to where prisoner lived is 21i chains.) After the occurrence he asked prisoner if be had seen any euspiciotnelooking strangers in the neighbourhood, and he replied that he had not —Deputy Chief Constable Baldwin deposed to the street of prisoner at his father's house on Sunday evening. lie tint charged him with unlawfully wounding hie father with intent. He made no reply. The old man died at quarter to twelve, and witness then charged prisoner with wilful murder. His reply was sot of an incriminatory nature. After James Butler had had his supper in the kitchen, witness took bun into Devizes and took away his present clothing (prodeced). There were spots of blood on the trouser,, on the wristbands, and on One of the lx,ote. The spore on the trousers appeared to have been emeared. (The medical men examined them, and agreed with witness.)— Dr. H. J. Mackay gave details of the injuries received by deeeinied. These were of a shucking nature, and could not possibly have been selfinflicted. They *night have been caused, three of them, with the turf cutter, and one with the broom or tome other blunt instrument. Deceased said, whilst witness was present, that he did sot know who caused the injury, and again, in reply to a question, that he could not tell. The cause of death was hemorrhage from the wounds, contributed to by injnry to the brain and shock.—After a clear summing up by the coroner, the jury returned a verdict of " Wilful murder against aocue person or persons unknown." They gave their fees to the Devizes Cottage Hospital. Late in the day prisoner was brought before the county magistrates, and remanded fur a week.