The Carthage Gazette
Carthage, Illinois
Friday
November 3, 1939
Page 1
Column 7
Page 4
Column 3FUNERAL HELD
TUESDAY FOR
MURDER VICTIMJim Butler
Sentenced To
Life imprisonmentThe grand jury was in session on Thursday, and indicted James Butler for the crime of murder of his brother, Wm. Butler. He confessed guilt and was sentenced to the Illinois state penitentiary for life. He will be taken there today by the sheriff.
While members of the Butler family attended funeral services for William H. Butler at The Elms Tuesday afternoon conducted by Rev. Fred Nichols, another brother, James, sat disconsolately in his Hancock county jail cell less than two blocks away contemplating his part in the tragedy.
Grand Jury Recalled.
The grand jury has been recalled and will hear evidence in the Butler case Thursday afternoon. If an indictment is returned the defendant will be arraigned immediately to plead guilty or not guilty, Angel declared.
Penalty for murder in Illinois ranges from death or life imprisonment to not less than 14 years imprisonment. Jim Butler has already served a term in the Illinois penitentiary following his conviction here on Oct. 27, 1913, on a charge of assault with intent to kill.
May Plead Guilty.
If indicted in a charge of killing his own brother, Butler is expected to plead guilty and throw himself upon the mercy of the Hancock county circuit court. He has not yet engaged legal counsel and none has been appointed for him.
Signs Statements.
In addition to admitting the fatal shooting to his neighbor, Jim Butler also signed statements which are in possession of State's Attorney Angel. Contents of the documents were not divulged, however, until after they were presented to the grand jury Thursday afternoon.
The fratricide was an aftermath of an evening of moderate drinking by the brothers in the village of Webster, about 10 miles northeast of here, Saturday night, officers have learned. It was said by witnesses that neither of the men consumed more than a half dozen beers and no whiskey, however.
Car Wouldn't Start.
About midnight Saturday, the two brothers, both of whom had reputations as fighters, attempted to start William Butler's old car to return home. The motor would not start easily and a jack was placed under a rear wheel to make cranking easier, it was said.
Finally Jim "kidded" his brother with the remark:
"Why don't you trade this thing in and get one that will start?"
This reportedly angered the car owner and the two brothers began fighting. Jim, who was getting the worst of it, pulled a knife and began cutting his brother, witnesses said, before the two could be separated by onlookers.
"Won't Need Doctor."
Bill Butler, bleeding from several knife wounds, was persuaded to go to Carthage to have the injuries dressed by a doctor and was quoted as saying that when he saw his brother again "he won't need a doctor." He then accompanied a group of men to Carthage where Dr. Trotter dressed the wounds.
Jim, meanwhile, was walking the four miles to their home, six miles northeast of here, and arrived at the place about 30 minutes before Bill returned from Carthage. Officers said that he stood on the small front porch awaiting his brother.
Finally Bill's car pulled up in front of the house and Jim began walking toward it. Officers said that he had a 12 gage shotgun with him as he walked.
Driven By Boy.
Bill got out of the passenger side of the car and began walking around it toward the rear as a 19-year old neighbor youth, Harold Steward, who had driven the car to the Butler place, stepped out on the left from the driver's seat.
A small ditch runs along the road in front of the Butler house and across this the brothers faced each other. Bill was said to have reached out for the gun which Jim held in his hands and at that moment the latter discharged the shell which struck under his brother's left arm, the shot tearing only a small hole in his left side.
Confesses to Neighbor.
A few minutes later Jim appeared at the Fred Swain home 100 yards away, awakened the family and announced: "I just shot Bill."
Sheriff Merlin Chapin was noti-
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Murder Victim ---
(Continued from page one)
fied and he and other county officers visited the scene and took Jim Butler into custody. Deputies who worked on the case were Edgar A. Tanner, Everett Siegfried and Ed Montgomery.
Out at the ramshackle frame house, where the two brothers had lived together for many years, the only signs of life were a few chickens and their small, white pet dog which barked at the approach of strangers. A padlock was snapped shut on the unpainted front door.
Meanwhile the Rev. Fred Nichols conducted the funeral services for William Butler from The Elms, Tuesday afternoon. Burial was made in the McKay cemetery, northeast of here.
William H. Butler, son of J. H. and Martha Young Butler was born Sept. 14, 1881 and died Oct. 29, 1939.
He leaves to mourn his loss, one daughter Mrs. Burley Mae Ewing, and two grandchildren, of Alton, Ill., four sisters and two brothers, Mrs. Albert Patterson, Mrs. Emma Ash, and J. H. Butler of Carthage, Ill., Mrs. James Dillard, Durham, Mo., Mrs. Herman Moss of Macomb, Ill., and Frank Butler of Alton, Ill., and a host of nieces and nephews, friends and other relatives. His father, mother, two sisters and one brother passed away several years ago.
He was a kind and loving brother, and a friend to all who knew him, and will be missed by all.
The Carthage Republican
Carthage, Illinois
Wednesday
November 8, 1939
Page 1
Column 7BUTLER GIVEN
LIFE TERM ON
MURDER CHARGEPleads Guilty Four Days
After Slaying of
BrotherJames Butler, 56, of near Carthage, who confessed he shot and killed his brother, William, 58, after a quarrel over the latter's old model automobile which failed to start, pleaded guilty to a murder indictment here Thursday and was sentenced to life imprisonment by Circuit Judge William Bardens.
Butler was indicted by a recalled grand jury Thursday morning and immediately went before Judge Bardens to enter the plea of guilty. He was taken to Joliet prison Friday morning.
Butler surrendered to a neighbor about 2:45 o'clock last Sunday morning, saying he had just shot and killed his elder brother. The two men lived on a farm four miles west of the village of Webster and six miles north or Carthage.
The brothers, after spending Saturday evening in beer drinking at Webster, had engaged in a fight which resulted in several knife wounds being inflicted on William Butler by James. The fight occurred about midnight as they started home when William Butler's old car would not start, and -- according to witnesses -- James began to "rib" his brother about it.
William Butler was brought to a doctor's office here, about 1:30 a. m. for first aid treatment, and then went to his home, where his brother urged on by smoldering anger awaited him with a shotgun.
Soon after, James Butler appeared at the Fred Swain home near by and said he had killed his brother.
