Hide Article Text (OCR)
SA, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1888.ISA DEVIL’S DEED.iri-THE REVOLVER IN THE HANDS OF A JEALOUS FIEND.JOHN BUTTERY COMMITS MURDER AND THEN ENDS HIS OWN LIFE.Machanlnborc Ihe Srcne of the Tragedy— A Horrible and Sickening Sight—Two Hitman Being* Dead and a Third Serlouely Wounded.brains and blood all over the room. After he had fired the shot that took his own life, MiBS McMullen mustered strength enough to make her way across j to the school house, where a spelling I school was in progress, and ga^ve the | alarm. She was just able to txclaim “John Buttery has shot Frank, Moore and me and killed himself.” Sha was at once conveyed back to her home.placed upon the bed and medical aid summoned. The sight that met the gaze of the peaceful citizens of that quiet little village, was horrible in the extreme. On the kitchen floor, lying where he had fell, was Buttery, with the deadly pistol in his hand, and lieA terrible tragedy was enacted at Mechamcsburg. eight miles north of this city, last Thursday night, which resulted in the death of two men and was struggling and gasping inihe lastitt-the serious wounding of j young lady, jthroes of death- The crowd *** soon Word was received in this city on Fri- evinced that the struggle for life day morning of the affair that occured J ,a8 abou* °lver wilh him‘ and the P0* the night previous, and a Patriot £ e turaed tbe‘r attention to caring ITor representative visited the scene of the his vlclin13- Neither Moore or But-murder and suicide. The first place;ter* sPoke a word after beiD« 9hot visited was the residence of Mrs. But-»e: tery, step-mother of the m nrderer and mother of Ktta McMullen, one of bis victims. A horrible and sickening sight met the eye of every one who visited the house. In the front room lay Etta McMullen, a young lay of perhaps 17 years of age. with one side of her face almost shot away, but perfectly conscious of all her surroundings, aud by her side were l)rs, Heagan and Walker, who were probing the wound in an attempt t • find the bullet which was supposed to he embedded in her head. In an adjoining room lay the dead body of John Buttery, who had committed the crime, with the back of his head shot off. The floor was covered with brains that had been sit i. ed around in his death struggle •»!;« i the fatal shot had been firedFrom the information gathered from the citizens of the place, both Mooie and the girl were of good cliaracter, and if all reports are true would have been married about the first of next month. Buttery’s record was not good, he having been engaged in several brawls, and had been in jail, several times, for stealing small things. He also served a term in the penitentiary for stealmg a ring from this same girl, when she was but a child. Moore was buried Saturday forenoon, and the remains were accompanied by a large concourse of friends and neighbors of himself and relatives. Buttery’s remains were hurried at the poor the people of Mechanicsburg re to allow the trustee to bury the neighborhood.The prospects are that Miss MlastoM.apye;diidatoT1guspVi;daSccilWiofblood that had oozed from the wound ■leu wlU.*et well. but will earn uiehad settled ill great pools all over the door and had run out of the house and covered a place ten feet square or more on the ice outside. About one hundred yards west of the Buttery house is the residence of Mrs. Moore, mother of Frank Moore, who received his death wound a» the hands of Buttery. Here the body of 1'rauk had been carried and placed on a bed to await the coining of the coroner, who had been clespaThthe affair seem to be about as follows: ^ Frank Moore had been paying atten-' i tentionto Miss McMullen, who is a , step-sister to Buttery, and he became y I jealous as lie was in love with the girl himself, lint the young lady hadscar on her face as long as she lives The above are the facts, as near as we can get at them, of one of the most horrible tragedies ever enacted in central Indiana,and let us hope that it will be the last for many days to come.Connell Frocceedlnga.Council met in regular session, Monday eveuing; members all present. City treasurer submitted bin report.. -___ . . _ for the months of November and De-ror-. cember, which was referred tofloancecommittee.I)r. T. H. Lane’s resignation as a member of board of health was read and accepted.On motion of Mr. Powell, all al-given Battery the cold shoulder and leys in Evan’s sub division of out lot had bestowed her affections on Moore. 8, were ordered opened.This fact had made John mad and lastitfall he had intimated that he would e ; do something desperate, if she did not. t-1 quit going with Moore. No attention j r was paid to his threats, however. On! Christinas night Buttery left the country as was supposed on account of an j indictment that had been returned; against him in the circuit court, for as-c' s^J’ing Henry Moore, a brother of the * ’ murdered man. No one appeared to care where lie had gone so long as the town was rid of him. Nothing was heard of him until he walked into the house of his stlt;iv-mother last Thursday evening, and Moore and MissMcMullen there together. On entering the room he deluded his supper, w hich Etta told him she would prepare if he would split some wood. He appeared to assent and went into the next room as if goirTg out to get the wood. He returned in a few minutes and asked, “L* there anybody dead in town? and Miss McMullen answered. Yes. a child of Ilenry Brown's died to-day.’’ “And by G—d there will be two or three more dead before morning. he said. With this remark he locked the back door of the house, and came back into the room with his revolver drawn, liaising it, he pointed at the couple, who were sitting down, and tired, but his aim was bad. Moore sprang to his feet and started for the1 front door in ail effort to escape, but he was not fast enough, as the demon lired a second shot, which struck his victim on the right side, between the third and fourth ribs. But be succeeded in getting out of the door into the street, falling after having gone about fifty yards, lie was found and carried to his mother’s residence, where he died in about fifteen minutes. As soon as Moore was gone Buttery turned the weapon on the girl and fired. Just as lie fired she seized and held a pillow between her face and the pistol. IIis aim was true and the pillow afforded her but little protection, as the ball struck the side of her face, just in front of .the right ear, and all probing has failed to find its location. Thinking he had finished both of his victims, the desperate murderer stepped into the next room, placed the weapon to his own head, just behind the right ear, and pulled the trigger. The shot passed through the head, spatteringOn motion of Mr. McCorkle, the alleys betweeif lots 7, 8, 9 and 10. Jamison’s sub divison ot' out lot 5, were ordered opened.On motion of .Mr. Ulin, the committee on gas light was ordered to confer with the American Gas Co. in regard to the poor quality of gas furnished; also about the failure to light street lamps, and give notice that unless better service was rendered bills would be disallowed.Petition in relation to peddlers' license was read and referred to committee on contracts which reported adverse to the petition. Report concurred iu.The Mayor appointed Councilmen Richey, Ulen and Cory a committee to confer with board of health iu regard to hog pens.Mr. Powell introduced an ordinance relating to public safety. The rules were suspended and ordinance passed.Committee on accounts reported favorable on the following claims:Jubn Flynn,street labor...............f I 4lt;iT. M. Small 4 00Warren Phillips. 1 d-zeu Ijand «rcn:ide«. 15 PO M. M. Manner, prlmm*.................. 5 50Council adjourned until Tuesday eveniDg, Feb. 14.atSaT*friDiSO:iT1caRisqurSt:yeM;StthiBrlaiKiLwovLcfaollt;vaatpawlfrigcacitbasolt;The Henrf'Caie Affirmed.Indianapolis News.The supreme court to-day affirmed the decision of the Marion criminal court in the case of Jacob Henry, the East Washington street saloon-keeper, who was lined 850 and sent to the work houso for twenty days for selling liquor on Sunday. The case is of particular interest to would-be-violators of the liquor law, for the testimony showed that the two men who bought the drinks of Henry did not make the purchase directly, but went into a room above the saloon, put the money on a dumb waiter and then stepped into an adjoining room. They heard the waiter moving up and down, and when they returned, their money had been replaced by the drinks. The decision today is by Judge Niblack, and sustains the ruling below.Meridian night8hfritipfitteievhi|The gas lamps on South street were not lighted Tuesday until a quarter of eight o’clock.intomWnaargB.StJcThere were but 48 pieces of property ■old at the tax sale on Monday.Clt;
Newspaper Details
Lebanon Patriot
Lebanon, Indiana, US
Thu, Feb 16, 1888
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Lebanon P.
Indiana, USA 31 Oct 2017
Other Publications Near Lebanon, Indiana
The Boone County Ledger
Lebanon Boone County Pioneer
Lebanon Daily Reporter
Lebanon Daily Herald
Lebanon Patriot
