Democratic Sentinel, Volume 11, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 April 1887 — WESTERN. [ARTICLE]

WESTERN.

A National Association of Builders of the United States was organized in Chicago last week. Dr. James Hodges, who exploded a bomb during a Patti concert, was found guilty at San Francisco of assault to murder, podges stated that he proposed to end his life while Patti was singing, so lie could bo her page in the spirit land. A Springfield (Ill.) dispatch gives the followiug particulars of a tragedy which croated something of a sensation in that city: Wirt Butler, a well-known horseman, living a mile and a half southwest of this city, shot and killed a man named Thomas Heed, who was working for him in the capacity of a farm hand, about 3 o'clock this afternoon. Butler is a high-spirited fallow and ugly when under the influence of liquor. Both men were drinking at Springfield, and upon returning home Butl- r claims that Reed refused to unhitch the horses, and that he drove them about the yard in a circle. Butler protested against this performance, and Reed drew a revolver and attempted to shoot him, when he (Butler) raised his gun and shot Reed. Butler then telephoned the Sheriff and police headquarters of what he had done. He remained in the house till the officers arrived. Reed had been in Butler’s employ for a little over a year, and the latter regarded him as a useful and trusty man. He lived in the house with Butler and his wife was the housekeeper. Wirt Butler is a sou of William Butler, who was appointed State Treasurer of Illinois by Gov. Bissell, in 18.59, and elected to that office in 1860, Wirt's wife was the oldest daughter of Gen. John A. McClernand. About nine years ago Butler shot a policeman named Tomlinson, in Springfield, dangerously wounding him, and the litigation over the case cost him a fortune. William K. Rogers, a wealthy citizen of Sonoma, Cal., is said to be the notorious William Kissane who was indicted in New York for forgery in 1854. Gne hundred men battered down the doorß of the jail at Corning, lowa, eariy on Sunday morning, the 3d inst., and took therefrom J. H. McKenzie, the murderer of J. H. Biggs, and hanged him to a tree. The leader of the mob gave warning that the same fato would overtake any one who revealed tho details of the lynching. The Hotel del Monte at Monterey, Cal., has been destroyed by fire. Several hundred scantily clad guests were rescued and taken to San Francisco for shelter. No lives were lost Tho total financial loss will probably bo about $1,5)0,000,