Killing His Children.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 175, 5 August 1901, Page 3

Killing His Children.

BUTLER FOUND TO BE INSANE,

The last scene in what is known as the Charlton tragedy was enacted at the Old Bailey, before Mr Justice Grantham, a few days "ago, when Thomas Butler Cole Butler, 33. a sergeant in the Army Service Corps, was indicted for the wilful murder of five of his children and for attempting to murder another of them. Mr Muir, for the Treasury, said that before the prisoner was called upon to plead he thought it right to say that the prosecution were in the possession of information which led them to believe that there was a serious question whether prisoner was fit to plead. The jury were sworn to try the issue whether prisoner was of sound mind and understanding and in a condition to plead to the indictment.

Lawrence Ormond Baron Butler was called, and stated that he was a postman and that prisoner was his brother. His father claimed the title of Lord Cahir, and at one time he was a Liverpool merchant. His father was detained in a lunatic asylum in 1890 for about three months, and he was from that asylum transferred to the Hoxton Asylum, and was detained there until March, 1891, the total period of his detention in the asylums having been five months. He was then discharged on witness’ taking charge of him, and he died on April 27th last. Quartermaster- Sergeant William Tattersail, of the Army Service Corps, stationed at Woolwich, deposed that prisoner was also in the Army Service Corps and stationed at Woolwich. He saw prisoner on the Saturday previous to the murder. He asked prisoner his advice about an item in the pay list. Prisoner seemed very strange in his manner, and he almost got into a temper with witness because he did not exactly agree with what he said. Prisoner did not seem to grasp what lie meant. The item was one of ordinary routine of work, and prisoner would have been able to understand it ordinarily. As prisoner left the office, witness turned round to the men in the office and made

the remark, “If that man is not mad, I am.” Mr Justice Grantham (to the prisoner) : Do you wish to ask any question ? Prisoner : No, except to observe that I have been very much amused by the witness’s evidence.

Dr Maundsley deposed that he examined prisoner at Holloway for the purpose of forming an opinion as to his mental state, and he also had an opportunity of consulting with Dr Scott, the medical officer of Holloway, who had reported as to the result of the observations which have been kept on prisoner for the purpose of ascertaining the state of his mind. Witness’ interview with prisoner lasted about an hour. He did not think prisoner was of sufficient intellect to comprehend the course of the proceedings on his trial, or to make a proper defence, or instruct a counsel and solicitor to make a proper defence for him, and in his opinion that inability rose from the insane state of prisoner’s mind. Dr Scott, medical officer of Holloway, said that prisoner had been kept under close observation since he had been in Holloway upon the charge, and he had had several conversations with him. When prisoner was admitted to Holloway he was in a condition of imaginary calm. He showed no evidence of remorse for his act, and he said his conscience was quite clear that he had nothing to reproach himself with. Witness was of opinion that prisoner was insane on the. day on which he committed the act, and that the condition had continued up to the present time. One of the letters written by prisoner from Holloway was read, It was addressed to “ The Management, Madame Tussaud’s Exhibition, Baker street,” in these terms :—“ For the benefit of my surviving daughter, I have no objection to your exhibiting models of self and five murdered children, copies of my sworn declarations, with auto-

graph signature thrown in, provided you engage to allot us a separate room (a pedigree animal should be stalled alone), and make an extra charge of 6d each adult to view the same—for, say, £2OO, to bo paid when the agreement is signed, which would provide for, say, 25 per cent, of the annual receipts to our room being paid on agreed dates to my daughter. This is my idea ; but I would consider any suggestion from you ever less favorable to my side, if you think it worth while to make one. This scheme has just occurred to me, and I am greatly surprised that you have not approached me on the subject ere this.”

Mr Justice Grantham asked prisoner whether he desired to say anything on the issue whether he was fit to plead to the indictment. Prisoner replied that he considered that he was perfectly fit to understand the whole of the proceedings. He desired to call his wife and other witnesses as to whether ho was fit to plead. Mrs Butler, who was in deep black, and seemed much distressed, then took her place in tho witness-box, and the judge reminded prisoner he could only question her at present respecting his mental condition.

Prisoner (to witness) : I would like to put all the questions I have down here. For about a year prior to May Ist last, did I The Judge : You cannot ask such questions now. You had better let me look at your written questions, and I will tell you which of them you can ask. Prisoner ; Well, my lord, they are not quite clear enough for anyone but myself to decipher. The judge was about to sum up, when prisoner said ; Excuse mo, I should have handed in this paper (passing it from the dock to the usher). Having read the document, the judge said it only confirmed the view of the medical men, and if anything was wanting to convince the jury on the point, what prisoner had written would do so. It showed that he gloried in what he had done.

The jury, after a few directions from his lordship, found a verdict that prisoner was insane, and unfit to take his trial on the indictment.