Ballinger Daily Ledger (Ballinger, Tex.), Vol. 12, Ed. 1 Friday, January 26, 1917 Page: 1 of 4
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VOL. XII PRICE FIVE CENTS
DAILY LEDGER
:ove
SHELLS COAST
tell him when
A NEW BUSINESS
re-
noon.
23-5tdltw
| The present
i of Texas were
393
the a term of two years, mid will
I then thought of
it
■ in. ai <u. j ivn inai ii miller got
|that gun away from me he would
FT, WORTH GIRL’S
MARRIAGE TO ITALIAN
out
$200.00
my hand.
HEID TO BE VAUD
$300.00
(Continued on Page 3.)
will close
for every
GET RUMOR
OF MESSAGE
. $50.00
. $48.50
$175.00
‘couldn’t tell him
then.’’ 11 is wife.
I with 3l>9,000 people,
comprehend the increase
tinned above, it must be
We have plenty coal and wood,
Telephone 120.
SON.
See the new Mitchell before you buy a car. Ask
anjr-Mitchell owner—There is a difference in the up-
keep of cars.
Mr. and Mrs. Cheek Corder, of
Sweetwater, who had been here
to visit relatives and friends, and
his brother Tom (’order of Valley
creek, left for his home Friday
and we are glad to learn that Toni
is improving rapidly and is now
out of danger.
Y i nai me guva wuik v<iii dv cun-
ter prepared to give you first-1 tinned until we are pulled out of
class photos, kodak finishing en- the rutj if thev know .vhat is to
larged portraits, frames, etc. Mail thcir best interest.
two new
Judge
interview
preparec
, as
MANY FARMERS COMING
TO INSTITUTE
SELLS TWO SAXON SIXES
THURSDAY.
DEFENSE RESTS IN
SPANELL CASE;
and sobbed ‘
I’ve prayed t,nal|y Retting the gun
,-Fft.r all classes of photo work or
Koa ak finishing see W. E- Bartlett
or phone 507. 5-tfd
PHOTOGRAPHER OPENS
NEW STUDIO
DELIGHTED WITH
GOOD ROADS
D. E Bartlett announced Fri-
day that he was now ready to re-
produce the likeness of the good
looking people. After being out
for a month or two Mr. Bartlett
opens a new and up to date
studio in the Brewer building. He
says he is much 'better prepared
to do photograph work than ever
before and his studio is centrally
located.
By United Press.
LONDON, Jan. 26.—A small
German warship bombarded the
Suffolk coast last night. There
were no casualties and only slight
damage was done.
elected officers of
Woodmen of Ameri-
ca will be installed at a meeting
to be held Saturday night, Jan.
27th. All members urged to be
present.
J. L. CHASTAIN, Clerk.
20-ltw6td.
A number of Brown county
farmers are planning to attend the
neeting of the Central West Texas
farmers’ Institute to be held in
Jallinger Jan. 30 and 31. The in-
stitute is composed of counties of
this section of the state and was %
organized last year at Austin of
he occasion of the meeting of the j
State Farmers Institute. C. A.
loose of Ballinger is president of
he Central West Texas organiza-
ion and W. R. Hunton of Abilene
is secretary.—Brownwood Bulle-
tin-
Cook
Ranges
By United Press.
Italy, Jan. 26.—The
cassation court today
The Boner bill does nothing for
either the Panhandle or West
Texas. The Panhandle District
now contains 48 counties. The
Boner Bill gives it 53 counties,
embracing in square miles a terri-
tory larger than five of the small-
est stales. To West Texas—a
great empire within itself—the
Boner bill gives only one district,
gerrymandering all of the Eastern
part of it into a Central Texas
District, with a comet-tail run-
ning from Jones county to within
20 miles of the capitol at Austin.
The counties of Jones, Shackel-
ROME,
Vatican
rendered a decision holding that
the marriage of Count Victor
Moschini of Italy to Miss Olga
Lula Davis of Fort Worth, Texas,
to be valid.
The petition of the husband for
an annulment of the marriage was
rejected.
Higginbotham, Currie, Williams
Co., sold two Saxon cars Thurs-
day. A. W. Sledge purchased a
new car in the forenoon and Gus
Butler grabbed him and
given prompt attention.
Come to see me.
W. E. BARTLETT.
“In business for your looks.’’
26-dtf Itw
declared Butler had paid undue
attention to defendant’s wife,
“trying to show her off,” and
leading up to the evening of July
20, when he said he saw Butler
hurriedly and excitedly leave his
(Butler’s room) in the Holland
Defendant a moment later
from
she had
Mrs. But-
few
w h e n
him.
NEW YORK, Jan. 26.—De-
mands of the leak probe committee
on the brokers and bankers of
the New York financial district
has been announced to have had
its desired effect in statements is-
sued by Chairman Henry of the
Congressional Rules committee
last night. The surrender of the
Wall street brokers will save
them from being subpoenaed and
having their private books ex-
amined
Dozens of operators have al-
ready furnished the information
sought for and accordingly the
investigation will be resumed at
10 o’clock Monday morning. j
Benard Baruch will be among
the first witnesses called and
Pierpoint Morgan will be question-
<«d early next week.
It is understood that some
the brokers may decline to volun-
teer information and subpoenas! time that Bob Kirk would
will likely be issued for them.
which
the recent
take effect
There will
cci.sib the follow-
and a new appor-
, necessitating
.•■;_ui'i rcdistrictcd,
isonable argument
jfchave opened a new photo-
^4dho over Brewer’s jewelry store
just across the street from The
Walker Drug Co., where I am bet-
_ my
judgment, the Boner House Bill
No. 51, favorably reported out of
the House Committee last Thurs-
day and now being printed, is a
political monstrosity, and a dis-
grace to Texas.
congressmen-elect
recently elected
as if events were
Then he went on :
lad been coming
veil
lorn Leach, former court steno-
grapher for District Judge Jno.
W . Goodwin, Tuesday received in-
formation that he hid been suc-
cessful in passing the bar examin-
ations as given at Texarkana
few weeks ago. Mr. Leach is now
a full-pledged attorney and will
begin his practice immediately,
lie will form a partnership with
Judge Goodwin and will have of-
fices in the Citizens National bank
building. For the past year or
more Mr. Leach has been study-
ing law but only recently did he
decide to take the examinations.—
Brownwood Bulletin.
Friends in Ballinger received an
nouncement of the opening of a
new firm in Brownwood this
week. Goodwin & Leach, coni-?-
posed of the firm of Jno. W.
Goodwin, former district
and Toni Leach, court
The law provides that the state
shall be divided into districts as
nearly equal in population, and
as nearly compact, as possible.
Yet since 1910 gerrymandering
has kept Legislature after Legis-
lature from doing its duty.
The interests of no individual,
or set of politicians, should keep
this state from being lawfully re-
districted. If a congressman can’t
be elected in a new district into
which he is apportioned, he ought
to retire to private life, and if a
politician in the Texas House or
Senate can’t be elected in a dis-
trict, fairly justly and lawfully
framed, he doesn’t deserve the
honor.
So far as my own political in-
terests are concerned, I don’t care
how the state is divided, and 1
have always been and am now
heartily in favor of the state be-
ing redistricted regardless, and
were there now proposed a bill
just and fair to Central West Tex-
as, 1 would have nothing to say,
but I respectfully submit that
some designing politicians must
have been misled or imposed upon
Hon. C. W. Boner and your most
worthy House Committee on Con-
gressional Districts, for in
GOODWIN & LEACH, -W
NEW LAW FIRM*
I was nothing but--.
“I remember Butler jumped
out of his seat and said: If it
wasn’t for Mrs. Spanell I'd choke
those words down your throat.’
“ ‘No he won’t; I’m the one
that has been insulted,’ ” Spanell
said Mrs. Spanell cried, as she
jumped to her feet. “She tried
ilo tell me something, while But-
ler tried to keep her quiet. She
kept saying that as soon as .Mrs.
| Butler left the room he (Butler)
grabbed her, but she said, ‘1
(can’t repeat his filthy words.’ ”
At this time Spanell said he re-
go in office March 4, 1917, and
their term of office will not ex-
piry until March 4, 1919. Hence
the change of districts, embraced
in any redistricting bill
might be passed by
legislature, will not
until March 4, 1919.
he a new U
ing 3 far (1!
tionment thereunder,
state to be
ri’d the only m
in fa’cr of redist rioting now by
the present legislature is to do
justice to the Panhandle and West
Texas, same being justly entitled
to the two new districts, but
Houston, now getting the benefit,
by having three congressmen, one
regular, an<| both congressman at
judge,
steno-
grapher under Judge Goodwin.
Both of the gentlemen have many
friends in Ballinger who will
wish them success in their prac-
tice.
hotel.
saw Mrs. Spanell emerge
Butler’s room, where
gone with Mrs Butler,
ler had left the room for a
minutes. Mrs. Spanell i
faced by her husband told
according to witness, that “some
’ but six
what it was
Second Hand Cars Nearly Given Away
1 Winton, 4 cylinder, will run
Maxwell, 2 passenger, good tires
1 good 2 pass. Overland, in good condition
$100.00 cash balance $7.00 per month.
1 five passenger Overland, good value
$100.00 cash balance $10.00 per month.
1 Maxwell, 1916 model, new tires
~ $200.00 cash balance $10.00 per month.
Th3 Saxon six cylinder, 5 passenger that we have
out this week at $300.00 cash. We have springs
make of car Vulcan, the kind that don’t break. Storage batter-
ies for every make of car. See us for anything for the auto.
BALLINGER AUTO COMPANY
SAN ANGELO, Jan. 26.—Af-
ter completing the dramatic story
of the incidents leading up to thei
double tragedy, and declaring
that Col. Butler killed his wife.
Spanell was assisted from t.._
witness stand by two officers. As
he left the stand he was sobbing
most convulsively, ; ’ ‘ ’
out, “Thank God; ]
Almighty God to let me tell it as
it is. Thank God, O, Crystal.”
It was the first time Spanell
had unfolded the story of the
killing of Mrs. Spanell and But-
ler in an automobile at Alpine on
the night of July 20, 1916.
The fatal shooting of Mrs. Span-
ell and Butler, the witness testi-
fied, followed a fight in the auto-
mobile, as a result of incidents
which occurred earlier in the ev-
ening. The story of the shooting
was preceded by a long narration
of incidents, in which Spanell
Congressman Elect Thomas L.
Blanton, of Abilene, was a visitor
to Austin this week, and while in
that city was requested by the
Austin American to express his
yicws~on the matter of redistrict-
ing lhe state, adding
congressional dist ricts.
Blanton gave out an
for the American, and
an address to the legislature,
follows ;
Abilene, Tex., Jan. 22, 1917.
To Member of the Texas Legis
lature:
Since the census of 1910. am
the apportionment thereunder
“No, not here, if you want to (
have it out with him, call him]
'over to the car,” Airs. Spanell
, according to witness.
Spanell said he remembered
calling Butler to the automobile,
of his getting into the car, but did
not recall whether the Spanell \s
little daughter left the car. Af-
ter driving a few blocks, Spanell
testified, he asked Buller “point
blank” what he had done up-
stairs.’’ Butler replied, “Noth-
ing, that Mrs. Spanell was “just
excited,” and misunderstood him.
“I said,” continued Spanell,
‘1 suppose if Mrs. Spanell were
I * heard ,l0t here .vou ^ deny that you
(were up stairs at all?’
“ ‘No’ replied Butler, ‘Mrs.
Spanell and Mrs. Butler were up
stairs to wash their hands and 1
went up too-’
“Mrs. Spanell cried out: ‘lie
didn't have any business follow-
ing us.’
________________ | “Then I said
Two soldiers testified as to nian Yko ‘ia^u t any
Butler’s character. 1
quests ur-to ask all the farmersf J LarS™ve of Millersview, carried
of this county and all others who koiae a new &ax<>n in the after-
care to attend, to not forget the
date of the District Farmers’ In-
stitute^ yiat is to be held in Bal-
linger Januij^^Oth and 31st. A
large crowd^ Srtfrpected.
Kirk 4 Mack
By United Press.
Al STLN, Jan. 26.—It is report-
ed here today that Gov. Ferguson
will decide upon Wilbur Allen, a
local attorney, as member of the
board of regents for the State
I ’niversity.
Gov. Ferguson has prepared a
message to the legislature recom-
mending lhe present state land
office building be given to the
Daughters of the Confederacy and
Daughters of the Republic, for a
historical museum. Gov. Fergu-
son will also recommend an ap-
propriation of $20,000 for equip-
ping lhe building for the two pat-
riot ic associations.
The house this morning passed
the Johnson bill permitting jun-
ior colleges to issue teacher’s cer-
tificates.
rl he senate has been tied up in
executive session since nine thirty
his morning over the confirma-
ion of <’• W. Woodman’s reap-
pointment as state labor commis-
sioner.
increase of population in two dis-
tricts mainly that gave us two ad-
ditional representatives, viz:
the 13th District, known as the
Panhandle, embracing 48 coun-
e, and in
the 16th District known as the
flumbo West Texas District, run-
ning from .Mineral Wells to El
Paso, ami embracing 58 counties
To fully
mon-
remem-
bered that this same census gave
the 6th District only 185,000 pco-
BLANTON SPEAKS FOB LAWMAKERS
RE-DISTRICTING
NIGHT PHONES Menndonea
and thati0)?1’ me, cloud after cloud,
. I didn’t know
was acting, was somebody
I didn’t know what it
was or who it was; it wasn’t me.
And I knew I tried to turn
back- Then 1 heard one shot.
“That was the only shot
, heard. I knew we wrestled
! the seat.
they reached home.
Mrs. Spanell accompanied her
I t o their automobile, ___________t _............
the defense Spanell testified, when he recall- tics with 340,000 people
LEAK PROBE (GERMAN WARSHIP
TO Kt FACTS
ON MONDAY
“I want to pat you and Bob
Kirk on the back,” said E. W.
Patterson, of the Winters coun-
try, who was here Friday, “for
the good road between here and
Winters. Air. Kirk is certainly
doing the job right, and a man can
now come to Ballinger in his car
without losing all his religion.”
The road crew on the Winters
road is on the last stretch of the
road at present, being at work be-
tween Hatehel and the A. S. cross-
ing. and as soon as they are thru
jjthey will come to the Johnson
lane and convert that almost im-
i passable lane into a respectable
of• highway.
AVe have contended all the
earn
i his salary if the people would put
him on the job. If he fails to
make every road leading into Bal-
linger a good one, it will be be-
cause the cash plays out before
the work can be done. Ballinger
people will get busy and see that
the cash does not play out and
that the good work can be con-
By LeRoy A. Wilke.
Special Correspondent for The
Ledger.
SAN ANGELO, Jan. 26.—The
defense rested in the Spanell
trial shortly before noon today,
and a number of state witnesses
were introduced in offering re-
buttal testimony. Spanell com-
pleted his story yesterday after-
noon, and remained firm in de-
claring that Butler killed Mrs.
Spanell. All efforts of the state
in the cross examination failed to
cause the defendant to change hisI
testimony in the least, and with- yunK *>a<l happened,”
out contradicting himself he ans- ’* ‘ ’.....
wered all questions put to him by 1
the counsel for the state in a firm
and emphatic way
A. A. Newal, of Alpine, was the,
first witness to testify for the de- busband
fense this morning, f
offering further testimony as to^’d saying to his wife:
die character of Butler and Span- “ 1 m going to have it out with
ell, and as to the actions of the him (Butler right now.”
two men prior to the time of the
killing.
Newal said: “I walked out of
the hotel just as Sr-anell and Mrs. said
Spanell walked out. This was a
few minutes before the killing
Mrs. Spanell looked pale. She
called to Col. Butler and told him!
to come and get in the car. A
few minutes after this the killing
occurred. ’ ’
James Dodd, also of Alpine, and
the witness for defense who was
brought here under a writ of at-
tachment, testified as follows:
“I heard the shooting but paid do
attention to it. Some few minutes
before the shooting three parties |
passed me in a car. L Z______
voices and recognized one as that
of Col. Butler saying, “will you
let me explain, Mrs. Spanell. ’ The
voice I heard repeating this twice,
and continuing I heard the voice
say, ‘Mrs. Spanell and Mrs But-
ler was up there and-----------. ’
By this time they were out of
hearing and I heard no more.” I "Then I said to Butler: ‘A
Two soldiers testified as to nian "’h° hasn't any more res-
Butler’s character. Both of the *Pect than t0 Follow women around
soldiers stated that his reputation!011(1 do as he (Butler) had done
was bad. They said Butler’s'W“Q '*”♦
nickname was “Boar Butler.”
. .Shortly after noon the defense
rested and several witnesses were
introduced by the state before
court recessed for the noon hour.
Judge A. M. Turner, of Brew-
ster county, was the first witness
introduced in rebuttal by the
state. He testified that Butler’s
reputation was good as far as he
knew. He also said that Spanell’s
reputation was good.
The Brewster county sheriff
testified that he had warned citi-'
zens of Brewster not to carry
guns, and he himself had arrest-1
ed one man for that offense.
Dr, B. F Berkley testified that ‘pushed my head down on
Butler’s reputation was good. -steering wheel. I .............
J. D. Jackson, ex-president of ^1C 8un ’ll the pocket of the car
the Texas Cattle Raisers Associa-|a,l(1 s°uie way.”
tion, said that the reputation of ju,lcturc the witness’
Col. Butler was good as far as he testunony for the first time, ram-
knew. I bled somewhat
Moser Slater testified that he'1101‘I’lite clear.
had seen Spanell drink a cocktail “The cl
at a Mexican supper, and thati”'vl > '■
Spanell became slightly intoxi- i aLcr veil.
I cated. Spanell laughed when the
witness testified that he was in- a(,Lug?
toxicated.
I
on
1 l(*lt that ii Butler got
the(kili me a”d Crystal, too. I knew
he was getting it away from me.
I thought of a little pistol in my
' ■ 1 don’t remember of his
of
But 1 had gotten the
little pistol out, and I don’t know
but I think I tired a couple of
times, maybe.
“1 found myself next outside
the ear, over against 1he fence,
and I came back quickly to the
car. Butler seemed to bp right
behind Mrs. Spanell. I could see
flashes of a gun. I rushed a-
round to the other side of the
car and remember I fired at him
there. I don t know how many
times. Then I saw him fall anil
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Sledge, A. W. Ballinger Daily Ledger (Ballinger, Tex.), Vol. 12, Ed. 1 Friday, January 26, 1917, newspaper, January 26, 1917; Ballinger, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1172608/m1/1/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Carnegie Library of Ballinger.