Butcher, Louisville Courier-Journal, September 3, 1895

End of Disorderly Hickman Negro.

SHOT TO DEATH

Taken From the Lock-Up By Unknown Men.

Confined For Breach of Peace a Few Hours Before.

OTHER KENTUCKY NEWS.

Hickman, Ky., Spt. 2. –(Special.)– William Butcher, a negro, was taken from the city lock-up some time last night and shot to pieces by a band of supposed whitecaps. The negro was a drinking, crap-shooting loafer; always in trouble when out of the city calaboose. He was released from the lock-up on Thursday evening, and on Saturday night had two flights, one with a negro from the country, who drew knives upon him, and would have killed him had it not been for the City Marshal. On Sunday morning the Cit Marshal took an old pistol away from the negro and cautioned him to stop his disorder and misbehavior. On Sunday evening about 7 o’clock the Marshal returned from his supper and found Butcher cursing upon the street and threatening to kill at sight the men with whom he had trouble the night before. The Marshal ordered Butcher to go home or he would be arrested.

Butcher picked up a brick, saying he would as soon kill one man as another, and started toward the Marshal. The Marshal hit him over the head with a walking cane, knocking him to his knees, but before he could be captured he started to run, throwing bricks at the Marshal and hitting W. T. Buckner, a prominent citizen. The Marshal pursued the negro, who turned and threw another brick, hitting the Marhsal on the shoulder, knocking him down. The negro was finally captured after a severe struggle and put in the city lock-up at 8 p. m.

After being locked up he threatened the life of the Marshal and said he would “do him up” when he got out. This morning the door of the calaboose was found open and a bar of iron with which the lock was broken was lying just outside the door. The dead body of the negro was found lying on the rocks of the river bank a little above town. Nine white muslin masks were found a short distance from the body. An examination of the body showed one wound in the back of the head made by a load of buckshot, part of which passed entirely through the head. Twenty-four shot were found in the back and hips and twenty-one pistol balls were found in his arms, legs and head. He was barefooted, and the feet were cut by the sharp rocks upon which it was lying, seeming to indicate that Butcher had escaped his captors and was shot as he ran.

Evidence before the Coroner’s jury showed that the shots were heard at 3 o’clock this morning. Zolla Hanna, who lives next door to the lock-up, states that he saw the men when they came for the negro. He says that Butcher begged for his life before the door of the lock-up was broken, and continued to ask for mercy as he was led off by his captors. He also states that every man had on a white mask and that several rode horses. The grand jury is now in session and will fully investigate the killing, although it is claimed there is absolutely no clew to the identity of any one who took part in it. The police know nothing of it, it is said.