Attempt to murder Doctor Brownell

An Utica correspondent writes, July 25th, Are usually quiet village with a scene of an intense excitement last evening, going to the destiny attempt to take the life of one of our most prominent citizens. The facts are these: About 7:00 o’clock in the evening Dr William Brownell return to his residence from a professional visit. I’m driving to his barn he met three men and a woman who have been waiting to see him most of the afternoon. The man fouled him into the barn and asked him if he was Dr. Brownell. Upon receiving an affirmative answer he told the doctor he wished to get some medicine To procure an abortion on his wife, Who he stated was with him. The doctor politely but firmly refused to aid them In their design and endeavored to persuade him for making the attempt, Pointing out the danger to her life, besides the committee of a dreadful crime. The man, who proved to be Lewis C. Butler, of Troy, Oakland County, then threatened him if he did not make the prescription. At this insult the doctor ordered Butler to leave his premises, when Butler, quick as a flash, drew a revolver from a side, cocked and leveled it at the doctor’s side, Seeing his danger, sprang forward and clinched his would be assassin before he had the time to fire, succeeded in getting hold of the revolver and then ensued a desperate struggle. The Doctor had forced him out of the barn and some 40 feet toward the house, when the villain succeeded in wrestling the pistol from the doctor’s grasp and fired a comma the ball passing through the doctor’s right thigh., the doctor threw him on the ground and succeeded in mastering him and held him until some of the neighbors, attracted by the screams of the children, came to his assistance. Butler was secured, and the doctor, who by this time nearly exhausted, was carried into his house and medical attention secured. The wound is an ugly one, the ball having hit the bone and glanced off, making a ragged hole completely through his thigh. The report of the shooting spread to the town like wildfire, and it was with great difficulty the excited citizens were kept from lynching Butler. In fact a rope was procured and everything got ready, but a report being brought that the doctor’s wound was not dangerous, why is Council prevailed and a corporate handed over to the officers. He was taken to Mount Clemens and lodged in the jail last night. The man was a total stranger to the doctor, he had never seen him before. Butler is about 21 years of age, and the son of Mr and Mrs Daniel Butler, respected and highly esteemed citizens of Troy. Dr Brownell’s Wound is some better today and no serious result is anticipated. Had the ball passed an inch higher or in the opposite side of the bone the wound would have been fatal.