Roy Butler tells his side of a rape accusation that grew out of a petty neighborhood quarrel. He and Richard Bandle had argued over a fence, and their wives had fought about whether Ipava or Table Grove was the better town. One morning Butler felt moved by Christian love and went to settle the fence dispute. Mrs. Bandle invited him in, then suddenly slammed the door and screamed that he was attacking her, just as her husband arrived. A local jury of neighbors convicted Butler in ten minutes. He speaks with bitter sarcasm, noting that the Illinois Supreme Court and his own wife did not believe Mrs. Bandle’s story. The mood is wry and resentful, shaped by a false accusation and the quick judgment of a small-town jury.
Roy Butler — Summary
If the learned Supreme Court of Illinois Got at the secret of every case As well as it does a case of rape It would be the greatest court in the world. A jury, of neighbors mostly, with “Butch” Weldy As foreman, found me guilty in ten minutes And two ballots on a case like this: Richard Bandle and I had trouble over a fence And my wife and Mrs. Bandle quarreled As to whether Ipava was a finer town than Table Grove. I awoke one morning with the love of God Brimming over my heart, so I went to see Richard To settle the fence in the spirit of Jesus Christ. I knocked on the door, and his wife opened; She smiled and asked me in. I entered— She slammed the door and began to scream, “Take your hands off, you low down varlet!” Just then her husband entered. I waved my hands, choked up with words. He went for his gun, and I ran out. But neither the Supreme Court nor my wife Believed a word she said.