Sheriff Walter B. Butchart

About the Family...

Wearing a sheriff’s star has run in the Butchart family since 1894 when William W. Butchart, usually referred to as “Old W.W.,” took office. 

The Butcharts have left their mark on the pages of St. Louis County and Minnesota history. 

Old W. W. did so when he let spring the trap of the scaffold in the last legal execution in Minnesota before the state abandoned capital punishment.

Assisted by his son Walter, Sheriff Butchart acted as hangman in the execution of Charles E. L. Henderson, in the old county courthouse, then located at Sixth Avenue East and Third Street.

Deputy Sheriff Byron W. Butchart, aka "Butch", joined the sheriff’s staff when his father, Walter, died.  He was appointed deputy by Sheriff Owens in 1934 and served ever since.

“The badges tell the story,” he says.  “When Granddad took office, the star had six points.  He wore an old nickel star until the deputies have him a gold one.  In 1895, they gave him the gold star I wear now.  That has five points.  Later, they started using the shield.”

He still carries the silver shield, No. 35, that his father wore.  It’s weighted down in back with lead counterfeit coins which a would-be passer tried to get rid of in the county before he ran afoul of the law.

From his grandfather and father, and later from Sheriff Owens, Butch learned the trade, and learned it well.  He is known all over Duluth and surrounding territory.  He is equally well liked by his fellow deputies and persons outside the office – from the bowery to the best sections of the city.

Last Legal Execution In Minnesota

Walter B. Butchart assisted his father, Sheriff William W. Butchart, referred to as "Old W. W.", with the last legal execution in Minnesota in 1903 before the state abandoned capital punishment.

Assisted by his son Walter, Sheriff William W. Butchart acted as hangman in the execution of Charles E. L. Henderson, in the old county courthouse, then located at Sixth avenue east and Third street.

Sheriff William W. Butchart, according to old files of the Duluth News-Tribune, was executioner because nobody else applied for the job although a logger from the northwoods inquired about it.

Henderson was convicted of the first-degree murder of Miss Ida McCormack on the night of June 21, 1902.  The knifing took place in a rooming house located at 319 West First Street, present site of a laundry.

The gallows was set up in court room No. 1 where Henderson heard the jury return a verdict of guilty and the judge imposed the death sentence.