Who is "Butch" Weldy from Spoon River Anthology and what is their importance?

Before Butch Weldy's real story begins, we learn that he was responsible for the rape of Minerva Jones. Butch tells the reader that he then "got religion and settled down". He also took a job at the Spoon River canning works. One morning after arriving at work, Butch, following his normal routine went to fill the gas tank when it exploded. He suffered major injuries including two broken legs and the loss of his eyesight. At trial, the Judge decided that the company's owner was free of responsibility for the accident, determining that the accident was caused by a fellow worker.\