The herald., 1897-02-03
THE AN1|PDDEA
RIVAL G HOLINESS
Found on Board the Ship
Swanhilda
TAKES HIS arrest VERY C00LLY
And Denies Ever Having Muir.
dered Anybody
DETECTIVES ARE CERTAIN
Laughing to Scorn All Suggestion d
Mistake
lin uue otsou a Ma pysdaura pouak A~~~~ A.
DETECTIVES ARE CERTAIN
Laughing to Scorn All Suggestion o.
Mistake
Evidence Pound Among the
Murderer's Possessions
He Is Not a Blood-thirsty Brigand, BuS
Just Common, Conscienceless,
Cowardly Scrub, Technically
Called a Degenerate.
Associated Press Special Wire

Associated Press Special Wire
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 2-George
Edward Butler, alias Ashe, the murderer
whose arrival on the ship Swanhilda
was so long expected, is now in the San
Francisco jail.
The Swanhilda was sighted at Sis this
morning coming through the heads In
tow Of the tug Active. The tug blew six
whistles, the signal agreed upon il But
ler was on board, but the detectives
waiting lower down the bay at Meigrss
wharf did not hear them, and althouxlt
they knew the Swanhilda was coming
in they did not know Butler was on
board.
Suddenly a red light flashed out
through the darkness. This was another
signal and the officers knew their man
was there. The custom house boat Hart
ley, which had been placed at the dis.
posal of the police. was boarded in haste
by six detectives four newspaper men
and four revenue officers, and the lit
tie vessel steamed rapidly away to TIN
Swanhilda, which was met of Fort
Point
When the police came on board and
the men lined up, Butler was the second
man in line. Captain Frazier stopped an
instant in front of him and at the same
time Sergeant Bonner of the local police
force covered him with pistol But.
ler's hands went up like q FASH
Irons were slipped over his wrists, and
one of the most notorious criminals OF
modern times was prisoner.
Detectives McHattie and Conroy, who
knew Butler in nAustralia-Conway hav-
Ing narrowly escaped being one OF his
victims-were disguised when they
boarded the Swanhilda. When they
charged Butler with the crimes attrfbu-
ted to him, he professed entire Ignorance
and denied that his name was Butler.
On board the Hartley, on the way to
shore, the DISCUSSES were removed, ana
still Butler pretended not to know his
captors.
On the voyage from Newcastle, But
Ter worked as an ordinary seaman. In
his kit were found garments bearing
direrent marks which correspond to the
initials of some of his victims.
The suspected murderer was taken on
board the Hartley, which soon landed
him at the wharf. The patrol wagon was
In waiting and he was hustled OF to
prison. Although the arrest was a COM
plete surprise to the suspected man. he
maintained a remarkable GOODNESS and
calmness and puffed cigarette as he
went ashore.
BUTLER'S BEHAVIOR.
Butler declines to be interviewed, re-
fusing to make any statement as to his
identity further than that his name Is
Eagen, but he admits having shipped
under the name of Lee Weller. He re-
fuses, however, to give any reason why
he assumed Wellers name, and declines
to admit that he even knew Weller. He
says man Is innocent until he Is proven
guilty, and says he will make no state-
ment regarding any portion of his past
history. Butler appears undisturbed
by his position, and sits unconcernedly
facing his questioners with a contempt-
uous glance.
He affects to be rather amused thau
otherwise at his predicament. He is be-
low the medium height, and Is decidedly
insignificant in appearance. He has a
malevolent expression, but hardly looks
like confirmed criminal He Is appar-
emily about 27 years old. and his address
suggests a man of fair education. When
his baggage was brought ashore any
quantity of discriminating evidence
against him was found carefully packed
in with his own belongings, including a
photograph Of Mrs. Weller, a pair of
bluchers, on which We're stamped We'll
Ter 8 name, Two watches, q spectacle
case and a watch chain with locket. all
bearing Lee Weller's name or mono-
gram number of books, ON the fiy
leaves of which were the names Of We'll
Ter and his wife, and many other ar
ticles, which are considered by the de-
tectives as positively connecting him
with the murdered sea captain and PROS
pector. The detectives are very positive
as to the identity of their prisoner, and
scott at any possibility of mistake.
BUTLER'S CRIMES.
Butler is charged with committing
three or four murders in Australia. He
is accused of killing retired sea cap
tain named Weller. Butler inserted an
in an Australian paper
for partner with G10 to be q partner in
q mining expedition. Weller accompa- +
MED Butler into the country and did not &
return alive. The burial place of Well
Ter was some fourteen miles from SPRING
wood, in a mountain glen near Glen
brook. The grave had been dug only
about three feet long, and into this shalt
low hole the body had been crammed.
face downward the legs being drawn
up right against the trunk to the fore
arms and bent upward to the shouldarR
The head was pressed against the chest
The man was killed with revolver. AS
A. T. o. Preston was another victim.
Preston was university student from
Brisbane, hardly OF age. and was Mred
to his death In the same manner a. fho.
sea captain. The bodies were recov6r-
ed about the same time II the came vals
Preston was found Qf1S TrN t(40 0iNo sI'