The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-17
FRANK BUTLER GUILTY
"MONsrER OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS
CONVICTED OF MURDER.
An Australian Who Is Alleged to Have
Decoyed Many People to the Bush
and Killed Them.

SYDNEY, N. S. W., June 16.-The trial of
Frank Butler, the monster of the Blue
mountains" charged with the murder OF
Captain Lee Weller, while the two men
were on a gold prospecting trip, was con-
cluded to-day, the jury rendering verdict
of guilty Butler attempted to cut his
throat with piece of tin early this morn
ing, but was seized before he did himself
any serious injury. Later he made the
most violent resistance to his keepers While
on the way to the courthouse He fought
with them like a wild beast, and was with
difficulty subdued.
Frank Butler, after the murder of Cap
tain Weller, escaped from Australia on the
ship Swanhilda, but upon the arrival of
that vessel at San Francisco he ar
rested, afterwards being extradited The
plea of the defense at the trial just closed
was that Captain Weller committed suicide.
Many other murders are charged to Butler.
No sane mar with the exception of H. H.
Holmes, is knSA7n to have manifested such
a lack of feeling or to have carried on his
murderous business with such positive bru-
tally. Comparatively nothing is known of
Buffers former life. He is mining pros
pector and a seaman. He is known to have
been in San Francisco four years ago.
Hence he went to Africa to search for gold,
and from Africa he migrated to Australia.
He is an Englishman of a stature some
thing above middle height, with heavy eyes,
bronZed complexion, and perhaps forty
years of age: The appearance of his face
is repulsiVe, but he has SnaVlty of man
ner that enables him to win the confidence
of men, and that was of material assist
ance to him in Turing men to their doom
After landing in Sydney Butler looked
about for something to do. He gave OUT
that he was a prospeector and people could
m him did nOthinC n f.
tract attention, and he lived as he pleased.
Now and then he left town and was gone
for few days. returning as if from a pros
pecting trip in the mountains Early last
April he matured the design by which he
encompaSSed the death of many men. The
number of his victims is not known. 1t may
be fifteen; it may be. forty But the police
have positive information that five dead
men are to be placed to his account. His
plan was hideous in its simplicity. He ad
vertised in a Sunday paper for a partner
to exploit valuable mining claim The
to the property, which, he said, was located
in the Blue mountains, forty miles from
Sydney. When in the wilderness Butler set
the victim to work digging, and when the
excavation was of size sufficient the muir
derer shot his man in the head. despoiled
the body and buried it in the grave pre-
pared for itself with its own hands.
SOME OF HIS VICTIMS.
1t was during last October that Butler
made one of his trips into the mountains
from Sidney. On his return he assumed
the name of Frank P. Harwood who had
disappeared short time before and of
whose whereabouts no one seemed to know.
HARDWOOD was last seen in the company of
Butler, but his disappearance had not at
tracted special attention. The man had no
friends, and as his absence did not concern
anyone especially no inquiries were made
for him. Soon after Buffers reappearance
in Sydney the advertisement for mining
partner again appeared and Arthur O
Preston, young Englshman in attend
ance at the University of sydney respond
ed. Butler explained to Preston that he
had discovered good prospect in the
mountains and the two set out for Emu
plains on the train. Arriving at the sta
ton near the hills the two men made their
way into the mountains. A few days
afterward Butler returned to Sydney and
told his acquaintances that he had split
with Preston because the student was too
soft" Within a few days after his return
from the trip with Preston Butler again
advertised for a prospecting partner. This
time Lee Weller. well-known sea captain,
fell INTO the trap and called on Butler. The
ADDRESS the murderer gave on this occa-
sion was different from that of his former
lodgings 1t was Nov. that Butler
and Weller left for Emu plains At the
end OF a week Butler returned without
tain had fallen i'll.
Weilers friends We're by no means
pleased with the account Butler gave o
him. and determined TO institute a searcl
for the missing sea captain A party wa.
organized and, going TO Emu plains by
party was divided and agreed to meet at
certain place. On Nov. Is Captain Wei
ler's coat was found and the fragments of
his pocket5ook were picked up Other be
lorgings of the seaman We're discovered
near the remains of campfire. Near this
site was also found pair of trousers and
a black leather Logging belonging to But.
ler also a coat bearing Buffers name
News of this success reached Sydney ant
was spread throughout all of southern
Australia. Volunteers added their strength