The San Francisco call., 1897-02-03

charge, who had been informed, decided
to wait till m orning before disturbing the
remains. Two policemen were set to
watch the grave all night, and they had
great difficulty in keeping off pack OF
bowling dogs that gathered round.
On Friday morning the body was taken
from the grave. and as this was done it
was soon seen how the murder was COM
mitted. The young man had evidently
been digging to search for gold under his
mates direction. Then a shot was sent
through the back of the head, having been
fired from slight elevation and down.
ward Death must have been instan-
taneous. Having silenced his victim ior-
ever the murderer passed towel round
the body and cast it into the too short and
narrow grave the youth had dug for him.
self. The effiuvium from the corpse was
unbearable, and fires had to be lightei
round the spot to keep away the myriads
of clustering flies.
The body, greatly decomposed, was
drawn up and misshapen. 1t was evident
that the murderer had jumped upon the
BODY to get it into the grave.
Having been placed in coffin the re-
mains were conveyed to Penrith and the
inquest opened.
The identification was complete despite
the decomposition, and the clothes,
papers and even false teeth proved con-
clusively that the body was Preston's.
The search for Weller was longer one
Near the original camping-ground is a
lagoon. This was dragged as far as the
sunken logs in it would permit by water
police from Sydney. Shafts sunk for
ventilation purposes along a channel
which carries water from the lagoon to
Glenbrook railway station for railway use
were searched and the whole country for
miles round was prospected for the CHASTITY
find the searchers were confident of
making.
The idea of prospecting for gold in this
locality is, by the way, absurd, for the
veriest novice in the knowledge of geo.
logical formation would not entertain an
idea of an auriferous find in such "coun-
try"
The search for Weller was continued
INCREASINGLY each day for twelve days, but
not until last Sunday, Decent Der 6, was
the awful discovery made. Then resi-
dent named Woods, who had perhaps
been fired by the Government reward, was
going through his own paddock when
he came upon trail leading to a spot on
Glenbrook Creek known as the ssand
hole" There were signs of the earth hav-
ing been recently disturbed. Probing
with stick he noticed a terrible smell.
The police were called and digging COM
menced, and at depth of foot and
half was found Welier's body. 1t had
been buried in exactly the same fashion
as Preston's, and it was apparent that
death was caused by similar means in
both cases. At both inquests verdicts of
willful murder against Harwood or Butler
were returned.
Weller was an Englishman, and his son
and daughter are at school or college in
England. A small gold locket with
pholo of girl in cap and gown were
found. He received remittances from
England. He was about 40 years of age,
short, stout build, dark curly hair and
beard and of prepossessing appearance
The Government offered a reward of f10O
for the recovery of his body, and an add.
tional f75 for the conviction of the mur-
derer.
Now, as TO Butler, whose disappearance
was most sensational. He is about
40 years of age. 5 feet or 10 inches high,
stout build, muscular appearance, dark
hair, slightly tinged with gray, and small
side whiskers. His nose is peculiar, fat
on the bridge, large on the point and
turned to the left side as if il had been
broken. He is an Eugiishman, and speaks