The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-02-03
CAUGHT UP
Tho Greatest Murderer Ever KnoWn Is
ArreSted Killed Fourteen People.

headB In tow OF the tug Alice. The tug
blew six whistles, tho signal agreed upon
II Butler was on board, but detectives
waiting down the bay at MeggS wharf.
did not hear them and although they
knew the swanhllda was coming In, they
did not know whether Butler was on
board. Suddenly red light flashed out
through the darkness. This was anoth-
er signal and the officers knew their man
was there.
The custom boat Hartley. which hnd
been placed at the disposal OF the police
was boarded by six detectives, four
newspaper men and four revenue officers
aud the little vessel steamed rapidly
away tothe Swanhilda, which was met of
Fort Point. The detectives remained
concealed In the cabin while the revenue
officers went on board the Swanhildn to
see II Butler had been put In irons. They
reported that he had not. and the detect
Ives went on the ship. Butler was point
ed out and In a second he was handcufT-
cd. He denied that he,wns Butler, but
was positively identified by Detectives
McHattie and Conroy, who came here
from Australla,for that purpose.
The suspected murderer was taken on
board the Hartley, which soon landed
him at rlie wharf. The patrol wagon
was in waiting and he was whirled OF to
prison.
Although the arrest wds complete
surprise 10 the suspected man he main
tlined remarkable coolneSS and calmly
pufHed a cigarette as he went ashore.
Captain Frazier. Of the Swanhilda,
said Butter shipped with him as a sea-
man under the name OF Lee Weller, one
OF his Victims All went well on the trip
across The Pacific and II was not known
that the notorious murderer was on
board until yesterday, when II was
known the vessel was near San Francis
co. Butler asked Captain Frazier when
the pilot appeared 10 slow up as he eN-
peCtgd letters from Australia. When
the pilot came aboard. Butler approach
ed him and asked: well, ~ II yes or
nO?" The pilot did not know what he
meant and he gave no explanation. Cap
tain Frazier was Informed by the pilot
that It was supposed Butler was on
board under the name OF Lee Weller, and
told OF the arrangements for his cnp-
turc Captain Frazier agreed to do all
in his power 10 help the police. Nothing
was said to Butler and the ship was
brought into port.
II was agreed that when the crew I'm
ed ip for inspection Captain Frazier was
10 slip In front Of Butler. When the po-
lice came on board and the men lined
up. Butler was the second man In line.
Captain Frazier stopped an instant in
front of him md at the same time Ser
geant Bonner, OF the local police covered
him with pistol. Buffers hands went
UP like fash. Irons were slipped over
his wrists and one Of the most notorious
criminals of modern times was pris-
oncr.
Detectives McHattle and Conroy, who
knew Butler IN Australia, COnroy hav-
ing narrowly escaped being one Of his
victims. were disguised when they
bearded the Swanhilda. When they
charged Butler with the crimes attribu-
ted 10 him he professed entire ignorance
and denied that his name was Butler. On
the Bnrtley, on the way 10 the shore
thc dtsgutsps were removed and still
Butler pretended not to know his cap
tors.
on the voyage from New Castle Butler
worked as an ordinary seaman. In his
Kit were found garments bearing differ
ent marks. which corresponded to the
Initials OF some Of the victims.
The Australian officers are overoyed al
the successful outcome OF their long and
weary walt. Extradltion papers have al
ready been served and unless something
unforeseen happens Butler and his custo-
dians will sail for Australia Thursday on
the Monowai.
Butler Is extremely English In appear
nnce and speaks with pronounced Eng
llsh accent. He gave his name at the
city prison as ElgIn.
Butler Is credited by the Australian po-
lice with having murdered fourteen men.
His plan was to entice men whom he
knew to have money Into the interior
under the pretense OF examining mining
claims and then numbering them. His
last victim was Capt Lee Weller a re-
tired sea captain. Butler took his money
and clothes and shipped on the Swan
hIlda under the name OF Weller.
Butler declines to be interviewed, re-
fusing to make any statement as to his
Identity further than that his name Is
Elgnn but he admits having shipped
under the name OF Lee Weller. He re-
fuses, however, to give and reason why
he assumed Weller's name and declines
to admit that he ever knew Weller, He
says a man Is innocent until he is proven
guilty, and says he will make no state
men9 regarding any portion OF his past
history. Butler appears undlsturbed by
his position and insists unconcernedly
tuous glances. He affects to be rather
amused than otherwise at his predlcl-
ment. He is below medium height and
decidedly insignificant in appearance.
He has n maleVolent expression, but
hardly looks like confirmed criminal.
He IS apparently about twenty-seven
years old and HIS address suggests man
OF fair education.
When his baggage was brought ashore
any amount OF incrimlnatinG evidence
was found carefully packed In his be-
lonYings. a photograph Of Mrs Weller,
a pair OF Bluchers, on which were
stamped Wellers name, two watches, a
spectacle case and watch chain with
locket. bearing Lee Weller's name, and
number of books. on the fly leaves of
which were the names uf Weller and his
wife, and many other articles recorded
By detectives as positively connecting
him with the murdered sea captain unI
The detectives are very pos
Tive as TO the identity Of their prisoner
and acofr at any possibility OF n mis-
take
when the Monowai sails for Australia
Friday. she viii take Butler, and the
Australian detectives. The prisoncr'l
presence IL required before United States
Court Commissioner Peacock next Mon
day. and IL Butler makes a technical de-
frnsc to his 6Xtrldit!0n, rs he aays he
Will 10, he may remain In san Francisco
for several weeks.
When he was taken before the commits
shntr this afternoon he said his name
was Lee Weller Afier Constable Conr0y
Of the Australian police. had Identified
him as Butler. the alleged murderer, the
prisoners attorneys nslScd for contln.
irlncr Tor trn days, in order to prepare a
defense. Next Monday was SET by the
az n compromise date for |
both Sides Butler maintains his policy |
~ ystt.ot,,Co and nhe1lutpIv rpfusns IN
discuss his past, except fnr momentary |
Iapses, when q shrcwd question throws |
him temporarily Off his guard Butler |
Ia ll.;pInYiDr much cunning. but Il Is OF |