Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-02-05
MAN OF MANY CRIMES
Frank Butler Arrested on Board
ship at Frisco.
DETECTIVES PLACE THE MAN IN IRONS
Hc Is Charged with Having Committed
Fourteen Murders in Australia-Dam.
aging Evidence Found-Claims
He Is Innocent

hilda was sighted at five o'clock. Her
tug signaled the waiting officer that
she was the long expected vessel and
that Murderer Frank Butler was
aboard. The revenue cutter Hartley
with detectives and reporters aboard
put OFF just before daylight. When the
Swanhilda was reached the crew was
lined up on the pretense of an exam
nation by the quarantine officers. The
Australian detectives, Egan and Silvey,
disguised, stood beside the physician.
When Butler was reached in the line
Of sailors the detectives sprang forward
and pinned his arms. The warrant was
then read and the prisoner handcuffed
and with rope about his waist then
taken aboard the Hartley, and after
ward turned over to the local police.
Butler declares his innocence Of any
crime, but trembled and seemed dis
concerted when arrested. The captain
and sailors of the Swanhilda say that
Butler was very quiet and pious. Capt.
Held received warning from passing
vessel Of the character of Butler, but
1t was not considered necessary to place
him in irons. A close watch was
kept, however. Butler will be returned
to Australia on the first steamer, and
no doubt will be promptly convicted
and executed for his many crimes.
Buffers Baggage Convlcts Him.
Butler was taken to the Central po-
lice station together with varied as
sortment of baggage. This was exam
ined by the Australian detectives, Roche,
McHattie and Conroy, and also by the
local officers, and any amount of evil
dence was found to convict him. A pho
tograph, plain gold bracelet, a brooch
and ring, all belonging to Mrs. Weller,
certificate OF examination in che1nis-
try belonging to HARDWOOD, another one
of Buffers victims, coat and vest be-
longing to Preston, who also suffered
murder at the hands of the prisoner,
and shipping discharges granted to
Weller, were brought to light. Apock-
etbook bearing the initials -. H. A."
was also found, which the detectives be-
ueve must belong to another of the muir
derer's victims. Altogether his outfit
was quite an elaborate one for COM
mon sailor. Only two sovereigns were
found in Buffers possession, and 1t is
supposed he gave his money away to his
friends before leaving Australia.
! While awaiting the arrival of United
States Commissioner Heacock, before
whom Butler was formally identified
the prisoner admitted that he was
obliged to leave Australia rather sud
denly. He was aware, he said, that he
was liable to arrest on his arrival here
but would have no difficulty in disprov-
ing the charges against him. He did
not lack opportunity to escape from the
Swanhilda while the vessel was nearing
port, and would have done so had he
not felt certain of his ability to cleal
himself of the charge of murder. HI
acknowledged that he had appropriated
the name of Weller, but gave no excuse
for having done so.
identified.
| A tremendous crowd gathered In the
room Of Commissioner Heacock t.
view the noted criminal. Leonard Ston.
and John Bidwell appeared as counse
for the prisoner, while Cormack 6
Donahue represented British Consu
Warburton. Constable Conroy, of Sgd
ney, identified the prisoner as Franz
HARDWOOD, who had been introduced t,
him as miner and prospector. At tn
conclusion of Conroy's statement Com
missioner Heacock, ut the request o
the prisoners counsel, adjourned tn
hearing until Monday next, February
and Butler was taken back to the cit
prison and locked up in a steel tank
During hisexamination Butler was aler
and calm. He betrayed no nervousness
but was very reckless In his speech an
frequently trapped or contradicted him
self. Concealed within the lining o
Buffers hat were found number Q
small powders wrapped in tissue. TIL
prisoner claimed that they were tooth
: ache drops and begged that he might
allowed to keep them. They were es
amined by chemist and found to cor
tain pure strychnine.
Butler is credited by the Australia
police with having murdered II mel
His plan was to entice men whom b
r knew to have money into the interio
t under pretense of examining mimi
t claim, and then murder them. His las
victim was Capt. Lee Weller, retire
n sea captain. Butler took his money an
clothes and shipped on the Swanhild
under the name of Weller.
MUTUAL INSURANCE MEN.
: They Meet in National Convention
Des Moines.
4 Des Moines, Ia, Feb. S.-The nations
convention of the National Associate
|" Of Mutual Insurance Men opened Tue
Is day and will continue three days. TIE