The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-01-07

An Arch Fiend That Killed and
Took the Names of His
Victims.
He Escaped in a Sailing Vessel, but
Detectives Followed in
Steamer.


N S. W., she will be boarded by cloud OF
detectives who will ask for Frank Butler,
alias Frank Herwood, alias S. Burgess, alias
Lee Weller, alias Simpson, alias CLAIRE and
many other names conveniently taken on
during career of blood. AS he is be-
lieved to have assumed at different times
the names of his victims they may be
traced by his aliases.
If this man does not transfer his very
valua BILE and much-wanted body to some
other vessel en- route or otherwise elude
the officers they will get a prize indeed, for
he is a murderer fourteen tinaes over.
This is the reason why two detectives
from Sydney are now on their way TO this
City, and another from London is coming
to take up their watch for the four-master
Swanhilda.
This colonial butcher was we'll known in
Australia even before the police began to
trace his awful crimes TO his door. The
particular crimes for which he is now be-
ing hunte is the murder of Captain Well
Ter. a master mariner, and a man named
Preston. The two men came 10 him, as 1t
is believed many other victims had done
before, in answer to an advertisement ask
ing for partners to engage in mining Lear
a place called Linden. One Of the cendl-
tons was that each applicant must have
at least &10 and come we'll recomm ended.
Butler and his two partners departed for
the alleged mine a bout the middle OF NO
VEN Der, and only he was after seen alive.
Their bodies were found in wild part of
the mountains both having been muir
dered and undoubtedly robbed.
The detectives traced Butler to New
castle and learned that he had gone
aboard the Swanhilda, which had sailed
for San Francisco November u, either as
a passenger or guest of Captain Fraser
or as man before the mast. He is now
under the name of Lee Weller.
Then came the ocean race. Detective
M. A. Conroy and Constable McHattie of
Sydney, n. S. W., took passage aboard of
the steamship Miowera, which sailed for
Victoria before the Monowai left for San
Francisco. The officers landed in Vic
toria last Monday evening and will soon
be in this City to await the coming OF the
Swanhida and their quarry.
Since the escape of Butler from Aus
traiia the police officials believe that he
murdered twelve other persons in New
South Wales during the last year. He is
supposed to have decoyed them under one
pretext or another by means of newspa-
per advertisements into places convenient
for his black purpose and taken their
lives.
OF course there is a possibility that But
Ter is not on board of the Swanhiida, but
is still at large in the great southeastern
continent. The only evidence that he
took passage on the vessel is the state
ment of boatmen in Newcastle, who when
shown photograph of the murderer de-
cIared that they had put that man aboard
OF the Swanhilda just before she sailed.
And again there is also possibility that
be may have succeeded IN leaving the ship
at some island or getting transhipped to
some other vessel in midocean. The fell
low is shrewd enough to know that all
Australia is ringing with the accounts of
his crimes and that the electric cable has
spread the news over the world.
Detective Conroy has double interest in
capturing the red-handed murderer, as he
came near answering one of Butler s
deadly advertisements. The two men
were to have gone prospecting together.
but Conroy secured u position on the de-
tective force and changed his plans. He
will readily identify Butler through any
disguise and will be prepared to arrest his
man at all hazard.
One of The murderer's aliases is
Frank Harwood." This is the name of
a young man he undoubtedly killed at
Coolgardie Plains two years ago. Butler
assumed the name and property of How
ara, ana pore Luat TUE tlli ne IOunQ all
other victim, and incidentally anothe r
name.
British Vice-Consul Moore stated yes
terday that the date of the Swanhil da s
arrival could not be set. but probably she
would not get into port till the latter part
of this month, or possibly about the Oath.
The consular office had been advised in
November of the crimes of Butler and his
escape in the Swanhilda, bound for San
Francisco. Mr.. Moore also stated that the
necessary extradition papers would be
ready, and that the colonial officers, as
sisted by the local detective force, would
promptly arrest the murderer upon the
arrival of the big bark off this port.