The San Francisco call., 1897-02-06
BUTLER KNEW PRESTON.
Admits to His Uncle in This City
That He Had Message From
the Murdered Prcspec o..

VIZ ava ASi - S' SO NSOSS -
whole family in this City is mourning
the death of Arthur Preston, The young
man whom Butt r or Asne is accused of
having murdered while he was digging
what proved TO be his own grave. A
brother, an uncle and aunt and several
cousins OF the murdered man have resided
in this City for number of years.
John Preston Sr., uncle of the deceased,
has lived in this City for nearly twenty
five years. He is a member of the Master
Mariners Association and for years has
been head rIgger for the Pacific Mail
Steamship Company. Shortly after But
Ter was arrested said he yesterday, Il
went out TO the City Prison 10 see him. l
wan ed TO see the iewelry and trinkets he
brought from Australia with him, but the
chlef OF detectives was not there aud
have not had a look at them yet l was
then shown into Buffers cell and [ asked
him If he had known Arthur Preston.
When he answered that he had known
him l said: For Gods sake tell me how
he came by his death?
He asked me, Who are you2'
Il answered, 'Arthur's uncle He gave
start and said, i have message for you
but cannot give ii to you now,' and with
that he gianced at the policeman who was
standing in the cell Watching u.s. Then
he began TO talk about other matters, and
do waat ! would | could not get him back
TO the subject OF Arthur's murder again.
"Arthur's mother is a widow and lives
In Liverpool One day mother and son
had TIL and the latter vowed that he
would go to Australia and seek his fortune
on the god fields. He had some money
OF his own, and that he took with him.
Being more or less of a sailor he deter
mined TO work his way, and signed aboard
the British bark Windur, for Sydney,
n. 5. w. He made several ventures at the
mines, but just made expenses, and when
he saw the advertisement that lured him
to his death he was no better off than
when he left home.
"a couple OF months ago we got letter
from Arthur's 5 mother, and in it she said
lie had not written home since he sailed
away n anger and asking if my nephew
John had seen or heard anything of him.
Not one OF US knew of his wherea bouts
ana the hrst news we got was what APP
peared IN the San Francisco papers tell
Ing OF his murder IN the Australian bush.
AS to the man calling himself Lee
Weier, never saw him IL my lie before
and never want 10 see him again. He did
not impress me as being a murderer but
If he shot Arthur in cold blood why hang
ing IS too good for him.
While talking about the tragedy the
tears frequently came into Mr. Preston's
eyes, and when ne spoke OF the estrange-
ment between the murdered man and his
mother there was break in his voice that
was more eloquent than words.
John Preston Jr., one of the crew of the
Pacific Mail Company's steamer Colon
and brother OF the murdered man, is now
IN the United States Marine Hospital.
Just about the time the news OF his broth
er death was chronicied in the papers o.
New South Wales he was beguiled into a
resort on the water front and drugged.
His pay for the round trip to Panama was
taken from him and he was left to sleep
oil the effect OF the drug. when my
nephew came to himself" said Mr.. Pres
ton, ''he could not explain anything. He
knew that his money was gone, but could
give no explanation. On the advice of the
doctor OF the ship l bad him removed to
the hospital, but instead of getting better
ne seems to be getting worse. l sent nv
son out to see his cousin to-day, but will
not know his condition until 1 reach
home. l intend next week making another
attempt at getting what L can out of Lee
Weller, as he calls himself, about Arthur's
lie IN Australia and as to how he came to
his death"