The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-02-10
BUTLER CAPTURED
At Work in F oretop When
Officers Arrive.
Jewelry and Money of Missing
Men Recovered-Says HIS
Name is Eagan.

Butler, the Australia murderer, Tor
whom all the detectives on the Pacific
side of the world have, since Novem-
Der %, 1896, been on the lookout, is at
last safe in the hands Of the law. The
Swanhilda, with the famous criminal
on board. was sighted from Point LobOs
off San Francisco bay about ) o'clock
on the morning of Tuesday, February
End.
The detectives, who had been sta
toned at Meigg's wharf for that pur-
pose. responded promptly 70 the signal
from the Merchants Exchange look
out. Sergeant Bonner of the harbor
police. with two of his men and the
three Australian detectives, several re-
porters and custom house officers,
promptly set off on the revenue steam
er Peary and came up with the Swan
hilda about five miles off shore.
The detectives boarded the vessel,
one by one. to throw off any suspi-
cions. At the time Butler was aloft,
working. Captain Frazer was taken
to one side and quitely informed OF the
business OF the shore party. Il know
all about it" replied the skipper, as
cool as the proverbial cucumber. "On
the voyage from Newcastle we were
| spoken by the British steamer Taupo.
Captain McBreath. of that vessel gave
me files of papers containing accounts
of the murders in Australia, with pic
lures of Butler. / Immediately identi-
/ fed one of my men, Captain Lee well
ler.' as being the man. My suspicious
were contend TO my mate and we have
kept a weather eye on the fellow all
the way UP"
At the suggestion of Captain Frazer,
all the sailors were called aft and
aligned. Butler was at once singled
out. seized and bound. At first he ap-
peared considerably excited, but soon
recovered himself All his belongings
were seized, and the prisoner was hur-
ried of to the Central Station, where
he was searched. On his person were
| found private letters of Captain Lee
Weller, which he evidently appropriated
| from the pockets of that man after ne
| had so foully murdered him. Jewelry
belonging to Weller and Preston; arti-
cles of value taken from Sesha ana
others of his victims, and considerable
money, were found upon him. In his
chest was found Weller's license as
sailing master and other private artl-
cles belonging to the murdered man.
! With this evidence the identity OF
the bloody criminal was established
beyond the shadow of a doubt De
tective John Roche arrived in San
Francisco on January 25th from Lon
don and Washington, with eXtradltlon
papers in order. Therefore no delay
will be experienced in taking the man
from American soil, and he VIII be
along on the MonOwai next Friday
afternoon.
AS was to be expected the arrival
of Butler at San Francisco created
great excitement. All the dailies hur-
ried out extras, detailing the arrival
of the Swanhilda and the notable cap
ture. Facts were meager at that time
however. and much of the above was
cleaned from officers of the Gaelc
The Gaelic. it will be remembered
left at 1 p. m. of the same day, or abou'
four hours after the murderer was
safely behind prison bars. Not unit
the arrive of the Monowai will the
full particulars be at hand. No refer
ence was made to Buffers accompllces
who. it was supposed, had shipped OF
the SwanhiIda from Newcastle.