Evening star., 1897-02-02
AT TER A LONG CHASE
George Edward Butler, the Notorious
Murderer. Captured.
KNOWN VICTIMS NUMBER FOURTEEN
Awaiting the SwanhiIda's Arrival at
San Francisco.
CRIMINAL NOW IN PRISON

SAN FRANCISCO. February George
Edward Butler, alias Ashe, the murderer,
who arrived today the ship Swanhilda,
so long expected. Is now in San Fran
cisco jail. The Swanhilda was sighted at
5:1S this morning coming through the heads
- in tow of the tug Alice. The tug blew six
whistles the signal agreed upon II But
Ter was aboard, but detectives waiting
down the bay from Egg wharf did not hear
them, and although they knew the Swan
hilda was coming in, they did not know
whether Butler was on board. Suddenly a
red light flashed out through the darkness.
This was another signal, and the officers
knew their man was there.
The custom house boat Hartley, whic h
had been placed ct the disposal of the po-
lice. was boarded in haste by six detectives,
four newspaper men and four revenue Cfi-
GERS, and the little vessel steamed rapidly
away to the Swanhilda. which was met off
Fort Point The detectives remained con-
cealed in the cabin while the revenue Off
GERS went on board the Swanhilda TO see if
Butler had been put in irons. They report
ed he was not. and the detectives went on
board and Butler was pointed out, and in
. second was handcuffed He denied that
he was Butler. but was positively iGenti-
fled by Detectives McHattie and CCnroy,
VINO came here from Australia for that
purpose.
Taken to Prison.
The captured murderer wds taken on
board the Hartley. which soon landed him
at the wharf. The patrol wagon as in
waiting. and he was whirled off 70 prison
Although the arrest was & complete sur
prise to the suspected man. ne maintained
remarkable GOODNESS and calmly puffed
cigarette as he went ashore
Captain Frazier of the Swanhilda said
Butler shipped with him a seaman under
the name of Lee Weller, one of his vic
Tins All went well the trip across the
Pacific and il not known the murderer
was on board until yesterday. when it. was
kGC wn the vessel was near San Francisco.
Butler asked Captain Frazier as the pilot
>appeared to slow up. If he expected letters
from Australia. When the pilot came
aboard Butler approached him and asked:
ell, is IL yes or no?'
The pilot did not know what he meant
+, ard he gave no explanation
Captain 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 hfs capture.
Captain Frazier agreed to do all in his
power to help the police. Nothing was said
to Butler and the ship was brought into
Port.
How butler Was Pointed Out.
1t was agreed that when the crew lined
up for inspection Captain Frazier was 20
slip In front of Butler. When the police
came on board and the men lined up But
> Ter was the second man in lire. Captain
Frazier stopped an instant in front of him.
and at the same time Sergeant Bonner of
the local police covered him with a pistol.
Buffers hands went up like fash. Irons
Were slipped over his wrists and one of the
most notable criminals of modern times
was prisoner.
Detectives McHattie and Ccnroy. who
tZsrF1. tn.
narrowly escaped being or e of his yictims1
were disguised when they boarded the
Swanhilda. When they charged Butler with
the crimes attributed 10 him. he professed
entire ignorance and denied tnat his nam,
was Butler. On the Hartley. On the way
to shore. the diSguises We're removed and
sun Butler pretended not TO know his cap
tors.
: On the voyage from Newcastle Butler
worked as an ordinary seaman. In his Kit
were found garments bearing different
marks which correspond to the initials OF
some OF his victims.
The Australian officers are oyerioyed at
the successful outcome OF the long and
weary wait Extradition papers have al
feady Deen served and unless something
unforeseen happens Butler and his custodi-
srs will sail for Australia Saturday on the
Monowai.
Buffers Crimes.
The known victims OF Frank Butler. the
Australian murderer il is said number
Aour'eeh- Amcng his other aliases are
Capt Lee Weller, S. Burgess Glare. Frank
Harwcod and Simpson, but Butler is sup-
posed to be his real name. His trail of
blood. 1t is alleged, reaches from New
South Wales TO the reefs of Western Ans
raiia, where he Is suspected of similar de-
hberate murders. His method was 10 adj
vertise IN English and American uauers for
a partner TO prospect rich mineral dIstrtcts
he stipulated that the intending victim
should have capital of $50 He received
many responses and whenever he took a
comrace INTO the wilderness to search for
gold he returned alone
As no one knew of the partnership exist-
ing between Butler and his victims Cant
Lee Weller and Ed. Sorenson their absence
excited much alarm.
The first clue was discovered when the
bodies or Weller and Sorenson were found
by sheep herder. IL appeared as though
Butler had induced the men TO dig their
own graves I'm a pretended search for aolJ
for in the pit they themselves had dug ib-v
We're found buried. Evidence was found
pointing 10 Butler as the murderer. and he.
had assumed one of his victims names as
on the Swanhilda's paper was found the
name OF Capt Lee Weller.
The authorities in England were notified
ana detectives started both from Australia
and England to meet him on his arrival al
san Francisco According to these officers
the list OF Buffers victims is constantly in
creasing- He is an Englishman aged forty
years -