The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-02-09
SAFELY BEHIND PRISON BARS AT
SAN FRANCISCO.
The Swanhilda Arrived on the Day the
Gaelic Left Port-Butler Practically
Confesses His Crimes-The Details

BY the Gaelic this morning comes
the news that Frank Butler, the no.
torious Australian murderer, is safe
ly behind prison bars at San Francis
co, and has practically admitted his
guilt. He arrived as was expected, on
the British ship Swanhilda. on the
morning of the day the Gaelic sailed,
and was taken into custody by the Of
ficers while the vessel was still five
miles off port, with full evidence of his
guilt upon him. The afternoon papers
issued special editions, which con-
tained only the bare facts concerning
the arrest, but from the officers of the
Gaelic enough additional is learned to
warrant the assertion that Butler has
confessed
The Swanhilda was sighted off the
port of San Francisco at o'clock on
the morning of February end, and the
waiting detectives at Meiggs' wharf
Immediately notified by the Mer-
chant Exchange lookout, stationed
on Point Lobos. In very short time
the little camp was wide awake.
Sergeant Bonner buckled on his pis-
tolls, concealed his red shirt by button
ing his coat tightly around his throat
and led off. Detectives McHattie,
Roche and Conroy, of the Colonies,
and Egan and Silvey of the local staff
also armed themselves to the teeth.
The party boarded the revenue steam
er Peary, accompanied by the report
ers and custom officials, and the vessel
was soon speeding seaward.
The cutter bore down on the Swan
hilda and went alongside about five
miles off shore. Mike Fitzgerald, the
Merchants Exchange reporter, was
the first to board the vessel, while the
officers and detectives kept in the
background. Fitzgerald hailed Capt.
Frazer as an old acquaintance, and
asked him in a business like way, for a
report of the voyage. AS they went
aft he drew Capt. Frazer to one side
and informed him of the dangerous
character he had on board. Capt.
Frazer said he had learned from pas
sing steamer of Butler. but had told
no one except his chief officer. They
had been watching Butler, who was
travelling under the name of Lee We'll
Ter, but had decided not to molest him
so long as he behaved himself.
BY that time the detectives had, one
by one, crept aboard the ship, and
were ready for action. Capt. Frazer
called the crew aft, and stood them
up in a line. Detectives Silvey and
Egan, slipped in the rear of the row,
and at a signal from Constable Conroy
seized the arms of the second man.
Conroy then positively identified him
as the fugitive murderer. Butler was
cool, and gave no signs of fear. He
said his right name was Egan, but he
would not then explain how he came
to be travelling under the name of We'll
Ter. While Sergeant Bonner held re-
volver at his head the officers put the
''darbies" on him.
In Buffers chest in the forecastle
was found Capt. Lee Weller's license
as master, photograph of his wife,
and some articles of jewelry that be-
longed to him. He wore some of the
jewelry of his victims on his person,
and several articles of value known to
have been owned by Preston and
Lesha, two of his victims, We're found
in his trunk and satchel.
With the noted murdered in irons
and their damaging evidence in their
possession, the detectives and officers
left the ship, and proceeded to shore
in the revenue steamer. The news of
the Swanhilda's arrival had travelled
like wildifire, and a big crowd was
awaiting at the dock to get glimpse
of Butler. 1t was only brief one,
for the desperate was hurried into IA
patrol wagon awaiting his arrival and
hurried to the Central Police station,
where he was closeted during the re-
mainder of the morning with Captain
of Detectives Lees and the officers
from the Colonies.
When Butler saw that he was secure
ly trapped he no longer tried to con
ceal his identity, but refused to eN-
plain how he came to trayel under
Lee Weller's name, and with so much
jewelry known to have belonged to the
murdered men in his possession Just
before the Gaelic left the wharf it was
rumored that Butler had made "A clean
confession of his crimes, and had eN-
pressed a willingness to take his med
icine."
Capt. Frazer said that Butler had
given him no trouble on the voyage,
but had attended strictly to his work.