The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-04-05
A MAN OF MURDER.
All His Victims We're Led to Dig
Their own Graves.

Aheir own Graves.
From the Baltimore Sun.
/ San Francisco, April IA first-class
stateroom in the cabin of the steamer
Mariposa has been turned into a prison
cell and in it Frank Butler, the Austria.
nan multi-murderer VIII be taken to the
scenes of his crimes in that country.
Most of the furniture has been removed
from the room, and all that remains is the
lowest Of three hunks, in which the muir
derer will sleep. Close to the floor a
strong steel ring has been riveted, to
which he will be fastened If he should
show a surly disposition.
Three Australian detectives will take
turns in sitting in the room with the pris-
oner until he leaves the vessel at sgd
ney. Butler will be given exercise on the
deck at night or in the early morning,
when the other passengers are in their
berths.
The Marlposa will leave with the pris.
oner Friday. The vessel was due to sail
to-day, but is delayed on account of the
English mail being storm-bound on the
way across the continent.
Suffers own life-story, as told by him
self is as follows: His true name is John
Newman. He was born at Great Bridge,
west Bromwich, Staffordshre, England
June 20, 1858. His parents kept a tavern
known as The Boats Inn" AT an early
age Newman ran away from home and
joined the British army. He served with
hohor and distinction in her majestys
service during the Zulu war in 1S7S-79, at
the close of which he was awarded a
medal for gallant conduct. He also serv-
ed under Gen Wolseey in the Egyptian
w fo1 NIT ~ II
medal for meritorious service at the bat
tie of Tel-el-Kebr.
He deserted at the close Of this war,
coming to America, where he Joined the
United States Army, and by an unusual
display Of ability was in less than two
months made petty officer. After few
months service he grew tired of the close
confinement and again deserted, going
directly to Canada.
After travelling about the world several
years he finally wound up in Australia. 1t
was there that his career of murder be-
gan. The Australian officials assert that
fourteen murders have been traced direct
ly to him, and he is suspected of others.
Butler reached Sydney in 1898, and was
prospector in the Blue mountains, about
100 miles north of Sydney. He was known
in various sections of Australia under the
names of HARDWOOD Ashe, Burgess, Clare,
Simpson and Weller.
Il
having assumed the name of a man who
disappeared while in his company. Under
this name he advertised in a Sydney pa
per for a prospecting mate. Preston, a
young student in Sydney University, re-
piled to the advertisement, stating that
he had 1880 Butler represented himself
as a mining expert, and induced Preston
to accompany him on a trip to Emu
Plains a small station at the foot of the
Blue mountains forty miles from Sydney.
There they left the railway station and
struck out for the mountains. A few days
later Butler returned alone, saying Pres
ton was working northward
Frank Campbell, a young man who had
recently arrived from England, answered
one of Buffers advertisements. went with
him to Hudges, and has never been heard
of since. A young man whose name is
unknown, and who was a companion of
Campbell, went out with Butler after
Campbelps disappearance and although
Butler was back in a day or two, nothing
was ever heard of the stranger.
Butler adopted a uniform method in his
murders. After reaching the mountains
the victim was set to work digging for
mineral, and when the hole%wa deep
enough, he was shot through the head,
robbed and thrown into the hole, which
became his grave.
Another advertisement for a prospect
ing mate this time with the name of
Simpson, resulted in Butler setting out
for Emu Plains, accompanied by Capt
Lee Weller, a retired master mariner. In
about a week Butler was back in Sydney,
and said that his mate was ill., This
aroused suspicion, Weller's friends became
anxious, and inquiries about Butler re-
suited in strengthening their suspicious.
A searching party was organized to find
the sick master mariner and to the noun
tains this party went On Nov. 25, 1896.
A.
nants of his pOcketbook and trinkets be-
longing to him were found beside the
ashes of a camp fire, near which were also
discovered a pair of trousers, black
leather Logging and coat bearing But
ler's name.
Preston's undershirt was found near
Falcon Bridge on Dec. l. not far from
the camp where Wellers coat was found.
On the following Tuesday Preston's body
was found in a shallow grave at the head
of Numatia Gully, less than a quarter
of a mile from the Weller camp. Preston
had been shot through the head, his body
had been stripped of its clothing and was
doubled up in a narrow trench.
The search for Weller was continued
increasingly until Dec. 6, when his body |
was found beneath a small mound on the |
banks of Glen Brook creek, he having
been buried in exactly the same manner
as Preston.
While these searching parties were al
work Butler had been located in Newcas-
tie at the Sailors Home, where he had |
registered as Lee Weller. Under this |
name he applied to Capt. Fraser Of the |
Swanhilda bound for San Francisco with |
coal, and was shipped. Upon the Swan
hildas arrival here he was arrested.
Soon after this the Sydney detectives |
learned for the first time of the disap- |
pearance of Harwood, who also went pros |
pecting with Butler, and of Lesah. De- |
termined efforts were made to secure the |
murderer's requsition, but he contested |
every step as long as there was any hope |