The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-01-06

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Hattie and Conboy. arrived in the city
yesterday afternoon from Victoria, and
last night visited police headquarters.
These two men are on their way 10 san
Francisco, where they VIII meet ihlrd
officer, who is en- route TO the Golden Gate
by way of London These three men are
racing around the world on the trail OF
Frank Harwood the most brutal muir
derer since the reign OF Jack the Ripper.
Harwo0d Is now on the ship Swan Hilda,
bound for San Francisco with coal from
New South Wales, and IS ignorant Of the
fact that detectives are waiting 20 capture
him when the ship weighs anchor in san
Francisco harbor
The arch murderer escaped from New
castle on a sailing vessel bound from San
francisco, and il the race across the ocean
the man hunters have far outdlstanced
the sailing vessel upon which the man ac-
cused OF the crimes took passage as one
OF the crew. The vessel upon which the
accused man sailed is not expected 10
reach port within twenty-five Gays.
All unaware Of the reception he VIII be
given, Frank Harwood alias Butler. alias
; Burgess, alias Simpson. alias Claire,
alias Lee Weller, is sailing nearer to San
Francisco in the guise OF an honest sailor
of the crew of the four masted ship Swan
Hilda, which left Newcastle, y. s. w,
on November q, coal laden, for Califor-
MA. In the first place. no suspicion rested
upon him when he sailed from the Austria
Ian port. In the second place, he fancies
himself secure under the name and dis
guise OF one Of his alleged victims.
Capt. Lee Weller, Harwood or Butler,
as the latter is generally supposed TO be
his correct name. is claimed 10 be the
most desperate murderer since Jack the
Ripper" closed his career among the
wretched habitues of London's White
chapel. His trail of blood, it is said, leads
from New South Wales to the reefs OF
Western Australia. where in Coolgardie
and other camps he is more than suspect
ed Of similar deliberate murders. The list
Of missing men. with whose disappear
ance he has been known to be identified,
or believed to have been connected. num-
bers fourteen. In fact he made n busi
ness OF murder. his method being TO adj
vertise in the daily papers for party TO
engage in prospecting I'm a richly mineral
lied district stipulation was made that
the victim must have $40 capital. OF
course. many poor fellow fell into the
trap. entered into partnership with this
7end and went with him out into the
wilderness TO search for gold, not one of
whom ever returned.
Two of the awful crimes for which
Harwood is wanted are the murders of
Capt. Lee Weller and a man named Soren-
the vicinity OF Sydney, y. s. w. about
September /. Through Harwood's scheme
he enticed these men from the city and
neither was ever heard from afterward.
AS no one knew of the relationship exist
ing between Harwood and his victims
their absence naturally savored of disap-
pearance. A vigorous search was insti-
tuted at the time. but no clue was discov-
cred until two days after the murderer
had sailed, when the bodies of the vic
TINS were found by a sheepherder. The
f1end had buried his victims in pit in an
obscure place, covering their bodies with
but handful OF dirt. The discovery was
due 10 the actions OF the shepherds dog
on seeming the dead bodies. and making
fuss about the vicinity. which caused the
herder 10 investigate. The authorities were
Immediately notified and the bodies taken
to Sydney, where. upon being searched.
undeniable evidence was found which
pointed to Harwood as the murderer.
Taking up this clue detectives searched
for HARDWOOD and found that he had I'M
doubtediy taken passage on the ship Swan
Hilda, taking the name OF Capt. Lee We'll
Ter, as that name appeared on the ships
papers as one OF the crew. 1t is known
by the Sidney detectives that number
OF other persons have disappeared In much
the same manner and were undoubtedly
lured into the mountains by this fend In
human shape.
McHattie and Conboy asked Capt. Hogle
a number Of questions in regard to the
running Of the local department and Amer
lean criminals In general. They showed
the captain photograph of Harwood, and
stated they We're under the impression
that he had been IN America at some
time during his life. According TO the
photograph the murderer is a man about
20 years old. rather good looking and with
an English cast OF features. He wore
can when the photograph was taken.
On arriving ar San Francisco the de-
teetives will undoubtedly get permission
TO board the ship on her arrival with the
quarantine officers and catch their man
hafnra he. hn n ii, "a III