The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-04-10
TIE GREATEST MURDERER
BUTLER BOASTS THAT HE DE-
SERVES THE TITLE.
Now on Board of the Mariposa Under
Heavy Guard-Tried to Commit Sui
eide and Requires Watching.

Butler, the notorious Australian
bush murderer, arrived on the Mari
posa, in transit~for Sydney this mcsn-
ing. Glorying in the boast that he is
the greatest murderer that ever lived
he has sworn to cheat the gallows, and
it requires the watchful care of the
three noted detectives who bounded
him to Jail and big corps of extra
guards from the steamships crew. to
prevent him from carrying out his
intentions. Thus far they have sue
ceeded in keeping him in subjection,
despite several desperate attempts on
his part to take his own life.
Capt. Hayward has taken every pre-
caution to prevent friends of the mur-
derer or cranks from having any sort
of communication with Butler. The
passages leading to the stateroom in
which he is confined are guarded by
stout fellows who have orders to allow
no one to pass. Some exceptions have
been made this morning, in the cases
of local police officers of rank, who
have been permitted to gaze upon the
noted criminal but not talk with him.
Butler is chained to the floor of
stateroom No. 81. on the lower deck.
The room is bare of all furniture, eX-
cept a hard bunk and couple of
blankets. The murderer's food is
served on a tin pannikin, chopped fine,
so that it can be eaten with thick
spoon. Every dish is first tasted by
one of the detectives before it is
passed into the prison, and then an
officer sits close by the man while he
eats. The same precaution is observed
with the water given to Butler to
drink. Even the tobacco the murderer
smokes is carefully tested before it is
given to him.
In the stateroom just across the mar
row passage from the murderer's sit
Detectives Roache, McIIattie and Con-
way, the three men who travelled half
around the globe to capture Butler.
They are tied together with stout
into the slightest tussle while his fell
lows slept, they would be awakened
Immediately and lend assistance. De-
tective Roache was on watch when Il
party of officers called this morning.
McHattie and Conroy were asleep.
Roache chanced to move his arm, and
feet, with their pistols in their hands.
ready for trouble.
Chief Officer Hart. of the Mariposa,
has taken peculiar interest in the safe
transit of the murderer. He says that
Butler boasts that he is the greatest
murderer that ever lived, that he com
menced his career Will boy by
killing another boy, and found so
much pleasure in shedding blood that
he has been at it ever since. His chief
ambition now is to cheat the gallows;
if he fails. he says that he will make
a full and complete confession of his
crimes on the gallows.
On the voyage from San Francisco
Butler pricked open the arteries of his
wrists and right temple with his
thumb nail, hoping to bleed to death.
His life was saved, and since then his
nails have been kept pared down to
the quick. On the first night at sea
his arms were confined in "muffs,"
but he begged so hard to have them
taken off that the officers finally CON
sentcd. Chief Officer Hart has since
prepared straight jacket and pad
ded leather cap, to be placed upon the
arch-fiend in case he again becomes
unruly.
Butler is generally affable enough,
but sometimes surly with his captors.
\ gentleman on board, who is going TO
the Coogardie mines was permitted
TO talk with him, and secured much
information in regard TO the
mines from the murderer, who knows
them like a book. This morning BUT
Ter was surly. He first complained of
headache, and when given medicine
said it made his stomach ache. Most
Of the morning he has lain on his
back, with his eyes ha.t closed, prob
ably scheming to escape the law. Once
he asked for pipe and tobacco, but
swore at the officers because the to-
bacco did not suit him and called for
cigars.
No one is allowed aboard Inc Mari
posa except on business. The detec-
tives will not rest while the steamship
Is i'm port