The San Francisco call., 1897-02-03

first talking with "Harwood" he told him
that he had q broth her-in-law and a sister
living a Aubrey at the Race Club Hotel,
Wagga road. "Harwood' had said then
that as his mines were near there he
would call on Conroy's relatives on the
occasion of his next visit. 1t now appears
he did call and that he has The checkbook,
which in addition to having Conroy's
married sisters name on the inside cover
has also the name of his unmarried sister.
He told me after that" said Conrov,
"that he had been down TO Aubrey and
had sold that mine of. his for $4,000, and
that made a mistake in not going with
him, as l should have had half. l saw
him several times, but always knew him
as Harwood."
Butler" when asked during the exam
ination question about his antecedents,
acknowledged that he had been here four
years ago, but said he would not talk be-
fore the reporters. I've got very hard
charge TO stand" he said. II suppose l
can answer 1t; I'll try, anyway"
When called upon to certify by his
signature TO the correctness OF the items
recorded by Roche the prisoner, his hand
being liberated for the purpose, wrote
without hesitarcy the name Lee Weller
and signed that name whenever it was
necessary on some half dozen sheets of
paper.
He was breakfasted in the police station
kitchen, permitted to put on a flannel
shirt and better overalls preparatory to
being taken down to the Appraisers
building to be examined by the United
States Com mmissioner.
Just before going, however, Chief of
Detectives Lees was closeted with the
prisoner. What happened is best ex-
explained in Captain Lees own words
when l first saw the man." he said,
'hls face struck me as being familiar.
L told him l knew him or had seen
him before. He said that he had never
been mixed up with the police, although
he had been in this State before-about
four years ago. when be shipped on an
outgoing vessel. He had remained here
only few months.
II find that the prisoner is particularly
shrewd man." added Captain Lees, mot
that he attempts to be cunning and evasive,
but that he is careful, and talks nationally,
pIausibly and with restriotions-he i'm
poses upon me in regard to his statements
before ne makes tnein.
"For instance, he absolutely refused to
speak on any subject while he was sur
rounded by newspaper men. He quietly
told me that he did not believe he
could do himself good by talking 10 the
public, but that he was willing to give me-
all the information he possessed.
Later OF l had him alone. He began
by telling me he would not talk OF his
case.
HE said: Il deny that 1 am guilty of
the charges against me as read in the
warrant for my arrest. 1 will be fully
able 10 prove my innocence when the
time comes, but it would unnecessarily in
voive the names of many people at this
time 10 make good my assertion, hence l
prefer to remain silent.
I was here as a sailor during several
months about four years ago, and 1
shipped from this port
Captain Lees promise was then OBJ
tanned that he would not divulge the
name of the vessel ON which Butler went
away. The same promise was also given
that Buffers real name would not be
revealed.
Butler then told me-" continued Cap
tain Lees, "that none of the names by
which he was called were his.
MY name has not yet been published.
and l don't propose it shall be. WAS
born in London and my family reside
there. do not care to have them mixed
in this affair.
III had felt guilty of the crimes at