The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-02-03
WORTHY RIVAL OF HOLMES
FRANK BUILER, THE AUSTRALIAN
MURDERER, UNDER ARREST.

Have Murdered Two Men Within Four
Notwithstanding Evidence Found in
His Effects--Prisoner Calm and Refuses
to Discuss the Case.
San Francisco, Feb. 2.-The ship
Swanhilda from Newcastle, Australia,
arrived this morning. Frank Butler,
the Australian murderer, was arrested
and brought ashore.
Butler, who is also known as Har-
wood. Ashe, Burgess, Glare, Simpson
and Weller, is g. criminal Of the most
atrocious order He possesses the cum
ming of Deeming and the facility of
execution of III. III. Holmes. Butler is
| accused of a number Of crimes which
cannot be proved against him, although
| evidences of his guilt are being un-
| earthed every day. 1t is known beyond
doubt, however, that at least two men,
Arthur Thomas O. Preston and Cap
tain Lee Weller, met death at his hands
within the past four months.
Butler was taken to the central po-
| lice station together with a varied as
sortment of baggage. This was exam
ined by the Australian detectives and
also by the local officers, and any
amount of evidence. was found to con-
vict him. A photograph, bracelet,
brooch and ring, all belonging to
MrS Wa1Iar a 10 cf o,,,i,,
tion In chemistry belonging to Har-
wood, another of Buffers victims,
coat and vest belonging to Prescott,
who was also murdered by the prison
er. and shipping discharges granted to
| Weller We're brought to light.
| A pocketbook bearing the initials
-. II. A." was also found, which the
| detectives believe must belong to
another of the murderer'S victims.
Only two sovereigns were found in
Buffers possession. He refused to
make any statement other than he has
Captain Lee Weller, and when the de-
tectives had finished making an in
yentory of his effects he signed it
readily in a bold hand Lee Weller,
2-2-'97"
| After this he was taken into the pri-
vate office Of Captain Lees, chief Of the
local dectestive force, and submitted to
a searching examination, the result of
which is not yet known. 1t has been
found Butler left here four years ago
Russia for Australia. The detectives
say that was the time Butler made his
appearance in Australia.
Captain Fraser of the Swanhilde
said that soon after the voyage began
| the Australian steamer Talcott was
sighted and the second officer came
aboard and informed him that Mur-
derer Butler was a member Of his
crew. Fraser knew nothing about But
ler, the murderer, having shipped as
Lee Weller, and paid little attention to
| the visitors story A day or two later
| Fraser, in looking over the newspa-
! pers Talcott's mate had left, read
about Buffers crimes and that Lee
| Weller was one of his victims.
That gave him a clew and he thought
at first he would put the murdered in
irons when it occurred to him that
he had long voyage before him with
a hard crew to handle and if one of
tain would have constant trouble. He
and the first mate, therefore, decided
| that the best plan would be to let But
Ter continue to perform his duties and
keep a close watch on him. He never
mistrusted anything and Captain Fra
ser says he was the best sailor on the
ship.
While awaiting the arrival of the
| United States commissioner Butler
incautiously remarked in answer to a
question: Eyes. | knew Captain Lee
Weller we'll met him while mining
and prospecting"
He then checked himself and would
! say no more until he had secured an
attorney. He later asserted he could
easily disprove the charges He ack-
nowIedged that he had appropriated
the name of Weller.
A tremendous crowd gathered in the
rooms of Commissioner Heacock to
view the criminal. Constable Conroy
of Sydney identified the prisoner as
Frank Harwood, who had been intro
| duced to him as a miner and prospec-
tor Commissioner Heacock, at the re-
quest of the prisoners counsel, ad-
iourned the hearing until February 3,
and Butler was taken back to prison.
Concealed within the lining of But
Ier's hat were found number of small
powders containing strychnine.
Mrs. Eta Butler of Napa. Cal,
claimes to be the deserted wife of the
|