The San Francisco call., 1897-02-03
with burr somewhat like the Shropshire

with a burr somewhat like the Shropshire
style.
1t has been ascertained that in August
he arrived in Sydney from West Aus
tralia, and this explains his adoption of
the name of Frank Harwood. At Cool
gardie there is now a mining expert of
that name. Some time ago bag of Har-
woods was stolen. 1t contained some
clothes and papers, among the latter being
certificate from BaIlarat (Victoria)
School OF Mines. a miners right and a
letter from Mr.. Schlapp, manager of the
Broken Hill Proprietary Silver Mine. All
of these Butler showed as his own.
Weller, in addition to good deal OF jew
elry and some money, how much is not
known, had a master mariners certificate
and license to ip, ISSUED by the Sgd
ney Shipping Office on Septemb Der "a last.
Even after Weller's disappearance the ad-
yertisements for prospecting mates con-
tinued to appear.
Buffers next known movement was to
Newcastle. He appeared there on Novem-
Der 10 and went to the Sailors Home,
where he was known as Lee Weller. For
eight days he remained there, and said he
had been engaged in Sydney to go to New
castle to join the bark Hawaiian Isles,
bound for San Francisco, as mate. In the
meantime the captain of the bark got an
old chief officer of his to go as mate.
Butler spoke more of mining experiences
than OF seafaring and he appeared to shun
the latter subject, but he said he had been
marine superintendent for the Adelaide
Steamship Company. He produced
masters certificate issued in England and
license TO ship, both in the name of Lee
Weller, and under that name he signed
articles and sailed as seaman on the
sailing ship Swanhilda, bound for San
Francisco with coal.
The vessel left Newcastle November %,
W. los hafn thar oil ariS l-ot-
book was found at Glenbrook. That he
sailed is certain, as the pilot and reporter
saw him on board when the ship was some
miles out. Butler had also said that be
was as lad on the English training-ship
Worcester. He showed at the Newcastle
Sailors Home quantity of jewelry, in
Guiding two watches, bracelets, rings and
brooches, and it is significant that the
genuine Captain Weller had similar Jew
elry. Butler was very solicitous concern
ing Gladstone bag, bearing the name of
Lee Weller, which he had with him, and
when, as he was going aboard the ship, the
bag was dropped in the water he was very
ANXIOUS until it was recovered. At the
Sailors Home he showed two revolvers
and some cartridges, and servant-glrl in
making his bed one morning found a
loaded revolver under his pillow.
Butler appears to have journeyed
with mates on prospecting tours" to
many parts OF tnls colony. he has been
traced 10 Grafton, in the far north; to
Maniidra, near Orange, in the west, and
to Braidwood, Albury, and into Victoria,
in the south.
A well-to-do resident of Germantown
named Lesah, who is known to have gone
"prospecting' with Butler and who pur-
chased a wagon and two horses for the
trip, is also missing. This occurred in the
middle of September.
Further information gathered concern
ing the man, whatever his real name may
be-he has been known at different times
as Butler, Harwood, Ashe, Burgess, Clare,
Simpson and Weller-appears to stamp
him as a criminal of the most atrocious
order, and as is usual in such cases many
crimes are alleged against him which can
not at present be proved. A considerable
number of people have come forward to
testify that they were at various times in
negotiation with Butler to go prospect
ing" and these negotia tions date back in
one instance to. 1887 when all arrange
ments for trip were made with q retired
business man at Bull, a colliery town on
the south coast, but the negotiations were
not carried through. Lesah, who has al
ready been mentioned, hau, it is said,
f4OO
A well-to-do young man named Camp.
bell, who went with Butler to Nudge, in
the west. is missing also, and Butler was
also traced to Parkes, like wise in the west,
where another young man disappeared
after being In Buffers company. Butler
al tina, time sold wagon and two horses
to a selector for f15.
He has also been ascertained to have