Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1897-02-09
The MURDERER CAPTURED
FRANK BUTLER ARRESTED ON
THE swANHiLDA.


The arrival of the steamship
Gaelic this morning from the
Coast brings intelligence of the
capture of Frank Butler, the Aus
tralian murderer, which was effect
ed on board the Swanhilda outside
the harbor of San Francisco on
the morning the Gaelic sailed. As
soon as the vessel was sighted at 5
o'clock in the morning the detec-
tives boarded the revenue cutter
Hartley and went out to sea to
meet the Swanhilda. The officers
boarded her, the crew we're lined
up and Butler was in irons before
they knew what it was about. Only
the captain and mate of the Swan
hilda were aware of the desperate
character of one Of their crew.
The only details of the arrest
obtainable are from morning
extra of The Evening Post, pub.
lished just before the Gaelic sailed
and they are given below:
The Swanhilda was sighted at
about 5 o'clock this morning by
the Merchants Exchange lookout
and the news was at once tele-
graphed to this city.
The police force at the seawall
was Immediately communicated
with, and the Government boat
that has been 80 long patiently
waiting at once put out for the
heads.
| The Swanhilda was met some
miles out.
The officers boarded the vessel
according to the arranged pro.
gram, and it was found that
Butler was aboard.
He was soon placed under ar.
rest and was safely brought to
this city and lodged in the City
Prison.
When the Government vessel
reached the Swanhilda Officer Fer
guson was the first to board it.
Then followed Sergeant Bunner
and the other officers.
Captain Frazer was called aside
and told of the character of the
man he had aboard. Frazer said
he was aware of it. Himself and
the first mate knew that the muir
derer was aboard. They had been
told by passing ship.
The crew of the Swanhilda was
then lined up on the deck, and
Butler, who was second in the
row, was identified by the Austria
liam constable, Conroy, quietly, of
course.
Detectives Silvey and Egan sly
ly went behind him aud at an
agreed signal caught his arms.
At the same instant Sergeant
Burners pistol went up into
Buffers face, and the words
"Throw up your hands" told the
murderer that Justice had trailed
him across the Pacific.
The irons we're quickly put on
his hands and he sank to the
deck.
He was taken to the cabin aad
questioned, but refused to talk
He was asked il he knew GER.
tain man, one of his victims. He
replied with sneer ard an oath,
ooh! l know lots of people,"
He was cool and "nervy," He
has lost about fifty pounds weight
on the voyage, 80 the detectives
say.
At the City Prison Butler gave
his name as Eagan.
Damaging evidence was found
in his possession. In his trunk
was portrait of Mrs. Weller
wife of the murdered Captain.
On January 81 another Aus.
tralian detective arrived in San
Francisco, with the necessary APP
plication from the British Gov.
eminent for extradition papers
This man was, John Roche, who
has been connected with the
Sydney Detective Office for the
last fifteen years and is reputed to
be one of the best known detec'
tives in Australia. He was the
chief in the search for Butler in
the colonies. 1t was principally
through his efforts that several
mysterious murders were traced
to a common source; that photo
uronb uao ohtainad IF tha eus,